By Joy Duckett Cain
At first, the lump in Jasmine's left breast was so small she
didn't even feel it. Her doctor discovered it last summer during a
physical prior to her freshman year at Florida A & M University. We
were told that, particularly among African-American teens and young
adults, small lumps in the breast (called fibroadenomas) are fairly
common. But as the months progressed and Jasmine's lump grew from half
a centimeter to more than 3 centimeters, my daughter and I realized
something had to be done. After consulting a few doctors, we decided to
have the lump surgically removed. Jasmine was 18 years old.
Whatever our age, all of us need to take care of "our girls." "If
you look in the mirror and see the breast or the nipple is changed in
some way, get examined," says Fannie Gaston-Johansson, Ph.D., professor
of nursing at Johns Hopkins University. While the majority of lumps and
bumps will prove to be non-cancerous, it's better to err on the side of
caution. Here are some other things to keep in mind on your journey
toward breast health.
Be Proactive
- Good health starts with your decision to take control.
- Give yourself monthly BSEs (breast self examinations); go to breastcancer.org, click on screening and testing, then click on breast self exam for directions.
- Get annual mammograms if you're older than age 40, and tell the radiologist if you are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or birth control pills. These medications can make breasts denser and hinder your doctor's ability to read the mammogram.
- If breast cancer runs in your family, avoid HRT and schedule annual mammograms after the age of 30.
- Lack of health insurance is no excuse to let mammograms slide; the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program can help. To learn more, call (800) CDC-INFO (232-4636).
Know Your "Normal"
- Medicinenet.com reports that fibrocystic breast condition (characterized by lumpiness and discomfort) affects more than 60 percent of women between the ages of 30 and 50, so it is important to know what your body considers normal.
- Some have lumps, tenderness or pain in the breast before and during menstruation, but they usually stop by period's end.
- Some pregnant women experience breast lumpiness as their milk glands increase and get larger.
- During menopause, changing hormone levels can make breasts feel denser or lumpier than before.
- If you have doubts about what you're seeing or feeling, contact a doctor.
Eat Right, Drink Right
Deborah Gordon, M.D., co-author of Breast Health the Natural Way,
believes vitamin D is effective in reducing the risk of myriad
diseases, including breast cancer. "I think there is a high rate of breast cancer in
African Americans because of vitamin D deficiency," she says. Taking
2,000 IUs of vitamin D3 per day may lessen your likelihood of getting
breast cancer. And check this: The American Cancer Society reports only
5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are due to heredity; the vast
majority of cases are due to environmental, diet or lifestyle factors.
Some cancer-fighting steps you can take include:
- Introducing more raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains and dried beans into your diet;
- Eating 30 grams or less of fat a day;
- Avoiding fried foods, salt, sugars, animal products, tobacco and white flour;
- Eliminating caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate); and
- Limiting alcohol to one drink a day.
Live Right
Studies indicate even moderate exercise--3.2 hours of running or 13
hours of walking per week--lowers the risk of breast cancer by 23
percent, so...
- Exercise, exercise, exercise.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- If you have fibrocystic tendencies, avoid wearing push-up or tight bras; if you must wear a bra, wear sports bras and not for more than 8 hours a day.
- Don't smoke.
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