reduce your risk or breast cancer

[dani]

its long.. but worth it


Favor these foods:


Olive oil
Your most favorable fats come from olives, nuts, and other monounsaturated sources, according to a Swedish study that also found that "bad" polyunsaturated fats increase breast cancer risk.


Leafy greens
Fill your salad bowl with the darkest-green greens, which contain folate, a B vitamin linked to the reduction of breast cancer risk.


Soy
Science is studying how compounds derived from soy and soy products--called soy isoflavones--may interfere with estrogen's cancer-causing effects. Enjoy soy in tofu, smoothies made with soy protein powder, soy milk, and soy-based yogurt.


Calcium-rich dairy products
Consuming two or three servings of dairy products daily is linked to lower breast cancer risk, according to American Cancer Society research that studied postmenopausal women only. The same reduction was not seen among women who took calcium supplements. Note that low-fat dairy is a better choice than full-fat (see "Consume in Moderation," below).


Legumes
Eating a couple of servings per week of beans and lentils, which contain flavonols, appears to lower breast cancer risk, according to research conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Consume in moderation--or avoid altogether:


Animal fats
Studies involving both pre- and postmenopausal women showed significant reductions in breast cancer incidence among women whose diets were not heavy in animal sources of fat, including red meat, dairy, and butter.


Alcohol
Forget the heart-healthy benefits of red wine. With regard to breast cancer, consuming 30 grams of alcohol, or approximately two alcoholic drinks per day, increases incidence by 80%, according to a study conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. A well-regarded American Cancer Society study found that even an average of one drink a day or less increased a postmenopausal woman's chances of dying from breast cancer by 30% compared to women who did not consume any alcohol. And it doesn't appear that the type of alcohol consumed makes a difference, with beer, wine, and liquor all producing the same increase.


Adopt Healthy Habits

Stop smoking
On this point the medical community is undivided: Quit smoking and eliminate your exposure to secondhand smoke. For more information and tools to help you quit and stay smoke-free, check out smokefree.gov.


Exercise
Exercise is an important factor in maintaining a healthy weight, which in turn helps lower breast cancer risk: Fatty tissue produces hormones and growth factors, such as estrogen and insulin, which may promote cancer development. But more specifically, research has found a link between even moderate exercise and breast cancer risk reduction. For instance, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle reported a 20% decrease among postmenopausal women who favored consistency in exercise over intensity, for example, taking a brisk, 30-minute walk 5 days a week.

The research also suggests that the less a woman weighs, the more the exercise appeared to have a protective effect. Women of low to normal weight--and even those who were moderately overweight--who walked 10 hours each week experienced breast cancer risk reductions of more than 30%. The caveat: Breast cancer risk did not decrease among exercisers who were significantly overweight or obese.


Breast self-exams (BSEs)
Yes, there's been a debate over the impact of BSEs on breast cancer survival rates. But the bottom line is that BSEs are easy to do, free of charge, and can help women detect cancer at an early stage, when the disease responds better to treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends monthly BSEs for every woman over the age of 20.

Breast Cancer Prevention Plan Part 3: Make Smart Health Care Decisions
Many of the decisions you make regarding your breast health--when to start a schedule of annual mammograms, for example--should take into account your family history of breast cancer. Likewise, so should some of the decisions you make regarding other aspects of your health, such as how to treat symptoms of menopause, for example. Clearly, it's important to gather as much information as possible about any relatives who have had the disease, on both your mother's and father's side. The National Cancer Institute agrees and has created a terrific online assessment to help you determine your personal breast cancer risk at cancer.gov/bcrisktool. Share the results with your doctor--and make sure you take it into account when you discuss the following health care options and issues.


Annual mammograms and other exams
The American Cancer Society recommends an annual mammogram for women ages 40 and older along with an annual clinical exam conducted by a health care practitioner, which is more thorough than the breast self-exam you do at home. Are you at high risk for breast cancer? Your doctor may recommend you start getting annual mammograms right away, even if you're under 40. High-risk women sometimes undergo an MRI along with the annual mammogram to allow for a more complete image of the breast tissue. Ask your doctor about this option.


