October Priorities!

Whether you're age 20 or 70, breast health is an important topic for all women (and men!). One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, so ensuring your breasts stay healthy should be a priority. You can help keep your breasts healthy by practicing good breast self-care at any age. 

Here are some insightful tips: 

Self Checks

There are many ways to give yourself breast checks. The best methods are: in the shower, in the mirror, and lying down to check for lumps in your breasts. 

Breast Surgeon Dr. Kelly Johnson discusses prevention as “The most important thing.” When prioritizing breast health, you should be “...following up with your primary care physician (PCP) and your gynecologist to ensure that they're assessing, know your risk, family history, and if you have felt any lumps.”

Maintain a Healthy Weight 

Although the connection between maintaining a healthy weight and breast cancer is not fully understood, maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk. Breast cancer survivors who are overweight also have an increased risk of recurrence. 

Diet & Exercise

Physically active women are 25% less likely to develop breast cancer.  Not only does exercise help you maintain a healthy weight, but it also helps boost immune function, improve bone mass and lower estrogen and insulin levels. Keeping a balanced diet is not just known to reduce the risk of breast cancer but other cancers as well. 

Limit Alcohol

Even in small amounts, drinking has been shown to increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. Alcohol increases estrogen levels in the body and increases the risk of developing breast cancer.

Take Vitamins  

All vitamins are important to your overall health. Studies have shown that a deficiency in vitamin D can lead to tumor progression in regard to breast cancer and metastasis. 

To make an appointment with Dr. Johnson or any of our breast health specialists, give us a call at 516-676-7676.