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.