Breast Cancer Protection: April 2013

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Garlic Is Good: Should You Be Eating More on breast cancer protection

Is there a kitchen in America that doesn’t have a few bulbs of garlic in the pantry? Chop it, mash it, roast it, or sauté it — garlic goes in so many foods we eat today. Add it to a pasta, grain salad, or veggie dip and the dish can quickly go from bland to yummy.
Yes, garlic tastes good. And as you’ve probably heard, it’s also good for you. Whole books have been written about the health benefits of garlic. But can it really make a difference to your health? If so, just how much of it do you really need to eat? And are garlic supplements as effective as fresh garlic?
The research on garlic
Scientists have spent a lot of energy answering these questions. They haven’t discovered any magical powers in garlic, but their research does suggest that compounds in garlic truly contribute to good overall health. Garlic has antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-clotting effects. That’s a lot of benefits from one little vegetable!

Garlic may your lower blood pressure, at least slightly, and particularly if you have high blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels and increases blood flow by boosting our supply of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that that the body produces naturally, but in dwindling amounts as we age.
The hydrogen sulfide in garlic may also protect the heart from tissue and cell damage. This is the kind of damage that is seen, for example, in heart attack patients or in diabetes patients with cardiomyopathy, a condition that inflames and weakens the muscle tissue of the heart.
Garlic may slightly lower your cholesterol. In doing so, it may also slow the development of atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries that can lead to heart disease or stroke.
It’s possible that garlic may lower your risk of some cancers, although more research needs to be done before we know for sure. A compound of garlic called allicin produces an acid that helps stop free radicals from damaging cells. This antioxidant effect is more powerful than similar effects found in onions, leeks, and shallots.
Garlic might reduce the frequency and number of colds when taken for prevention. However, research is still in its early days. The reason for possible reduction in colds is unclear. It may be that allicin blocks enzymes that are active in bacterial and viral infections. Or, it may be that people who eat lots of garlic avoid catching other people’s germs because no one gets too close to them!
A gel containing ajoene, a chemical found in garlic, can clear up fungal infections of the skin such as athlete’s foot. But watch out! Burns and skin damage are possible if garlic is directly applied to the skin.

Scientists agree that garlic is a healthy ingredient and should be a part of every diet. Still, it’s important to note that many claims about garlic’s benefits are based on test tube studies or animal studies. There’s still very little research in humans showing significant effects.
How to reap garlic’s benefits
If you want to increase the amount of garlic that you eat, you’ll find that it’s easy to incorporate more into your diet. I like to sauté a little in olive oil when I make scrambled eggs for breakfast. Every year during basil season, I make many jars of garlic pesto. I’m also a big fan of pita sandwiches filled with garlicky hummus or tzatziki and vegetables. (In case you’ve never had it, tzatziki is a delicious creamy dressing made of yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and herbs.) And of course for dinner, garlic goes into almost everything I cook!
To really benefit from the protective effects of garlic, some research indicates that we should eat at least two medium-sized garlic cloves every day. In general, though, the more garlic you eat, the more protective it is. Scientists have made some suggestions for getting the most out of whatever amount you eat:

Eat it fresh. Fresh garlic has significantly higher levels of allicin than jarred.
Store it at room temperature.
After you crush a garlic clove, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. This triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic.
Eat it raw – for example, in salad dressing or hummus — whenever possible, if you can tolerate the very strong taste! Cooking garlic reduces the protective activity of allicin.

Garlic appears to be safe for almost everyone. However, if you dislike garlic or have trouble digesting it, you may consider taking garlic-powder supplements. But it’s important to know that the beneficial compounds in garlic may be less potent once processed into a pill. It’s also unclear if certain garlic supplements are better than others.
Also, if you’re increasing your intake of fresh garlic or garlic supplements, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

Large doses of garlic may interfere with some medications and reduce their effectiveness. Garlic seems to affect enzymes in the liver that help remove certain drugs from the body. The result could be diminished levels of some drugs in the body. This effect could be particularly important in people undergoing chemotherapy. If you’re thinking about taking garlic supplements, talk to your doctor first.
Large amounts of garlic can thin the blood, so it can slow blood clotting. Taking garlic along with medications that also slow clotting (for example: ibuprofen, clopidogrel, or warfarin) increases the chances of bruising and bleeding. If you’re about to have surgery, ask your doctor whether you should temporarily avoid extra garlic.
Garlic may irritate your stomach. If you have heartburn, acid reflux (GERD), or an ulcer, it could make these conditions worse.
And about your breath and body odor: The body releases some of the compounds in garlic in the breath and sweat because it can’t break them down during digestion. So garlic’s distinct odor can linger long after you’ve eaten it. Routine brushing and flossing can eliminate some of these odors. It’s also possible that drinking milk (both fat-free and whole) can block the stinky effects of garlic.
It’s possible to sweat out the smell of garlic through your skin, too. An extra shower might be needed hours after a garlic-loaded meal.

New ways to enjoy garlic
I think it’s important to point out that there’s a lot more to garlic than what you find in most grocery stores. Diana Dyer — a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board — is an expert on growing and cooking with garlic. Diana is a dietitian, cancer survivor, and organic farmer.
Every fall, Diana plants more than 50 different varieties of garlic on her Michigan farm. The varieties differ in size, color, shape, and taste.
At summer harvest, she reaps more than 17,000 bulbs of garlic. She sells these at local farmers’ markets, where she also spreads the word about two things that are entirely new to me: green garlic and garlic scapes.

Green garlic results from digging up garlic cloves in the spring, before the clove turns into a bulb. The most mild-flavored form of garlic, green garlic is eaten like green onions – both the white clove and green shoots. Diana suggests using it raw to preserve its flavor, such as tossing it into salads, adding it at the last moment to stir-fry or hot pasta, or topping a pizza after it’s cooked.
Garlic scapes are the green stem or flower-stalk that grow from some varieties. Although often discarded, they are increasingly available at farmers’ markets and some Asian markets. The scapes taste garlicky but with a fresh “green” taste and less bite than garlic cloves. You can use them anywhere you’d use garlic cloves. They work particularly well stirred into dips and sauces.

Diana is passionate about how nutrition can be used as one strategy for reducing risk of developing cancer or its recurrence. And she’s particularly interested in garlic’s potential cancer-fighting role. she provides lots more information about both. In particular, her website has many delicious, healthy recipes that have inspired me to try garlic in new ways. To help inspire you, I am including a particularly creative one here. Try it and let me know what you think!
Garlic Elixir
Modified from a recipe in Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil, by Doug Oster.
From Diana: Use this on anything and nearly everything, such as bread, baked potatoes, pizza base, gyros, bruschetta, soups, egg salad, or even straight (here is where the “wowza” comes in!!!). Be creative!
1 cup garlic cloves, peeled, trimmed of ends and any imperfections
¼ cup parsley
½ to 1 teaspoon salt
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Pepper to taste
½ to 1 cup olive oil
Process garlic and parsley in a food processor until finely chopped. Then add in the remaining ingredients and process until smooth.
Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator in a glass jar, covered with about ¼-inch olive oil, for up to 1 month.

Gaining a Taste for Seaweed on breast cancer health

Although you may only see it on visits to your favorite Japanese restaurant, seaweed is more than just wrapping for sushi rolls or swimming in miso soup. Seaweed is rich in many vitamins, including A, B complex, B12, C, and E. Seaweed is also a great source of minerals, including calcium, potassium, and iron. Protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids are additional benefits of seaweed. Research suggests that seaweed could help reduce the risk of many chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes type 2, and possibly breast cancer.
To starting reaping the benefits of seaweed, you don’t have to eat a lot — just a very small serving every day or so (about ½ to 1 teaspoon). You do have to consume it more regularly than just on occasional sushi outings, though.
Eating seaweed on a regular basis is certainly a challenge for me — and I imagine it might be for you, too, if you didn’t grow up eating it!
Seaweed is one of the largest forms of algae, organisms that grow in water. There are dozens of species of red, brown, and green seaweed used worldwide as food, and it’s a dietary staple in some Asian countries. For example, the Chinese consume over 70 different varieties of seaweed. And of course, seaweed is used throughout Japanese cuisine.
In the U.S., however, it’s only recently that seaweed has become more available in large grocery stores (near the soy sauce and rice wine vinegar). If you live in an urban area, you can find seaweed at Asian markets. You can find a decent variety of options if you look around. Sushi stands and restaurants often sell green seaweed salad flavored with sesame oil. Tons of dried seaweed options are available at online health food stores. Dried seaweed quickly rehydrates in water or soup, and dried seaweed squares flavored with sesame oil, wasabi, or other ingredients have become popular low-calorie nutritious snacks.
The taste of seaweed depends on the type, but I often find it seriously briny, a little bit fishy, and chewy unless dried or toasted. The most common types available include:

Nori: What you find around most sushi rolls, its dark purple color turns phosphorescent green when toasted.

Kombu: Used to flavor soups, this darkly colored seaweed is usually sold in strips or sheets.

Wakame: Most commonly used to make Japanese miso soup (and similar to kombu).

Kelp: Often sold in flake form as a naturally salty topping for rice, this seaweed is light brown to dark green in color.

