Kendra Huffine, MED 1010

$o Ja\l^l^^'"

-'t

Yll

Breast Cancer

After many years of research and progress including thousands of studies and higher
knowledge of breast cancer it still is the most common cancer in women. Lowering the risk of
breast cancer can be done using many different techniques and cutting out the things in life that
are very harmful to the body. There are two main phases of breast development, before birth and
adolescence, these phases can play a key role in higher risk of developing breast cancer. Most
breast tissue is developed during a girl's adolescence, these changes are throughout around ten
years. Through the development of breasts, DNA is copied before the new breast cells are made,
during this process breast cells can be prone to developing genetic abnormalities that are called
mutations. These mutations can increase the risk of getting breast cancer.
Breast tissue is very sensitive between developing the breasts completely and the frst
full-term pregnancy. The cells inside of the breasts don't mature completely until a woman goes
through her flrst full-term pregnancy. The immature breast cells are more active and respond to
hormones more than the mature cells. Extra estrogen or chemicals that act as estrogen increase
breast cancer risk. There are many ways that modern life has changed the ways that we live and
the increased risk women have of getting breast cancer. The flust thing that is new is that women
are living longeffiis is not the greatest news for the breasts because our genes can develop new

harmful mutations and our body is less likely to be able to repair the damage. The second new
reality is puberty and breast development are starting earlier than before. Between the middle of
the 1800's and the 1950's the age of when girls reached puberty dropped and then stabilized.
The fust reason it dropped is because of proper nutrition and lifestyle improvement,Seasts are
developed earlier when a girl starts puberty so the breasts are exposed longer to altering
substances and this creates a higher risk to breast cancer.
Other new realities are more women are delaying pregnancies, fewer women breastfeed,
more adolescents and women take hormones, more women and girls are overweight or obese,
more girls and women are physically inactive, women consume alcohol more, many women still
smoke, many women have low levels of vitamin D, many women are sleep deprived and stressed
out, and women and girls are exposed to more environmental pollutants. Pollutants play a big
role in higher risk for breast cancer as well because pollution is everywhere including the food
we eat, the air we breathe, and in the products we use. There are over 80,000 different chemicals
that are used in agriculture and consumer products to help with pests, infections, and to save
money. Woman can make many different lifestyle changes to help lower the risk of getting
breast cancer. Although it is impossible to not get breast cancer, anyone can get it including the
healthiest person with no family history to women who have the BRCA1 and BRCM genes.
Make sure to always follow a doctor's recommendation, avoid taking any extra hormones if at all
possible. Get to and obtain a healthy weight, regularly exercise, limit the use of alcohol, quit
smoking and avoid second and third hand smoke, get plenty of fresh air, avoid radiation, get
enough vitamin D, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, try to buy organic when you can, read all
your iabels, be aware of packaging, avoid any empty calories, eat small meals instead of three
big ones, cook real food whenever you can, choose healthy methods of cooking, choose personal
care products that are safe, use household products that are "Green" , manags sleep and stress,

Kendra Huffine, MED 1010

consider earlier pregnancy rather than later, know family and personal history, and start now and
try your best.