| Woman's Health
Breast Cancer: Why
Not You?
By Edel Jarboe
Breast cancer awareness
programs such as "Race for the Cure", reminders to do monthly breast self-exams
in the back of women's magazines, and greater media coverage on the subject
make it virtually impossible for women to ignore breast health.
However, this is what some women are doing.
They are ignoring their breast health in the hopes that they won't have to
deal with breast cancer. By not actively practicing preventive breast health,
they are denying that they could potentially get breast cancer. This is playing
the naive and dangerous game of "Not me," when, in reality, the name of the
game is "Why not me?" Personal beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer
are the first things one must face in order to start taking responsibility
for one's health and body.
Which Profile Fits You?
| Anna R.* is a 65-year-old woman whose mother
died of breast cancer. While she eats healthy and has a mammogram every year,
Anna is overweight and does not exercise. When asked why she doesn't take
the threat of breast cancer seriously enough to do anything about her weight
and lack of physical fitness, she volunteers that she believes that since
her mother had breast cancer, there is nothing that she can do.
According to the American Cancer Society, only
5-10% of all breast cancers are believed to be inherited. In short, family
history and a genetic predisposition do not necessarily mean that you will
get breast cancer. Other factors such as obesity, reproductive patterns,
and similar lifestyles among family members are a better explanation for
increased risk. |
| Bianca L. is the 32-year-old mother of two
children. She breastfed both children and had her first child at age 22.
She has no family history of breast cancer.
Bianca does a breast self-exam every once in
a while and has an occasional drink with friends. She admits that she doesn't
always eat well but that's okay, right? She's not really at risk. She believes
that she has another 20 years to start worrying about breast cancer.
Does she?
According to a study which appeared in the Jan/Feb
1998 issue of the CA- A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, approximately 75%
of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors.
This means that only 25% of breast cancers are positively associated with
known risk factors. In other words, even if you have no identifiable breast
cancer risk factors, you are still at risk. |
| Helen S. is 43 and has no children. She admits
that she does not perform a monthly breast self-examination, nor has she
had her first mammogram. Her grandmother died of breast cancer.
Why doesn't Helen take steps to safeguard her
health?
Helen believes that because her mother has not
contracted the disease, she is safe.
Lack of knowledge about all of the risk factors
for breast cancer is dangerous. According to the National Cancer Institute,
a woman in the United States has a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing breast
cancer and 1 in 29 lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer. These are not
good odds. Every woman should stay informed of the risk factors for breast
cancers and do all they can to lower their chances of developing breast cancer.
Because the sad truth is that just being a woman puts you at risk. |
Know Your Family's Health History
Knowing your family's medical history is an
important factor in detecting and treating serious illnesses. Evidence has
shown that women with a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter)
who has had breast cancer have a 2-3 times greater risk of contracting the
disease. Moreover, women with second-degree relatives (cousins) who have
had the disease, have an increased risk of twice that of a woman who has
no family history of breast cancer.
Be sure to fully discuss your medical history
with your doctor, because the use of specific screening tests varies based
on your known risk factors.
Know the Breast Cancer Risk Factors
-
Early menstruation (before age 12)
-
Use of oral contraceptives (currently using
and if used within past 10 years)
-
Late first pregnancy (after age 30)
-
No children
-
Late menopause (after age 50)
-
Long term (10-15 years) estrogen replacement
therapy (ERT) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
What do all of these risk factors have in common?
Breast cancer is a hormonal cancer and as such, it has been closely linked
to estrogen levels. Each of the above risks has to do with changes in a woman's
estrogen levels, when they've taken place, how often, and for how long.
Unfortunately, the more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of
contracting breast cancer.
Know the Breast Cancer Facts
A study which appeared in the February 18, 1998
issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that
women consuming at least 30 g/d of alcohol a day (2.3 bottles of beer, 2.8
glasses of wine, or 2 shots of liquor) are at an approximately 30%-40% higher
risk for breast cancer than non-drinkers. Why? Higher levels of alcohol
consumption have been associated with higher levels of estrogen in alcoholic
women. Moreover, alcohol may act as a cocarcinogen, improving the permeability
of carcinogens, inhibiting the detoxification of carcinogens, and activating
procarcinogens. For this reason, it is recommended that women limit alcohol
intake to 1 alcoholic beverage a day (12-oz beer, 5-oz wine, or 1.5-oz
liquor)
In another study, which appeared in the November
5, 1997 issue of JAMA, avoiding weight gain after menopause may contribute
to the prevention of breast cancer, particularly among women who do not use
postmenopausal hormones. Thus, a lifelong commitment to exercise plays a
vital role in your long-term health.
Diet and Breast Cancer
Eating well has a variety of health benefits,
whether or not it helps reduce the risk of breast cancer is unknown. Despite
all the media attention revolving around soy, it has not yet been proven
that soy products reduce breast cancer risk. Likewise, while the controversial
Nurse's Health Study showed no correlation between fat intake and breast
cancer risk, scientists aren't convinced. Other studies do show a link between
diets high in saturated fat and breast cancer risk.
Because no one is quite sure which type of diet
makes a difference in reducing or increasing breast cancer risk; the American
Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines:
-
5 or more fruits and vegetables per day
-
6-11 Whole grains such as wheat, rice, oats,
barley and whole-grain based products
-
Choose beans, seafood and poultry and/or choose
lean cuts of beef, pork, and lamb
-
Replace high-fat foods with lower fat versions
(preferably fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains)
-
Bake and broil foods instead of frying
-
Use vegetable and olive oils(avoid saturated
fats)
-
Choose non-fat and low-fat milk and dairy products
Overall, with the exception of excessive alcohol
consumption, diet is a lessor factor when compared to other breast cancer
risks, such as genetic predisposition, early menstruation, and late
menopause. |
| Know the Breast Cancer Weapons
Self-care is the most powerful weapon against
breast cancer. Eat a healthy diet, limit alcohol intake, stay physically
fit, and visit your doctor regularly. Each month examine your breasts for
any lumps or changes. Do the examination a few days after your period ends.
If you are using oral contraceptives, do it on the day you begin a new pill
pack.
In addition, have regular breast exams by a
medical professional and, if you are over 40, you should have mammograms
every 2 years or as often as your doctor recommends. After 50, you should
have a mammogram every year. Breast cancer is an age-related disease. The
older you are, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer.
If you are post-menopausal, weigh the options
of hormone replacement therapy and estrogen replacement therapy carefully.
Discuss your risk factors with your doctor and do not be afraid to keep asking
questions about the choices available to you. Also, if you are post-menopausal,
avoid weight gain as this raises estrogen levels and keep physically fit
in order to reduce the rise in estrogen levels.
In short, the "Why not me?" game is a serious
one. The stakes are too high for it not to be. When it comes to breast cancer
prevention (and treatment), these are the rules: Be vigilant. Be healthy.
Be informed. Play as if your life depends on it.
*Names have been changed.
~~~~~~
You may also be interested in these
Natural Cancer
Treatments: Over 350 treatments & 2,000 testimonials that no-one
else will tell you about.
~~~~~~
Edel Jarboe is
the founder of Self Help for
Her.com, an online self-help magazine helping you create a better life.
She also publishes a free weekly newsletter, which features advice on goal
setting, stress management, coping with difficult people, and overcoming
obstacles: Subscribe here
and receive a FREE stress report.
MORE
HEALTH ARTICLES...>> |
