Happy Thanksgiving!

The breast cancer prevention tip for all for this and every Thanksgiving:  

 BE ACTIVE

• walk before the meal
• walk after the meal
• don't be sedentary

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general and not personal medical advice.

But, does it prevent breast cancer?

Routine mammography, beginning at 40 years does not prevent breast cancer, but does prevent breast cancer deaths!  Each time I read a review, I think the "controversy" is over.  The most recent independent expert panel review of screening mammogram studies shows a life savings of 20%, published in The Lancet.  This is a review of older studies. I have already blogged about other, newer, studies that have demonstrated life savings of up to 50% http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-last-word-about-mammograms.html.

Why do I feel the necessity to post this data again if you all already know it?  At a Breast Cancer Conference this morning, we discussed the bad press mammograms receive in the media, creating the "controversy" that doesn't really exist and that perhaps this bad press is keeping some women from getting a mammogram.  It was suggested that we as physicians need to be the ones to spread the word: 

mammograms save lives.

If you know someone who doesn't get hers, encourage her to get one.


Continue to:

• Be lean
• Exercise regularly 
• Be active

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancers each year!

This content is general and not personal medical advice.

Breast Cancer Prevention with Green Tea?

Well, probably not yet, but the research is intriguing.

A report from the recent AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Research (Oct 2012) presents a potential mechanism for breast cancer prevention  http://www.aacr.org/home/public--media/aacr-press-releases.aspx?d=2927.  This research suggests that the epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG for short, may inhibit two growth factors which in high quantities promote cancer cell growth and spread.  This is one of the polyphenols in high concentration in green tea.  Taking the compound is not the recommendation yet, but it is being studied further.

Green tea has been studied for years and reports, though inconclusive, have suggested benefits from cancer prevention, to lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and promoting weight loss among others.

Green tea is brewed from freshly harvested nonoxidized or non-fermented tea leaves.  The oxidation is usually stopped by dry heat or steam so the leaves retain the green color.  Green tea has high concentrations of a number of polyphenols, particularly the active EGCG.  For more information about tea you may read what the National Cancer Institute says at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/tea.

It may be that one day a recommendation to prevent some kinds of cancers may be to drink freshly brewed green tea, but there are many other compounds in tea which may limit its use, such as caffeine and aluminum, and green tea may limit iron bioavailability.  We will have to wait to find out which compound or combination of compounds is the important ingredient for cancer prevention.  For now:

• Be lean
• Regularly exercise
• Be active

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancers each year!

This content is general about ongoing research and not personal medical advice.

The IDEAL Breast Cancer Prevention Patient!

I am often asked, "what all can I do to reduce my risk for breast cancer?"

The answer for breast cancer prevention:

• Be lean (or lose weight to achieve a healthy BMI)
• Regularly exercise (AICR recs 5hrs each week)
• Be active (being sedentary is the enemy)
• Take high quality Omega3 fish oil (I get mine at www.oewmd.com)
• Take aspirin if you can
• Eat one cup of cruciferous vegetables each day
• Limit red meat consumption (<4x per week)
• Limit alcohol consumption (<1.5 drinks per day)
• Eat plenty of polyphenols (red apple & grape, strawberry, walnut)
• Take Evista or Tamoxifen if prescribed for you
• Keep reading the blog: as I find out more, I will post

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This is general content and not personal medical advice.

Yes! Early detection of breast cancer with ultrasound!

We interrupt the normal prevention posts for a comment about an article in the New York Times today concerning reactions to the new laws that allow you to know your breast density http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/health/laws-tell-mammogram-clinics-to-address-breast-density.html.

The piece notes "a divisive component to breast screening" rather than a life-saving potential.  It uses phrases like "irked medical groups" and "delighted patient advocates".

I think they just don't get it.  Early detection shouldn't be divisive or cause anyone to be irked or angry.  It is an opportunity to save a life!  We all should be delighted to find a smaller breast cancer rather than a larger one.  Even in the article they note two papers that show that whole breast ultrasounds in dense breast tissue find 3-5 breast cancers that mammograms miss.  Ultrasound doesn't replace mammograms, which are the best breast cancer screening tool we have, and do save lives, but adds the ability to find tumors that may be invisible to the mammogram.  They didn't mention that in those studies using ultrasounds as screening, with mammograms, that the cancers were small and most could be successfully treated.  I have no doubt that with long-term follow-up, we will find the ultrasound to be life-saving, just like we ultimately have found mammograms to be! 

