Orange County, O.C. Breast Wellness - Your ally in breast cancer prevention and detection.

At OC Breast Wellness, we know that your most effective weapons in the war against breast cancer are prevention information and early detection.

OCBreastWellness.com is dedicated to reducing the prevalence of breast cancer in our society. Sadly, the war on cancer is failing miserably. Cancer statistics in general and breast cancer statistics in particular bear this out. A decade ago one in eleven women contracted breast cancer - that number today is one in eight. Breast cancer is devastating for women who have it, it takes an unimaginable emotional toll on family members, and the cost to society in general is astronomical. It is time we, as individuals and as a society aggressively battle this disease.

Prevention is really the answer to winning the war on breast cancer.

What you are about to read are the generally accepted factors that increase your risk and scientifically proven methods of dramatically reducing your risk of breast cancer. This article tells you why cancer develops in the first place, and covers some facts and myths associated with breast cancer and breast cancer testing.

First, your one-in-eight lifetime chance of developing the disease increases if you:

• Never had a child, or if your first child was born after your 30th birthday.
• Went through menopause after the age of fifty.
• Had your first period before the age of twelve.
• Were ever on birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.
• Drink more than one alcoholic beverage a day.
• Live a sedentary lifestyle.
• Have a family history of the disease.
• Are post-menopausal and have gained weight.
• Are obese.
• Do shift work.
• Have ever had breast cancer - if so, your chance of developing a new cancer (not a recurrence) increases by three to four times.
• Smoke. Cigarette smoking, interestingly, has not been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer, but second hand smoke has . . . go figure. Of course cigarette smoking is linked to lung and several other cancers, as well as heart disease.
• Are aging - and this is one of the most serious of all risk factors. You'll learn why in the next paragraph.

Cancer results from the accumulation of gene mutations.

Before I present strategies to reduce your risk you must know how cancer is formed. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine sums it up in one sentence. "Cancer results from the accumulation of mutations in genes that regulate cellular proliferation." This accumulation of mutations happens over time and this is why, as every year goes by we become more likely to develop cancer. A sound prevention strategy must address gene mutations. Fortunately, there are a number of steps we can take.

Recent studies have identified a superstar of breast cancer prevention - vitamin D.

Women with higher levels of vitamin D have a reduced cancer risk of 50% and greater. Vitamin D protects against cancer by helping the body regain control over genes that regulate cellular proliferation, differentiation, as well as apoptosis (death of defective cells). These three types of processes: proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are key factors in the development of cancer. Without a sufficient level of vitamin D the expression of the genes that regulate these processes become defective.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of vitamin D.

There are many studies that demonstrate women with higher levels of vitamin D have significantly lower rates of breast cancer. In 2007, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study was published that showed after four years of vitamin D supplementation with calcium a 60% decrease in all cancers was attained, compared to the placebo group. On further analysis of the data, eliminating those diagnosed in the first year of the study (since they already had the cancer before taking vitamin D), the reductions were 77%. These are absolutely astounding numbers! It's estimated that if every American were taking just a thousand IU's of vitamin D with calcium three quarters of all cancers could be eliminated in just four years. Now, according to the New England Journal of Medicine, 2000 to 4000 IU’s a day of vitamin is even more protective.Now that is what I call winning the war on cancer!

There are additional strategies that lower our risk of breast cancer.

A study published in a major cancer journal, February, 2007 determined you can reduce your risk of invasive breast cancer by 23% by doing six hours of strenuous exercise a week. Exercise is also known to lower risks of heart disease, likely by the same mechanism - lowering insulin and leptin levels.

Studies have also shown a direct link between cancer risk and what we eat.

Women who eat red meat have higher rates of breast cancer. I believe the threat lies not only with the meat, but in how it's cooked. There is no question that cooking at high temperatures (whether frying, broiling or barbecuing) produces cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines. The addition of vitamin E, and fruits like blueberries to your diet inhibits the effects of these chemicals. We should all eat less red meat, high fat dairy, and sugary foods and eat more fruits and vegetables.

Soy isoflavones are linked to decreased risk of both breast and prostate cancers.

That said, soy is a very controversial subject. Most of the soy we consume in America is genetically modified and very different from the soy grown and consumed in the Far East. My suggestion - if you eat soy, consume fermented soy products like Natto.

Fruit promotes the detoxification of carcinogens.

A substance found in fruits called D-glucarate promotes the detoxification of carcinogens as well as estrogen, thereby lowering cancer risk. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower have compounds that help prevent numerous cancers, including breast cancer. Indole-3-carbinol and DIM are the specific compounds that alter estrogen metabolism in a positive way, specifically by altering the ratio of the dangerous 16-alpha hydroxyestrone to the more protective 2-hydroxyestrone. (That is likely more detail than you want or need.)