Dulse: A soft and chewy seaweed that is a reddish-brown color, this is found along the coast of Iceland, Ireland, and Scotland and eaten as a snack.

Arame: A sweet, mild-tasting seaweed that has a lacy, wiry appearance

Hijiki: This strong-flavored seaweed looks like small strands of black spaghettini. Because it can contain elevated levels of arsenic, experts recommend only consuming certified organic hijiki.

All seaweed types appear to be nutritious, although each type differs in nutrient content. For example, some types of seaweed have significantly more iodine than others, particularly dry kelp. Seaweed can be an important source of dietary iodine, but make sure not to overdo it. Research has linked excessive consumption of iodine to a slightly increased risk for thyroid cancer. To be safe, experts advise keeping seaweed consumption moderate and choosing the lower-iodine types of seaweed, such as dulse, wakame, or sushi-friendly nori.
Seaweed’s other health claims:
Possible breast cancer risk reduction: Scientists don’t yet know for sure if seaweed consumption has any role in promoting healthy breast cell function and reducing the risk of breast cancer, but research suggests that it might. In animal studies, the root of wakame seaweed (called mekabu) suppressed tumor growth in breast tissue. But it’s hard to study any direct effect in humans because it’s one of many things that we consume. Even without clear proof, the possibility that seaweed could help promote breast health is intriguing, given the wide consumption of seaweed, like mekabu, in Japan, where breast cancer rates are low.
Lower blood pressure: Seaweed contains bioactive peptides, a type of protein found mainly in milk products that can help reduce high blood pressure. Bioactive peptides have similar properties to ACE inhibitors — drugs commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke from high blood pressure.
Other health benefits: Seaweed appears to be protective in other, more general ways. Brown seaweeds such as kelp, wakame, and hijiki contain a compound called fucoidan that lowers inflammation and may prevent infection. They also contain antioxidants, which can stop the formation of disease-causing free radicals. Substances that reduce inflammation may reduce the risk of all kinds of “dis-eases” (unhealthy forces on the body’s health), including breast cancer.
Studies also point to seaweed playing a potential role in reducing adult-onset diabetes, protecting the heart, and lessening hay fever. Ongoing research suggests seaweed might even aid in weight control. For instance, according to one early study, people who eat bread made with seaweed for breakfast tend to feel full so they are less likely to eat throughout the day.
Acquiring a taste for seaweed
Although I haven’t seen any seaweed bread at my grocery store yet, I’m trying to figure out new ways to incorporate seaweed into my diet. The taste of some products takes getting used to, honestly. But I’ve heard that once people start to eat seaweed, they come to crave its briny, seaside goodness. So I’m determined to keep trying!
A friend recommended one easy, no-cooking way to work seaweed into my diet: Keep a container of kelp flakes on the table. She uses the low-sodium flakes instead of salt to add a subtle flavor boost to salads and rice dishes. Another option is seaweed gomasio, a popular blend of roasted sesame seeds, sea salt, and seaweed. Sold pre-mixed in a shaker, it’s a great condiment on all sorts of dishes.

The Family Dinner Recipe: Butterfly Pasta With Kale on breast cancer protection

The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time by Laurie David and Kirstin Uhrenholdt (Grand Central Life & Style, 2010). Laurie is a very special friend and champion. We’re pleased to share Laurie and Kirstin’s delicious, healthy recipes as part of Think Pink, Live Green!
Kale is rich in calcium and other vitamins, and is a very healthy addition to this pasta dish. Most kids haven’t even heard of kale, but you might be surprised by how much they like it.

YOU NEED:

2 large bunches kale
1 pound farfalle pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 cloves garlic, slivered
1 1/2 cups sun-dried tomatoes from a jar, drained, rinsed, and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
Salt and pepper or red pepper flakes
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

TO MAKE SIX SERVINGS:

Fill a large pot with water. Bring it to a boil, then salt it so it tastes like the sea.
Remove the stems from the kale. Stack all the kale leaves on top of one another, roll them into a fat cigar, and slice it into thin slices. Or just chop, chop, chop it all – that works, too.
Throw the kale into the pot for 4 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon or tongs and drain well. Put the pasta into the same pot of water and cook according to the package directions.
While the pasta is boiling, drizzle a large pan with the olive oil, heated over a medium flame until shimmering, add the garlic, and gently sauté it until golden and fragrant.
Toss in the kale and the sun-dried tomatoes, cooking until the kale is tender and the sun-dried tomatoes are soft and bright.
When the pasta is done, drain it, reserving a few tablespoons of the cooking water.
In a large bowl, combine the pasta with the kale and the remaining ingredients. If you want to moisten it a bit, you can use the reserved cooking water. Serve with a lovely mixed green salad.

Having Dense Breasts cancer of protection

Dense breasts have less fatty tissue and more non-fatty tissue compared to breasts that aren't dense. One way to measure breast density is the thickness of tissue on a mammogram. Another categorizes breast patterns into four types depending on which type of tissue makes up most of the breast. Still, no one method of measuring breast density has been agreed upon by doctors. Breast density is not based on how your breasts feel during your self-exam or your doctor's physical exam. Dense breasts have more gland tissue that makes and drains milk and supportive tissue (also called stroma) that surrounds the gland. Breast density can be inherited, so if your mother has dense breasts, it's likely you will, too.
Research has shown that dense breasts:

can be 6 times more likely to develop cancer
can make it harder for mammograms to detect breast cancer; breast cancers (which look white like breast gland tissue) are easier to see on a mammogram when they're surrounded by fatty tissue (which looks dark).

Steps you can take

If you have dense breasts, there lifestyle choices you can make to keep your breast cancer risk as low as it can be:

maintaining a healthy weight
exercising regularly
limiting alcohol
eating nutritious food
never smoking (or quitting if you do smoke)

These are just a few of the steps you can take. Review the links on the left side of this page for more options.
Along with lifestyle options, many doctors recommend additional screening for women with dense breasts. This might include MRI scanning and ultrasound.
More frequent screening: If you have a higher risk of breast cancer because you have dense breasts, you and your doctor will develop a screening plan tailored to your unique situation. General recommended screening guidelines include:

a monthly breast self-exam
a yearly breast exam by your doctor
a digital mammogram every year starting at age 40

Digital mammography is better than film mammography in women with dense breasts, regardless of age.
Your personal screening plan also may include the following tests to detect any cancer as early as possible:

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the breast
ultrasound

Talk to your doctor about developing a specialized program for early detection that meets your individual needs and gives you peace of mind.
To improve the information learned from your breast imaging studies, it's important to both compare this year's study to prior years' studies and to correlate the information learned from the various imaging studies obtained (what you feel in the breast, compared to the results of your mammogram, MRI, and ultrasound). Usually test reports will say if the recent imaging test is different from other tests or prior results of the same test. Obtaining a copy of each breast imaging report and putting them in a binder keeps you in the loop and reduces the risk of your tests falling through the cracks or someone missing an important finding.

Lack of Exercise on breast cancer protection

Research shows a link between exercising regularly at a moderate or intense level for 4 to 7 hours per week and a lower risk of breast cancer. Exercise consumes and controls blood sugar and limits blood levels of insulin growth factor, a hormone that can affect how breast cells grow and behave. People who exercise regularly tend to be healthier and are more likely to maintain a healthy weight and have little or no excess fat compared to people who don't exercise.
Fat cells make estrogen and extra fat cells make extra estrogen. When breast cells are exposed to extra estrogen over time, the risk of developing breast cancer is higher.

Steps you can take

Exercise is now considered such an important part of daily life that the United States Department of Agriculture added it to ChooseMyPlate, the U.S. government's guide to healthy eating. The American Cancer Society recommends that women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer exercise regularly (about 4 to 5 hours per week) to improve their quality of life and physical fitness, as well as to reduce the risk of developing new cancers. Research shows that women who exercise the equivalent of walking 3 to 5 hours per week at an average pace after being diagnosed with breast cancer may improve their chances of surviving the disease.
Start slowly: The first thing to do is to talk to your doctor and possibly a certified fitness trainer about a safe and sensible plan designed specifically for you and your needs and physical abilities. It's also a good idea to talk to your doctor about a healthy weight for your age, height, body type, and activity level.
You may want to start gradually, maybe walking for 15 minutes a day and then slowly increasing the amount of time you spend exercising, as well as the intensity level of each session. You may need months to work your way up to 5 hours a week, but that's OK.
If you're not sure how to start exercising, you might want to visit a gym or make an appointment with a certified personal trainer to learn about different types of exercise. Some people prefer exercising in their homes using videotapes or DVDs. Others find great joy in gardening or building things, as opposed to organized exercise. Some people love being part of a team and playing soccer or baseball. Walking or jogging with a friend is a great way to socialize AND get the benefits of exercise. Dancing to great music is great exercise. With so many different ways to move, you're bound to find a way to exercise that suits your personality and schedule. If you can find one or a mix of exercises that you think are fun and not boring, you'll be much more likely to stick with it.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

Family Dinner Field Trips on breast cancer protection.............

