Think breast cancer awareness.
In the Pink
Breast cancer and breast cancer prevention can be complex issues. Raise your awareness about what you can do to lower your risk of developing this disease.
Some healthy habits that also have the added benefit of lowering your risk of breast cancer include:
Maintaining a healthy weight
- It's a matter of balance— you need to use up as many calories as you take in to maintain your weight
- Tipping the scales—to lose weight you need to use more calories than you take in
- To find where you stand, use the BMI calculator on this page.
Getting a daily dose of physical activity
- Everyone is different, but 30 minutes per day of moderate-intensity activities like brisk walking is a good start for most of us.
- Being physically active has the added benefit of burning calories, which can help with maintaining a healthy weight.
- It adds up – You don't have to do it all in one stretch—ten minutes here, 20 minutes there works well, too.
- A good rule of thumb is one drink or less per day—cutting out alcohol all together saves you calories though, which makes it that much easier to maintain a healthy weight
Be Aware, Not Anxious
The good news is that most changes in the breast are not cancer. In fact, most abnormal results from mammograms are also not cancer.
- Be aware of changes in your breasts, including your nipples. If you come upon any changes, share this information with your physician or healthcare professional
- Know your family history of breast cancer and share this with your physician. Do you have any close family members, such as a mother, sister, daughter, or father, who had or has breast cancer? Let your physician know; more frequent mammograms or other testing may be recommended
According to the most recent figures from the National Cancer Institute, about one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.
Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with breast cancer?
The best way to fight breast cancer is to have a plan that helps you detect the disease in its early stages. Talk to your doctor, create a plan including reminders to do breast self-exams, and schedule your clinical breast exams and mammograms based on your age and health history.
Be Part of the Solution
Raise someone's awareness about breast cancer and how to lower the risk by passing this information on to a friend or a loved one. Encourage them to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to follow their healthcare practitioner's advice on testing for breast cancer.