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THERE IS NOT yet a sure way to pre-vent breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death among women in this country. But there are steps women can take to reduce their risk. And the best time to take these is October—National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

One key safeguard is to maintain a healthy weight, especially in midlife and later. After menopause, most of the hormone estrogen in a woman’s body comes from fat cells. Estrogen can spur the growth of many breast tumors; so be-ing overweight or obese can raise breast cancer risk. Women may be especially vulnerable if extra pounds settle on their waist rather than their hips and thighs. These additional steps may help women reduce their risk for breast can-cer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS):

Avoid alcohol. Drinking is clearly tied to a heightened risk of develop-ing breast cancer. In fact, your risk in-creases the more you drink.

A good time to

consider breast health

indicates that exercise lowers breast cancer risk. Aim for 45 to 60 minutes of exercise at least fve days a week.

Carefully weigh the pros and cons of hormone therapy. Hormone therapy that uses both estrogen and progester-one can increase breast cancer risk in as few as two years of use. The use of estrogen alone after menopause seems to raise risk after 10 or more years of use. If a woman and her doctor agree that hormone therapy is necessary to ease bothersome menopausal symp-toms such as hot fashes, it is best to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.

Since breast cancer can develop even with these precautions, the ACS advises women to have yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as they are in good health. Regular mammograms (breast x-rays) can detect cancer in its early stages and give women a head start on potentially lifesaving treatment. If you have a height-ened risk of breast cancer—for example,

My Hospital Card members have an exclusive opportunity to take part in featured classes for free . To learn more, call 334-293-8961 .

Treat yourself to a night out with your friend It could save your life.

if you have very dense breasts—ask your doctor if you need additional screening tests, such as an MRI scan.

A NEW STANDARD IN QUALITY OF CARE • Jackson Hospital and Jackson Imaging Center work together for breast cancer awareness. Go to

Monday, Sept. 12, 5:30 to 8:30pm Tuesday, Oct. 18, 5:30 to 8:30pm Thursday, Nov. 3, 5:30 to 8:30pm

Take your girlfriends to a night of wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, seated massages, manicures, music—and digital mammograms.* You owe it to yourself.

*Insurance will be billed, but no doctor referral is necessary. Mammograms will be read by a board-certifed radiologist.