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Prevent breast cancer with 5 good habits

1 in 8 women is affected by breast cancer

Although the number of cases has been decreasing since 2005, breast cancer is the most common cancer and also the deadliest in women. In France, more than 50,000 new cases of breast cancer are recorded each year. This cancer is known, studied, explained… but also easily detected! The disease is better and better diagnosed and treated nowadays and the main risk factors are identified. This allows you to know concretely how to prevent breast cancer. Moreover, it has been shown that, out of 355,000 cancers diagnosed in France each year, approximately 142,000 cases are preventable. In other words, this represents 40% of cancers.

Awareness around breast cancer takes shape during the annual and international Pink October campaign (support for the fight against breast cancer). The objective is to inform, interact and act to prevent the development of breast cancer. 

PS: Let's not forget the men! They represent less than 1% cases, but they do exist. Each year in France, breast cancer affects around 550 men. So healthy gestures apply to everyone!

5 habits to prevent breast cancer

Knowing the risk factors for breast cancer also means knowing how to protect yourself against it. It is possible to prevent breast cancer through simple and applicable daily actions. 

Walk 1 hour a day

And if you favor walking in your lifestyle and your travels?

You don't have to be a high-level athlete or a great sportswoman to significantly reduce your risk of breast cancer. An American study published in the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention of the American Cancer Society has shown that from 30 minutes a day dedicated to dynamic physical activity, the risk of breast cancer decreases up to 14% !  And this figure is all the more valid for postmenopausal women.

Palpate yourself!

The first lever for breast cancer screening recommended by the League against Breast Cancer is to self-palpate! Before getting dressed or getting out of the shower, nothing could be simpler than taking a few minutes once a month to feel your chest. The ideal is to perform self-examination on the first day of menstruation. A discreet, autonomous and quick way to get to know your body better in detail and to monitor possible tissue changes.

The gesture is now facilitated thanks to the breast self-examination aid pad. The principle is simple: the friction of two vinyl and silicone sheets significantly improves the touch and, therefore, increases the sensations. It's washable, reusable and above all it makes exercise easier and more comfortable. 

We say stop smoking

Often associated with lung cancer, tobacco increases the chances of developing breast cancer by 10 to 40%. Smoking is the number one preventable risk factor for all cancers combined.

 

In addition, the effects of tobacco are, for the most part, reversible. No need to be discouraged, it is possible to quit smoking even after 50 years and see the benefits on your health.

… but also stop drinking

What is true for tobacco is also true for alcohol! Particularly known for its harmful effects on the liver, it is also responsible for the appearance of approximately 8 000 cases of breast cancer per year.

Alcohol is a lesser-known but easily preventable risk factor for the development of breast tumors.

Choose fruits and vegetables to prevent breast cancer

It's not a cliché: a healthy diet is essential for the proper functioning of the body and for the protection of certain diseases. Regarding breast cancer, the ideal is to include fruits and vegetables in your daily meals while limiting the consumption of red meat and fat.

According to'National Cancer Institute, being overweight is a risk factor for the appearance of breast cancer, a healthy diet should not be neglected. For example, high cholesterol is considered a risk factor for breast cancer.

So, favor fish (rich in omega-3), red fruits, vegetables and legumes!

Breast cancer screening

If these few good actions to adopt on a daily basis can prevent breast cancer, the best action remains screening. It is recommended, after age 50, to perform a mammogram every two years to examine the breast tissue. For this, the Social Security sends an invitation to all women between 50 and 74 years old to carry out the medical examination free of charge.