Breast Cancer Prevention Tips for Seniors in Knoxville, TN
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Breast cancer prevention requires a combination of regular screening via mammograms and protecting your health through positive lifestyle choices. Avoiding smoking and alcohol can reduce your risk. Eating a healthy diet and participating in regular exercise are also vital.
If you are a senior in Knoxville, TN, this is the ideal time to learn more about how you can protect yourself as you enter your years. Read on for our breast cancer prevention tips as we talk about the risk factors of breast cancer, proper screening, and making simple lifestyle changes.
What Can Trigger Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast grow abnormally and form a tumor. Family history of breast cancer is a known risk factor, and some people have a genetic mutation that makes breast cancer more likely.
Lifestyle choices, including poor diet and heavy alcohol use, are another known factor. There is also some evidence that hormonal exposure, particularly prolonged exposure to estrogen, can raise your risk of breast cancer.
However, one of the highest risk factors is age. You are more likely to receive a diagnosis after the age of 60. That's why breast cancer awareness is vital when you reach your senior years.
What Reduces the Chances of Breast Cancer?
A cancer diagnosis cannot always be prevented. Nevertheless, you can lower your odds of breast cancer by tackling specific risk factors that are in your control. Here are some ways you can lower your risk:
- Maintain a healthy weight in your senior years
- Embrace a nutritious diet and minimize highly processed foods
- Stop smoking
- Limit alcohol
- Manage your stress levels
- Exercise and stay physically active
On top of these lifestyle changes, you can also help prevent a more advanced cancer diagnosis through early detection. That means attending screenings and health checkups with your doctor. A healthcare practitioner can also speak to you about genetic testing if breast cancer runs in your family.
Support for Seniors in Knoxville: Embracing Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Living a healthy life and lowering your risk of cancer isn't about doing one or two actions. It's about embracing a healthy lifestyle that becomes a habit in the long term. Here are some ways you can stay healthy in Knoxville:
- Venture onto one of Knoxville's nature trails, like Lakeshore Park
- Join a local fitness class or find one in your senior living community
- Enjoy fresh food by exploring Knoxville's farmers' markets
- Join group activities that support the mind and body, like yoga and meditation
Not only will these lifestyle habits help protect you from breast cancer, but they can also guard against other age-related diseases like diabetes. So embrace the beauty and community on offer in Knoxville and use your retirement to put your health and well-being first.
Senior Health Education: Early Detection Tips
Since seniors are more at risk of breast cancer, most healthcare providers will recommend screenings via mammograms.
Mammograms offer earlier detection of breast cancer when tumors may still be so small they aren't detectable via manual checks. Mammograms are a well-established and effective tool that's used in hospitals and clinics throughout Knoxville and the surrounding area.
Early detection of cancer is crucial to a better prognosis and, for many patients, can mean a less invasive treatment and faster recovery. That's crucial in your senior years, when you may face multiple health challenges.
Prevention and Wellness in Our Senior Living Community
Our senior living community is designed to make it easier for residents to manage their health and wellness, giving you every opportunity to protect yourself from lifestyle-related risk factors for breast cancer.
On-site, you'll find senior-adapted exercise classes that you can incorporate into your daily or weekly routine. You'll also get to enjoy nutritious, freshly cooked food crafted by our talented chefs, helping to nourish and protect your body in your later years.
We also have a range of social and wellness classes on site so that you can look after your mental and spiritual well-being too.
Frequently Asked Questions on Breast Cancer Prevention Tips
What Age Should Seniors Begin Breast Cancer Screenings?
If you are a senior in Knoxville, you might already attend breast cancer screenings for a mammogram. If not, the best time to start is now. Women are more at risk of breast cancer after the age of 60, so regular checkups can help you benefit from early detection.
Your healthcare provider will also be able to advise you on whether you have other risk factors, such as testing for hereditary, genetic breast cancer.
What Family History Can Increase Breast Cancer Risk?
There is a genetic factor, called BRCA mutations, that can increase your risk of certain types of breast cancer. The only way to truly know if you are at risk is to get genetic testing done.
However, if you have a close family relative who has had (or has) cancer, this can be a sign that you could have a higher-than-normal risk. Close family refers to a mother, sister, or daughter who has been diagnosed with the disease.
Does Diet Really Make a Difference?
All cancers, including breast cancer, can be complex, and scientists are still uncovering some of the causes. Cancer emerges from random cell changes and mutations that develop into tumors.
There may be many causes, both lifestyle and environmental, that trigger that mutation. Still, at the moment, scientists don't know for sure what all of those are.
Nevertheless, while eating a good diet isn't guaranteed to prevent you from getting breast cancer, it's a sensible step to take. A healthy diet reduces inflammation in the body, helps regulate your hormones, and encourages cell repair.
Assisted Living Care and Protecting Your Health
We hope you have found these breast cancer prevention tips valuable. And if you are considering assisted living, choose a community that prioritizes wellness for older adults.
At Deane Hill Place, our close-knit community offers a tranquil and supportive environment, with caring staff who are there to support your wellnes