Photograph by Travis Rathbone Live Healthy By Sara Reistad-Long this dreaded disease at bay. then read on to learn how to keep killer by taking our quick quiz, knowledge about the leading cancer phone in your bra harmful? Test your mammograms? Is stashing your cell How often do women really need Breast

Defense

SHAPE.COM OCTOBER 2014 125 2014 OCTOBER SHAPE.COM Live Healthy {News} Breast test Most women who B) Breast size get breast cancer have C) Heavy periods 1 a family history of the disease. D) All of the above True False A) B) Which of these diets should you avoid for Breast self-exams your breast health? are largely ineffective 5 2 and unnecessary. A) Mediterranean A) True B) False B) C) Paleo/Keto Which of these should Intermittent you stop doing to D) 3strongly reduce your When should women breast cancer risk? begin getting A) Wearing underwire 6mammograms? bras A) Age 21 B) Age 30 B) Carrying your cell phone in your bra C) Age 40 D) Age 50 Depends on your risk C) Undergoing fertility E) treatments, using hormonal birth Who should be tested control, or taking for the BRCA1 and hormone-replace- 7 BRCA2 gene mutations? ment therapy A) Anyone with a family history of breast or D) Pulling all-nighters ovarian cancer E) Using chemical deodorant and B) Anyone with a family antiperspirant history of breast or ovarian cancer, or Which of these traits is who has a relative cause for concern when with the mutation 4it comes to cancer risk? C) All women over age 40 A) Weight D) None of the above Breast cancer awareness can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it drives more research and support. On the other, it can hinder people’s understanding of their individual risk and what Answer key they can do to lower it. That’s because raising visi- B) A family history does choices instead, like staying bility is only half the battle, says Marisa Weiss, M.D., boost your risk: Having at a healthy weight, not a breast oncologist at Lankenau Medical Center in 1 one first-degree relative smoking, and drinking (say, your mother or sister) alcohol moderately. Philadelphia and founder of breastcancer.org. Awareness campaigns may teach you about the who’s had the condition doubles your chances of While breast self- existence of information, like a just-approved B) getting breast cancer, and exams have long screening method, but they can’t tell you whether having two increases them 2 been considered the you need the test. And that lack of know-how, says threefold, according to the best first line of defense BWeiss, discourages women from taking positive American Cancer Society. against cancer, up until action, like asking their doctor for clarification. But 85 percent of women recently proof of their use- Case in point: “People tend to overestimate their who develop breast cancer fulness was ambiguous at family risk of breast cancer and underestimate have no close kin with the best. Still, many experts their lifestyle or environmental risks,” says Weiss, disease; most women who were reluctant to condemn who’s also a breast cancer survivor. That means do have it in their family them—after all, 40 percent of they wrongly chalk their risk up to fate (“My aunt background will never get breast cancers are self- had it, so I’ll probably get it no matter what I do.”) sick. So while you should talk detected. And the latest evi-

with your doctor about dence offers more support Shaw Patric by Photograph and overlook the simple moves they could take to whether more frequent for the screening tool’s effi- protect themselves from developing the disease. screenings are appropriate cacy. Canadian researchers How knowledgeable are you about these poten- for you, there’s no need to investigated 90,000 women tially lifesaving steps? Find out using our quick quiz. feel doomed or stressed and concluded that, when Then continue reading to discover the most up-to- about your risk. Focus on date advice for mounting your best breast defense. making healthy lifestyle Continued . . .

126 OCTOBER 2014 SHAPE.COM Photograph by Getty Images; illustration by Paul Oakley ------. . . . . - —

op-ed. Continued Low-carb eating Low-carb this could be C or D, D, or C be could this depending on whom on depending Trick question Trick plans like Paleo and Paleo like plans Keto are often heavy on heavy often are Keto C) The science on breast size size breast on science The ing tumor growth. tumor ing stud Some murkier. little a is ies have found that well- that found have ies many but risk, increased bet is to fill your plate with plate your fill to is bet be considered a predictor of of predictor a considered be hormone-fueled breast can breast hormone-fueled in those (like healthy risk by as much as 64 percent. percent. 64 as much as by risk ranean may offer pro offer may diet ranean British researchers found found researchers British cancer breast increase may cholesterol of metabolite encourag estrogen, mimics to get cancer, often have big have often cancer, get to menstrual flow, strength or strength flow, menstrual tective benefits. Your best Your benefits. tective No single eating plan is plan eating single No of amounts small and teins, fatty like coconut oil coconut like foods fatty have protein, animal in found frequency has no impact on impact no has frequency who are already more likely likely more already are who women with diets high in , in high diets with women you ask. Currently the United the Currently ask. you ger breasts. For now, Weiss Weiss now, For breasts. ger account—obese women, account—obese and grass-fed beef—and beef—and grass-fed and of risk higher percent 28 a study. Italian an to according fish). oily and nuts, avocados, cancer development. As for for As development. cancer says that cup size shouldn’t size cup that says endowed women have an have women endowed cer (which makes up about up makes (which cer cancer risk. cancer don’t take weight into into weight take don’t experts, though the Mediter the though experts, pro lean , whole duce, especially the saturated kind saturated the especially deemed ideal by oncology by ideal deemed Another study found that a that found study Another 75 percent of diagnoses), diagnoses), of percent 75 6 5 “clean” foods, including pro including foods, “clean” -

