Breast cancer is considered one of the most recurrent types, with about 1 million cases around the world every year. The prevalence is in women over 50 years old, but there are risk factors that contribute to the development of the disease. Among them, the lifestyle of the person, did you know?

Through your daily habits, certain risks are associated with the chances of getting cancer. In this post, we will present them, since the prevention of breast cancer is one of the main ways to fight it.

Check it out, and align your lifestyle to a healthier, enhanced routine in the fight against breast cancer!

RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER

Before specifically analysing lifestyle as one of the risk factors for cancer, let's understand what aspects are taken into consideration for such determination. To do so, we have divided the subject into three:

LOW RISK FACTORS

• People who had their first menstrual period before the age of 12;
• Menopause from the age of 55;
• First pregnancy from the age of 34;
• People who have had hormone replacement therapy for more than 5 years.

MEDIUM TO HIGH RISK

• Close relatives (such as sisters or mother) who have had breast cancer during the postmenopause;
• People who have never had a pregnancy;
• History of some type of breast lesion that is compatible with epithelial hyperplasia without atypia.

VERY HIGH RISK

• History of some type of atypical breast lesion or lobular neoplasia in situ;
• Proven genetic susceptibility.

Thus, drawing parameters through the factors where the person has little - or no - control over the incidence of the disease. In other cases, however, it is possible;

LIFESTYLE IN THE PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER

A balanced life promotes defence mechanisms to the organism, frightening and improving the prevention of cancer. On the other hand, a series of bad habits can have the opposite effect and increase the chances of the disease appearing.

Among them, we have separated some so you can evaluate which ones are part of your routine and which others to avoid, according to the American Cancer Society:

• Alcoholism: alcohol consumption has been widely associated with the risk of developing breast cancer;
• Diet: besides the exaggerated consumption of alcohol, the intake of some foods can influence the risk factor, such as those containing excess sugar, canned and embedded and processed foods increases the risk of breast cancer. Already the white meats, fruits, vegetables and whole foods can improve habits and promote their health; Give preference to the consumption of white meats, fruits, vegetables and whole foods.
• Obesity: very commonly related to a person's lifestyle, obesity is an even greater risk factor when it is linked to sedentarism, which is also an exponential factor that can also contribute to the development of the disease;
• Contraceptives: hormone-based contraceptive pills, Depo-Provera injection and IUDs are alternatives in birth control and, therefore, may be associated with breast cancer, depending on the dose and time of use;
• Breastfeeding: if on the one hand the absence of pregnancy increases the risk of developing cancer, breastfeeding when continued for up to 2 years, can reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

In other words: the prevention of breast cancer is also associated with the lifestyle we lead.

It is advisable to make an appointment with your medical specialist to find out which risk factors are part of your daily life. To learn more about breast cancer and how to act qualitatively in its prevention to prevent the disease, visit our website and get to know everything that Americas Amigas is doing to work in this direction to help Brazilian women to detect and diagnose the disease early!

Do your part and help save a life. Donate to Americas Amigas and help a woman in need get her mammogram.