breast-feeding, it limits the
number of cycles she has
over a lifetime, which lowers
the amount of estrogen to
which her body is exposed.
aggressive). Other
phytonutrients may also
protect against breast cancer,
including sulforaphane
(found in cruciferous
vegetables) and lycopene (the
chemical that gives tomatoes
their red color). The ACS
recommends eating five or
more servings of fruits and
veggies a day, limiting
processed and red meats, and
choosing whole grains to help
reduce risks of all types of
cancer.
Eat the right foods—every
day
Research continues to
produce promising evidence
that what you eat can affect
your risk. For example,
Harvard researchers recently
found that women who had
the highest carotenoid levels
in their blood had a 19%
lower risk of breast cancer
than those with the lowest
levels. Carotenoids are found
in fruits and vegetables such
as leafy greens, carrots, and
red peppers. Women who
consumed more carotenoids
had an even lower risk of
developing estrogenreceptor-negative breast
cancer (which is often more
Detect it early
When breast cancer is caught
early, the prognosis is often
excellent. The 5-year survival
rate for breast cancer that's
found early and confined to
the breast is 99%, says the
American Cancer Society
(ACS). Here's what you need
to know.
If you're of average risk (no
family history), the US
Preventative Services Task
Force recommends having a