Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women. While the exact cause of breast cancer is unknown, it is important to understand what you can do to lower your risk.
Professor Sanchia Aranda CEO of Cancer Council Australia suggests that while some risk factors like strong family history cannot be changed, some simple lifestyle tweaks can make all the difference.
Reducing your risk
Simple changes in your lifestyle such as maintaining a healthy body weight, getting sufficient exercise, and limiting alcohol content can help lower your risk.
“While our national guidelines say no more than two standard drinks on any single day. For women with higher risk of breast cancer, more than one standard drinks a day puts them at risk,” says Professor Aranda.
Source: AAP
Breast screening
The mammographic screening program average for women is every two years. Women aged 50-74 are encouraged to have a mammogram every two years. However, if you have a close relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50, it is best to to ask your GP about getting tested.
What else can you do?
Mixed race doctor talking to patient Source: Getty Images
The most important person to talk to about when to begin your mammograms and other screenings is your GP. They can direct you to understanding your own breast cancer risk and they can help you access more resources.
Addiitonal resources are available at:
- Cancer Council information and support line on 13 11 20.
- Breast Cancer Network of Australia
If you’re interested in assessing your own risk of breast cancer, there are a couple of tools available in Australia.
- Cancer Council Australia website
- iPrevent which is available through the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne
(October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month)
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