Can Breast Cancer be Prevented? Risk Factors!

Can Breast Cancer be Prevented?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is always an ideal approach, but breast cancer is never the fault of the individual. A balanced diet, a lifestyle that includes abstaining from smoking and drinking alcohol in excess and regular exercise are all ways to stay healthy, but none will guarantee a woman or man will not get breast cancer.

Are there Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

BreastCancer.org notes that there are factors a woman or man can control that might lessen their risk for breast cancer. Those risks include:

• Weight. Post-menopausal women in particular can reduce their risk of breast cancer by maintaining a healthy weight. Fat tissue is the body's main source of estrogen after menopause, and having more fat tissue means higher estrogen levels, which increases breast cancer risk.
• Diet. Many cancers are linked to diet, but studies have yet to show for certain which types of foods increase the risk for breast cancer. In general, it's good to restrict sources of red meat and other animal fats, such as fats from dairy products. Some studies have shown that eating a lot of red and/or processed meats is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Eating a diet low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables is often recommended to reduce cancer risk.
• Exercise. The American Cancer Society recommends engaging in 45-60 minutes of physical exercise 5 or more days per week, as evidence continues to mount that exercise can reduce breast cancer risk
• Alcohol and smoking. Alcohol limits the liver's ability to control blood levels of estrogen, which can increase risk of breast cancer. Similarly, smoking has been associated with a small increase in breast cancer risk.

BreastCancer.org also notes additional risk factors for breast cancer can include recent oral contraceptive use, stress and anxiety and exposure to estrogen.

While all of the mentioned risk factors are within an individuals control, there are a host of additional factors beyond a person's control that can increase risk of breast cancer. These factors include age, family history, personal history, and race among others.

Remember, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join a group in your community and give anyway you can. Some of the things you can do, donate time to your local hospital or cancer support group, run in a race for a loved one or friend, donate old wigs or hats and scarves for cancer patients that can't afford them (contact your hospital and they will know who you should get in touch with) and you can also donate to the Cancer group of your choice.

Stay health and support Breast Cancer Awareness!

Leigh

New Year Wishes for ALL! Health, Wealth, Peace

We all are wishing for a Happy New Year!

We want 2010 to be the start of a New and Exciting

future for everyone.

We hope that the Economy will improve, Peace will

be instilled in all man and Health will be a prime item on every one's mind.

We are the builders of our Wishes and this is how we start.

Wealth starts at home. Watch how we spend our money, invest wisely, and get control of our finances and plan for the future.

Peace starts with giving of ourselves. To family, friends, church, neighbors, strangers, the sick and also the homeless. We all, at one time or the other, have needed a helping hand. If you are in the position, you can be that helping hand to others. Make a phone call to the elderly or the sick. See if there is anything you can do, even if it is just the phone call, it will mean so much to them. Visit, you do not have to talk a lot, just let them talk to you. Listening is a great healer for the person telling the story.

Give a caregiver a break. Caring for a terminally ill or chronically ill person takes a lot out of you. Even getting a 30 minute to an hour break can make all the difference in their day.

If you are able, make a donation to your favorite charity. Money is tight and many charities are having a hard time continuing the great work they do. If you are not able to donate money, donate a little of your time. Volunteers are always needed. Just look in your local paper and you will find article after article letting you know what is needed. Check with your local United Way and they may be able to give you more information.

Health is the most important thing we can give ourselves. Try to take better care of yourself. Good health will make it easier to concentrate, think and keep the mind and body sharper. Learn to deal with Stress. Stress is a main contributor to so many ailments. Your body converts stress into a contributing agent leading to depression, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and everyday aches and pains. Try to have a positive attitude (I know that can be hard in this environment but the negativity of stress just makes it worse, I know first hand)

Exercise! If you are depressed and sore from sitting around, Stretch! You don't have to do Jumping Jacks but if you just sit there you only make it worse. Move around, get a hobby (it does not have to be an expensive hobby, whittle, do decoupage, knit, do woodworking, stamp collecting, read (Library books are free and they have movies too). If you have a computer start researching your favorite subjects. Get your mind moving. If you can't work, as I said, Volunteer at a local charity. Giving will make you feel better and help you realize you are not alone out there. There are a lot of people dealing with similar problems. Helping others will help you. You may even meet someone that can help you out of your situation.

Watch what you eat. Start the New Year saying you will eat a healthier diet and if you are over weight that you will shred those extra pound. You will be amazed how much better you will feel with every 5 pounds you lose. As you lose weight, check out the local consignment shops for new clothes and save money as you go down in sizes. Take your old, larger size clothes to the consignment shops and make some money with them for extra spending cash.

Well, These are some of my goals and I hope they have given you some ideas for yourselves. The past year has been be rough for my family with my cancer, my husband out of work, my sister being ill, my brother losing his job and more. But I am optimistic that 2010 will be a better year for us all. But we are the ones that have to make it so!

I wish all of you the Best Health, Wealth, and Peace in the coming year and may 2010 be Great for us all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! LEIGH

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4 Things to Help Women NOT Get Breast Cancer

The following are 4 things reported that women can do to reduce their chances of getting Breast Cancer.

1 If you are overweight, Lose that Weight!

2 If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation!

3 Exercise, Exercise, Exercise It can be low impact or more but get your body moving.

4 Breast feeding has been found to lower your chances of breast cancer.

and I am adding another.

If you are a smoker, please quit smoking. I know that it is hard but for your health and the health of those around you please quit.

I can't Breastfeed but I am working on the first 3 to try to reduce my chances of recurrence.

Good health to us all. Leigh

Good Exercise is Important for Cancer Health! Try Golf!

One of the things my doctors told me during my fight with cancer is to try to stay active. They said this would help with depression and muscle aches.

Well, I did not because I felt so bad and was that a mistake. I had no energy, felt washed out, and generally felt like crap. Sorry about the language but that was how I felt.

My sister asked me one day to come out and play some golf with her. She had just had gastric bypass surgery and needed to walk everyday. She hated just walking down the block and she used to play golf occasionally so she thought she could get her exercise that way.

I had never played golf and really did not care to learn but I wanted to support her in any way that I could so I said OK.

Well, I found out something out there on the golf course. It made me feel better to get out of the house and walk around and get some fresh air.

Now I may not be Tiger Woods, but my sister and I both are enjoying getting a little exercise and sunshine. Yes we take our time, drink lots of water and we don't do 18 holes. But who cares, we are having a good time and feeling better.

Since I don't know a lot about golf I decided to check out some of the information on the web and found this great site called http://www.golf.todays-tips.com/ and they have some great information. They have the basics for people like me and videos for improving your swing, curing your slice, chip shots and my favorite, getting out of the bunker. The also have information on Golf health, Golf Vacations and Golf Equipment.

I am improving every time we play and I have two ladies joining us this week from my cancer support group. They thought it sounded like lots of fun and wanted to try.

Ladies, whether it is golf, tennis, swimming or just walking around the block, Get out of the House! If you are feeling bad, it will make you feel better. I wear my wide brimmed hat and lots of sunscreen, light weight clothing and get out there and go.

Don't worry about your score, remember it is just a game and HAVE FUN!!!!

Health and Happiness to everyone, Leigh

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