Archive for the ‘Prevention’ Category
Sunday, August 29th, 2010
Photo: D Sharon Pruitt, Flickr
Thanks to Louise Baker for offering to write a guest post, and for doing such a good job of pulling together some of the best tips for preventing breast cancer through healthy living. Check out what she has to say, then get busy taking her advice!
Pay mind to your diet
More and more, oncologists are realizing that a healthy diet may be one of the best protective measures you can take to prevent cancer, including breast cancer.
Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
As a general rule, the more natural the food, the better it is to eat. Fruits and vegetables have antioxidant qualities, which fight cancer. Berries are one of the most antioxidant-rich foods. Choose a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables to get an array of vitamins and minerals. Farmers markets sell fresh fruits and vegetables that are not laden with pesticides the way they are at grocery stores. Whole grains refer to foods with minimal processing and almost always have more fiber than refined carbohydrates.
Avoid refined carbohydrates!
Refined carbohydrates tend to cause much steeper surges of insulin than whole grains. Insulin has a drastic effect on the release of other hormones in the body, such as the insulin-like growth factor and possibly even estrogen. These two hormones have been strongly linked to cases of breast cancer.
Be conscious of the different types of fat
Not all fat is created equal. Omega-3 fatty acids may have a role in preventing breast cancer when eaten in a 1:2 ratio with omega-6 fatty acids. While getting the proper ratio may seem like a simple feat, it is not. Fast food and other commonly eaten American foods have a much higher amount of omega-6 (anything made with vegetable oil is packed with omega-6 fatty acids).
Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer in several ways. A study done at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle gathered that women who exercise have a 22% reduced rate of breast cancer.
Lower stress levels
The mind-body connection concerning illnesses has long been researched. Findings consistently support that stress causes lowered immunity and is linked to a vast quantity of ailments, including cancer. Exercise is key to stress reduction and mental health.
Maintain a healthy weight
While changes in diet may be the best method for weight loss, exercise is the most important part of weight maintenance. According to a study performed by the National Cancer Institute, gaining weight (especially after menopause) increases the risk of breast cancer.
Avoid Certain Drugs
The following drugs have been extensively linked to breast cancer:
- Estrogen: This refers to pharmaceutical estrogen, such as the estrogen found in birth control pills.
- Alcohol: Numerous studies show that more than one drink per day can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. The risk increases with each additional drink.
- Tobacco: Carcinogens in cigarettes are well-noted for their cancer causing properties.
Louise Baker ranks online degrees for Zen College Life. She most recently wrote about the best colleges online.
Tags: healthy living, Prevention
Posted in Awareness, Diet, Exercise, Prevention | No Comments »
Monday, June 21st, 2010
Mammogram is done.
So is my uncertainty.
Everything is good.
Next up: MRI in November.
Tags: mammogram, MRI
Posted in Prevention, Survivors, Tests | No Comments »
Monday, June 21st, 2010
Photo: waterrose, Flickr
I’m not sure how my birthday and my annual mammogram ended up sharing the same week, but gosh, how bad is that going to be if something fishy turns up the day after the happy occasion of turning another year older? Yikes. Everything turned out A-OK last year (mammo the day before my birthday), so fingers crossed the pattern continues.
This morning, my boobies will endure the ceremonial flattening (think Jack Black, plus a lot more skin), and I can only hope that I return to announce that they are just fine and dandy.
Pretty blue robe, here I come.
Tags: birthday, mammogram
Posted in Prevention, Survivors, Tests | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Get a mammogram. Jack Black did. Well, sort of.
For more information, scoot on over to Men for Women Now.
Tags: early detection, Jack Black, mammogram, Men for Women Now, Noreen Fraser Foundation
Posted in Awareness, Prevention | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Photo: pasotraspaso, Flickr
WebMD says: “Polio, an infectious disease caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract, was once the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Since the introduction of the polio vaccine in 1955, the disease has been eradicated in the U.S.” I can see online nursing programs teaching this definition because it’s not too bad.
Wouldn’t it be such happy news if an important website could spout out something similar about breast cancer?
