Three changes to prevent breast cancer

BY Monique Rainford

What would you do to prevent breast cancer? What would you do to reduce your risk? I asked my husband those questions and his answer was 'cut off one's breasts'. Yes, easy to say for a man, but what would a woman do?

Well it might be a relief to know that as women we can reduce our risk without drastic surgical measures. We can make three changes to our lifestyle to significantly reduce our risk of developing this potentially deadly disease.

Just one drink?

Just one drink of alcohol (regardless of the type) can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer by 10 per cent. So for women who currently do not drink alcohol it may be best to keep it that way and women who do drink can reduce their risks by decreasing alcohol consumption.

I often hear that one of the reasons women do not exercise is a lack of motivation. Well for women who are concerned about their risk of breast cancer, this may provide some motivation. Research suggests that the more hours a woman exercises per week, the greater the reduction in her risk of developing breast cancer.

More activity

Exercise is most beneficial in reducing a woman's risk of developing breast cancer if she has passed through the menopause. It is also most beneficial in reducing a woman's risk if she is of a normal weight as compared to being overweight or obese. In other words, women with a low or normal body mass index (BMI) have a greater reduction in their risk than women with a high BMI.

Normal weight

BMI is calculated by taking a woman's weight in kilograms and dividing it by her height in metres squared. A normal BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. If a woman gains weight after the age of 18, after the menopause or has a high BMI, she increases her risk of developing breast cancer after the menopause.

Research shows that women who gain more that 25kg after the age of 18 can almost double their risk of developing breast cancer after the menopause. Fortunately, if a woman has gained the weight she can still significantly reduce her risk by losing at least 10kg after the menopause. This research applies to women who have never used hormone therapy. Younger women can avoid weight gain and reduce their risk.

Unfortunately, women at a very high risk of developing breast cancer may make that very difficult choice of removing their breasts to prevent the disease. However, for those of us who are at a lower risk, let's take advantage of the much easier choices that can reduce our risk.

Dr Monique Rainford is a consulting obstetrician and gynaecologist; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.