What Researchers Found

The first is bisphenol A (BPA), that hardening chemical used to make plastics that I’ve talked about in several previous posts. It’s in our water bottles and our canned foods and on shopping receipts and some of our children’s toys and has been linked with certain cancers and developmental problems in children. In the study, the scientists took noncancerous breast cells from high-risk patients, grew them in the lab, then exposed them to BPA. After the exposure, the noncancerous cells started acting like cancer cells. The researchers felt the study provided additional evidence that chemicals that act as estrogen-disruptors (like BPA) may play a role in the development of breast cancer.

Tamoxifen is designed to slow the growth of breast cancer cells and ultimately cause their death, but when it was introduced to the chemical-exposed cells, they were not affected and kept growing.

The same thing happened when the cells were exposed to methylparaben, a type of preservative commonly used in thousands of personal care products. When the non-cancerous cells were exposed to methylparaben, they started acting like cancerous cells, and did not slow down when exposed to Tamoxifen. What was especially disconcerting was that these two hormone-disrupting chemicals were found to be even better at blocking Tamoxifen’s effectiveness than naturally produced estrogen.

Researchers Comment on the Findings

According to Dr. William Goodson, lead author of the study, “Since most breast cancers are driven by the hormone estrogen, the bulk of the drugs used to treat breast cancer are designed to knock down estrogen. BPA and methyparaben not only mimic estrogen’s ability to drive cancer, but appear to be even better than the natural hormone in bypassing the ability of drugs to treat it.”

Dr. Mhel Kavanaugh-Lynch, director of the California Breast Cancer Research Program, added, “We have a lot of information that makes these endocrine disruptors appear to be bad things to be exposed to, but there are very few, if any, studies that show a direct causal link.”

What Women Can Do

The takeaway from this study, as far as I can tell, is to stay away from these two chemicals as much as possible. They’re very widely used, so you may not be able to completely eliminate them from your life, but you can definitely cut down your exposure. Try these tips, and if you’re on Tamoxifen or other treatments for breast cancer, be especially careful!

• Use a stainless steel water bottle and stay away from plastic water bottles.
• Buy frozen, boxed, and glass-stored foods instead of those in cans. Some companies are going “BPA-free,” so check the labels on your favorite canned goods.
• Don’t microwave in plastic containers, especially old ones that have been exposed to high temps several times. Use glass and porcelain containers instead.
• Always wash your hands before eating.
• Take my Ingredients to Avoid list with you when you shop for personal care products, and avoid those that have “paraben” in the ingredient list, whether it’s methylparaben or other types of parabens.

What do you think about this study? Will you be changing your habits?

Sources

William H. Goodson, et al., “Activation of the mTOR Pathway by Low Levels of Xenoestrogens in Breast Epithelial Cells from High-Risk Women,” Carcinogenesis 32(11): 1724-1733 (November 2011). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3204351/.

Photo courtesy Terra Nova Foundation via Flickr.com.

Their representative wanted my help in spreading the word about “Promise Me,” the pink perfume released earlier this year by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the nation’s largest breast cancer foundation. The bottle has a pink glow and a pink ribbon, but as I mentioned before, it also has several potentially harmful chemicals, including synthetic fragrance, benzyl salicylate, and oxybenzone.

More Chemicals Than We Thought

What I learned from BCAction is that the perfume apparently contains even more chemicals than I thought—chemicals not listed on the ingredient deck. The organization performed an independent chemical analysis of the perfume, and found a number of chemicals not listed on the packaging. Two of the most serious were:

• Galaxolide (HHCB): a synthetic musk, this ingredient has weak estrogenic activity, meaning that it has the capability of disrupting hormones.¹ In an Environmental Working Group study, researchers found that 7 out of the 10 babies tested had galaxolide or another synthetic musk (tonalide) in their blood.² Studies in the 1990s also indicated that these types of musks may break down the body’s defenses against other toxic exposures.³
• Toluene: a liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum, toluene is used as a solvent in products, as well as an ingredient in degreasers, lacquers, glues, and nail polishes. It’s one of my ingredients to avoid because of its potential harmful health effects. Inhalation can cause hearing and color vision loss, memory loss, light-headedness, nausea, eye and nose irritation, and tiredness. Toluene may also harm an unborn fetus.

Komen’s Reaction

BCAction contacted Komen about theses results, asking them to pull the product from the shelves. They didn’t agree to do that, stating that their research concluded the product did not elevate risk of breast cancer in humans, but they did agree to reformulate to “remove any doubt about the ingredients.” The original perfume has been discontinued, and a new one is due out in early 2012. Bottles of the old one are still available for sale, however.

Whether or not the new perfume will be safer than the old, we don’t know. The problem is that some of these questionable ingredients are still used by companies because they believe that the small amounts present in the formulation present no danger. That may be true, but we’re lacking studies on the cumulative results of daily exposure, and that’s what concerns me. Studies have shown these ingredients can remain in our bodies for unknown periods of time. Why take the risk? Why include these ingredients in a product specifically made for those who’ve been touched by breast cancer and are potentially even more susceptible to harm from toxic exposure?

The Pinkwashing Point

Think Before You Pink also points out that this product is a pink product, meant to pull on our heartstrings along with our pocketbooks so that we’ll buy more to support breast cancer research. That makes it even more disturbing that this product contains potentially harmful ingredients. As such, it’s become a part of “pinkwashing“—the practice of producing products for breast cancer that could potentially be harmful for those with breast cancer.

You can help me do something about it by joining BCAction’s “Raise a Stink!” movement to urge Komen to immediately recall Promise Me, and to pledge to prevent pinkwashing in the future. Go to BCAction’s “Take Action” center and add your letter to those that have already been sent on this issue.

Together, our voices are powerful!

Did you participate in BCAction’s “Take Action” campaign? Please share your thoughts.

Sources

1. Seinen W, Lemmen JG, Pieters RH, Verbruggen EM, Van der Burg B. (1999). AHTN and HHCB show weak estrogenic but no uterotrophic activity. Toxicol. Lett. 111, 161–168.
2. Environmental Working Group (EWG) 2009. Pollution in Minority Newborns. Available: http://www.ewg.org/minoritycordblood.
3. Luckenbach, Till; Epel, David (January 2005). “Nitromusk and Polycyclic Musk Compounds as Long-Term Inhibitors of Cellular Xenobiotic Defense Systems Mediated by Multidrug Transporters.” Environmental Health Perspectives 113 (1): 17–24.

Study Details

Granted, most of us aren’t exposed to the levels of pesticides that these study participants were. Researchers from the University of Sterling in Scotland studied over 1,000 Canadian women, half of whom had already been diagnosed with breast cancer. They found that those women who had the disease were nearly three times as likely to have worked on a farm, especially when they were teenagers.

The authors of the study speculated that toxic pesticides and other farm chemicals could be responsible for initiating changes in women’s breasts that would eventually lead to cancer. Developing breast tissue is particularly vulnerable to toxic exposure.

Cancer Related to Your Career?

Andrew Watterson, one of the study researchers, added that roughly four percent of all cancers are related to a woman’s occupation. He found that the risk of breast cancer was highest in women who worked or lived on farms during adolescence, then went on to work in the auto or health industries. Chemicals from all of these occupations, including radiation, drugs, anesthetic waste gas, pesticides, and solvents, could be linked to cancer.

Other Scientists are Skeptical

Other scientists aren’t so sure about this study. Some say there were too few participants for the results to carry too much weight. Meanwhile there are many other factors that can contribute to cancer risk, including smoking, weight gain, heredity, a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and stress.

This isn’t the first study to make this sort of connection, however. Research by R. H. Allen and colleagues discussed breast cancer patterns in Hawaii as they related to toxin exposure, and Teitelbaum and colleagues found that residential pesticides may also increase cancer risk. More studies need to be done, but it seems science is finally paying attention to what we suspected all along—that these chemicals are just not good for us.

Reduce Your Exposure to Pesticides

What can you do to reduce your exposure to pesticides? Try these few tips, and realize that people who are involved in occupations exposing them to chemicals are far more at risk than those who aren’t. Every little bit helps, however, in living your healthiest life possible!

• Buy organic, particularly for foods you don’t peel like apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, pears, greens, and tomatoes. Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Try to get rid of pests without chemicals. Block openings under doors and around vents, and keep your house clean and free of areas where pests can find food and water.
• Avoid pesticides in your home, and buy non-toxic deterrents instead. If you must use a pesticide, protect yourself with gloves and a mask.
• Take your shoes off before you enter the house. Chemical residues tracked in on the bottom of your shoes can last for years in carpeting.

How do you reduce your exposure to pesticides? Please share your tips.

Sources:

• R. H. Allen, “Breast Cancer And Pesticides in Hawaii: the Need for Further Study,” Environmental Health Perspectives, (1997) April (105, Suppl 3): 679-683.
• Susan L. Teitelbaum, et al., “Reported Residential Pesticide Use and Breast Cancer Risk on Long Island, New York,” Am. J. Epidemiol (2007) 165(6): 643-651.

Photo courtesy CHS Inc via Flickr.com.

If you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer and you’re looking for answers, I’ve found a new place where you can go. It’s called “Talk About Health,” and it’s an excellent online resource for anyone touched by cancer.

The organization was founded by Murray Jones. Murray, curiously, has an engineering background, but after talking to him a little while, I could definitely understand why he started this project. In fact, our stories are quite similar, in that we both were caretakers for our fathers, and that experience changed our lives.

Caring for a Father Changes a Son

“My father is a melanoma survivor and I was a caregiver for him,” Murray said. “He had to go through surgery and chemotherapy, and everyone in my family wanted to help, but we had no one to talk to. We had no idea what to do.”

Murray says the experience was one of the most difficult in his life. He tried to educate himself and to seek out helpful resources, but found the process often daunting and frustrating. “It took me years to educate myself on what the issues were, what the possibilities were, and what could be done, and I’m still learning.”

At high risk for melanoma himself because of his family history, Murray grew determined to change things. “I wanted to help,” he says. “I figured there had to be a better way for people to find information and to get personalized support.”

The Beginnings of Talk About Health

Talk About Health isn’t another “cancer forum” where people just talk about their experiences. Rather, it’s a question and answer community that pairs any question with the right person to answer it.

“It’s less about having a conversation and more about providing answers,” Murray says. “We’re creating a database of knowledge that will improve over time.”

Who provides the answers? Serious experts. We’re talking leading hospital surgeons, oncologists, and other medical professionals; university scientific researchers; financial advisors; legal professionals; career and employment experts; psychiatrists; masters of public health; real cancer survivors; yoga experts; and many more—all volunteering their expertise for online members.

“We give people several different perspectives so they can understand,” Murray says. For example, if you ask a question on breast cancer surgery, Talk About Health may pair you up with a surgeon, a counselor, and a survivor who’s been through that surgery. Information from all three is likely to help you understand the issue from various points of view. Staff members continually organize and moderate the content so that other visitors may also benefit.

A Growing Service 

In the next five years, Murray hopes to see Talk About Health expand. Right now the site focuses on breast cancer, but he says an ovarian cancer sister site is already in the works.

“I hope to empower people to decide how they would like to be communicated with, who they’d like to meet, and the timing of each step,” Murray said.

Best of all? It’s free. All you have to do is sign up with your email, name, password, and status (patient, survivor, or caregiver). The organization also gives regular online workshops where guests take questions from members. I’m actually going to be giving one of these workshops on Friday November 4, 2011.

In the meantime, if you’d like to try Talk About Health, click on their website below, sign up, and ask your question. Or, you may find an answer is already there.

“No one else out there is combining physician and patient input and organizing it in a way that’s easy to find,” Murray said. “We’re doing that. We’re providing real answers. We don’t want you to feel alone.”

If you’d like to ask your question at Talk About Health, click here, and let me know what you think!

I think this says a lot for our country, that we’re all so willing to help eradicate pain and suffering. Most of us have been touched by breast cancer in some way, after all. But are all those pink products really helping us make progress on this disease?

Watch Where Your Money is Going

What I want to remind everyone of is to be careful where you put your hard-earned money. Companies may say that they’re donating a certain percentage of each purchase, but many actually stop after a certain amount, say $10,000. When they reach their quota they seldom tell consumers, who continue to buy thinking their money is going toward a good cause.

Another question many people are asking is—are all these events and campaigns really getting us anywhere? It’s true that we’ve seen advances in care for breast cancer, including new drugs, digital mammography, and the discovery of genetic markers for the disease. But when companies spend thousands on walks, races, rallies, marketing campaigns, and more, how much good does that actually do research?

The unfortunate truth is that for some businesses, October Breast Cancer Awareness month is just another way to make money. “There’s a lot of deception that goes on with breast cancer groups,” said Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy.

An Unbalanced Approach to Disease

Some people also feel that with so much attention paid to pink profits, other diseases get shortchanged. Pinkwashing and pink ribbons have taken over in many ways, and it seems as if people aren’t paying as much attention to other serious diseases like cardiovascular disease, the number-one killer in this nation.

The best approach to really make sure your dollars are going to breast cancer research is to follow these tips:

1. If you want to make a pink purchase, find out where the money is going, and be sure you’re buying from a reputable business.
2. Better yet, go to websites like the Breast Cancer.org or the American Cancer Society and make a direct donation.
3. Volunteer at your local breast cancer organization.

In this economy, donation dollars are scarce and you want to know that if you’re choosing to donate X amount of money, it’s going where you want it to go.

