Beat Breast Cancer

Photo credit:  courtesy of Shutterstock Blurb:  Many women arent aware of the profound effect that lifestyle changes can have on breast health. Discover the best ways to prevent and treat the disease. Images:  When Catherine Frompovich was diagnosed with two cancerous tumors in her right breast in 2011, she rejected the breast surgeon’s invasive plan of action: surgery and chemo.“I decided I wanted to go the holistic route from the very beginning,” says Frompovich, who’s been a natural nutritionist and consumer health researcher for 35 years (now retired). Frompovich applied her knowledge of food, supplements and other holistic modalities as treatment to fight her breast cancer—despite the surgeon urging her that if she didn’t do the conventional treatments they recommended, she wouldn’t make it.Today, after embracing a vegan diet, meditation and prayer, Frompovich has confirmation of one tumor gone, as verified by sonograms, and the other greatly reduced. “I’m working with a holistic physician who is allowing me to have input on my protocol—and it feels great to be working as a team,” she says.That proactive attitude is exactly what you need to deal with treatment or to help prevent breast cancer, says Lise Alschuler, N.D., past president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and coauthor of The Definitive Guide to Cancer (Celestial Arts) and The Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer (Ten Speed Press). Many women aren’t aware of the profound effect that lifestyle changes can have on breast health, she says.For example, an analysis of study data published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed a significant improvement in survival rates among women with stage 1 breast cancer who both exercised for at least 30 minutes per day and maintained a diet that included five servings of fruit and vegetables. And new research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows that exercise can also prevent the disease. Researchers found that just 30 minutes of daily cardiovascular exercise (think moderately brisk walking) can reduce the risk of breast cancer between 40 percent and 60 percent. “Exercise reduces a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer by about 50 percent, and it reduces her risk of getting the disease in the first place by up to 60 percent,” says Alschuler. “That would be considered a miracle drug if it were in a bottle.”To help you be more proactive, we’ve answered some of the most common questions women have when facing treatment or who hope to prevent breast cancer.Should I get a genetic test for breast cancer? If two or more of your close relatives (mother, sister, daughter, aunt, grandmother) have had breast cancer, your risk may be increased. A blood test that analyzes your DNA can determine whether you have a mutation of the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. These mutations are present in less than 1 percent of the general population, but women who have them—mostly those who have the disease in their family—have a 60 percent to 80 percent lifetime risk for developing breast cancer compared to the 12 percent lifetime risk for women who don’t.Before you take the test: Speak to a genetic counselor (the service is covered by most insurance plans) who can explain the results and walk you through scenarios to consider should your results be positive. The counselor can also help you deal with the emotions your results can evoke, says Heather Hampel, M.S., professor of internal medicine and certified genetic counselor with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.If you test posItIve: A positive test doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop breast cancer, just as a negative test doesn’t mean you won’t ever develop another form of the disease. Still, a positive result should mean more frequent mammograms, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical breast exams. Some women undergo chemoprevention (using drugs to reduce cancer risk) or even a risk-reducing mastectomy. In addition, women who test positive for BRCA mutations are also at increased risk for ovarian cancer, and it is often recommended that they have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed (ideally between ages 35 and 40, and upon completion of childbearing). Research also shows removing ovaries by age 40 decreases the risk for breast cancer by as much as 60 percent. As a result, most women who test positive for the gene at Hampel’s Ohio clinic have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, and about half choose intensive breast surveillance and half choose risk-reducing mastectomies, estimates Hampel.Where to go: For information on genetic testing or for help finding a healthcare professional trained in genetics, contact the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at 800-4-CANCER. To find a naturopathic doctor who specializes in oncology, check with the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians at oncanp.org.Should I ask for an MRI exam or other tests? Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reveal a tumor that’s too small to be detected by a physical exam or is missed by a mammogram. “An MRI is valuable as a secondary diagnostic tool,” says Alschuler. “I know several patients who had a suspicious finding on a mammogram and followed up with ultrasound or an MRI and discovered cancer.”That’s what happened to Cathy Gergen, 48, a human resources manager for a construction company in Arizona. After she discovered a lump in her right breast, she immediately scheduled a mammogram and ultrasound. When the tests produced conflicting results (the mammogram showed no thickening or lump; the ultrasound did), Gergen’s surgeon ordered an MRI, which revealed a tumor. “If I hadn’t felt the lump myself, I would have gone for a regular mammogram and thought everything was OK,” she says. After reviewing her options with both a traditional surgeon and Alschuler, Gergen had a double mastectomy. She did not receive chemotherapy or radiation and tamoxifen (the estimated benefit from these treatments was minimal given certain characteristics of her cancer), but she did add 30 minutes of walking to her routine, in addition to cutting back on processed and fatty foods and taking supplements prescribed by Alschuler.Can vitamin D reduce the risk of breast cancer? Some research suggests that women with low levels of vitamin D (which the body makes from sunlight) at the time of breast cancer diagnosis had almost twice the risk of their cancer spreading and were nearly three times more likely to die within 10 years. Vitamin D is converted into a hormone that helps to prevent normal cells from becoming cancerous and, in some cases, induces established cancer cells to stop growing and die. Researchers are working to determine whether boosting vitamin D status after a breast cancer diagnosis can lower the odds of cancer spreading. If you’re curious about your levels, ask for a 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test, says JoEllen Welsh, Ph.D., an environmental health sciences professor at the State University of New York at Albany.How much to take: If your 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test is low, consuming between 1,000 IU and 2,000 IU per day may be needed to get the optimal vitamin D level for cancer prevention as suggested by the research, says Welsh. (Most experts say the government’s current guideline of 600 IU per day is too low.) Ask your doctor to administer a vitamin D test to find out what you need.Get some sun: During the spring and summer, just 10 to 15 minutes of sun per day, three times a week (without sunscreen), is enough to produce the requirement of vitamin D. To protect against skin cancer, avoid the peak sun hours (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Depending on where you live, winter sun may be insufficient for vitamin D production, so dietary sources or supplements are especially important for women who live in northern areas.Do supplements help? Several supplements have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, and some other supplements may help make cancer treatments easier and more effective.MelatonIn: This hormone, secreted primarily at night, is used to help induce sleep. But it also slows cellular growth, improves immunity and may be effective against tumors, says Alschuler. Talk to a naturopathic physician; a dosage of 3 mg to 20 mg may be necessary.Green tea extract: Epidemiological evidence suggests that green tea can be a potent weapon against breast cancer, particularly in early stage cancer, says Alschuler. “If you consume more than five (4-ounce) cups of green tea a day, the risk of recurrence may drop 30 percent to 40 percent,” she says. Green tea is thought to work against cancer four ways: It inhibits tumor growth- signaling pathways; it stimulates cancer-cell death; it inhibits enzymes that cancer cells use to spread; and it alters the metabolism of estrogens. Buy organic green tea, or take two to four 250 mg to 300 mg capsules of standardized green tea extract with meals. Make sure supplements are standardized to 80 percent polyphenols, of which 50 percent is EGCG, says Alschuler.Lavender and chamomIle tea: For patients with anxiety or sleeplessness, Alschuler suggests melatonin, lavender and/ or chamomile tea. Lavender, containing a lavender essential oil extract called Silexan, is very effective at reducing anxiety. Just one 80 mg capsule will significantly reduce anxiety in the majority of people who take it. “Many of chamomile’s medicinal properties are in the volatile oils that come out in the steam, so it’s important to steep the tea covered,” Alschuler explains. Use two bags per cup (look for an organic brand), or buy organic dried flowers and use one tablespoon per cup of boiling water. Let steep 10 to 15 minutes and add honey to taste.Coffee: New research from Lund University in Sweden has found that drinking coffee could decrease the risk of breast cancer recurring in patients taking tamoxifen. Study subjects taking the cancer drug who also drank two or more cups of coffee daily reported less than