Breast Cancer Awareness Month

  

Breast cancer awareness and prevention

Breast cancer awareness and preventionBreast cancer is the second most common type of cancer affecting U.S. women. Men can also get breast cancer, but the incidence of male breast cancer is much lower. Our Orange County fertility doctor wants you to know that you can take steps to decrease your chances of developing breast cancer.

Lower your breast cancer risk as part of breast cancer awareness

Certain breast cancer risk factors can be avoided or lowered, but some like genetics cannot. Here is a look at some of the risk factors.

  • Dense breasts
  • Older age
  • Obesity
  • Smoking
  • Drinking alcohol
  • A personal history of breast cancer or benign (non-cancerous) findings
  • Radiation therapy to the chest area or breast(s)
  • Genetics (inherited risk factors including BRCA1 or BRCA2)
  • Family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter)
  • Taking hormone therapy for menopause symptoms
  • Exposure of breast tissue to estrogen made by the body

By taking steps to lower your risk of breast cancer, you may be able to prevent it. If breast cancer should develop, you may still be able to have a baby, thanks to treatments from our Orange County fertility doctor.

Oncofertility

Oncofertility is a specialized field of medicine that combines oncology (cancer) and reproductive endocrinology to help cancer survivors and those living with cancer increase their fertility. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery used to treat cancer may damage reproductive organs, lower sperm production or cause genetic damage to the eggs.

There are ways to preserve fertility.

  • Shielding the pelvic region with a lead apron during radiation therapy
  • Taking medications to slow down the ovaries and testes before receiving chemotherapy
  • Undergoing egg freezing for fertility preservation
  • Considering sperm banking

If your fertility has been damaged by cancer treatments you can still bring home a baby with help from donor eggs, donor sperm and/or a gestational carrier who will carry the baby until delivery.

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, consult with our Orange County fertility doctor to discuss your oncofertility options. Contact us for more information.

Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine

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