October 9th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

Annually, Breast Cancer Awareness month is recognized throughout October.  As a start to the month, Dr. Blanche Mavromatis, Director of the UPMC Western Maryland Center for Breast Care spoke to WCBC about some of the factors that play in to women developing breast cancer, including family history.  In addition to regular screenings through a medical provider, there are further steps one can take to reduce risk that show clinical results…

“Strategies to lower the risk should be an emphasis on healthier lifestyles in terms of nutrition, in terms of exercise. In terms of exercise for example, routine exercise can lower the risk up to 25%.”

There are also certain things to avoid to cut the risk of breast cancer developing, specifically alcohol use…

“It increases the likelihood of many cancers, not all but certainly increases the likelihood of other cancers besides breast cancer – head and neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer – just to name a few.  So, if you want to lower your chances of getting any cancer, then that’s the first go-to, besides of course, smoking.”