Flaxseed also promotes healthy metabolism of estrogen as does DIM.

Dietary lignans from fruits, vegetables and grains (especially flaxseed) also promote healthy metabolism of estrogen, as well as inhibit angiogenesis (blood vessel growth that feeds the cancer), and induce self-destruction of cancer cells (apoptosis). DIM, diindolemethane, from cruciferous vegetables, raises the good estrogens, the 2-hydroxy estrogens and lowers the “bad” estrogens, the 16-hydroxy estrogens. So eat your cruciferous veggies, lightly cooked or raw is best.

If you supplement with DIM use 100 to 200 mg per day with a meal. All of the substances mentioned in this article can be bought in supplement form.

Resveratrol, found in red grapes and red wine, offers several medical benefits.

The Journal of Carcinogenesis has found that Resveratrol helps to prevent breast cancer by reducing cellular proliferation and increasing apoptosis in mammary cells. Resveratrol is a substance found in red grapes and red wine. The scientific world is very excited about this substance because, in addition to cancer prevention, it has potent anti-aging properties and protects against heart disease as well.

Estrogen, Progesterone and Breast Cancer.

I can't leave out a brief discussion of estrogen and progesterone and their role in breast cancer. Estrogen causes cell growth and proliferation. You may hear that you should avoid taking natural estrogen and progesterone because of fears of breast and other cancers. However, there are major benefits from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. It is my opinion the benefits far outweigh the potential hazards but, the final decision of natural hormone replacement is up to the individual.

I'm definitely opposed to the use of synthetic hormones, those that are foreign to your body. It is well documented that too much estrogen, whether natural or synthetic is a problem. Be aware that there are also chemicals in our environment that act like estrogens in our bodies called xeno estrogens that contribute to estrogen dominance. Plastic water bottles and containers contain these chemicals. Never microwave in plastic and don't freeze your water bottles, as this causes these chemicals to leach out into the water or foods we consume.

The late John Lee, MD was an advocate for the use of natural progesterone for women, particularly those over 40. His study of the scientific literature and his decades of clinical experience led him to the inescapable conclusion that natural progesterone was very protective against breast cancer as well as osteoporosis. He recommended using 20 to 25 milligrams of progesterone cream a day for 20 to 25 days a month for those women that no longer made progesterone or were not making enough. He also recommended using salivary hormonal testing to determine how much free progesterone and estrogen was circulating in the body. When your doctor orders a blood test for these hormones the total amount of these hormones are measured, and that includes the inactive form that is bound to something called a sex hormone binding globulin. (I know, I know that’s way more information than you need but some of you want all the reasoning behind these recommendations. )

It’s the free estrogens and progesterone that are important and the salivary tests determine that. Free progesterone is important for a number of reasons one being that it neutralizes or balances estrogens in the body. I encourage you to read his books “ What your doctor may not tell you about breast cancer”and "What your doctor may not tell you about menopause” and more. His website is www.johnlee.com

There are an outrageous number of chemicals in our environment to which we are exposed on a regular basis. Pesticides and cleaning agents should be used carefully, always using heavy-duty rubber gloves and in a well ventilated area. These substances can be absorbed right through your skin. Even hygiene products such as perfumes, skin lotions and anti-perspirants may contain harmful substances.

A sound breast cancer prevention plan utilizes numerous strategies.

We have learned that the aging process itself is the cause of most cancers due to the accumulation of genetic mutations that regulate cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. A sound prevention plan utilizes nutritional strategies that favorably effect gene expression. The strategy that gives you the most "bang for your buck" is the optimal intake of vitamin D. Changing to a more plant based diet and reducing your intake of well-done red meat is the next step. The specific compounds in foods that reduce risk of breast cancer are I3C, DIM, lignans, D-glucarate, and soy isoflavones. Six hours a week of strenuous exercise and avoidance of cancer causing chemicals in your environment round out my recommendations.

Taking active steps to prevent breast cancer does not completely protect you - you should also be screened regularly.

If you add it all together, implementing all these strategies would likely reduce your risk of breast cancer by around 90% and maybe more. But, implementing all these strategies doesn't mean that you are breast cancer risk free. You also need to be tested, for taking active steps to prevent breast cancer does not completely protect you.

Preventative steps and early detection of breast cancer are the keys to winning this war.

Most breast cancers grow very slowly. By the time cancer is found in a mammogram or by self-examination, it has been growing for at least eight years. There is a risk assessment technology called infrared breast thermography that can detect early signs of breast cancer eight to ten years before mammography! For more information on breast thermography see www.OCBreastThermography.com