Work It Out
Hitting the gym may be beneficial for more than just eliminating belly flab and firming that booty. New studies from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City point out that exercise can decrease the onset of breast cancer by up to 25 percent. Working out can also reduce the side effects of cancer and aid in recovery after diagnosis. Three hours of walking a week can even lessen the likelihood of cancer leading to fatality. What are you waiting for? Get those walking shoes on and move your body!

Not Just a Woman’s Issue
Breast cancer is rare in men but does occur. Reports show that 1 percent of U.S. men will be diagnosed. You’re at a higher risk for it if mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are found or if there is a strong family history of breast cancer, particularly if your mom or sister was diagnosed
at age 40 or younger. If you fit the bill, consult with your health care
provider. For more info, visit cancer.gov.

Something’s Fishy
Experts say eating one to
two weekly servings of oily fishes, such as salmon or tuna, is recommended to help reduce the risk of breast cancer. Every 0.1-gram-per-day increase in the intake of fatty acids results in a 5-percent lower risk. Don’t like fish? Try fish oil supplements, which can also decrease your chances of a diagnosis by 14 percent.

Individuality Matters
Since you’re one of a kind, it figures that your breast cancer treatment should also be. A recent National Institute of General Medical Sciences study illustrates that women with specific genetic variations may better benefit from individualized treatments. Women with the BRCA1 gene, for example, are more likely to experience blood clots, strokes and other cancers by choosing to undergo preventative treatment than women without the dangerous gene.

Do you love me, Mary Jane?
Rick James said Mary Jane “makes my heart sing.” It may make yours sing, too. Medicinal marijuana has long been a go-to remedy for dealing with cancer treatment because the controversial herb eases the discomfort of chemotherapy and the added stresses that come with diagnosis. The New England Journal of Medicine found that more than three-fourths of doctors surveyed would approve it as a form of pain relief for breast cancer patients.