Breast Cancer Advice

Oncologist: Advice for daughters of women with breast cancer is for all women.
The Wall Street Journal (6/13, Hobson, Subscription Publication) "Health Blog" reported that iCarly co-star Jennette McCurdy has been posting on the Journal's Speakeasy blog about her mother's struggle with advanced breast cancer. Thus, the "Health Blog" asked Dr. Marisa Weiss, a breast cancer oncologist, who survived breast cancer and founded breastcancer.org, how she would advise young women who may be concerned their mother's breast cancer increases their risk of developing the disease. The Journal quotes Weiss, who co-wrote "Taking Care of Your 'Girls': A Breast Health Guide for Girls, Teens and In-Betweens," with her own daughter, as saying that because most breast cancer cases are not hereditary, "all women and girls need to be mindful of how to reduce" breast cancer risk. Weiss' recommendations include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, minimizing alcoholic drinks, and avoiding smoking.