FitSugar

Speak Up: How Have You Been Affected by Breast Cancer?

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:31:00 -0700

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is coming to a close, but I know for many of you, you don't stop thinking about breast cancer when the month of October draws to an end. It's disheartening that breast cancer is so prevalent, and I'm sure every one of you knows someone who's been diagnosed, has recovered, or lost the battle against this horrible disease. Many of you have stories to share, and by letting others know it increases awareness about breast cancer and connects us in some way. For me, knowing that I'm not the only one with close friends affected by this disease makes it a little more bearable. So tell me, how have you been touched by breast cancer?

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Fact or Fiction: Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let's see what you know about this deadly disease. I've listed some statements about breast cancer. You decide which ones are fact and which ones are fiction.

Question 1 of 8

Men can get breast cancer.

Shower Clock Prevents Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0700

OK, well, maybe it doesn't scientifically prevent breast cancer cells from forming, but what it does do is remind you to do your monthly breast exams. We all know we should be doing them religiously so that we know instantly if something doesn't feel right, but it can be tough to remember every month. So the Cue Shower Clock ($25) does the remembering for you.

It suctions to the wall of your shower and all you do is set the clock to remind you seven days after your period, or if you don't have one you can choose the same day every month. I love that it can also remind you when it's time to go for your annual exam. The clock can work for up to four users, so if you live with other women or have daughters, you can encourage them to get in the habit, too.

Do you have a less techy way to remind yourself to do your self-breast exam. If so, share it below.

Does Eating Soy Cause Breast Cancer?

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I will admit that soy scares me a little. I know it's an inexpensive, cholesterol-free source of protein that can be enjoyed in so many ways from tofu, to soymilk, from edamame, to soy ice cream. I've also heard that eating too much soy has been linked to breast cancer. That's because soy contains phytoestrogens, a group of chemicals that mimic the hormone estrogen. Women need estrogen to regulate their menstrual cycles, have babies, and it's also involved with bone and heart health. Some experts are concerned that these phytoestrogens will stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive cancers since high exposures of estrogen over a woman's lifetime are linked with an increased risk for breast cancer. Others may argue that these plant-based estrogens may actually prevent breast cancer since they block the activity of the stronger human estrogen.

So what's a soy lover to do? To find out read more.

A recent Japanese study found that there could be a potential benefit to eating soybean products for breast cancer prevention. This was just a single study conducted with 4,000 women, but definitely a great start to help figure out the connection between soy and breast cancer. I'm not quite convinced yet though since there's no clear evidence that the phytoestrogens in soy products cause or prevent breast cancer. I'm going to stick with what the experts are suggesting, and just enjoy soy products in moderation.

TLC = Touch Look Check

FitSugar — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

The more I write about breast cancer, the more I realize the face of the disease is getting younger and younger. Women under 30 are regularly diagnosed with breast cancer – it is no longer a post menopausal disease. I just found the Canadian organization Rethink Breast Cancer. Their focus is not only fundraising for research, but creating awareness about the disease, and their target demographic is women under 40.

As a fundraising event RBC just hosted The Boobyball and on October 26 they are hosting the Rethink Romp in Calgary. If the events were as fun as their names, I am sure they raised a lot of dough.

Here is a PSA they have produced to remind you to check your girls. It will definitely give you a feel for the organization.

Remember: TLC = Touch. Look. Check. When was the last time you did a self-breast exam?

Christina Applegate Explains Her Double Mastectomy

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

At age 36, a double mastectomy may seem extreme treatment for breast cancer, but as Christina Applegate explained on the Oprah Winfrey Show, her genes were stacked against her.

Applegate's mother survived breast cancer after being diagnosed with the disease back in the '70s. Having a female relative with breast cancer greatly increases a woman's risk for developing the disease, which is why Christina has been getting mammograms since she was 30 years old. Upping her chances even more, Applegate tested positive for the BRCA gene, which is sometimes referred to as the "breast cancer gene." Testing positive for the BRCA genetic mutation not only greatly increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, it also increases the chances of the cancer recurring. After weighing her options, Applegate decided rather quickly to have a double mastectomy, saying that as a Sagittarius she just needed to know how she was going to tackle the problem.

To see how she explained her decision-making process to Oprah, just read more.

That [testing positive for the BRCA gene] sort of changed everything for me. Radiation was something temporary, and it wasn't addressing the issue of this [cancer] coming back or the chance of it coming back in my left breast. I sort of had to kind of weigh all my options at that point. It just seemed like, "I don't want to have to deal with this again. I don't want to keep putting that stuff in my body. I just want to be done with this." And I was just going to let them go.