Continue the family fun by taking your gang on a food adventure. Pack your compass, a couple of canvas bags, and your wallet. It’s time for some sightseeing with a delish twist! Why not make it a once-a-month ritual to explore a new food market or ethnic restaurant? Here are some family field trip ideas.

The grocery store. If members of your family don’t go shopping with you routinely, it’s time for them to start. Everyone can and should experience the time it takes to shop for, pay for, and bring home groceries.
A local farmers’ market. The best way to purchase the freshest, in-season food and support your local farmers is also the best way to learn about fresh good — farmers love to share what they know.
The farm. Lots of small farm operations have visiting hours and “pick your own” days. From apples to pumpkins to berries to corn, it’s a great way to show your kids where dinner comes from!
Ethnic grocery stores. Stores specializing in a particular culture’s cuisine are eye-opening trips for the family. You and your kids will be amazed and inspired by all the foods and products you have never seen before. Don’t forget to ask the proprietor how to use unfamiliar ingredients — they, like farmers, want to share their passion and knowledge.
Ethnic neighborhoods like Little Italy, Little India, Japan Town, Chinatown, Koreatown. Most larger cities have such community neighborhoods, and they are chock-full of markets and restaurants, many of them family-owned. Have lunch or dinner and taste authentic ethnic food perfectly cooked according to ancient traditions.
Cooking class as a family, either at a local cooking school or in your home (some teachers come right to your kitchen). Friends and family make great teachers, too! Ask them to teach a class.
Fish market. See what fresh really looks and smells like (it doesn’t smell “fishy”)!
Restaurant supply store. Let your kids each pick out something inexpensive but exciting to use, like new measuring cups or mini spoons.
Community garden project. Take a tour, attend a plant sale or seed-saving swap, or sign up as a volunteer. See what your neighborhood gardeners are growing.
Soup kitchen, shelter, or food pantry. Volunteer as a family at a church or Salvation Army program. It’s a profoundly moving way to show your kids how they can have a real impact on other peoples’ lives and, at the same time, show them the reality too many people face on a daily basis, most with dignity and courage. One in four children are going to sleep hungry in America. Need is up and food donations are down. This field trip will work wonders building up those gratitude muscles.

Sugar: Should You Worry About It? because it causes cancer

We live in a sweet-crazed world. Sweet, sugary foods taste delicious, make us feel good, and border on addictive. Our latest love affair with cupcakes is just the tip of the iceberg — or icing, in this case! Many of us consume sugar at just about every meal and snack time, maybe without even realizing it.
We no longer need a celebration to bring out the treats. Since the 1970s, our calories from sugar have increased by 50%. According to the American Heart Association, people in the U.S. eat an average of 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day (355 calories).
That’s a LOT of added sugar! Especially when we know we should be careful about how much of it we eat. Experts have long blamed the empty calories in added sugar for contributing to America’s ever-growing overweight problem.
But is there more to the story than just excess calories? Should we also reduce our sugar intake to prevent disease? Are all the sugars the same? And can avoiding sugar help prevent cancer? These are just some of the questions that concern many of my patients. We have some important answers in this column.
Should we avoid sugar to prevent disease? Are all the sugars the same?
For those of us who don’t have certain diseases such as diabetes, it remains unclear whether, how, and in what quantities sugar can harm us. Scientists do know, though, that too much sugar — specifically, refined “table” sugar and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) — can sabotage the body’s normal functioning.
The body appears equipped to handle foods containing moderate amounts of sugar, such as fruit. But when you drink a can of soda, for instance, the body is flooded with up to 10 teaspoons of highly processed liquid sugar. And soda contains no protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants to buffer the negative effects.
The calories in sugar that aren’t needed for energy may be turned into fat, which is why sugar may cause weight gain.
Excess sugar also stresses the body in other ways, based on how it is metabolized in the cells. We can break down one of the two main molecules in sugar — glucose — in all of the cells in our body. Glucose is important because the cells use it to generate energy, and it’s the main source of energy for the brain and your body. For example, runners load up on starches containing glucose, which their bodies store as glycogen for a quick source of energy during a marathon. Glucose is the sugar in your “blood sugar.”
The other sugar type, fructose, is a different story. The liver bears the burden of breaking down the other main molecule in sugar — fructose — using a different pathway. The fructose in fruit is embedded in fiber and is released into your body slowly over time. But the sweeteners often used in sodas, candies, and other treats are loaded with fructose. The liver converts extra fructose into fat, not glycogen. Over a long period of time, a condition called insulin resistance can develop. Insulin is a hormone naturally produced in the body and is the “king” of fat. It’s in charge of storing extra blood sugar, and it’s also in charge of converting fat into energy. When the body develops a resistance to insulin, your body has trouble dealing with blood sugar and breaking down fat. Glucose builds up in the blood and body fat increases.
Insulin resistance is a serious condition because it causes inflammation, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and obesity. Plus, it greatly increases the risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It’s possible that insulin resistance — and specifically, too much fructose — also stimulates the growth of some cancers.
And as if that’s not enough, high fructose intake doesn’t turn off your appetite like glucose-containing foods do. So people who load up on high fructose foods and beverages don’t feel full and keep on eating and drinking. When eating or drinking large amounts of anything sweet, a rapid increase in blood sugar occurs, triggering an insulin reaction, followed by a drop in blood sugar, and then often a craving for more sweets.
Can avoiding sugar help prevent cancer?
Again, we need more research in order to know for sure. A panel of international cancer experts found the evidence on the role of sugar in cancer to be limited and inconclusive. There was enough data, though, to cause the panel to advise steering clear of sugary drinks and other foods with a high sugar content because they promote weight gain.
And the panel did find convincing evidence that our overall diet plays a role in some cancers, particularly if dietary choices lead to excess weight gain. Being overweight can increase the risk for different types of cancer, including breast cancer. Fat cells make estrogen; extra fat cells mean more estrogen in the body — and that extra estrogen over time may overstimulate breast cells, possibly leading to the development and growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers. Many of the chemicals in the environment that act like estrogen dissolve in fat — so if you carry excess fat, your body may hold onto more of these chemicals, too.
Finally, when you bring in a lot of calories into your body at one time — and remember, sugary foods tend to be high in calories — it can put your digestive system under more stress. Stress can trigger unhealthy reactions in your body. Growth factors in your bloodstream can increase. Higher level of these growth factors over time might overstimulate your cells and potentially trigger the growth of some types of cancer cells.
How to reduce the amount of sugar you eat
If you’re trying to lose weight or just eat healthfully, often the first advice you hear is to cut added sugar out of your diet. This is good advice. Added sugars don’t provide any essential nutrients. Added sugar also causes your blood sugar to spike. While this provides a quick boost of energy, it doesn’t last. Blood sugar quickly drops again, leaving you sluggish and craving more sweets — which can make it hard to stick to a sensible diet.
So what’s the best way avoid sugar when research suggests our bodies are hard-wired to crave sweetness? Over the years, our nutrition advisors at Breastcancer.org have weighed in on this topic. Here’s their advice:

Don’t try to cut it out completely. It’s very difficult to cut one thing, such as sugar, completely out of your diet for any lengthy period of time.
Limit added sugar in food preparation and at the table. If you’re baking, try using less sugar than the recipe calls for. Often you won’t notice the difference.
Really do use portion control. If you eat a moderately sized dessert, your body’s digestive system is able to handle the sugar and the calories. But you’ll overload your system with, say, half a gallon of ice cream in half an hour.
When you do have dessert or a sweet snack, truly savor every bite. Avoid mindlessly eating processed food high in sugar.
Don’t worry about the natural sugars that occur in fruits and vegetables. This sugar is not processed and comes packaged with fiber to slow digestion. Fruits and vegetables also contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants – unlike cookies and candy.
Beware that sugar is a common food additive and often hidden on food packaging under other names like corn sweetener, honey, maple syrup, and molasses. Any ingredient that ends in syrup or -ose, such as sucrose or maltose, is likely to be sugar.
Don’t stock high-sugar snacks and candy in the pantry.
Drink water and unsweetened teas. Avoid lemonade, sweetened teas, and sodas. Even “diet” sodas can fool your body and interfere with weight loss.

Allowing yourself a sweet treat every now and then shouldn’t be a reason to worry. Just be sure that the bulk of the food that you eat everyday is healthy.
One thing that works very well for me is to take full advantage of natural sugars. By roasting apples, their natural sugar comes out, caramelizes, and turns into a fabulous dessert or treat. Instead of ice cream, you can eat caramelized apples with plain Greek nonfat yogurt. Pears, peaches, plums, and many other fruits roast beautifully.
The best caramelization happens when you roast in a cast iron pan: just put plain cut-up apples in a cast iron pan. Roast for 25 minutes in a preheated oven at 425 degrees, then drop down to 350 and roast for another 25 minutes. I do the same thing with vegetables like sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, beets, and carrots. You can spruce them up with a little olive oil, sea salt, fresh rosemary, garlic and/or ginger. You’d be amazed how much natural sweetness and flavors come out from Mother Nature with NO added sugar!
How do you feel about avoiding or limiting sugar in your diet? Have you found successful ways to cut back on how much you eat? As someone who is always in search of the next chocolate fix, I’d appreciate hearing your advice! For starters, I stick to > 70% dark chocolate.

