Breast Cancer Awareness
Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer except for skin cancer. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.
Each year it is estimated that nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. Approximately 1,700 men will also be diagnosed with breast cancer and 450 will die each year.
Risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Age: Half of all women diagnosed are over age 65.
- Weight: Being obese or overweight.
- Diet & Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity, a diet high in saturated fat, and alcoholic intake of more than two drinks per day.
- Menstrual & Reproductive History: Early menstruation or late menopause, having your first child at an older age or not having given birth, or taking birth control pills for more than ten years if you are under 35.
- Family & Personal History: A family history of breast cancer—particularly a mother, sister. or a personal history of breast cancer of benign (non-cancer) breast disease.
- Medical & Other Factors: Dense breast tissue (often identified by a mammogram), past radiation therapy to the breast or chest area. A history of hormone treatments—such as estrogen and progesterone, or gene changes— including BRCA1, BRCA2, and others.
Breast Self-Exam (BSE)
Taking a few minutes to do a breast self-exam a minimum of once a month can make a lifetime of difference. Nearly 70% of all breast cancers are found through self-exams and with early detection the 5-year survival rate is 98%. If you find a lump, schedule an appointment with your doctor, but don’t panic—8 out of 10 lumps are not cancerous. For additional peace of mind, call your doctor whenever you have concerns.
A series of studies concluded that women that consume fatty rich foods on a regular basis have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer. The fatality of breast cancer is greatly reduced if women eat large amounts of omega 3 aliments, such as fatty fish or brown kelp seaweed. Women who try to reduce the risk of developing this type of cancer can very well substitute meat for fish.
Scientists have linked the development and growth of breast cancer tumors to the improper balance between the amounts of fatty acids in the body
One of the questions I asked, was about environmental risks that might not be getting enough attention, and that many women might be unaware of. Several were brought to my attention, including “ionizing radiation” and “electromagnetic fields“. However, the one I found most disturbing, was about the chemicals that are known to be dangerous but are still being used in the packaging of our foods. So even when you are eating a healthy diet, you could still be ingesting many chemicals that could be harmful your health. Frustrating isn’t it?
For instance, there is a chemical called Bisphenol A that is a known carcinogenic used in many plastics, it even can be found in the lining of lids on canned foods. Since we don’t normally ingest plastic you may think this isn’t such a big deal…However, these chemical do not stay in the plastic, they leach out into the beverages and foods we are consuming each day (such as water in plastic bottles and canned soups, just to name a few). Efforts have been underway in California to discontinue the use of this chemical, but so far have been unsuccessful.
An estimated 100,000 synthetic chemicals have been registered for use in the United States in the last 40 years, but fewer than 10 percent of them have been fully tested for their effects on our health. Because many of these chemicals accumulate in body fat and remain in breast tissue for decades, every woman, man and child now carries synthetic chemicals in their bodies—including some that have been found to cause mammary tumors.
Ladies lets take care of ourselves and teach our daughters how to do the same and remember when prayers go up blessing come down!!
HOW TO DO A BREAST SELF-EXAM
In the Shower
Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.
Before a Mirror
Inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead.
Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women’s breasts do.
Lying Down
Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast.