Alcohol May Raise Risk of Breast Cancer

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/14/health/webmd/main4014147.shtml

While the exact cause of breast cancer is unknown there are many risk factors that contribute to the disease.  It's been suggested that drinking alcohol can raise a woman's risk of developing breast cancer and preliminary studies have shown that even a drink or two a day make increase the risk breast tumors fueled by estrogen and progesterone.  The variation between two genes involved in metabolizing alcohol have also been linked to raising breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women as compared to premenopausal.  So while we've been advised that alcohol can increase the risk of a number of diseases, we're also told that red wine can be good for the heart.  Heart disease is another leading cause of death among women, so what do we do?  Women can go through life with no history of breast cancer, eat healthy, and avoid alcohol and still develop cancer, while others don't.  So we take this information with a grain of salt.  If breast cancer runs in your family, then maybe limit alcohol consumption.  I think in generally limiting alcohol consumption can improve quality of life beyond reducing the risk of breast cancer and other diseases.  However, as a wine lover, I do recommend a glass of red wine per week!  It's good for the heart, right?!

Nutrition and Breast Cancer

Over the years, there have been a number of diets that claim to "cure" breast cancer.  These diets can be attractive as it gives us a sense of control in a disease we don't fully understand.  However, these diets and treatments described at the site below have not been proven effective and do not cure breast cancer.  Someone with little information about the causes of breast cancer might see these diet recommendations as facts and waste time and money on an unapproved method.  What we should keep in mind is that healthy diet may reduce the risk of breast cancer, mainly by maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding obesity.  There are many nutrients in various foods listed on this website that help keep your body in a healthy state and your immune system functioning properly.  While a healthy body and immune system won't prevent cancer, it can certainly reduce the risk and of course offers a number of other health benefits.  So eat your fruits and veggies and stay fit!

http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/nutrition/nutrition_bc/reduce_risk.jsp

One Step Closer to a Cure

In recent news, scientists have identified new gene variations that may boost the risk of sporadic breast cancer.  The genetic variations on the chromosomes contained single nucleotide polyphorisms, which are the most common type of genetic variations.  One of the SNP's is located in an area on the chromosome predominately associated with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, which as noted in a previous post is one of the most common molecular types of breast cancer.  The Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility team also confirmed that six other genomic regions are also associated with breast cancer.  

It is so important that research like this be continued in order to find a cure for breast cancer.  Non-profits like Susan G. Komen who award 25% of all funds earned to research are ensuring that research efforts continue.  Until we understand the cause of breast cancer we can only do so much.  If researchers can discover a possible genetic link, then people can be screened for the gene early on and hopefully the onset of disease can be prevented all together.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/03/30/scientists-identify-more-breast-cancer-genes.html

How to perform a breast self-exam

Early detection is key to surviving breast cancer.  Starting at age 20 women should get a clinical breast exam every year, and perform monthly breast self-exams.

Here is an educational video on how to perform a breast self-exam.

What are the breast cancer risk factors?

It's so important that women understand what the risk factors are for breast cancer and whether they are at an increased risk.  Once we understand the risk factors we know where to go from there.

The following website describes important risk factors and also offers a tool to calculate your individual risk.

www.nbocc.org.au/risk/