According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer for women in the United States, behind skin cancer. October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, offers a good reminder to follow these lifestyle strategies to reduce your risk for breast cancer:

• Scale back. Women who are overweight or obese after menopause have a higher risk for breast cancer than those at a healthy weight.
• Stay on the move. Physical activity can help lower your chances of getting breast cancer.
• Don’t tip your glass too often. The more you drink, the more you’re at risk. One alcoholic beverage a day can add up to a 10% increase in risk; two to three a day bumps it to 20%.
• If you are a smoker, stop smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there’s evidence smoking may increase breast cancer risk.
• Think produce. Some studies suggest that a diet high in fruits, vegetables and calcium-rich dairy — but low in red and processed meats — might help lower the risk for breast cancer.

There are some risk factors you cannot change. Women are more likely to develop breast cancer as they get older. In fact, women ages 50 and older make up most breast cancer cases. Those whose mothers, sisters or daughters have had breast cancer also face a higher risk. Race and ethnicity play a role, too. For example, breast cancer develops more often in white women than in Black, Hispanic, Asian or American Indian women.

Schedule Your Screening

When breast cancer does strike, it’s very important to catch it in its early stages, when it’s most treatable. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early. Experts have different recommendations for this screening:

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every two years for women ages 50 to 74.
• The American Cancer Society recommends a mammogram yearly for all women ages 45 to 54. Women ages 55 and older can continue with the same schedule or switch to getting a mammogram every other year.

Mammogram benefits and limitations vary based on factors like age and personal risk. Talk with your healthcare provider about your personal risk level before making a decision about when to start mammograms or how often to get them.