The Breast Reloaded

Environmental oestrogens and breast cancer prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:49:00 +0000

Can limiting exposure to environmental estrogens help prevent breast cancer?

This is a breast cancer prevention study from The University of Reading. This study discusses environmental compounds with estrogenic activity. The researchers state that environmental estrogens can cause estrogenic responses even at very low concentrations such as those found in the breast.

Terms used in this study: environmental estrogens, assayable estrogenic responses, upper outer quadrant of the breast.

The authors conclude that if estrogenic chemicals in consumer products increase the risk of breast cancer then prevention is possible

Environmental oestrogens and breast cancer: evidence for combined involvement of dietary, household and cosmetic xenoestrogens. - Anticancer Res. 2010 Mar;30(3):815-27.

Breast Cancer and Fat Intake

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 09:19:00 +0000

Does fat cause breast cancer?

This is a study from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. This study evaluated role of fat intake in the risk of breast cancer. The researchers based their finding on Women's Health Initiative Fat Reduction Trial.

Terms used in this study: dietary intervention, postmenopausal breast cancer.

The authors conclude that the minimizing weight gain during midlife or weight loss after menopause reduces the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.
The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial: a post-mortem. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Mar;114(1):1-6.

Vegetarian diet or fish diet and the risk of breast cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:51:00 +0000

Does a vegetarian diet or a fish diet reduce the risk of breast cancer?

In this study from the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, four common dietary patterns were assessed at baseline by using a 217-item food frequency questionnaire. The included 35,372 women aged between 35 and 69 years.

Terms mentioned in this study: postmenopausal, dietary pattern, UK Women's Cohort Study (UKWCS).

The authors conclude that a fish diet was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women; but not for a vegetarian diet.

Common dietary patterns and risk of breast cancer: analysis from the United Kingdom Women's Cohort Study.
Nutr Cancer. 2010 Apr;62(3):300-6.

Flaxseed and Estrogens

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Flax is also known as linseed.

Effect of flaxseed consumption on urinary levels of estrogen metabolites in postmenopausal women.
Nutr Cancer. 2010;62(2):175-80.

Breast Cancer and Terpenoids

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:43:00 +0000

Terpenoids in the diet may decrease the risk of hormone related diseases such as breast cancer. Terpenoids are naturally occuring lipids found in some fruits and vegetables.

Targeting Apoptosis Pathway with Natural Terpenoids: Implications for Treatment of Breast and Prostate Cancer
Curr Drug Targets. 2010 Mar 18.

Ginger and human breast cancer cells

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:43:00 +0000

Can ginger kill breast cancer cells?

[6]-Gingerol inhibits metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells

"In conclusion, we have shown that [6]-gingerol inhibits cell adhesion, invasion, motility and activities of ... human breast cancer cell lines."

J Nutr Biochem. 2008 May;19(5):313-9

Fiber, nuts and proliferative benign breast disease

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:56:00 +0000

Can a diet of nuts and fiber decrease the incidence of proliferative benign breast disease?
Benign proliferative breast disease may increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Intake of fiber and nuts during adolescence and incidence of proliferative benign breast disease.

This study showed that a diet with fiber and nuts consumned during adolescence reduced the subsequent risk of breast disease .

Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Mar 14

Related Link:
Fibrocystic Breast Disease Video

Breast cancer risk and dietary patterns

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:52:00 +0000

What healthy dietary patterns are associated with a lower breast cancer risk and breast cancer prevention?

Dietary patterns and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Exercise and mammographic breast density

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:32:00 +0000

Does exercise affect breast density?

This Italian study showed that physical activity was associated with lower mammographic breast densities.

Physical activity and mammographic breast density in a Mediterranean population: the EPIC Florence longitudinal study.

Int J Cancer. 2009 Apr 1;124(7):1654-61.

Breast Biopsy

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:37:00 +0000

What is a breast biopsy?
If you have a breast lump, your doctor may want to perform a breast biopsy. This procedure involves taking sample tissue from the suspicious area to determine whether the breast lump is cancerous.

Bitter Melon Extract Inhibits Breast Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:01:00 +0000

An in vitro study of bitter melon extract on breast cancer cells.

Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) Extract Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation by Modulating Cell Cycle Regulatory Genes and Promotes Apoptosis.
Cancer Res. 2010 Feb 23.

Breast Self Examination Video

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:25:00 +0000

Breast Check Techniques:

A video from ExpertVillage.com demonstrating the breast check technique using the 'breast check aid'. A breast self examination for breast lumps or breast cancer also be done without this aid.

Related Links:
Breast Exam Videos
Breast Cancer Society of Canada

Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:04:00 +0000

Alcohol and risk of breast cancer in Mexican women.

"Our findings support evidence that any alcohol intake increases risk of breast cancer. Insufficient intake of folate may further elevate risk for developing breast cancer among women who consume alcohol."

Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Feb 13.

