FACT:  Almost 80% of women with breast cancer do NOT have a family history of the disease.  (Source: American Cancer Society)

FACT:  1 in 8 women who live to be 85 years old will develop breast cancer.  (Source: American Cancer Society)

FACT:  Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American women. (Source: American Cancer Society)

   According to the American Cancer Society, there are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., alone.   That’s a lot of unexpected, ugly surprises.

When we were young, a few good pumping exercises were all we needed (or thought we needed) to keep our ‘girls’ in shape. But there are alarming statistics that prove a woman’s breasts change over the years; with every 10 years into womanhood, you – me – every gal on the planet will face the challenge of these changes … even if she isn’t aware of it.

F.Y.I.

You looked good in your 20′s - mostly because your breasts had some tone and didn’t even think about pointing south.  Your risk factor for breast cancer wasn’t much of a concern; maybe not even a thought.  It was the best time to start some healthy hooter habits … but did you?  Experts on breast health now agree that the  lifestyle choices we made in our 20′s was either a preventative or a black mark in our becoming a dreaded breast cancer statistic.

Aside from pregnancy and no-no, yo-yo dieting, your breasts in your 30‘s shouldn’t change much.  But that doesn’t discount some breast lumps, bumps and pain that might suspiciously be claiming your attention.   NOT getting it checked out can be deadly – putting you in the overall risk category of 1 in  233 (according to a study done at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy).

Ahhh, the uphill climb to the 40′s!  Don’t you feel old?  Not yet?  Great!  BUT … how are the girls doing as your reproductive hormones begin to decline?    Less breast tissue & more fat gain may be your story – leading to common (but usually benign), fluid-filled cysts.   Did you get regular screenings?  Hope so; because your 40′s puts you up into an even higher risk level … 1 in 69.    One of the warning signs: atypical hyperplasia (too many abnormal cells lining the breast ducts).  Mayo Clinic states women experiencing this condition are 4 to 6 times more likely to develop BC.

In your 50′s and counting … Menopause is an enemy of unknown proportions, especially when it comes to breast health.  More changes occur due to more fatty tissue and less estrogen production.  Although tumors at this stage of the game are easier to detect, if you do find a bump or lump get ye to a doctor!  A check up at this time in your life is important, as your odds of a nasty diagnosis within the next 10 years and beyond is now 1 in 38.

Doom and Gloom?? 

Not Hardly … These are Cold Facts you CAN Change! 

• If You’re In Your 20′s:   **Know how your breasts feel by doing monthly (or more often) self-exams.  That way you’ll know a difference (if any) when you feel one.  ** Apply some SPF moisture to your upper chest/breast area just like you do on your face.  Exposed skin is exposed skin – no matter where it is on your body.  ** Yes, you’re of age…but think before your drink!  Women who are social drinkers have a 34% higher chance of developing hormone-positive breast cancer!  ** Don’t do the yo-yo diet thing; work at keeping your weight on an even keel (and yes…it IS work for most of us).  ** Get rid of that underwire bra, for gosh sakes!!  Underwires trap lymph in delicate breast tissue instead of allowing it to drain.

• If you’re in your 30′s:  ** Do some family tree investigating: were there any ovarian or breast cancer victims in close proximity, such as a mom or sister?  Don’t forget about your grandmother, aunts, nieces and cousins, either.  If you discover some skeletons in your health closet, talk to your doctor who can help you with proactive ways of figuring out if this discovery makes you more at-risk.     **  Clip the caffiene routine and opt for a daily dose of supplements, especially if you’re experienceing any breast pain: Vitamin B-6 (about 100 mg.), some Evening Primrose Oil and 400 IU’s of Vitamin E.  ** Opt for lean chicken, pork and/or fish instead of so much red meat.  One Harvard study showed that women who regularly consumed red meat tested double in their risk of hormone-induced breast cancer as compared to gals who ate beef  less frequently.

• In Your 40′s … You need to be proactive, and that doesn’t mean taking every new drug that comes down the pike promising to reduce your breast cancer risks!  ** Increase your self-massage/exams to daily – when you take a shower is an optimum time and use of an herbal breast salve or oil can help clear breast tissue from stagnant fluid and keep your tissues cyst-free.  ** So you’re not an exercise buff – get re-acquainted with the local gym, Y.M.C.A. or biking trail.  It’s a fact that women over age 30 who exercise on a regular basis  were less likely to develop this disease (not to mention others) than gals who preferred to sit and watch TV in their spare time.  ** Help the skin tone of your decollete with a collagen/elastin type cream that can erase unsightly stretch marks and give needed skin support.

• The Big “50″ and then some:  ** Just because hormone replacement therapy is on the boob tube every night (no pun intended), don’t believe everything you hear.  In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative linked synthetic estrogen and progesterone with a 27% INCREASE in breast cancer risk.  Synthetics are forms of chemical poisons…why are we encouraged to think poison is good for us??  There are other options available that can naturally ease and assist – like Wild Yam’s root cream, Black Cohosh capsules and many others.  ** If you think taking a walk is romantic … it’s so much more!  During and after menopause, women tend to gain weight and lose muscle mass – where the estrogen is stored by the body – and regular exercise like taking a daily walk can fight that.  ** Just because you can’t have babies anymore doesn’t mean you fire your baby doc!  An annual pelvic and breast exam is just smart thinking!  ** Watch the weight…and the blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol and insulin levels!   All these “over 50″ health concerns can stimulate cell growth and increase estrogen production, which beats a path to breast cancer. 

If you or someone you love identifies with anything in this post, BE PRO ACTIVE and do some homework to see all the wonderful options available to you for breast health, naturally.  Information is power – the power to help yourself to health.

Have sensational - NOT statistical – Health and Wellness.

 Blessings,     …      ~ Allyson   

Technorati Tags: breast health, breast health awareness, breast cancer, how to prevent breast cancer, taking care of your breasts, proactive ways to keep breasts healthy

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