And how the process works is not difficult: the mammogram facility tells you about your breast density and you find a place skilled in whole breast ultrasound and get one.  I spend much of may day doing them.  Most issues with dense breast tissue are solved with whole breast ultrasound, some may benefit from breast MRI or Molecular Breast Imaging.  The ultrasound is a good place to start for most women: no IV, no preparation, no compression, no loud noise.

Find out your density, seize the opportunity, get your whole breast ultrasound!


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general and not personal medical advice.

And Breast Cancer Prevention, too!

What's inflammation got to do with it?

We are learning that increased amounts of certain inflammatory factors made in the body lead to chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer, particularly breast cancer.  This is thought to be a problem of balance in pro- and anti-inflammatory factors.  The good news is the balance can be shifted away from the pro-inflammatory factors to the anti-inflammatory ones and so then reduce the inflammation and reduce the number of cancers.  Breast cancer prevention may be aided by decreasing inflammatory factors in the body!

To reduce these inflammatory factors and reduce breast cancer risk, we can:

• be lean
• lose weight if not at ideal body weight
• be active
• regularly exercise
• take Omega3
• take aspirin
• eat less sugar

We have discussed these prevention measures in previous blogs and we will learn more in future posts.

The early detection of breast cancer for most women includes the screening mammogram, the gold standard, because numerous studies have shown that regular mammograms do save lives.  If you have dense breast tissue on your mammogram, then you may benefit from another study and whole breast ultrasound is a good way for many to find out what is in that dense tissue.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general information and not personal medical advice.

How do we prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year?

You are reading the blog and you have seen the number.  We can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

I want you, your mother, your sister, your daughter and your best friend to be one of the 86,000 that don't get breast cancer this year!


How?

Be lean.  Be active.  Exercise.  Share.  Encourage.

We need to get every woman we know to do the first three steps, and we can, if we all share the benefits (do it yourself, share the benefits) and encourage (do it yourself, share the benefits and encourage those who need it).

Some find it motivating to know more about personal risk.  That is where the HALO and BREVAGen test fit in.  They allow you to know your risk and allow us to set out a breast health plan.  This personalized recommendation will certainly include the above three steps and may include other dietary changes, over-the-counter medicines or supplements, for some even prescription drugs; and a screening plan just for you!



Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general and not personal medical advice, but I would be happy to help anyone in need of the appropriate personalized recommendation.

More breast cancer prevention ideas!

We have blogged about the positive association between exercise and breast cancer prevention, but not being sedentary between exercise bouts is important, too.  For prevention, don't be sedentary.

I have some ideas for not being sedentary, at the office or home:

• park far away and walk
• walk up the stairs
• walk down the hall to say hi or deliver a message, not email or call
• get up 5 minutes of each hour
• or better yet: sit at your desk on an exercise ball-pink for October
• make the around the "water cooler" time into a "walk and talk" time
• have exercise equipment around: hand weights, bands, etc
• on those long calls, stand up, don't sit

And for early detection: find a clearer picture of your risk with the BREVAGen Risk Assessment Test, or if between 21 and 35 years ask for a HALO Breast Pap Test.  Then we can make your individualized breast health plan!

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general and not personal medical advice.

Be happy and have fewer breast cancers!

Today, we turn to the University of Warwick in the UK for a study done by economists and public health researchers.  Noting that there has not been much research into which foods have been associated with mental well-being, they embarked on a study of 80,000 randomly selected Brits for their study. 

They used seven measures of well-being, including such questions as, "are you feeling optimistic?" and "are you feeling useful?"  They controlled for age, gender, education, income, BMI and even other food consumption and alcohol use.

The data are clear in showing a positive association between fruit and vegetable consumption and a rise in well-being.  This increase in happiness and mental health was dose dependent to 7 fruits and vegetables per day!  Truly "cheery" eating "cherries"!

And more fruits and vegetables means fewer breast cancers, by a number of means, whether polyphenols or fiber, as seen in prior blog posts.  Happier in breast cancer prevention!


Again, it is worth noting the 98% five year survival of early breast cancer diagnosis.  I would encourage you not to miss out on your screening opportunities: SBE, CBE, mammograms, ultrasounds if dense tissue and other studies determined by your doctor.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general and not personal medical advice.

Breast Cancer Prevention and Exercise and Why!

There are volumes of evidence associating exercise with reduced risk for breast cancer, but why?  We also know that those who exercise after the diagnosis of breast cancer have fewer recurrences, but why?  Exact mechanisms have not yet been worked out, but there is new evidence.

