Breast cancer is a disease that touches the lives of millions. In the United States alone, approximately 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Despite the statistics, awareness and prevention efforts can make a significant difference. Not all risk factors for breast cancer are within your control, such as being born female and getting older. However, there are still important lifestyle changes you can make to lower your chance of getting breast cancer.

Get to and stay at a healthy weight – balancing your caloric intake with regular physical activity can help to maintain a healthy weight. The American Cancer Society recommends at least 150-300 minutes of moderate activity a week. This equates to about 30 minutes a day. Moderate activity is anything that makes you breathe as hard as you do during a brisk walk. It causes a slight increase in heart rate and breathing – you should be able to talk, but not sing during the activity.

Avoid or limit alcohol – Did you know that drinking alcohol can increase your risk of breast cancer? It is best to avoid alcohol completely, but if you do drink, try to limit yourself to no more than 1 alcoholic drink a day.

Breastfeeding – Women who choose to breastfeed for at least several months after childbirth may also get an added benefit of reducing their breast cancer risk.

Close observation – Performing regular self breast exams is beneficial to detecting breast cancer early. Ask your Primary Care Partners provider how to perform a self-exam at your next visit, or visit nationalbreastcancer.org to learn more.

Regular screening – A mammogram can often find or detect breast cancer early when it’s still small. Sometimes a mammogram can find breast cancer even before you feel a lump. When breast cancer is found early, it is usually easier to treat. Mammograms are painless procedures that use low-dose x-rays to detect changes in breast tissue. Don’t put off your mammogram – call Grand Junction Diagnostics at (970) 241-6014 to schedule your mammogram today!

To learn more about these breast cancer prevention strategies, come to Primary Care Partners’ Breast Cancer Awareness Event happening at our 3150 N 12th Street office on Tuesday, October 8th from 11:00am-1:30pm.

Learn about diagnostic options available through Grand Junction Diagnostics and how you can easily self-schedule your next mammogram.
St Mary’s Oncology team will be onsite to provide information on the latest breast cancer treatment options.
Elevate your knowledge of cancer prevention through healthy eating with Dr. Sayers with Food for Life.
Sample some mouthwatering, plant-based dishes courtesy of the CMU Tech Culinary Program.
Don’t leave empty-handed – take home FREE, fresh, healthy produce from Community Food Bank’s Mobile Market!
As Your Healthcare Destination, we’re committed to your health! Make sure you mark your calendar for this educational event!