Breast cancer: protective factors

You have heard that the sport could protect women from breast cancer? That diet can play? Indeed, studies have identified some protective factors, including the practice of regular physical activity and the fight against excess weight.

1. Move more
After several foreign studies, a French survey has confirmed the beneficial role of physical activity to prevent breast cancer. No need to embark on an amazing sport. Walking at a brisk pace at least thirty minutes every day, always prefer the stairs, a sporting activity once a week reduces the risk by 40%. Among the explanations: a reduction in circulating estrogen, changes in growth factors and immune function.

2. Control your weight
After menopause, being overweight seems to promote breast tumors. Many women take a few pounds at this time, for hormonal reasons and often less active, but be careful not to become overwhelmed ... Meals too high in animal fats are not recommended. You tend to eat so unbalanced? You can use a dietician. It will give you tips and recipe ideas.

3. Moderate alcohol consumption
We all know that alcohol abuse is dangerous for health. Among others, it seems to increase the risk of breast cancer. The rule: no more than 2 drinks per day and, if possible, not every day.

Other factors - we do not necessarily control - increase the risk.
- Age: the older we get and the greater the risk. This is why women between 50 and 74 every 2 years have a free screening.
- A precocious puberty (menarche before age 12) and late menopause (after age 55) probably because we are longer exposed to estrogenic hormones.
- The fact of not having children or having but later, the risk is lower in women who have had several children, the first before age 30 and who were breastfed for several months.
- Taking hormones in some women taking the pill for more than 10 years and hormone replacement therapy at menopause appear to increase slightly the risk.
- Heredity: in some families, a mutated gene can promote the development of cancer. However, these cancers linked to heredity are the rarest.

Warning: You may be affected by a number of contributing factors and never have breast cancer. It is even the most common situation.