Considering Health During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In the United States, breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer, following lung cancer, and is the most prevalent form of all cancers in women. About 240,000 women will develop breast cancer annually and 40,000 will succumb to the disease. Breast cancer does occur in men, but the number of new cases is relatively small. The good news is that annual death rates related to breast cancer have gradually decreased over time. This decline is likely because of an increase in early detection and education. When detected early, breast cancer is much easier to treat and has a high rate of survival. However, when discovered and treated at a late stage, breast cancer is often no longer survivable. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate of stage 1 breast cancer is 100%, but the five-year survival rate of stage 4 breast cancer is only 22%.

Breast Health Tips

Breast health is an important factor in women’s health, and being aware of any breast changes is essential. Breast changes can normally occur throughout a woman’s lifetime and are often sensitive to hormone fluctuations, lymph congestion and environmental exposures. Breast tissue can be lumpy, bumpy or dense, resulting in fibrocystic breast tissue. Fibrocystic breasts are one of the most common causes of breast changes in women. They are often benign changes of the tissue and are usually associated with high caffeine intake and estrogen dominance.

Concerns about breast tissue arise when a woman has breast pain, a new lump, skin changes, lymph swelling or nipple discharge. Breast lumps that are noncancerous are cysts, fibroadenoma, or fibrocystic dense breast tissue. Cancerous lesions can begin in different areas of the breast: the ducts, the lobules, or the tissue in between.

Individual risk factors of family history, reproductive history, lifestyle and environmental exposures need to be addressed.

Optimizing hormones and promoting healthy detoxification and lymphatic pathways in promoting healthy breast tissue is key in prevention.

 Seven Preventive Breast Health Tips:

• Conduct regular self-breast exams – Know your breast tissue so that you can detect any changes.
• Remember to get your yearly screening by a physician and yearly mammogram or thermography.
• Eat a whole-food, anti-inflammatory diet – avoid excessive alcohol, tobacco and caffeine use.
• Use EPO, Evening Primrose Oil –1000 to 1300mg daily can lessen the fibrocystic dense breast and lumpiness.
• Consider iodine – 1-6mg daily to benefit breast and thyroid tissue by improving lymph flow. Consult your physician if you have thyroid nodules or issues to confirm that it is safe for you.
• Use DIM- diindolemethane – 100 to 150mg can protect the breast tissue from estrogen aromatizing to the cancer-causing estrogen.
• Testosterone optimization – Testosterone receptors are the most widely expressed hormone receptors in the breast and may have a breast protective effect on potential breast cancers.

Call for any questions or concerns and please get your screening. FBN

By Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc

Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020. For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.