The Canadian Living complete breast guide

Inverted nipples
• This is when one or both nipples are tucked into the breast. If your nipple has always been inverted, it is nothing to worry about.

• The odds are you can still breast-feed, although getting information prenatally, and skilled help immediately postpartum, is important.

• A plastic surgeon can perform a minor, but expensive, procedure to bring the nipple out. There are no guarantees that the procedure will be permanent, and once you have this procedure you may not be able to breast-feed.

• If your nipple suddenly becomes inverted, see a doctor right away. A sudden inversion can signal cancer.

Reduce your risk
• Be a nonsmoker and avoid secondhand smoke.

• Get 40 minutes of vigorous exercise such as brisk walking every day.

• Eat five to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit a day.

• Eat high-fibre, low-fat foods.

• Take regular saunas to sweat out environmental chemicals that may disrupt hormone function.

• Get vitamin D. Women who get lots of vitamin D may be less likely to develop breast cancer. Women 19 to 50 need 400 IU (international units) a day; those over 50 need 800 IU.

• Maintain a healthy body weight.

Breast reduction surgery
• Relieves back and shoulder pain and excessive sweating under the breasts (caused by breasts sitting on the chest).

• Is covered by provincial and territorial health insurance; talk to your plastic surgeon to learn more.

• Makes shopping for clothes easier.

• Decreases unwanted gawking.

• An estimated 16,053 women had breast reduction in Canada (36,461 women had breast augmentation) in 2005.

• Most women who consider breast reduction are a D-cup or larger, says Dr. Don Lalonde, president of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeon in Saint John, N.B.

• After surgery, you may not be able to breast-feed.

• Pregnancy may cause your breasts to balloon out again because of shifts in hormones and body weight.

• Limit alcohol consumption. The more you drink, the greater your risk. Limit yourself to no more than one drink per day, that is, 12 ounces (340 millilitres) of beer, five ounces
(142 millilitres) of wine or 1.5 ounces (42 millilitres) of spirits.

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