Gaining a Taste for Seaweed helping in breast cancer protection on health

Nori: What you find around most sushi rolls, its dark purple color turns phosphorescent green when toasted.

Kombu: Used to flavor soups, this darkly colored seaweed is usually sold in strips or sheets.

Wakame: Most commonly used to make Japanese miso soup (and similar to kombu).

Kelp: Often sold in flake form as a naturally salty topping for rice, this seaweed is light brown to dark green in color.

Dulse: A soft and chewy seaweed that is a reddish-brown color, this is found along the coast of Iceland, Ireland, and Scotland and eaten as a snack.

Arame: A sweet, mild-tasting seaweed that has a lacy, wiry appearance

Hijiki: This strong-flavored seaweed looks like small strands of black spaghettini. Because it can contain elevated levels of arsenic, experts recommend only consuming certified organic hijiki.

Radiation to Chest or Face Before Age 30 on how to protect your breast

Radiation to Chest or Face Before Age 30

If you had radiation to the chest to treat another cancer (not breast cancer), such as Hodgkin disease or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you have a higher-than-average risk of breast cancer. If you had radiation to the face as an adolescent to treat acne (something that's no longer done), you are at higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life. The amount of risk increase depends on how old you were when you had radiation. The increase in risk is highest if you had radiation during adolescence, when your breasts were developing.

Steps you can take

If you had radiation when you were younger to successfully treat another cancer or to treat acne, you know how important it is to make lifestyle choices that can keep your breast cancer risk as low as it can be:

maintaining a healthy weight
exercising regularly
limiting alcohol
eating nutritious food
never smoking (or quitting if you do smoke)

These are just a few of the steps you can take. Review the links on the left side of this page for more options.

Certain Breast Changes on protection of breast cancer

Certain Breast Changes on protection of breast cancer
If you've been diagnosed with certain benign (not cancer) breast conditions, you may have a higher risk of breast cancer. There are several types of benign breast conditions that affect breast cancer risk:
Excessive growth of normal-looking cells: Doctors call this "proliferative lesions without atypia." In these conditions, cells in the ducts (the pipes of the breast that drain the milk out to the nipple) or lobules (the parts of the breast that make milk) are growing faster than normal, but the cells look normal. Doctors call these conditions:

ductal hyperplasia (without atypia)
complex fibroadenoma
sclerosing adenosis
papilloma or papillomatosis
radial scar

Being diagnosed with one of these conditions can double your breast cancer risk.
Excessive growth of abnormal-looking cells: Doctors call this "proliferative lesions with atypia." In these conditions, cells in the ducts or lobules are growing faster than normal and look abnormal. The specific conditions are:

atypical ductal hyperplasia
atypical lobular hyperplasia

Being diagnosed with one of these conditions can make your risk of breast cancer 4 to 5 times higher than normal. If you have one or both of these conditions along with a strong family history, your risk can be higher.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): LCIS is abnormal cell growth in the breast lobules. While the word "carcinoma" is in its name, LCIS isn't a true breast cancer. If you've been diagnosed with LCIS, your risk of breast cancer is 7 to 11 times higher than average. LCIS and a strong family history makes your risk even higher.
Hormonal therapy medicines: SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) have been shown to reduce the risk of developing hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in women at high risk. Tamoxifen and Evista (chemical name: raloxifene) are the two SERMs used in this way.

Tamoxifen has been shown to reduce the risk of first-time hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in both postmenopausal and premenopausal women at high risk. Certain medicines may interfere with tamoxifen's protective effects. Visit the tamoxifen page to learn more.
Evista has been shown to reduce the risk of first-time hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Visit the Evista page for more information.

Hormonal therapy medicines do not reduce the risk of hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer.
Together, you and your doctor can decide if medicine to lower your risk is a good option for you.

Saturday, 27 April 2013

Breast Cancer Treatment And Recovery Times

A diagnosis of breast cancer can really disrupt your life -- emotions, physical health, finances, and relationships may be affected. When you were diagnosed you may have been working full-time, raising a family, or pursuing your dreams. Your calendar was full and your life was busy. Suddenly, your schedule is invaded by a raft of appointments with surgeons, oncologists, nurses, technicians, and therapists. You instantly have a new job -- getting through breast cancer treatment. Let's look at how long treatments and recovery can take, and talk about keeping track of your time.
Balance The Demands Of Life And Treatment
If you are working outside the home, you may need to know how much sick leave time to ask for. Be sure you know the sick leave policy at your job, and give your supervisor the best estimate you can. Remember that if you hit a snag during treatment, you'll be out longer than you had planned, so be sure to let your boss know what's going on.
Keep a calendar in your health notebook to keep track of all appointments. Don't overbook yourself -- especially on treatment and recovery days. Ask for help and delegate tasks while you are recovering.

Estimated Breast Cancer Surgery And Recovery Times

Lumpectomy: 7 - 14 Days Recovery
A lumpectomy is an outpatient procedure, so you'll be going home the same day of surgery. You may have surgical drains in place, so don't hurry back to work. If you have lymph nodes removed during your lumpectomy, healing will take longer than one week. Get someone else to do the driving and heavy lifting, and postpone your housecleaning, sports, and gardening.
Mastectomy: 1 - 3 Weeks Recovery
A mastectomy is an inpatient procedure, so you'll be in the hospital one or two days after surgery. You will have surgical drains in place for 5-7 days to help with healing -- those will be removed during a follow-up appointment with your surgeon. Barring complications, your incisions should heal within three to four weeks.
If you have lymph nodes removed during your mastectomy, healing will take longer than one week. Mastectomy is often done with immediate breast reconstruction, but that should not delay healing from surgery. Get plenty of rest and take time to process your emotions while you recover.
Re-excision: 3 - 7 Days Recovery
Not everyone will require a re-excision if surgical margins were clear. This is an outpatient procedure that is done after a lumpectomy to ensure clear margins. You will go home after your surgery. You may have a surgical drain to manage, but it can be removed relatively quickly. Take it easy at home until your drain is no longer needed.
Breast Reconstruction: Recovery Times Vary
Because breast reconstruction can range from implants placed during a mastectomy to a free flap transplant, your recovery time will depend on the complexity of your reconstruction method. Some types of reconstruction involve two or three separate surgical procedures to complete your new breast. In case you will need radiation treatments, reconstruction may be delayed until you have completed all sessions.

Estimated Breast Cancer Treatments And Recovery Times

Radiation: 1 - 6 Weeks of Treatments
A standard course of breast radiation treatments after surgery is set up for every weekday for six or seven weeks. Any side effects you may have will be cumulative, so plan on taking some time to rest on weekends and at the end of treatment.
Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) can be completed in three weeks. Brachytherapy, or internal breast radiation, can be done in five days, with mild side effects and a short recovery time.
Chemotherapy: 3 - 6 Months of Treatments
A weekly lower-dose chemotherapy schedule will be given for 12 weeks (3 months) straight. A standard chemo schedule will be given once every three weeks, with additional office visits for lab work and shots. So if you are having four standard cycles of chemo, treatments will take about three months to complete. For six standard cycles of chemo, treatments will take about five to six months to complete.
Each infusion will take 3-4 hours, and lab appointments should take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how busy your clinic may be. If your side effects are mild, you can return to normal activities in between each treatment, but if they are bothersome, plan on taking time off to recover.
Recovery times from chemotherapy vary with each person. Remember that chemo is a systemic treatment that will affect your entire body. You should plan on 1-3 months of recovery time per each standard dose of chemotherapy once your treatments are over.

Moving Forward After Breast Cancer

Recovery times depend on your health before diagnosis, your body's response to treatments, lifestyle factors, and levels of physical activity during recovery. Exercising, eating a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and gradually returning to normal activities can speed your recovery.
Emotional recovery is a more complicated process that each of us works through on our own schedule. If you feel a nagging depression or have constant fear about recurrence, ask for help.
Most physical side effects will decrease over time as your health rebounds, but some may linger. Your body will bear scars from the battle, lymphedema and chemobrain may affect you longer than you'd like, and relationships may have changed. Life after breast cancer involves change, so give yourself plenty of room and time to adjust. Survivorhood is a great place to live!

Should I have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy for early-stage breast cancer?

Question: Should I have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy for early-stage breast cancer?

Your first treatment decision is often about surgery. Before the 1970s, a mastectomy was the only surgery for for any stage of breast cancer. Since then, less invasive techniques have been developed, and imaging technology has greatly aided surgical accuracy. Patients have become more involved in treatment decisions and better informed of choices. Still, deciding on a surgery for breast cancer is often difficult. Your goal is to remove as much cancer as possible, and prevent a recurrence. Let’s look at your options and some statistics about lumpectomy and mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer.

Answer: If you have early-stage breast cancer (DCIS or Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA), you may have a choice between breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) and removing the breast (mastectomy).

