Cebu City - October is celebrated as the Breast Cancer awareness month. This is an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.  The celebration also emphasized the importance of regular self-breast examination and the critical role of screening in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer among women. 

Cancer can form and grow in different parts of the body. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is when the damaged or abnormal cells start to grow and multiply when they shouldn’t be. Regarding breast cancer, the breast cells begin to produce abnormally that can cause a mass or lump and later may spread through the breast to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Much research has shown that lifestyle, environmental, hormonal changes may increase the likeliness to have breast cancer. In some cases, it could be due to the complexity of the genetic structure and with the added factor of the environment set-up. 

There are a lot of risk factors concerning breast cancer and here are some of them:

• Women have more chances of acquiring breast cancer than men, it also co-relates the chances as you age.
• A strong family history of cancer increases the likeliness of having breast cancer or other cancers
• Radiation exposure due to treatments especially in the breast area increases the chances of breast cancer
• Women who have undergone postmenopausal hormone therapy to deplete the signs and symptoms of menopause.

These are only a few of the risk factors, consulting a doctor or cancer specialist regularly can help in monitoring the chances of having cancer. Early detection increases the chance of better treatment outcome. 

Diet is thought to be partly responsible for about one third of all cancers. Trans fatty acids (TFAs) have been hypothesized to influence breast cancer risk. A high-fat diet promotes the development of cancers and aflatoxins from moldy products would increase the risk. No food or diet can prevent one from getting breast cancer. But some foods can make your body the healthiest it can be, boost your immune system, and help keep your risk for breast cancer as low as possible. Research has shown that getting the nutrients you need from a variety of foods, especially fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, can make you feel your best and give your body the energy it needs. Eating fruits and vegetables that is rich in phytochemicals helps in preventing the formation of cancer with Vitamins A, C & E and minerals like zinc also prevents the oxidation of cells and formation of free radicals. Together with physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of cancer. // NO I Christine April M. Lopez, RND