Researchers in the US may have found a clue in the body's immune system that maybe part of the answer  http://www.sciencecodex.com/exercise_could_fortify_immune_system_against_future_cancers-99993.  Exercise fortifies part of the immune system; the T-cells, a special kind of lymphocyte that attacks cancer cells.

They drew blood from cancer survivors, after chemotherapy and then again after a 12 week exercise program of cardio, strength, endurance and balance training.  They compared active T-cells to inactive T-cells.  At the initial time, there were more inactive T-cells.  The 12 week exercise program restored the T-cells to the more active cancer fighting T-cells.  They suggest that part of the benefit of exercise (associated with fewer cancers and recurrences) is this restoring the favorable balance of the active T-cells.


Exercise for prevention!


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general and not personal medical advice.

To see me discuss the BREVAGen test on the Balancing Act, tune in to the show on Lifetime TV this Monday morning and again Monday morning October 22.



  

Breast Cancer Prevention and Early Detection!

Many of us have been blogging and talking about the benefits of exercise and specifically fewer breast cancers in those that exercise, but the breast cancer prevention information has made it to major news http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=116923&page=1#.UHRHV0LDPww.  Dr. Anne McTiernan from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center recommends regular aerobic exercise of at least 30 minutes a day.  She notes that studies show that regular exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer by 30-40%.

The next best thing to prevention is early detection.  First, learn your personal risk with the HALO (http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/04/individualized-risk-assessment-with-naf.html) test if younger than 35 years or, if you have had your 35th birthday, then the BREVAGen Risk Assessment Test (http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/04/more-personalized-breast-cancer.html).  These tests allow us to make your individualized breast health plan with both prevention and screening recommendations.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This is general information and not personal medical advice.

A new way to be motivated for breast cancer prevention!

Few would argue with the statement that increasing fruits and vegetables and increasing activity are a good idea, but many would argue that adopting those new habits are difficult.  We have seen that the two activities help you reduce your chance of getting breast cancer.

A new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine may be helpful for those looking for motivation http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1170044.  These researchers found 204 adults between 21 and 60 years who admitted to an unhealthy lifestyle (too much fat and too little fruit and veggie intake, sedentary leisure time over 200 minute a day and little or no exercise).

They then formed 4 intervention groups:

1. increasing fruits and veggies with increasing physical activity
2. increasing fruits and veggies with decreasing sedentary time
3. decreasing fat intake with increasing physical activity 
4. decreasing fat intake with decreasing sedentary time

And guess which group was most successful at adopting and maintaining the new healthy habits?  The group that was the most successful was the one that set out to:

• increase fruits and veggies intake and decrease sedentary time

Apparently it is all in how you think of it.  If you have trouble getting started with that exercise program, evaluate your leisure sedentary time and just decide not to sit so much.  Adding more fruits and vegetables was apparently more empowering in the study since 89% said doing that made them feel like they could maintain the changes in lifestyle.

For early detection today, a reminder.  I blogged last week about how SBE, CBE and mammography followed by other studies for some, could lead to early detection.  It is important to remember that they are not mutually exclusive, but everyone of these is part of the full screening exam.  If your mammogram is benign, that is great, but only part of the answer for early detection.  We still recommend Clinical Breast Examination (CBE by your doctor) and if your mammogram shows dense breast tissue, you may also benefit from a whole breast sonogram.

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general and not personal medical advice.

Just breast cancer prevention today!

What a perfect weekend to get out and walk or bike or run or just not be hot, now that a cool front has cooled off most of Texas!  55º in Dallas and 66º in Austin.


Be lean, be active, exercise.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year.


This content is general information and not personal medical advice.

Breast cancer prevention and early detection with ACTIVITY.

Those of you that know me have heard it: being sedentary increases your risk for breast cancer (and many other chronic diseases).  You have also heard how regular exercise helps reduce your risk for breast cancer.  In addition to regular exercise you need to be active!  Think, less sitting.  Maybe that means less time in front of the TV or computer or sitting on an exercise ball when at the computer.  That is what I do when I type my blog!  Being active (and exercising) reduces the  inflammatory factors that build up when sedentary.  These factors have been associated with more breast cancers.

Be proactive for early detection.  Visit your doctor, get your breast health plan and, if high risk, actively follow the plan.  Whether additional ultrasounds or MRI's with mammograms and clinical breast examinations, be proactive for early detection.  Park farther away to get a walk to the visit or take the stairs to the appointments.

And tell your friends!


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancers each year!


This content is general information and not personal medical advice.

Breast cancer prevention and early detection every day!

