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Breast cancer is notably known to be the commonest cancer affecting most women in Ghana and around the globe.
The rate at which women get infected makes most women introspect, with so many questions about the causes and preventive measures.
Breast cancer has no single causative factor that can be attributable to it.
Dr Shubham Garg – Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, Fortis Hospital Noida, expatiate those risk factors that lead to breast cancer.
” Let me explain this. I’m sure you are aware that chewing tobacco leads to head and neck cancer and smoking can cause lung cancer. But in the case of breast cancer, there is no such single causative agent that we can recommend avoiding or prevent to save us from getting breast cancer. Having said that, this doesn’t mean that we cannot reduce the risk of getting breast cancer.”
6 Ways to Reduce or Lower The Risk of Breast Cancer
It is very important to be knowledgeable about one’s own health and ways to reduce health risks as these can help one live longer and healthier.
To reduce the risk of breast cancer, it is imperative to to do or be aware of the following;
1. Avoid Obesity:
Breast cancer is empirically more in obese women and hence it is recommended that weight should be kept in check. This means that regular exercise can help put weight in check and ensure that your food portions are of small size and taste should not rule the waist.
2. Balanced Diet:
One’s diet should be a healthy balance of proteins, carbs and fats. Avoid taking too much processed food and high salt and sugar content should be avoided. Fruits should be a part of your daily routine. In fact, fruits are way closer to life!
3. Active Lifestyle:
You should have at least a 30-minute workout in your daily schedule. This doesn’t mean that you have to go to a gym every day. Avoiding lift and taking stairs and a brisk walk to the market rather than a drive are few examples of how we can include some exercises in our schedule. Exercise and aerobics are imperative and essential for the body.
4. Avoid Late Pregnancy:
Childbirth after the age of 30 years is associated with higher risk of breast cancer. It is therefore advised that, if possible, you should have at least one pregnancy before hitting 30. This however; shouldn’t be the reason to give birth when you are not ready.
5. Do Breastfeed:
Breastfeeding is found to be protective for breast cancer and is recommended that it should be promoted both for the baby as well as the mother. Some people argue that the husband can help in this regard by sucking the wife’s breast when necessary and appropriate.
6. Avoid Hormonal Manipulation:
Too much tinkering with bodily hormones can also lead to breast cancer. Infertility treatment, ovarian stimulation, post-menopausal hormonal rehabilitation are some of the things that increase the risk of breast cancer. Just avoid them – expert’s advice and of course free advice.
This breast cancer awareness month should be the month for continuous and increased awareness to ensure that we achieve a world free of breast cancer. Is this possible? Yes it is!
