BREAST CANCER

Prevent and Fight Breast Cancer, Naturally

When we hear the words breast cancer,
we cant help but feel a little shiver of fear
down our backs. Its the second-leading
cause of cancer-related deaths among
women in the world (behind lung cancer).
Statistics say that one in every eight women
will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her
lifetime. One in eight. If youre a woman and
go to a book club meeting with a group of
friends, its likely that one of you will get that
dreaded diagnosis. One of you will have to tell
your family you have cancer. One of you will
have to navigate the chilling world of radiation,
chemotherapy, mastectomy, and other
standard treatments that can cause as much
harm as good. One of you will stay awake at
night wondering what your future holds. One
of you will always feel the threat of cancer
hanging over your head.
It doesnt have to be that way. Weve learned
that cancer isnt inevitable, even when our
genes increase our risk. We can switch off
those genes with potent nutraceuticals
plus sensible lifestyle and dietary changes
and turn those odds in our favor. In this Terry
Talks Nutrition, Ill share natural ingredients
that can keep you from becoming a breast
cancer statistic.

Curcumin
Curcumin is a powerhouse in the natural
medicine world, and extensive research
points to its value as a breast cancer fighter,
even for antiestrogen-resistant and triplenegative breast cancers, which can be
resistant to standard treatments. These
dangerous cancers are also often highly
invasive and more aggressive, and, therefore,
women with these types of breast cancer
generally experience poorer outcomes.

One of the remarkable things about curcumin

is that it works through multiple cellular
pathways to fight cancer. Besides being a
powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory,
curcumin also works by regulating various
proteins and enzymes that affect cellular
signaling and DNA. Researchers have studied
curcumin to see if it could affect breast cancer
cells (MCF-7 cells) that become resistant to
antiestrogen drugs, such as tamoxifen. In a
cell study, researchers found that curcumin
helped induce a process that kills breast
cancer cells called apoptosis. When this
regulated cell death goes haywire, cancer
cells can develop and spread. Whats more,
the researchers found that curcumin treatment
remarkably reduced the cancer cells ability to
form coloniesby as much as 91 percent.
Colony forming is a key step in metastasis,
where cancer tumors form in other parts of the
body, so this is very exciting news.
Additionally, in a study of triple negative
breast cancer cells, curcumin inhibited
angiogenesisthe growth of new blood
vessels that feeds cancer tumors. As an
addition to conventional treatment,
curcumin also shines. Curcumin helps
sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy
while also protecting normal cells from
chemotherapys detrimental effects.

Did You Know?

An estimated 440 men will die of breast cancer this year.

Over 40,000 women will die.

Its hard to find someone who hasnt

been affected directly or indirectly
by breast cancer. Its a potentially
life-threatening diagnosis that can
lead to painful surgery, damaging
conventional treatments, and the
possible risk of recurrence. But it
doesnt have to be that way. Natural
ingredients like curcumin, grape
seed extract, pomegranate, and
vitamin D can help you:
AVOID breast cancer in the
first place
TREAT breast cancer if it is
diagnosed
PREVENT breast cancer from
reoccurring
HERE IS THE FORMULA I SUGGEST:
Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol)
Proprietary Complex

2,000 IU
1,400 mg

Curcumin (Curcuma longa) Rhizome

Extract enhanced with turmeric essential
oils and standardized for curcuminoid
complex (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin
and bisdemethoxycurcumin), Pomegranate
(Punica granatum) Seed Oil by
Supercritical CO2 extraction standardized
to contain 60% punicic acid, French
Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Seed Extract
standardized to contain 80% OPCs,
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Fruit
Extract standardized for 60% polyphenols
More

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Prevent and Fight Breast Cancer, Naturally

The best curcumin benefits are produced by
combining curcumin with turmeric essential
oil. Not only does this greatly boost absorption,
but turmeric essential oil contains compounds
called ar-turmerones that are not only anticancer, they make curcumin an even more
powerful cancer fighter.

Omega-5 fatty acids from pomegranate have

some of the same actions as the anticancer
drug tamoxifen without the dangers and side
effects. Tamoxifen, like many drugs, is risky. It
can cause blood clots, endometrial cancer,
and early menopause, along with a higher
risk of cataracts. In other research,
pomegranate seed oil showed a 90% inhibition
of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The researchers
stated that pomegranate has excellent
cancer prevention propertieseither on
its own, or as an addition to conventional
therapymeaning less dependence on
dangerous drugs.

But grape seed extract isnt just for hormonesensitive breast cancers. It also works on
triple-negative breast cancer cells, which are
highly malignant and fast growing. Grape
seed extract at low concentration suppresses
their ability to migrate and invade other parts
of the body. Researchers found that grape
seed extract may decrease the activities of
certain genes in cancer tumors that are
thought to be key contributors in cancer
metastasis. Unfortunately, not all grape seed
extracts are able to deliver the kind of OPCs
that are vital for your health. Some OPCs can
be so large (i.e. tannins) that they cannot be
absorbed. Only smaller OPCs are useful in
breast cancer, so make sure the grape seed
you use is tannin-free.