half the rate of cancer recurrence compared with their non-coffee-drinking tamoxifen- taking counterparts. The researchers think that something in coffee activates tamoxifen, making it even more effective.Should I take extra doses of antioxidants? Not if you’re undergoing radiation therapy. Although antioxidants occur naturally in a healthy diet, some experts believe that taking megadoses during cancer treatment could interfere with the way radiation works. (Antioxidants work to scavenge free radicals; radiation generates free radicals, which kill rapidly dividing cancer cells.) If you’re undergoing chemotherapy, avoid antioxidant supplements unless you’ve consulted with your doctor or your naturopathic oncologist, but do continue eating antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables (cherries, blueberries, blackberries, red and yellow peppers); they don’t contain antioxidants in megadoses and won’t interfere with treatment.Will any foods reduce my risk of breast cancer? Eating a healthy, varied diet based on whole foods remains the best way to prevent cancer and keep it from recurring, says Beth Reardon, R.D., director of integrative nutrition at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, N.C. It’s also important to include as many colors as possible—colorful plant foods contain a variety of cancer-fighting pigmented compounds called polyphenols. It’s also smart to keep your fat intake down (aim for less than 35 grams per day, of which no more than 2 grams should be saturated fat), adds Alschuler, since there’s a direct link between breast cancer and extra weight. More specifically, minimize your saturated fat intake from red meat and high- fat dairy and trans fats from processed baked goods, Reardon says. She also recommends flaxseeds (the ground seeds, not the oil, are rich in lignans, a form of phytoestrogen that the body metabolizes into weak forms of estrogen, which in turn displace the aggressive natural estrogens that stimulate breast cancers), mushrooms (they contain a form of linoleic acid, which appears to inhibit the activity of aromatase, an enzyme the body uses to make estrogen) and some unprocessed non-GMO soy (which can inhibit blood vessel growth in hormone-dependent breast cancer tumors).How can I ease stress after my diagnosis? Learning that you have breast cancer or the gene mutation may leave you feeling frustrated, angry and depressed. And your emotional well-being is a crucial part of your treatment. Negative feelings like stress, pessimism, anxiety and anger can lower your immunity and actually stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Plus, stress creates hormonal imbalances, says Alschuler, so it’s important to support yourself emotionally. The perfect antidote to these feelings is joy and laughter, and prioritizing these emotions—even during the challenges of treatment—is important. Using effective mind-body techniques, such as qi gong, reiki and meditation, can help trigger the release of endorphins, the brain’s natural pain relievers, to boost energy, ease any physical pain and help you sleep soundly. Here are two you can do at home, at work or even during your treatments.Deep breathing: “A proper deep breath is your body’s own built-in relaxation mechanism,” explains Carol Krucoff, E-RYT, a yoga teacher at Duke Integrative Medicine and author of Healing Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain (New Harbinger Publications). “When you bring air down deeply into the lungs, it triggers a cascade of calming physiologic changes: The heart rate slows, blood pressure decreases, muscles relax, anxiety eases and the mind quiets down.”To do it: Lie down and place your palms on your lower belly. Relax your abdomen. Take an easy breath in and notice how your belly rounds and your hands gently rise. As you breathe out, notice how your belly relaxes back and your hands fall. Don’t strain or force; your body knows how to do this. Count the length of your inhalation and exhalation (for example, 1-2-3-4 inhale and 1-2-3-4 exhale). See if you can make your inhale and exhale the same length. For extra relaxation effect, make your exhale longer—for example, inhale to a count of 4, exhale to a count of 6.Body-scan medItatIon: When we’re under stress, we’re often worrying about the future or ruminating about the past. A body-scan meditation helps bring you into the present moment, which helps calm and center your body and mind, says Krucoff.To do it: Lie down or sit comfortably, with your body supported. Bring your attention to your breath, and notice the sensations of the breath as it comes into and leaves your body. When you’re ready, send your awareness throughout your entire interior landscape, just noticing what’s present. Have an attitude of curiosity, self-compassion and non-judgment. Try not to let your mind spin off into stories about the meanings of any sensation—just notice the sensations that are present and welcome whatever you find. Hide left sidebar:  Show left sidebar http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/health/beat-breast-cancer #yashta