Breast cancer - can risks really be lessened?

Breast cancer, although uncommon in western populations in the past, contin ues to rise in incidence, and now affects up to one woman in nine. In some countries, such as the US and Australia, the mortality rate is decreasing, albeit slightly. In developing populations, while of low occurrence, the di sease is rising in incidence. Risk factors, which include certain reproduct ive practices, diet and physical activity, while apparent in some contexts, appear much less so in others; moreover, the avoiding measures do not lend themselves to primary prevention. For early detection, although regular ma mmography is advocated, it is a subject of controversy. Basically, avoiding measures fall within the usual recommendations for a 'prudent' lifestyle - avoid obesity, increase physical activity, stop smoking and restrict alcoh ol consumption. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.