Gene testing
It's possible to inherit gene mutations that increase your risk of developing breast cancer. In the past decade, researchers have identified two such gene mutations: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Genetic testing is now available for them; it's typically recommended for women who have a strong family history of the disease. Your doctor can put you in touch with a genetic counselor who will talk to you about the test and the impact its results can have on your life and your family (who, if your results are positive, may also want to consider getting tested themselves).


Therapies to relieve menopausal symptoms
Sometimes called hormone-replacement therapies (HRT), certain hormone-based drugs appear to elevate breast cancer risk, especially estrogen when used in tandem with progestin, according to the large Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study. More recently, WHI researchers reported that 7 years after a trial looking at the effects of estrogen-alone therapy for postmenopausal women who had had prior hysterectomies, estrogen-alone therapy did not appear to increase breast cancer riskbut it did elevate the incidence of stroke and blood clots among study subjects. Bottom line: When considering medication to relieve hot flashes and other menopause symptoms, talk to your doctor about your breast cancer risks and cardiovascular health.


Drugs to reduce breast cancer risk
Big news: Two drugs were shown to reduce the incidence of certain breast cancers by about 50% among the nearly 20,000 postmenopausal women who participated in a clinical trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The drugs, Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, both carry varying degrees of risk for other health concerns, including uterine cancer, blood clots, and cataractswhich means that only high-risk women are the most likely candidates for their use. Both drugs are shown to protect against bone loss, with an estimated 500,000 women currently taking Raloxifene to prevent or treat osteoporosis.

[Suzie*Q]

and or move off of Long Island...

One of my close friends is only 30 and she has breast cancer. All the chemo and radiation has left her bald and extremely swollen.
She is in a support group and there are so many young women who have it. Its amazing most medical insurances don't even pay for mammograms until your 36.

[just b u]

and or move off of Long Island...

One of my close friends is only 30 and she has breast cancer. All the chemo and radiation has left her bald and extremely swollen.
She is in a support group and there are so many young women who have it. Its amazing most medical insurances don't even pay for mammograms until your 36.

Hmm they have done studies on this and really i thought there was some kind of connection between long island and breast cancer but apparently they cant really find a link between the two. Google it u'll see there isnt a link.

p.s. so sorry about ur friend i hope she'll become healthy and beautiful again in no time.

[just b u]

dani about those drugs raloxifene and tamoxifene, how do u get your hands on them?? do you go to ur dr so that they prescribe them to you??

Prevention is key especially if you have a family history with breast cancer. My aunt had breast cancer but she recovered cause it was found early. But she never told my cousins about it so they wouldnt worry. that's so upsetting to me because they should know about this in order to take full precautions at protecting themselves against this cancer and of course to be there for their mother, but that was her personal decision I can't really do much to change it.

[Suzie*Q]

Hmm they have done studies on this and really i thought there was some kind of connection between long island and breast cancer but apparently they cant really find a link between the two. Google it u'll see there isnt a link.

p.s. so sorry about ur friend i hope she'll become healthy and beautiful again in no time.

Ya...she is a single mother too. She's a trooper!
Anyhow, I was just saying that because LI has the 4th highest rate of breast cancer in the county.


And here is a quick read...

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/extrmurabs/leske.html

[just b u]

Ya...she is a single mother too. She's a trooper!
Anyhow, I was just saying that because LI has the 4th highest rate of breast cancer in the county.


And here is a quick read...

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/extrmurabs/leske.html

ok, but where are the results. this study was done in 1996, there must be results or did i skim over it too fast. actually there is another thread which i posted where i also heard that there might be a connection between breast cancer and living in long island, but gp1 found an article that discredits this. Let me see if i can find it.

[just b u]

http://www.nightclubcity.com/forum/s...ht=long+island

hmmm i hope this works lol, i suck in computers lol

[Coco69]

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/co...t_cancer_5.asp

[just b u]

Obesity and high-fat diets: Obesity (being overweight) has been found to be a breast cancer risk in all studies, especially for women after menopause. Although your ovaries produce most of your estrogen, fat tissue produces a small amount of estrogen. Having more fat tissue after menopause can increase your estrogen levels and, thereby, increase your likelihood of developing breast cancer


coco i got this new book and it has been found that a low fat diet will reduce the reoccurence of breast cancer by 20%. You found a great article.