If may not be too far off, says Cleveland Clinic immunologist Dr. Vincent Tuohy, who has hopes of introducing a breast cancer vaccine within 10 years. He’s got the science on his side, he just needs funding.
Ah, hope.
Read all about it here.
Tags: breast cancer vaccine, Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Vincent Tuohy
Posted in Awareness, Prevention | 1 Comment »
Friday, March 26th, 2010
Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more.
Photo: ppdigital, morgueFile
Breast cancer may be a mystery in many ways — why did I get it, for example? — but it’s becoming more and more evident that eating too much, exercising too little and packing on the pounds can spike your risk of developing the disease that already gets 1 in 8 women.
This news, which isn’t really all that new, was sprawled across the front page of the Gainesville Sun this morning, reminding me once again that nixing the packaged goods (I know, it’s so hard) and moving my muscles is the smart way to motor through life. It’s why I’m renewing my vows with all things healthy — starting. right. now.
Here’s one way to think about it: there is so much about cancer we cannot control. But what we put in our mouths and how we move our bodies — totally up to us! Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t have moments of indulgence (I’ve been having a moment since Halloween). It just means that mostly, we need to monitor our input and ramp up our output, because, well, our lives depend on it.
Tags: breast-cancer, Diet, eat, Exercise, Gainesville Sun, move, nutrition, risk
Posted in Awareness, Diet, Exercise, Prevention | 4 Comments »
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Photo: Indenture, Flickr
Former Fox News anchor and conservative journalist E.D. Hill was back on “The View” today, talking all about the nipple-sparing mastectomy she had two weeks and two days ago. She shared previously that she would have the prophylactic surgery, even though she did not have breast cancer, because of a strong family history. Now that it’s over, she has no regrets.
Hill said she had very dense breast tissue, and cysts, and some suspicious stuff, too — like a gray area that kept showing up on mammogram, sonogram and MRI. Post-surgery pathology revealed this area to be pre-cancerous. Left untouched, it could have turned into the disease Hill hopefully has escaped with this preventative surgery.
Hill is now in the process of reconstruction, with expanders in place, and she’s speaking out about what some believe to be a drastic measure — removing breasts without a breast cancer diagnosis.
Most readers here believe Hill made the right decision, and many of you have made the same one. Thanks so much for sharing your stories. They matter — really, they do.
Tags: E.D. Hill, preventative mastectomy, prophylactic mastectomy, reconstruction, The View
Posted in Prevention, Surgery, Tests | 1 Comment »
Saturday, February 6th, 2010
Thanks to reader Macy for heading me to this fun video, part of the Stand Up to Cancer movement and starring Jim Parsons — the guy who plays Sheldon on TV’s “The Big Bang Theory” (never watched it myself, but Macy says Sheldon is her fave). So, can you spare 3 minutes? Then take a peek, and tell me what you think.
Tags: Jim Parsons, Stand Up to Cancer, The Big Bang Theory, Up2 You + Me
Posted in Awareness, Inspiration, Prevention | 3 Comments »
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Photo: istock.com
It might not seem very happy that there must be a World Cancer Day, but if we use the day for good, well, then, it can be a happy February 4. Set the dismal stats aside (without intervention, an estimated 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015, uugh!), and instead, do something that ensures the disease will one day fade into the shadows. Some ideas: stop smoking, limit alcohol consumption (yea, that too), eat right and exercise well, get your recommended screenings (like mammograms and skin check-ups) and ditch the stress.
Another idea: honor those in your life who have done battle with cancer, because you know what? They are the ones who pave the way for the progress we do see in the fight against such a crappy disease.
Today, I thank all the women who went before me and volunteered their bodies to test the wonder drug Herceptin, which happened to become available just when I needed it. It might just reduce my chance of recurrence by something like 50 percent, and that, well, that makes me very happy.
Happy World Cancer Day!
