Cancer is no respecter of persons, nor is it a respecter of gender. It does not discriminate - age, race, gender, social level - nothing matters. Cancer can strike anyone, male or female, at any time. It affects different groups of people in different ways. AND, it can change your life.

 
Courtesy Shape Magazine - www.shape.com

You can't change your family history or when you started your period (studies indicate that a first menstrual period  at age 12 or earlier increases breast-cancer risk). But according to Cheryl Rock, Ph.D., professor at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine in the department of family preventive medicine, there are things you can do to lower your breast-cancer risk. Here are the four habits researchers now believe can help safeguard your breast health.

1. Hold your weight steady.
Study after study has found that women over 40 who weigh close to the same amount that they did in their 20s are less likely to get this disease. Ideally, you should gain no more than 10 percent of your body weight (so if you weighed 120 in college, you shouldn't gain more than 12 pounds over the subsequent decades).

2. Eat vegetables.
Several studies have looked at whether fruits and vegetables are protective. According to Rock, it's vegetables, not fruit, that seem to have greater benefit. "One pooled study, which was data from several countries, showed that eating a lot of vegetables seemed to lower breast-cancer risk in all women -- and young women in particular," she says. Why is produce so beneficial? Vegetables are a very good source of fiber, which in animal studies has been shown to lower levels of estrogen circulating in the blood. Also, many veggies contain cancer-fighting phytochemicals. "The more you eat, the better," Rock says. To reap the breast benefit, get a minimum of five servings a day.

3. Exercise.
"The more exercise is studied, the clearer it becomes that physical activity protects women," Rock says. The only thing that isn't clear is how active you have to be. While studies suggest you'll get the most benefit if you get vigorous exercise at least three times a week, more-moderate amounts still seem to be helpful. "There's a good hypothesis on why it helps," Rock explains. "Women who exercise on a regular basis have lower levels of insulin and insulinlike growth factor. These anabolic hormones promote cell division; when cells are constantly dividing and growing, there's a danger something will get pushed down the road to becoming cancer." High levels of insulin and insulinlike growth factor seem to act as fuel, possibly helping cancer take off. Exercise also helps by lowering the circulating level of estrogens, Rock adds.

4. Drink moderately.
"Many, many studies have found a link between alcohol and breast cancer," Rock says. "But the risk does not get significant until about two drinks a day. You can still drink -- just don't overdo it." One interesting caveat: Studies in the United States and Australia have found that women who drink but also get adequate amounts of folate don't have a higher risk of breast cancer. So if you tend to enjoy a glass or two of wine with your dinner on a regular basis, taking a multivitamin every day may be a wise idea. Even better, chow down on good sources of folate: spinach, romaine lettuce, broccoli, orange juice and green peas.

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Health Note - courtesy Shape Magazine

Get Smart About Screening

The mammogram debate has raged since 2009, when the U.S. Preventive Services TaskForce stated that women at average risk should start having them regularly at age 50. Meanwhile, many groups, including the American Medical Associatin, still suggest beginning at age 40. From the National Breast Cancer Coalition: "There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against universal screening...in any age group." It's enough to make your head spin!

"If you or your doctor detect a lump, you definitely need the test," says Lisa Schwartz, M.D. But she adn Steven Woloshin, M.D., feel the benefits for those without symptoms have been oversold. In a new British Medical Journal analysis, they explain that early detection saves lives, but not as many as you might think. They also note that "for every life saved by mammography, two to 10 women are overdiagnosed" (meaning they received treatment they didn't need). "

"Deciding about the risks of screening is a value judgement," says Woloshin, who suggests reviewing the pros and cons with your doctor.