There is a long list of characteristics that increase risk of breast cancer and/or increased risk of recurrence. breastcancer.org has an excellent list of both factors that cannot or that can be changed, so I won't repeat their information. But I can offer some ideas on how to implement or refine the factors that can be changed.
Reducing risk from your life takes time and is expensive. And there are so many relatively little factors that you can tweak -it takes time to deal with each one in a way that fits your lifestyle. Every little bit helps!
Who Knew?
Food
Google the "Dirty Dozen" - fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticides - apples are at the top of the list! Those on the list are probably the most important to buy organic if you can afford it or to use pesticide removing sprays on nonorganic and washing thoroughly.
foodforbreastcancer.com offers an excellent list of foods inhibit tumor growth.
Ditch the Teflon! Especially Teflon pots and pans that have any nicks. Alternatives include stainless steel, iron, enamel or corning ware. There maybe others.
Some say to limit dairy products, others say they are ok. Fat free and organic is best. When taking aromatase inhibitors, the long term risk of osteoporosis needs to be countered, so diary can be an important source of calcium. For calcium to be effectively absorbed, whether in your diet or in pill form, it needs to be consumed throughout the day - not in one big gulp. And it should be consumed in conjunction with Vitamin D. Vitamin D may also have tumor fighting properties.
This month, it's PARABENS. These chemicals are found in lots of skin care and cosmetic products. They mimic hormones and studies have found them in breast cancer tumor cells. They do the same thing as estrogen in ER+ breast cancers. It is easier to read the full list of ingredients in these products by checking their listing on the internet. I just tossed a bunch of hand lotions and face creams. I won't give up my favorite foundation make up, but I will use it less often and wash it off more promptly. http://foodsforcancer.com provides many detailed articles about parabens.
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