National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

10/01/11

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States, making it a good time to evaluate the lifestyle risk factors that you have control over and consider making changes to help keep your risk at its lowest.

Breast cancer is the 2nd most common form of cancer among women in the United States, coming in after skin cancer, and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths of U.S. women, behind lung cancer. The chance of an American woman having invasive breast cancer during her life is about 13%; the chance of dying from it is 3%.

It is important to note that while breast cancer is one of the major cancers with which American women are afflicted, it is not their primary killer. In fact, statistics for American women shows that heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. In 2003, 483,842 women died from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 267,902 died from all forms of cancer combined. Of the cancer deaths, breast cancer claimed the lives of 41,566 American women. One in three female adults has cardiovascular disease and women's deaths from CVD have exceeded men's since 1986.

Risk factors can most easily be divided into those factors you CANNOT change (gender, age, genetics, family history, early menstruation) and those factors that you CAN change or impact, including the following:

1. A high fat diet and being overweight are both risk factors for breast cancer, particular if the fat resides around the abdomen. This data is still somewhat mixed, but it goes without saying that eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight offer many protective health benefits, particularly with regard to CVD. If you need some extra support in your quest for your ideal weight, consider LeptiFit Leptin Enhancing Supplement, CortiFit Cortisol Control Formula, Phase 2 Starch Blocker, Calcium Pyruvate, and Chitosan HD, or other weight loss products.

2. Alcohol is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Consuming 1-2 drinks per day may increase breast cancer risk by 10%, but 1 drink per day may also help reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Consuming 3 drinks per day increases breast cancer risk by 30% compared to women who abstain from alcohol, while providing no greater protection from CVD than 1 drink per day. Thus it would be wise to target no more than 1 drink per day.

3. Exercise is a panacea for so many health challenges, and breast cancer is no exception. Studies have shown that walking briskly for 1.25-2.5 hours PER WEEK will reduce your risk by 18%!

4. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): long term use of HRT after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and stroke. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of using HRT. And consider taking our HerBalance™ with Novasoy® to help with the annoying symptoms; many studies have confirmed the safety of these natural phytoestrogens. Essential Fatty Acids can also help with the severe dry skin that many women experience.

5. Breast feeding and pregnancy also reduce breast cancer risk; researchers believe this may be due to these conditions reducing the total number of menstrual periods in a woman's lifetime.

6. Consider Green Tea; see the September 2006 study about Green Tea & CVD. The results from this new study are eye-opening.

7. Smoking is probably the worst thing you can do for your health, so if you smoke, seek the support you need to quit. Do not allow yourself to make excuses on this one.

Many of the same preventative measure that can reduce your risk of breast cancer also reduce your risk of CVD: a healthy, low-fat diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding diabetes, and not smoking.

Make October your month to focus on these 2 key women's health issues and let's work together to reduce heart disease and breast cancer in women.

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