Women and Early-Stage Breast Cancer

It's normal to worry about how long you will live after surgery and treatment, or the chances of recurrence. These are practical questions to consider. The National Cancer Institute says that early-stage breast cancer patients who choose lumpectomy and radiation will live as long as women who opt for a mastectomy -- whether or not they also choose to have reconstruction. Your odds for recurrence of early-stage breast cancer are around 10% (1 in 10) within 12 years of lumpectomy and radiation. If you have a mastectomy, your risk of recurrence is about 5% (1 in 20) on the same side within 12 years of surgery; that risk is the same regardless of reconstruction surgery. You may also consider having chemotherapy, targeted biological therapy and hormone therapy to increase your chances of long-term survival.

Male Breast Cancer (MBC)

For early-stage male breast cancer, a mastectomy is recommended, because there usually is not enough breast tissue for a lumpectomy. Lymph nodes will be sampled to determine whether or not the cancer has spread beyond the breast. Radiation, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy may also be needed, depending on the type, extent and location of the cancer.

Considering Your Surgery Choices

Get help for making your breast cancer surgery decision by talking to your oncologist and surgeon. Try this list of 10 questions to help you sort out your feelings and options. If you have early-stage breast cancer and are not offered at least two options, go to a different doctor and get a second opinion. Ask about survival statistics based on your diagnosis, and about your surgeon's expertise in breast cancer surgery procedures. Sometimes your health insurance may limit your choices, but if you want more options, ask how you can work out a financial compromise. If you're favoring a mastectomy, you should also be discussing your choice of breast reconstruction methods. If breast reconstruction is not mentioned before you settle on a mastectomy, consult a plastic surgeon to see what your options may be. Make sure you feel as confident as possible when you choose your breast cancer surgery procedure.

Breast Cancer Treatment: The Optional on breas protection

After your breast cancer has been diagnosed, your healthcare team will recommend treatment. There are five standard treatment options for breast cancer: surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, radiation, and hormonal therapy. Learn about each one and how a decision on which is right for you is made.

Surgery
Radiation
Chemotherapy

Hormonal Therapy
Targeted Biologic Therapies
Cope With Side Effects of Treatment

Surgery

The goals of breast cancer surgery are to remove the cancerous tissue and to analyze it for type, grade, size, hormonal status, and possible metastasis (if the cancer has spread). There are both diagnostic and therapeutic surgeries, as well as reconstruction options. Learn about biopsy types, lumpectomy, quadrantectomy, and mastectomy.

Therapeutic Surgery Overview
Lumpectomy - Breast Conserving Surgery
Four Types of Mastectomy
Breast Biopsy Types
Sentinel Node Biopsy

Surgery Choices For Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Mastectomy or Lumpectomy – 10 Questions to Help You Decide
Surgical Margins Are Important
Coping With Surgical Drains

Breast Pain And Breast Cancer Risk knowing breast protection

When you frequently experience breast pain, you might wonder if it raises your risk for breast cancer. Breast pain, or mastalgia, is very common and is often related to benign causes. Having hormonal breast pain or discomfort related to fibrocystic tissue or breast infections does not raise your breast cancer risk.

Hormones And Breast Pain:

Between puberty and menopause, most women have some cyclical breast pain and tenderness as hormone levels change. At menopause, when your menstrual periods end, most breast pain also ceases. Your ovaries will produce lower levels of estrogen during menopause, which results in less swelling and tenderness in your breasts and tummy. Menopausal breast pain is noncyclical and usually hurts in only one breast. Noncyclical breast pain is not hormonal and can be caused by illness, injury, weight gain or certain medications.

Breast Pain Doesn't Always Mean Breast Cancer:

At the Breast Care Center of University Hospital, Syracuse, New York, researchers did a study with 5463 women who visited their clinic. There were 861 of these women who were diagnosed with breast cancer, and of that group, only 14% of those women reported any breast pain. The majority of women who complained of breast pain did not have breast cancer. Having breast pain is uncomfortable and upsetting, but it is rarely a sign of breast cancer, and seldom increases cancer risk.

Painful Benign Breast Conditions And Cancer Risk:

Certain benign breast conditions can cause breast pain, but these have a very small impact on your risk for developing breast cancer. These breast conditions are made of non-proliferative cells, which grow and divide at a normal rate.

• Benign Breast Conditions With Low Risk:

Causes pain and affects breast cancer risk over normal: Very Slight Increase
Non-proliferative cells - normal rate of cell growth and division

Abscess beneath areola or within breast tissue
Ductal ectasia - blocked milk duct, sometimes with nipple discharge
Fat necrosis - fatty tissue that has died and become thick or hard
Fibrocystic changes - cyclical symmetrical swelling and tenderness
Mastitis - breast infection
Sebaceous cyst with infection - bump below skin containing keratin
Simple fibroadenoma - lump made of fibrous and lobular tissue

• Benign Breast Conditions With Moderate Risk:

Causes pain and raises risk over normal: 150 - 200% Increase
Proliferative cells without atypia - faster than normal rate of cell growth with no abnormal cells

Complex fibroadenoma - lump made of mixed fibrous and lobular tissue, cysts, lobes, etc.
Multiple fibroadenomas - two or more simple fibroadenomas
Radial scar - a star-shaped dense mass within breast (rare)

Fibroadenomas and scar tissue can be removed with surgery or non-invasive ablation by laser, freezing, radio waves, or vacuum. A breast fibroadenoma must be diagnosed with a breast biopsy, so the cells can be tested to rule out other conditions.

• Benign Breast Conditions With Heightened Risk:

Causes pain and raises risk greatly: 4 to 5 Times Normal
Proliferative with atypia - faster than normal rate of cell growth and having abnormal cells

Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)
Atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH)

Hyperplasia is a benign condition in which cells grow faster than normal. Atypical hyperplasia is considered a precancerous condition. Atypical cells are abnormal and have the potential to develop into noninvasive breast cancer, such as ductal carcinoma in situ. Discuss the benefits of surgically removing any atypical hyperplasia with your doctor.

• Benign Sources of Breast Pain:

Other sources of breast pain that do not increase cancer risk:

Breast injury
Healing from breast surgery

Cruciferous Vegetables - Crammed With Anticancer Power Eating These Vegetables Helps Prevent and Fight Cancer

Slice into a crucifer and you will likely see a fascinating pattern of leaves, buds, and stemsthat form a cross shape. Packed within these dark green, white, and sometimes red vegetables are cancer-fighting surprises. You may think that cruciferous veggies are just broccoli and cauliflower - but there are many more than that. These veggies are low in calories, and high in fiber, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C and beneficial enzymes. A Bounty of Benefits From Crucifers Cruciferous vegetables can be dense and crispy, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, andBrussels sprouts. They are also root vegetables such as radishes and daikon, kohlrabi and rutabaga. But did you know thatsome of the leafy greens, such as collard and turnip greens, arugula and cress are also crucifers? A healthy diet that includes two to three cups of fruits and vegetables daily can help lower your risk of many diseases, including cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus and stomach. In lab studies, some components of crucifers have helped to halt the growth of breast, cervix, endometrium, lung, colon and liver cancer. Crucifers Are Crammed With Anticancer Power Crucifers are packed with dietary benefits. They contain dietary fiber, calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. Most vegetables are low in fat and calories. Benefits include: *. Dietary Fiber: Fresh, frozen and cooked crucifers are a good source of dietary fiber. You can snack on broccoli florets with a low-fat yogurt dip and you will lower your cholesterol as well as your risk of heart disease, and keep your tummy happy. Fiber from crucifers helps reduce constipation and other digestive problems, while giving you that feeling of fullness that helps you avoid overeating. *. Indoles and Isothiocyanates (ITCs): These compounds may rev up your immune system and help protect you against colon, stomach, and respiratory cancers. Indole-3-carbinol occurs naturally in crucifers, and is a powerful antioxidant that scavenges free radicals and protects your cells from damage. Isothiocyanates, a sulfur compound that is most abundant in broccoli sprouts, have been shown to disrupt the growth and division of cancer cells *. Beta Carotene: It's OK to take supplements to get your beta carotene, but getting it from vegetables seems to protect cells that are exposed to carcinogens, and prevent cancer from forming. In fact, taking beta carotene in supplements seems to raise your risk for lung cancer. But getting your beta-carotene from crucifers is safe and lowers your risk for cancer. *. Crambene: Found in many crucifers, this compound, when combined with Indole-3-carbinol, activates your body's detoxification enzymes. Working together, as they naturally do in crucifers, these two compounds appear to prevent healthy cells from becoming cancerous. Fairly high amounts of crambene and Indole-3-carbinol were required in an experimental setting, to have this preventative effect. *. Vitamins A and C: Vitamin A is good for your eyesight and your skin. Vitamin C assists with tissue growth and repair, helpsheal cuts and wounds, and keeps your teeth and gums healthy. Best Ways to Eat Cruciferous Vegetables The most powerful crucifers, when eaten raw, are: broccoli sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Many crucifers can be eaten raw, after washing to remove dirt and grit. Slice them into bite-size bits and drop them into salads, or slice them into strips for finger food. Arrange raw broccoli on a decorative plate alongside cauliflower, radishes and kohlrabi, over a bed of cress or arugula. Pair that with a side of low-fat dip, and you've got a healthy snack or appetizer. Prefer good old-fashioned leafy greens? To prepare bok choy, kale or collard and turnip greens, first blanch the leaves in boiling water and then quickly stir-fry them in olive or peanut oil. The faster you cook your greens, the more nutritious they are, becausetoo much heat can rob them of their dietary power. Mustard seeds (brown, green, white or black), are also part of the crucifer family, and can be briefly toasted in a hot skillet just until fragrant, cooled, and sprinkled over salads and meats. Convenient Crucifers for Every Day Some types of crucifers are canned, such as collard and turnip greens. Those are easy to serve, but because they are already heat-processed, and then warmed up for serving, most of the anticancer powers are lost. Don't cook any crucifer for more than 30minutes - make it less and keep it healthy! Frozen broccoli and cauliflower is easy and still retains it's cancer-fighting properties, and you find those mixed with other great vegetables, you've got a quick and easy nutritious side dish. Steamed or microwaved crucifers can retain their vitamins and other beneficial compounds, as well as their appealing colors.