Of course, I also need to remind everyone—if you’re buying pink personal care products, check the ingredient list. Many of these products that claim to support breast cancer actually contain potentially carcinogenic ingredients. It doesn’t make sense. We must educate ourselves in a world where everyone is competing for our dollars, especially where a pink ribbon is used to get our attention.

What do you think of October pinkwashing? How will you use your donation dollars?

Sources:

Lea Goldman, “The Big Business of Breast Cancer,” Marie Claire September 14, 2011. http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/breast-cancer-business-scams-3

Photo courtesy Milton Leite via Flickr.com.

The problem with these types of pains is that regular over-the-counter painkillers may not help much. If the pain continues day after day, it can severely restrict a person’s regular activity, and contribute to depression and low spirits—definitely not good for healing.

If you’re going through something like this, you may want to talk to your doctor about vitamin D. A new study published just this year looked at breast cancer patients who were taking estrogen-lowering drugs to shrink their tumors, as these drugs can cause pain and stiffness in the hands, wrists, knees, hips, lower back, shoulders and feet. In fact, about half the patients taking these drugs (called aromatase inhibitors) experience these difficult side effects, and they can become so painful that the patient refuses to take the drug anymore.

Scientists recruited 60 patients who were taking anastrazole (brand name Arimidex) and were experiencing joint pain, and gave half of them the recommended daily dose of vitamin D (400 IU) plus a high dose vitamin D capsule once a week. The other half got a daily dose of 400 IU plus a weekly placebo (sugar pill). All patients also received 1,000 mg of calcium daily.

Results showed that the patients who received the high-dose vitamin D every week reported significantly less joint and muscle pain, and were also less likely to experience pain that interfered with daily living.

“Patients who get the vitmamin D weekly feel better because their pain is reduced and sometimes goes away completely,” said Antonella L. Rastelli, M.D., lead author of the study. He added that breast cancer patients taking other similar drugs may also benefit from high-dose vitamin D.

Now the scientists want to follow up to figure out the safest approach to supplementing with vitamin D in breast cancer patients. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, so too much can cause high levels of calcium in the urine, which can increase the risk of kidney stones. Otherwise, however, as long as the patients are monitored by their doctors, the researchers feel the supplementation appears to be safe, as vitamin D is non toxic, and doesn’t cause major side effects.

This is an early study, so I advise caution. Considering the results and the safety of vitamin D, however, you may want to talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing a lot of pain. Anything that can help is worth a try, as the most important thing is that you make it through your treatment feeling as strong as possible.

What do you think of this study? Are you going to talk to your doctor about vitamin D?

Source

Washington University School of Medicine. “Vitamin D relieves joint, muscle pain for breast cancer patients.” ScienceDaily, 26 Jul. 2011. Web. 9 Sep. 2011.

Photo courtesy colindunn via Flickr.com.

What a dilemma, then, when you’re faced with needing radiation therapy to help treat your cancer. The doctor feels you need it to get rid of the cancer now. But will exposing yourself to the radiation treatment increase your chances of getting cancer again somewhere down the road? Unfortunately, the evidence says it does in some cases.

Radiation Uses High Energy to Kill

According to the National Cancer Institute, radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA. The problem is that it can damage normal cells at the same time. Radiologists do their best to minimize this damage by carefully targeting the treatment, but so far medical technology has no way to totally eliminate this peripheral damage.

Radiation side effects include skin damage and burns, hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and others, depending on which part of the body is treated. These effects usually fade after treatment is over, but other effects can appear later. They may include memory loss, fibrosis, infertility, and finally, in some cases, second cancers.

Radiation Increases Risk of Second Cancers

Science so far shows us that radiation treatments do increase the risk of a second cancer later in life. For example, girls who receive radiation to the chest for Hodgkin’s lymphoma have an increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life—about three to seven times the risk of those who never received radiation. Survivors of childhood cancer who received radiation have an increased risk of brain and spinal column tumors. Rare cancers like those of the bone and cartilage (sarcomas) have also been linked with prior radiation therapy, as have bladder cancers after earlier treatment for prostate cancer.

The lifetime risk of a second cancer is highest in people who were treated as children or adolescents. The risk goes down significantly for those treated after the age of 40. Most secondary malignancies occur 15–20 years after the initial radiation therapy.

Other Factors Involved in Developing Another Cancer

Like any cancer, a second cancer depends on many things—the intensity and duration of the radiation treatment, for instance. Longer, more powerful treatments carry a higher risk of later cancers. The area of the body treated seems to be a factor, as the breast, thyroid and lung seem more likely to be locations for additional cancers. Lifestyle habits like smoking can increase risk, as can family history, early menopause, and chemotherapy drugs.

Research continues in an effort to reduce the risk, but in the meantime, what can you do if you’re faced with this dilemma? Remember that though your risk of a second cancer may increase, it’s still just a risk, not a certainty. You may be able to reduce your personal risk by adopting healthy habits. Second, carefully weigh your options with your radiation oncologist, and be sure the benefit of radiation treatment outweighs the risk in your particular case. Then, make the decision you and your doctor feel is best for you.

“The benefits of cancer treatment far outweigh the real, but small, risk of developing another cancer,” says the Yale Medical Group.

Have you experienced a second cancer after going through radiation therapy? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy Veee ManR via Flickr.com.

My good friend and colleague Morag Currin recently told me about a wonderful program in Colorado. I couldn’t wait to share it with Cinco Vidas readers.

If you happen to be planning a wedding and your life has been touched by breast cancer, you could win the wedding of your dreams, completely free of charge! Cheryl Ungar, professional wedding photographer and founder of the non-profit organization “Cheryl Ungar Gives,” was diagnosed with breast cancer as a young woman. Today, 20 years a survivor, she has devised a way to give back to the cancer community that meant so much to her—by donating a dream wedding to one special couple a year.

She started it all in 2010, gathering vendors willing to donate their services and opening the door to submissions. In August, Melissa and Jeff were chosen as the winners, Melissa having recently survived breast cancer herself with Jeff’s enduring support. Eight months later, the couple enjoyed a gorgeous $30,000 wedding in Vail, Colorado, complete with wedding planner, venue, wedding cake, flowers, music, and everything else you’d expect—at absolutely no cost to them.

“The Wedding Pink is a wedding givaway,” wrote Melissa following the event, “but it has proven to be so much more than that. As Jeff and I started meeting Cheryl and the other vendors, we quickly realized that the people involved were our angels. Absolutely everyone we met was so caring and willing to help, out of the goodness of their hearts. I believe Jeff and I have made lifelong friends from this event.”

