It’s simple math: 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Forty years ago that number was 1 in 20. What has changed? Why is this number increasing? I am not a scientist or a doctor, but rather a concerned mom, with an 11 year-old daughter and countless nieces, for whom I want the future to have better odds.
Many people, myself included, tend to focus on whether you have a family history of breast cancer. Sadly, many of us do, and that influences us to be more proactive with our screening. But what if you don’t have a family history? And is active screening enough? In fact, only 10% of breast cancer cases have a proven genetic link. So what are the other risk factors and is there anything we can do to help reduce our risk of having this disease in the first place?
Every October we see everything covered in pink, and we are told to be more “aware” of this disease. But we are all too aware as every single person reading this has been touched in some way by breast cancer, whether experiencing the diagnosis themselves, or having a friend or a relative diagnosed. It’s time to stop just being “aware” but helping ourselves to prevent this disease. Breast cancer can't be traced back to any one thing. Rather than looking for single, direct causes, we should recognize the multiple, interacting factors that influence risk, and increasingly, science is pointing to environmental links to this disease.
Among the risk factors are environmental exposures to radiation, carcinogens and chemicals that act like hormones (known as endocrine disruptors). And evidence suggests that low doses are just as harmful, if not more harmful, than higher doses of exposure. How can we reduce our risk of encountering these hormone-disrupting chemicals? The Breast Cancer Fund is an organization that works to prevent breast cancer by eliminating our exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease. They have an extremely informative website that lists 5 tips to protect yourself and your family from toxic exposures:
1. Find safe ways to fight germs.
These days it seems like everything claims to be antibacterial—soaps, toothpaste, clothing, bedding, band-aids, toys, cutting boards—you name it. Chances are, these products contain triclosan, an antimicrobial agent that is suspected of interfering with the hormone systems of humans and wildlife. There’s no evidence that triclosan is more effective than good old-fashioned soap and water.
2. Cut down on personal care products, and find safe alternatives.
When it comes to personal care products, simple is best. Decrease your exposure to toxic chemicals in cosmetics by using fewer products and choosing those with simpler ingredients. For products you can’t live without, find a safe alternative, such as Beautycounter, a company whose mission is to move the market and policy away from toxic chemical use to be safer, cleaner and greener by eliminating over 1500 chemicals that have been linked to hormone disruption, infertility, cancer and other health issues.
3. Choose fresh, organic and hormone-free.
When possible, choose organic foods and hormone-free meat and dairy. Buying products grown organically reduces pesticide use, which is good for families, farm-workers, and the environment.
4. Dispose batteries, electronics and light bulbs properly.
When trashed, these items, which all contain chemicals linked to breast cancer and other health concerns, end up in landfills. From there, chemicals like cadmium and mercury can leach into soil, lakes and streams. What to do? Look for special battery or electronics recycling/disposal centers in your community, return compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) to your local hardware store and return electronics to the store or manufacturer.
5. It’s hard in the suburbs to avoid using your car but, where you can, reduce your carbon footprint by walking, biking or taking public transportation. Avoid car exhaust to the extent you can or choose to purchase a clean, fuel-efficient vehicle.
Of course following these tips will not guarantee good health, but at least we know that we can do something to help ourselves reduce our risk in some small way. From skin care to household cleaners to food, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals matters. By making a few simple changes, you can lead your family down a safer path, and move the market in the right direction.
About the Author
About the Author
Michelle Nadel lives in Woodcliff Lake, NJ with her husband and two children. She’s a Senior Director with Beautycounter, an LA-based company on a mission to get safe products into the hands of everyone. If you have any questions about Beautycounter, please visit www.beautycounter.com/michellenadel, email Michelle or call 201-562-2231.
