Surgeon: 'Arm yourself with knowledge'

Better-informed health decisions, like taking preventive measures, could reduce your breast cancer risk. Breast cancer is one of the better-known conditions because it’s relatively common. It’s likely you or someone you know — a friend, family member, neighbor or coworker — will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Fortunately, you can take charge of your breast health now to help change the direction of your narrative and keep your breast cancer risk as low as possible. While breast cancer can’t always be prevented, regular screenings and healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risk. The important first step is arming yourself with knowledge and the right resources to help prevent breast cancer or catch it in its earliest stages when success rates are higher.

When you know your risk factors of breast cancer, you can make informed health decisions and take preventative measures by changing elements in your environment and lifestyle. Modifiable risk factors are those you can control. You can modify lifestyle choices like diet, physical activity and alcohol consumption.

Scientists don’t know what causes breast cancer. But they do know positive changes in your environment and daily habits can reduce your breast cancer risk. Being overweight or obese is a known breast cancer risk factor.

Exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins to lower your risk. Limiting your intake of processed food, sugar and red meat may .