15 Things You Can Do To PREVENT Breast Cancer
Only 10% of all cancers are genetic, even breast cancer is not usually caused by a genetic predisposition. A mere 15% of breast cancer patients actually have a family history. We must look at lifestyle habits in order to prevent this terrible disease ~ what we are eating, breathing and what we are putting on our skin.
- Eat less red meat. A study published in the BMJ that followed 89, over a 20 year period revealed that women who had an average of 1.5 servings of red meat each day had a 22% higher chance of breast cancer over women who limited their red meat intake to once a week. With each addition daily serving of red meat, the risk appeared to increase by 13%
- Avoid parabens. You know how I feel about parabens if you’ve been reading my blog for a while. Use cosmetics and sunscreen that are formulated without them because parabens mimic the body’s natural hormones increasing the risk of breast and other cancers. They are found in 99% of breast cancer tissue samples.
- Hit the gym, lace up those running shoes , pop in a work out DVD – choose some type of physical activity because just 30 minutes of exercise each day reduces your chance of getting breast cancer. Plus exercise boosts t-cells that help your immune system work at full capacity
- Stay at a healthy weight. Exercise also helps keep your body fat percentage in check. Too much fat on our bodies creates hormones, particularly estrogen, which has been found to stimulate cancer
- Garlic, turmeric and cruciferous vegetables including brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and bok choy are good breast cancer fighters because they bind estrogen in your GI tract
- A study showed that drinking 3 cups of green tea a day can reduce risk of breast cancer by 50%
Survival rates are at an all-time high for those with breast cancer. In the last 20 years, there has been a 30% reduction in mortality and over 90% of breast cancer patients survive after 5 years with early diagnosis.
- Steer clear of Bisphenol A. I have written about the dangers of BPA in several posts. It’s found in everything from plastic containers to the lining of canned foods to cash register reciepts. BPA is problematic because it imitates estrogen so it disrupts our endocrine system and messes with hormones. It’s been associated with many cancers including breast cancer
- Choose lean protein. Replace those red meat meals with nuts, beans, organic chicken and low mercury fish such as wild caught salmon
- Pesticides can also affect the way your hormones react so buy organic when possible, use green cleaning products and stay away from hand sanitizers & soaps containing the endocrine disruptor triclosan. This cousin to agent orange is classified as a pesticide
- Ask your doctor about taking the active form of vitamin D3 with K, 1000 iu’s a day may slash your risk of breast cancer up to 50%
Approximately 20 – 30% of breast cancers recur. The most common places it metastasizes are the bone, lungs, liver and brain
HER-2 is a rare but aggressive form of the disease. Another study found that eating lots of raw salad veggies dropped the risk of developing it by close to 35%- Curb your alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day. Studies show that over imbibing on a regular basis increases the risk factor
- Breastfeed. It’s been shown to lower risk and it boosts infants health and immune system
- Know your family history. While Only 15% of breast cancer patients have a family history, if you do, your risk is higher so you need to know and take precautions
- Get screened. Early detection is the key. Be sure to conduct monthly self exams and seek proper screening based on your age group and family history. You may need an ultrasound or sonogram in addition to a mammogram. The most effective type of mammography is the Genius 3D which has been found to detect 41% more invasive cancers and is proven to detect cancer 15 months earlier. Tell your doctor you’d like that one, it’s available in every state.
- This is a bonus tip but perhaps one of the most important: For the love of all that’s good in the world, DITCH THE TOXIC DEODORANT & ANTIPERSPIRANT! Parabens and Aluminum have been found in breast cancer tissue. Want a safe, healthy alternative that actually works ALL day and night? You’ll find it here. *Please share this info ~ Tweet this, post on FB & Google+, Pin it & forward to all the women and men in your life, yes, men can get breast cancer too*
It is beyond time to put a stop to all the abhorrent Pinkwashing that goes on every October. Raising awareness for breast cancer research and prevention is important, I applaud companies that raise real funds. HOWEVER, isn’t it horrendously hypocritical of certain companies to sell products with ingredients that have been shown to CAUSE BREAST CANCER?!
Everywhere you turn in October companies are Pinkwashing us by claiming to be in support of breast cancer research while using ingredients that are mammary carcinogens, or carcinogenic contaminants that behave as endocrine disrupting compounds in our bodies, causing hormonal imbalance. As the Gerson Institute calls it, ‘carcinogens for the cure.’ True that.
“Pinkwashing – verb 1. the sale of items containing known carcinogens, while marketing these products in support of breast cancer awareness 2. also, capitalizing on the promotion of breast cancer prevention when only concerned about bottom line profit margin.”
It’s said that Evelyn Lauder’s dream was to end breast cancer. Why doesn’t the company jump off the breast cancer awareness bandwagon and honor her memory by reformulating their products WITHOUT harmful cancer causing ingredients?! L’Oreal, Proctor & Gamble and many others do it too. How do they sleep at night?!
According to the Breast Cancer Fund, which is doing amazing work in the name of prevention, “thousands of chemicals linked to breast cancer in scientific studies.”
Avon’s part in all of this is perplexing. They raise millions with their walk, have created a “Center of Excellence” in breast care and claim the mission of the Avon Comprehensive Breast Care Program at San Francisco General Hospital is to ‘provide comprehensive breast care, education and research in a compassionate and culturally sensitive environment.’
WHY, then, do their products contain MANY known CARCINOGENS??!! The Avon 2 in 1 Cleanser is a NINE on the EWG database & has TEN carcinogens. Fucking insane.
Interested in a site that actually helps patients? Various companies offer patients free items such as scarves, make up, house cleaning, hats, wigs, etc. Breast cancer survivor Bethany Kandell created Breatcancerfreebies.com where patients can go to find items they can receive. You can make a donation on the site as well.
Women’s Voices For The Earth offers good tips on how to avoid being pinkwashed. #RethinkThePink #thinkbeforeyoupink
I signed up for the course to educate myself on how to make smarter choices about the products I use on myself and my family. Prior to taking the class, 
I was struggling with allergic reactions on my skin caused by something in the products I was using. During the course, I learned how toxic everyday cosmetics and cleaning products can be. One thing that I liked was learning specifically which products I was using that could be causing my skin rashes. Overall, I found the experience very educational and helpful. It raised my awareness of products that I should avoid. I am better because I was able to use alternative products that Kelly recommended, thus avoiding the products that were causing the skin rash. 
Kelly’s course should be on the ‘must do’ list for anyone looking for a place to begin their journey to wellness by adopting a non-toxic lifestyle. I came into the course with a fair amount of knowledge about a toxin free lifestyle, but this course took me to a new level of understanding and awareness about the issue in all areas of my life. Kelly’s passion is real, her delivery is upbeat, and the information she imparts can be life changing. Not only does ‘The Savvy Girl’s Guide To Organic Beauty’ provide valuable information on the bad stuff, it provides an impressive list of alternative product choices to help you get a quick start on going non-toxic! 
