The number of candles on your birthday cake can help predict your risk of breast cancer and the severity of the disease, research shows. But every woman has the power to outwit her biological clock. One of the most important breast cancer risk factors-in addition to being a female, overweight or having a family history of the disease-is your age, a mounting body of research shows. Breast cancer research offers more and more evidence that you can influence your own breast cancer future by picking up some good habits--and your age says a lot about which habits are key.
The following decade-by-decade guide suggests a few steps that every woman can take to protect her breast health, with extra emphasis on monitoring any changes so that problems can be caught early, when cancer is easier to treat.
Here's what you can do to cut your breast cancer risk if you're in your... IF YOU'RE IN YOUR 20s...
Most twenty-somethings are too busy finishing school, launching careers, and starting families to consider their risk of breast cancer, which is rare: The probability of a woman in her 20s developing the disease is only 1 in 1,837. But your 20s are the ideal time to start reducing your risk of getting the disease in the future. Here's what you can do.
1. Get a clinical breast exam. These tests involve a physical exam by a medical professional and should be repeated at least every three years during your 20s.
2. Be breast aware. Though some doctors now consider breast self-exams optional, it's a smart idea to become familiar with your breasts so you notice any small changes, which you should then bring to the attention of your doctor ASAP.
3• Break a sweat "Regular physical activity reverses the effects of high insulin and estrogen levels-both of which have been linked to an increase in breast cancer risk,". In the Nurses' Health Study II of nearly 65,000 women, those who reported an average of 3.25 hours per week of running or 13 hours per week of walking when they were younger had a 23 percent lower risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer than those who exercised less. Activity from ages 12 to 22 seemed to provide the strongest protection against cancer, the researchers say. 4• Have a baby Hey, it's your life, but all science is saying, is that as far as breast cancer goes, having a baby lowers your risk. Furthermore, it's better to procreate sooner than later. Women who have children at a younger age are at a decreased risk. Not only that, breastfeeding lowers your breast cancer risk as well.
5• Cut back on the cosmos Experts have linked alcohol consumption to an increase in breast cancer risk. A study from the British Journal of Cancer shows a 7 percent hike for every drink per day. So try not to let happy hour get too happy. ..... Alcohol use increases your risk for breast cancer. Try to limit yourself to no more than one drink per day.
6. Find out if you're at high risk. If breast cancer runs in your family, talk to your doctor about whether you need stepped up screening.
7. If you have children, breast-feed them for at least six months. Some studies suggest that breast-feeding may slightly lower breast cancer risk, particularly if a woman continues breast feeding for one and a half to two years. A recent study by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center showed that breast feeding for six months or longer reduced the risk of low grade, slow-growing breast cancer by 20%, while the risk of triple-negative disease was cut by 50%.
8. Stay active. Studies suggest that exercising three to four hours per week at moderate or vigorous levels can reduce your risk of breast cancer by about 20%. Whether it's brisk walking, biking, dancing, or jogging, work to keep your heart rate above its baseline level for at least 20 minutes at a time.
9. Eat a healthy diet. While the relationship between diet and cancer is far from established, research suggests that a plant-based diet is associated with reduced risks for several cancers. The National Cancer Institute has for many years recommended that members of the general population eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, but Dr. McTiernan points out that most experts on cancer and diet recommend at least double that amount. Focus especially on eating a variety of brightly colored vegetables and fruits, as these contain the highest concentrations of vitamins.
A recent study showed that breast feeding for six months or longer reduced the risk of low grade, slow-growing breast cancer by 20%.
IF YOU'RE IN YOUR 30s... By now, you've got your doctor's office number programmed into your Blackberry-but that doesn't mean you always make regular appointments. Breast cancer rates for women in their 30s are still relatively low, but this is the time to get serious about monitoring your breasts for any changes. Here's some good breast-healthy behavior to cultivate during this decade.
1. Get a clinical breast exam every three years. Also, monitor your own breasts, and if you notice any changes, alert your doctor. If you're at high risk due to a close family history, your doctor may want you to start getting annual mammograms as well.
2. Drink less alcohol. .
3. If you have children, breast-feed them for at least six months.
4. Avoid eating too much red and processed meat. Limit your intake of red meat to 4 ounces (about the size of a deck of cards) per day on average; also avoid meats such as sausages and bologna. The chemicals that are used to process the meats have been found to cause several kinds of cancers.
Strive also to eat 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day and minimize your intake of high-calorie foods such as sugary drinks, juice, desserts, and candies, as well as refined breads and chips.
5. Stay active.
6• Get calcium and D Taking 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 350 IU of vitamin D is associated with a decreased risk for premenopausal breast cancer, according to data from the Women's Health Study, a large trial of more than 30,000 women. To help your body manufacture the D it needs, spend 5 to 10 minutes in the sun a few days a week without SPF protection (depending on the time of year and where you live), and take vitamin D supplements that contain D3, which the body i better able to use. 7• Get grill savvy If you do eat steak, marinate it overnight in teriyaki or turmeric-garlic sauce to reduce the carcinogenic compounds that are produced when it's grilled, according to research from the University of Hawaii. Other studies show that a shorter grilling also creates fewer carcinogens. 8• Know where you stand If you're at least 35 years old, check out the National Cancer Institute's risk-assessment tool at cancer.gov/bcrisktool. After answering a series of questions, you'll find out your probability of getting breast cancer in the next five years and over your lifetime. If your risk is high, visiting a high-risk breast cancer clinic where you can receive counseling about prevention, screening and other options, such as genetic testing. 9.De-stress Stressful life events increase your risk of breast cancer The relationship between attitude, outlook, mood, and breast cancer is up for debate, but a recent Israeli studyof women under the age of 45 found that exposure to several stressful life events, such as the divorce or death of parents before 20 years of age, was associated with breast cancer. "Experiencing more than one [negative] meaningful life event...is a risk factor for breast cancer among young women.
