radiation—the kind in many
high-tech screening tests—is
a risk factor for the disease,
because ionizing radiation
can cause DNA mutations in
cells.
That doesn't mean you should
cancel your mammogram.
"Mammograms deliver very
small doses of radiation, and
if you follow general
guidelines, it's not going to
be an issue," says Robert N.
Hoover, MD, ScD, director
of the epidemiology and
biostatistics program at the
National Cancer Institute.
"The same is true for annual
dental x-rays and airport
security screening, and if
your doctor says you need a
diagnostic x-ray for any
reason, the risk of minimal
radiation exposure is
outweighed by the possibility
of diagnosing a potential
medical problem."
Limit hormone therapy
The Women's Health
Initiative found that longterm use of combined
estrogen plus progestin
therapy increases a woman's
risk of breast cancer by 24%,
but unless your risk is
significant, you can still talk
with your doctor about the
use of hormone therapy to
manage menopausal
symptoms such as hot
flashes. Just determine the
smallest dose that will help,
and take it for the shortest
time possible.
Consider breast-feeding
Women who consistently
breast-feed for the first 6
months have a 10% reduced
risk of death from cancer,
compared with those who
don't, found a recent study in
the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition. One
reason: Because a woman
doesn't menstruate while