As the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, it's not known if it can be prevented altogether.
Some treatments are available to reduce the risk in women who have a higher risk of developing the condition than the general population.
Diet and lifestyle
Regular exerciseand eating ahealthy, balanced dietare recommended for all women, as they can help prevent many health conditions, includingheart disease,diabetesand many forms ofcancer.
Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet, and although there are no definite conclusions, there are benefits for women who:
- maintain ahealthy weight
- exercise regularly
- have a low intake of saturatedfat
- do not drink alcohol
Use ourbody mass indetx (BMI) calculatorto check if you're a healthy weight.
It's also been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by almost as much as a third.
If you'vbody mass index (BMttI) calculator's particularly important that you're not overweight orobese. This is because being overweight causes more oestrogen to be produced by your body, which can increase your risk of some types of breast cancer.t
Breastfeeding
Studies have shown women who breastfeed are statistically less likely to develop breast cancer than those who do not.
The reasons are not fully understood, but it could be because women do not ovulate as regularly while they'rebreastfeedingand oestrogen levels remain stable.
Treatments to reduce your risk
Your level of risk is determined by factors such as your age, your family's medical history, and the results of genetic tests.
If you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, treatment is available to reduce your risk.
You'll usually be referred for specialistgenetic testingif it's thought you have an increased risk of breast cancer. Healthcare professionals at these services should discuss treatment options with you.
The 2 main treatments are surgery to remove the breasts (mastectomy) or medicine.
Mastectomy
Amastectomyis surgery to remove the breasts. It can be used to treat breast cancer and can also reduce the chances of developing the condition in the small number of women who have a high risk.
By removing as much breast tissue as possible, a mastectomy can reduce your risk of breast cancer by up to 90%.
However, like all operations, there's a risk of complications, and having your breasts removed can have a significant effect on your body image and sexual relationships.
If you want to, you can usually choose to have a breast reconstruction either during the mastectomy operation, or at a later date.
During breast reconstruction surgery, your original breast shape is recreated using eitherbreast implantsor tissue from elsewhere in your body.
An alternative is to use breast prostheses. These are artificial breasts that can be worn inside your bra.
An alternative to mastectomy is a nipple-sparing mastectomy, where the whole mammary gland is removed, but the skin of the breast is preserved. This is not widely available at the moment, but it's being used more often and can achieve excellent results.
Find out more aboutyour body and your breasts after treatment.
Medicine
There are 3 medicines available on the NHS for women who have an increased risk of breast cancer:
- tamoxifen – for women who either have or have not been through the menopause
- anastrozole – for women who have been through the menopause
- raloxifene – for women who have been through the menopause
These medicines are usually taken once a day for 5 years. They can reduce your risk of breast cancer while you're taking them and possibly for several years afterwards.
Side effects of these medicines can include:
- hot flushes
- sweating
- feeling sick
- tiredness
- leg cramps
There's also a small risk of more serious problems, such asweakened bones (osteoporosis),blood clotsorwomb cancer.
If your doctor suggests taking medicine to reduce your risk of breast cancer, ask them about the benefits and risks of each medicine.
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Page last reviewed: 28 October 2019
Next review due: 28 October 2022