While it is too soon to say for sure that avoiding certain chemicals or foods lowers the risk of developing breast cancer, outreach organizations can help communicate with the community, health professionals, parents, and their children about steps they can take now that may reduce the risk(s) of breast cancer later in life.
For the Community:
- Raise awareness among business leaders about the risks associated with using products that contain endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as phthalates and BPA, and the advantages of using products without endocrine disrupting chemicals.
- Encourage healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy and participating in physical activity, for all children.
- Help community leaders to:
- Learn about the environmental risks associated with breast cancer and their current and potential impact on your community’s health.
- Understand why more scientific research is important and must be supported.
- Promote awareness of precautionary steps that may lead to reduced breast cancer risk for women in your community, in the United States, and worldwide.
For Health Professionals:
- Communicate with parents and caregivers about the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle for the entire family.
- Provide parents and caregivers with information about environmental exposures that may affect the risk of developing breast cancer later in life.
Outreach organizations can encourage health professionals to use materials on this site to guide discussions with patients and their parents or caregivers.
For Parents and Caregivers:
- Limit exposure to BPA and phthalates before puberty.
- Help girls maintain a healthy lifestyle before puberty and throughout their lives.
- Talk to health professionals for suggestions to help a child grow up as healthy as possible.
Outreach organizations can share materials developed for parents and caregivers to raise awareness about steps they can take now that may lower a girl’s risk of developing breast cancer when she is an adult.