Tags: alcohol, Diet, Exercise, screenings, smoking, stress, World Cancer Day
Posted in Awareness, Diet, Exercise, Prevention | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
I don’t worry only about breast cancer. I’m a little freaked about skin cancer, too. It’s because I spent far to many hours seeking sun in my younger years, and I am painfully aware of the side effects of such behavior. I’ve had several pre-cancerous lesions cut and frozen off my fair skin, I have a one-and-a-half-inch scar where a basal cell cancer was removed a year ago, and just today, my dermatologist shaved off a bit of a mole she didn’t like — it was an odd color, different from the others on my body, she said.
A piece of my mole is on its way to a lab somewhere, and in about a week, I’ll know if it’s cancer or not. If it is, it’s likely one that is common and can be cut out without any serious health consequences. But in the back of my mind, there’s this little twinge of fear that melanoma is in my future. Melanoma is the deadly kind of skin cancer, and it’s real, folks. Just ask Miss Melanoma — she lost a toe, part of her foot, and all 16 lymph nodes from her groin to the disease. And if you don’t think it’s serious stuff, listen to Claire Oliver in the video below.
See why I’m scared? If you are, too, the best thing you can do is cease all tanning, and get yourself to a dermatologist every year for a thorough once-over. That’s how my funky mole was discovered. It wasn’t even on my radar. Ah, and don’t forget your sunscreen.
For more skin cancer facts and figures, head over to The Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society. To check out The Skin Cancer Council Australia (referenced in the video), visit here.
Tags: basal cell cancer, Claire Oliver, dermatologist, melanoma, Miss Melanoma, skin cancer
Posted in Awareness, My story, Prevention, Survivors | 4 Comments »
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
isabel bloedwater, Flickr
As you may have noticed, it seems like just about everyone is getting breast cancer nowadays, which makes it critical that we do every itty, bitty thing we can in the spirit of prevention — like quitting smoking, even if it’s just an occasional habit.
According to the Breast Journal, women who smoke 100 or more cigarettes in a lifetime increase their odds of getting breast cancer by 25 percent. So, kick those butts, and make sure all the young women in your life know why it’s so important they never start puffing away.
Oh, and while you work at ditching the smokes, you might want to shed a few pounds and start working up a sweat, because getting fit and slimming down can cut your cancer risk, too. Hey, no one said being healthy was easy, right?
Tags: smoking, weight-loss
Posted in Awareness, Diet, Exercise, Prevention | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
feelyourboobies.com
While I find it pretty odd that the task force of 16 declaring women don’t need mammograms starting at age 40 anymore does not include any oncologists — what? — I won’t spend too much time arguing about this topic. I just don’t have the tools to determine whether or not this is a good recommendation. I mean, I tend to think not, but I see the point that over-testing does lead to false positives, anxiety and unnecessary biopsies. A mammogram did not find my cancer, after all — I did. Which brings me to the point I am going to argue.
This same panel says women should stop conducting breast self-exams, and they should no longer be taught how to perform them. Seems they are not all that effective in turning up cancerous tumors, and there is no difference in mortality rates between women who perform them and women who do not. Uh, not so fast — there’s no doubt in my mind I’d be dead right now had I not been examining myself in the shower five years ago yesterday.
OK, so I’m just one woman, but isn’t that enough? And what exactly is wrong with doing the exam? Maybe it’s ineffective and doesn’t work — but is it hurting anything to do it, just in case? Why tell women to stop? Why not just tell them to not rely heavily on the outcome?
Here’s what I’m saying: Keep feeling your boobies! When you come across something that feels funny, go to your doctor and let that person determine whether you should worry or not.
Just be safe.
Not sorry.
Tags: breast self-exams, mammograms
Posted in Awareness, Diagnosis, Prevention | 6 Comments »
Monday, November 16th, 2009
cohdra, morgueFile
This isn’t always true, because I was not overweight prior to my breast cancer diagnosis (which means something else caused my unfortunate turn of events), but carrying around extra fat on your body is definitely linked to an increased risk for developing the disease. My friend, nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden says so — “Researchers estimate that extra body fat causes 33,000 breast cancer cases a year,” he says, and guess what? Probably 21,000 cases of endometrial cancer and more than 13,000 of colorectal cancer are caused by too much weight. Scary stuff, isn’t it?
