Preventative Health

Boomers join the fight against Breast Cancer through Early Detection and reducing Risk Factors.

Take five minutes out to find information on ...How often should I be tested?...What are the symptoms to look for?...What can I do to prevent cancer?

Our lives are busy and it’s hard to stop and think about our health, checking things out and knowing what’s good for us. If you find it hard to remember if it’s 'two vegetables and five pieces of fruit', or 'five vegetables and two pieces of fruit' - you’re not alone. Our health naturally takes second place to keeping up with the demands of family or work - they demand our attention. Anyway, Breast Cancer is probably something we just don’t want to think about and it happens to ‘other’ people, or that’s what we keep telling ourselves.

But when it happens to someone close to us – a friend, family member or work colleague, it hits close to home and we tell ourselves surely there is some way I can prevent this from happening to me. Perhaps I could get a test to see if I am clear. Well, there are definitely some things to consider for yourself or to help others in the fight against breast cancer.

We have independently chosen to review information relevant to Baby Boomers, and literature available from the Cancer Council of Australia and Government websites and provide a summary of this as a starting point for people to consider. 

Regular Screening

Mammographic screening every two years for women aged 50-70 years is suggested as a minimum, or more frequently. However, all women at any age can undergo screening.

BreastScreen Australia provides a national mammography screening program available free of charge to women over the age of 40. Eligible women should be screened every two years at one of the 500 locations available nationwide. To make an appointment at your nearest BreastScreen Australia service phone 13 20 50 (cost of a local phone call) or visit their website at:

http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au/internet/screening/publishing.nsf/Content/how

Checking regularly for symptoms 

Make a regular time to check your body, usually before or after a shower is a good idea. If you notice anything does not feel right or is unusual, talk to your Doctor about this as soon as possible.

Symptoms to look for regarding breast cancer detailed by the Cancer Council of Australia include:

• new lumps or thickening under the breast or under the arm

• rash or red swollen breasts

• nipple sores

• discharge or turning in

• skin of the breast dimpling.

Maybe write it in your diary to check at least once a week or month. Ask your doctor how to go about checking your breasts and how often you should do this.

Reducing risk factors for cancer

The research available to the Cancer Council of Australia suggests that Obesity (diet and exercise), a lack of physical activity, and excess alcohol consumption are all important risk factors associated with breast cancer.

Being more physically active may lower your cancer risk . For good health, doing 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days is good. You may do 3 x 10 minutes to make it easier to fit into your lifestyle. Ask a friend to join you to get started, or set a modest goal and try to achieve this.

• Moderate physical activity includes any activity in which you can still hold a conversation, such as brisk walking.

• Vigorous activity includes any activity that makes you “huff and puff”, such as fast swimming, cycling, or jogging.

You might like to join in the national walk to work day on Friday 2 October 2009 (WTWD). To register for this event go to www.walk.com.au/wtw , or phone the Pedestrian Council of Australia on 02 9968 4555 for more information. The event includes community leaders such as governors, government ministers, MPs, mayors, councillors, CEOs and celebrities, and thousands of ordinary Australians who are keen to take the first steps towards improving their health.

Enjoying a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy body weight may help in reducing your cancer risk. There are steps you can take to developing a healthy diet. Eating at least two serves of fruit and five vegetables each day. A serve of vegetables can be half a cup of cooked veggies or legumes (dried beans, lentils), one medium potato or one metric cup of salad. A serve of fruit is one medium piece such as an apple, two small pieces such as two apricots, or one metric cup of chopped or canned fruit.

To keep you interested, why not try a new fruit each week, add extra vegetables to your meals, or have fruit instead of sweets. Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles, preferably wholegrain. Eat red meat no more than three to four times per week. Limit processed or cured meats. Choose foods low in salt. Don’t eat too much fat, especially saturated fat. Choose low fat yogurts, cheeses and milks. You can get more information on recipes, foods and healthy eating at:

http://www.gofor2and5.com.au/HealthyEating

Pink Ribbon events

Your support at many of the pink ribbon events and campaigns held around the country would go a long way to spreading awareness and supporting early detection. Pink ribbon day this year will be on 26 October 2009. For further information, visit the website at:

http://www.pinkribbonday.com.au

Remember, if you have any concerns or questions about your health, please contact your Doctor.

Link for this review

Follow this link to the Cancer Council of Australia for more information and details on the main reference of this review.

http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/breastcancer.htm

For more information on our site about Cancer go to Cancer Fact Sheet

For more Physical Activity ideas on our site go to Recreation

We hope this article has been of interest to you. Please feel free to print a friendly copy, email to a friend or relative, or download the PDF article for your reference.


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Disclaimer: The information contained in this section should not be used for individual medical or professional advice.

Please see your Doctor if you have concerns or specific questions relating to your health or seek professional advice as required.