Broccoli: it seems like we just can't say enough good about it.  In the long line of mechanisms by which broccoli can prevent cancer, we can add the sulforaphane in broccoli and other cruciform vegetables.  This compound helps promote cancer suppressor gene function by inhibiting an enzyme that interferes with normal tumor suppression and by promoting normal function of the tumor suppressor gene itself.  More at http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2012/feb/another-mechanism-discovered-which-sulforaphane-prevents-cancer.

So, maybe some broccoli, kale or cauliflower tonight for cancer prevention.

For early diagnosis, we need to remember breast density.  Laws in many states, including Texas, require the mammogram facility to notify you of your breast density.  This is for two reasons: mammograms don't identify cancers as well in dense tissue and those women with dense tissue are at increased risk.  You then may need additional studies to find that cancer at an early stage.  The most used additional studies today are breast MRI and whole breast ultrasound.  We reviewed this earlier http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/08/breast-sonograms-are-answer-for-dense.html.  If you have dense breast tissue you need to ask your doctor if you would benefit from a whole breast ultrasound.  We do them every day.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year.


This content is general information and not personal medical advice, but if you are told you have dense breast tissue and need help, call us.

Breast cancer prevention tip 3 and early detection tip 3!

We will celebrate the third day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month with two more tips.

For prevention, I offer fiber.  Dietary fiber is the stuff of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  Consumption of more of those, and thus more fiber is associated with fewer breast cancers.  The most recent study in the Am J Clin Nutr http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/3/900.abstract powered by over 700,000 participants showed a significant inverse relationship between dietary fiber intake and breast cancer.  Those who ate the most fiber had 10% fewer breast cancers.  Increasing fiber intake by 10grams per day reduced breast cancers by 7%.

Have a banana while you read the early detection tip of the day.

Screening mammograms save lives by finding breast cancers earlier and smaller than SBE and CBE in many cases.  Type "mammograms" in the search box to the right to find the many entries in this blog.  Earlier, smaller, more likely to be teated by breast conservation, more likely not to need chemotherapy.  

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general and not personal medical advice, but ask your doctor if it is time to get a mammogram.

Celebrate October 2 with prevention and early detection tips!

I offer two more items today: one prevention tip and one early detection tip.

Omega3 (fish oil) has been associated with 32% fewer breast cancers in users versus those who don't take the supplement.  See http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2011/06/fish-oil-omega3-reduces-breast-cancer.html.  Consult your physician to see if this supplement might be right for you.  The highest quality Omega3 and the one my family and I take can be found at www.oewmd.com.


Early detection of breast cancer is aided by your doctor.  We hear so much about mammogram screening and now ultrasounds and MRI's (and we will blog more this month about all of these), but 50% of breast cancers are palpable, even today with all the increased use of breast imaging.  That means that Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), by your doctor, is still an important part of finding breast cancers early.  For some the recommendation is once yearly, for others, more often.  Find out which is appropriate for you and certainly go to the doctor with any lump you find (see yesterday's post).


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year.


This content is general and not personal medical advice.

   

One prevention tip and one early detection tip.

Welcome to October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

I know the month will be celebrated with races, donations and all things "pink", but I will offer in the blog one prevention tip and one early detection tip each day.

An apple a day may indeed keep the doctor away.  The polyphenols in apples have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Although we now have many kinds of screening examinations that find very small breast cancers, self breast examination (SBE) is still important and women sometimes find the breast cancer first.  See your doctor if you find:

• any lump that persists through a menstrual cycle
• any thickening in the breast
• any skin change or dimpling (may see only in mirror with arms up)
• any change is the nipple, such as discharge or inversion
• any thing that doesn't "feel right" to you

Any of the these findings may be an early sign of breast cancer.

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year.

This content is general and not personal medical advice.  If you find any of the changes at SBE, call your doctor.

One important statistic!

According to the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data published online at http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html#survival:

5 year survival for early breast cancer (confined to the breast) is 98%

Early diagnosis of breast cancer may be facilitated by:

• monthly self breast exam (SBE)
• clinical breast examination (CBE) for some, yearly; for others, 2x yearly
• mammography, yearly, for most after age 40
• sonography for dense breast tissue or question of mass
• breast MRI for very high risk
• Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), new technology.

Ask what may be right for you!  Then, when you are certain you don't have breast cancer, ask what you can do to prevent it.  There are "actionable" steps for breast cancer prevention.

Prevention is the only thing better than early detection!

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general information and not personal medical advice.  Ask your doctor which of the above may be right for you.

Going to the doctor can be good for your health!

I hope that seems obvious to most, but sometimes I hear "I don't really want to go to the doctor, I think I'm fine".