After enduring chemotherapy and grueling surgeries, Melissa felt particularly blessed to win The Wedding Pink. It took the financial burden off her and Jeff’s shoulders, freeing them and their families to just enjoy the experience. “Cancer takes a toll on the patient, but it is also a huge burden for the friends and family members involved,” Melissa wrote. “The Wedding Pink was really a gift to everyone who knows me.”

Cheryl loved the experience as well, and told Channel 7, KMGH-TV in Denver that Jeff and Melissa’s wedding “is as much of a gift to me as it is a gift to them.” She took many pictures, posted several on her website, and now is excited about the second wedding giveaway already underway. Severel vendors have already signed on, and plans are for the 2012 event to be held in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

“If you happen to know an engaged or soon-to-be engaged couple whose lives have been recently touched by breast cancer,” Cheryl says on her site, “please forward the information along.”

Submissions are open between July 1–August 15, 2011. Simply go to Cheryl’s submissions page for more information on how to enter. And remember—though the bride-to-be may be the one touched by cancer, submissions are also open for those couples where the groom or the extended family were the ones who experienced it. As Cheryl says, the wedding giveaways are meant to do something nice for those who have experienced a difficult time with this disease in their lives.

“Next year’s wedding will not disappoint,” Cheryl writes. “We are in the process of securing an amazing team of vendors.”

Will you try to win the Wedding Pink? If you enter, keep us posted! See Cheryl’s website at Cheryl Ungar Gives.

Photo courtesy Cheryl Ungar Gives.

Soy and it’s potential link to breast cancer has been studied and debated for years. But I have a new study to tell you about that may somewhat ease your fears.

Soy’s Past Link with Breast Cancer

People have been concerned about soy because it contains “phytoestrogens”—natural plant compounds that can behave as weak estrogens in the body.

Researchers have been concerned that it could trigger estrogenic cancers like breast cancer and prostate cancer. Studies so far, however, have been confusing. Some showed that women could reduce their risk of cancer recurrence by eating more soy, and men could reduce their risk of prostate cancer the same way. Other studies, however found that phytoestrogens might actually increase the risk of tumors and stimulate breast cancer cell growth.

With all the confusion, I’ve been recommending that those concerned about estrogen-driven cancers avoid soy foods, soy supplements, and soy ingredients in personal care products. A new study, however, shows that we may be able to relax our concern a bit.

Study Shows Eating Soy May Reduce Recurrence of Disease

Researchers analyzed data from four large studies encompassing over 18,000 women. All had a history of breast cancer diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 83. They found that eating soy foods did not increase risk of recurrence, even among women who ate a lot of soy. (Note: The study looked only at foods, not supplements, so the conclusions apply only to soy foods.)

What’s more, the study found what seemed to be a health benefit for those eating more soy. Women who ate the most had a 9 percent lower risk of dying from any cause, and a 15 percent lower risk of breast cancer recurrence, compared to women who ate very little. The researchers cautioned against taking these percentages too seriously, however, as they were not statistically significant and could be due to chance.

“This is quite reassuring for women who were concerned that they might have to eliminate healthy soy foods from their diets,” said Leif Ellisen, M.D., Ph.D. of the Gilette Center for Breast Cancer.

My New Recommendation on Soy Intake

Though I still strongly recommend caution on soy supplements, I feel like after this study I can relax a little bit on soy foods. If a woman came up to me today wanting advice, I’d tell her that the evidence seems to show that eating soy foods is beneficial. I would still caution her, however, to read labels on her skin care products, and avoid the ones that contain soy, as we don’t have enough studies yet on how soy ingredients in personal care products may affect breast cancer recurrence.

Does this study put your mind more at ease concerning soy foods? Share your thoughts.

Photo courtesy FotoosVanRobin via Flickr.com.

I’m here to warn you to be careful.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, founded by Nancy G. Brinker, has done a lot to raise awareness about breast cancer over the years. I’ve admired their dedication to fund-raising activities and to getting helpful information out to the newly diagnosed. Their recent money-raising endeavor, however, severely disappoints me.

Recently, the organization teamed up with consumer products and distribution company TPR Holdings LLC to develop and launch a new product line called “Promise Me,” a proprietary fragrance. The website calls it “the scent of inspiration,” and offers a floral fragrance, a lighter combination fragrance, and two gift sets that include perfume, body wash, shower gel, body lotion, and even a keepsake bracelet. With each of the gift sets you get a free copy of the book Promise Me, which tells the story of the two sisters on which the “non-profit” organization was founded.

This all sounds great at first blush, but there are a few things going on here that steal a bit of the sheen from the glass bottle. First, these products are not cheap. We’re talking $59 for one bottle of perfume, $65 for one of the gift sets. Now I don’t have access to the company’s ledger sheets, but I do know Komen is getting only 13.5 percent of the proceeds. Thirteen-and-a-half percent of $59 is $7.97. Not a lot. Then you have to consider that a good chunk of that money goes to the organization’s expenses (uneasypink.com estimates 90 percent!), so that leaves even less going to research. Not much of a bargain for those more interested in finding a cure for breast cancer than in trying a new fragrance.

Here’s what upsets me the most. This is perfume. Not organic fragrance. Not something safe for those touched by cancer (or anyone, really). Not something nice for people going through chemotherapy who often become very chemically sensitive. Regular good-old chemical-based fragrance. It’s supposed to evoke positive energy, hope, and love, but what I’m afraid of is it will evoke more toxic overload in those unfortunate bodies assaulted with it.

The website lists top notes of mandarin, bergamot, and blood orange, and mid notes of pink peony, rosewood, and wild orchid. All lovely sounding, but let’s look at the ingredient list. The Promise Me website doesn’t list it, but fortunately the HSN shopping page does:

Alcohol Denat. (SD Alcohol 40-B), Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Benzophenone-3, Citonellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Citral, Ci 17200 (Red 33), Ci 60730 (Violet 2).

Doesn’t sound so pretty, does it? Kim Irish at Think Before You Pink points out that coumarin is rated a moderate hazard on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, with limited evidence of carcinogenic activity in animal studies. Benzyl salicylate is classified as toxic to aquatic environments. Benzophenone-3, or oxybenzone as it’s otherwise known, can increase photosensitivity, create free radicals in the skin that can attack DNA, and has been linked to eczema. It’s known to penetrate the skin and accumulate in the body, and some studies have linked oxybenzone in sunscreens to a possible increased risk of malignant skin cancer. Butylphenyl methylpropional has been shown to cause irritation and allergic reactions in many people.

This is enough to make me just shake my head. Why would an organization as large and visible as Komen put out a perfume like this, with potential carcinogens, dyes, and let’s not forget the mysterious “fragrance” item, which of course could hide all sorts of additional potentially toxic chemicals protected by trade secret. Maybe selling safe, enjoyable products for money that goes toward genuine cancer research could be a good idea, but this product isn’t safe, and very little money is going to research.

What do you think of this latest move by Susan Komen for the Cure? Please share your thoughts.

