Did you know…..that according to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is second only to lung cancer when accounting for cancer deaths among women in the USA? In fact, in 2013, an estimated 296,880 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed, with approximately 39,620 women expected to die as a result. Risk factors for breast cancer include: age, race, ethnicity, genetics, personal & family history of cancer, exposure to estrogen and progesterone, hormone replacement therapy, and a variety of lifestyle factors.
“Although many of our risk factors for developing b
reast cancer are beyond our control”, said Paula Curtiss, Founding Director for Healing Hands School of Holistic Health. “there are still many holistic health practices proven to be effective in lowering a woman’s risk. Below is a list of my top ten”, she continued.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight – Postmenopausal women who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of breast cancer, and they have a higher risk of it returning after treatment.
- Engage in Daily Physical Activity – Regular exercise helps women maintain a healthy body weight, lowers hormone levels, and causes positive changes in a women’s metabolism and immune factors.
- Get Massaged Regularly – Research on massage in people with breast cancer have shown that massage offers both physical and emotional benefits such as: feeling less pain, reduced anxiety, feeling less depressed, increased levels of dopamine which produces feelings of well-being, and an increase in white blood cells that boost the immune system .
- Avoid Hormones – Hormone Replacement Therapy and birth control pills can increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
- Reduce Alcohol Consumption – Current research suggests that having more than one to two alcoholic drinks, (including beer & wine) per day raises the risk of breast cancer, as well as recurrence after treatment.
- Develop the habit of healthy eating – A diet that includes many fruits and vegetables and fewer animal fats, have proven to provide many health benefits.
- Self-care – A routine (bi-monthly) self-exam can help detect lumps, bumps, and other changes to breast tissue, so you can seek a doctor’s care early on as early detection saves lives.
- Educate yourself on the role genetics and genetic mutations (ie: BRCA1 and BRCA2) play.
- Understand your family history of breast cancer and other cancers that may affect your chances.
- Seek preventative care! Mammograms are still considered the best defense against breast cancer as early detection substantially increases survival rates.
At Healing Hands School of Holistic Health, you can learn all about Massage, Diet/Nutrition, Herbal remedies and many other Holistic Health practices for optimal health. For more information about our school or the 80+ holistic health courses we offer, visit us online at www.HealingHandsSchool.com or call us at (949) 305-2722 in Laguna Hills or (760) 746-9364 in Escondido.
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Citation: American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2013-2014. Atlanta: American Cancer Society, Inc. 2013.)