October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer Awareness Month. Eating habits, emotions and all the external factors to which we constantly expose ourselves are elements that are deeply connected to our well-being.

I learned this on my own healing journey when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and the truth is that it is incredible how our body can help us fight the most terrible diseases when we decide to take better care of ourselves, we let go of things that no longer benefit us in a positive way and we change our mindset and attitude towards challenges.

This time I would like to talk about some breast cancer awareness facts and provide another look (supported by research) that may be useful in this regard and that will show why mammography is not the best option to check and prevent this disease.

Breast Cancer awareness facts

According to statistics validated by the University of Columbia, 95% of all cancers are due to bad diet and the accumulation of toxins.In fact, several articles related to this topic also confirm the numbers and the causes.

That’s why I would like you to interpret the phrase “early detection” and better analyze your habits, your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional state. How are you doing right now? What do you need to promote the health of your body and mind? How is your relationship with God?

This is important because although women between the ages of 40 and 59 are those in a higher risk range, truth is that cancer doesn’t see age or sex. Actually, a study showed that the number of under-40-year-olds diagnosed with aggressive forms of breast cancer has been increasing. However, what if I told you that this rise includes preventable factors?

How to prevent breast cancer?

The studies are there and they’re not hard to find at all! So can a change in habits prevent breast cancer? Honestly, I would say that it would prevent ANY type of cancer!

“Nutrition is one of the most modifiable aspects of lifestyle, and nutritional choices can affect people’s health and the risk of cancer. Active strategies are warranted, including educational/behavioral interventions in high-risk groups, to promote healthy eating habits”. (Source)

Let’s start with the basics and the most important things to prevent breast cancer:

• Get rid of bad habits: smoking or eating junk food.
• Reduce the toxins around you: get in the habit of going organic when it comes to your food sources and natural beauty products.
• Think twice about oral contraceptives: those little pills are actually considered a category 1 “Known and Probable Carcinogen ” by the World Health Organization, alongside tobacco.

After this, only one thing is clear: Yes, cancer can be prevented with proper nutrition and I often mention it. Also, it is part of the holistic approach that I chose on my healing path.

However, with this I don’t mean that you have to adhere to a specific diet or have to follow the path that I chose, but it is important that you research your options well, consume more fruits and vegetables as part of your daily routine, and if possible, find a doctor who will provide alternative options or therapies that best resonate with you.

Reasons not to do a mammography

Personally, I’m not in favor of this x-ray imaging, which in addition to being uncomfortable and insensitive, is loaded with a high dose of radiation. Just Horrible! Besides, there are studies that highlight this issue a lot, and despite sounding delicate, IS REAL!

In an interview with Dr. Ben Johnson, author of the women’s book: The Secret of Health Breast Wisdom, Johnson explained that mammograms are not healthy for women and that they can cause cancer!

“That statement is true. Early detection does save lives. It’s just that mammography is not early detection; it’s too late. And then the cancer-causing radiation. So the long and the short is you’re causing much more breast cancer with mammograms than you are detecting” Johnson said.

I know this can sound polemic, but again… research and studies are in our hands. In fact, a 2015 study on this subject explained (after a carefully conducted systematic review and other observational studies) that mammography screening has been promoted to the public with simple promises that all appear to be wrong: It saves lives and breasts by catching the cancers early. Screening does not seem to make the women live longer; it increases mastectomies;  and cancers are not caught early, they are caught very late.

Tests for breast cancer

These are some of the procedures you can opt for instead of a mammography:

• Thermography screening: detects areas of heat in the body which can point to areas where inflammation may be occurring.
• The “Greece” Test: to check and ffind significant numbers of “circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as well as cancer stem cells (CSCs), which can determine the aggressiveness of the cancer.
• Hormone test: getting your overall hormone levels checked is a good choice especially during your perimenopausal and menopausal years.
• Breast Ultrasound: considered an effective tool for imaging palpable abnormalities in the breast.

Final Thoughts

My advice during this important month to promote breast health is to seek information for better awareness, along with adopting healthy habits that support your quality of life, and other tests that do not expose your body to procedures that are not 100% accurate. Remember that you matter.