IF YOU'RE IN YOUR 40s...
Women in their 40s need to be more vigilant than ever about their breast screening as cancer rates start to increase at this time of life: The probability of a woman in her 40s developing the disease is 1 in 70. Implementing healthy habits such as these becomes even more important.
1. Schedule an annual mammogram and clinical exam, and check your own breasts. The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older get a mammogram and a clinical breast exam every year. Also, become familiar with your own breast: If you notice any changes, tell your doctor about them immediately. Chances are good that any changes you notice, such as fibrocystic breast changes, are harmless, but it's still essential to have anything new or unusual checked out.
2. Drink less alcohol.
3. Eat a healthy diet. While the relationship between diet and cancer is far from established, research suggests that a plant-based diet is associated with reduced risks for several cancers. The National Cancer Institute has for many years recommended that members of the general population eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, but most experts on cancer and diet recommend at least double that amount. Focus especially on eating a variety of brightly colored vegetables and fruits, as these contain the highest concentrations of vitamins.
3. Watch your waistline If not for vanity, then do it for health. Piling on the pounds ups your chances of getting breast cancer. In postmenopausal women, since the ovaries no longer make estrogen, the majority of it is produced in the fat tissue. That means people with a higher percentage of the body fat have more estrogen in their bodies and therefore have a greater breast cancer risk. 4. De-fat your diet Reducing fat intake to 20 percent of calories (the USDA recommends limiting fat to 30 percent) helps regulate insulin and other hormones that may encourage tumor growth, according to the Women's Intervention Nutrition Study, a clinical trial of almost 2,500 women ages 48 to 79 with early-stage breast cancer. Their chance of recurrence was 24 percent lower than that of a control group who ate more fat. 5. Limit HRT The Women's health Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial, a large study of women age 50 to 79, found that five years of combine hormone replacement therapy (HRT)-where both estrogen and progesterone are used-was associated with an increase in the incidence of breast cancer in the recipients, compared with women who took a placebo. Some research has shown that younger women on HRT may not run the same cancer risk. Still, experts suggest using it for the shortest amount of time possible. 6. Stay active.
7. Avoid unnecessary exposure to cancer-causing substances. Radiation and some chemicals are known to cause cancer. Make sure that any physician who orders an X-ray for you, especially high dose ones like CT scans, knows how many previous X-rays you have had. If it is not an emergency situation, ask if there is an alternative examination that would suit your situation, such as an u;trasound orMRI, neither of which involves radiation." (Your doctor can help you weigh the relative risk of momentary exposure to radiation versus not having an X-ray or CT scan that may be medically necessary.) Also, if you work in an industry or occupation where you are exposed to radiation or chemicals, be very careful to follow the regulations of your company and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration."
Scientists have identified more than 200 potential breast carcinogens As a basic rule of thumb, when faced with food, cosmetics, or household products that are loaded with preservatives or other artificial substances, opt when possible for products containing mostly natural ingredients.
IF YOU'RE IN YOUR 50s...
As menopause hits, breast cancer rates start to rise, and 1 in 40 women will get the disease in this decade of her life. Taking care of your health becomes more important than ever. Here are the key things you need to do to stay healthy.
1. Schedule an annual mammogram and clinical exam and check your own breasts. The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older get a mammogram and a clinical breast exam every year..
2. Drink less alcohol.
3. Maintain your body weight, or lose weight if you're overweight.
4. Eat a healthy diet.
5. Stay active.
6. Avoid (or limit) hormone replacement therapy (HRT). "Hormone replacement therapy, also known as postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT), definitely increases your [breast cancer] risk.
7. Get enough Vitamin D. Although the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 400 IUs, some researchers think this amount is too low, reports Dr. McTiernan. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, noting the beneficial effect that vitamin D has been observed to have on breast cancer risk, suggested that higher levels--1,000 IUs of vitamin D a day--may be a convenient and cost-effective way to reduce that risk. (The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies advises that daily intake of vitamin D above 2,000 IU could be dangerous.) Vitamin D occurs naturally in fish and eggs and is commonly found in fortified dairy products
IF YOU'RE IN YOUR 60s OR OLDER...
The average age of a woman who receives a breast cancer diagnosis is 62, which is why women in their 60s need to be more vigilant than ever about breast health.
1. Continue getting annual mammograms and annual clinical exams. Screening becomes more important the older you get because your risk keeps going up. Fortunately, the older you get, the more fatty your breasts, and the easier it is to read mammograms 2. Track any changes in your own breasts. The older you are, the easier it is to do breast self-exams (BSEs), because breasts are less dense.
3. Drink less alcohol.
4. Exercise regularly.
5. Eat a healthy diet.
6. Maintain your body weight, or lose weight if you're overweight.
Despite the fact that women over the age of 65 run a much higher risk of developing breast cancer, a survey done last year by the National Institutes of Health shows that they are not as concerned about developing breast cancer as they were when they were younger. A woman's chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer is: • by age 30. . . 1 in2,212 • by age 40. . . 1 in 235 • by age 50. . . 1 in 54 • by age 60. . . 1 in 23 • by age 70. . . 1 in 14 • by age 80. . . 1 in 10 • Ever. . . . . . . 1 in 8 The 1 in 8 figure means that, if current rates stay constant, a female born today has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer sometime during her life. Despite these other risk factors, age remains the greatest risk factor. The longer you live the greater your risk of developing breast cancer.It only makes sense, considering these statistics, to adopt a healthy lifestyle-protective and preventive against breast cancer-as early in life as possible; this will also help you live your best life, besides decreasing your risk of breast cancer.