There’s good news: You can reduce your risk by losing as little as 10 percent of your current body weight. (Well, if you are overweight, that is. No need if you’re currently maintaining a healthy number on the scale.) Here’s a bunch of tools to get you started. Oh, yea, and if you’re in the market for breast cancer treatment, be prepared to pack on some pounds. It happens (I was in the 10-pound club myself) — who knows why (the drugs, maybe) — but you might very well need to shed some skin after the fact. So these tools may come in handy down the road, even if you don’t need them now.
Tags: body fat, cancer risk, Jonny Bowden, overweight
Posted in Diagnosis, Diet, Exercise, Prevention | No Comments »
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Tomás Fano, Flickr
I once had big boobs – really big boobs. So big I had them reduced and lost 4 whole pounds of tissue. Had I not had a breast reduction, my tumor might have been buried deep inside all that stuff, never to be found by me. But I did find the cancerous mass, because it was right on the surface, and so I’m very thankful that my small-ish boobs may have saved my life.
But that’s another story.
This story is about the bras I wore with those big breasts, because they were underwire bras, meant to heave those two things up and place them right in their intended spots, and there’s a doctor out there claiming that this very type of bra can cause breast cancer. Essentially, those contraptions I wore for my big boobs might have caused the cancer I found after they weren’t so big anymore.
Huh?
Sure enough, says medical anthropologist Dr. Sydney Singer, author of the book “Dressed To Kill: The Link between Breast Cancer and Bras
.”
“Basically we are impairing our circulation of blood flow,” Singer says. And if the flow of both blood and lymph is constricted within the breasts, this will cause the buildup of toxins, which can cause disease. Of course, family history, bad genes, poor diets, obesity and more play a role, but bras — well, they are apparently pretty dangerous all on their own.
Not so fast, says the American Cancer Society — they refute the claim that bras are a risk factor for breast cancer. Although Ken Smith, an American Cancer Society Breast Health Facilitator, does agree that more research is necessary on this topic. Probably won’t happen, though, he says, because many hospitals and breast cancer research centers are supported by undergarment sales profit. Hmmm. Good point. There are more good talking points in this article, which is all about the bra-breast cancer connection. Take a look for yourself, and tell me what you think:
Are bras to blame? Or not?
Tags: american-cancer-society, bras, Dressed to Kill, Sydney Singer, underwire
Posted in Awareness, Diet, Prevention | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
ClinicalResearch.com
The following was written by Julie Hurvitz, on behalf of Quintles and ClinicalResearch.com
It’s wonderful to know that approximately 89 percent of women with breast cancer will be there to tell bedtime stories to their children this year. This number is much higher than it was 20 years ago due to early detection and improved treatments. As a daughter of a breast cancer survivor myself, I’m thankful for every single day my mother and I have together and every telephone call that is made and received. Medicines and procedures such as chemotherapy, hormone therapies and targeted biologics slow cancer down and keep it from coming back. And these victories are all due to advancements in medicine made possible by clinical research.
Today, I’m proud to introduce you to www.ClinicalResearch.com, a new resource that provides important facts about clinical research, encourages more people to become champions of clinical research and builds excitement for the promise of tomorrow’s medicines!
Sponsored by Quintiles, www.ClinicalResearch.com presents easy-to-use, comprehensive information for those who have little or no understanding of clinical research and the value it brings to healthcare. With a few clicks, patients who visit www.ClinicalResearch.com can identify ongoing or future clinical trials appropriate for their disease or condition and narrow them down to those that are geographically convenient. What else can ClinicalResearch.com provide?
- The Web site puts you in touch with supporting information about clinical research
- www.ClinicalResearch.com also provides videos and news from recent studies
In order to win the fight against diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, viral diseases, heart disease and stroke, millions of people need to be aware of and participate in clinical trials and research. But more help is needed!
The clinical trial became the standard in developing drugs in 1962, and since then, the FDA has approved over 1,019 novel therapies. Virtually all the medicines used today are a result of clinical research, including all drugs for cancer, heart disease, depression, HIV, Alzheimer’s and asthma. Clinical research through clinical trials is arguably the greatest medical invention of the 20th century. It continues to deliver life saving medicines and treatments and gives hope to patients in need of better care and effective medicines. Need another reason to consider clinical trials? The research pipeline holds over 9,605 potential breakthroughs!
