Pink4Ever
Pink4Ever | It's OK to talk about it
Make a donation

Prevention

There are ways you can help lower your risk of breast cancer-

  • Control your weight and exercise. Make healthy choices in the foods you eat and the kinds of drinks you have each day. Stay active. Learn more about keeping a healthy weight and ways to increase your physical activity.
  • Know your family history of breast cancer. If you have a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer, ask your doctor what is your risk of getting breast cancer and how you can lower your risk. For more information, visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for information about medicines to prevent breast cancer and genetic testing for breast cancer.
  • Find out the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy.Some women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat the symptoms of menopause. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of HRT and find out if hormone replacement therapy is right for you. To learn more about HRT, visit the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)—Menopausal Hormone Use and Cancer: Questions and Answers.
  • Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.For more information, see the Alcohol Chapter of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.
  • Get screened for breast cancer regularly.By getting the necessary exams, you can increase your chances of finding out early on, if you have breast cancer. For more information about the kinds of tests used to screen for breast cancer, and to learn how you can be screened, see Screening.


How Can I Help Others in My Community?

You can help prevent breast cancer in your community. Get involved in community groups that help friends and neighbors get screened for breast cancer, and reduce their risk by helping them exercise and maintain a healthy weight.

 

Content source: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion