Each and every woman can make a difference

When a superstar gets breast cancer she always makes the headlines but what about the thousands of Australian women who are diagnosed with the disease every year?

“You don’t have to be Olivia Newtown-John or Kylie Minogue to make a difference. Every woman – whether she’s a housewife or professional, mother or great-grandmother, single or married – can take simple, yet life-saving steps in the fight against breast cancer.”

So what can every woman do to fight a disease that still affects more than 13,000 women in Australia every year?

“Firstly, women have to take their breast health seriously. Breast cancer has a high profile nowadays – who doesn’t know what the pink ribbon stands for? But the danger of familiarity is apathy and we mustn’t forget that breast cancer is still the most common form of cancer among women and every year, claims hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide,” Professor Boyages said.

While breast cancer may seem to strike at random, Professor Boyages said there are still things that every woman can do to get pro-active about her breast health.

“Research clearly shows that regular breast screening and leading a healthy lifestyle are major factors in reducing the risk of dying from breast cancer. A mammogram can detect cancer while it’s small and, there is not only a greater cure rate from treatment but less chance of having more difficult treatment such as chemotherapy or a mastectomy, if cancer is found earlier.

“Three quarters of breast cancers develop in older women and BreastScreen NSW offers free mammograms for women aged 50 to 69. A mammogram only takes about 30 minutes and it’s a simple matter of making an appointment – phone 13 20 50. One quick phone call could mean the difference between life and death.”

Professor Boyages said lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, may also affect a person’s risk of developing cancer.

“Women can make healthy lifestyle choices. Research suggests that protective nutrients in fruit and vegetables and also Vitamin D may help protect against developing cancer.”

Along with regular exercise, a healthy diet also boosts the immune system and helps prevent obesity, which is a known risk factor for breast cancer. Women need to be wise about alcohol.