October is PINK: Breast Cancer Month
October is Pink
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, our breasts are the only part of our anatomy that have their own month.
October is National Breast Cancer Month. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women who live to be 85 years old will develop breast cancer, up from 1 in 10 in 1970.
After skin cancer, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
Breasts become less dense after menopause due to lack of estrogen. The upside of this is the less dense the breast tissue, the easier it is to detect tumors on mammograms. Still, mammograms only pick up about 80% of breast cancer in women over 50; so it is up to us to be vigilant about self examination and prevention!
Proven Prevention:
- Check yourself. Even if you’ve been performing self exams for years, the ‘new’ BSE (breast self exam) is more comprehensive. This 7-minute video is worth the time it takes to watch.
- Don’t miss your annual check-up. The risk for developing breast cancer lessens with age. A recent Norwegian study found that it took an average of only 1.4 years for tumors to double in diameter for women in their 50′s and 2.1 years for women in their 60′s.
- Exercise daily. Multiple studies have shown that regular exercise seems to be protective against breast cancer regardless of menopausal status.
- Maintain a healthy weight. The link between obesity and breast cancer may have something to do with estrogen production in fat tissue.*
- Curb sugar intake. Eating too much refined sugar causes an increase in insulin which then causes estrogen levels to increase.
- Limit alcohol consumption. There is a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, though the strength of the link has not been determined.
- Stay Connected. A new study shows that social isolation can speed the spread of breast cancer.
What We’re Still Not Sure Of:
- *The link between estrogen and breast cancer is still not definitive. So far, studies show that women who developed breast cancer tended to have higher levels of estrogen than women without breast cancer. For now, scientists suggest that long term use of hormone therapy may undermine breast cancer prevention.
- Use pesticides and antibiotics with caution. Until further studies confirm or deny their links to breast cancer, these substances may counterbalance efforts at prevention.
To date, two genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) associated with breast cancer have been identified. Patients who have abnormalities of these genes often have a family history of the disease. But most women with breast cancer have had no family history.The only thing we know with certainty is participating in prevention may prevent having to participate in a cure.
Love & Hope & Chic
KC Tees will donate 25% from EVERY 100% Organic LOVE & HOPE Pink Ribbon tee to the Susan G Komen Foundation.
Walk the Walk
