October has been Breast Cancer Awareness month since 1985. In the
coming days, pink ribbons will emerge in abundance, symbolizing the
efforts of educational and fund raising events that take place to
find the “cure”, and offering hope to those already diagnosed.
These local and national events will generate millions of dollars.
As the “Race for the Cure” continues, how can women incorporate
preventative measures into their daily lives? Prevention is the hope
that you will not be one of the growing numbers of women being
diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Women are repeatedly told that “early detection is the best
protection”. Early detection is vital if you have been diagnosed
with breast cancer, but this is not the same as prevention. While
researching for this article, I realized that “early detection”
is often confused with actual “prevention”.
Sue Macleod, a breast cancer survivor and health care professional,
observes that since the petro-chemical era of the 1930’s, the
incidence of breast cancer has risen from 1 in 50 women to 1 in 8 by
the year 2000. To date, research continues to explore the links
between breast cancer and the environment. The study, “State of
the Evidence: What is the Connection Between Chemicals and Breast
Cancer?” presented by the Breast Cancer Fund and Breast Cancer
Action explores and summarizes the research about links between
breast cancer and the environment. The document points out that we
can no longer ignore the increasing evidence that repeated exposure
to certain chemicals are contributing to the rising incidence of
breast cancer each year. Chemicals such as parabans, pesticides,
cleansers and pharmaceutical drugs act like estrogens in our bodies.
This is troubling, because a woman’s vulnerability to breast
cancer increases as her lifetime exposure to estrogen increases.
The mounting evidence linking synthetic chemicals to the rising
rates of breast cancer is empowering women to make healthy choices
in their everyday lives. These choices are preventative.
What can be done to prevent breast cancer and minimize risk?
• Choose 100% pure, synthetic chemical free cosmetics. Individuals
can make healthy choices regarding the personal products they use
daily. Many of these, including lotions, cosmetics, shampoos and
conditioners, contain chemicals that have been linked to breast
cancer. According to industry estimates, on any given day, a woman
may use as many as 25 different cosmetic and personal care products
containing more than 200 different chemical compounds. Avoid rubbing
these toxic cocktails into your skin by choosing healthy, organic
and natural products.
• Be a more informed consumer. Ask critical questions about
“pink ribbon promotions” before you purchase a product. The
cosmetic industry has been criticized for raising money for breast
cancer research by promoting products that may actually contribute
to the rising tide of breast cancer. See www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org
for ways to demand safer products from cosmetic companies.
• Include high dietary intake of carotenes: dark leafy greens and
green and yellow produce.
• Eat foods rich in Vitamin E and Selenium: sunflower seeds,
freshly ground wheat, olive oil, flax oil, garlic, onions, and
mushrooms.
• Reduce consumption of animal foods that contain hormones, such
as milk, chicken, beef, and pork.
• Increase consumption of organically grown foods.
• Create sufficient consumption of Vitamin D: sunlight, 10 minutes
daily; sardines and tuna.
• Discover your passions and nurture them: gardening, yoga, dance,
walking, etc.
• Reduce or eliminate the use of plastic containers for food
storage.
• Avoid unnecessary radiation; radiation is cumulative over a
lifetime.
• Avoid using pesticides (weed killers, insecticides, etc) in your
yard or home.
Join community action groups that support organizations that are
investing in research that focus on cause and prevention. Support
the “race for the cause”.
So when you see those pink ribbons emerge this month, consider that
they proclaim “Prevention is the Cure”. Laura Weinberg,
co-president of The Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition says it best,
“The old pink ribbon is hope for the future. This pink ribbon is
saying there is something we can do today.”
Resources:
Breast Cancer? Breast Health, Susan Weed
State of Evidence, www.bcaction.org, www.breastcancerfund.org
Pathways to Prevention, The Breast Cancer Fund
Stop Cancer.org
Cancer risk: Could beauty products have an ugly side? Sue
Hutchinson, San Jose Mercury News, September 20 2005.
Use With Discretion, India Statesman, Women’s Feature Service,
September 4, 2005 |
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