Breast cancer is not any new-fangled thing rather it has already earned the opprobrium of becoming the second-most killing type of all cancers which are found in human beings. Breast cancer is common particularly in women and it is said that 1 out of 8 US women are suffering from this pernicious disease. Though this is an alarming disease, still most of the people don’t have an adequate information knowledge of this. In this article, we are going to discuss what is breast cancer and what are the approaches that you should take to lessen the risk of this fatal disease.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is basically the uncontrolled or abnormal growth of cells within your breast. These cells would aggregate like a lump and you can call it a breast tumour. You can feel the tumour in its harmless stage from the outside of your breast and this type of tumour is known as a benign tumour. Benign tumours can be extirpated through surgical operations and if this is done, the risk of advancement is very little. But if you are allowed to grow it, then the growth would proliferate and can reach to the malignant stage.
Though many women think that they can’t control breast cancer, still there are some approaches which will help you to reduce the risk of your breast cancer. And, you should pay attention to them. Let’s take a look at some approaches which will minimize the risk of breast cancer.
- Be active and control your weight: Being overweight can lead you many diseases including breast cancer. So, it is advisable to control your weight by incorporating exercises into your daily regime. You can practice various exercises like walking, running, swimming, yoga, etc. to lead a wholesome and cancer-free life.
- Take a special care of your diet: A diet plays an imperative role in preventing breast cancer. A strong link is established between breast cancer and high fats. Women who consume more fat particularly high-calorie fat are more prone to those who avoid fat and eat a healthy diet. So, to prevent breast cancer, you should go for the Mediterranean diet or plant-based diet.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking is injurious to your health and can lead to many diseases including breast cancer. A plethora of studies has claimed that women who smoke are more susceptible to breast cancer. The same goes for alcohol also.
- Avoid birth control pills: Women who take birth control pills have an increased rate of breast cancer. Though after stopping the pills, the risk goes away automatically. The younger women have a lower risk of breast cancer even if they take birth control pills. Thus, women who are above 35 years, stop using birth control pills.
- Avoid post-menopausal hormone: You should avoid taking post-menopausal hormones (estrogenonly hormones and estrogen-plus-progestin hormones) to prevent diseases like osteoporosis and heart disease. Because these hormones can increase your risk of breast cancer. If you want to take, then take them for a limited time.
- Avoid drugs like Tamoxifen and Raloxifene: Though these prescribed drugs can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer for some women, still they are not safe for all. These powerful drugs have a chunk of side effects. So, before consuming them, consult with the physician.
- Breastfeed: Breastfeeding can play a positive role in preventing breast cancer. The more you breastfeed, the greater you stay protective against breast cancer.
Hope, this article has given you an ample information regarding breast cancer and what are the preventive measure that you can take to lead a healthy and disease-free life.