Five Ways Women Can Decrease Their Risk of Breast Cancer

Hi Ladies,

The Month of October has come to an end. Many women won't hear or think about breast cancer again until this time next year or until someone they love is diagnosed and battling breast cancer. It is my hope today, that reading this blog post will encourage you to commit to a lifestyle of wellness that will empower you to make daily choices to decrease your risk for breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer can increase as a result of your daily choices. Take this opportunity to focus on the risk factors you can control, and start today by educating yourself and committing to a lifestyle of wellness. Below are listed five ways to decrease your risk of breast cancer:

Maintain a Healthy Weight/ Move Your Body:

Obesity after menopause increases your risk of breast cancer. Excess fat tissue can increase your estrogen and insulin levels. Both increased estrogen and insulin levels have been directly linked to breast cancer (Simon, 2018). All women despite menopause status should develop a routine exercise regimen. Exercise and healthy nutrition can help women obtain and maintain a healthy weight and decrease their risk of breast cancer.

Embrace Motherhood and Breastfeeding:

Let me first say that motherhood is a decision that only you should make. If you have made the personal decision that you do not desire to have children, or you will not breastfeed, this section is not to shame you. I simply want to let women know that when a woman has her first baby after the age of 30 or does not breastfeed,it can increase her risk of breast cancer. With so many women making the decision to have children later on in life after establishing their careers, it is important that they are aware of this risk.

Hormone Therapy:

Combined hormone replacement therapy (which includes estrogen and progesterone taken during menopause to relieve symptoms) can increase the risk of breast cancer when taken for more than five years(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). Younger women who take birth control are also at a higher risk for breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, women who have taken oral contraceptives have a seven percent higher risk of breast cancer than women who have never taken oral contraceptives(Oral Contraceptives (Birth Control Pills) and Cancer Risk, 2018). The risk of breast cancer decreases after contraceptives are discontinued over time.

Limit Alcohol Consumption/Quit Smoking:

There are several studies that have found that tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption increase the risk of breast cancer. If you desire to stop smoking, discuss smoking cessation with your provider and determine what pharmacological resources are available. Women, who desire to stop the use of tobacco and decrease alcohol consumption, should avoid triggers and replace negative lifestyle choices with positive choices such as exercise and meditation.

Embrace Your “Natural” Hair:

A recent study conducted by Boston University noted an approximate 30% increase in the risk of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer with frequent use of lye-based hair relaxers compared to those of infrequent users (25-year-long Study of Black Women Links Frequent Use of Lye-Based Hair Relaxers to a Higher Risk of Breast Cancer, 2021). African American women have used relaxers for years on a routine basis to maintain straight hair. I encourage you to consider other alternatives for straightening your hair or to embrace your natural texture to decrease exposure to harmful chemicals found in dyes and relaxers.

I encourage you to use this information to focus on what practical changes you can make to decrease your risk of breast cancer. Focus on daily healthy habits and create a healthy lifestyle you can enjoy and thrive in. Knowledge requires accountability. Take control, and take accountability in creating the life that makes wellness a priority and make wellness your best accessory.

Your Sister in Wellness,

Lauren

References:

25-year-long study of black women links frequent use of lye-based hair relaxers to a higher risk of breast cancer. (2021, July 14). PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/health/25-year-long-study-of-black-women-links-frequent-use-of-lye-based-hair-relaxers-to-a-higher-risk-of-breast-cancer

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, October 17). What are the risk factors for breast cancer?https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/risk_factors.htm

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) and cancer risk. (2018, February 22). National Cancer Institute.https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet#:~:text=Breast%20cancer%3A%20An%20analysis%20of,had%20never%20used%20oral%20contraceptives.

Simon, S. (2018, October 4). How your weight may affect your risk of breast cancer. https://amp.cancer.org/latest-news/how-your-weight-affects-your-risk-of-breast-cancer.html