Help! Many Women in My Family have Breast Cancer! What can I do to Prevent it? By Dr. Leah Hahn, as appeared in Golden Living Magazine

"Most of the women in my family have gotten breast cancer.  What can I do to not be a statistic?"  This was the conversation that I had with a very distressed patient years ago.  She had been working with our office to get rid of headaches and neck pain, but those issues had been gone for a long time.  She stayed in care because she slept better, had more energy, and let me know that she hadn't gotten a cold in years.  What she did admit was, "I know I am not doing everything I need to.  I am not eating the best and besides my adjustments, I am not doing much to manage my stress."

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2016, 246,660 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer; 61,000 women will be diagnosed with non-invasive breast cancer.  With the number of women facing breast cancer in today's world, one thing I have thought of repeatedly, is what practices  can we actively put in place in our lives to help prevent this?  Is there an anti-cancer lifestyle?  The research seems to say that we really don't know, but living a healthy lifestyle has shown (on average) to extend life..........especially in relationship to breast cancer. The following are some lifestyle changes to consider.

1. EAT YOUR BROCCOLI

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and other green leafy vegetables contain a nutrient called indole-3-carbinole that helps the body to detoxify excess estrogen.  Numerous studies show that excess estrogen is related to breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers--all of which are estrogen dependent cancers.

2. STAY REGULAR

When people become constipated, toxic compounds the body is trying to get rid of in its waste are re-circulated through the system (especially the liver) repeatedly.  This can not only make someone feel sluggish, but your body cannot get rid of excess estrogen that again, feeds estrogen dependent cancers, like breast cancer.  Aim for at least 25 grams of fiber a day, as well as drinking half your body weight in ounces of water daily.

2. SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMIN D3

Even living in the sunny state of Colorado, most of my patients are vitamin D deficient.  Vitamin D is essential for heart health, your quality of sleep, your mood, and cancer prevention.  Cancer cells can be in our body at any time.  The key is whether your body is functioning well enough to identify and destroy those cells, versus letting  the cancer cells continue to grow.  Vitamin D3 decreases cancer's ability to metastasize.   This is exciting!  Ask your health care professional to test your Vitamin D3 level and then work to increase it if necessary!

3. EXERCISE

If you could take a pill that decreases your risk of cancer by 50%, would you do it?  Guess what, that pill is EXERCISE!  Aim for at least 3.5 hours per week...that’s just 20 minutes!  You can do it!  

4. CHIROPRACTIC CARE

According to the British Medical Journal, participants under regular chiropractic care had 21% fewer hospitalizations, 50% fewer medical visits, 40% fewer prescriptions, spent 31% less than the national average on medical care, and had better perceived overall quality of health.  Simply stated, those under chiropractic care function better, heal faster, handle stress better, and can adapt more effectively to the stressors we all deal with on a daily basis.

5. IMPROVE HOW YOU THINK

A study from Wayne Dyer showed that we think approximately 60,000 thoughts every single day.  95% of the thoughts you will think today, are the same thoughts you will think tomorrow.... 80% are negative.  Start thinking positive thoughts, to not only change your quality of life, but to improve your stress level.  Meditation is great for changing how you think and decreasing stress physiology.  

I think the biggest thing people need to remember is that your lifestyle is in your control.  Genetics play a role in our health, but less of a role than you think.  What you decide to put in your mouth, how you take care of your body, and how you think are vital areas to creating a high quality life, but longevity as well.  As women, we care for our families, care for our household, often work outside the home, and also want the energy to pursue our passions.  You matter!  Remember, create health by choice, not by chance.  

Attend one of our free health and life-changing events:

8WW Orientation: 8WW is designed to change your relationship with food, exercise, and how your handle stress.  Whether participants tackle diabetes, high cholesterol, or just want to look and feel better--8WW is the foundation for creating a lifestyle change--"Give us 8 Weeks, and We'll Change the Rest of Your Life!" - October 5th, 2016 at 6:30 pm

Top Secrets to Developing a Healthy Immune System: With kids going back to school and cold weather approaching, we are exposed to all kinds of bugs.  What helps some people get through these hits to the immune system without a bump in the road, while others constantly fight colds and flues?  Find out the top secrets that keep your immune function going strong!  October 12th, 2016 at 6:30 pm

Strategies for Optimizing Hormonal Health: Hormones are complex!  What can we as women and men do to improve our overall function and health to deal with hormonal issues?  Did you know your digestion and liver health have a lot to do with optimizing hormonal function?  Explore this topic with Dr. Leah and learn strategies to improve hormonal issues and overall health. - October 26th, 2016 at 6:30 pm

Join us on October 26th at 6:30 at Body In Balance for this POPULAR class!

Strategies for Optimizing Hormonal Health: Hormones are complex!  What can we as women and men do to improve our overall function and health to deal with hormonal issues?  Did you know your digestion and liver health have a lot to do with optimizing hormonal function?  Explore this topic with Dr. Leah and learn strategies to improve hormonal issues and overall health.

Location

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday

8:30 am - 11:20 am

2:30 pm - 5:20 pm

Tuesday

8:30 am - 11:20 am

Wednesday

8:30 am - 11:20 am

2:30 pm - 5:20 pm

Thursday

8:30 am - 11:20 am

2:30 pm - 5:20 pm

Friday

Admin Hours

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Monday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Tuesday
8:30 am - 11:20 am
Wednesday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Thursday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Friday
Admin Hours 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed