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Breast Cancer Prevention
More is known about
the causes and prevention of breast cancer than you may
realize. Keep in mind that ALL life begins and CONTINUES on the
cellular level. So therefore, we must be aware of what is
happening on cellular and molecular level at all
times. The following information is not technical; it is
practical. These conclusions have been made based on scientific
data that has
first occurred on the cellular level, has been observed in
animal studies and human studies. All of the outcomes have been
taken from statistics from the general population. The goal in
disease prevention is to protect our bodies from the cumulative
effects of insults, which over time, may cause diseases of
various kinds. We live in a world that is virtually polluted.
We must be aware and take care as much as possible in order to
protect ourselves and ultimately preserve our health. I hope
this guide is useful. Please share the information with others
and LIVE STRONG!
The Dirty Dozen
Twelve Common but
Unpublicized Risks for Breast Cancer
Knowing the “Twelve
Common but Unpublicized Risks for Breast Cancer,” or the “Dirty
Dozen” is your first step toward preventing breast cancer from
developing.
Modern Medical
Risks:
1. Oral
Contraceptives, with early and prolonged use
2. Estrogen replacement therapy, with high doses and prolonged
use
3. Pre-menopausal mammography, with early and repeated expose
4. Non-hormonal prescription drugs such as some anti-hypertensives
5. Silicone gel breast implants, especially those wrapped in
polyurethane foam
Dietary and
Environmental Risks:
6. Diet high in
animal fat contaminated with undisclosed carcinogens and
estrogenic chemicals
7. Exposure in the home to household chemicals or pollution
from neighboring chemical plants and hazardous waste sites.
8. Workplace exposure to a wide range of carcinogens
Lifestyle Risks:
9. Alcohol, with
early or excessive use
10. Tobacco, with early or excessive use
11. Inactivity and sedentary life-style
12. Dark hair dyes, with early or prolonged use
The current
statistics about breast cancer are shocking:
* Breast
cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages
of 35 and 54
* Breast Cancer is the 2nd largest cause of
cancer deaths (after lung cancer) among women of all ages.
* In 1971, when President Richard Nixon declared the
“War on Cancer,” a woman’s lifetime risk for contracting
breast cancer
was one in fourteen. Today, it is one in seven.
* American women are now twice as likely to develop
breast cancer than they were a century ago, and most of
this increase
in incidence has occurred over the past thirty years.
* From 1950 to 1992 the incidence of breast cancer
among white women increased by 26 percent, and among
black women
increased by 30 percent. As of 1995, rates have shown no
decrease.
* In 1996 alone, 186,000 women learned they had breast
cancer and about 46,000 died.
* Since 1960, more than 960,000 American women – double
the number of Americans (male and female) who
died in World Wars
I and II and in the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf wars
combined – have died from
breast cancer.
Prevention
Because the human
body is incredibly complex, there are a myriad of places where
the system can break down. One of the prominent trouble spots
is the chromosome 17, a virtual cancer slum. It contains not
only the well-studied p53 gene, which plays a role in causing
many cancers and is particularly prominent in breast cancer, but
a number of other susceptible genes as well.
Researchers believe
the p53 gene holds the key to events in the cycle of the cell.
It is because this gene’s protein helps govern ordinary cell
division that it can cause cancer when something happens to make
it misbehave. It is now thought that p53 suppresses tumors by
manufacturing a protein that goes to work in the cell’s nucleus,
attaching itself to the DNA molecule and preventing
inappropriate replication. When mutated, however, it may
produce a deformed protein, which, if it combines with a healthy
protein manufactured by a normal p53 gene, starts a downward
slide that has disastrous results. If it can’t find a rightful
fit and job, instead of preventing cell division, causes rapid
replication in the cell. We all do, at any given time, have
random cancer cells floating around in our body. When the cells
are healthy and in good working order, our T-cells, or natural
killer cells, destroy the defective cells with abnormal genetic
material and keep everything in good working order. A very
small cancerous tumor (less than 1 cm) is composed of some 3
trillion cancer cells and may have taken decades to form. There
are, of course, rapidly forming types of cancers. But, usually,
it takes years for a typical tumor to grow to a detectable
size. And the p53 gene alone cannot bring on cancer by itself;
it needs the help of four or five other genes. All this is to
say is that there is a balance that must be maintained and cell
health is of the utmost importance. We must be aware of the
constant bombardment that we experience daily and actively
strive to eliminate as many adverse effects as possible. So
let’s look at the most common stressors that we are exposed to
on a daily basis and explore how we can reduce or eliminate them
altogether. We will also look at positive activities that we
can engage in as a means of prevention.
