Breast Cancer Prevention

Breast Cancer – Risk Factors and Prevention

Among women, the second most common form of cancer is breast cancer. An estimate of 28.5 percent of cancers in women are diagnosed as breast cancer, according to statistics from National Cancer Institute (NCI). A woman’s chances of getting breast cancer in her lifetime is 13%.

Breast Cancer can also be diagnosed in men, although it is rarely occurring. According to estimates, by 2021, about 2250 men will be diagnosed and 560 will lose their lives to the disease. In males, the overall risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in 833. 

Risk Factors 

There are several factors that play a role in the development of breast cancer, but having any of these does not mean you will definitely get it. Some risk factors can’t be changed, such as family history. Other risk factors are potentially controllable, for example quitting smoking if you smoke. Here are a list of things than could possibly increase your chances:

  • Age – as you grow older your breast cancer risk increases. The most common age to be diagnosed with breast cancer is over 55.
  • Drinking Alcohol – It’s possible for alcohol to elevate estrogen levels in the body, disrupting hormone receptors. Additionally, alcohol has been demonstrated to cause damage to our cells’ DNA, which can be harmful in many ways. Women who consume three alcoholic beverages per week have 15% more chance of developing breast cancer than women who abstain from alcohol.
  • Dense Breast Tissue – Dense breast tissue makes mammograms difficult to receive, and it also increases the risk of cancer in women who have it. 
  • Gender – the chances of a woman getting breast cancer is 100 times more common than a man. 
  • Genes – it is found that gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
  • Early Menstruation – such as getting your period at an earlier stage than average (12 yrs)
  • Giving Birth Later – having a first child at the age of 35 or older 
  • Hormone Therapy – Some medications used to alleviate the signs of menopause have been linked to a higher risk for breast cancer.
  • Family History – if a close relative has had breast cancer, this increases your risk as it can be inherited
  •  Late Start to Menopause – increased risk after 55
  • No Pregnancies – woman who have never conceived or carried a full pregnancy are at higher risk
  • Having Breast Cancer Previously – Having breast cancer before, increases the chances of you developing on the other breast or in a different tissue in the same breast.
  • Obesity – being overweight 

Breast Cancer Prevention 

Acupuncture for breast cancer

Regardless of what causes breast cancer, one can influence their risk in that area by improving their health overall. Getting regular screenings and getting the care your doctor recommends for you will help reduce your risk.

Staying healthy is an important aspect of preventing illnesses in the body. People who are obese have a higher risk of developing certain cancers. Filling our bodies with nutrients by eating healthily and getting some regular exercise can help you lose weight, lower your risk of developing these illnesses, and keep you healthy overall.

Alcohol also affects your health. Alcohol abuse can range from one or two drinks a day to binge drinking and is seriously bad for your health. Reducing alcohol intake benefits you greatly and reduces your risk of cancers.

Getting your breasts screened, scanned and checked regularly also helps to prevent serious cases of breast cancer. When caught early breast cancer can be quite treatable, so it is best to stay on top of your breast health, especially after the age of 55. Yearly mammograms are suggested. You can do monthly self exams to stay aware of how your own breasts look and feel to catch a change early on.

At Centre of balance we can tell you more about how breast cancer forms in the body, prevention and treatment. Contact us today on 078467956 or email info@balancetcm.co.nz. 

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Fill in our online questionnaire for free – and save the $135 it would cost you to do this detailed medical history in person with a practitioner.  You can request a phone call from a practitioner after they have read your online form, or just book your initial exam for $40.  Call us on 07 846 7956 to book, or fill in the questionnaire now.

References 

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html

https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/male_bc

https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/alcohol

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.