Breast Cancer Awareness Month.. 3 ways to prevent and detect the deadly disease

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of the second most common cancer among women. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 271,270 new cases of breast cancer in 2019, 99% of which will be diagnosed among women.

Take a look at these ways that may help prevent this common, high-risk disease: Reducing Risk While risk factors such as genetics and age cannot be avoided, some measures can be taken to reduce the risk of breast cancer by primarily staying healthy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and discussing the risks of using oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy with your doctor.

Breastfeeding children when they are present may help reduce the risk of the disease. The centers also advise consuming few alcoholic beverages, as the risk of breast cancer increases with alcohol consumption.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, factors such as aging, genetic mutations, previous treatment with radiation therapy, and a family history of breast cancer may increase your risk of developing the disease. Many women are taught how to look for lumps in the breast tissue, but it is important that they are aware of other abnormalities, if present.

According to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, skin swelling or redness, change in breast shape, nipple discharge (other than breast milk), pain in the breast, and firmness or tightness of the skin may be possible warning signs of breast cancer. These are uncertain signs of breast cancer, so be sure to visit your doctor to discuss any new changes.

Regular imaging Some women are diagnosed with breast cancer after noticing symptoms, but many women with the disease have no symptoms at all. That's why it's important to get regular mammograms.

The recommended age to start getting a mammogram is between 40 and 50 years old.