Cancer Breast Cancer Ask the Expert: How Can People Reduce Their Risk of Breast Cancer? By Verywell Health Editors Published on November 30, 2022 Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer LinkedIn Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years’ experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content. Learn about our editorial process Print This article is part of Breast Cancer and Black Women, a destination in our Health Divide series. Design by Julie Bang / Verywell Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide, followed by lung cancer and colon cancer. With such a high prevalence, is it possible for an individual to lower their odds of developing it? Doru Paul, M.D., Ph.D., an oncologist who focuses on individualizing care and improving the prognosis of cancer treatments, tells Verywell Health that people can reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by making certain lifestyle changes. And the younger they start, the better. Verywell Health: What can people do to reduce their risk of getting breast cancer? Dr. Paul: The four general principles are: exercise, good nutrition, decreasing stress, and good sleep. By focusing on these things, you’re preventing not only breast cancer, but other types of cancer. Verywell Health: How early in life should someone implement these steps to reduce breast cancer risk? Dr. Paul: The development of breast cancer takes between 10 and 20 years; it’s not a condition that will develop overnight. Risk reduction should start early in life. About 90% of breast cancers develop in people above age 45. The majority are in postmenopausal women. But prevention should not start at age 50; prevention should start well before that. Verywell Health: Do these tips work better for some people than others? Dr. Paul: Definitely. Certain genes, like BRCA genes, predispose people to breast cancer, so it’s important to know your risk. Everybody is becoming more aware now because of popular culture. Angelina Jolie had a BRCA gene inherited from her mother, and she decided to have a bilateral mastectomy and also an oophorectomy as a result. It should be emphasized, though, that considering similar options would be a case-by-case, personal decision. Verywell Health: For people who have genes that put them at an increased risk of breast cancer, do you recommend the same four things? Dr. Paul: Yes, 100%. Exercise, nutrition, keeping stress at bay, and good sleep matter to everyone, including patients with increased risk of breast cancer. In fact, it may matter for them even more. Breast Cancer Risk: Disparities That Affect Black Women 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. World Health Organization. Cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breast cancer in young women. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit