Risk Reduction in Woman at Average
Breast Cancer Risk
Although a great deal of research has been conducted
to understand what causes breast cells to become cancerous, the cause
of breast cancer remains unknown today and there is no clear way
to prevent breast cancer. Women at average risk for breast cancer
should follow the American Cancer Society's guidelines for early detection
and reduce risk factors whenever possible. Some of the ways to reduce
risk factors include:
Breast Cancer Risk Reduction in Women at Average Risk |
Limit or eliminate the consumption of alcohol:
One
alcoholic beverage a day increases your risk slightly.
Two to five drinks a day increases your risk 1.5 times that
of nondrinkers
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Maintain a healthy weight, especially after
menopause:
Adult-onset
obesity is associated with increased breast cancer
risk
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Avoid a high-fat diet:
Although
the link to fat intake and increased breast cancer
risk has not been definitively established, fat intake
has been associated with heart disease and other types
of cancer.
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Follow a healthy exercise routine:
Although
confirmatory research is needed, some studies have
shown that strenuous exercise as a youth may provide
long-term protection against breast cancer and moderate
exercise as an adult may lower the risk of developing
breast cancer.
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Discuss the risks and benefits of birth
control pills or hormone replacement therapy with your
physician thoroughly before you begin using them:
The
use of these products may increase your breast cancer
risk slightly during the time of use and for a period
of time after stopping therapy.
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Risk Reduction in Women at High Breast Cancer Risk
Women who have a high risk of developing breast cancer
include those that: have a previous cancer in one breast; have been
shown by genetic testing to have mutated BRCA genes; have a strong family history
of breast cancer; or have previous biopsies showing lobular
carcinoma in situ.
There are two therapies available for women at high risk
of developing breast cancer.
Risk Reduction with Tamoxifen: One drug, Nolvadex
(tamoxifen citrate), was approved by FDA in 1998 for reducing the incidence of breast cancer in women at high risk
for developing the disease. Tamoxifen has been used for many years
as a treatment for advanced breast cancer and to reduce the recurrence
of localized breast cancer. A study of the drug in women who were
judged to be at increased risk of breast cancer was conducted by
the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and showed that tamoxifen reduces
the chance of getting breast cancer by 44 percent. Tamoxifen is an antiestrogen drug, which blocks the effect of estrogen
on breast tissue. Estrogen is a female sex hormone produced primarily
by the ovaries. Growth of normal breast cells and some breast cancers
are stimulated by estrogen.
Raloxifene, another drug that blocks the effect of estrogen
on breast tissue, may also reduce the incidence of breast cancer
in women at high risk for developing the disease. Raloxifene has
not yet been approved by FDA for this use, but large clinical studies
are currently being conducted for this indication.
Prophylactic Mastectomy: Some women who are at
very high risk of developing breast cancer may choose to have both
breasts surgically removed. This procedure is known as a prophylactic, or preventive mastectomy.
Before undergoing this operation, a woman should thoroughly discuss
the risks and benefits with her physician, and consider obtaining
a second opinion. While this operation may significantly reduce the
risk of developing breast cancer, it cannot eliminate the risk entirely.
This operation removes most breast tissue, but a small amount remains,
and cancer can develop in the remaining tissue. According to the
American Cancer Society Board of Directors "only very strong clinical
and/or pathologic indications warrant this type of "preventive operation."
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