Question regarding Breast Cancer prevention

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Smith - 21 Sep 2004 19:04 GMT

Well, I figured since I researched prostate cancer, I should do some
research for breast cancer for my wife.

She is 32. We don't know her family history exactly as her mother died
at a young age from Lymphoma (42). However her grandmother did have
breast cancer when she was 50. Her aunts have no signs of it.

I would like to know what my wife can do to help prevent breast
cancer. I've been going to a gym for 20 years and recently had her
join too (before that she did a treadmill at home). She goes 3 days a
week with me and does cardio. She wants to lose another 10 pounds that
would get her down to an ideal weight. We've been eating better for
the past several months. Less red meat, more fruits, brocholli,
veggies, etc.

However, I'm a worried husband and would like to see her do everything
she can to prevent BC. Is there anything else she should be doing? She
doesn't like to eat fish, and I'm not sure if consuming fish oil pills
works the same as eating fish, as I've heard eating fish is good for
you. Also is pork considered red meat? Sometimes we eat that.

Thanks in advance!

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Tim Jackson - 21 Sep 2004 20:19 GMT

I don't believe there is really a lot one can do to forestall breast cancer
beyond looking after general health. If she is at very high risk (eg. due
to genetic factors), then having the breasts surgically removed will reduce
that risk significantly, but that does not seem to be the case here.

There is a higher risk if you are overweight, which may well be due to
increased estrogen levels associated with more fat and muscle, but some
would argue it was a side effect of attempting to slim.

It seems generally accepted that antioxidants (eg fruit and veg) are likely
to reduce your risk, although as far as I know this is theoretical, I don't
think that an statistical dietary connection has been proven. There is also
a suggestion that a weakened immune system increases your risk, but there is
no evidence that attempts to boost your immune system beyond a healthy norm
confer any benefits at all.

There are components in broccoli and red wine among other things, that are
effective in suppressing cancer in cell cultures, but to get significant
quantities out of the broccoli I heard that you need to macerate it at 60?C:
cook it and it is mostly destroyed, eat it raw and little is released. So
personally I'd stick to the red wine. :-) Again I don't know of any
empirical evidence of dietary benefit.

So the usual advice of keeping reasonably fit, not overeating, and having
plenty of fruit and veg in the diet apply as much to breast cancer as to
heart disease or many other conditions. And even if you do "everything
right" it can still get you. It is a disease that has no respect.

Tim Jackson

> Well, I figured since I researched prostate cancer, I should do some
> research for breast cancer for my wife.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance!

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mosherm@nsnet.pns.ca - 21 Sep 2004 20:42 GMT

And of course checking for lumps monthly, so she will notice if
anything is different.

Marilyn

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A. P. Thorsen - 21 Sep 2004 20:24 GMT

> I would like to know what my wife can do to help prevent breast
> cancer.

American Cancer Society advice is pretty authoritative:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_2X_What_causes_breast_cancer_5
.asp?sitearea=

Scroll down the page for a section about risk factors you can influence.
The ones beyond what you already mentioned (basically diet &
exercise): Skip birth control pills & hormone replacement therapy, have
children and breast feed, minimize alcohol consumption.

Ann T.
Remove 'dontsendspam' from address to reply by email

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Gulffritallary - 21 Sep 2004 21:57 GMT

The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer: A Practical Manual for
Understanding, Prevention & Care
by Sat Dharam Kaur, Kaur

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