How to Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer
For women, the most threatening disease is undoubtedly breast cancer. Faced with medical reports on breast cancer from newspapers, magazines, television, and radio, many women in daily life and work often feel anxious and fearful. Recently, Dr. Cornelia Bennis, a breast cancer researcher at the University of Toronto in Canada, after long-term research, has published new perspectives on breast cancer and proposed targeted preventive measures aimed at relieving women's psychological burden and improving their health level.
Viewpoint One: Most breast cancer patients are older women over 50; young women need not worry excessively. Clinical diagnosis shows that most women diagnosed with breast cancer are aged 50 or older, and even so, the risk is only 2% to 4%. However, survey data indicate that most young women believe their risk of breast cancer is as high as 13%, showing significant fear among young women—yet this is greatly unnecessary.
Viewpoint Two: Breast cancer and breast diseases are two different things; not all breast abnormalities lead to cancer, and breast cancers vary widely and cannot be generalized. Research indicates that malignant breast (breast) tumors are relatively rare, and malignant tumor cells can be detected by mammography when their size is still very small. Other "cancer cells" usually grow slowly, and even if undiagnosed for years, they are not fatal. Early detection allows for cure. Although breast hyperplasia and breast lumps carry a potential risk of cancer, they can still be treated through internal medicine (drug therapy) or surgery (lump excision).
Viewpoint Three: Do not overly trust certain medications, especially new drugs, as all drugs have side effects. Since April last year, nearly half of American women at potential risk of breast cancer have placed great faith in a newly developed drug, Tamoxifen (temporary name). Clinical treatment has indeed confirmed its positive role in preventing and treating breast cancer. Dr. Leslie Ford of the National Cancer Research Center estimates preliminarily that among 1,000 women over 50 at potential risk of breast cancer who take this drug for five years, about 520 may achieve prevention of breast cancer, but simultaneously, about 360 may develop uterine cancer and 330 may suffer from blood disorders or stroke.
Viewpoint Four: Annual mammography is the preferred preventive measure for middle-aged and elderly women. Previously, medical experts recommended mammograms every one or two years for middle-aged and elderly women, but recent breast cancer researchers suggest: if you are over 50 and concerned about developing breast cancer, it is best to have a mammogram annually, rather than waiting longer intervals.
Viewpoint Five: Be cautious about total mastectomy for treating breast cancer; lumpectomy (removal of tumor mass) is your best option. Experts from the National Cancer Research Center believe that lumpectomy plus radiation therapy is superior to total mastectomy in treating breast cancer because total mastectomy cannot fully exclude cancer from the body, and even the most advanced surgical techniques cannot completely eradicate cancer. Moreover, total mastectomy imposes not only a physical blow but also a heavy psychological burden on women.
Viewpoint Six: Genes are not a verdict. We know genes play a role in heredity, but does this mean that if your mother had breast cancer, you will definitely get it too? Maybe yes, maybe no. Research shows whether one develops breast cancer depends on postnatal evolution of breast cancer genes. Thus, even if you inherit the breast cancer gene from your mother, it doesn't necessarily mean you will develop cancer. Furthermore, the breast cancer gene itself is a susceptibility gene, and its evolution does not inevitably lead to cancer. You would not immediately opt for mastectomy just because you carry the breast cancer gene and fear getting cancer, believing only such action ensures safety.
Having relieved psychological anxiety, you might now try these easily achievable preventive methods:
1. Develop a habit of regular exercise. Studies show that women in perimenopause who exercise regularly can reduce their risk of breast cancer by 60%. Exercise should last at least four hours per week, including walking, weightlifting, or other manual labor involving arms and hands.
2. Pay attention to changes in your body shape. Another reason exercise reduces breast cancer risk is that it helps control weight. A Harvard University study found that if a woman gains 20 to 25 kilograms after age 18, her risk of breast cancer during menopause doubles compared to women gaining only a few kilograms. Therefore, women should control their weight from a young age.
3. Avoid alcohol as much as possible. Professor Leona Komer, an epidemiologist and nutritionist at the University of North Carolina, found through research that drinking alcohol poses a potential risk for breast cancer. Women who drink one glass of white liquor daily increase their risk by 11%; two glasses increase it by 24%; more than two glasses increase it by 40%. Experts therefore recommend minimizing or avoiding alcohol intake. If unable to quit, limit consumption to no more than three glasses per week.
4. Get more sun exposure. Recent studies reveal that vitamins C and β-carotene do not prevent breast cancer, but vitamin D can. Dr. Ester John of the Northern California Cancer Research Center explained why Southern U.S. women have fewer cases of breast cancer than Northern women—because the South enjoys abundant sunshine, and skin exposed to sunlight produces large amounts of vitamin D, which helps prevent cancer. He also recommends getting 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure daily to obtain sufficient vitamin D.
5. Supplement vitamin D appropriately. If you doubt sun exposure alone is effective, consider targeted vitamin D supplementation. Research shows that women who consume 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily (equivalent to two cups of vitamin D-fortified milk) reduce their breast cancer risk by 30%. Experts recommend women aged 50 or younger take at least 200 IU daily, while women over 50 should take 400 to 600 IU daily.
<Breast>