LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

Breast Cancer

Changes in Breast Density Associated With Use of HRT – (01-15-01)

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Changes in Breast Density Associated With Use of HRT

It is well established that HRT will increase risk of breast cancer. It’s protection against heart disease is tenuous at best. It slows, not prevents, progression of osteoporosis. Now, changes in breast density will make a mammogram more difficult to interpret. Couple this difficulty with an increase in breast cancer rates, and it continues to stump me why Premarin continues to be the #1 prescription drug in America.

Changes in Breast Density Associated With Initiation, Discontinuation, and Continuing Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy

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Genistein Increased DMBA-Induced Mammary carcinoma in mice – (12-27-01)

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Genistein Increased DMBA-Induced Mammary carcinoma in mice

This article shows an increase in carcinogen induced breast tumors in mice. A few things to consider here. I have always said that there is a danger in taking components of natural compounds and taking them in high levels. Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom put compounds together in foods to work together. Unfortunately, many times certain “health companies” grab onto an idea and mutate it. Soy based diets have shown to protect against many chronic health conditions. Remember that soy based diets usually include high levels of whole grains as well as vegetables and spices. If we take one or two compounds in soy, isolate them and manufacture them in high levels of course we’re likely to see adverse effects.

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Mushroom Inhibit Aromatase, Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation – (12-10-01)

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Mushroom Inhibit Aromatase, Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation

Aromatase is the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen at the cell. This study demonstrates one particular mushroom’s ability to block this enzyme and potentially lover risk of breast cancer. This may also be effective with estrogen dominant PMS as well.

nutrition.org — Abstracts: Grube et al. 131 (12): 3288

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Pharmacological and endogenous progestins induce vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human breast cancer cells – (06-14-01)

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Pharmacological and endogenous progestins induce vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human breast cancer cells

I left the long title for a reason here. At first glance, this article appears to suggest that progesterone produced by the body may increase breast cancer risk. Reading into the article itself arises some very, very important issues. These are related to nomenclature. Progestins are synthetic hormones that have been altered in order to create a patent on the substance. They mimic progesterone but THEY ARE NOT PROGESTERONE. They have been mutated and the body knows the difference. This article does NOT use progesterone–the authors used progestins and then extrapolated the results over to natural progesterone–a very dangerous and unforgivable error. It would be interesting to see if natural progesterone actually did have the same effects. I believe it would not.

Article Abstract

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Regulation of cell cycle 16a-hydroxyestrone in breast cancer cells – (12-31-01)

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Regulation of cell cycle 16a-hydroxyestrone in breast cancer cells

The breakdown of estradiol (one of the three circulating estrogens in humans) can yield several pathways. The 2- pathway is generally considered beneficial and anti-carcinogenic, while the 16 pathway is considered damaging and carcinogenic. Promotion of the 2 pathway over the 16 is aided by the intake of substances found in cruciferous vegetables. There are now functional medicine labs checking 2/16 hydroxylation ratio to assess a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

J S LEWIS et al.: 16a-Hydroxyestrone and cell cycle regulation (Journal of Molecular Endocrinology)

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Bisphenol A Detected in Canned Food in UK – (05-31-01)

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Bisphenol A Detected in Canned Food in UK

This substance acts as a xenoestrogen…mimicking the effect of estrogen in the body. These class of substances have been linking to many diseases, including breast cancer, PMS and early onset of puberty. Nearly two-thirds of the canned food tested contained levels of this chemical. To me, this is quite scary. It may be that the levels in any one can is not significant, but when you add that to other sources in the environment (plastics, certain pesticides, HRT…) the cumulative effect may be great. Then, look at the fact that many women have deficiencies in the way their own body detoxifies estrogen (liver problems, B vitamin deficiency, yeast overgrowth, pathogenic flora in GI tract…) it becomes even more of a concern.

