One day, one week, or even one whole month is never enough to raise public awareness of a disease like breast cancer. In any case, October is dedicated worldwide to raising awareness about this disease and, above all, about its prevention , as it is a type of malignancy that, if detected early, can be completely curable .
Breast cancer prevention is related to regular breast examinations , general good knowledge of our body, and our daily lifestyle . As this is a disease that cannot be prevented at the primary level, since we do not know its cause (except in cases where there is a genetic burden, in which case prophylactic interventions are often recommended), its diagnosis is carried out through breast palpation or its symptoms . So what can we do to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer or detect it at an early stage?
Our family history
It is extremely important to know if there are or have been any members of our family who have developed breast cancer at some point in their lives. This way, a qualified doctor can assess the risk group we belong to and create a special screening regimen for us.
Preventive examinations and regular check-ups
At least once a year - as long as we don't belong to a high-risk group, in which case the frequency varies - we visit the gynecologist for our annual check-up, during which he or she feels our breasts. However, regardless of this, every month, a few days after the end of our period, we also feel our breasts ourselves from each side, pressing our fingers inward into the tissue, trying to detect any findings.
We also discuss with our gynecologist, especially from the age of 35, whether we need to have a mammogram before 40 (also known as a “reference mammogram”) or another examination that will be more appropriate for our case. After 40, we never neglect to have a mammogram once a year and to inform our gynecologist about its results.
Good knowledge of our body
Especially in the case of our breasts, we should monitor their appearance in the mirror and any changes that may occur. Redness, changes in the size or shape of the breasts, nipples that “turn” inward or that are irritated for no reason or that secrete fluids may be signs of malignancy and as soon as we notice them, we should visit our doctor.
Our daily habits
We can contribute to the prevention of breast cancer through our daily habits . Maintaining a stable body weight and avoiding obesity through a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are factors that do not favor breast cancer.
However, we cannot rely entirely on a healthy lifestyle and exercise , as our main tool for treating this type of cancer is early diagnosis , and for this reason it is necessary to have our annual visits to the gynecologist and - at least once a month - palpation of our breasts shortly after the end of our period.
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