World Cancer Day 2021: Know how to bring down your risk of breast cancer

Today is World Cancer Day. On this occasion, let us see how you can reduce your risk of break cancer by taking a few preventive steps.

Today is World Cancer Day, and it is all about raising awareness about cancer and its prevention. One of the most common cancers that affect women is breast cancer. Almost, every woman has the fear of breast cancer lingering in her mind. If you too are concerned about developing the disease, you may want to know about the ways you can prevent it.

How To Mitigate The Risk Of Cancer

Though you cannot do anything about some risks like genes, a few preventive measures can significantly bring down your risk. On World Cancer Day 2021 today, let us see how you can do just that.

Lose Weight

Being obese or overweight puts you at a higher risk of breast cancer. The risk becomes all the higher after you reach menopause. Try to maintain ideal body weight. The best way to do this is by taking care of your diet and exercise. Have more balanced and nutritious meals. Add a lot of vegetables and fruits to your diet. Avoid sugar and refined carbs. Stay away from fatty and processed foods. Be sure to include lean protein, like fish and chicken, to your diet and have red meat only once in a while.

Exercise

Regular exercise is important for overall health. It will also reduce the risk of cancer. Even if you start exercising later in life, it will still help you. The benefits are immediate and long-lasting. It will bring down your risk by almost 10 per cent, according to experts. If it is difficult for you to follow a regular regimen, just take a 30-minute walk every day. This might also help.

Avoid Drinking

Alcohol intake increases your risk of breast cancer. Try to limit yourself to 1 drink a day if you have to. But abstinence is best. Binge drinking is an absolute no. Even if you drink once a week, try to stick to the 1 drink rule.

Avoid Hormone Replacement Therapy

Many women go in for hormone therapy at the time of menopause. This, unfortunately, increases your risk of breast cancer. But if you have no other option, take to your doctor and avoid those that contain progesterone. Or at least limit their use to less than three years. Even 'bioidentical hormones', hormonal creams and gels are not a safer alternative either.

Estrogen-Blocking Drugs May Help

If you have a family history of breast cancer, and oestrogen blocking drug may help you. This goes for women over the age of 60 too. Consult your doctor about this.

Breast-Feed

It has been proved by various research that women who breast-feed their babies have a lesser risk of breast cancer. In fact, the longer you do it, the better it is.