health

There are no guarantees that a specific woman will not get breast cancer,
but there are some steps women can take to reduce their risk:

• Genetic testing. Women with a family history of breast cancer can
  get tested for a mutation in the BRCA gene. They can then consult
  their doctor about their own risk of developing breast cancer.
• Taking drugs that have been shown to reduce the risk of breast
  cancer. These include tamoxifen and raloxifene.
• Preventive mastectomy. Surgical removal of both breasts before
  cancer can develop is a treatment sometimes undertaken by
  women who are at very high risk of breast cancer or who have been
  diagnosed with a lobular carcinoma in situ.
• Surgical removal of the ovaries. Since the ovaries are the main source
  of estrogen in a woman’s body, this type of operation is sometimes
  recommended for women with a known BRCA mutation.

Other preventive measures recommended by the American Cancer
Society include getting regular exercise, limiting alcohol intake, keeping

weight at a healthy level, and avoiding the use of hormone replacement
therapy after menopause.