Lesser-Known Breast Health Tips

When at least one in every eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, you want to do all you can to be on the right side of that statistic. That’s why you never miss a mammogram: You know that regular screening increases your odds that breast cancer will be found at an early, treatable, or even curable stage.

But what about between your mammogram appointments? Or if you’re not yet old enough to start regular breast screenings? Are there things you can do to keep your breasts healthy and reduce your risk for breast cancer?

Joseph Calandra, MD, and Karen Mass, MD — our expert physicians at Mass Medical Imaging — encourage you to take good care of your breasts at all times and at any age. In addition to regular breast screenings, they recommend adopting healthy habits for the breast (and full-body) area.

What are some of the lesser-known breast health tips? In addition to mammograms, pay attention to the following.

Quit smoking and drinking alcohol

You may already know that cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer and other diseases, such as emphysema. Did you know that alcohol raises your risk for cancer, too? 

Both smoking and drinking are bad for your overall health, and that means bad for your breasts. In fact, just a small amount of alcohol increases your risk for several cancers, including:

• Breast (in women)
• Liver
• Mouth
• Throat
• Larynx
• Liver
• Colon and rectum

Alcohol damages your DNA, which makes your cells more susceptible to cancer. It also induces oxidative stress that damages DNA, proteins, and lipids. Finally, it can increase your levels of estrogen, which alters your breast tissue and may lead to cancer.

Just two drinks a day could raise your risk for breast cancer by more than 15%. And if you smoke and drink, you get a double whammy: Alcohol dissolves the carcinogens in cigarette smoke and also alters the cells in your mouth and throat so that they more easily absorb those carcinogens.

Lose excess fat

Does this list of hints sound like a way to improve your overall health? It does because it is. All of the standard advice that’s meant to improve your cardiovascular, brain, lung, and joint health can also improve your odds of preventing breast cancer. 

In addition to optimizing your health, though, losing excess fat optimizes your hormones. During your reproductive years, most of the steroid hormones are produced as your ovaries produce the estrogens. Estrogen triggers the development of your secondary sex characteristics in adolescence, such as your breasts, pubic hair, and menstruation.

As your ovaries gradually stop producing eggs and hormones, any adipose (i.e., fatty) tissue you have begins to generate more circulating estrogen. Excess fat in premenopausal women accounts for about 50% of circulating testosterone (a “male” hormone that women need, too). In postmenopausal women, adipose tissue accounts for 100% of circulating estrogen. 

High estrogen levels may be associated with an elevated risk for breast cancer. Finally, fatty tissue also contributes to inflammation in the body, and inflammation may trigger various diseases.

Exercise

Exercise enhances your overall fitness and supports the above goals. If you improve your diet and add exercise, you should lose excess fat.

Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore, either. Rekindle the movement you loved as a kid, such as cycling, dancing, or swimming. Add in activity breaks throughout the day to prevent excessive sitting time.

Weight lifting is particularly beneficial for women. Resistance training — such as using dumbbells, barbells, or resistance bands — helps maintain and even build muscle. Muscle tissue burns more energy than fatty tissue, so it’s easier to maintain a healthy weight. Muscles also put pressure on your bones to keep them as strong and dense as possible.

Get friendly with your girls

Whether you already conduct monthly breast self-exams or not, you should familiarize yourself with your breasts. Note that your breasts aren’t “twins;” each may be shaped and even situated slightly differently. Massage them. Feel them. Get to know their texture.

If you notice something different or concerning that doesn’t resolve within a few days, you can reach out to us to determine if the change requires investigation. Stay alert to changes such as nipple discharge, breast pain, or alterations in breast shape.

And, of course, be sure to book a breast screening today if you’re due. Call our team at 847-235-2415 or use our online appointment form.