Breast Cancer Link to Estrogens in the Environment
Think you don't need to worry about breast cancer if no one if your family has it? Think again. Most women who get breast cancer have none of the known risk factors, detailed on the American Cancer Societys website: family history, genetic mutations, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), and previous breast biopsies or chest radiation. Instead, their breast cancer may be due to a combination of controllable factors, such as being overweight, not exercising, taking hormone replacement therapy, and drinking an excess of alcohol.
One risk the ACS website barely mentions is that posed by certain "environmental estrogens," chemicals that are thought to act in concert with your body's own supply of estrogen to fuel the growth of breast tumors. Yet a growing number of cancer experts believe there's now enough evidence of a link to recommend that women reduce their exposure to these chemicals. Suzanne Snedeker, associate director of Cornell University's program on breast cancer and environmental risk factors, feels so strongly that women should take action that she has put together a series of videos telling us exactly what to do. "It's ironic that breast cancer patients end up getting treatments that work against estrogen," she explains, "but we don't tell women about what's estrogenic in the environment and how to avoid excess estrogen in the first place."
Although women are exposed to a very low level of these chemicals in any particular product, Snedeker says that collectively, the exposures could increase our breast cancer risk. And researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have documented widespread exposure to a variety, including bisphenol-A (found in hard plastics and the lining of cans), nonylphenol (found in cleaning products) and benzophenones (found in sunblocks, perfumes, soaps, and printer toner). Check out the video on cosmetics to see what to avoid in makeup products. Watch the video on plastics to see how to steer clear of bisphenol-A and the one on what goes down the drain to see what detergents are safer to use and how to dispose of old electronics.
I'll say this: After watching these videos, I am not going to apply moisturizers that contain "placental extracts," won't heat any plastic plates in my microwave, and am no longer going to throw my printer cartridges in the trash.
Tags: breast cancer | environment | estrogen | cosmetics
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Estrogen Dominance & Breast Cancer
Good for you Deborah! Women need more of this kind of information to feel empowered to do something positive to reduce their risk of this deadly disease. It always amazes me when i cite this.... but at the turn of the century, 1 in 90 women fell victim to breast cancer...today it's 1 in 8 . Yes, you could argue that women are living longer, and that the HRT-factor does play a role, however accounting for both of these, the static comparison is still beyond belief. While its clear that exposure to environmental estrogens increases one's risk, there are also natural suplement options to help pull the cancer-permissive estrogen out of the body through a safe passage way (urine or bowel). Indole-3-Carbinol comes from the cruciferous vegetable family (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kale etc.) -- "I3C" has been shown to reduce the risk of breast (and reproductive organ cancers) by helping the body eliminate this "bad" estrogen through a safe passage way. Vitamin D3 and a variety of other herbs can also be very helpful. Women have to take back control of their health and do whatever is necessary in the fight against Breast Cancer. Thanks for taking such a strong stance and for the education and empowerment you've provided.
Let's remember to not blame the victim
Yes, women will ultimately benefit when we "take back control of our health." But avoiding environmental estrogens isn't the kind of thing an individual can be held fully accountable for. (And the data supporting the use of IC3 is primarily from animal studies).
This piece begins by citing "risk factors" for breast cancer that are NOT within the realm of personal control, e.g., onset of menses, that many researchers are linking to estrogenic environmental pollutants. True: those of us who can afford it will protect our daughters better by purchasing milk from cows raised without growth hormones and using glass bottles rather than plastic.
But the industries that produce those products should be held accountable, too! It's a serious matter of public health.
Breast Cancer Link...
Historically, after the missionaries invaded Hawaii and gradually convinced 'the natives' that they were 'sinful' and that the women should should cover their breasts.
After a few generations the breast cancer rate shot through the ceiling.
We are most 'diseased' where the sun does not shine.
Yes, chemical pollution has a traumatic effect on the body but, I am convinced that, the primary cause of breast cancer in women is the
ridiculous and repressed approach to sunbathing (with temperance) and forcing women (by indecency laws) to not dare expose their breasts to natural sunlight.
Our culturally based religious perversity is taking its toll on women.
Shame...shame....shame.....
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