--- title: "Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer at Sutter Health" description: "You can take steps to lower your risk of breast cancer, say Sutter Health specialists. How? Lose weight, avoid hormone therapy and pesticides, eat well and more." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/reduce-your-risk-of-breast-cancer" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Health and wellness](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health) / 3. Reduce Your Risk Of Breast Cancer # Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer Discover simple steps that can help lower your risk of disease. * * * September 12, 2025 We all want to stay healthy and live well. While some [breast cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/breast-cancer) risk factors — like being a [woman](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/womens-health) or getting older — can’t be changed, there are many things you can do to help lower your risk. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle makes a big difference. Keep your weight in a healthy range, eat a balanced diet, and stay active. Even simple habits like brisk walking for a couple of hours each week can help reduce your risk. ![Breast cancer ribbon](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/health-topics/womens-health/breast-cancer-ribbon-600x300.jpg) Other steps to consider: - **Breastfeed if you can.** Nursing for several months may offer some protection. - **Cut down on fat.** A low-fat diet may help with weight control and slightly lower your risk. - **Limit alcohol.** Women should have no more than one drink a day. - **Quit smoking.** Smoking may raise your risk and has many other health harms. - **Stay active.** Movement supports overall health and may reduce breast cancer risk. - **Understand birth control risks.** Pills may slightly raise your risk, but that risk goes down once you stop. - **Use caution with hormone therapy.** If you use it for menopause symptoms, talk with your doctor about the safest approach. - **Use pesticides carefully.** Some studies suggest a possible link to breast cancer. If you have a family history of breast cancer, [ask your doctor](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online) about genetic counseling or testing to better understand your risk. Most importantly, keep up with recommended [breast cancer screenings](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/breast-imaging). Pay attention to any changes in your breasts and share them with your doctor right away. The earlier cancer is found, the more treatment options you’ll have. ## Explore related topics [Women's health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/articles?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Women%27s+health%22%5D%7D%2C%7B%22i%22%3A%22builtin.entityType%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+Health+Page%22%5D%7D%5D&limit=10&verticalKey=health-and-wellness)[Breast Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/articles?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Breast+Health%22%5D%7D%2C%7B%22i%22%3A%22builtin.entityType%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+Health+Page%22%5D%7D%5D&limit=10&verticalKey=health-and-wellness)[Breast Cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/articles?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Breast+Cancer%22%5D%7D%2C%7B%22i%22%3A%22builtin.entityType%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+Health+Page%22%5D%7D%5D&limit=10&verticalKey=health-and-wellness) ## Schedule a Mammogram Finding breast cancer early increases your chances for a good outcome. Mammograms are quick and easy to book online. [Book Now](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","name":"Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer at Sutter Health","description":"You can take steps to lower your risk of breast cancer, say Sutter Health specialists. How? Lose weight, avoid hormone therapy and pesticides, eat well and more.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/reduce-your-risk-of-breast-cancer","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/reduce-your-risk-of-breast-cancer#breadcrumblist"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","headline":"Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer","alternativeHeadline":"Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer at Sutter Health","description":"You can take steps to lower your risk of breast cancer, say Sutter Health specialists. How? Lose weight, avoid hormone therapy and pesticides, eat well and more.","datePublished":"2025-09-12T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-10-23T16:03:18Z","publisher":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/health-topics/womens-health/breast-cancer-ribbon-600x300.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=600","width":"600","height":"300","caption":"Breast cancer ribbon"},"@type":"MedicalWebPage","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/reduce-your-risk-of-breast-cancer#breadcrumblist"},"reviewedBy":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org"},"lastReviewed":"2026-10-23T16:03:18Z"} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/reduce-your-risk-of-breast-cancer#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Health and wellness","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Reduce Your Risk Of Breast Cancer"}]} ```