A recent study may give some specific numbers for primary care visits and breast cancer outcomes.  (Good to be reassured every now and then!)

Researchers, lead by Dr Richard Roetzheim, published a study in the most recent Annals of Family Medicine http://annfammed.org/content/10/5/401.full correlating more doctor visits with with improved breast cancer outcomes.  

A woman who saw her primary care physician 10 or more times in the 24 months just prior to the diagnosis of breast cancer diagnosis was less likely to have a late stage diagnosis (by 50%) and less likely to die from breast cancer (by 40%).  

Certainly, this has to do with earlier diagnosis and following mammogram guidelines.  They also found the same association with non-primary care office visits.  And we have seen in previous blogs that mammography is not the only way to get an early diagnosis.  And prevention is even better.

Imagine what a breast specialist could do for you by individualizing your surveillance (maybe more often or different imaging) to your risk or offering lifestyle changes to lower risk or even treatments with prescription drugs.

In response to that statement at the top, "I think you are fine and I want to keep you that way!"


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year.


This content is general and not personal medical advice.

Celebrate another day without breast cancer!

Let's begin the week by celebrating another day without breast cancer.  

We all know what to do to reduce breast cancer risk: 

• BE LEAN
• BE ACTIVE
• REGULARLY EXERCISE

But one of the most recent comments was that we need to spread the word.  I know many of you have passed along the blog and I see many of you in the gym, but who we need to encourage are those not at the gym or not out biking or not walking.  We need to activate our sedentary friends!

Maybe a simple, "have you exercised yet today?" or "I missed you in the gym this morning" might be the tipping point that would get them moving.  I know that I feel better because I went on a run this morning!

That one person of those 86,000 preventable breast cancers could be your mother or daughter or sister or best friend!

Together we can prevent  86,000 breast cancers each year!


This content is general information and not personal medical advice, but feel free to share with anyone, so more can celebrate another day without breast cancer.

But, you ask, "WHY DO I WANT TO KNOW MY RISK?

That has been one of the comments I've seen and heard in response to recent blogs about breast cancer risk assessment tools (HALO, BREVAGen and BRACAnalysis).

BECAUSE we can do something about it!  

Each of us doesn't want to get cancer and some don't want to know anything about risk.  But, if you are one of those that wants to better understand your risk of getting breast cancer, then we can help.  Using the results of these tests we can design a breast health plan for you.

We have reviewed, in recent and past blogs, which test might benefit which person.  A way to make sense of all the tests:

• HALO for anyone 21 years to menopause
• BRACAnalysis for anyone with a strong, young, or male family history
• BREVAGen for anyone else 35 years who wants to know her risk

The HALO may find changes in the breast ductal cells that are thought to be precursors of cancer, long before cancer occurs (8 years in some studies) http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-good-news-about-halo-test.html.  

The BRCAnalysis detects mutations in genes that cause hereditary breast cancer.  See yesterday's post.

The BREVAGen helps uncover unsuspected risk for estrogen dependent cancers, which are the most common kind http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/07/even-better-news-about-brevagen-test.html.

We will review the breast health plan options dictated by the results of the tests in future blogs, from lifestyle changes to prescription drugs, from increased surveillance to surgery. 

For now, BE LEAN, BE ACTIVE and REGULARLY EXERCISE.

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general information and not personal medical advice.

Are you at risk for hereditary breast cancer?

We have blogged more often about sporadic and familial breast cancer because these are the most common types.  About 80% of all breast cancers are the so-called sporadic type which some say occurs by chance, but that means we don't yet understand the mechanism of occurrence.  Another 15%, called familial, probably have both genetic (someone in the family has had breast cancer) and environmental mechanisms.  The BREVAGen and HALO may be the tests for these women.

Another 5% have the hereditary type.  In these people (yes both men and women) there is an abnormal gene passed down from one or both of the parents.  It is important to find these individuals and we have a test for this gene abnormality called BRCA 1 & 2.  You may read more at https://www.mysupport360.com/mission/hereditary-cancer.php.

You may be at risk for hereditary breast cancer if:

• you have breast cancer before age 50
• you have a family member diagnosed before age 50
• you or a family member with ovarian cancer (at any age)
• male family member with breast cancer (at any age)
• you or a family member with triple negative breast cancer
• pancreatic and breast or ovarian cancer in the same family member
• Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry and personal or family history of breast cancer
• two breast cancers in the same person (one occurring <50yr)
• two family members (on the same side) with breast cancer and one <50yr
• three family members with breast cancer (on the same side and any age)
• family member with a previously identified BRCA 1 or 2 mutation

Wow, long list and complicated, but important, so we may find out who would benefit from the BRCA 1/2 test.

