There is no proven way to prevent breast cancer, but according to the American Cancer Society, there are certain things you can do to lower your risk:
- Decrease alcohol consumption
- Maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause
- Maintain a weekly exercise schedule of 70 minutes of moderate to intense exercise
- Consider birth control and hormone therapy options carefully, as their effects can vary
- Breastfeed your children if possible
However, there are some risk factors that cannot be controlled by smart lifestyle choices:
- Gender – women are far more likely to develop breast cancer than men, but it can occur in men
- Age – the risk of breast cancer increases with age
- Family history* – women with relatives who have had breast cancer are more likely to develop the disease
- Race – while white women are slightly more likely to get breast cancer, African American women are at a higher risk of dying from breast cancer
*See Breast Cancer Genetic Risk