Breast Cancer

Reduce your breast cancer risk with the latest research-based prevention advice Diet and Supplements Up your vitamin D. Research at the University of California, US, found women with the highest levels of vitamin D - made from exposure to sunlight - had a 50 per cent reduced risk of breast cancer. Scientists recommend sun exposure for 15 minutes a day. Top up vitamin D by eating oily fish and dairy foods. Eat your five a day Fruit and veg are rich in vitamins and minerals that help protect against cancers, says Dr Clare Shaw, c consultant dietician at London's Royal Marsden Hospital. Reduce alcohol It probably causes an extra one woman out of 100 who drink one unit ad ay to develop breast cancer, says Dr Sarah Cant, senior policy and information officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Limit red meat A recent university of Leeds study found eating 2 oz of read mat a day could double a post-menopausal woman's risk; younger women increase their risk slightly. Cancer researchers suggest limiting read meat to twice a week. Exercise and Lifestyle Lose extra pound. after the menopause, body fat becomes the ain source of the hormone oestrogen, excess levels of which are linked to some breast cancers Obese women have 50 to 100 per more oestrogen than women of a healthy weight. Get active. Several studies have found exercise can lower your risk. A 2003 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week could cut your risk. And recent research in the Archives of internal Medicine found five hours of strenuous activity a week can reduce risk. Replace your deodorant. One study found chemicals used in antiperspirants present in breast tumor samples, but the jury's still out. Try natural alterative if your are worried. Quit smoking Women who have smoke for r11 year or more could have a 40 percent increase risk of breast cancer, according to a US study

Your Genes Know your risk. You are considered to have a genetic risk if several close relatives have had breast cancer, especially beore the age of 50. Only about five per cent of breast cancers are thought to be inherited. Ask about screening. If you have a genetic risk, your GP may offer you a blood test to screen for genes that can cause breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2. Self-Exam Tips Touch and look at your breasts regularly so you get to know what's normal. Feel all around your breasts and up into your armpits - you're checking for any lumps or thickening. If there's a rash, discharge, skin puckering, change in size or shape, or anything else that 's unusual, see your doctor.