Parkridge Health System - November 07, 2018

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! According to the American Cancer Society, more than 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women each year.

But even though one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, our team at Parkridge Medical Center wants to share some steps you can take to protect your breast health:

Be Physically Active

Exercise can help add years to your life, helping you maintain a healthy body weight and limit your risk of certain medical conditions. That's the case with breast cancer.

Experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. That’s just more than 20 minutes each day. So find an activity you enjoy—and get active!

Know Your Breasts

While most organizations no longer recommend formal breast self-exams, it’s still important for women to familiarize themselves with their breasts. That means regularly checking them and knowing what’s normal for you and what’s not.

Take time to palpate your breast tissue every month or so to feel for any changes, including lumps. You also want to examine them visually, both by eye and using a mirror, so you can spot any color or texture changes.

If you spot changes, don't worry—but do check in with your doctor.

Eat Your Veggies

You know you’re supposed to eat plenty of vegetables, but have you ever considered why? Well, for one, getting enough veggies in your diet can help lower your risk of developing cancer.

Since vegetables tend to be filled with antioxidants and carotenoids, they work hard at lowering a person’s risk of suffering from estrogen-receptor-negative breast tumors. Although this type of breast cancer only counts for 15 percent of all breast cancers diagnosed, it is one of the hardest to cure. So anything you can do to lower your risk is a step in a positive direction.

Have you had your mammogram this year? Give us a call at (423) 493-1271 to schedule your appointment, or visit our website to learn more.