October 21 , 2021 The Beacon • 21
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Breast cancer affects millions of women across the globe each year . Though that may instill a feeling of helplessness , women should know many risk factors for breast cancer are within their control .
Women have some control in regards to their risks
No one , regardless of their age , occupation , skin color or socio-economic status , is immune to cancer . In fact , individuals might be hard pressed to say no one in their family and / or circle of friends has been diagnosed with cancer at some point .
According to the National Cancer Institute , there were 18.1 million new cancer cases across the globe in 2018 . Among women , when excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer , no cancer was more prevalent globally than breast cancer . In 2018 breast cancer accounted for 25.4 % of all new cancer diagnoses in women . That figure is nearly three times as high as the percentage of cases of colorectal cancer , which accounted for the second most new cancer cases diagnosed in women in 2018 .
It ’ s understandable to be fearful of such figures , which can make a breast cancer diagnosis seem almost inevitable . However , not all risk factors for breast cancer are set in stone . Though age and family history , two known risk factors for breast cancer , may be beyond a woman ’ s
control , she still can exercise some control over other risk factors .
Physical activity
Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than those who are . The Office on Women ’ s Health , a division of the U . S . Department of Health & Human Services , notes that women should get two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity every week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week . This should be accompanied by muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days each week . Carrying around extra weight can make moving around more difficult , so the Office on Women ’ s Health urges larger women to start slowly if it ’ s been a while since they exercised . In addition , aging women
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can speak with their physicians for advice about exercise regimens they should or need not avoid .
Taking hormones
Hormone-replacement therapies that include both estrogen and progesterone taken during menopause can increase a woman ’ s risk for breast cancer when taken for more than five years . In addition , oral contraceptives such as birth-control pills have been linked to a higher risk for breast cancer . Women can speak with their physicians about how to control hormonerelated risk factors for breast cancer .
Alcohol consumption
Studies have found the more alcohol a woman consumes the greater her risk for breast cancer becomes .
Smoking
Exposure to chemicals that have been found to cause cancer and changes in hormones related to working night shifts are some additional risk factors for breast cancer that women may be able to control .
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