By Lynda Soderlund
Woodlawn Health

Editor’s Note: Lynda Soderlund is a mammographer at Woodlawn Health.

Lynda Soderlund

Did you know that there are some risk factors for breast cancer that you cannot change? Yep, that is right. Here is a list of things that you are unable to change:

• Being female.
• Getting older.
• Genetic mutations.
• Early menstrual cycles, late menopause.
• Family or personal history of breast or ovarian cancer.
• Previous radiation treatment to the chest/breast.
• Dense breast tissue.

The last one might leave you shaking your head and wondering; do I have dense breast tissue? Some women have tissue resembling marshmallows, and others have lumpy tissue. The lumpy tissue is the dense breast, and cancer can be hard to see. You must ask your doctor if you would benefit from a supplemental MRI screening.

There are also some things you can do to help mitigate your risk. Below is a list of things you can start doing today:

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Breastfeed.
• Avoid smoking.
• Limit alcohol consumption.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your medical provider of choice. They will be happy to advise you.