Most breast cancer risk factors are beyond the control, such as age, family history, and medical history.
However, there are some risk factors that can be controlled such as weight, physical activity, and alcohol consumption.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about all the risk factors that may be owned.
There are always steps you can take to reduce the risk of breast cancer, and doctors can help with making a plan for the patient.
Doctors also need to be aware of any other risk factors beyond its control, so having an accurate understanding of a person's level of risk of developing breast cancer.
This can affect recommendations regarding breast cancer screening, what tests to do and when to do the test.
Below are 7 breast cancer risk factors that can be controlled, namely:
1. weight
Overweight or overweight is one of the factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer, especially for women who are menopausal.
Fat tissue in the body is the main source of estrogen after menopause, when the ovaries stop producing hormones.
Have more fat tissue means higher estrogen levels, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
2. diet
Diet is suspected as a risk factor for many types of cancer, including breast cancer. However, research has yet to show exactly what kind of food can increase the risk.
Limit consumption of red meat and animal fats, including milk fat in cheese, milk, and ice cream, is a good idea because these foods contain hormones, growth factors, antibiotics, and pesticides.
The researchers believe that eating too much cholesterol and other fat is a risk factor for cancer.
In addition, research shows that eating lots of red meat or processed meat was associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Low-fat diet and increase consumption of fruits and vegetables is generally recommended to reduce the risk of cancer.
3. sport
Ample evidence to show that exercise can reduce your risk of breast cancer. American Cancer Society recommends exercising for 45-60 minutes for 5 days or more a week.
4. consumption of alcohol
The results showed that the increased risk of breast cancer in women who consume alcohol.
Alcohol can limit the function of the liver in controlling estrogen levels, so it can increase estrogen levels, which means the risk of breast cancer also increases.
5. smoke
Smoking was associated with a small increase in the risk of developing breast cancer.
6. exposure to estrogen
One function of the female hormone estrogen is to stimulate the growth of breast cells. Exposure to estrogen for a long time without any lag time can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Estrogen exposure as a risk factor that can be controlled are as follows:
a. Using a combination hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progesterone: HRT) for several years or more, or the use of estrogen alone more than 10 years.
b. Obesity (overweight)
c. Regularly drink alcohol
7. Stress and anxiety
There is no clear evidence that stress and anxiety can increase the risk of breast cancer.
However, anything that can reduce stress will make a person feel comfortable, happy thus improving their quality of life.
Several studies have shown that by doing yoga, meditation, or prayer can strengthen the body's immune system.
