Breast Cancer Prevention

A federal committee recommends a shift in how the medical community tackles breast cancer. Committee Chairwoman Michele Forman says it is calling for the creation of a national breast cancer strategy that stresses prevention. “We need to make prevention a priority and we need to no longer ignore the major research gaps in understanding the role of the environment in breast cancer.” The committee’s report also recommends an intensive study of chemical and physical factors that could cause breast cancer, adds Forman. “We know that family history of breast cancer is a strong risk factor.  What we don’t know is the extent of the role of environmental exposures in breast cancer.” Forman says nearly all research is now focused on treatment and a cure, and that needs to change. “This plan needs to be the footprint for work to prevent breast cancer with benchmarks to assess the progress.” The creation of a national breast cancer strategy that stresses prevention is vitally important to the nation’s health, concludes Forman. “We want a level playing field for prevention research that is comparable to the levels of funding for other types of research.  Prevention research has not been a priority and it needs to be so.” Talk to your doctor about your risk for breast cancer.  Early detection is paramount to early prevention of breast cancer.