Breast cancer remains key one in eight

As we close out the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I want to bring home the stark reality of this sobering statistic. As a twenty-year breast cancer survivor, it amazes me that the proportion of people who get breast cancer is still one in eight. This is exactly where I was when I was diagnosed in August 1994. I find it amazing from two different aspects. They are simply: “why isn’t the ratio higher?” and “why is it still so high?” It’s not a deep premise to write… but I think you’ll understand and appreciate the premise as you read on.

First, let’s address my “why isn’t the ratio higher” question. For many years, the proportion of women who got breast cancer compared to women who did not get it increased more and more. Occurrences skyrocketed from the time I was born to the time I was diagnosed in 1994. There are many proven reasons for that to be the case. Some of these reasons are:

• Around the world we began to eat more hormone-laden and/or processed foods in the mid-20th century.
• During that same period, more women received hormone replacement therapy than ever before.
• We were exposed to more environmental toxins than ever before in the first 40 years of my life.
• The population as a whole was being subjected to more cosmetics and/or personal care products that contained ingredients with an estrogenic effect.

Each of these reasons meant that people in industrialized nations were increasing their levels of “bad” estrogen, making them more likely to receive a breast cancer diagnosis. It’s easy to understand why we saw the onset of breast cancer continue to affect more and more women and men during that time.

It would seem that since none of the reasons mentioned above have disappeared, the ratio would be much higher than twenty years ago. (Please don’t think for a moment that I’d like that to be the case. I’m so thankful it’s not one in seven or one in six now.) Yes, there have been a fair amount of natural/organic foods appearing on supermarket shelves. There have also been changes within the medical community regarding whether certain women should receive hormone replacement therapy, but most women still choose to go that route if their doctor suggests it. Now you can buy non-toxic cleaning products or make your own with things like vinegar and baking soda. And there are more cosmetic and skin care companies developing and manufacturing organic and/or “chemically safe” products. they see no reason to make better decisions.

So why hasn’t the ratio increased? From my perspective it is the opposite of my last comment. Many HAVE informed and educated THEMSELVES AND have chosen to change their lifestyles in ways that make them feel healthier and healthier.

“Why is the ratio still so high?” it is the other side of the same coin. At the risk of sounding redundant, lack of information and education is one of the reasons… but it can’t be the only reason. And have you noticed that a disease that used to affect “older women” is now affecting more and more young women? When I was diagnosed 20 years ago at 40 (having discovered my first lump at 38) I was considered “young” for contracting this disease. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Many more women are being diagnosed with this disease in their thirties now. It is these types of statistics that make me look for reasons and answers.

We as Western women are exposed to a horde of hormones from a young age. It is almost impossible to find a premenopausal woman living in the Western Hemisphere who is not saturated with estrogen, unless she has taken very specific steps to reduce her exposure to estrogen-laden foods and products.

I mentioned personal care products and cosmetics before. I consider these to be the most egregious exposures because multiples of billions of dollars are spent each year advertising these products. Her main goal is to convince all women that they need another beauty product to remove that last wrinkle. Many, if not most, of these products contain ingredients that are potential hormone disruptors.

Fortunately, as I said before, many of us have turned to safer personal care products, cosmetics, food, cleaning products, etc. But, if you’ve ever watched Shark Tank (one of my favorite shows), you know that one of the constant reasons sharks don’t invest in products, even GREAT products, is the cost and effort involved in re-educating people. people.

We have become accustomed to “the norm”. Unfortunately, that norm may be what keeps the rate of breast cancer from going down.

Do your homework and educate yourself about EVERYTHING you put on you, in you and around you. You don’t need to get paranoid about changes you have no control over, like your work environment, but by making lots of small, simple changes to your own lifestyle, we can begin to see the proportions shift…and change. in the right direction.

Wouldn’t it be a blessing to be able to say that only one in twenty women will get breast cancer in the next decade? It will take a lot of determination on the part of those of us who are informed and educated to get the word out. Beyond that, we all must make the decision to simply change the way we live. It is not good enough to know that we must change, it requires us to go ahead and DO IT! It won’t be easy, but I think we can see a big reduction in the occurrence of breast cancer.

Note that I said “I think we can see a big reduction in the occurrence of breast cancer.” This disease, like most others, will never be completely eradicated. I once had the privilege of sitting on a forum with a well known cancer expert (sorry to say, I’ve forgotten his name). He explained that only a person’s constitution will ensure that diseases of all kinds are always present. He used the example of George Burns who did almost everything wrong health wise and lived to be 100 and then there are those who do almost everything right and only live a little past the half century mark. He went on to say that if George Burns had “done it right”, he could have lived to be 120 years old. By contrast, those who “did it right” and died at a relatively young age might have lived only to their forties if they had lived. like George Burns.

There is no reason to feel guilty about being diagnosed with breast cancer and to fight it… not succumb to it, despite a valiant battle. I can’t say that strong enough… However, I also need to say that I feel it is my responsibility to share what I have learned that might help decrease your or a family member’s chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer. .

My heart’s desire is to reduce this stat as low as possible, so… let’s do it!