October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to focus on your health and take proactive steps to protect your future. Our team of board-certified primary care providers at CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care in Houston, Texas, is here to support you.
We believe that preventive medicine is the foundation of long-term wellness, especially for women's health and primary care.
While you can't control every risk factor, such as genetics, there are several evidence-based lifestyle changes you can make starting today.
You can lower your risk of breast cancer by adopting healthy daily habits that directly influence your body's hormone levels and immune system.
After menopause, your ovaries stop producing estrogen, and your fat tissue becomes the primary source of this hormone. Excess fat tissue can raise estrogen levels, which may trigger the growth of certain breast cancers.
If you need help managing your weight, our personalized weight loss programs can help you achieve a stable, healthy weight. Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows that sustained weight loss significantly reduces breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women.
There's no completely safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to breast cancer. Even light drinking — less than one standard drink per day — is associated with a 4% relative increase in risk, according to a study in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Alcohol raises estrogen levels and damages cellular DNA, making it highly beneficial to limit or avoid entirely.
Regular exercise is a powerful tool for cancer prevention. Physical activity improves your insulin sensitivity and strengthens your immune system, which helps your body destroy abnormal cells before they grow.
A study in the International Journal of Cancer found that regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can reduce breast cancer-specific mortality risk by up to 38%.
Focusing on whole foods, vegetables, and healthy fats like olive oil can protect your cells. The high fiber content in this diet helps bind estrogen in your digestive tract, allowing your body to flush it out naturally.
If you have children, breastfeeding for a year or more offers excellent protection. Lactation pauses your menstrual cycles, which reduces your breast tissue's lifetime exposure to estrogen surges.
Routine screening is essential because it detects breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages, often long before you can feel a lump.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that women of average risk begin biennial screening mammograms starting at age 40. Starting screenings a decade earlier than previously recommended is a vital step in saving lives.
Our team can help you understand your personal risk factors and guide you on when to schedule your mammogram. Taking charge of your health is the best gift you can give yourself this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Whether you need to discuss lifestyle changes, manage a chronic condition, or schedule a routine exam, we’re here to help. Schedule a visit with our team at CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care today to take the next step in your wellness journey.