SELF BREAST EXAM
– 90% of all tumors that are detected are detected by the woman
herself. 10% of all tumors detected are cancerous and 90% of
those that are cancerous were also found by the woman. So, Self
Breast Exam is of the utmost importance! (American Cancer
Society)
QUIT SMOKING
– plenty of data is readily available about the risks linked
with lung cancer and smoking. The American Journal of
Epidemiology sites increase in lifetime risk by 30%, while other
studies showed a remarkable 80% increase.
EXERCISE – a
35 year old woman can DECREASE the risk of breast cancer by 1/3
(33%). 25-54 year old women who engage in vigorous exercise
(enough to break a sweat) 4hrs. per week reduce their risk by
37% and if they are pre-menopausal it risk decreases by 50%
BREATHE –
deep abdominal breathing of FRESH air also decreases risk as
cancer cells are anaerobic (do not use oxygen), healthy cells
are aerobic (require oxygen). We can strengthen healthy cells
and weaken cancer cells by a good supply of oxygen. Breathe
deeply often!
FOOD – what
do you eat? Refined sugar and sugar substitutes are unusable by
normal healthy cells as fuel. They do set in motion the cycle of
Insulin-dependency (another whole subject). Cancer cells,
however, thrive on refined sugar and flour. There is absolutely
no nutritional value in sugar and has been liken to a poison by
many a nutritionist. The body was never designed to deal with
the explosive effects of sugar. When you eat it, you stun and
stress your organs and greatly increase your risk of developing
every degenerative disease. On average, every American eats 133
lbs. per year. This is one of the major causes for the epidemic
levels of heart disease, adult onset diabetes, immune
dysfunction, premature aging, and even cancer.
Sugar has been shown
to:
* Increase the
risk for BREAST CANCER
* Double the risk for biliary tract CANCER
* Deplete B vitamins and chromium
* Interfere with the absorption of calcium and magnesium
* Cause heart disease
* Increase cholesterol and insulin levels
* Raise blood pressure
* Raise triglycerides
* Weaken the immune system
* Cause a deficiency of copper
* Cause varicose veins
* Damage the kidneys.
* Cause or worsen arthritis
* Cause migraine headaches
* Increase the acidity of the stomach
* Cause gallstones
* Contribute to obesity
* Sugar always stresses the body. One tablespoon is enough to
wipe out the immune system for the whole day!
* Refined flour has no nutritional value and is rapidly
converted to sugar in the body.
* The body chemistry is designed to be approximately ph7.0
alkaline. Sugar causes that body chemistry to become acidic –
which is cancer’s playground.
Hydrogenated fats
and oils, and trans-fatty acids are broken down into dangerous
and poisonous by-products in the body. Guess what ingredients
are key for all our “handy” processed foods – cereals, crackers,
cookies, “instant” foods and pre-prepared foods and packaged
foods? Oh! They are also seasoned with a myriad of chemicals
that also wreak havoc on every system of the body. (Volumes
have been written on the evils of the American diet, easy
references are included.)
So…..What do we
do?
* Avoid sugar in
any form: white table sugar, concentrated fruit juice, barley
malt, maple syrup, honey, etc. If you use it at all, use it
only for special occasions.
* Read all labels and be aware of sugar’s many “aliases”.
Fructose, sucrose, corn syrup, HFCS.