To hear patients and doctors tell their story about clinical trials, please click here.
Take a moment this afternoon to visit www.ClinicalResearch.com, browse around, and learn more about getting involved.
Tags: clinical research, Julie Hurvitz, Quintles
Posted in Awareness, Chemotherapy, Prevention, Resources | No Comments »
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Check this out: I just read in Family Circle magazine (October 1, 2009) that alternating between mammograms and MRIs every six months is a potentially lifesaving measure for women at high risk for breast cancer. This comes straight from new research out of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. I find this reassuring because it’s the exact schedule I follow — mammogram, MRI six months later, mammogram six months later, and so on.
More research, from Dartmouth University in Hanover, New Hampshire, found that MRIs can spot tumors not found in mammogram or ultrasound in 20 percent of breast cancers.
I think I’m covered. Whew.
Tags: mammogram, MRI
Posted in Prevention, Tests | 1 Comment »
Monday, October 5th, 2009
Photo: meddygarnet, Flickr
It seems like I just went for a cancer follow-up, and here I go again, this morning, at 8 o’clock. There are just so many doctors and procedures. I have a radiation oncologist (she’s the one I saw five weeks ago), a medical oncologist (seeing him today), and I go for mammograms and ultrasounds, and MRI scans, too. All these appointments are scattered around my calendar, along with my annual physical, my OB/GYN check-up, dental appointments, eye appointments, skin cancer screenings, whew! Seems if ever anything is about to go wrong with my body, someone — one of these qualified docs — is going to nip it in the bud. That’s my hope, anyway — that this constant monitoring is prevention at its best, or at the very least, will lead to nothing more than early detection.
It makes me feel safe to weave myself through the maze of needle sticks and blue gowns. And safe I’ve been for almost five years now (November is the big remission mark). I think I won’t change a thing. Well, maybe just the long waits and never-ending co-pays.
Tags: appointments, check-up, doctors, follow-up
Posted in Prevention, Survivors | No Comments »
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
Posted in Awareness, Prevention | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
Ruta Pink mammogram bus
With early detection often leading to a 98-percent survival rate, mammograms are essential for women over 35. Unfortunately, millions of American women are uninsured, and don’t have the means to afford an annual mammogram test. But in Puerto Rico, uninsured women are turning to a new program for help.
Last year, Doral Bank in Puerto Rico partnered with Susan G Komen for the Cure and launched “Ruta Pink” (Pink Route). Ruta Pink is a pink mobile mammogram clinic that stops through various towns in Puerto Rico, offering women (and even men!) free mammograms, but also biopsies and referrals. These healthcare services are offered free of charge, for both sexes, whether they insured or uninsured.
In addition to providing direct health care services, Ruta Pink is also running free educational seminars about breast cancer prevention. The sessions also address self-esteem and healthy living tips for breast cancer survivors.
Since launching in June of 2008, Ruta Pink’s medical team has performed over 2,000 mammograms. And Doral is also committed to helping the Susan G Komen foundation by offering contributions every time a woman opens a “Pink” account with the bank.
With breast cancer awareness month (October) just around the corner, Doral Bank in Puerto Rico is leading the way for breast cancer prevention and education with its innovative, award-winning Ruta Pink initiative.
For more information about the program, you can contact the program’s exclusive hotline at (787) 625-5830 or visit their website at www.RutaPink.com. You can also watch their videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/rutapink
Tags: pink route, puerto rico, ruta pink, susan-g-komen-for-the-cure
Posted in Awareness, Diagnosis, Prevention, Resources, Tests | 2 Comments »
Sunday, August 9th, 2009
Photo: _e.t, Flickr
Running with pink ribbons — sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Well, you can find out more by clicking right here. Go ahead — click.
Tags: pink-ribbons, running
Posted in Awareness, Prevention, Survivors | 4 Comments »
