Recent breast cancer statistics state that one in eight women is at risk to develop breast cancer in their lifetime and that women over fifty have the greatest risk for developing breast cancer. Breast cancer can be detected via mammograms or self-diagnosis. Self-diagnosis is no replacement for a doctor.

Pinpointing the exact cause of breast cancer remains very difficult, as each person's cancer may be brought on by totally different causes. In general, cancer is caused by a free radicals, also known as deformed cells, which attach to good cells. There is also a link to high estrogen levels. High estrogen levels may be caused by hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, and high levels of preservatives found in herbicides and pesticides.

We can classify the causes listed above as generally beyond our control. However, there are other things that can put one at risk for breast cancer that are within our control. These include:

- Excessive alcohol intake.
- A diet high in fat.
- Pregnancy after 30.
- Oral contraceptive use.

Unfortunately, our society teaches us that most things can be fixed with a pill. However, to truly help prevent cancer, you can do some or all of the following: Exercise regularly. This could be as simple as a 30 minute walk each day. Eat a diet high in fiber and vegetables and low in fat. Eat fruit. Always ensure you get the proper amount of rest specific to you. You may need 7 hours of sleep, you may need more or less. Listen to your body as it will tell you. Make sure you self-diagnose and stick to a schedule. You may also want to consider progesterone cream as well. What this does is essentially regulate your body's hormones so that the estrogen level does not get too high. Doing these things will go a long way to helping prevent breast cancer and lowering your risk of developing it.