What about other risk factors?
It may be awhile before scientists are able to nail down the environmental causes of breast cancer. But in the meantime, there’s evidence that plenty of other everyday risk factors, such as exercise, alcohol, and weight, come into play. The thread that connects most of these to breast cancer is the way they affect our bodies’ supplies of estrogen; too much of the hormone can boost risk. Here’s the latest on how you can protect yourself.
Get moving
One excellent way to lower your risk is to exercise. At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, researchers found that regular moderate activity reduces risk by 20 percent—no matter your family history or when you had children. They recommend at least 30 minutes of brisk walking or other type of activity five days a week. Researchers think exercise increases menstrual cycle length, which reduces a woman’s lifetime exposure to estrogen.
Keep your weight down
More than 100 studies have found an association between weight and breast cancer, particularly after menopause: One review study published last year concluded that compared with leaner women, those who are overweight or obese have up to two and a half times the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. The reason? Fat tissue can change some other hormones into estrogen.
Don’t neglect vitamins and minerals
While fruits and vegetables have been shown to protect against other forms of cancer, studies on breast cancer have been mixed. Certain nutrients, though, do seem to help, including carotenoids (found in leafy green and deep orange vegetables), lycopene (in grapefruit as well as tomatoes), calcium, and vitamin C.
Go easy on the libations
If you drink more than one or two drinks a day—whether you’re pre- or postmenopausal—you’re upping your risk. Even if you have just a daily glass of wine, be sure to take a multivitamin containing folate, beta-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and vitamin C, which can counteract the increased risk from alcohol.
Don’t Get Angry — Get Active!
Activists say there’s enough evidence right now to warrant changes in policy that would help protect against breast cancer. They urge women to:
Press local governments to begin making purchasing decisions based on the precautionary principle of avoiding the use of chemicals suspected of causing harm. For example, you can ask the city or your children’s school to use only non-chlorinated paper and less-toxic pest control techniques on their grounds.
Petition the Food and Drug Administration to require cosmetics companies to stop using phthalates; you can use the template at http://www.nottoopretty.org/action.html or write to the companies listed on the site directly.
Support biomonitoring campaigns that aim to determine what chemicals have taken up residence in our bodies.
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