Breast Cancer: Could store receipts and canned goods put you at risk?

I'm sure many of you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are pink ribbons everywhere!

As a woman and a doctor, I know the fear the words “breast cancer” can stir up. The rising incidences of breast cancer in the US and other countries are staggering – and they mostly stem from not-so-wonderful lifestyle choices and habits.

I’m not going to repeat depressing statistics, as they can be easily found elsewhere. I will however, spend the next two blogs offering some helpful information to reduce your risk for this terrible disease.

First of all, it's no secret to the scientific community that the majority of breast cancer cases are driven by estrogen levels. Specifically, excess estrogen levels. When balanced, estrogen is actually an essential hormone in the body - even men produce it! 

 It does all kinds of wonderful things like help women conceive babies! It’s also essential for bone health (which is why women have increased incidences of osteoporosis after menopause, because there is a decline in estrogen.)

The problems arise when the body produces too much estrogen or comes in contact with yucky stuff in the environment that mimics or disrupts estrogen levels. Obviously, any imbalance in human physiology is not good… but excess estrogen is really bad. It can lead to an imbalance in the "steroid/hormone dance" (that's what it's actually called in the study of Functional Medicine), which can begin initiating cancer cells and tumor development.  

So why does the body do this then?  

I’ll tell you in a minute.

First, I bet just about everyone has heard of Bisphenol a -- or BPA as it's more commonly called. No? Well, let me explain. BPA is a monomer (chemistry term, sorry) that is used in plastics, dental sealants, canned goods – as well as eyeglasses, cell phone cases and the receipts you get printed out at the store! And because us humans come in contact with these everyday products all the time, it's estimated that over 90% of Americans have this substance stored in our bodies (in the fat, actually.)

So what does this have to do with Breast Cancer?  

BPA is a synthetic estrogen. When it comes in contact with your body and gets inside you, it ends up disrupting the normal balance of estrogen already in you by displacing the good estrogen.

Since it’s stored in the fat (and we have fat cells everywhere) - not only are BPA’s a BIG reason as to why losing weight is so difficult, they’ve have also been implicated in causing a world of hurt to other parts of our bodies.

Ready for this list?

When exposed to excess amounts of BPA, you might be at risk for:

1. Decreased brain function
2. Altered brain chemistry (anyone out there have sleep problems?)
3. Weight gain 
4. Behavioral changes depression and mood swings
5. Diabetes
6. Prostate cancer
7. Early puberty in our kids
8. Reduced sperm count to make aforementioned spawns
9. Down Syndrome
10. Altered immune function 

Sadly, as in life, there are no guarantees in health either. However, there is a useful test to measure estrogen to help determine if you’re at risk for developing cancer and tumor development. It's called "Estronex" and is performed by Metametrix Labs out of Duluth, Georgia.

It's an easy test - just one urine sample. It costs under $200. Based on their findings, your health care provider can develop a treatment plan for you. The test can be repeated six months to a year later to determine if further changes need to be made – so it’s a pretty good way to keep an eye on yourself.

While giving to charities is very commendable, maybe you should think about donating to your own health and well being this year. The level of breast cancer cases are increasing in men and women at the same rate. It’s time you take the steps to protect yourself so you don’t become just another sad statistic.

I will post next week about some pro-active steps you can take to lessen your exposure to harmful chemicals like BPA’s and hopefully reduce your risk to potentially life threatening problems.   

Yours in health,

Dr. Jeanne Masanz, DC

http://northwestminneapolischiropractor.com 

Office: 612.259.7323

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