40 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • OCTOBER 2021
BREAST CANCER REDUCING YOUR RISK
A breast cancer diagnosis can change
patients’ lives in ways they never
imagined. That’s especially so in the
rare instances when women younger
than 40 are diagnosed with the disease.
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According to the American Cancer
Society, it’s uncommon for women
younger than 40 to receive a breast
cancer diagnosis. In fact, data from the
ACS indicates that only about 4% of all
women diagnosed with breast cancer
in the U.S. are under age 40. But 4%
is nothing to brush aside, especially
when the ACS estimates that 284,200
new cases will be diagnosed in women
in the U.S. in 2021. That means roughly
11,368 women under 40 in the U.S. will
be diagnosed with breast cancer this
year, and many of those women will understandably
express concerns about
cancer recurrence in the years to come.
The experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine
in Baltimore note that learning to cope
with fears of breast cancer recurrence
is an important part of the recovery
process. Those same experts note that
various lifestyle changes can help
women regain their health, strength
and optimism and quell any fears they
have about cancer recurrence.
Take care of yourself, both emotionally
and physically. Johns Hopkins Medicine
urges breast cancer survivors to
put their own needs fi rst sometimes.
That can be difficult for younger
breast cancer survivors with children
at home, but prioritizing their own
emotional well-being can help women
overcome their fears of recurrence.
Support groups can connect women
with other breast cancer survivors,
and women should not hesitate to
discuss any fears or concerns with
their doctors. It’s also vital that women
prioritize their physical well-being.
Routine exercise and a healthy diet
can help women reduce stress and
maintain a healthy weight, which can
reduce risk for recurrence.
Stay on top of screenings and vaccinations.
Another way to reduce the risk of
cancer recurrence is to stay up-to-date
on screenings, fl u shots, and vaccinations.
Annual physicals and screenings
for cardiovascular conditions including
high cholesterol and diabetes can help
women stay on a healthy path forward.
Monitor vitamin D levels. Johns
Hopkins Medicine notes that the
Nurses’ Health Study found a link
between low levels of vitamin D and
breast cancer incidence. It remains
unknown if vitamin D supplements
can lower risk of breast cancer recurrence,
but maintaining sufficient
levels of vitamin D can promote
overall health. Women can speak
with their physicians about vitamin
D and which supplements to consider.
In addition, spending 20 minutes per
day in the sunshine while wearing
sunscreen with a minimum sun protection
factor (SPF) of 30 can help
women reach recommended levels
of vitamin D.
Cancer recurrence is a significant
concern for survivors. However, various
strategies can help women reduce
their risk for recurrence and help them
regain their optimism for the future.
-Metro Creative Connection
LIVE+WELL
Staying current with screenings and
vaccinations can help breast cancer
survivors reduce their risk for recurrence.
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