* Chromium picolinate and zinc picolinate help curb sugar
craving
* Eat at least two meals per day that have significant
amounts of protein. This helps keep blood sugar
balanced, you will not have the cravings.
LIMIT or
ELIMINATE ALCOHOL – moderate alcohol consumption (1-2
glasses of wine, especially red wine, per day) has some cardiac
benefit. But, the Nurses Health study showed it can increase
the risk of breast cancer by 37%. A 1988 study in Cancer
Research showed that women who did most of their drinking before
age 30 had nearly twice the risk of those who started drinking
later in life.
LIMIT or
ELIMINATE EXPOSURE to TOXINS – many chemicals and by
products that we are exposed to today have carcinogenic
effects. Become familiar and aware and eliminate:
- Pesticides|
- Car exhaust
- Gasoline fumes
- Chemicals in processed foods and animal products
- Hair dyes
- Household cleansers
- Chemical solvents
- Paints
(This is the short list)
FILTER YOUR
DRINKING WATER – chlorine is a powerful chemical and
carcinogen. OSHA standards are so stringent for people working
around chlorine that they are required to take precautions
comparable to that for radiation exposure. Yet, we drink loads
of it. It has no positive effects in the body, only harmful.
Reverse osmosis is the best system of filtration, distillation
is second and carbon filters are adequate. Any of these systems
will also filter out most other chemical toxicity that may be
present in ground water or city water. It is well worth the
investment.
LIMIT YOUR
EXPOSURE to X-RAY or RADIATION- mammograms are controversial
at best. Be salesrmed and make intelligent choices. There is a
340 fold increase of exposure to radiation for a mammogram as
there is for a chest x-ray. And they do miss tumors. There are
alternatives: Transillumination with Infrared Light Scanning,
Thermography, Ultrasonography, MRI, to name a few. Keep in mind
that these are not the “standard”, may be met with resistance
and may not be fully covered by your insurance plan. (Also, be
aware of nuclear sites and waste dumps in your area.)
LIMIT the use of
HRT and the PILL – both forms of hormones are synthetic and
that means the potency is about 200x that of natural estradiol.
Therefore, you may be getting more than your body needs.
“Natural” means biologically identical to the same chemical
structure that your own body makes. Natural hormone replacement
is a much better fit for your body without the risks of further
imbalance and other diseases. JAMA discussed a risk of breast
cancer that was predicted to rise by nearly 80% after 10 years
use of synthetic estrogen-progesterone HRT and 160% after 20
years. Dr. Keating has laboratory tests available to assess
your hormone profile and bio-identical hormone replacement
available. There are many more hormones in your body that make
up a delicate balance and affect many systems other than just
reproductive. If you have questions or concerns, the best
approach is to make an appointment with him to discuss them and
to get the necessary lab evaluations.
NUTRIENTS –
There is a saying that goes, “You are what you ate”. How true
that is. According to “Nutrition Made Simple”, no study of the
American diet has ever shown that we get all the vitamins and
minerals we need for optimal health through food. Every study
reveals deficiencies or suboptimal intakes of many
micronutrients. This is in large part the reason why we have so
much heart disease, CANCER, osteoporosis, and other
life-shortening degenerative diseases. Diet and
nutrient-deficiency related degenerative diseases kill more
Americans than anything else. Countless studies show Americans
do not consume even RDA levels of B6, folic acid, magnesium, and
zinc. Fruits and vegetables lose many vitamins on their long
voyage from the farm to your table, and lack minerals due to
over farmed soils.
The RDA’s were NOT
established to help you achieve optimal health. They are
merely:
* Amounts of nutrients needed to prevent deficiency plus a
safety factor of two to three
* Amounts needed by populations, not individuals
* Amounts of nutrients for those who digest and metabolize
food normally
* Amounts for healthy persons, not for those who are sick.
The RDA’s were
designed to do little more than prevent deficiency.