Breast Cancer Risk and Meat Intake

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:03:00 +0000

Long-term meat intake and risk of breast cancer by oestrogen and progesterone receptor status in a cohort of Swedish women.

"These results do not support an association between red meat intake and overall breast cancer risk but suggest that fried meat intake may increase the risk of ER+/PR- breast cancer."

Eur J Cancer. 2009 Nov;45(17):3042-6.

Breast Cancer and Pomegranate Juice

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:44:00 +0000

Pomegranate and breast cancer: possible mechanisms of prevention.
"Several mechanistic studies in cell culture and mouse models suggest possible estrogen receptor-mediated and non-estrogen receptor-mediated benefits of pomegranate juice with respect to breast cancer risk."
Nutr Rev. 2010 Feb;68(2):122-8.

"Notwithstanding the possible benefits of the juice, each such glass also tops the maximum daily amount of sugar...with almost 30 grams of sugar..."

Lifestyle as risk factor for cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:28:00 +0000

Lifestyle as risk factor for cancer: Evidence from human studies.

"Healthy lifestyle behaviors for cancer risk reduction include a healthy diet, weight management, regular exercise, reduction in alcohol consumption and smoking cessation."

Cancer Lett. 2010 Jan 15.

Salads Reduce Risk Of Breast Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:18:00 +0000

A study in Italy comparing 4 different types of diets showed a reduced risk of a specific subtype of breast cancer (HER-2-positive cancers) in women who ate salads (raw vegetables with olive oil).

Salad vegetables dietary pattern protects against HER-2-positive breast cancer: a prospective Italian study
Int J Cancer. 2007 Aug 15;121(4):911-4.

Cancer Prone Personality?

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:34:00 +0000

Are people with certain personalities or attitudes more prone to cancer? This idea can contribute to the state of self-blame often seen in breast cancer survivors.

This study showed that personality factors where not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer over 13 years.

Personality Factors and Breast Cancer Risk: A 13-Year Follow-up
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008 Feb 6;100(3):213-8.

Large Breasts And Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:40:00 +0000

Are large breasts an independent risk factor that increases the risk of breast cancer?

clipped from www.cmaj.ca

Background: Elevated waist circumference and body mass index(BMI), both traditional measures of obesity, are accepted riskfactors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Girls who are obese experienceearlier onset of puberty and possibly greater breast development.We sought to evaluate whether a woman's breast size in lateadolescence is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetesmellitus in adulthood.

Interpretation: A large bra cup size at age 20 may be a predictorof type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle-aged women. Whether thisrelation is independent of traditional indicators of obesityremains to be determined.

3D Breast Imaging

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:08:00 +0000

Improving imaging technology for mammography:
Tomosynthesis is a next generation digital diagnostic tool that uses 3D imaging to detect breast cancer .

clipped from jama.ama-assn.org

Digital tomosynthesisuses highly precise 3-dimensional imagingthat proponents saywill improve breast cancer screening sensitivityand specificity.(Photo credit: Breast Imaging Division/MassachusettsGeneralHospital)

Fish Omega-3 Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:16:00 +0000

Fish are rich in omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Do this fatty acids decrease the risk of breast cancer?

EPA and DHA are omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon. In this study, the levels of these fatty acids were measured in the red blood cells of women.

Breast cancer risk and erythrocyte compositions of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in Japanese
Int J Cancer. 2007 Jul 15;121(2):377-85.

Cruciferous Vegetables

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:45:00 +0000

Does the consumption of cruciferous vegetables reduce the risk of cancer?
These vegetables include broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.
Sulforaphane is an anticancer and antimicrobial compound.

Molecular basis for chemoprevention by sulforaphane: a comprehensive review
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2007 May;64(9):1105-27

Try adding a couple of servings of these foods to your diet weekly .

Phytoestrogens And Soy

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:07:00 +0000

Does soy food intake as consumed in Asian populations decrease the risk o breast cancer?

Phytoestrogens are derived from plants and can have either estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity.
Soy isoflavones such as genistein and daidzein may lower breast cancer risk. The concern is that it may promote the growth of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells.

Epidemiology of soy exposures and breast cancer risk
Br J Cancer. 2008 Jan 15;98(1):9-14.

Post-menopausal Weight Gain

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Is weight gain in adulthood associated with increased postmenopausal breast cancer risk? Does using menopausal hormone therapy affect this postmenopausal breast cancer risk? Does weight loss after menopause decrease breast cancer risk?

Obesity and overweight increases the risk of breast cancer especially with women not using menopausal hormone therapy

Adiposity, adult weight change, and postmenopausal breast cancer risk.

Adult weight change and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.

Soy food intake and breast cancer survival

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Hiavelli) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:58:00 +0000

Soy food intake and breast cancer survival

CONCLUSION: Among women with breast cancer, soy food consumption was significantly associated with decreased risk of death and recurrence.

JAMA. 2009 Dec 9;302(22):2437-43.