Early diagnosis is essential to acquiring fast and appropriate treatment for breast cancer, but it does not prevent breast cancer.

The three strategies described here will help us avoid potential breast-cancer-causing agents in our environment, and provide information that will help us make protective dietary and lifestyle choices.

Prevention Strategy #1: Avoid Toxic Environmental Agents

In his book, The Breast Cancer Prevention Program (Hungry Minds, Inc., 1997), Samuel Epstein, MD, provides scientifically documented information on the environmental factors that increase our risk of breast cancer.

The Dirty Dozen Risk Factors

1. Estrogen alone or estrogen combined with progestins, in high doses with prolonged use, is a known cancer-causing agent. Avoid synthetic forms of hormones and use herbal alternatives to treat menopausal symptoms. If you must use hormones, use natural bio-identical forms in low doses for a short duration.
2. Prolonged oral contraceptive use in young women is another known risk factor, albeit a controversial one. “Look for alternatives like a natural fertility monitor that determines your fertility cycle and advises you when you can become pregnant (see hormonehelp.com).”
3. Premenopausal mammography with early and repeated exposure is a contested breast cancer risk factor, but we know that repeated X-rays promote DNA damage in breast tissue, and breast compression from the mammography plates has been found to create breast trauma. Breast thermography and MRI are safe alternatives.
4. Prescription drugs, such as some antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering, and antihypertensive medications, have been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer. Cholesterol-lowering medications called “statins” deplete the body of coenzyme Q₁₀, a breast protective nutrient.
5. Avoid silicone gel breast implants, especially those wrapped in polyurethane foam. Breast tissue trauma also occurs during implantation. Learn to love your breasts the way they are.
6. Diets high in animal fat that are contaminated with xenohormones (hormones that act like estrogen in our body) increase our toxic load and breast cancer risk. Women who consume predominantly vegetable-based diets have lower rates of breast cancer.
7. Reduce your exposure in the workplace and home to chemicals or pollution from chemical plants and waste sites.
8. Cosmetics, shampoos, conditioners, make-up, hair dyes, nail polish and deodorant can contain many toxic substances including xenohormones.
   In January 2004, a study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology found that parabens, a preservative used in thousands of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and deodorants, were found in 18 of 20 breast tumours tested. Another study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention found that women who used antiperspirants or deodorants and shaved frequently and who began these habits before 16 were diagnosed with breast cancer up to 22 years earlier than women who rarely shaved or used underarm products. Visit your health food store for natural nontoxic products.
9. Alcohol use with early or excessive use has been a known risk factor for years. Limit alcoholic beverages.
10. Smoking: quit or don’t start.
11. Lack of exercise is a risk factor: exercising for 30 minutes three times a week can reduce your risk dramatically.
12. Dark hair dyes with early or prolonged use increases our risk because they contain phenylene diamine, a known cancer-causing agent. Use natural hair dye found at your health food store, go blonde, or go natural!

Prevention Strategy #2: Eat Protective Foods

Poor diet plays a role in 35 percent of breast cancer cases, so insist on organic fruits and vegetables to reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens (toxic estrogens found in pesticide-laden foods). Choose free range, organic meat and dairy products.

Eat plenty of organic vegetables, especially those from the cruciferous family: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. Reduce your intake of sugar as it suppresses the immune system. Ensure that the fats you eat are those that are rich in essential fatty acids.
Researchers at the University of Toronto believe that daily consumption of the lignans in flax seeds, which you can grind and sprinkle on your cereal everyday, prevent breast cancer. Alpha-linolenic acid from flax-seed oil has also been shown to have a breast cancer protective effect.

Prevention Strategy #3: Take Protective Nutritional Supplements

Lorna Vanderhaeghe, BSc, has been researching nutritional medicine for over 20 years and has written several books, including the best-selling No More HRT: Menopause Treat the Cause, (Fitzhenry, 2002).

Source: alive #259, May 2004