Your lifestyle plays a role in your breast cancer risk but remember—having risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop the disease.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol raises your risk. Even one drink daily slightly increases the chances, so limiting alcohol is the safest choice.
Weight and Activity
- Being overweight after menopause raises breast cancer risk due to higher estrogen levels.
- Regular exercise lowers the risk by helping manage weight and hormones.
Childbearing and Breastfeeding
Having children at a younger age or breastfeeding for a year or more may slightly reduce your risk.
Hormonal Factors
- Hormonal contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy can increase risk, especially with prolonged use.
- Discuss alternatives with your doctor if needed.
Breast Implants
While implants don’t increase common breast cancer risks, rare cancers like BIA-ALCL are linked to implants.
Reference:
Lifestyle-related Breast Cancer Risk Factors, available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/lifestyle-related-breast-cancer-risk-factors.html, last accessed on 18th December 2024.