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LIFESAVING LIFESAVING SELFIE your check To by start breasts, them inspecting (both mirror a in at arms your with and sides your taking raised), changes of note color, contour, in says size, or Then Weiss. each squeeze fluid nipple—no should blood or have been attributed been have cent of breast cancers breast of cent A) inflammation, which is which inflammation, known to fuel tumor growth, tumor fuel to known percent to 2 percent). As you you As percent). 2 to percent naturally increases, so that so increases, naturally high- Avoid meaningful. to , according to a to according obesity, to women often also have high have also often women get older, however, your risk your however, older, get and if you’re still concerned, concerned, still you’re if and and ramps up the body’s the up ramps and same jump can be more more be can jump same a have which pills, estrogen disease, the to link stronger meth nonhormonal explore IUD. copper a as such ods, cholesterol, a condition that condition a cholesterol, (think going from a risk of 1 of risk a from going (think estrogen levels. Overweight levels. estrogen study in the in study National Cancer Institute. Cancer National The reason: Fat causes Fat reason: The 4 - - - -

- {News} is relatively inconse relatively is quential, says Weiss Weiss says quential, seemingly “big” increase “big” seemingly Angelina Jolie raised awareness of the BRCA BRCA the of awareness raised Jolie Angelina her with mutations gene come out. Finally, raise your arm and use the pads of of pads the use and arm your raise Finally, out. come from breast right entire the feel to fingers left your rubbing front, to back and side, to side bottom, to top and medium, light, applying and motion circular a in Perform side. other your on Repeat pressure. firm period your after two or day a monthly, self-exams and tender least their at are breasts your when ends, your by exams manual getting smart: Also lumpy. 20. age at beginning years three to one every doctor ease are so low that even a even that low so are ease birth control is even fuzzier. fuzzier. even is control birth 20s your in you’re when but bit more complicated, says says complicated, more bit long-term use of estrogen- of use long-term hormonal birth control, control, birth hormonal progestin HRT, as well as well as HRT, progestin Extended use may raise risk— raise may use Extended tors generally recommend generally tors ments, are associated with associated are ments, proven a link. The connec The link. a proven therapy (HRT), however, is a is however, (HRT), therapy tion to fertility treatments, fertility to tion widely rumored to cause to rumored widely against them. The data on data The them. against baseline your 30s, and an increased risk, and doc and risk, increased an and hormone-replacement and Weiss. Combined estrogen- Combined Weiss. chances of getting the dis the getting of chances only HRT and fertility treat fertility and HRT only cancer, but no study has ever ever has study no but cancer, -

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Cell phones, deodorants, phones, Cell breast cancer, according to to according cancer, breast body’s output of estrogen, a estrogen, of output body’s higher risk of developing developing of risk higher how), monthly self-exams self-exams monthly how), performed correctly (use (use correctly performed Japanese research. Low lev Low research. Japanese that’s produced when you you when produced that’s tip you off to changes.” changes.” to off you tip the more familiar you’ll be you’ll familiar more the to know what’s normal what’s know to ting regular mammograms, regular ting mammograms at detecting at mammograms the box to the right to learn to right the to box the for the disease, report Har report disease, the for vard University scientists. University vard for your breasts better than better breasts your for who logged six or less hours less or six logged who with them, which will help will which them, with women who aren’t yet get yet aren’t who women you? The more you check, you more The you? and underwires are all are underwires and a radiation oncologist in oncologist radiation a and would otherwise rely rely otherwise would and are at least as successful as successful as least at are Scarsdale, NY. “Who’s going “Who’s NY. Scarsdale, of shuteye had a 62 percent percent 62 a had shuteye of factor risk and hormone sex seven hours per night, those night, per hours seven the boost may snooze, els of melatonin, a hormone a melatonin, of els only on clinical exams for for exams clinical on only Elizabeth says screening, serious cancers. They’re They’re cancers. serious for important especially Chabner Thompson, M.D., Thompson, Chabner 128OCTOBER 2014 SHAPE.COM

