Beauty and the Beast -- Breast Cancer

We were invited to a blogger-only exclusive with Janet Gray, Ph.D., professor at Vassar College, and Breast Cancer Fund Executive Director Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., on the new evidence linking breast cancer and environmental exposures in their release of "State of the Evidence 2008."

If I were a betting person, I would wager that you have a friend or family member, like we do, that has fought a hard battle against this disease. Hopefully, the research conducted by Breast Cancer Fund will help us eliminate breast cancer in future generations.

First, some startling stats:

• Only 1 in 10 women who have breast cancer have a genetic history of the disease.
• Breast cancer strikes more women in the world than any other type of cancer except skin cancer.
• 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 increasing incidence of breast cancer over the decades following World War II paralleled the proliferation of synthetic chemicals.
• An estimated 80,000 synthetic chemicals are used today in the United States; another 1,000 or more are added each year. Complete toxicological screening data are available for just 7 percent of these chemicals. Many of these chemicals persist in the environment, accumulate in body fat, and may remain in breast tissue for decades. Many have never been tested for their effects on human health.

According to Dr. Gray and Ms. Rizzo, two themes emerged in examining the evidence related to environmental risks and breast cancer:

• Mixtures: In real life, we are not exposed to single chemicals but chemical cocktails. There is growing evidence that supports the need to further study the interaction between chemicals, radiation, and genes.
• Timing of exposure. Scientists now know that the timing, duration, and pattern of exposure are at least as important as the dose. Mammary cells are more susceptible to the carcinogenic effects of hormones, chemicals, and radiation during early stages of development, from the prenatal period through puberty and adolescence, and on until the first full-term pregnancy.

When asked what controls we have over our future risk of breast cancer, the following suggestions were offered:

• Exercise. A study found that walking for 7 hours a week or more at a brisk pace (3-3.9 miles per hour) can reduce your breast cancer risk.
• Eat smart. 70 percent of the immune system is in the digestive tract.
• Choose safe cosmetics. Visit Skin Deep, an online database of over 25,000 cosmetics and personal care products cross referenced against 50 toxicity databases. Look up the safety scores of products you use.
• Clean without bleach and chlorine. Paper products are often bleached to make them whiter, and scientific evidence indicates that exposure to the chlorine used in many bleaching processes increases your risk of breast cancer. Choose toilet paper, tissue and office paper labeled “Processed Chlorine Free” (PCF). Replace harmful household cleaners containing bleach with cheaper, non-toxic alternatives like baking soda, borax soap and vinegar.
• Fight household pests safely. Studies have found potential links between pesticides and breast cancer risk. Look for natural alternatives to chemical weed and bug killers and take preventative measures such as mulching for weeds and using traps, barriers, fabric row covers, or plant-based repellents to get rid of pests.
• Be careful with plastics. Avoid microwaving your food in plastic containers or in plastic wrap. Choose ceramic or glass containers instead. Swap plastic water bottles for stainless steel or aluminum options. Choose non-toxic baby toys and shower curtains instead of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), plastic or vinyl.
• Join the campaign and spread the word about breast cancer prevention.

Thanks to Dr. Gray and Ms. Rizzo for sharing this information with us. I know we were a little overwhelmed with the amount of information, as well as the preventive measures. It's a lot to digest, but we started by adopting one suggestion -- we eliminated using plastic in the microwave.

Have a happy and healthy Easter,

Beckie and Jamie