Prevention And Control Of Breast Cancer

Prevention And Control Of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in India. If you have a family history of breast cancer or are worried about it, here a few ways to reduce your risk.

How to prevent breast cancer?

While genetic factors cannot be influenced or controlled, there is evidence that a few lifestyle changes can limit your risk.

• Manage your weight as obesity increases risk of breast cancer
• Adopt a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, legumes and fish
• Quit smoking as it increases breast cancer risk, especially in the premenopausal women
• Reduce intake of alcohol to less than one drink a day, if you cannot abstain.
• Limit hormone therapy for menopause symptoms. Check for minimal dose/ and duration
• Avoid pollution and radiation, including medical imaging such as scans
• Be active to manage your weight
• Breast-feeding also helps in reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Early detection and treatment can control breast cancer.

Having made all the lifestyle changes, it is still necessary to test for breast cancer regularly if you are over 40 years of age.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

Some people with breast cancer may not have any symptoms at all, but most women will have at least some of the following symptoms.

• A lump in the breast or underarm
• Dimpling or different feel or texture of some areas of the breast
• Irritation or pain in the breast
• Change in size and shape of breast
• Redness/ flaky skin/ pain/ pulling in the nipple area
• Discharge from the nipple

How to detect breast cancer?

• Annual medical checkups and mammograms help in detecting breast cancer in the early stages.
• Do regular breast self-examination. Ask your doctor about performing a self-examination and follow a routine of regular checks to detect breast cancer early.

Breast cancer treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy among others. The earlier it is treatment the better the outcome.

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