Prevention is our greatest weapon against breast cancer. All women, depending on their lifestyle, eating habits, personal and familial history , have a different risk of developing breast cancer. Depending on these factors there are certain options that may be capable of significantly reducing the risk of developing the disease.
Diet and Lifestyle
Incorporating regular physical activity as a lifestyle and the adoption of a balanced diet is recommended for all women to reduce their personal risk of dying from breast cancer.
Studies have shown that women who had breastfed their clildren are statistically less likely to develop breast cancer than those who had not.
All women should be familiar with the look and feel of their breasts in order to detect even minor changes and report to their physician promptly.
Imaging screening tests:
Mammography haw been considered as the best "tool" available for screening healthy women for breast cancer. Imaging with mammography plus physical examination has been proven to help reduce deaths from the disease.
Ultrasound and Breast MRI
Breast ultrasound and MRI mammography (MRI), contribute to the evaluation of women with increased risk for developing breast cancer. Moreover, these tests should be prescribed to women with "suspicious" signs during digital mammography or clinical examination, in order to short out which women really need an operation and to plan it upfront.
For women with increased risk factors for developing breast cancer:
The women who have mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2, should discuss with their doctor all the possibilities in the order to reduce the risk for developing breast cancer. One of the most definite although radical measure is to undergo bilateral preventive mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. When the time is appropriate for each individual patient ( completion ofchildbearing), bilateral preventive oophorectomy is consulted. The combination of these operations, seems to reduce the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer by 95%.