How regular screening and lifestyle changes can help cure and also prevent breast cancer

The rising incidence of breast cancer is a major concern for women throughout the world. Breast cancer is today one of the most commonly occurring cancers in women particularly in the urban areas. It is one of the major causes of deaths due to cancer in women. The condition however can be detected and diagnosed early by regular screening. In fact the earlier the diagnosis the higher is the chance of a complete cure and recovery.

Mammography
With advancement in healthcare technology it is now possible to get an X-Ray test to determine the likelihood of cancer. The X-Ray test known as mammography produces a clear image of the breast and surrounding tissues enabling detection of any abnormalities in the form of lumps. The screening helps the doctor to detect the presence of tumors and check if the growth is benign or cancerous by way of a biopsy.

Warning signs
Risk factors include hereditary as well as lifestyle ones. Doctors advise regular screening tests for women with a history of breast cancer in their families. The frequency of the tests needs to be higher for women over 40 years, at least twice in a year.
The warning signs are swellings and lumps, dimpling, skin irritation and redness, discharge from the nipples and retraction. If any of the above sigs are observed a visit to the Breast Cancer Hospital at the earliest is advised even if there is no hereditary occurrence.
Breast cancer is also looked upon as a lifestyle disease.

Some factors that can lead to breast cancer include

• hormone therapy like long term use of estrogen
• childbirth after the age of 30 and not breast feeding
• intake of alcoholic drinks and smoking
• being overweight
• sedentary lifestyle with little or no exercise

Hormonal therapy wrongly administered can result in severe abnormalities in bodily functions. Over the long term this can lead to conditions like development of breast cancer. It is highly recommended to take hormone medication only under proper medical supervision.
While pregnancy and childbirth has more to do with family planning, doctors do advise mothers to breast feed their babies. Breast feeding is not only necessary for the proper growth of the child but also reduces the risk of breast cancer in middle age.
Alcohol and tobacco are potential carcinogens and contribute to occurrence of cancer in women. Women who drink or smoke are much more likely to be afflicted with serious health conditions like breast cancers than those who don’t especially where there is no family history.
A balanced and consistent diet helps maintain optimum weight which decreases the likelihood of breast cancer as well as other health afflictions.

A healthy diet should be based on adequate amounts of

• whole grains like wheat, jowar and bajra
• pulses and sprouts including a variety of peas and beans
• cow’s milk and dairy products like cottage cheese
• eggs and white meat like fish and chicken
• fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly washed 

Dietary Dos and Don’ts
Some of the dos include following a natural diet according to one’s bodily constitution and eating only when hungry. Some of the don’ts include avoiding crash dieting, junk and unhygienic food, skipping breakfast and main meals. Also complete avoidance of fats can do more harm than good. A moderate amount of high quality fats like clarified butter and unsaturated oils does help the body in performing vital functions.

Physical activity
Women who exercise have a significantly lower risk of development of breast cancer. Exercise which may be in the form of brisk walking, jogging, aerobics, swimming or cycling helps maintain physical fitness and overall health. As with any activity, exercise needs to be consistent and enjoyable.
Stress is often indirectly linked to various health afflictions like cancers and exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress levels. Last but not the least, six to eight hours of sleep at night helps the body to relax and relieve tension and should never be compromised with.