Positive lifestyle changes
CHANGING lifestyle habits, increasing work pressure and stress levels have left modernday individuals with no time to pay heed to their health. One disease that seems to be emerging because of irregular lifestyle is breast cancer. So keep a check on your habits.
Meher Patel, the director at DIVA, Centre for Breast Care (partner with cosmetic brand AVON’s #PayAttention campaign raising awareness on breast cancer), says:
Lack of physical activity: One of the main reasons is that excess weight causes the body to produce and circulate more oestrogen and insulin, hormones that can stimulate cancer growth. It is crucial to keep your body fit at every stage of life using all body parts to sweat out intoxicants that one consumes in a polluted, fast-paced world.
Alcohol and smoking: The more drinks you down on weekends, or packets of cigarettes you smoke, the bigger your at risk of breast cancer.
Long night-shifts at work: A survey of 300 women – some of whom worked at night, some of whom didn’t – found those who’d worked nights for 30 or more years were twice as likely to develop the disease.
Renuka Prasad- Joint Secretary (Hon) at Indian Cancer Society too shares what can lead to this disease.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and contraceptive pills: Medical improvisations you don’t need! Avoid using the popular HRT or contraception tablets to abnormally treat menopausal symptoms and unwanted pregnancy. Overweight: Piling on weight in adulthood (after 18) or being overweight after menopause can lead to breast cancer. Other causes: Avoid excess deodorant use, underwired bras, bumping/bruising of breast implants.