What Can You Do To Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

Anne Peled, M.D. Exercising Running on San Francisco Breach

What Can You Do To Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

As a breast cancer surgeon, I get asked all the time about the best ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer.  For some women with a higher than average risk due to family history or a genetic mutation associated with breast cancer, discussing medical or surgical ways to reduce your risk may be recommended.  But for women who don’t have increased risk, while we know that there is not a magic way to prevent breast cancer, certain lifestyle factors can help decrease the chance of breast cancer, not to mention having other health benefits as well.  Here are some tips for what can you do to reduce your risk of breast cancer.

  1. Try to eat a rainbow diet full of different colors of produce
  2. Exercise regularly, with a goal of 30 minutes five times weekly
  3. Keep alcohol in moderation, ideally no more than 4-5 drinks per week
  4. Stop/don’t start smoking
  5. Maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause

There are other ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer, we’ve listed the top 5 to help with improving breast health.