In a previous article, I discussed the recent changes to mammography recommendations.  This week I’ll share what women can do to reduce their risk of breast cancer.

First of all, it is important to acknowledge that cancer statistics are very complicated; the most recent research study may have results that contradict the one before.  This explains why it is easy to get confused by the divergent information about cancer in the news media.  I will try to provide some clarity.

Put simply, being at a healthy weight significantly reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer.  Numerous medical studies indicate that maintaining a health weight (BMI between 20 and 25) is the most important lifestyle factor in affecting breast cancer survival.

The healthiest way of achieving optimal weight is to eat plenty of vegetables and fruits and to exercise regularly.  A 2007 study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology indicates that breast cancer patients who eat these healthy foods and exercise reduce their risk of dying from their cancer by up to 50%.

While having a glass of wine every day seems to prevent cardiovascular disease and decreases the rate of death from all causes, this amount of alcohol seems to increase breast cancer risk.  If you are concerned about breast cancer because of your personal or family medical history, avoid alcohol.  If cardiovascular disease seems more important, a few glasses of wine can be an enjoyable and healthy choice.

Hormone therapy with estrogen and/or progesterone for menopause increases the risk of women getting breast cancer.  While the increased risk may be small, it is real: a 24% increase in risk.  Natural treatments for menopausal symptoms work well.  Some of the best therapies I recommend include herbs like black cohosh, chaste tree, and St. John’s Wort.  Preliminary research indicates that black cohosh can even be helpful as an add-on treatment for breast cancer.

One of vitamin D’s roles in the body is helping to make sure that cells grow to be healthy and mature.  Because dangerous cancer cells are immature, vitamin D status may be important in all forms of cancer, including breast.  The best way to know your vitamin D level is to get a test from your doctor called 25-OH Vitamin D.  Insufficiency is defined as less than 30ng/mL and optimal levels are about 45ng/mL.  If testing is not available to you, taking 2,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D3 each day is a safe approach.

Be well,
Richard Malik, ND

I just ran across an interesting study that, through statistical analysis, comes to the conclusion that the incidence of several types of cancers are lower when people have higher vitamin D blood levels.  Their recommendation is for people to maintain vitamin D levels between 55ng/ml and 90ng/ml.  These levels are between the standard mainstream medicine reference ranges of above 32ng/ml being optimal and above 100ng/ml being toxic.

These researchers are recommending vitamin D intakes between 2,000 and 10,000 IU per day.  Current recommendations are 400-600 IU per day.

Vitamin D levels are accurately assessed with a test called 25-OH Vitamin D.  If taking high doses of vitamin D, please have your vitamin D levels checked by your physician after 3 months of supplementation to ensure your safety.

Vitamin D3 5,000 IU

If you are deficient in vitamin D, supplementation will likely improve bone health, blood pressure, and possibly mood and immune function.

Here is the highest qualtiy and most affordable Vitamin D supplement I have found; tested for identity, potency, purity, and label claim to expiration date.  Taking one capsule every third day ensures a daily dose below the Institute of Medicine’s conservative upper intake limit of 2,000 IU per day.  At this dose, one bottle lasts about 9 months!

Be Well,

Richard

Previous and recent findings from the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living Trial (WHEL) indicate that many women diagnosed with breast cancer do better with a diet rich in vegetables and fruits.  Most recently, researchers have found that women diagnosed with early stage breast cancers have up to 31% fewer new cancers (either breast or in other locations) if they consume a diet consisting of 5 servings of vegetables, 3 servings of fruit, 16 ounces of vegetable juice, and at least 30 grams of fiber each day.  This 31% reduction is in comparison to women eating the 5 servings of vegetables and fruits (combined) and at least 20 grams of fiber per day.

Women in the study were followed for, on average, over seven years.  The women with the greatest protective effect were the ones that did not experience hot flashes after breast cancer therapy.  It seems experiencing hot flashes after breast cancer treatment may confer some protective effect on its own.

The Bottom Line:

Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and their juices seems to substantially reduce the risk of new cancers in some women with history of breast cancers.