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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffThere are some things you can do to help prevent your chances of developing breast cancer. Some things, however, are beyond your control.
Risk factors that can't be avoided
These include your:
- Age
- Genetics
- Family history
Risk factors that are within your control
Healthy lifestyle habits may help to protect you from breast cancer. These include:
- Getting enough exercise
- Limiting alcohol
- Eating healthy foods
- Trying to maintain a healthy weight
Medications and surgical procedures
Some interventions may help reduce your chance of developing breast cancer:
- Preventive medications. Sometimes medication is recommended for prevention, but you may experience side effects.
- Risk-reducing surgery. Some women decide to pursue prophylactic mastectomy (removal of one or both breasts in hope of preventing or reducing risk of breast cancer). However, this isn't the best option for everyone.
Discuss your personal risk factors with your doctor and ask whether you would be a candidate for treatment that may reduce that risk.
References
- AskMayoExpert. How is Paget disease of the breast treated? Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
- AskMayoExpert. What are the clinical findings of Paget disease of the breast? Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
- AskMayoExpert. Paget disease of the breast: Key facts. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
- Paget disease of the breast. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/paget-breast. Accessed Feb. 11, 2013.
- Papadakis MA, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2013. 52nd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2013. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=1. Accessed Feb. 10, 2013.
- Karakas C. Paget's disease of the breast. Journal of Carcinogenesis. 2011;10:31.
- Goldsmith LA, et al., eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=740. Accessed Feb. 10, 2013.
- Dominici LS, et al. Current surgical approach to Paget's disease. American Journal of Surgery. 2012;204:18.
- Breast cancer risk in American women fact sheet. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/probability-breast-cancer. Accessed Feb. 10, 2013.
- What is breast cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-what-is-breast-cancer. Accessed Feb. 10, 2013.
- How is breast cancer treated? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/overviewguide/breast-cancer-overview-treating-surgery. Accessed Feb. 11, 2013.
- Can breast cancer be prevented? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/overviewguide/breast-cancer-overview-prevention. Accessed Feb. 11, 2013.
- Coping with cancer in everyday life. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/copingwithcancerineverydaylife/index. Accessed Feb. 21, 2013.
- After a breast cancer diagnosis: Questions to ask your doctor. Cancercare. http://www.cancercare.org/publications/46-after_a_breast_cancer_diagnosis_questions_to_ask_your_doctor. Accessed Feb. 25, 2013.
- Breast cancer: Coping with your changing feelings. Cancercare. http://www.cancercare.org/publications/88-breast_cancer_coping_with_your_changing_feelings. Accessed Feb. 25, 2013.
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