Here are a few symptoms that in some cases, can point to cancer. If you have any of these, don’t panic—odds are it’s something else, like stress, thyroid problems, or a bad piece of pork. However, if any of these last for more than a few weeks, do yourself a favor and make an appointment with your doctor.

1. Unexplained weight loss. If you’re dieting, eating healthier foods, or have just enrolled in a new exercise program, you probably have nothing to worry about. But if you’re losing quite a bit, like 10 pounds in a month, without doing anything different, you should check with your doctor.
2. Breast changes. Most women know about this one, and are alert to changes in the shape and feel of their breasts. However, you may not be aware that redness and thickening of the skin on the breast can also indicate cancer. Watch for any changes you see, and if they last longer than a few weeks, check with your doctor.
3. Bleeding. Bleeding, when not connected with menstruating, is always a reason to pay attention. If you bleed between periods, mention it at your next checkup. If you’re already gone through menopause, that’s another reason to ask questions. Blood in the urine or stool can also be a sign of colon cancer. Ask yourself: “Is this normal for me?” If not, err on the side of caution.
4. Bloating. Most of us are aware that bloating can be a symptom of ovarian cancer. However, it can also be so many other things, like an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, irritable bowel syndrome, and more. It could be serious, however, if it happens almost every day, lasts for longer than a few weeks, and is accompanied by abdominal or pelvic pain. Be careful, too, with regular indigestion that seems to appear for no reason—it could be a red flag for cancers of the stomach, throat, or esophagus.
5. Skin changes. Most of us know about this one, but we need to be careful not only of moles, but skin color and texture changes. Darkening is usually a result of sun damage, but if it develops rather suddenly and looks “different” to you, it bears a second look. Watch out also for bleeding or scaling.
6. Pain. This is a tough one, especially as we get older, as many of us have regular aches and pains. Pain can be a symptom of cancer, however, when it is persistent and you can’t figure out what’s causing it. If you have a strange pain that lasts over time, be sure to have it checked.
7. Difficulty swallowing or mouth changes. Have you made changes in your eating habits to accommodate difficulty in swallowing? Have you turned to softer foods like shakes and yogurt? If so, it could indicate esophageal cancer. White patches on the inside of the mouth or tongue, as well, could be regular mouth sores, or early signs of a condition called leukoplakia that can lead to oral cancer. Check with your doctor or dentist.
8. Changes in the lymph nodes. Do you have swelling in your armpits? How about your neck? A lump on my neck was my first indication that something was wrong, and my visit to the doctor revealed Hodgkin’s disease. Be serious about any swelling in these areas. It could be just an infection, but don’t take chances.
9. Fatigue. America, as a nation, seems to be fighting a battle with fatigue. So many of us are just plain worn out. So this one is a hard one to sort out, but on the whole, determine what’s normal for you, and what you’re experiencing. If you’ve been working extra hard, fatigue may be expected. But if it persists for months even after you tried to get rest, it’s best to ask your doctor.
10. Fever and cough. Though these are common side effects of the cold and flu, if you have fever that doesn’t seem connected to a virus, or a persistent cough that lasts more than 4 weeks, something else could be going on. Whatever the issue, you need to have these checked out. In some cases, a fever can point to early blood cancers like leukemia, and a cough can indicate cancer in the lungs.

Did you find cancer by checking up on a persistent symptom? Please share your story.

Picture courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

I’m not surprised people are asking questions about this, because the whole issue of soy is really confusing right now. To bring you some answers, I’ve consulted with doctors and researched countless studies. Here’s what I’ve gleaned so far.

Soy contains an abundance of “phytoestrogens,” or natural plant compounds that can behave as weak estrogens in both animals and humans. Their role in the plant is to protect it from stress and serve as part of the defense system, so naturally many scientists (and nutritionists) believed that soy could help protect human bodies as well.

Here’s a taste of the confusion. Early studies suggested that soy may help lower LDL cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Later studies, however, have found no such affect on cholesterol. Some studies suggested soy could help you lose weight, but others showed it didn’t help much. Some studies found soy could help control insulin levels, but others disputed those results as well. A few years ago soy was all the rage to help reduce menopausal symptoms, but more recent studies have question whether it does any good. Related studies thought that soy could help reduce the amount of bone loss, but later studies seem to have debunked that theory, too.

When we look at cancer, we find no more clarity. A recent study from October 2010 reported that women past menopause who have had cancer could reduce their risk of recurrence with a higher intake of soy. Researchers warned, however, that the study was small and included only women with breast cancer who were receiving care in China. Other studies seem to confirm this protective effect against not only breast cancer, but colon and prostate cancer. Some animal studies, however, have found that phytoestrogens may negatively affect breast cells, actually increasing the risk of tumors. Lab studies have also shown that various mixtures of phytoestrogens stimulated breast cancer cell growth in humans.

Overall, it looks like what science has found so far is that phytoestrogens like those found in soy can be both preventive and promoting when it comes to cancer, and that it depends on the dose, the timing of the exposure, and the type of phytoestrogen—and, whether or not the cancer is estrogen dependent. Clear as mud, right?

Until science can tell us more, what do we do? We have to consider several things. First of all, our exposure to environmental estrogens has increased a lot over the past 20 years. It’s not like we need to consume more! Second, soy is a good source of fiber, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein—but human studies are showing conflicting results as to the effects of phytoestrogens on human health.

“What I’ve been telling my patients right now,” says Dr. Richard Lee, medical director of the Integrative Medicine Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center, “is that soy as part of a healthy balanced diet is safe. But I would avoid trying to eat a totally soy-based diet or taking a soy supplement.”

Reviewing all this, here’s my take: If you’re concerned about estrogen-driven breast cancer (which can include breast, ovarian, uterine, cervix, endometrial, and prostate cancer), stay away from soy and other phytoestrogens, particularly in supplements. Enjoying a few soybeans now and then will probably benefit your health, but remember that soy is in a lot of products that we don’t think about, like soy milk, soy sauce, miso, tempeh, and tofu. It’s also often added to foods like breads, cereals, and meats, and used as a meat substitute in vegetarian products (read labels). Particularly if you have breast cancer (or other estrogen-driven cancers) in your family, you may want to limit your exposure to soy until we find out more.

You may want to be cautious, as well, with any personal care products that contain soy. Most contain such small amounts as to be of little concern, but remember that the skin can absorb what’s put on it, especially if we’re talking about lotions and creams and things you don’t rinse off. Soy provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and can help fortify skin, but again, my advice would be that if you’re avoiding soy on the whole, stay away from products that list soy in the first 10 ingredients or so.

Finally, if you’re trying to get pregnant or if you are pregnant, you may want to cut back on your soy intake. Studies have found that soy phytoestrogens may reduce the odds of a successful pregnancy. The National Institutes of Health are also currently conducting studies to evaluate the long-term effect of soy infant formula on the development of children.

