15 Breast Cancer Prevention Tips

Early Detection

Early detection ensures the best survival rate.

Get a Mammogram

Breast cancer specialist Dr. Kristi Funk says women should get their baseline mammograms at age 35. If that mammogram is normal, then start annual mammograms every year at age 40.

Get a Digital Mammogram

Dr. Funk urges women to always get a digital mammogram.

Time Your Mammogram

Time your mammogram to your menstrual cycle.

Be Vigilant

Breast cancers typically do not hurt — making them hard to detect.

Eat Right

Try limiting fat in your diet. According to the Mayo Clinic, results from the most definitive study of dietary fat and breast cancer risk suggest a slight decrease in risk of invasive breast cancer for women who eat a low-fat diet.

If You Have Gained 10 Lbs.

Dr. Kristi Funk says to determine breast cancer risk, think back to your high school weight. If you have gained 10 lbs., you increase your breast cancer risk by 10%.

If You Have Gained 20 Lbs.

If you have gained 10-20 lbs. since high school, you increase your risk by 20%.

If You Have Gained 20-30 Lbs.

If you have gained 20-30 lbs. since high school, you increase your risk by 60%.

Stay Active

Regular exercise can help maintain a healthy weight and may aid in breast cancer prevention.

Men Should Not Ignore Symptoms

Breast cancer is deadlier in men because they tend to ignore lumps in their breasts. Thus, they are diagnosed at a later stage.

Drink Green Tea

Drinking three cups of green tea a day reduces your risk of breast cancer by 50%.

Benefit to OTC Drugs

Dr. Kristi Funk says those who take Advil, Motrin, Aleve or generic Ibuprofen may reduce their risk. She says two tablets weekly may reduce your breast cancer risk by 20% after 10 years.

Holistic Treatments

Dr. Kristi Funk says holistic methods have a place in the treatment of breast cancer for symptom/side effect management and for the prevention of a second breast cancer, however, she stresses that holistic methods are never in and of themselves the only treatment for breast cancer.

The Survival Rates

89% survive five years. 81% survive 10 years.

Stage one diagnosis is a 98% survival rate.

Stage four diagnosis is a 27% survival rate.