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general information and not personal medical advice.  If you have any of these points mentioned then ask your doctor about the test.  If you don't have a doctor, please call 512-451-5788 or email me www.owenwinsettmd.com or find a doctor at http://www.bracnow.com/find-provider/index.php.

One more reason to consult your breast doctor.

You probably saw the recent article in the news that "mammograms may increase the risk for breast cancer in some women", for example http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/mammograms-boost-breast-cancer-risk-women/story?id=17181774#.UFnZxELDPww.   Many women have asked me about it.

This "news item" paraphrases a very interesting study reported in the British Medical Journal (open access) http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e5660?g=widget_default#ref-1.

The study included 1993 women >18 years with either BRCA 1 or 2 mutations from France, UK and the Netherlands.  They found that radiation, even from a mammogram, increased the risk of breast cancer by 43%, if performed before the age of 30.  Importantly, there was no increased risk associated with mammograms after the age of 30 years.  

We have known for some time that radiation, in women, at a young age increases breast cancer risk http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15642178?dopt=Abstract&access_num=15642178&link_type=MED, but this new study suggests at a lower dose than previously thought.  It is important to note that these were women with a genetic mutation who may be more sensitive to radiation effects.    For whatever reason, mammograms before the age of 30 may not be the best option for BRCA 1 and 2 mutation carriers.

Fortunately we now have other options to offer these women and can give each an individualized breast health plan for screening and risk reduction!  We can determine whether whole breast ultrasound, MRI or other screening is best, tailoring our recommendation to each patient. 


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general information and not personal medical advice, but if you know someone who is struggling with this issue, please have them call 512-451-5788.

Celebrate another day without breast cancer!

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you for following!

This blog is all about how to prevent breast cancer, from lifestyle changes to medical treatments, from routine screening to supplemental screening for those at higher risk.  You may also find out about the latest risk assessment tests here.

Feel free to browse through the blogs or look-up specific key words in the search block at the right.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

The last word about mammograms!

We can thank our friends "down-under" for this excellent study.  A recent study from the University of Melbourne shows that getting a regular screening mammogram saves lives! The risk of dying of breast cancer was half in the screening group!  You may read more at  http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/n-900.

This most recent study to show the benefits of regular mammograms is a case-control study reporting the follow-up of 4000 women, ages 50-69 years, comparing those women who got screening mammograms to those who did not.  The conclusion was an average 49% reduction in breast cancer mortality for those women participating in regular screening.  

In the simplest terms: those women who got regular screening mammogram cut the risk of dying of breast cancer in half!

This statistic caused the author, Dr Carolyn Nickson to say, "I believe it is time to move from the debate about whether screening [mammograms] reduce mortality" (because they do) ...to ...improving screening participation.

Make certain your friends get regular mammograms!  


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general information and not personal medical advice.

Celebrate another day without breast cancer!

Let's look at breast cancer from a different direction.


When you get up every hour and walk around your desk:

• the activity is reducing your risk for breast cancer

When you go for a walk or go to the gym:

• the exercise is reducing your risk for breast cancer

When you eat only half a piece of cake for dessert (or none!):

• restricting calories reduces your risk for breast cancer

When you put down the coke and have water:

• yes, you are reducing your risk of breast cancer

When you choose Brussels sprouts or broccoli:

• you are reducing your risk for breast cancer

When you put down that second big glass of wine:

• you are reducing your risk for breast cancer

When you read this blog and do these things:

• you are reducing your risk for breast cancer

And when you do these things, you should:

• celebrate another day without breast cancer!

When you share this blog with others:

• we can prevent more breast cancers

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is information and not personal medical information, but if you would like an individual prescription for breast cancer prevention, please call www.owenwinsettmd.com.

But, does it prevent breast cancer?

We have seen in previous blogs that those women who use estrogen and progesterone longer that 5 years have more breast cancers that those women who don't use hormone replacement http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/07/some-experts-agree-about-hormone.html.

During "Menopause Awareness Month" I thought we should consider other options for those women having hot flashes.  I considered what we know about  the physiology of the "hot flash" in a prior blog http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/05/so-you-dont-want-hot-flash.html and gave what many consider the safest treatment: be lean, be active and regularly exercise (which also leads to fewer breast cancers!).

For some that isn't enough to make the hot flashes go away and the North American Menopause Society put out a short summary of natural remedies worth reviewing  http://www.menopause.org/for-women/articles-about-menopause/natural-remedies-for-hot-flashes.