Friday, 26 April 2013

Cancer-Fighting Food and Drink on breast cancer

Your diet is one very important lifestyle factorthat you can take control of. Learn which foods can help prevent and fight breast cancer. Also learn easy ways to include cancer-fighting foods in your diet. Diet and Breast Cancer Risk Having a healthy weight depends on smart choices for food, drink, and exercise. Keepingoff excess pounds means balancing all these factors, to lower your overall risk for cancers, especially breast cancer. There's no particularfood that guarantees you won't develop breast cancer, or have a recurrence of it. But a healthy diet has many... Macrobiotic Diet and Breast Cancer A macrobiotic diet is more than a diet plan – it is a lifestyle. People who use the macrobiotic diet may have a lower risk of breast cancer as well as other cancers and heart disease. Take a look at the link betweenthe macrobiotic diet and a lower risk of breast cancer. Pomegranates For Good Health Pomegranates (punica granatum) are a very healthy fruit that appears to slow down the growth of estrogen-fueled breast cancers. Make astringent, juicy, beautiful pomegranates part of your anticancer diet. Learn more about pomegranates here. What Is The Connection Between Breast Cancer and Caffeine? Caffeine and breast cancer – is there a connection? Caffeine can affect breast health, and has an impact on other health issues. Learn more about caffeine and breast cancer here. Green Tea May Slow Breast Cancer There's been a lot of talk about the benefits of drinking green tea. Among the headlines isan intriguing claim that a chemical found in the beverage may be a powerful weapon against breast cancer. But before you load upon green tea bags and start chugging away, you should learn a bit more about this alleged miracle brew and the science behind it. Lycopene Colors You Healthy Lycopene is an antioxidant that lends its colorto fruits and vegetables. Lycopene may help protect against some cancer. Lycopene has some heart health benefits, too. Learn more about lycopene here. Walnuts In Your Diet Help With Breast Cancer Prevention Walnuts are a good part of your anti-cancer diet. Walnuts contain oemga-3 fatty acids andmany other nutrients that fight breast cancer.Learn why Dr. Elaine Hardman recommends walnuts for preventing and discouraging breast cancer. Cancer Loves Sugar: Myths and Facts Cancer loves sugar - a very common saying and widely believed. But does cancer love sugar, and does sugar cause cancer to grow?If you cut sugar out of your diet, would that prevent or cure cancer? Fruits – Mighty Good For Your Health Fruit, especially fresh fruit, is good for your health. Fruit contains many substances that help fight cancer. A healthy diet that includes a rich selection of fruits and vegetables helps prevent several kinds of cancer. Learn how fruits fight cancer and which ones are best for you. Fruit Fiber in Anticancer Smoothies - Fruit Fiber Smoothies Adding dietary fiber to your smoothies can have a great anticancer benefit. It's easy to include the right fruits that are rich in fiber aswell as antioxidants, phenols, and antibacterial compounds. Break out your blender and line up the fruit and fiber! Fruit Smoothies - Quick Ways to Add Fruit Fiber to Your Diet Fiber from fruits is great for your health and is a powerful anticancer food. It's easy to addfruit fiber to your daily diet and reap the health benefits. Here's some ways to make a fiber-loaded fruit smoothie. Learn how to add fruit fiber to your diet. Walnuts Help Fight Breast Cancer Walnuts are healthy nuts that may help fight breast cancer. Walnuts have omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols, cancer-fighting components for your diet. Learn more about walnuts and breast cancer here. Fish and Seafood - Dive In To Healthy Eating Fish and seafood is high in omega3 fatty acids, which are very beneficial for your health. Fish is a great way to get your protein,and cut down on saturated fats and calories. Learn more about fish and omega3 fatty acids here. Eating Less Red Meat Reduces Cancer Risk, Add Fruits and Veggies for Balance Red and processed meats take center stage in the Western diet, where our cancer rates are higher than those in traditional diets withmore emphasis on fish, vegetables, and grains. But why does red meat promote cancer, and how can eat a healthy diet without too much of it? Learn more about red meat and cancer here. Legumes - Good Nutrition and Eating Healthy Legumes are beans, peas, lentils and peanuts.Legumes are nutritious, low in fat, high in protein, and rich in antioxidants and saponins. While they don't prevent breast cancer, they do boost your overall health. Findout more about legumes. Cranberries - Superstar Fruit Battles Bacteria and Kills Cancer Cranberries may show up on your holiday table, in your juice glass, or on a string around your Christmas tree. They are loaded with antioxidants, and have plenty of power to kill bacteria. Did you know that extract of cranberry may kill

Importance of Addressing Cancer Prevention

One in two men and one in three women willhave to hear those dreadful words in their lifetime: "You have cancer." It's even more heartbreaking to know that many of these cancers are potentially preventable. Yes, I've heard some of the arguments. "We all have to die of something." Or, "When your time comes, your time comes." It's true that none of us will escape this planet alive. But it's not true that cancer - some cancers anyway - are unavoidable. According the American Institute for Cancer Research, 30 to 40% of cancers could be prevented with a healthy diet and exercise alone. Add to that the avoidance of tobacco, and a healthy respect for occupational and household chemicals, and the number is higher yet. A new study emphasizes the importance of prevention by putting some numbers out there. Researchers looked at 6 cancers in particular that are potentially preventable - lung, colon and rectum, liver, breast, cervix, and prostate. They then calculated the average expected years of life lost (EYLL) for each of these cancers. For liver cancer and lung cancer the average EYLL was over 13 years, while the EYLL for prostate cancer was less than 2 years. Based on numbers from 2012 lung cancer would cause a grand total of 3,116,000 lost years of life. Second up was breast cancer with 1,420,000 years lost, followed by colon and rectal cancer with a loss of 932,000 years of life. The conclusion? Successful prevention strategies for lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer have the potential to greatly minimize the loss of life of people living in the United States . Until we know more, what can you do to lower your chances of developing the 6 cancers in this study? Some of these tips may be obvious, but others may surprise you.

Natural Breast Cancer Defense Alternative Medicine and Breast Cancer Prevention

The most common form of cancer among women in the United States (other than skin cancer ), breast cancer typically begins as a malignant tumor in the breast ducts or in the glands responsible for producing milk. In some cases, breast cancer spreads to distant areas of the body. Breast cancer affects one in eight women during the course of their lives. The disease may also occur in men, but incidences of male breast cancer are fairly rare. Causes of Breast Cancer Although no one knows what causes breast cancer, these factors may increase your risk for the disease: *. personal or family history of breast cancer *. reproductive and menstrual history (such asbeginning periods before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55) *. being overweight or obese *. lack of physical activity *. consumption of alcohol Breast cancer risk increases as you age, and most cases occur in women over 60. The disease is more common among white women than Latina, Asian, or African-American women. Breast Cancer Symptoms Performing self-exams of your breasts each month can help you detect any changes that may signal breast cancer. These changes mayinclude: *. a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area *. nipple tenderness *. a change in size or shape of the breast or nipple *. scaly, red, or swollen skin on the breast, areola, or nipple Nipple discharge may also be a sign of breastcancer. In addition to performing monthly self-exams, you should visit your doctor regularly for clinical breast exams. Women who are over age 40 (or who have certain risk factors for breast cancer) should also receive mammograms every one or two years. Learn how to do a breast self-exam. Breast Cancer Treatment Treatment options for breast cancer are based on a number of factors, including type of breast cancer, breast cancer stage , the cancer cells' sensitivity to hormones, and the patient's overall health. Treatments may include breast cancer surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted drugs, or a combination or therapies. Alternative Medicine for Breast Cancer A number of natural therapies may help relieve side effects of conventional cancer treatments, ease stress, and enhance quality of life for people coping with breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about using the following: *. acupuncture *. guided imagery *. hypnosis *. massage *. meditation *. tai chi *. yoga Breast Cancer Prevention Although there's no surefire way to prevent breast cancer, the following may reduce your risk: *. exercising for at least a half-hour on most days of the week *. limiting your use of postmenopausal hormone therapy *. maintaining a healthy weight *. limiting your consumption of alcohol Preliminary research suggests that these natural substances may also aid in the prevention of breast cancer: 1) Curcumin An animal-based study published in 2009 shows that curcumin (a compound found in the curry spice turmeric and available in supplement form) may help reduce breast cancer risk for women undergoing hormone replacement therapy during menopause . Thestudy's authors suggest that women receiving a combined estrogen and progestinhormone replacement therapy could potentially take curcumin to protect against the development of progestin-accelerated tumors. However, it's important to talk to your doctor about using any natural remedies in combination with hormone replacement therapy. 2) Resveratrol In a test-tube study published in 2008, researchers found that resveratrol (an antioxidant found in the skin of grapes) helped suppress breast-cancer progression in its earliest stages. Available in supplement form, resveratrol appeared to stop estrogen from reacting with DNA molecules and forming compounds that mark the start of cancer cell formation. 3) Green Tea While clinical trials on green tea's cancer-fighting effects have yielded mixed results, lab tests suggest that a combination of greentea and ganoderma (a medicinal mushroom , also known as reishi) may help slow the growth of breast cancer cells.