Although she feels she made the right decision for her situation, considering her family history and genetic makeup, the surgery was still dramatic and painful - physically and emotionally. Another deciding factor was that after much research, Applegate found that they can make "some pretty boobies" these days. She has saline expanders in her chest to make space for future breast implants. Even thought she admits to crying daily, she is looking on the brighter side of things these days; Christina is happy that she will never have to wear a bra again. I for one am happy to see this funny gal with a smile on her face once again. And I am happy to know she beat breast cancer and to know that she is spreading the word on breast cancer detection and therapies.

If you were in her situation, what would you do? Tell me in the comments section below.

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What Do You Do For Your Own Breast Cancer Awareness?

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:30:00 -0700

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it's important to not only think of others diagnosed with the disease during this time, but also it's important to think of how to be proactive in your own health and breast cancer prevention. I'm curious what you do to keep on top of your own breast cancer awareness?

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The Skinny on: Breast Cancer Diets

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

In case you missed it, it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. October is dedicated to highlighting this disease, which will affect one out of eight women. They say you are what you eat, but the connection between diet and breast cancer prevention is confusing to say the least.

An article over at Nutrition Data helped me sort out the topic, although there really is no clear-cut answer. The two most researched dietary links to breast cancer are low fat diets and soy products. Although cultures with high fat diets have a higher incidence of breast cancer, there have been no clear-cut conclusions from clinical trials on this subject. There are two sides of the debate on soy products. Since soy contains phytoestrogens, which act as weak estrogens in the body, it is thought to either stimulate estrogen-related cancers, like breast cancer, or to help prevent them. Once again there is no conclusive evidence either way, and most experts feel that soy products are fine in moderation.

These ambiguous conclusions don't mean that you are completely powerless in trying to prevent breast cancer. To see what you can do, just read more.

Being overweight is considered a primary risk factor for developing the disease, so maintaining a healthy weight is considered a means of prevention. Diets high in fruits and veggies help prevent all types of cancer, and are also low in calories. Adding at least five servings of fruits and vegetables is a win-win situation.
Another well-documented means of preventing breast cancer is limiting the amount of alcohol you drink daily. Drinking more than one serving of alcohol a day, including red wine, increases your risk of developing breast cancer.
Exercise, although it is not food related, is an important part of the breast cancer prevention lifestyle. Exercising 30 minutes a day has been shown to be highly protective against the disease.

For me the hardest healthy habit to follow is limiting myself to one glass of wine, but lately I have been really good about doing this - especially since my neighbor's gynecologist emphasized this point at her last check-up, which jump started my will power when it comes to vino. What about you? Are any of these preventative measures hard for you? Please share them in the comments section below.

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Does Wearing a Bra Cause Breast Cancer?

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I know it seems crazy, but there's a rumor buzzing around that wearing a bra regularly can cause breast cancer, and that underwire bras are the worst culprits. Some folks worry that wearing a bra all day compresses the lymphatic system of the breast, resulting in accumulation of toxins that cause breast cancer. Just about every woman I know wears a bra, so are we all at risk? It doesn't make sense because men can get breast cancer too, and they don't wear bras. At least I don't think so.

Here are some comforting words straight from the American Cancer Society: "We do not know of any epidemiologic studies published in scientific journals that suggest bras directly contribute to breast cancer risk or that lymphatic compression by bras might cause breast cancer. "

So there you have it. Good thing too because the idea of going bra-less all the time doesn't sound too comfortable to me. Could you imagine running without a bra? I'm a huge fan of supporting whatever you got, and I'm psyched to pass on the info that wearing any kind of bra doesn't increase your risk of breast cancer.

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DrSugar Answers: Breast Cancer Screenings?

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0700

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Hello Doc,
My mother is 50 years old and has never had a mammogram. She has lived in Florida for about 26 years now and has not had health insurance since my father passed away seven years ago. However, due to the economy and her low income, she can not afford health insurance and her employer does not offer it to their employees either. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I was hoping to find an affordable way for her to get screened?
Best Regards,
- Worried Daughter in Miami

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought we would answer a breast cancer-related question. To see more on the serious and important topic of screening for breast cancer read more.

Approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes. The fact that breast cancer is so common makes screening very important. If caught early, breast cancer can often be surgically cured before it spreads. Mammograms are recommended yearly, starting at forty, to screen for breast cancer. Frequent self breast examinations can also be useful for finding suspicious lumps, but are not a substitute for yearly mammograms and clinical breast exams. Sometimes breast cancer screening is recommended at a younger age when there is a strong family history of breast cancer or a known family history of having the BRCA gene.

It’s unfortunate that your mother does not have health insurance. Mammograms can be very expensive without insurance. Luckily many communities have programs to offer mammograms to patients with little or no health insurance. The Centers for Disease Control website has a list of breast cancer screening resources by state. You can also go to the American Cancer Society website, enter your zip code, and find the ACS branch closest to her and see what breast cancer screenings they offer. Many of the programs offer free breast cancer screening for women without insurance. Good luck with your search and don’t give up.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.