Pro tips to reduce your risk.
Breast cancer world’s leading cancer
BREAST CANCER HAS PASSED lung cancer as the most frequently discovered form of the disease worldwide. Breast cancer now represents 2.3 million new cases each year. Colon/rectal cancer is the third most common malignancy.
Breast cancer now represents nearly 12 percent, according to a new World Health Organization report. For the first time, breast cancer is the most common cancer globally and the leading cause of death from cancer.
“The cancer burden is significant and increasing. In 2020, the number of people diagnosed with cancer globally reached 19.3 million, and the number of people dying increased to 10 million,” offered Dr. Andre Ilbawi, technical officer at the WHO Cancer Control unit, ahead of Feb. 4 World Cancer Day.
What is driving the increased total number of cases? Ilbawi explains that the most significant and most likely drivers are population increases, increasing life expectancy, and better management of other competing health illnesses. As people live longer, cancer risk rises.
The World Health Organization reminds us that one-third of cancer deaths are due to:
- Tobacco use.
- High body mass index.
- Low fruit and vegetable intake.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Alcohol use.
Today, I want to turn to some of the key ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Can you reduce your risk of developing (or dying of) breast cancer? There is no magic way to eliminate the risk of breast cancer. However, there are things you can do to lower your risk. I won’t focus on the risk factors beyond your control, including being born female and aging (parenthetically, I would note that physical activity and mindfulness practices appear to slow the aging clock). Let’s take a quick look at some modifiable risk factors.
Some additional steps may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer for women known to have a higher risk for breast cancer.
- Be physically active. I begin with activity, as it can not only lower your risk of cancer but also of many other illnesses (including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, memory problems, and more). You probably already know the drill: The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity (a brisk walk, for example) or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity weekly (or some combination), ideally throughout the week. Exceeding the upper limit of 300 minutes or more is ideal.
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