Breast Cancer Prevention Tips

Christina Applegate's double mastectomy approach to breast cancer was in the news today. While it is one way, I don't believe it is the only good way -- with the breast cancer gene or without! Here is my alternative list of risk reducers in no particular order:

1. Get body fat percentage down into the mid-20% range or less. Fat cells contribute to estrogen production, which feeds many types of "estrogen-sensitive cancers."
   
2. Reserve mammograms for diagnosis purposes, not for screening. Mammograms involve use of x-rays (radiation). Radiation exposure in the body is cumulative. Why expose yourself to regular doses of a known cancer initiator? Instead use non-radiation, less invasive methods to screen. I utilize Computerized Regulation Thermography (CRT). There is also conventional medical thermography, MRI's, and Ultrasound.
3. Breast and lymphatic drainage massage: Hemp oil or phytolacca oil massages help to move toxins out of breast tissue where they can trigger DNA mutations if left to sit. Lymphatic drainage is a means of increasing circulation and activity of the immune system in eliminating potential cancer-stimulating chemicals.
4. Reduce estrogen levels through liver work, detoxification, and use of food and herbs that block estrogen activity.
5. Strive for 8 hours of sleep a night in a dark room. Pre-midnight sleep tends to be more effective in the restful, stress-reduction department and exposures to light at night have been implicated in increased risk for developing cancer.
6. Wear bras that fit properly. Too tight and circulation is restricted. Too loose and they don't lend enough support.
   
7. Exercise. It increases circulaton and reduces stress.
8. Control stress, which is not always a viable option, but reducing it where one can always helps.
9. Reduce or eliminate meat. Eating lower on the food chain results in less exposure to toxins, reduces saturated fats, and aids weight loss.
10. Avoid sugar. Sugars and refined carbohydrates knock the immune system out of commission for up to 6 hours. This can allow randomly generated cancer cells to multiply and get too large of foothold for immune system elimination.
11. Worry and fear are cancer's emotional friends. While it can be difficult to control these in the face of a discovered breast lump, the more a positive attitude is achieved, the stronger immunity will be.
12. There has been a lot of discussion about breast self-exams. I believe women need to know the fluctuations and changes in their breasts through the course of a month. I believe in knowing one's breasts well, one is better able to discern when there is a problem. Self-exams are cheap, private and worth doing in my opinion.
13. Use antioxidant supplements to help protect cells from free radicals and radiation and toxin exposures. The best source of antioxidants is through one's diet of 5-9 servings a day of fruits and vegetables made up of the widest variety of colors as you can find.