What do you think about the whole soy confusion? Please share your thoughts.

Photo courtesy Daniel Hurst Photography via Flickr.com.

Here’s what happened: Scientists surveyed over 35,000 postmenopausal women, and found that those who said they regularly used fish oil supplements were one-third less likely than non-users to get the most common form of breast cancer over the next six years. Even with known risk factors like older age and obesity taken into account, the lower risk was still there.

As usual, the scientists urge caution, and stress that the study doesn’t really show cause and effect. In other words, we can’t assume that the fish oil prevented the cancer. “Supplement users may have healthier lifestyles,” said lead author Emily White. “Or they may have other underlying health conditions.” However, the results are interesting enough that Harvard scientists are moving ahead with a clinical trial where participants will take fish oil or a placebo, and see what happens.

Regardless of whether or not fish oil helps reduce risk of cancer, we know for sure that it’s a good source of those “healthy fats” known as omega-3 fatty acids. These are the same healthy fats that have shown to help lower levels of triglycerides in the blood, and even help lower blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish a week, and suggests those with coronary artery disease talk to their doctor about supplements.

What’s also interesting about this study is that some of the other supplements the researchers tracked, like soy, black cohosh, dong quai, St. John’s wort, grapeseed, garlic, and ginseng had no affect on breast cancer risk. This was actually surprising to the scientists, as they suspected that supplements high in antioxidants would play a bigger role in cancer prevention. Instead, it was fish oil—predominantly an anti-inflammatory—that did the job. Researchers theorize that prolonged inflammation inside the body can increase the risk of cells becoming cancerous—thereby making an anti-inflammatory like fish oil really helpful.

If you want to get your dose of good omega 3s, eat two servings of fish a week, and consider supplements. Just be sure to do your research and buy from a reputable manufacturer, so you’re sure you’re getting the good stuff. You’ve got nothing to lose!

Do you take fish oil supplements? Please share your thoughts.

Photo courtesy DEstranger via Flickr.com.

It’s time to stop this disease in its tracks.

Not that we haven’t hit on prevention before, but this year it’s bigger than ever. Though the exact cause of the disease remains mysterious in many cases, we now know more about what can contribute to breast cancer, and what we need to do to reduce our risk.

You’ve already heard about the scientific studies linking regular exercise and a low-fat, nutritious diet to a lower risk of breast cancer. What you may be less aware of is the ever-increasing role that chemicals seem to be playing in this game.

Yes, I’ve been warning you about them in this blog, but maybe you thought I was being over cautious. Well, I’ve got some new support. The latest report by the Breast Cancer Fund says that a “substantial body of scientific evidence indicates that exposures to common chemicals and radiation also contribute to unacceptably high incidence of breast cancer.” The organization goes on to state that it’s time to move beyond awareness to prevention, petitioning President Obama to make breast cancer prevention a top priority by creating a new national cancer prevention plan, getting Bisphenol-A (BPA) out of our food and beverage containers, giving the FDA the authority to govern cosmetics, and reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act.

What we need here is a shift in thinking. So far, as as nation, we’ve kind of adopted a helpless attitude toward breast cancer. I mean, we’ve researched and researched, but as far as taking firm, decisive steps toward prevention, we’ve come up really short. We’re a nation of overweight and obese people consuming too much red meat, too many processed foods, too much sugar, and spending our days engaged in little to no physical activity. Meanwhile, we’re surrounded by chemicals in our neighborhoods, our water, our foods, and our personal care products, and we just kind of shake our heads, bemoan the unfairness of it all, and throw money at research hoping something will come along to change things.

The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing in the hopes of obtaining a different outcome. We can no longer hide our heads in the sand and “hope” that we don’t get hit. Breast cancer awareness month should be renamed “Breast Cancer Prevention” month. We are all at risk, and we need to get serious about this if we expect we’re ever going to see an end to this disease! We absolutely must take more meaningful steps to get the chemicals out of our environment and our bodies, and then we must work on an individual basis to improve our lifestyles.

“We can no longer claim to not understand the impact of toxic chemicals and radiation on our health,” says Breast Cancer Fund President Jeanne Rizzo.

If the end result is a healthier, happier nation, isn’t it worth the effort to change?

How have you made changes in your life to prevent breast cancer? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy Thomas Hawk via Flickr.com.

All right, I’m just going to say it—I’m tired of companies painting all their products pink just to enjoy the increased profits. I wrote about this last year, and every year it seems to be getting worse. Every October it happens, and every October I get a little annoyed about it. I mean, not only do we have pink hair dryers, pink blankets, and pink football helmets, we have pink makeup and skin care products that contain carcinogenic ingredients pretending to support breast cancer research, and we have companies that say they’re donating a part of each sale, when actually they stop after a certain amount, unbeknownst to the consumer.

Of course we all want to find a cure for breast cancer, and of course we’re all willing to do our part to contribute to research that may lead to a cure. But do we all want to line the pockets of corporations with our well-meaning donations? I don’t think so.

The problem is that though many companies actually donate a lot to breast cancer research, some make a ton of money during October Breast Cancer Awareness month and carve little of those profits away to actually support breast cancer research.

Then we have products that contain potentially harmful or carcinogenic ingredients plastered with innocent-looking pink labels. (The video above from the Campaign for Cosmetics talks about this.) Like Campbell’s soup, here. No doubt chicken noodle can be good for you, especially if you’re fighting a cold, but in a can lined with BPA? Research continues to reveal the danger in this plasticizing chemical, and yet companies are still lining their canned food containers with it. I’d rather see Campbell’s change the inside of their cans rather than the outside.

Even Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), which to its credit, is donating significant sums to breast cancer research (50 cents of every bucket sold), colors pink their October buckets of fried chicken. Makes it look good for you, but that doesn’t hide the fact that the food inside the bucket—if you choose the fried version—is full of fat, saturated fat, and salt. So not dinner items on the top of anyone’s list trying to avoid breast cancer. If KFC is truly that concerned about women’s health, shouldn’t they be changing the items on their menu?

What’s really sad in all this is that what originally stood for the honorable intention of supporting women around the world in improved health has become a marketing symbol proven to pull in the profits. We see that pink ribbon and it taps into our heart center—that place inside each of us that wants a healthy, full life free of pain and hardship for all the women we love. So we buy the product. And depending on the company, our money goes either to research, or to someone’s new BMW. Worse, as in the case of KFC, we could be supporting companies that actually contribute to breast cancer by encouraging unhealthy food consumption.

