Are Seemingly Harmless Habits Putting You at Risk for Breast Cancer?
The Pill. Coffee. Sun. Confused about whether these and other factors put you at risk for breast cancer? To find out we went to the top experts. Here's the latest thinking on when to worry - and when to relax.
5 Things That May Not Cause Breast Cancer After All
1. Mammograms. There's a common misconception that radiation from annual mammograms causes breast cancer. But mammograms expose you to only about 18 millirems of radiation per exam - the equivalent of two days normal exposure to natural radiation in our atmosphere, according to the American College of Radiology. It is true that women who are exposed to very large amounts of radiation during their teens and early 20s have higher rates of breast cancer, probably because developing breast tissue is more susceptible to its effects. When women in their 30s and older are exposed to radiation, the risk is not as great as it is for younger women, says Rache Simmons, a breast surgeon at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Most women don't receive their first mammogram until age 40, the age recommended by the National Cancer Institute guidelines. Bottom line? Don't make the mistake of skipping your mammogram, and don't make these other common health mistakes either.
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2. Caffeine. Good news: There's no need to skip your daily java fix. Several major studies have found absolutely no link between caffeine consumption and breast cancer. The reason there have been so many studies is that researchers once suspected a connection between caffeine and breast cysts. But no link between caffeine and breast cancer has been found. Even so, caffeine may not always help keep you awake. These little habits will help you stay energized all day.
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3. Dairy.You'll find plenty of websites claiming that the animal fat and hormones in dairy exacerbate breast cancer. But several studies - including a Norwegian study published in The International Journal of Cancer - have found that women who drank more than three glasses of milk every day had a lower incidence of breast cancer. So go ahead and keep eating good-for-you dairy products (a good source of calcium, one of the five most important nutrients for women). They may even help decrease your breast-cancer risk, and help you lose weight.
Related:Health Habits It's Okay to Skip
4. Lumpy breasts. Doctors have a scary name for lumpy breasts: fibrocystic breast disease. But although the word "disease" may induce panic, lumpy breasts are extremely common and not linked to breast cancer. In fact, leading breast-cancer researcher Susan Love, M.D., analyzed studies following thousands of women with fibrocystic breast disease and concluded that they had no higher risk of breast cancer than did women who didn't have lumpy breasts. But having lumpy breasts means it's even more important to become familiar with the general day-to-day feel of your breasts. And, of course, if something feels wrong, it's always best to trust your gut - it could save your life.
Related:A Lifetime of Healthy Breasts
5. Bras. The bra rumor is based on the hypothesis set forth by husband-and-wife anthropologists in the book Dressed to Kill: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras, in which they claimed that bras - especially underwire bras - constrict lymphatic tissue, allowing cancer-causing toxins to build up. "Research has proven that bras - even tight-fitting ones - don't interfere with lymphatic drainage at all," says Peter Pressman, M.D., professor of clinical surgery at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and author of Breast Cancer: A Complete Guide. There have been many large-scale studies of what increases breast-cancer risk, and none of them have found any connection between wearing a bra and breast cancer (and the right one can make you instantly look five pounds thinner!).
Related:Your (Very Personal) Health at 20 30 40 50
5 Things That May Raise Your Risk
1. Having one drink (or more) a day. Women who have one alcoholic drink every day up their chances of getting breast cancer by about 9 percent from those of women who don't drink at all, according to a 1998 study done at the Harvard Medical School of Public Health in Boston. In other words, regularly downing two glasses of wine a night increases your risk for breast cancer by about 18 percent; three a night raises your risk by 27 percent. So is it safe to drink at all? Yes, in moderation, says Simmons. "I'd recommend limiting your intake to a drink a day." Try these delicious non-alcoholic sippers instead!
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2. Piling on the pounds.
Even though certain studies argue that carrying a little extra weight might be helpful, Ruth Oratz, a breast-cancer oncologist at the New York University Medical Center Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center explains that "Women who are overweight tend to have higher blood estrogen levels and higher insulin levels, both of which we believe may promote the development of cancerous cells," explains . After menopause, being overweight can increase your risk for breast cancer by up to 60 percent, according to one study. (Researchers are still unsure exactly how much weight gain is too much, so check with your doctor.)
And even though menopause is very likely years away, experts say you should lose any extra weight now. "You should really avoid weight gain during your 20s, 30s and 40s, because it's likely that any weight you put on will carry into your postmenopausal years," explains Deborah Axelrod, M.D., chief of the Comprehensive Breast Center at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York. A Georgetown University study also found that women who gained more than 40 pounds during a single pregnancy faced a 40 percent greater risk of developing breast cancer after menopause. (Women who retained the added pounds after pregnancy were at the greatest risk, regardless of their starting weight - here are eight easy ways to get it off.)
Related:7 Ways to Jump-Start Your Weight Loss This Fall
3. Being a couch potato.
There's plenty of evidence that breaking a sweat can help lower breast-cancer risk (and speed up your metabolism). One study at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles found that women who participated in at least four hours of exercise a week during their premenopausal years had a 58 percent lower breast-cancer risk than women who were inactive. Why does exercise reap such positive benefits? Most likely because it decreases the estrogen in the blood. Studies have shown that exercise may increase your body's production of cancer-fighting cells. Aim for at least three 45-minute sessions a week.
Related:Why Walking Does a Body Good
4. Postponing motherhood.
Women who have their first full-term pregnancy after 30 or never give birth at all are at slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer, notes Debbie Saslow, Ph.D., director of breast and gynecologic cancers at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "The more children a woman has, the lower her risk of developing breast cancer - probably because she's not ovulating as much (because of pregnancy) and thus her lifetime exposure to hormones is lower," she explains. Studies also suggest that breastfeeding offers a bit of protection against the disease, particularly against postmenopausal breast cancer. "The benefits may be slight, especially for those who do it for only a short time, but there are so many other health advantages to breastfeeding that we encourage women to do it if they can (try this if you're having a hard time), for as long as they can," says Saslow. Trying to get pregnant? This might help.
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5. Not eating your broccoli.
A few florets a day may keep breast cancer at bay. Research at the Strang Cancer Prevention Center in New York found that women who daily ate a mixture of cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc.) showed significant reductions in an estrogenic compound believed to cause breast cancer. "These vegetables contain chemicals called indoles, which seem to induce the body to burn off the form of estrogen that promotes breast cancer," explains Axelrod. Try to include these veggies in your diet at least two to three times a week. It doesn't matter if you eat them raw or cooked; researchers believe that their protective benefits are essentially the same either way.
Related:18 Easy Ways To Incorporate More Veggies in Your Diet
Read More:
4 Vital Facts About Cervical Cancer
The Deadliest Cancer Women Face Now
Will You Get Breast Cancer?
Fight Your Genetic Fate Using Your Family Tree
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