Breast Cancer Care That Women Should Live By
One of the leading causes of deaths for women is breast cancer. This is the reason why more and more groups are campaigning for awareness and implementing fund raising activities. These groups rally behind the women afflicted with breast cancer and call for women to care for themselves to somehow prevent such dreaded diseases as cancer.
The proceeds of their fund raising events go to research for treatments of breast cancer. The people composing these groups though can only do so much to help women all over the world. In the end it really is up to the women to give special care for themselves.
Studies have shown that the most important risk factors for the development of breast cancer cannot be controlled by the individual. This means that there are nod direct cause and effect when it comes to breast cancer so it would seem difficult to come up with breast cancer care tips for women. There are some risk factors though that are associated with an increased risk, but again there is not a clear cause and effect relationship.
In no way can strong recommendations can be made like the cause and effect relationship seen with tobacco and lung cancer because that has already been proven a long time ago. It may be recommended to look at a few risk factors that may be modified by a woman that potentially could influence the development of breast cancer.
According to scientific groups if possible, a woman should avoid long-term hormone replacement therapy as this can increase the risk of breast cancer. They should also endeavor to have children before age 30, breastfeed their babies, avoid weight gain and limit alcohol consumption to 1 drink a day or less. All of these things can be controlled by the woman concerned. She can discuss the hormone replacement therapy with her doctor, share her concerns about getting pregnant with her husband, exercise and eat right to avoid weight gain and resort to water and non-alcoholic drinks even when in parties.
Now there have been certain studies geared towards breast cancer care that say that for women already at a high risk, their risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced by about 50% by taking a drug called Tamoxifen for five years. Tamoxifen though has some common side effects ranging from the not serious side effects like for instance, vaginal discharge and hot flashes; to some serious but uncommon side effects like pulmonary embolus, stroke, even uterine cancer and clotting of the blood which are life threatening.
Tamoxifen is not really widely used for prevention, but may be useful in some cases. There are some limited data suggesting that vitamin A may protect against breast cancer but further research is to be done before it can be recommended for prevention through drinking vitamins is for general good health. Other things being investigated for breast cancer care include phytoestrogens.
These are naturally-occurring estrogen hormones that can be found in high amounts in soy. Other vitamins that can be taken for breast cancer care are vitamin E, vitamin C, and other chemicals that are beneficial. Further testing of the substances mentioned is also needed before they can be recommended for breast cancer prevention or breast cancer care.
The singular most important thing any woman can do to decrease her risk of having breast cancer is to conduct regular mammogram screening tests, make a habit of performing breast self exams, and have a regular physical examination by their physician. These simple breast cancer care things to do can easily be done and so all women should be up and about doing these things.
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