When it comes to taking care of ourselves, most women tend to worry more about the health of others than their own. Having a yearly wellness check-up may be an addition to your already overwhelming to-do list, but it’s important to make sure you’re in good health before you can take care of others.
Lake Health General Surgeon Eveline Klenotic, DO, explains the importance of breast health and the facts and risk factors of breast cancer:
Get the facts about breast cancer
We support other women who are diagnosed with breast cancer with fundraisers and awareness, but when we think about ourselves, we believe it can’t happen to us. Did you know that breast cancer is the number one cancer in women? It’s also the number one cause of death in women aged 40 to 55. More than 3.1 million women in the United States have a history of breast cancer. This includes women currently in treatment and those who have finished treatment.
Different types of invasive breast cancer are:
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- Male Breast Cancer
- Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast
- Metastatic Breast Cancer
Breast cancer risk factorsÂ
Breast cancer diagnoses have been increasing because of lifestyle and family history awareness. A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer. This means that if your mother, sister or daughter had or has breast cancer, your risk is doubled. The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).
Lifestyle also affects your risk of breast cancer. Here are some healthy lifestyle tips you can incorporate into your daily routine to reduce your risk:
- Limit alcohol intake
- Exercise more
- Maintain your (healthy) weight
- Quit smoking.
Take the next step
Knowing these facts and risks about breast cancer can be scary. But increased awareness, earlier detection through mammography screenings and advanced treatment can significantly improve breast cancer outcomes and survivorship. Talk with your doctor about your concerns. He or she can help you make changes to reduce your breast cancer risk. However, one of the best ways to make sure you’re healthy and well is to have your yearly wellness check-up. Making an appointment can be a lifesaver!