When making your decisions this year about how to support breast cancer research, please—be aware. Some companies are counting on your emotional response to pad their bottom lines. Make sure your money is going where you want it to go. Better yet, just write a check to the foundations that started it all in the first place—places like the Breast Cancer Fund, Susan Komen for the Cure, and the American Cancer Society, or even your local cancer centers. If you know someone fighting the disease, consider a personal donation. Doesn’t have to be money. Could be a few bags of groceries, a gift certificate, or an appointment for a massage.

That way, there’s no question where the money is going.

And you won’t be stuck with a pink hair dryer the rest of your life.

How do you make sure your donations go to the right place during breast cancer awareness month? Please share any tips.

Photo courtesy soapywater via Flickr.com.

Published in the Journal of Environmental Health, the study involved more than 1,500 women. Dr. Julia Brody, from the Silent Spring Institute, and her team questioned 787 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 721 who didn’t have cancer about their cleaning habits. They found that overall, those who used a combination of cleaning products were up to 110 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than those who rarely used them. The biggest culprits? Solid air fresheners and mold-and-mildew-control products—particularly when the air fresheners were regularly replaced, and the mold-and-mildew cleaners used more than once a week, which seemed to double cancer risk.

Researchers caution that though the study is concerning, there could be other explanations for the connection. Because participants reported on their own experiences, data could be biased based on personal beliefs or mistakes in recall—particularly because women diagnosed with breast cancer often try to think about what happened in the past that might have caused it, and may overestimate their use of cleaning products. However, as the researchers write, “Because exposure to chemicals from household cleaning products is a biologically plausible cause of breast cancer and avoidable, associations reported here should be further examined prospectively.”

As you might expect, the American Cleaning Institute says this study goes too far in its conclusions. “Simply put,” they write, “this research is rife with innuendo and speculation about the safety of cleaning products and their ingredients….Unfortunately, this work sheds little light on the real causes of breast cancer.”

This isn’t the first study to talk about dangerous ingredients in household cleaners, however. For example, in 2006, University of California, Berkeley researchers found that when used indoors under certain conditions, many common household cleaners and air fresheners emit toxic pollutants at levels that may lead to health risks.

In addition to mildew removers, other particularly toxic cleansers include corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and acidic toilet bowl cleaners. These can cause irritation and burning on the skin, in the eyes, and in the throat. Some produce fumes that can be inhaled, and many contain fragrances that can cause headaches, sneezing, and watery eyes, to say the least.

To lower your risk of exposure to toxic chemicals in cleaners, when cleaning, open windows; use non-toxic, green products that contain nocarcinogenic ingredients; empty the garbage regularly; avoid synthetic air fresheners (use a diffuser with essential oils or soy candles with essential oil scents); and use indoor plants or air purifiers to help clean the air.

What do you think about toxins in cleaning products? Have you changed your housecleaning habits?

Photo courtesy Bethelicious via Flickr.com.

The researchers studied over a thousand women, testing their levels of exposure while on the job to around 300 different substances. Those who had the highest exposure levels before the age of 36 had a higher risk of developing breast cancer after menopause. Women who were exposed to acrylic fibers seemed to have a seven-fold risk of breast cancer, while those exposed to nylon fibers almost doubled their risk.

Other dangerous ingredients? “Monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAH),” which are crude oil byproducts. Things like benzene and toluene. Though this study was evaluating women’s exposure at the workplace, we are all exposed to these chemicals in the environment, particularly in areas contaminated with tobacco smoke and in high-traffic areas. We also find some of these chemicals in our personal-care products.

In this study, exposure to occupational levels of MAHs in the early decades of life also increased a woman’s risk of postmenopausal breast cancer—doubling it for each 10-year increase in exposure.

Researchers are highly cautious on these results. They warn that the findings could be due to chance or undetected bias. David Coggon, a professor of occupational and environmental medicine at Britain’s Southampton University, said studies of this sort “carry little weight in the absence of stronger supportive evidence from other research.”

So if the findings are so iffy, why bother with such a study? The scientists, from Quebec, Canada, say that the results illustrate how sensitive breast tissue is to chemical exposure—especially during critical child-bearing years. “Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that breast tissue is more sensitive to adverse effects if exposure occurs when breast cells are still proliferating,” the study reports. They suggest that further studies are needed to understand the role of chemicals in the development of breast cancer.

Our takeaway from this? It’s a confirmation that highly educated, professional researchers are taking chemical exposure seriously—particularly in trying to understand breast cancer. This study may be less about synthetic fibers and MAHs, and more about how we need to take steps for ourselves and our families to reduce our chemical exposure—and protect our health.

Have you taken steps to reduce your chemical exposure? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy Jom Manilat via Flickr.com.

“When I went through breast cancer and lost my hair,” Sue says, “I noticed a lot of kids would look at me funny. But then, you don’t see a lot of bald women out and about.” The mother of a young son, Sue realized how strange and potentially frightening it must be for children to see cancer’s physical changes show up on their mom’s bodies.

“I had one niece who came to visit me,” she says, “and when I opened the door bald as the day I was born, she had this look on her face like, ‘Holy moly, what happened to you?’ But it took her a long time to ask me about it.” Sue also realized that, much as children could be frightened by cancer’s changes, moms could be just as anxious about how to talk about it. “It’s not like you get an instruction book about these things. You’re dealing with all these emotions yourself, but you don’t want to scare your child, so what do you say? How do you begin?”

Sue hopes her new book will help parents open the conversation, and present the challenge as one that doesn’t have to be overly frightening or sad. “I’m a writer by trade,” Sue says, “so when I’m faced with something difficult, I turn to books. When I was going through cancer, I did that. Even though my son was very young, I wanted to see what was out there. And honestly, I was disappointed. Most of the books depicted the mother in raw, unflattering ways, and were overly focused on letting the children know it was okay to feel sad. I mean, they would have page after page of the child crying or the mother crying or the mother and child together crying, and that wasn’t my experience. Oh I cried, but I did it after my son was asleep. My perspective is when you’ve got young children in your life, your job is to help minimize their suffering. Taking a swan dive into melancholy with them doesn’t help.”

Instead, Sue’s mother character in the book is elegant, hip, and most of the time, happy. “Not like I think having breast cancer is a ‘tra-la-la’ kind of experience,” she says, “but I wanted this book to have an upbeat feeling about it. However, it has parts where Mom is cranky or she’s tired and is on the couch. It’s honest. ”

Already Sue is getting feedback on the book. Survivors who have picked it up at area cancer centers have told her how it helped them talk with their children. “This one woman told me that she especially liked having it before her hair fell out, as she felt it helped prepare the children.” Sue feels that writing and putting the book together with her illustrator has been healing for her as well. “I wanted to do something more with this experience than just have it. This book has given meaning to what I went through.”

Sue’s been cancer free for 10 years now, and says if she were to give advice to other fighters, it would be to “stay in the moment” and “be kind to yourself.”

