Reducing Your Breast Cancer Risk

Researchers have found correlations between certain nutritional factors and breast cancer risk. However, many of these associations have not necessarily resulted in risk-reducing strategies. For example, there just isn’t enough evidence to recommend for or against many of the things that once seemed promising, such as eating more soy or taking supplements like vitamin E, vitamin C, or selenium. That said, there is growing evidence that we can lower our risk through certain healthy lifestyle choices and medical strategies. While there’s no single way to reduce your risk for breast cancer, experts at Harvard Medical School recommend the following approaches which, when combined, could make a difference:

1. Address weight gain
2. Increase regular physical activity
3. Reduce alcohol consumption
4. Make sure you are getting the daily recommended amount of Vitamin D
5. Discuss the risks of oral contraceptives or postmenopausal hormone therapy with your physician
6. If you have dense breast tissue, talk to your clinician about screening with digital mammography
7. Consider anti-estrogen drugs if you have a history of breast cancer in your family