1- A lot of people talk about preventing breast cancer, but the
correct term is risk reduction. "We don't really know how to
prevent breast cancer. We know how to reduce people's risks,"
said Judith Swasey, a nurse practitioner at UNC Chapel Hill's
cancer hospital. The basics: Don't smoke, exercise a lot, watch
your diet, annual screenings. 2- There has been lots of
controversy in recent years over the usefulness of annual
mammograms for some women. Some researchers suggest they aren't
needed until women reach 50 and that it's OK for women not at
high risk to have scans every other year. But the American
Cancer Society and many breast cancer centers continue to
recommend annual mammograms starting at 40. The cancer society
also recommends clinical breast exams by physicians annually,
beginning at the same age as mammograms. For those at high risk
for breast cancer because of family history, annual screening
should begin before age 40. For example, if you have a sister
who developed breast cancer at 45, the re