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Breast Cancer - A Focus on Prevention

Breast Cancer - A Focus on Prevention
According to the Center for Disease Control, "Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women." Nearly 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be reported this year. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women and results in 500,000 deaths every year. The more developed the country, the greater the incidence of breast cancer.

Since 1960, approximately one million women-double the number of Americans (male and female) who died in World Wars I & II, and in the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf wars combined-have died from breast cancer.

Unfortunately, breast cancer screening and prevention leaves something to be desired as mammograms, thermography and self-examinations statistically don't fare very well. The best way to be safe is to focus on true prevention which can be done safely and effectively. It's hard to believe that 1/3 of Americans will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime and that statistic is rapidly increasing. Risk factors for breast cancer include:

* Conventional hormone replacement therapy
* Birth control pills
* Alcohol
* Not having children or having your first child after the age of 35
* Menstrual periods before 12 or menopause after 55
* Hair Dyes
* Underarm Deodorants
* Vitamin D Deficiency
* Radiation exposure
* Tobacco
* High fat diet
* Dense breasts
* Overweight
* Toxic chemical exposure
* Xenohormones - plastics, pesticides etc.
* Antioxidant deficiencies
* Silicon implants
* High blood pressure medication

Breast Cancer - A Focus on Prevention

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