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Young Women, Family History and Breast Cancer Knowledge is Powe.

(LifeWire) - Jennifer Davis was 19 years old when her mother, then 49, was diagnosed with breast cancer. In a way, it wasn't a surprise. Breast cancer killed her maternal great-grandmother at age28. Her maternal grandmother died of ovarian cancer at 69. Then, as her mother underwent surgery and started chemotherapy, Davis found a lump in her own breast . Although it was benign, she wasterrified. "I had just seen my mother go through chemo and I wondered if I was next," recalled Davis, a Washington, D.C. resident. Genetic testing confirmed Davis had inheritedthe gene mutation that increases her risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. At age 23, she is diligent about screening and a healthy lifestyle, and she is giving serious thought to eventually removing her breasts and ovaries as a dramatic, but effective, preventative measure. Because genetic testing is still relatively new, researchers aren't sure how many people have one of the gene mutations associated with breast cancer. But they estimate that up to 30% of American women have an immediate family member who was treated for breast cancer. This means that even young women with a known family history ofthe disease can start taking steps to protect their own health. However, this also presents tough choices, including whether to undergoprophylactic surgery or take medications thatdecrease the risk of breast cancer but often have side effects. Determining Risk The average American woman has a 12% chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime; this figure can more than double for a woman with a family history of breast cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, women with a "first-degree" relative -- such as a mother or sister -- who had breast cancer have an approximately 30% chance ofdeveloping the disease, too. If that first-degree relative is diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer (breast cancer in both breasts),the risk jumps to 36%. Among those with "second-degree" relatives (grandmother, aunt or niece), lifetime risk is about 22%. For those with a "third-degree" relative (cousin, great-grandparent or great-aunt) who had breast cancer, the risk is 16%. Yet family history doesn't guarantee a breast cancer diagnosis. Experts estimate that only 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary. In addition, the gene mutations associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer appear to be uncommon in the general population. These are the genemutations labeled BRCA1 and BRCA2 by researchers. BRCA stands for breast cancer and the numbers indicate the order researchers discovered the gene mutations. Although exact prevalence of the mutations isunknown, one study found that within a group of approximately 2,300 women, ages 35 to 64, about 2.9% of white women, 1.4% of black women and 10.2% of Jewish womenhad BRCA1 mutations. The study found that 2.6% of black women, 2.1% of white women and 1.1% of Jewish women had the BRCA2 mutation. To assess personal risk, see the National Cancer Institute's website for its breast cancer risk assessment tool . Genetic Testing Many physicians now advise women with a family history of either breast or ovarian cancer to pursue genetic testing, but this personal decision can bring its share of emotions, as well as useful information. According to a Canadian study of 39 people who tested positive for the gene mutation, the majority viewed the results as enabling. Participants said the testing allowed them to take a more proactive approach to their health care. But a minority expressed feelingsof hopelessness and uncertainty. These individuals said they felt "neither ill nor completely well." Though health insurance and discrimination was previously a concern, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007-2008 ensures nationwide protection for individuals against health care insurance and employment discrimination. Screening For most women under age 35, breast cancerscreening is not part of their annual health routine. But for women with a family history of breast cancer, experts say screening should begin as early as age 25. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center recommends that women who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancershould begin yearly mammograms starting 10 years earlier than when the youngest family member was diagnosed. For example, if a mother was diagnosed at age 42, her daughter should begin annual mammography testing at age 32. For womenin this risk factor group, experts also recommend clinical breast exams at least twice each year and monthly, self exams beginning at age 20.Prevention Research shows that smoking and a fatty diet contribute further to one's risk of cancer, so a healthy lifestyle is especially important for someone with a family history of the disease

Bras Cause Breast Cancer: Mythor Fact? Let's Examine an Old Internet and Email Rumor

Bras may lift and separate, smooth out or point out the way, provide support or inspirefantasies. Bras also have inspired rumors - including the idea that bras cause breast cancer . Before you burn your bras, let's consider the rumor and balance it with some facts. Breasts in Bras Behaving Badly Here's how the rumor goes: Women who normally wear a bra for 12 or more hours a day develop breast cancer at higher rates that women who never wear bras. In different versions of this rumor, the toxic bras may be tight fitting, fit badly, or have underwires. As a result of this routine restriction, the breast's lymph system is blocked, causing the accumulation of toxins inside the breast - which causes breast cancer. The myth goes on to propose that breasts which swing free of a bra actually massage the mammary lymph system and constantly cleanse themselves of carcinogens. The rumor has bad assumptions: Your breast's lymph system does not drain into the main part of your breast. Instead, as anyone who has had a sentinel node biopsy can tell you, the lymph system drains out of the breast into your underarm lymph nodes . Bras- even compression bras - can't prevent the circulation of blood and lymph from your breast. Breast cancer occurs when mutated genes cause cells to grow like wildfire, and we don't know what causes those genetic mutations. Running Down The Rumor to Its Source Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer wrote a book in 1995 titled, "Dressed to Kill." Their book was the result of their observations - not the results of a scientific medical study. Singer and Grismaijer reportedthat women in westernized cultures who wore bras had a higher rate of breast cancer than women in traditional cultures who rarely wore a bra. Their observations did not include known risk factors for breast cancer, so data about diet , weight , exercise , start of menstruation, pregnancies , and breastfeeding was not considered. Singer has degrees in biology and anthropology, while Grismaijer has worked as an optician. They have written many similar books, and their current campaign warns of the dangers of sleeping in a horizontal position. They say " flat sleeping " causes brain compression, leading to Alzheimer's disease, migraines, sleep apnea, and glaucoma. Singer and Grismaijer claim that bras and flat sleeping are both unnaturaland unhealthy. The authors say that many people believe their warnings, accept their observations as truth, and buy their books. As far as I know, none of their disciples have remained perfectly disease-free nor have theyattained immortality. Short History of Breast Cancer and Bras Breast cancer is an ancient disease , and in the days before X-rays , appropriate surgeries, and other modern treatments was both well known and fatal. Bras are a fairly recent invention. Luman L Chapman added cups to the corset in 1863, and Marie Tucek was given a patent in 1893 for a garment called a breast supporter. Finally, in 1913, Mary Phelps Jacob put two silk hankies together with some pink ribbon, forming a modest and less restraining version of the bra. If you take the long view of human history, breast cancer beats bras for longevity. Researchers are looking for more basic causes than the advent of bras to explain the increase in cases of breast cancer. Persistent Myth Rooted in Control Dr. Susan Love, in her Breast Book , says that we listen to the "bras cause breast cancer" myth because we want to blame something external that we can control. A diagnosis of cancer brings on feelings of frustration, fear, and a sense that our body has betrayed us. Cancer starts inside our own cells, as a result of processes that science still can't explain. Love says, "You find people less wanting to think about birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy and fertility drugs," she says, "and more about pesticides, bras and deodorant ." We want control over life and health - cancer breaks that illusion. Possible Side Effects Of Wearing Bras Women have had problems while wearing bras. Breast pain , skin irritation, or even contact with an exposed underwire can cause discomfort. Speaking of those wires - some women are allergic to the metal and may develop a rash when a wire gets out of bounds. If your breasts are fibrocystic , or if your breasts are growing due to pregnancy , bras can certainly become uncomfortable. Very full breasts may cause back pain, muscle tension, or even headaches. Have a professional bra fitting, or find your proper bra size to avoid bothersome bras.