(article) The results of a new survey by the UK government’s food watchdog has shown that the seepage of the oestrogen-mimicking compound bisphenol A (BPA) into canned food is widespread. Nearly two thirds of tinned food assessed by the Food Standards Agency’s Committee on Toxicity including Heinz baled beans, Tesco tuna and Sainsbury’s fruit cocktail were found to contain BPA. Although the committee declared the level of contamination as “unlikely to be of concern to health,” environmentalists have called for an alternative to BPA to be developed as a matter of urgency. Animal research has shown that BPA enlarges the size of the prostate gland in mice, advances the onset of puberty in females and reduces fertility in rats. The findings have led to speculation that the build up of BPA in humans — the chemical is also found in white dental fillings — may be responsible for the rise in testicular cancer, prostate cancer and reduced sperm counts. Children and unborn babies are thought to be at greatest risk of the effects of BPA because of their smaller body size.

Breast cancer and breastfeeding – (07-25-02)

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Breast cancer and breastfeeding

While this is one of those articles that does not yield a very surprising result, I do need to comment on something interesting. I had heard on the radio in the background a story on breastfeeding lowering risk of breast cancer but did not pay much heed until I got home that evening and read this article in the Lancet. It’s funny how quickly some information now makes it into the news and yet how some other research (like recent articles on lack of efficacy for HRT and study cancelled due to increased risks) may take years or even decades. I can’t quite figure it out…some articles I read seem like incredible wonders to read and never make it to the mainstream medicine.

The Journal : Current Issue

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Breast Cancer Prevention Medical Style: As Sick as it Gets

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In no way did I intend on this coinciding with the Angelina Jolie thing, but it is certainly relevant.  Only a small percentage of risk of cancer comes from your genetics.  Even the greatest risk factor we know of for breast cancer, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, while 80% of these women will go on to develop breast cancer over a lifetime, this means that 20% will not.

Luckily for BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers, the 20% doesn’t happen merely by chance.  A few examples include:

The list list longer, but you get the idea.  And remember, this is for those women who carry the greatest genetic risks for development of breast cancer.  For everyone else, the picture is far, far brighter.  Some experts believe that genetics play a role in less than 10% of breast cancer cases (which does NOT even take into account the ways to lower the risk for those already at a genetically higher risk).  That leaves you with a much greater than 90% chance to avoid breast cancer over your lifetime.

The list of ways to lower your risk of breast cancer is very long (you can check for specific medical references by scrolling through the breast cancer section of the website by clicking here).  But here are a few potent factors:

  1. No smoking
  2. Exercise
  3. Plant based lifestyle including non-GMO soy and flax
  4. A diet high in omega 3 fats and low in omega 6 fats
  5. An anti-diabetic lifestyle (prediabetes is a massive risk factor for breast cancer)
  6. Stress reduction such as meditation, prayer, biofeedback
  7. Keeping calorie intake on the lower end (calorie restriction without nutrient restriction)

While there are many, many more, just sticking with these 6 will pretty much wipe out all but the highest risks of breast cancer.

However, if you’re not willing to do all this hard work, there is no need to worry because mainstream medicine is trying to ride in on its white horse to save the day.  And of course, this involves better living through chemistry.

In this particular article, researchers evaluate the outcomes of trying to use drugs, specifically the selective estrogen modulating drugs Tamoxifen and Raloxifene.  These drugs are already approved by the FDA to be used in high risk women to prevent breast cancer from occurring.  But just how well did this work out?

  1. Tamoxifen and raloxifene reduced invasive breast cancer by 7 to 9 cases in 1000 women over 5 years.
  2. Neither drug reduced breast cancer–specific or all-cause mortality rates (are you paying attention here?).
  3. Both drugs increased blood clot embolism by 4 cases in 1000 women.
  4. Tamoxifen increased the incidence of endometrial cancer and cataracts.

Wow!  Where do we sign up??  What woman wouldn’t want to drop her risk by 0.9% over 5 years and get the bonus of endometrial cancer or a pulmonary embolism?