Tag Archives: breast cancer

A Mushroom a Day Helps Keep Breast Cancer Away

By Karen Sherwood for NutritiousAmerica.com

Mushrooms have long been considered a medicinal food in eastern cultures, touted for their anti-inflammatory properties and range of micronutrients.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s new book, “Super Immunity, The Essential Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free,” presents new research on multiple foods including mushrooms. Specifically mushrooms in relation to their immunity boosting and cancer preventative properties.

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT MUSHROOMS?

Mushrooms contain three important compounds that make them cancer fighting soldiers — Anitgen Binding Lectins, Aromatase Inhibitors, and Anti-Angiogenic Properties. Big words with really big fighting power.

Mushrooms contain ABL, Antigen Binding Lectins, proteins which bind to abnormal cancer cells and activate the bodies defense system against them. ABL also works to be sure that the body does not replicate abnormal cells hence preventing the spread of cancerous cells and tumors.

In relation to breast cancer, mushrooms help the body reduce the level of estrogen and prevent estrogen from stimulating breast tissue through compounds called aromatase inhibitors. Estrogen plays an important role in the development of breast cancer, so mushrooms certainly have a protective effect. (more…)

Posted on October 19, 2023 by GuestBlogger

The Doctors Tackle the Top American Health Threats

Tune in Friday, October 21, 2024 as The Doctors tackle the top two American health threats.

Obesity and breast cancer are the two major health concerns in the U.S. However, the more we can learn about these conditions, the more we can to do prevent and overcome them. The cast will be presenting many ways to take control of your health and well being.

Also, as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Doctors will be presenting vital tips regarding breast cancer that everyone needs to see.

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Lacy

2024 Komen Race for the Cure Series Offers Races for All Fitness Levels

The Susan G. Komen foundation is gearing up for another fantastic year of fund raising through The Race for the Cure Series. This series of 5K runs and fitness walks contribute to the world’s largest and most successful education and fund raising event for breast cancer.

Since 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure events have celebrated survivors, honored those who have lost their battles, and raised awareness about breast cancer. The event started in 1983 with one race and 800 people. Today, over 1.6 million people are participating on four different continents.

The Race for the Cure Series includes options for all fitness levels.

Competitive 5Ks, non-timed 5Ks, and 1 to 2 mile walks are options at most of the events. Events often include a race for children as well. Another option for those wanting to participate, yet may not be available is the “Sleep In for the Cure.” With this option, one may donate their money and have a shirt mailed to them.

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Posted on October 6, 2023 by Lacy

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During this month, there is an added push to make people aware of this devastating disease and help them learn all they can as we all fight to end it forever. As research is being done everyday, we can’t wait to hear when the eventual cure is found. Until then, prevention and education are our strongest weapons.

We’ve collected many useful pieces to help educate and inform as we all work to find a cure.

Diet and Breast Cancer

There are many studies connecting the relationship between diet and cancer, specifically breast cancer. The research is yielding new findings all the time. Staying aware is often key in cure and prevention.

Weight Loss and Breast Cancer
Obesity has been linked to cancer in some studies. Learn how a healthy body weight can be a powerful cancer prevention method. Also read how the consumption of high fat foods can play a role in cancer connections.

Breast Cancer Prevention Diet
Dr. Bob Arnot, NBC News chief medical correspondent, has written a book outlining studies that point to certain lifestyle choices including diet, that may prevent breast cancer.

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Posted on October 4, 2023 by Lacy

Breast Cancer Surgery Recovery Aided by Lifting Weights

By Liz Neporent

Breast cancer survivors get ready for a game changer. Instead of sitting on the sidelines and avoiding physical activity for fear of aggravating the arm swelling experienced by up to 70 percent of surgery patients, experts are now recommending you pump iron.

For decades, breast cancer patients undergoing treatment have been warned away from lifting anything heavier than a small bag of groceries. The thought was overexertion might cause lymphedema, a painful, arm-swelling condition that’s a common side effect of surgery. Recent work by University of Pennsylvania scientists challenges this notion with findings that a carefully structured weight training program doesn’t make lymphedema worse. In fact, it can reduce the chances of arm swelling or even prevent it altogether.

The research involved 154 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer within the last few years and who had had at least two lymph nodes removed but hadn’t yet developed lymphedema. Half were told not to change their exercise habits. The rest attended twice weekly weight training sessions supervised by certified personal trainers. Routines got progressively more challenging over 13 weeks and then the women continued lifting on their own for up to nine months afterwards. (more…)

Posted on October 3, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Time to Prepare for Chemo

Guest blogger, Carol Dunlop is certified through FiTour as a Personal Trainer and through the American Red Cross as a CPR, AED and First Aid Instructor. She has competed and placed in several Fitness America and National Bodybuilding competitions. To receive your Free E-course “How to Burn Calories While you Sleep,” check out her website, OptimumBodySculpting.com.

