Eight Prevention Methods for Breast and Ovarian Cancer

There are two major genes responsible for the growth and development of breast and ovarian cells and tissue, and when these genes mutate or become abnormal, a woman’s risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer can skyrocket.

The presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes can mean a lifelong risk of up to 80% certainty that a woman will develop breast or ovarian cancer in her lifetime. While nothing can be done about the way that genes are passed from blood relatives to their children, there are some things that can be done about being proactive towards breast and ovarian cancer.

The best way to catch cancer early is to be aware of any sudden or gradual changes in your body.

Preventing cancer starts with you and your healthcare team

The medical industry can be impersonal and hard to access at times, even for those with top of the line health insurance. However, only a good relationship with your care providers will allow you to be an integral and informed part of the decision-making process. Both doctors and patients are confined to the amount of time that they are actually able to spend together. Your proactivity can be the difference in catching cancer early, or waiting for a physician to stumble across it.

Knowing where you stand with breast cancer depends on whether or not someone else in your family has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and what age they were when they received the diagnosis. Everyone’s body is different, and everyone’s genetic makeup is slightly different, even among those who carry the same set of genes. Practicing medicine is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor.

Understanding your genetic makeup can give you the edge in exactly how proactive you need to be when facing the rest of your life with such a high risk of developing cancer. Knowing your genetic abnormalities may be critical in the lives of your children or blood relatives.

As a woman, several significant bodily changes can affect your risk of developing cancer in both the positive and negative direction.

Knowing yourself and making health a lifelong practice is the only way to truly prevent or avoid life-threatening disease. For cancer, genetic risk and even the disease itself may be unavoidable, but staying informed and proactive can lead to significantly better health outcomes. Have proactive conversations with your doctors, follow the steps above, and both you and your care providers will be ready for anything that comes your way in your lifetime.

Since scientists are unsure about what exactly causes cancer to develop, there’s no sure-fire way to 100% prevent its occurrence. At least, not yet. Scientists and health professionals work on a daily basis to understand more and more about cancer.

When it comes to prevention, understanding your risk and being aware of your body is a great start.

These eight prevention practices can help you reduce the risk of developing cancer in your lifetime, or increase your odds of survival if it develops. Make sure to speak with your doctor before committing to any lifestyle changes.