Diet and Breast Cancer Risk Diet, Weight, and Lifestyle Affect Risk of Recurrence

Here is a tool you can add to your cancer-fighting arsenal: a balanced diet. Research is confirming what our grandparents already knew: fresh fruits and vegetables are good for health, meat is for special occasions, and herbs and spices are medicinal. Learn about the foods that help you fight cancer. Load Your Plate With These Healthy Foods: Eat Your Broccoli Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts contain sulphur compounds, which may not smell good to you, but they fight cancer. Broccoli in particular, combats breast cancer -- so eat some every week. Legumes - Earthy Treasures Beans, beans, peas, lentils and peanuts are nutritious, low in fat, high in protein, and richin antioxidants and saponins. While they don't prevent breast cancer, they do boost your overall health. And while we're talking about beans … Soy and Breast Cancer - The True Story Soybeans and soy products are good alternatives to animal-based foods. Soy foods contain the isoflavone genistein, which may help prevent breast cancer, if you start eatingit just before puberty. You can eat soy foods in moderation, and it's easy to add soy to your diet. Onions and Garlic - Don't Turn Up Your Nose! Fragrant and colorful - alliums -- such as garlic and onions, appear in foods all over theworld. They have great nutritional value, and can help fight cancer. Learn how eating onions and garlic is part of eating healthy. Herbs and Spices - Little Powders Pack a Punch You might be surprised how powerful spices are -- not just for zing, but also for your anticancer diet! Several herbs and spices have been compared to effective cancer-fighting drugs. Take a tour of six herbs and spices that fight cancer. Sweet and Low-Calorie Fruits and Berries Fruits and berries are natural sweets that canbe added to entrees or vegetable dishes. On their own, they make easy low-calorie desserts or smoothies . Cranberries are especially packed with cancer-fighting compounds. But what about grapefruit -- is it really safe -- or not? Whole Grains and Seeds - Humble and Healthy Whole grains give you the full benefit of all three parts of the grain, which contain many vitamins , minerals, and dietary fiber. Flaxseeds are a good example of a whole grain you can use daily. Learn how whole grains benefit your health and are easy to add to your diet. Natural Sweeteners: Healthier than Refined Sugars Natural sweeteners are a very pleasant part of eating healthy -- they are low on the glycemic index, so they don't raise your bloodglucose levels like refined sugar does. Cancer thrives on sugar, so using natural sweetenersis better for you. Read about several natural sweeteners. Entrees to Enjoy: Fish or Vegetarian Dishes Fish and seafood are lower in saturated fats than meats, and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids , which fight cancer. But be picky about which fish you choose - some are better for you than others. Branch out and try fish or vegetarian entrees for a change from meats. Drink to Your Health: Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine Coffee and tea contain antioxidants, which can reduce your risk of cancer. Green tea is especially good for you. But those drinks also contain caffeine, which in large quantities might not be so good for your breasts. Read more to find out how caffeine affects your health. Water and Juice - Flush Your Toxins Water and juice helps you to stay hydrated and help your body eliminate possible carcinogens. Juice from fruits and vegetables is easy for your body to absorb, but may contain extra sugar and less fiber than fresh products. Try juicing your own fruits and vegetables, or making smoothies in your blender. Limit or Avoid These Foods and Drink: Meats - Tasty But Not So Healthy Daily servings of red and processed meats can result in too many calories, extra weight, and various diseases. Have meats only on special occasions -- especially if it is fried, broiled or grilled. In fact, start thinking of meat as a condiment. Learn how much meat is safe, and how it should be cooked. Potatoes - High on the Glycemic Index Even though potatoes are a nice way to fill out a supper plate, they aren't that healthy for you. Potatoes are high on the glycemic index, so they can raise your blood sugar levels, which is not good. Learn which varieties are actually good for you. Sweets and Sodas - Over Your Lips and OntoYour Hips Artificial sweeteners (Aspartame and Saccharin) do not seem to increase cancer risk in humans. However, drinking diet sodas,which depend on artificial sweeteners, seem to be linked with weight gain. Excess weight raises your risk of developing breast cancer, and of having a recurrence. Just a Pinch of Salt Consuming high levels of salt, or eating foodsthat have been preserved by pickling, or brining, may lead to increased risk of stomach, nasopharyngeal, and throat cancer. Moderate use of salt with food has not been shown to cause cancer.

Skin Cancer Risk and Driving and Cancer with breast protection

People of any age, race, or skin color can develop basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer. However, the likelihood of developingthese diseases increases when you have one or more risk factors. The most significant risk factor for skin cancer, by far, is well known: exposure to excessive ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning salons . However, numerous other factors are associated with basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Your risk increases if you: *. have freckles and burn before tanning *. have fair skin or blond, red, or light brown hair *. have actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous lesions that have the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma) *. have albinism (absence of skin pigment) *. are a male (men are about two times as likely as women to have basal cell cancers and about three times as likely to have squamous cell cancers) *. are older (due to the accumulation of sun exposure over time) *. were previously treated for skin cancer (thechance of a second occurrence is 40%) *. have a family history of skin cancer (a genetic influence is more common in melanoma, however) *. live or vacation at high altitudes (UV radiation increases 4% to 5% for every 1,000 feet above sea level) *. live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates (the risk doubles for those living in Florida or Arizona versus residents of Minnesota, for example) *. work indoors all week and then get intensesun exposure on weekends *. spend a lot of time or work outdoors There are also less common but well-documented additional risk factors . Unlike many cancers, basal cell and squamouscell carcinoma can be cured if detected early. If you have any of the above risk factors, it is important that you perform regular self examinations of your skin, see a dermatologist for regular examinations, and protect yourself from the sun If you drive on a regular basis, you may be putting yourself at risk of developing skin cancer. Whether you hang your left arm out of the window or rest it on the door with thewindow closed as you make your daily commute, the left side of your body is being exposed to harmful UVA rays, especially your face and arm. Window glass may protect you from UVB rays, which cause sunburn, but it does not block UVA rays, which play a role in the development of skin cancer. A study published in the May 2010 edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology shows that drivers are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer lesions on the left side of their bodies more often than their right. In the study, researchers examined the medical records of 1,047 people with skin cancer. They found that 52.6 percent people had skin cancer on the left side of their bodies as opposed to 47.4 percent on the right. Melanoma , a deadly form of skin cancer, occurred much more frequently on the left side -- 74 percent compared to 26 percent on the right. Of course, more research needs to be conducted, but the basic principles remain: UV exposure increases the likelihood that we will develop skin cancer. Harmful UVA rays appear to be able to penetrate through windows, leaving our skin vulnerable. Meanwhile, the glass tends to block UVB rays, which cause sunburn. So even though you're not getting burned through the window, you're still getting dangerous sun exposure. Reduce Your Risk of Developing Skin Cancer While Driving The first rule of skin cancer prevention is to wear sunscreen . Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before leaving the house or going outdoors. Don't forget to reapply throughout the day as needed. Be sure to read the sunscreen manufacturer's instructions for specific advice, as products differ. You can also try to reduce the amount you drive, although this isn't feasible for some people. Professional drivers need to be especially careful about skin cancer prevention as their exposure to UV rays is higher than the average driver. Window tints may be an option for some, depending on state law and product availability. There are window-tinting films that block 99 percent of UV rays. See a local window-tinting company for specific productinformation. Some states do not allow driver-side windows to be tinted, so be sure to inquire about your state's regulations. Don't let cloudy weather fool you! UV rays penetrate the clouds, exposing you to harmful effects of sun exposure. This especially applies to those who drive long hours daily, such as personal drivers and truck drivers.

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors on breast protection cancer

Researchers have identified several risk factors associated with cervical cancer. A cervical cancer risk factor is something that increases the likelihood of developing the disease. It is not a guarantee that cervical cancer will develop. Some risk factors can be avoided such a sexual behavior and smoking , but some risk factors are out of our control. Risk factors wecannot control risks like genetics and age. Cervical Cancer Risk Factors *. Human Papillomavirus (HPV): HPV has the strongest link to cervical cancer development. It is an extremely common virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. There are over one hundred different strains of HPV, with most posing no health risk. However, a handful of strainsaffect the cervix , which could lead to cervical cancer. HPV usually does not present symptoms , so a regular Pap smear is vital to detecting cervical damage caused by HPV. *. Smoking: When people think of smoking, lung cancer usually comes to the mind first, not cervical cancer. The carcinogens in cigarettes can cause damage to the cervical cells, possibly leading to cervical cancer. Studies have shown that smoking can accelerate the cervical damage caused by HPV. *. Sexual History: Certain sexual behavior mayincrease your risk of developing cervical cancer. Having many sex partners or havingsex with someone who has had many sexual partners may increase your risk of developing HPV, thus possibly developing cervical cancer. Having sex at an early age also increases the risk for cervical cancer. It is thought thathaving sex with an uncircumcised male mayincrease your risk as well. Studies have shown that women whose partners were circumcised were less likely to develop cervical cancer. *. HIV Infection: Women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer. HIV compromises the immune system, making it harder for the body to ward off an HPV infection. A weakened immune system may also cause cervical cancer to develop at a more rapid pace. *. Genetics: Having a family history of cervical cancer may increase the risk for cervical cancer. It is estimated that if an immediate family member, like a mother or sister, has had cervical cancer, the risk is increased two to three times. *. Multiple Births: Studies have shown that women who carry seven or more full-term pregnancies are at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. *. Oral Contraceptives: There is a small cervical cancer risk in using birth control pills for longer than five years. Many physicians agree that the benefits of oral contraceptives far outweigh the risks. If youare concerned with the risk of cervical cancer from birth control pills, talk to your doctor. *. DES Exposure: Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a drug used in the past for women who wereat high risk of having a miscarriage. It was used between 1940 to 1971. Women born to those who were given DES are at a slight risk of developing a rare form of cervical cancer because of the DES exposure. One out of 1,000 women who were exposed in utero will develop this type of cancer. *. Failure to Get Screened Regularly for Cervical Cancer: Women who have regular Pap smears greatly reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer. A Pap smear candetect abnormal cervical changes before they progress to cervical cancer.