An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

Breast cancer was not likely on the mind of the creator of this ancient proverb. However, as discoveries in oncology are made this truth seems to apply in multiplicity. As we head into the month of October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we would like not only to honor the lives of breast cancer patients and survivors, but the goal of preventing this disease. If a women has a genetic pre-disposition it makes adherence to prevention practices that much more important as we strive to keep these genes from expressing the tendency for the disease. In reality, only 1 in 10 women truly have a genetic marker for breast cancer. So why is the incidence so remarkably high? It certainly appears that environmental factors play an ever important role and even though it is argued that "the smoking gun" has not been found, many researchers have combed through the evidence to see the strong links. The European Union as a whole have made environmental and public health a priority by using the "precautionary principle" to guide regulation of chemicals and this approach may very well be saving lives. According to the State of the Evidence, a report that is compiled by prominent researchers and presented by The Breast Cancer Fund, the trend of breast cancer incidence follows anything but a natural progression. In the U.S., according to this report, "a women's lifetime risk of breast cancer increased steadily and dramatically over the decades of the 20th century. Between 1973 and 1998, breast cancer incidence rates in the United States increased by more than 40 percent. Today, a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer is one in eight."

The onus for the prevalence of breast cancer cannot be placed on any one factor. The key to supporting the concept of prevention is to assess the research as it is and as it comes forth to change the course of this disease. Let's look at a few key actions and behaviors that can make a difference for decreasing your risk.

1. Getting 5 hours of moderate cardiovascular exercise each week.

2. Eating nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day which is not as difficult as you think! Also, make blood sugar control a key part of your daily diet.

3. Reducing your exposure to toxins in the environment by improving water and air quality and using consumer goods such as beauty and cleaning products that are free of problematic chemicals. Eat a mostly organic diet.

4. Getting a consistent 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night and making time for stress relief on a daily basis.

We will be honoring the month with newsletters devoted to this key concept of prevention. Please stay tuned for more in depth information on how to create a healthy environment for you and an anti-environment for cancer. If you are not on our e-mail list and would like to receive our newsletter, please e-mail us at wellness@healthlinksclinic.com.