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.