International Women’s Day
Breast Cancer: Prevention and early diagnosis can save lives
On the occasion of the International Women's Day dedicated to women all over the world, the Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health, Prolepsis would like to highlight once again the importance of prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer.
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the western world. According to the World Health Organization, 1800 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Greece each year.
PREVENTION
However, studies have shown that approximately 80% of the new cases of cancer could have been prevented by adopting simple changes in our behavior, such as
- Increase of physical activity
Studies have shown that physical activity for teenagers from the age of 12 years can help to prevent cancer. Specifically, 30 minutes of regular exercise every day 5 days a week can reduce the risk of cancer.
- Healthy nutrition and maintenance of healthy weight
Studies have shown that obese women have a greater risk of developing breast cancer after menopause. Receiving limited amounts of calories can play a protective role for adult women for both the development of breast cancer and its relapse.
- Reduction of alcohol consumption
- Avoidance of excessive sun exposure
- Healthy sexual life
- Reduction of smoking.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS
Regarding breast cancer, early diagnosis is also vital. During the last 10 years deaths caused by this disease have been reduced from 30% to 40%.
The basic rules for early detection and diagnosis can contribute significally to the protection of every woman's health. Therefore, always keep in mind that:
- Every woman up to 20 years old should conduct Breast Self Examination once a month. Self Breast Examination is easy and quick, lasting no more than 1 minute.
- Every woman over 20 years old should have her breasts clinically examined by their doctor at least once every three years.
Every woman older than 40 years old should have a mammography test every year. Women with a family history of breast cancer or with a palpable tumor should start having a mammography test at a younger age. Mammography is a painless examination with negligible danger of transmitted radiation.
