An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
When it comes to Breast Cancer, leading science can now take us beyond the Race for the Cure to root out disease through Prevention and Risk Modification
Breast cancer results from uncontrolled growth of breast cells. About 1 in 8 Canadian women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Only 20% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer and known gene mutations (such as BRCA1 and BRCA2) account for only 5 to 8% of cases. This means that most breast cancers occurs in women without a family history. Women living in the US have a 10-fold greater risk of dying from breast cancer as compared to women living in Thailand. When women migrate from areas with a low incidence of breast cancer (i.e. Asia) to North America their breast cancer risk increases. These facts suggest that environment, diet and lifestyle play an important role in shaping risk and combine with our genetic predispositions to determine our health, aging and risk of chronic disease and cancer. Breast biology is largely determined by hormonal and tissue factors. Estrogen is the dominant hormonal signal stimulating the breast and in more differentiated cancers the most common hormonal trigger for metastatic spread. Other tissue factors such as inflammation and injury (chemical, physical or radiation) can also increase risk. The transformation of a normal breast cell to a cancer cells often proceeds the diagnosis by 7 years. During this critical window, early breast cancer remains below the detection limit of our screening tests such as mammograms and physical exam. But in the early subclinical stage, there is the greatest possible impact of risk reduction and prevention through hormone balance, estrogen metabolism and detoxification support and anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative therapy.Here is an EIGHT STEP PLAN to reduce risk as part of a BREAST HEALTHY LIFESTYLE;
- Restore Hormone Balance
- Decrease Aromatase Activity
- Optimize Estrogen Metabolism and Detoxification
Phase 1 Detoxification
The first phase of estrogen metabolism occurs in the liver along one of three pathways. The “2/16 ratio” considers the ratio of favourable metabolites (2hydroxy-estrone) to less favourablePhase 2 Detoxification
Phase 2 detoxification involves conversion of intermediate estrogen metabolites into a form that can be excreted by the kidneys. Methylation is one of the most important phase 2 processes that aids in the elimination and inactivation of potentially toxic estrogen metabolites. Women who are poor methylaters may be at increased risk of breast cancer due to accumulation of toxic intermediaries. Because methylation also plays a role in inactivating neurotransmitters, these women may have a personal or family history of mental health problems such as; depression, alcoholism, or attention deficit disorder. Glutathione conjugation is another major mechanism of estrogen inactivation and depends on a set of transferases whose activity can be affected by variations in genetics, nutrition and the presence of gut flora.- Enhance Elimination of Estrogen Metabolites
- Maintain a healthy Body Weight
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid Alcohol
- Eat the Colour Wheel
- Limit Environmental Exposure to xeno-estrogens and hormone disrupters
- Be Skin Safe
- Manage your Stress
Regular screening for breast cancer enables early detection –but not prevention. Screening mammograms have been shown to save lives. It is important to partake in regular screening programs involving mammograms every 1 to 2 years after menopause. But there is growing interest and demand for prevention. Research suggests that breast cancer may begin its transformation up to 7 years prior to detection is possible with mammograms. And so, breast healthy lifestyle practices compliment routine screening with a comprehensive approach to improve hormone balance and reduce risk.