We probably know someone who has battled with breast cancer. It could be our mom, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend – breast cancer is unfortunately an illness that is prevalent enough.
What some people aren’t aware of is that breast cancer has been on the rise since the 1960s. What used to be an illness that affected 1 in 20 women back in the 60s now affects 1 in 8 women.
If you think that youth precludes you from getting breast cancer, you also need to rethink that. While still less frequent than among older women, there are an increasing number of young women who suffer from breast cancer.
Perhaps it has to do with the tremendous work stress that many young women face daily, or the consequently unhealthy lifestyles they are forced to keep with their busy schedules – but whatever it is, young women need to be vigilant in checking themselves for this dreaded illness even in their youth and take care of themselves even as they work hard.
We have some helpful tips for you ladies to take better care of yourselves and your bosom buddies so that you can hopefully minimise cancer risks. Early prevention is really the best fight against an illness like cancer so do it now while you still have health and time on your side!
1. Exercise and Eat Well
The hormone estrogen has a lot to do with breast cancer. Chiefly, it stimulates cell overgrowth, which may lead to cancers forming. Exercising regularly not only keeps your weight in check (see point 2 below), it also alters estrogen metabolism. Not all estrogen was created equal: there are “normal” estrogen and “bad” estrogen – which is estrogen that can damage DNA and increase chances of cancer. Exercising helps reduce the production of “bad” and increase the amount of “normal” estrogen in the body, hence reducing cancer risk. Studies have actually found that exercising helps improve the ratio of “normal” estrogen to “bad” estrogen by 25%! The recommended amount of exercise to keep your hormone levels in good order is about 150 minutes of moderate exercise in a week, which is basically 30 minutes in 5 days. That’s pretty achievable we say! 🙂
“You are what you eat” is given increased importance in your mission to keep your body and breasts healthy and cancer-free! There has been plenty of research showing that eating clean, fresh and unprocessed foods have beneficial effects in preventing cancer. Research is even able to pin-point the particular compounds found in specific foods that do the most good to stave off cancer.
For a start: broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are well-known to stave off cancer. Garlic and onions contain a compound known as allyl sulfide, which seems to reduce the possibility of normal cells becoming cancerous. Apples, particularly their skins, do indeed keep the cancer doctors away – being rich in antioxidants and anti-cancer nutrients. Pomegranates are great in fighting estrogen-based cancers as they contain a compound that fights the growth of estrogen cancers.
2. Maintain movement of your lymphatic system
The lymphathic system is the network of glands and vessels that gets rid of waste products from the body. Lymph is a fluid that bathes the body’s cells and tissues, circulating through the body. Because the lymphatic system is in such close proximity to so many tissues in the body, it is often responsible for the carrying of cancer cells between the different parts of the body. The area around the breasts is particularly abundant in lymph nodes.
A gentle lymph massage around the breast area is a great way to keep cancer at bay and your breasts healthy. This enhances circulation of the lymphathic system and prevents stagnation of toxins or waste material in the lymph fluid. We recommend our very own Cheryl W Flush Lymphatic Drainage Programme is the perfect treatment to keep your assets healthy by ensuring your lymphathic system is well taken care of.
3. Practice regular self-exams
You are never too young to begin regular self-exams of your breasts! In fact, it is recommended that women over the age of 20 examine their breasts at least once a month. The best time to do the self-exam is 7-10 days after menstruation, when breasts are no longer tender.
There are many resources available that contain comprehensive checklists and illustrations on how to check your breasts and what you should look out for. The basic idea is that if there are any signs of cancer such as lumps, dimpling, discharge or other changes to the breast, a consientious self-exam would pick it up early and you can seek medical attention as soon as you detect any abnormality.
Breast cancer may be the most common cancer among women, but there is still plenty we can do to fight it! Help to spread awareness this month of October, as it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Share this article with your friends – after all, all us ladies could do with tips on how to take care of our breasts and keep them safe from cancer.