October 29, 2007

Sun Exposure Protects Against Advanced Breast Cancer

New research suggests that getting a lot of sun exposure may reduce the risk of advanced breast cancer in women with light skin. In fact, it may reduce the risk by as much as 47 percent.

Researchers say the protective factor most likely comes from the active form of vitamin D the body produces when exposed to sunlight. Fair-skinned women produce more vitamin D when exposed to sunlight than do their darker-skinned counterparts.

While experts warn against too much sun exposure, they also warn against the dangers of no sun exposure, especially in light of this study and other recent studies that indicate a direct correlation between vitamin D deficiency and cancer risk.

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October 16, 2007

10 Ways to Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk

Whether you have a family history of breast cancer or not, there are some things you can do that may reduce your chances of getting the disease. From lifestyle choices to eating certain foods, here are ten things that may make a difference.

Exercise regularly
Regular exercise may cut the risk of breast cancer by as much as 25 percent.

Maintain a healthy weight
Research suggests that women who maintain a BMI (body mass index) of less than 25 have a lower risk of breast cancer than women who are overweight.

Avoid red meat
A study of 90,000 women found that those who consumed a lot of red meat doubled their breast cancer risk compared to women who rarely ate red meat.

Limit alcohol consumption
Several studies have found a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. Some experts recommend women keep alcohol consumption to 7 drinks per week or fewer while others say women should avoid alcohol altogether.

Eat more garlic
Animal studies have shown that garlic may prevent breast cancer and slow its growth. Research has also shown that cooking garlic with red meat reduces carcinogenic chemicals in cooked meat.

Supplement with CoQ10
Several studies suggest that supplementation with CoQ10 may prevent breast cancer and slow its progress. CoQ10 is also an overall immune system booster and may prevent other types of cancer as well.

Consume plenty of cruciferous vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, and cabbage may reduce levels of two kinds of estrogen that may cause breast cancer.

Add turmeric to your diet
In animals studies, turmeric prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs and may prevent its occurrence as well.

Eat more eggs
In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.

Get plenty of vitamin D
Studies show that women who live in places with less sunlight have higher rates of breast cancer. Other research has found lower levels of vitamin D in women with breast cancer compared to women without the disease. Several studies point to vitamin D as an important factor in the prevention and survival rate of many types of cancer.

There's no guarantee that anything will prevent breast cancer but doing some or all of the above just might tilt the odds in your favor and they're all good things to do for your body whether you're concerned about breast cancer or not.

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September 27, 2007

All Types of Alcohol Raise Breast Cancer Risk

New research suggests that three drinks per day of any type of alcohol raises a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by 30 percent.

In the past, researchers weren't sure if certain types of alcohol were riskier than others, but they now believe it doesn't matter which kind is consumed. Wine, beer, and spirits all appear to contribute to the risk.

Dr. Yan Li, the lead researcher and an oncologist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California said, "if you drink three or more drinks a day [your breast cancer risk] -- rather than one in eight -- will be one in six."

The increase in risk was similar no matter which type of beverage was typically consumed. "It makes no difference whether women drink wine, beer or liquor in terms of their risk of breast cancer," Li said. "It's the alcohol itself. And it's the quantity consumed that increases breast cancer risk."

Though the new research found no protective properties from red wine, other studies suggest the resveratrol in red wine is protective against cancer. Some red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, contain more resveratrol than others and it isn't clear which kind of red wine women in the latest study drank.

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July 11, 2007

Typical Western Diet Increases Breast Cancer Risk

A new study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention has found that post-menopausal Chinese women who eat a Western diet loaded with meat, dairy products, and sugar have a 60 percent higher risk of breast cancer than women who eat a traditional Chinese diet heavy in vegetables and soy.

The Western diet raised the risk especially high for estrogen-receptor positive tumors, raising the risk of developing this kind of breast cancer by 90 percent.

The same increased risks were not found for pre-menopausal women eating a typical Western diet.

Marilyn Tseng of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia said: "Most studies have tended to look at single dietary factors. And what was unique about this study is that we tried to describe patterns of intake -- foods that go together, that seem to occur together in the diet."

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