Note that all of the remedies mentioned have side-effects and clearly any one that you decide to take should be discussed with your doctor.


May you be lean, be active, regularly exercise and have fewer hot flashes.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is information and not personal medical advice, so before you begin any remedy listed by the NAMS, consult your physician!

Once in a blue moon!

It's time for all of you to do those things you said you would do "once in a blue moon"!

Tomorrow is the only blue moon this year and what a great time to begin those healthy lifestyle changes you may already know. 

This month, a follow-up report from the WOMAN (Women on the Move through Activity and Nutrition) study, was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Dr. B B Gibbs and her colleagues followed 481 overweight and obese postmenopausal women divided into groups and reported in the 48 month.  They found that the lifestyle-change group, coached in healthier eating behavior, lost weight.  They found four eating habits that were associated long-term with weight loss:

• increasing fruits and vegetables
• decreasing desserts
• decreasing sugar-sweetened beverages
• decreasing meats and cheeses

A summary can be found at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_128703.html.

Those who changed their eating patterns as listed above noted a sustainable weight loss.

For more about the "blue moon" check out EarthSky http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/when-is-the-next-blue-moon.

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancers each year!

This content is general information and not personal medical advice, but you may see the blue moon early tomorrow morning on the way to the gym!  I will!

Time for school and time for Mom!

With the start of school comes a perfect time for Mom to take care of herself!

Come in to your local Breast Doctor to make certain that you don't have breast cancer, then get the prescription for breast cancer prevention.

For most women, screening for breast cancer includes self breast examination and clinical breast examination.  For those women without increased risk, most physicians (including this Breast Doctor) recommend screening mammograms, beginning at age 40. 

For those younger women, screening mammograms may be beneficial at a younger age: if a family history of breast cancer at a young age, a positive HALO test or a high BREVAGen test result.

Breast sonogram or ultrasound may be recommended for those with dense breast tissue, a positive HALO test, a high BREVAGen test result or a mass found by examination or mammography.


Once you are certain that you don't have breast cancer then we can write the prescription for breast cancer prevention individualized for you.



Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases this year!


This content is general information and not personal medical advice.

11,000 more lives saved!

The most recent update from the American Institute of Cancer Research estimates that 86,000 breast cancer cases could be prevented each year!

The new estimates for other cancers can be found at http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=21865&news_iv_ctrl=2302.

They arrive at these numbers from the Continuous Update Project.  For more information on their methods http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/cup/report_overview/index.php.

Just imagine being one of those 86,000 this year!  Diet, activity and weight control are all part of the equation.  If you would like your personal prescription to prevent breast cancer, I will write yours.  Call for an appointment at 512-451-5788.  For more information check-out this blog or www.owenwinsettmd.com.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!


Be lean, be active, exercise!

But, does it prevent breast cancer?

We are considering everyday things we do that reduce your risk for breast cancer.  Yesterday we reviewed those cruciform vegetables.  Today let's look at some other things.

Does _____ reduce your risk for breast cancer?

1. eating radishes                              Yes (see yesterday)
2. eating celery                                 Yes (apogenin)
3. drinking a coke, real or diet             NO!
4. walking the dog                             Yes (activity)
5. watching TV                                  No, unless on a treadmill!
6. adding sugar to your tea                 No
7. working out in the gym                   Yes
8. Greek yogurt for breakfast              Yes, protein fills you up
9. losing a pound                               Yes 
10. gaining a pound                             No
11. taking Evista                                  Yes
12. 1200mg daily dietary calcium            No, but helps  your bones
13. Omega3 fish oil                              Yes
14. 2 glasses of wine each day               No
15. reading this blog                             Only if it activates you!   

These topics have been covered in prior blogs.  To find celery, type celery in the search block at the right and the June 4, 2012 blog appears for your review.

May you BE LEAN, BE ACTIVE and EXERCISE!

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

(Tomorrow why the number went up: 11000 more women saved!)   

This content is information and not personal medical advise, but if you need a prescription to prevent breast cancer, call 512-452-5788 or www.owenwinsettmd.com.

                          

Does it prevent breast cancer?

Evidence for reducing breast cancer risk is accumulating for many things we can do every day from eating the right foods, to activity, to exercise, to prescription drugs.  We will begin today with some foods.

A cup a day of each of these has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk:

• arugula
• bok choy (Chinese cabbage)
• broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• collard greens
• horseradish
• kale
• parsnips
• radishes
• rutabaga
• turnips
• watercress
• wasabi

Always better for you fresh and not overcooked.  For more information about these cruciform vegetables and some recipes http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/super-veggies-cruciferous-vegetables.

