Reducing your risk of breast cancer
Some of the things that can help to reduce the risk of breast cancer include:
- keeping a healthy weight
- a healthy diet
- low amounts of alcohol
- being physically active
- breastfeeding
- medicines such as aspirin or anti inflammatory drugs
- surgery or hormone treatment if you are at high risk of developing breast cancer
- having children
Weight, diet and alcohol
Research shows that keeping a healthy weight reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer including breast cancer. Ways to keep a healthy weight include being physically active and eating a healthy, balanced diet.
Research also shows that cutting down the amount of alcohol you drink lowers your risk of developing breast cancer. There is no safe level of alcohol, so the more you cut down the more you can reduce your risk.
Does being physically active reduce your risk of breast cancer?
Being physically active can reduce your risk of breast cancer as it can help you to keep a healthy weight. But it can also prevent breast cancer in ways not related to weight.
Activity can include anything that makes you a bit warmer and slightly out of breath and your heart beating faster. Here are some examples:
- having a physically active job
- recreational exercise, such as walking, cycling or playing sport
- chores such as ironing, gardening and cleaning
The reduced risk is possibly because exercise lowers levels of 
, and in the body.
Can breastfeeding reduce the risk of breast cancer?
Breastfeeding lowers the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly if you have your children when you are younger. The longer you breastfeed the more the risk is reduced.
It is not completely clear why this is. But the reduced risk might be because the don't produce eggs so often during breastfeeding. Or it might be because breastfeeding changes the cells in the breast so they might be more resistant to changes that lead to cancer.
Aspirin and anti inflammatory drugs
Research has shown that women who regularly take aspirin or other medicines have a slightly lower risk of developing breast cancer. There are trials in progress that will give us more information in the future.
Remember that aspirin can irritate the lining of your stomach and cause bleeding. So you should talk to your GP before starting to take it regularly.
You shouldn't take these medicines if you have any history of stomach ulcers.
Treatments for those at high risk of breast cancer
Some people who have family members with breast cancer have a higher risk of developing it compared to the general population. There are medicines and surgical treatments that can help to reduce the risk of breast cancer for those at a higher risk.
Medicines for women at moderate or higher risk of breast cancer
Doctors may offer medicines to some moderate and high risk women to reduce the risk of breast cancer. These are:
- tamoxifen for 5 years if you are pre menopausal
- anastrozole for 5 years if you are post menopausal
- raloxifene or tamoxifen for 5 years if you are post menopausal and you can’t take anastrozole
All these medicines have side effects and are not suitable for everyone. Speak to your doctor who can tell you whether these are suitable for you.
You do not need to take this medication if you have had surgery to reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Surgery for high risk breast cancer
Surgery to remove both breasts may be a possible option for women at very high risk. This is known as a bilateral risk reducing mastectomy. Bilateral means both sides and mastectomy means removal of the breast.
It is important you meet a counsellor before you make a decision about having surgery. They will talk about your own personal risks and explain other options, for example screening for high risk women. Your surgeon and specialist nurse will tell you about the surgery. They will also talk about your feelings and any concerns you may have.
During the operation the surgeon removes as much breast tissue as possible but it’s not possible to remove it all. So, although surgery lowers your risk it does not go away completely.
You may be able to have during the surgery, or at a later date. This is surgery to make new breasts using tissue from elsewhere in your body or implants.
Choosing to have risk reducing surgery can be a difficult time for you and your family, so it is important to ask questions. Your doctors and nurses will support you when making your decisions and throughout your treatment.
Speak to your doctor if you have family members with breast cancer and you think you might be at increased risk of developing it.
Does having children reduce your risk of breast cancer?
Whether you can have children or when you have them may not be something you can control.
Having children and in particular having a child at younger age can slightly lower your risk of developing breast cancer. The risk gets lower the more children you have.
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