A federal panel recently advised women get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40, rather than 50. And the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023, nearly 300,000 women in the United States will learn they have breast cancer. About 43,700 women will lose their life due to the disease. The headlines are reminders to know your breast cancer risks. While many risks are out of your control, there’s just as much you can control, says Heather Chambers, a breast health navigator at OSF HealthCare. Major risks you can control Active lifestyle and healthy eating: Chambers puts it plainly. If you eat junk, you’ll feel like junk. And any exercise will give you more energy and burn fat. Fat produces estrogen, which feeds cancer cells. “You want to make sure you’re well-maintained with your weight, even after menopause,” Chambers says. Taking hormones: This impacts your ovaries, reducing or adding estrogen. Whether you’re at a routin
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