October is breast cancer awareness month, a time to raise awareness about the disease and promote the importance of screenings. But how do you know if you are at risk for breast cancer? Jessica Moriarty, a nurse practitioner at Avera Cancer Institute in Marshall has information on what you can do to reduce your risk.
How do you know if you’re at risk for breast cancer?
Everybody is a little bit at risk. One in eight women are going to develop breast cancer. But you increase your risk with any family history of breast cancer as well as nutrition and body status. A lot of breast cancer is spread by estrogen and if you are more overweight, you have more estrogen in your body, so you are at higher risk for breast cancer.
Are there ways to help reduce your risk for breast cancer?
The most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of breast cancer is actually diet and exercise. Having a healthy body weight and a good nutrition status are the best ways to reduce your risk.
How important is breast screening and how can it save your life?
Essential. Breast screening and doing your screening mammograms can catch breast cancer at a much earlier stage. If you can catch it early, you not only can have a better outcome, but a lot less steps you have to go through in order to get that outcome.