3 Live Healthy Healthy Live Task Force (USPSTF) recom 130 OCTOBER 2014 SHAPE.COM 2014 OCTOBER 130 7 Live Healthy Arlington Arlington researchers. cal found in hard plastics, (and therefore less likely effective, effective, many doctors, so talk with your doctor consider asking for digital screenings screenings starting at 40. organizations, organizations, however, often enough to catch most cer Society, suggest yearly cer begin getting biennial cancerous changes. Other cancer, your medical record While they’re similarly ecules ecules to suppress the and and offer faster results. about about when you should States Preventive Services younger women—those in activity activity of genes that Opt Opt for nonplastic con stainless stainless steel. which are more common for which it says is early and for you depends on your their their 40s—who get screened) to cause false positives, tal because they’re clearer traditional traditional film types. family history of breast can fallopian tube, or peritoneal mammograms mammograms instead of mammograms mammograms at age 50, personal personal risk and comfort, mends that women with no University University of Texas, works works with other mol tainers, tainers, like bamboo or Bisphenol-A Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemi begin begin screenings. Also, history history of breast, ovarian, DITCH THE PLASTIC including including Weiss, prefer digi including including the American Can kill kill cancer cells, report ACT NOW Ultimately, the best choice that if you have a family the USPSTF advises B) As of December 2013, - -

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- - - - developing the condition doesn’t mean you’ll defi style style or environmental fac over your lifetime, and they diagnosed with breast can only anticancer drug that others others may prefer screening some doctors will recom should be evaluated to see if can reduce your chances of can still be affected by life cancer, if possible, to see if cer before age 45). If you do, characteristics associated comprehensive screenings, a relative who currently has anxiety-provoking anxiety-provoking process. are less harmful than others), your risk by up to 87 percent, your relatives display certain your doctor could recom with with the mutation (like being tors. tors. Nor will you necessarily the odds are about 50/50 tamoxifen, tamoxifen, a prescription- mend mend the BRCA test, while mend mend more frequent and mutation you have (some Depending on what type of need a double mastectomy. nitely get cancer. While hav positive result, however, it preventive medications, like lifestyle changes, and/or he or she carries the gene by up to 50 percent. before subjecting you to the ing the mutation increases “Only 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancers are due to a single rare gene Even if you do get a that produces a high risk,” says Marisa Weiss, M.D., a breast cancer oncologist you can take charge of your health by following this research-backed advice. and lifestyle and environmental factors.” You can’t control and getting founder older, of but breastcancer.org. “The vast majority are caused by aging One. likely to die from breast cancer cancer during an 11-year researchers researchers in {News} sweat sessions, report follow-up period than those those who fit in fewer HIT THE GYM Women who exer were 42 percent less cised cised for at least 150 minutes a week Opt for workouts PLOS

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- - - of developing breast cancer cent; running 2.25 miles daily TAKE A BOOZE BREAK drink drink a day raises your risk reduced reduced risk by 95 percent. mile breast cancer patients walked walked a day lowered their that leave you out of breath. Every Every alcoholic beverage you In another study, each likelihood likelihood of dying by 5 per diagnosis. mother’s after her FCancer founded Braun Yael Cohen TOUCH PERSONAL one every month? Download self-exams. Have trouble remembering to perform Forty percent of breast cancers are detected through FOR EVERYONE Use these apps to protect your breast assets. Social support paralyzing. paralyzing. Find support through Figuring out how to move on from a diagnosis can be FOR PATIENTS & SURVIVORS That’s why she created seroles, but no one to drive them to treatment,” she says. mom’s condition. “Families often wind up with five cas find a way to keep all her loved ones in the loop Braun, about founder her of the nonprofit FCancer, struggled to When her mother was battling breast cancer, Yael Cohen FOR CAREGIVERS walks walks you through the process step by step. reminders and, when it’s time for you to do a self-check, the Keep A Breast Foundation that schedules monthly itunes.com and play.google.com), an app created by with nearby women who have the same diagnosis. to oncology specialists in your area and connects you itunes.com and play.google.com), which matches you send personalized, private updates to friends and family. an app that allows caregivers to post different tasks and

StandWith - Check Your Self effects effects or synthesis of estro exemestane. Each blocks the doctor about preventive meds, advises advises limiting yourself to gen to ward off tumors. five five drinks a week. If you’re at high risk, ask your POP POP PREVENTIVE PILLS like tamoxifen, raloxifene, and by up to 10 percent, accord ing ing to research in MyBCTeam (free; itunes.com), (free; (free; JAMA.

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- Photograph by Getty Images Getty by Photograph