Hilary Beard's Blog

In September 2007, my mother died of breast cancer after a 13-year struggle against the disease. Her illness surprised us; she had stopped smoking some 22 years prior to being diagnosed, and she didn't have a family history or any of the risk factors then associated with the disease.

More recently, however, we've learned that second-hand smoke can cause breast cancer. My father smoked. And while I know this is at odds with what some doctors might tell me, as far as I'm concerned, inhaling that same smoke--rather than the mere fact my mother died of the disease--is my primary risk factor for the disease of the known causes.

Still, I've taken several steps to avoid her fate, by minimizing my exposure to the people, places and things that could make me sick. As we enter October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'd like to share the preventive steps I've taken over the years. Some of the changes were easy to implement; I phased in others over years. Maybe you can implement these or other changes to reduce the likelihood you'll develop this devastating disease.

• I don’t smoke;
• I don’t take birth-control pills, which some, though not all, studies suggest might increase breast cancer risk;
• I eliminated most high-fat foods, including red meat, from my diet, eating more poultry and fish instead;
• I cut back on the two Margueritas I was known to down at Friday happy hours; today now I drink alcoholic beverages sparingly;
• I exercise almost every day, typically walking;
• The above activities help keep me at a healthy weight, since gaining 20-30 or more pounds after high school increases your risk
• I increased my consumption of Vitamin D, whose deficiency, experienced by many Americans of African descent, may be linked to breast cancer;
• I get my annual mammogram.
• Just to play it safe, I swapped out my high-pressure “grind” in favor of less stressful work that I love. I pray, meditate and seek counseling as needed to minimize and effectively cope with stress.

For more cancer-prevention tips, check out the American Cancer Society's risk factor fact sheet.