Traditionally, the medical community has been very skeptical of
the use of vitamin supplements. However, this is starting to
change, especially regarding antioxidant nutrients. That is due
to the overwhelming evidence that antioxidants may help prevent,
slow, and even reverse serious diseases and conditions such as
atherosclerosis, CANCER and cataracts. Two large scale, ongoing
Harvard based studies – the Health Professionals Follow-up Study
and the Nurse’s Health Study – stand out as the turning point
for many health professionals. Dr. Anthony J. Verlangieri,
director of the Atherosclerosis Research Laboratories and
professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of
Mississippi School of Pharmacy, states, “Yes, absolutely,
everyone should take supplementary vitamins. It is a myth that
we all get the vitamins we need in our daily diets.” In
addition, he points out that there are absolutely no toxicities
associated with these levels of antioxidant supplementation
(200ieu vitamin E; 4,000mg vit. C; 2,500 ieu vit. A).
Supplementation is a
huge subject and it is helpful to have guidance or at least
someone who has “your whole picture” at his fingertips. We at
Serenity Medical Health and Beauty Spa and Dawsonville Family
Medicine have researched the companies that have the highest
manufacturing guidelines, the highest quality ingredients, AND
are actively engaged in ongoing clinical research. We also like
to have access to the researchers themselves. These are the
criteria on which we choose a nutritional supplement company.
We then feel comfortable that we are bringing the highest
quality available to you, the consumer. Cost is also an issue,
and therefore we look for companies that can deliver all the
quality for a reasonable price.
Nutrition for most
of us is still a confusing and complicated subject. Most of us
have never eaten properly, or have never been taught the
importance of proper nutrition. And our world and lifestyles
are not conducive to healthy choices. There is HOPE! Guidance
is available, and again, there are laboratory tests available
that can assess your nutritional profile – your deficiencies in
vitamins can be determined, as well as the areas where your
nutritional requirements are being satisfied. Dr. Keating will
be happy to discuss these tests with you. The results are
invaluable in putting together not only a supplementation
program, but also, an eating plan that will best meet your needs
to enable you to perform at your optimal level. Besides
preserving health, I think we are all interested in optimal
performance and longevity.
Significant Lab
Tests:
* Organix Test –
provides the nutritional profile for general health and
nutritional status
* Hormone Modulating Tests – to determine Hormone replacement
needs (with natural or biologically identical hormones) and
which metabolite of estrogen your body is producing. The inert
metabolite has little or not effect on breast tissue. The
active metabolite causes excessive breast stimulation.
These are two
valuable lab tests that available, but not commonly employed.
Dr. Keating is willing to discuss any of these with you.
We haven’t even
discussed Breast Implants or Prescription or Non-Prescription
Drugs that are listed on page 1 under Medical Risks. This guide
is meant to be just that – a GUIDE to get you thinking, and to
give you direction. There IS much, however, that you can do to
reduce your risk of developing Breast Cancer. It is a
devastating diagnosis with potentially devastating outcome. And
contrary to popular message, it is a disease that a woman
carries for the rest of her life. It can reoccur at ANY time
without warning. The 5 year “Cure” rate is just an indicator
and very few statistics are kept beyond the 5 year data
collection. Please keep this in mind as you are making your
lifestyle assessments and “counting the cost” of change. Choose
to LIVE STRONG!
To make an
appointment with Dr. Keating call Dawsonville Family Medicine at
706-265-4100. Please visit our web site at
www.serenity-spa.biz for complete
information of all services available through Serenity Medical
Health and Beauty Spa, or call Serenity at 706-265-6467 to make
an appointment.
The preceding
article is written by Sharon Keating, BSN. Today, there is A
LOT of excellent material available on nutrition and
supplementation. Following are some of Sharon’s personal
favorite sources, and the main source for the preceding
information.
The Breast Cancer
Prevention Program, by Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. and David
Steinman|
Robert Crayhon’s Nutrition Made Simple, by Robert Crayhon
The Real Vitamin and Mineral Book by Shari Lieberman, PhD.,
CNS, FACN and Nancy Bruning
Genetic Nutrition, by Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D., Victor
Herbert, M.D., J.D., and Beverly Jacobson
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