Do you know how to protect your breasts? More and more researchers are saying you have the power to lower your risk of breast cancer

Natural Health, Oct-Nov, 2001

1. What is the first step you should
take when screening for breast lumps?
A. breast self-exam
B. breast physical exam by a doctor
c. mammogram
D. none of the above

2. Which of the following foods has
been shown to decrease the risk of
developing breast cancer?
A. carrots
a. soymilk
c. raw mushrooms
D. none of the above

3. Drinking which of the following
beverages can influence your breast
cancer risk?
A. black tea
B. green tea
C. alcohol
D. all of the above

4. The drug tamoxifen is a proven way
to prevent breast cancer.
A. true
B. false

5. Giving birth to your first child before
a certain age may protect you from
getting breast cancer. What age is it?
A. 30
B. 32
C. 35
D. 37

6. How much do you need to exercise
to cut your risk of breast cancer in half?
A. 2 hours a week
B. 3 hours a week
C. 4 hours a week
D. 5 hours a week

7. What are the known risk factors for
male breast cancer?
A. aging
B. family history of breast cancer
c. liver disease
D. all of the above

8. Which of the following nutrients
has been shown to lower your risk of
breast cancer the most?
A. vitamin C
B. folic acid
C. lycopene
D. vitamin [B.sub.6]

9. What's the best age to get your first
mammogram?
A. 40
B. 45
C. 50
D. none of the above

10. Being overweight is a risk factor
for breast cancer.
A. true
B. false

Answers

1. A. Although studies have shown that women who do breast self-exams (BSE) don't necessarily live longer than those who don't, the American Cancer Society says they help you recognize breast abnormalities. If you're 20 to 39, perform a BSE monthly and go to a doctor for an exam every three years. If you're 40 to 69, perform a monthly BSE, get a yearly physical exam, and, when your doctor advises, get a mammogram. 2. A. The carotenoids in carrots provide protection, according to a recent New York University School of Medicine study. Soy products like miso and tempeh also lower your risk, but refined soymilk may not provide the same benefit. Eating cooked shiitake mushrooms is a good risk reducer, but eating raw mushrooms has been linked to cancer. 3. D. All three influence your chances of getting breast cancer. Drinking black and green tea cuts your risk, while regularly drinking alcohol can raise it. 4. A. But its use is only prudent if you're at high risk, say some experts. That's because there are serious side effects like increased risk of uterine cancer. Always do a risk-benefit analysis with your doctor before taking this drug as a preventive measure. 5. A. But it decreases your risk only slightly. Earlier childbearing reduces the lifetime amount of estrogen that your body is exposed to. 6. C. 7. D. The average age of diagnosis for men is 65. About 20 percent of male breast cancer patients have had relatives with the disease. Men with cirrhosis of the liver tend to have higher levels of female sex hormones, increasing their chance of getting breast cancer. 8. C. All four may decrease your risk, according to a study published this year. Lycopene, however, produced the greatest and the most consistent risk reduction. 9. D. This issue is controversial. The National Cancer Institute recommends women get their first mammogram at 40. But some experts say to skip it if you're under 50, unless you're menopausal. Consult your doctor about the risks and benefits of early mammography. 10. A. Excess body fat, especially around your waist, stores estrogen, thereby increasing your risk of breast cancer.

Fast Facts

* During the 1990s, the breast cancer death rate declined by the largest amount in more than 65 years, according to the American Cancer Society.

* The five-year survival rate for women with localized breast cancer is 97 percent today. More than 2 million breast cancer survivors are alive in America.

* Breast-feeding may lower breast cancer risk, especially if you do it continuously for 1.5 to 2 years.

* Government funding for breast cancer research more than tripled during the last decade, according to the National Women's Health Information Center, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.