National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
According to Breast cancer statistics – Canadian Cancer Society,
It is estimated that in 2019: 26,900 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This represents 25% of all new cancer cases in women in 2019. 5,000 women will die from breast cancer.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I would like to dedicate this article to all the women out there. This is very close to me, since my mother in law had breast cancer a couple of years ago, that was removed by surgery. I can proudly report that she is doing awesome and having no symptoms for it coming back.
Unfortunately, we do not have a proven medical treatment for cancer at this moment and we cannot control this situation with our medical and pharmaceutical industries.
So…..
Let’s concentrate on what we can control. And that is our healthy lifestyle.
Let’s look at what promotes breast cancer and how to lower the risk by altering our life style. Two biggest factors that could be treated by our life style are estrogen and insulin. Both are important for our body to function properly. However, excess of these can easily lead to breast cancer. So, how do we keep both of these under control? Drum roll please…. Exercise and proper nutrition.
Let’s start with nutrition.
In order to keep your natural estrogen levels lower, you need to:
1) Avoid any non-organic foods. Try to only shop at local farm markets and butcher shops
2) Avoid shopping at any big chain stores. These stores are built for profits and not for your health.
3) No packaged or canned food. Eat only fresh. Packaged food contains very dangerous chemicals
4) Avoid any products that may contain Soy. Soy promotes estrogen production
5) Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables.
6) Seaweed (kelp) is known to help with balancing of estrogen levels
In order to keep your insulin levels down, you need to:
1) Avoid simple sugars, like sweets, cakes, icecream, soft drinks, juices and limit fruits
2) Avoid complex sugars, like breads, grains, potatoes and root vegetables
Second would be exercise.
It is a common knowledge that people who exercise on a regular basis are healthier than those that don’t. Exercise is great for overall health, but it can also play a big role in breast cancer prevention and preventing it from coming back. Exercise is known to lower both, estrogen and insulin levels. Regular exercise improves your immune system, thus helping your body to fight external elements and make your body function the way it was intended. When you exercise, your brain releases dopamine and your body suppress the production of cortisol, helping you to deal with stress and improve your mood.
Cancer lives on sugar and in no oxygen environments. Stop feeding it with sugar (nutrition) and give your body a constant overflow of oxygen (exercise) and cancer cannot survive. Having a good nutrition plan and being active for just 20-30 minutes a day could do miracles for your health!
Couple of other considerations for you to keep in mind.
First is alcohol. Alcohol is known to increase production of estrogen in your body. If you are at risk of breast cancer or have had breast cancer, stay away from booze or at least limit it, to special events and occasions. If you drink, stick with clear spirits, such as vodka. If you absolutely have to have wine, stay with spritzer (white wine and sparkling water)
Second is stress.
When deer sees a predator, it releases stress hormones that help that deer to be more explosive and have better concentration for a short period of time, helping it to get away. Once the deer is away from the threat, it goes back to grazing grass. No more stress. Humans however, are capable to stay in a constant stress, due to our ability to create an internal world. In other words, stressful stories. Someone cuts you off on the road and it stays on your mind for a half of the day. You play the same movie in your head over and over again. Can you relate to it?… The problem with this is that your body is not designed to live in constant stress. If you do, your system starts failing and you have higher chance of developing cancer.
Release of stress hormones can compromise DNA repair mechanisms, leading to the development of cancer. As cancer develops into a tumor, the hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and epinephrine have a major impact on the biology of the tumor and its surrounding environment.
I understand that we all have life problems. As Jim Rohn said – “Same wind blows on us all. It’s about adjusting your sails”. It is how you react to your problems and stress. The goal is to learn not to stress out about the things we have no control over (like someone cutting you off). There is an old saying that states – “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Follow old wisdom.
Third…
Listening to your doctor and allowing them to perform a mammogram when it is not absolutely needed. You should avoid these things like fire. Why? You will have more chances to get cancer doing mammograms than just getting cancer on it’s own. Mammograms create excessive damage to breast tissue and cancer tends to go to damaged tissue due to the inflammation and trauma. They also use ionizing radiation for this procedure and it is not a good idea to expose your breasts to radiation if your goal is to stay away from breast cancer. The better option would be to do a Medical Diagnostic Thermography. It is much safer option. Ask your doctor about it.
Well, I hope you have learned something new and will put it to use.
Stay safe and healthy!