[Coco69]

It's all in living a healthy life style.


Also read somewhere that wearing a tight underwire bra for alot of hours is no good. Let me see if I can find it.

Ladies, don't wear your bras too tight. And if you sleep with one, let it be a soft sports bra.

[Coco69]

http://www.007b.com/bras_breast_cancer.php

http://www.all-natural.com/bras.html

[humper]

i just quit smoking, feels great

[just b u]

Bra wearing may also be connected to cancer in other ways. Wearing bras slightly increases the temperature of the breast tissue, and women who wear bras have higher levels of the hormone prolactin. Both of these may influence breast cancer formation

I dont like bras, and this just gave me another reason to avoid them lol. Thank god for those tight tshirts, in the winter i wear them underneath sweaters all the time.


Btw I dont understand why some women would put themselves through the torture of wearing a bra to bed?? at night ur body needs to rest from all the restrictions, and tightness. Giving your body a breather when nothing is tight is important.

[just b u]

• Women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer (in their study, n=2056 for the cancer group and n=2674 for the standard group).
• Women who wore bras more than 12 hour per day but not to bed had a 1 out of 7 risk.
• Women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day had a 1 out of 152 risk.
• Women who wore bras rarely or never had a 1 out of 168 chance of getting breast cancer. The overall difference between 24 hour wearing and not at all was a 125-fold difference.

wow coco this is disturbing, more women should know how much it increases the risks!!! this is insane!!!

[Eleni]

• Women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer (in their study, n=2056 for the cancer group and n=2674 for the standard group).
• Women who wore bras more than 12 hour per day but not to bed had a 1 out of 7 risk.
• Women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day had a 1 out of 152 risk.
• Women who wore bras rarely or never had a 1 out of 168 chance of getting breast cancer. The overall difference between 24 hour wearing and not at all was a 125-fold difference.

wow coco this is disturbing, more women should know how much it increases the risks!!! this is insane!!!

sure if you have little itty bitty titties or implants.
umm if your breasts are natural and anything above a large C cup you CANNOT go without a bra...first off it HURTS, they are heavy and 2nd theyre way too bouncy.

[just b u]

sure if you have little itty bitty titties or implants.
umm if your breasts are natural and anything above a large C cup you CANNOT go without a bra...first off it HURTS, they are heavy and 2nd theyre way too bouncy.

fair enough. I have normal C's so for me those camisoles are fine. I'd try wearing sports bras though if I had ginarmous boobs, wouldnt that work?? I'd think that sports bras are more comfortable than real bras.

Question about breast implants. If you get the huge ones, like full D's or bigger, do u really need a bra with implants? Don't they stay up and in place naturally after the surgery?

[Coco69]

Yeah. I think as long as it isn't anything that's a super tight underwire for long hours you should be ok.

I wonder how those women years back use to survive with those really tight corsets everyday.

[Coco69]

Question about breast implants. If you get the huge ones, like full D's or bigger, do u really need a bra with implants? Don't they stay up and in place naturally after the surgery?

Not sure if it has anything to do with size, but for a girl's first BA surgery she has to sleep with a sports bra for the first 6 months. After that, she doesn't have to unless she wants to. Some girls don't need a bra, unless she wants to cover her nips from a light shirt. Or when PMS comes around they get heavy and sore just like before.

[Eleni]

fair enough. I have normal C's so for me those camisoles are fine. I'd try wearing sports bras though if I had ginarmous boobs, wouldnt that work?? I'd think that sports bras are more comfortable than real bras.

Question about breast implants. If you get the huge ones, like full D's or bigger, do u really need a bra with implants? Don't they stay up and in place naturally after the surgery?

plus you are VERY young...past your 30's or after you have kids you will not be able to simply wear a camisole all day long with C's...you will need a tad more support, and they wont look good w/out it either, but a sports bra will work, day bras work but they have to have adjustable straps

dont mind me. i worked in the bra/undergarment industry for years lol

I have no idea about the implants, my answer would be no bra needed but I am no expert and dont have'em