What are the causes/risk factors for breast cancer being female?

• The incidence of breast cancer in the female population peaks in middle age and around the menopause age.
• The older the woman the higher the risk
• If there is a family history.
• The risk is greater in women who consume a high fat diet.
• Women with no children or having their first pregnancy after the age of 30 years.
• Commencing menstrual periods before the age of 11 years.
• Menopause occurring after the age of 55 years.

• Healthy living.
• Diet.
• Exercise.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Aim to eat five portions of fruit and/or vegetables per day - it's easier than you think.
• A glass of fresh orange juice counts as one portion!
• Increase your intake of fibre by eating more wholemeal foods such as brown bread or brown rice - even baked beans!
• Reduce overall fat intake - cut down on cakes and sweets and have your favourite piece of fruit instead.
• Avoid adding more salt to food - it usually contains plenty.
• Drink more water and less fizzy drinks - try a glass in the morning and one with each meal or snack.

• Smoking contains thousands of chemicals which can cut the amount of oxygen that gets to the body's cells and damages different parts of the body causing cancer and other serious diseases.
• The chemical and tar in cigarettes stain a smoker's body inside and out creating yellowy-brown teeth and fingers.
• Their lungs and air passages become blackened leading to 'smokers cough' and other infections.
• Smoking also causes premature wrinkles, bad breath and smelly clothes! Smoking is addictive and most people who smoke want to give up but find it difficult. Their advice is - don't start.

• A healthy body is frontline defence against many ailments and illnesses and it makes you feel better too - honest! It doesn't have to be boring or exhausting.
•  20-30 minutes of exercise 3 times per week is often all that you need.
•  Exercise can be part of your daily routine - why not walk or cycle to school, take the stairs rather than the lift or out a bit more energy into everyday tasks or those boring household chores.

• Drinking can also be dangerous in the long term leading to serious illnesses.
• Most doctors recommend that adults should drink no more than two units of alcohol per day or fourteen units per week (a unit is equal to a glass of beer or wine - spirits are equal to 1 1/2 units). Any more than this could damage your health in the long term.

• Exposing your skin to too much sun can lead to premature wrinkles and skin cancer.
• Rates of skin cancer are increasing but it can easily be avoided by taking care in the sun.
• You can do this by:
• Staying out the sun between 11am and 3pm.
• Wearing high factor (+15) sunscreens.
• Wearing protective clothing such as hats and t-shirts.
• Avoiding sunbeds.
• If you notice an increase in the size of a mole or it becomes irregular in size or shape or begins to bleed, ooze of feel itchy, you should make an appointment to see your GP.

• Getting to know your body means getting to know your own breasts and what is normal for you.
• Breast cancer is very rare in women under 30 years so it is not something you should worry about - however it can be important to get into a routine of checking your breasts now so that you can learn to recognise anything unusual, as you get older.
• It only takes couple of minutes once a month, ideally one week after your period.

• A cervical smear test is used to detect early changes in the cervix before they become troublesome.
• It involves a small sample of cells being taken from he cervix (neck of the womb) and examined under the microscope for any abnormalities.
•  It is recommended that every woman between the age of 20-65 years should have a cervical smear test.
•  The test should be repeated every 3-5 years.

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