“It’s very easy to let your mind run away with itself,” she says. “You think the worst. It’s like, ‘I’m getting chemotherapy. I’ve seen the movies – and I’m going to feel terrible.’ But that may not be your experience. Try to stay in the moment, and give yourself some slack. We moms try to be super women, but there will be moments when you’ll feel like, ‘Oh my lord, I can’t do this.’ It’s at those times you need to be easier on yourself, and realize that this too, shall pass.”

The book’s overarching message to children is also to be kind, even to people who may look a little different. As the book’s narrator says at the end:

So if you see her, please be kind.
Don’t snicker and don’t stare.
I’m thinking that’s what you’d prefer
if your own head was bare.

It’s hard to see her without hair.
I miss her curls that bounce.
And though I know her hair will grow,
it’s what’s inside that counts.

If you’d like to order a copy of Nowhere Hair, go to Sue’s website!  Sue also invites anyone to join Nowhere Hair’s Beautifully Bald Initiative on Facebook.

“I don’t understand why they make women who have dense breast tissue go through so many hoops and emotions to find out that they are okay,” says fellow responder MesaMom. “It’s so time consuming, expensive, and emotionally draining.”

It’s something most of us haven’t heard much about, at least compared to other risk factors like smoking, drinking, and weight gain. But according to recent studies, having “dense breasts” may be an independent risk factor for breast cancer. Researchers from Toronto, Canada, for example, found that women who developed breast cancer had, on average, a baseline mammographic density that was 5.8 percentage points greater than the women who had not developed cancer. Then they compared women who had extensive breast density (density in more than 75% of their breast) with women who had only a small amount (less than 10%). Women with the most dense breasts had 4.7 times the odds of being diagnosed with breast cancer less than 12 months after a negative screening test.

This is a significant increase. But don’t panic. “You should not make the mistake in thinking that if you have dense breasts your risk is nearly five times greater,” says Dr. Susan Love. “The average 50-year-old woman has a 2.5 percent risk of developing breast cancer over 10 years. If she has extensive breast density, the risk doubles to five percent.”

What are dense breasts? According to thinkpinker.com, “When women are young, their breasts are made up of the specialized breast tissue that produces milk during lactation. This tissue is very thick, or dense. As women age, the breast tissue changes. Fat replaces the dense milk-producing breast tissue.”

Thicker, denser tissue makes it more difficult to find anything out of the ordinary on a mammogram. It shows up white—the same color as a tumor or cyst. “Dense breasts can make traditional mammograms more difficult to interpret,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Dense breast tissue appears as a solid white area on a mammogram film, and fat appears as a dark area. Mammogram X-rays do not penetrate—or ‘see through’—dense tissues as well as they do fat. Tumors also are dense tissue and appear as solid white areas on the mammograms.”

Scientists don’t know why some women have more dense breasts than others. And most women can’t tell by the feel of the breast—usually only a mammogram can determine the type of tissue. If you’ve been told you have dense breasts, however, you may be wondering: Does a traditional mammogram do any good? Particularly if you, like the women quoted earlier, have suffered multiple mammograms and other tests as your doctors try to determine what’s what.

“Attention should be directed to the development and evaluation of alternative imaging techniques” for women who have dense breast tissue, say the Canadian researchers. The Mayo Clinic agrees, saying that a digital mammogram is somewhat better than film, as images can be enhanced and magnified for closer viewing. Other than that, we’re still waiting for new developments in screening, and meanwhile doctors recommend that any mammogram is better than none.

Meanwhile, you can do things to reduce your risk. A recent study found that overweight postmenopausal women who exercised reduced their breast density. Another point for exercise! Have you started walking yet? And don’t forget—breast density is just one risk factor. You can still lower your overall risk of breast cancer by eating right, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking, among other things. In addition, try to find a healthcare provider who uses a digital machine. You may also want to make an appointment at a high-risk clinic. Breast specialists there may have other preventative advice for you.

Have you experienced multiple screenings and tests because of your dense breasts? Please tell us your story.

Photo courtesy lemmetakeurphoto via Flickr.com.

Sometimes we can feel terribly helpless when it comes to friends with cancer. When I had cancer at 16 years old, most of my friends had no idea what to do or say. It’s almost easier when it’s a family member, as we feel we have “permission” to do anything we can think of to help. It’s different with a friend. How can we be sure what she will see as helpful, and what she will feel as intrusive?

Is there a guide to help your girlfriend through cancer? Now there is! Denise Hazen, cancer survivor, wrote a book called, Treat her like a Princess: How to Help Your Girlfriend with Breast Cancer, and in it, she shares many ways in which you, as a good friend, can help. Here are a few tips from the book—you can grab it from Amazon to read more!

Food: Regardless of your friend’s status (single, married, divorced, with kids, without kids), she will need to eat. Ask about any special dietary issues, and then consider setting up a grocery delivery service or dinner schedule. Get together with other girlfriends and choose days to take meals to her. You may want to ask your friend to write up a grocery list and go to the store for her. If she resists, remind her that grocery stores are full of germs, and if she’s going through chemo, she needs to protect herself as much as possible. Don’t forget things like popsicles and ice cream, as these are helpful for mouth sores and appetite problems.

Thank you notes: Your girlfriend is going to be overwhelmed with health-related tasks during her treatment. She’s likely to have little time to keep up with all the well wishes coming her way. Consider taking control of communication with friends and extended family. Send regular update e-mails for her. Write thank-you notes for gifts and services rendered.

Notes from doctor’s visits: If your friend doesn’t already have someone going with her to doctor’s visits to take notes, volunteer. Most likely she isn’t going to be in the best frame of mind to ask intelligent questions. Take a notebook, help her organize and list her medications (for the doctor’s reference), and talk to her beforehand to get down any questions she may have before going to the appointment.

Kids: If your friend has children, she’s probably going to be worried about them. How will they react to her illness? How will she keep up with their activities? Offer to help explain the situation, or to help drive the kids to dance class and football practice if needed. In some cases you may want to contribute to their lunches, or offer to help with homework. If your friend owns a pet, make sure its not neglected by offering to take the dog for a walk, to the groomer, or to the vet.

A listening ear: For many cancer patients, the one thing they really need—and rarely get—is someone willing to listen, really listen, with an empathetic ear. Too many people respond the wrong way, with false encouragements or admonishments to “be positive” or comparisons like, “my aunt had breast cancer and she made it through just fine.” Resist the urge to advise, and just listen and empathize with your friend. If she says, “I feel terrible today. I’m afraid I’m going to die,” refrain from saying something like, “Of course you won’t die.” Instead, empathize with how she feels. “That must be really scary. Do you think the doctor feels that way, too?” You can help her ease her fear with gentle inquiry, but be sure to always validate her feelings.

Have you helped a girlfriend through breast cancer? What did you find she needed most?

Photo courtesy wiryodisastro via Flickr.com.