Breast cancer continues to remain a serious problem for women throughout the world. Statistics gathered in 2016 that nearly 3.5 million survivors of breast cancer were alive. However, it’s understandable to want to do everything possible to avoid the possibility of receiving a positive cancer diagnosis. An important aspect of reducing your risk of breast cancer is by practicing preventative care. With that in mind, here are five tips for reducing your risks of breast cancer.

1. Self Examination is Crucial
   
   As you might know, cancer is often easier to treat when it’s detected in its early stages. Considering that, you’ll want to regularly examine your breasts for any signs of cancer. This importance of this tip cannot be stated enough. If you’re a forgetful person there are even free apps that set examination reminder notifications on your phone.
2. Avoiding Smoking Cigarettes
   
   Unfortunately, stress is a common part of life for everyone. Considering that, you might smoke cigarettes as a way to cope with the stresses of life. Luckily, there are much better ways to manage your stress levels. Many people find exercising, meditation and yoga can all help cope with stress. In addition, there are certain types of products that might help you stop smoking.
3. Start an Exercise Program
   
   While exercise is great for managing stress, it’s also a great way to reduce your risk of breast cancer. In addition to reducing cancer risks, exercising also helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease and many other health problems. Therefore, exercising is one of the best things you can do to remain healthy. Best of all, you don’t have to spend hours each day in the gym. If possible, experts recommend a simple 30 minutes of exercise each day. This is an extremely small amount of time to spend in order to stay healthy.
4. Make Necessary Diet Changes
   
   Another step to reduce your risk of cancer is to change your diet. Substituting processed foods with fruits and vegetables is a great way to accomplish this goal. Many medical experts recommend following a proper diet in order to stay healthy. Healthier foods contain more vitamins and minerals than unhealthy snacks. In addition, nuts and legumes are also great to help lower your risk of breast cancer.
5. Visit an Acute Care Facility
   
   Let’s say that you’ve detected the presence of a lump. If this happens, it’s important to remain calm and contact an acute care facility. These facilities often have a medical imaging center. In turn, you can book an appointment to receive the appropriate medical scans. After this, you’ll want to take your scan results to a medical professional. This enables your doctor to begin determining your care regimen which could include radiation treatment.

In closing, it’s important to understand how to reduce your chances of developing breast cancer. Statistics show that one in eight women throughout the United States will test positive for breast cancer throughout their lives. While this is understandably concerning, breast cancer treatment has come a long way. In fact, one study found that 19 million will survive a cancer diagnosis by the year 2024. Detecting cancer in its early stages is key. Visiting an acute care facility will provide you with the medical scans and imaging you need.