If you missed Carol’s first installment in this series documenting her journey through her battle with breast cancer, you can read more about her moving story here: Reflections on My Fight with Breast Cancer.

One of the worst things about this whole breast cancer journey is the waiting. It seems that I’m always waiting for something:

  • A doctor’s appointment
  • The actual doctor
  • A procedure or test
  • The results
  • The decision

Sometimes, it’s just so much, you feel as though you can’t go through one more waiting period for anything. But, then you do it and you move on to the next waiting period for… whatever. (more…)

Posted on September 28, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Walnuts May Prevent Breast Cancer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. While it’s often very treatable when caught early enough, the best thing is to find ways to avoid it altogether. One way is to consider what you eat. Recent research has found that consuming walnuts may be a way of preventing breast cancer.

Researchers examines the effects of a diet containing a small amount of walnuts over the lifespan of mice. It was the equivalent of two ounces daily for humans. What they observed was the walnuts slowed the development and growth of breast cancer tumors in the mice.

“We think now that diet can prevent 30 to 60 percent of all cancers,” said lead researcher Elaine Hardman, Ph.D., professor at Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. “The healthy diet that we should be eating is what we know is healthy – a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Walnuts can be an important component of that diet.” (more…)

Posted on September 16, 2023 by Jason

Reflections on My Fight with Breast Cancer

Guest blogger, Carol Dunlop is certified through FiTour as a Personal Trainer and through the American Red Cross as a CPR, AED and First Aid Instructor. She has competed and placed in several Fitness America and National Bodybuilding competitions. To receive your Free E-course “How to Burn Calories While you Sleep,” check out her website, OptimumBodySculpting.com.

It’s been over a month since I heard the word “cancerous” in connection with myself. It feels better to know that all the cancer that the doctors could see is now gone. They told me the operation was the first part and depending on the size of the tumor, chemotherapy would be the second part, if it was needed. Immediately, I put all the “ifs” out of my mind and stopped worrying about getting or not getting chemo and my reaction to it, until I needed to deal with it, as a factor.

Compartmentalizing the whole process, at each step, has helped me get through this. I’ve learned that women can do that! Ha! I did it and it has worked well for me. (more…)

Posted on September 9, 2023 by GuestBlogger

New Legislation Could Ban Food and Plastic Chemicals From Shelves

New legislation could alter the familiar faces of the grocery store aisles, such as Chester the Cheetah or the Jolly Green Giant, in the very near future.

According to CNN.com, Rep. Jim Moran, D-Virginia, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts will introduce a bill later this month that would give the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences power to ban up to 10 harmful chemicals from common household and food products.

Once the NIEHS has named a chemical as “high concern,” its use is illegal after 24 months. Bisphenol A, often used in plastics and known as an endocrine disruptor, is one of the chemicals that could be on the banned list. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is also used in the lining of many canned goods, which are a staple of pantry cabinets throughout the US.

Harmful chemicals such as BPA and DES, a chemical found in cattle feed and breast cancer treatment medicine, can change how hormones operate and lead to birth defects such as neurological disorders or autism, according to the article.

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Posted on July 14, 2023 by Jamie

Parsley May Help Prevent or Slow the Growth of Breast Cancer

A lot of people consider parsley to be no more than an annoying garnish on your dinner plate, but a recent study from researchers at the University of Missouri reported recently that the seemingly innocuous herb may contain properties that prevent certain breast cancer cells from spreading or growing.

In this study, researchers exposed rats with a certain type of breast cancer to a common compound called apigenin, which is found in parsley, along with other plant products. They found the rats that were exposed to this compound developed fewer tumors and experienced a delay in tumor formation.

According to FoxNews.com, apigenin is most prevalent in parsley and celery, but can also be found in apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products. Researchers believe these findings could impact women with breast cancer as well as women on certain hormone replacement therapies.

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Posted on May 12, 2023 by Maris

Soy Foods and Isoflavones Don’t Increase Risk in Breast Cancer Survivors

Ever since research has come out about soy and its inherent properties that allow it to act like extra estrogen in the body, thereby possibly increasing the risk of breast cancer in women, I’ve been somewhat cautious about adding too much soy in my diet. While I’ve never suffered from breast cancer myself, it does run in my family, so I don’t like to take any chances. I know a lot of women who feel the same way, and I know some breast cancer survivors who are very limited with the amount of soy they consume for these reasons as well. Although the research of late on soy and cancer have been a little back and forth, new research presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2024 that was held in early April has found that soy foods do not increase the risk of cancer recurrence or death among breast cancer survivors.

To understand the study, it’s helpful to know why soy foods have been suspect. Soy foods contain large amounts of isoflavones that are known to bind to estrogen receptors and have both estrogen-like and anti-estrogenic effects, according to the study. Scientists have been particularly concerned that the isoflavones in soy could compromise the effect of the breast-cancer-treatment drug Tamoxifen because both the drug and isoflavones bind to estrogen receptors.

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Posted on April 9, 2024 by Jennipher