Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer

Cancer develops from one single cell in the body. Normally cells are controlled a variety of in-built “safety catches” that make sure the cells grows in an orderly way. However, mutation in genes that normally play a part in controlling these processes can lead to cells behaving abnormally and multiplying out of control. When cells are dividing too much they can go on to form a tumour, a characteristic of many cancers, including breast cancer. Breast cancer is effectively a cancer affecting the breast tissue.

Causes, Risk Factors and Prevention

Age – Age is a risk factor in developing breast cancer – the risk increases as you age, and especially for women after the menopause

Gender – As said previously, women are primarily affected by breast cancer but men can get it too – some 1% of the total.

Heredity – Only around 5% of all breast cancers are due to heredity. A doctor may suggest that in women who have a strong family history of breast cancer there may be a genetic factor – and advise accordingly. Some women, in this case, opt for elective pre-emptive surgery

Hormonal History – The age that a woman starts her periods (early) and the age that she goes through the menopause (late), can affect breast cancer risk due to the influence of the female hormone oestrogen which is produced during this time, and known to stimulate many breast cancers

The Contraceptive Pill – research shows that taking a high oestrogen contraceptive pill for more than 8 years may slightly increase breast cancer in young women. However, most contraceptive pills taken today contain little or no oestrogen.

HRT – the jury is out on this. Some studies show that long term use of HRT may slightly increase the risk, whereas others suggest the opposite. The best advice is that there is small, perhaps insignificant, increased risk of breast cancer after using HRT for 5-10 years, but none before that time period.

Pregnancy – pregnancy appears to have a protective effect on breast tissue. However, 25% of breast cancers occurring in younger women do so during pregnancy or one year afterwards

Diet – the incidence of breast cancer is higher in countries that have a high saturated fat diet. Being obese appears to increase the risk of developing the disease in post-menopausal women because it increases the levels of circulating oestrogens. See below for diet guide.

Exercise – exercise appears to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, and along with diet, can help to reduce obesity ad improve general health

Alcohol – drinking alcohol in excess increases the risk of developing breast cancer. The guidance is that women drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week.

Smoking – There is no direct evidence here – however the advice is to stop smoking as this is important for keeping systemically healthy

Stress – there is no current evidence that stress increases the risk of developing the disease – but again, keeping stress levels in check is one of the keys to keeping systemically healthy

Injury – this does not cause breast cancer.

Diet for Health

You cannot treat cancer with diet, but it is important to keep your system healthy so as to increase the potential for prevention and ward off carcinogens.

Here is the checklist for eating for reduced risk:

• Reduce dietary animal – and saturated – fats to a minimum
• Increase omega-3 Fatty acids, which are known to provide a beneficial protective effect – eat oily fish x3 a week to gain the benefits. Also increase your intake of other essential fatty acids in the form of nuts and seeds and virgin pressed olive oil
• Limit tea, coffee, chocolate, cola and other caffeinated drinks
• Increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables to 5 portions a day for protective antioxidants. Antioxidant nutrients have various actions that can help prevent against free radical damage leading to carcinogenic growth. These nutrients work in different ways:
• some increase the activity of enzymes that protect cells against carcinogens
• some block receptor sites for cancer-causing hormones
• Some enhance the activity of vitamins and minerals
• Some are needed to produce enzymes that remove carcinogens
• Some bind up substances that would otherwise convert to carcinogens

  What are these antioxidant nutrients?

  • Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene, Folic Acid, Vitamin A, Copper, Selenium, Zinc
  • Vitamin C – found in citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, bell peppers, kiwi fruit, mangoes
  • Vitamin E – found in vegetables oils, whole grains, nuts, seeds
  • Folic acid – found in beans, pulses, asparagus, breakfast cereals, broccoli, spinach
  • Vitamin A – found in liver, kidney, dairy, oily fish
  • Beta-carotene – found in yellow and orange fruits, broccoli, cabbage, red peppers, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, peaches, pumpkin, tomatoes, apricots, watercress
  • Copper – found in wholegrain cereals, meat, vegetables
  • Manganese – found in wholegrain cereals, tea, nuts
  • Selenium – Brazil nuts, cereals, fish, shellfish, broccoli, pork, cheese, eggs, veg, fruit
• Use supplements:
• Vitamin E – 400iu’s a day
• Vitamin B complex – take a combination formula of 25mg a day
• Evening Promise Oil – 500mg capsules, 4-6 a day
• Magnesium – 200 mg a day
• Zinc – 25-40mg a day particular if the diet is very poor
• Vitamin C – 600mg-1gram a day
• Kelp tablets – for thyroid function: 4-6 tablets a day

Supplement Checklist:

Vitamin C * Zinc * Vitamin B Complex * Evening Primrose Oil * Magnesium * Kelp * Vitamin E *

To purchase any of these natural supplements go to CHC Shop

Also See:

• Help with The Menopause
• Hormonal Balancing Act
• Perimenopause
• PMS
• Pregnancy