Together we can prevent 75,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general information and not personal medical advice, but you can call us at 512-451-5788 and come in to get your individual breast cancer prevention prescription.

When it comes to yogurt, go for the GOLD...or at least the Greek!

Why go for Greek yogurt?  

Yogurt, that fermented milk product of the "probiotic" starter bacteria Lactobacillus delbrueckii (subspecies bulgaricus) and Streptococcus thermophilus, is usually considered among the healthy foods.  So what's the difference between regular and Greek yogurt?  Straining.  That's all!  The whey, water, some sugar, some sodium and some calcium are strained away to leave a thicker product.

But is it better for you?  When comparing Greek yogurt to regular yogurt in 6oz portions, Greek yogurt generally has:

• more protein, typically 15-20gms or twice as much
• less carbohydrate, without fruit added 5-8gms or half as much
• less sodium
• more potassium
• more B vitamins
• slightly less Calcium, usually about 250mgs (20% of daily rec)
• fat: more unless you get nonfat or low fat (read the label)

So, what did I eat this am after the gym and a run?  Non-fat Greek yogurt with strawberries.

The benefits in various studies of daily Greek yogurt:

• weight loss (fewer breast cancers)
• lower blood pressure
• improved lactose digestion in those lactose intolerant
• improve gut transit time
• stimulate gut immune system

Together we can prevent 75,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general information and not personal medical advice.

More activity about inactivity!

To hear from an expert about the idea of treating "lack of exercise" as a medical condition review Dr Joyner's comments at  http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2012-rst/7031.html.

Don't let the sedentary lifestyle get you down!

May you be lean, be active and exercise!


Together we can prevent 75,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general medical information and not personal medical advice.

Should we doctors treat inactivity?

Now, there's an idea!  

And here's the science.  A recent study published in The Lancet (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61031-9/fulltext) suggests that inactivity is as big a hazard to your health as smoking.  The authors estimate that 5 million deaths world-wide each year are caused by inactivity, the same number caused by smoking!

Imagine, 5 million people being active, feeling better and being alive longer!  Imagine that doctors actually treated inactivity by prescribing graded exercise training.  We have seen in other blogs benefits of physical activity from reduction in morbidity and mortality to specifically, reducing breast cancer incidence.  There is evidence that physical activity reduces the rates of:

• all-cause mortality
• breast cancer 
• colon cancer
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• stroke
• metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
• depression 
• falls

So, what about prescribing exercise?

That's the proposal of Dr. Michael Joyner in his commentary in The Journal of Physiology (http://jp.physoc.org/content/590/15/3413.full?sid=c90bb139-314f-4336-bb47-192fd51987ed).  He notes that the well-established morbidity and mortality of physical inactivity and lack of exercise, what he calls deconditioning, can be prevented.  He suggests that if we made deconditioning a diagnosis, we might all be more likely to take the prescription of EXERCISE!  Who doesn't at least consider diet, exercise, niacin or statin drug if she is told her cholesterol is high?   


Together we can prevent 75,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general medical information and not personal medical advice.  You already know that I prescribe exercise, so if you know someone who needs the exercise prescription, have them call. 

Is a sugar calorie just a calorie?

Sugar is necessary for energy, but can be found in many forms.  Some are better for us than others as we shall see.  I will make the argument in the blog over the next month that added sugars, those not naturally occurring in fruits or milk, are not part of the optimum diet and may be harmful.

I will give reasons and links to expert information to make my point, remembering that weight gain leads to excess breast cancer risk and added sugar is an all to easy way to get those excess calories leading to weight gain.  

Sugar is a member of the macronutrient group of foods that provides energy, called carbohydrates.  We will explore the differences between the simple and complex carbohydrates: and why quantity and type matter.

Today, I will begin with some basics and remind you as we go through this discussion to feel free to comment.  I would also encourage you to read the food label on what you eat for carbohydrates and sugars.  A good explanation of labeling is found at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nutrition-facts/NU00293/.  You may find far more added sugar than you expect.


I offer two sites to begin our journey: the US Department of Agriculture site http://www.choosemyplate.gov/weight-management-calories/calories/added-sugars.html to define added sugar and one noted researcher's view http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2009/06/8187/obesity-and-metabolic-syndrome-driven-fructose-sugar-diet with one well written NY Times article http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?pagewanted=all.

It is my contention for the healthy diet, we do not need added sugar.  


Together we can prevent 75,000 breast cancer cases each year!


This content is general medical information and not personal medical advice.