Breast cancer is such an emotionally charged topic for so many, please keep in mind these posts are only made public with the best of intentions and a sincere desire to help.
There are many possible culprits that can contribute to breast cancer. Among them are pure genetics, environmental toxins, individual health and lifestyle choices. These causative factors can be so interlinked and dependent on one another, it can be difficult to separate them. This post is a primer about breast cancer, how life style and environment can affect cancer growth, and some preventative measures that might prove helpful.
It seems that there are several genetic markers that can indicate an individual is more susceptible to cancer. BRCA 1 and 2 tumor suppression genes produce proteins that are the main two markers in use for breast cancer. A DNA profile array shows mutations in these tumor suppressor genes. If found, this means you are more susceptible to cancer, and more susceptible still if you have close family members that have had cancer. However, not a lot of research has been done to show what percentage of women present with mutations in tumor suppression genes, but do not have cancer. Genetically caused breast cancer has been around, and documented as tumors, from the 1600s by Europeans or as early as 1500BC with the Egyptians. However, even if someone is predisposed to cancer, there are many life style changes and choices that can be made to help mitigate cancer proliferation. Further, Myriad Genetics now owns these genes... making it difficult to get second opinions or other treatment options.
Environmental toxins are widespread and endemic, they have been found in polar ice caps, breast milk, and infant chord blood. However, there are ways to help protect yourself. Do not subject yourself to environmental contaminates! Look at the ingredients of everything you come into contact with. Especially body care products, especially body products that go right on the girls. Avoid phthalates, parabens, triclosan, aluminum, denatured alcohol, propylene glycol, 'fragrance,' ethanolamine, etc. My husband likes to keep things simple, and reminds me that not everyone shares my weird and twisted hobby of looking up MSDS (material safety data sheets) on everything, so if you don't know what an ingredient is - don't use it on your body or in your house.
As far as plastic bottles or packaging causing cancer... I will say that in my lab cell cultures were grown on plastic petri dishes and did well. When those same cells were switched to glass dishes, the cells died out. It was surmised at the time that plastic supplied some kind of nutriment that glass (being inert) did not. Later it was discovered that plastic is an exogenous (meaning: a source from outside the body) estrogen. So plastic acts as an extra hormone to anything it comes into contact with...frogs, fish, reptiles, humans. There are many types of cancer that respond to estrogen. So...
Individual health and lifestyle choices are a little harder to nail down and change. For example there have been many studies linking women that work third shift to an increased incidence of breast cancer, or that having children gives you a protective factor over those that cycle every month, or the negative health factors associated with smoking. These are life style choices that might require more thought and effort to totally change.
On the flip side, there is good evidence that increasing lymph circulation to breast tissue helps tremendously and it is relatively easy to go bra-less while at home. The underwire bras are notorious for cutting circulation - go without them when possible. Breast exams are extremely important for early detection, but don't stop there! Do breast massage at home on a regular basis - 'Phluff the Girls' by Cheryl Chapman might be one of the easiest things you can do to help promote your own breast health. As soon as I can figure out how to post a pdf, I will share that directly on here. Diet is relatively easy to change - go Mediterranean and organic as much as possible. Look up super foods, circle your faves, and go to town. Carte blanche for extra servings? Ok!
Hope this gives you ideas and questions. Inform yourself.
Here are some of the links that might be helpful. Thank you and blessings.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/Organic/organickids020303.cfm
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/night-shift-sleep
Disclaimer:
As with so many of these posts, they are birthed out of anger. And questions. And a continued search for answers. Please take all ideas with a grain of salt and do your own research, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on t.v.
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