October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to BreastCancer.org, about 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Also, about 2470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men by the end of this year. These statistics are troubling to see. In the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks would like to make you aware of different things you can do to try and reduce your risk of getting breast cancer, along with some screening and early detection tips.

Actions You Can Take To Reduce Your Risk of Getting Breast Cancer

Limit your alcohol consumption.

The more alcohol you consume, the greater your risk is of getting breast cancer. To be safe, generally the recommendation is to limit yourself to less than 1 drink per day.

Try to avoid exposure to radiation and environmental pollution.

Different medical-imaging methods use high doses of radiation. Certain studies suggest that there could be a link between breast cancer and radiation exposure.

Get your exercise.

Being physically active on a continuous basis can help you maintain your weight, which can in return help reduce your risk of breast cancer. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, you should complete 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week in addition to strength training twice a week.

Do not smoke.

Studies suggest that there is a link between smoking and breast cancer, especially in menopausal women.

Keep your weight under control.

Obesity or being overweight increases your chances of getting breast cancer, especially after menopause.

Screening and Early Detection

If you are over the age of 40, you should get a mammogram. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have family members who have family members who have had breast cancer. If they had breast cancer before reaching menopause, your own risk of breast cancer could be higher than the average.

Do You Not Have Health Insurance and Are Struggling to Find Quality Health Care Because Of It?

Central Ozarks Medical Center is here for you. We keep the lack of insurance from being a roadblock to quality healthcare. Our mission is to increase access to comprehensive primary and preventative health care and to improve the health care status of underserved and vulnerable populations in Camden, Laclede, Miller and Pulaski Counties. Our belief is that it is not just what we do here at Central Ozarks Medical Center, but how we do it that makes all the difference. If you are in need of a health care professional at the Lake of the Ozarks you can trust, call one of our locations today to make an appointment. Our different locations and phone numbers are listed below.

Central Ozarks Medical Center

Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare