Do you know what the average American woman’s risk of developing breast cancer is?
The National Cancer Institute reports that based on current rates, 12.2 percent of women born in the US today will develop breast cancer at some time in their lives.
This can also be expressed as “1 in 8”.
Needless to say- Breast Cancer is in our lives today. Whether it’s present in your own family or in someone you know. And I don’t know about you, but “1 in 8” seems really high to me. So what are the risk factors?
I turn to a Doctor that I trust & respect for the answer.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman recently published an article detailing 10 strategies for preventing Breast Cancer- which I found very informational and RIGHT ON!
Here are the 10 Strategies:
1. Do not drink alcohol.
2. Do not smoke.
3. Do not take estrogen.
4. Have babies and nurse them for two years each.
5. Reduce consumption of animal protein.
6. Eat lots of green vegetables, mushrooms, and onions.
7. Use supplements wisely.
8. Use on tablespoon of ground flaxseed daily.
9. Don’t grill or fry foods.
10. Exercise at least three hours a week and maintain a lean body with little body fat.
For the full article with all the details and full references- check out his site here.
When I went to the American Cancer Society (ACS) website and researched the RISK FACTORS they acknowledge for BREAST CANCER, it was interesting to see the similarities and the differences between theirs and Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s.
ACS has 3 different categories of Risk Factors:
1. Risk Factors you cannot change
2. Breast Cancer risk and lifestyle choices
3. Uncertain or unproven risk factors
Check out the full article here.
To tell you the truth, many of the differences were quit disturbing. There are 2 I MUST point out:
1. ACS places MENSTRUAL PERIODS (women who have periods before age 12) in the “Risk factors you cannot change” category. I have read and heard research after research about this subject and it seems quite clear to me that this IS A FACTOR YOU CAN CHANGE. Dr. Pam Popper has in-depth articles about this as well as Dr. Fuhrman. Check out his amazing HuffPost Health article on this subject here.
He gives 5 reasons why periods are happening earlier in girl’s lives and includes references.
1. Increasing rates of childhood overweight and obesity.
2. Increased animal protein intake
3. High dairy consumption & soft drink consumption
4. Children with lower nutrient diets
5. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (BPA, Phthalates, etc.)
So I why doesn’t ACS doesn’t site this information?????
2. ACS places “DIET AND VITAMIN INTAKE” in their Uncertain or Unproven risk factor category.
OK…WHERE DO I START??? This is so SAD to me…that women are told that their DIET doesn’t matter. The ACS says so…so we should just believe them right? WRONG- check out www.drfuhrman.com, and www.cancerproject.org and www.thechinastudy.com for more of the right information. AND…
Hope you have a fabulous day!
LIFE IS GOOD!
Source: WFM 1-10