6 Things You Can Do to Lower Your Risk of Breast Cancer (show this to the women you love!)

There’s no doubt about it — breast cancer is scary, especially because the causes of breast cancer are largely unknown, making it difficult to pinpoint preventative behaviors for it. So what are some behaviors that we know do matter when it comes to preventing breast cancer? What can you be doing now to decrease your likelihood of breast cancer later in life? Dr. Elizabeth Neuger, a breast cancer specialist and general surgeon at the Everett Clinic, and Nicola Pytell, a breast cancer survivor, provide us with a list of 6 things you can do right now to lower your risk.  Share this with your mother, sisters, friends, and the other women you care about!
 
Eat Right
“Eating healthy to keep your weight in a normal range is one of the best ways for women to decrease their risk of breast cancer,” says Dr. Neuger. Studies have shown that women with a higher body mass index (BMI) are more likely to develop breast cancer. In addition to being produced in your ovaries, estrogen is also produced in fat tissue. According to the National Cancer Institute, “Estrogen-sensitive tissues are therefore exposed to more estrogen stimulation in heavy women, leading to a more rapid growth of estrogen-responsive breast tumors.”
 
Your BMI is based on your height and weight — not whether or not you’re a size zero. You can easily measure your BMI with online calculator like the one provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service. The number will let you know if you’re underweight, a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. If your BMI is higher than 25, you could be at a higher risk for breast cancer and should change your lifestyle habits by making sure to eat healthy foods and healthy fats.