Vitamin D3
Pomegranate Seed Oil
Pomegranates are prized for their
extraordinary antioxidant capacity, but
pomegranate seeds have their own powerful
anticancer chemicals. One of the most
important is punicic acid, an omega-5 fatty
acid that inhibits aromatase, an enzyme
involved in estrogen conversion. Additionally,
in a cellular study, punicic acid from
pomegranate seed oil was capable of
dramatic antitumor effects, inhibiting cancer
cell proliferation up to 95 percent in breast
cancer cells. In that same study, this omega-5
fatty acid also induced apoptosis (cancer cell
death) by up to 91 percent. Similar results
were seen regardless of whether the cancer
cells were sensitive to estrogen or not.

1
in 8
WOMEN
will be diagnosed
with breast cancer.

Grape Seed Extract (OPC)

Grape seed extract is high in oligomeric
proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs), which
exert powerful antioxidant activity and are
known cancer fighters. Grape seed extract is
particularly useful for breast cancer because
it of its effects on aromatase. Aromatase
inhibitors are prescribed to many women
who have hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
Cellular studies have indicated that grape
seed extract both inhibits aromatase activity
and also suppresses aromatase expression
in cancer cells.

Vitamin D may be best known for its role in

maintaining bone health, but it also is a musthave for breast cancer prevention.
Unfortunately, many of us dont get enough
vitamin D, especially if we live in the upper
two-thirds of the country, where our exposure
to sunshine is limited. Vitamin D helps regulate
cell division, programmed cell death, and
contact inhibition, where normal cells quit
growing when they encounter another cell.
Vitamin D is a crucial component to cellular
health. It makes sense then, that higher
circulating levels of vitamin D in the blood
have been associated with lower cancer
incidence and better survival after diagnosis.
For example, in a meta-analysis of 30
prospective studies on women diagnosed
with breast cancer, those who had high blood

Prevent and Fight Breast Cancer, Naturally

levels of vitamin D had a much lower rate
of mortality. In fact, those women with
25(OH)D (a measure of vitamin D in blood)
levels over 29.1 ng/ml had a 42 percent
reduced risk compared to those with levels
less than 21 ng/ml.

smoke (called passive smoke) were at

increased
risk.
Quitting
smoking
is one of the best things you can do for
your health.

I believe the Institute of Medicines guidelines

for vitamin D (over 20 ng/ml) are grossly
inadequate, and other professional
organizations agree with me. For example,
the Vitamin D Council recommends 50 ng/ml
as the number we should shoot for.
The Endocrine Society states that vitamin D
levels over 30 ng/ml are sufficient. Theyve
indicated that we might need 1,500-2,000 IU of
vitamin D per day just to maintain levels
above 30 ng/ml.

Take Control of Your Risk

Many factors make up your risk for developing
breast cancer. Some you cant control: Being
a woman is the single greatest risk factor for
developing breast cancer. Youre also at
greater risk as you grow older. Most cases of
breast cancer occur in women over the age
of 50. Family history also plays a role, although
its smaller than most people think. According
to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), only
about two percent of women have a strong
risk of developing breast cancer based on
family history. Even if you fit squarely under
one or more of these risk categories, you can
still lower your risk through sensible lifestyle
changes.
Stop Smoking. Weve
known for a long time
that smoking causes
cancer, but some people
think its only lung cancer.
Thats simply not true. In
a recent analysis of women in the European
Prospective Investigation into Cancer and
Nutrition (EPIC), researchers found that
women who smoked were at a significantly
higher risk of developing breast cancer than
women who had never smoked. Whats more,
even women who had been exposed to
cigarette smoking through second-hand

Maintain a Healthy Weight. Various studies

have found that women who have a high body
mass index (BMI) after menopause are at
higher risk for breast cancer. Weight gain is
also associated with a higher mortality rate in
women who have been diagnosed with breast
cancer. After menopause, most of the
estrogen produced in a womans body comes
from fat tissue. Research suggests that the
increase in cancer may be related to
increased estrogen stored in excess fat
tissue. Other research points to an increase
in insulin resistance as the real culprit driving
the increase in breast cancer, so reducing
sugar and simple carbohydrates in your diet
makes sense.

housekeeping, reduces the risk of cancer.

The study, published in the journal Cancer
Causes and Control showed that women who
spent at least three-quarters of their work
years in active jobs had a 28 percent
decreased risk of breast cancer. In those
whove already had a diagnosis of breast
cancer, regular exercise may also reduce the
risk of recurrence and increase the odds of
survival.
Avoid One Size Fits All Hormone
Replacement Therapy. At one time, hormone
replacement therapy (HRT) was seen as a
way to help menopausal women reduce their
symptoms. Then the Womens Health Initiative
clinical trial that was evaluating the use of
HRT in women was stopped early because of
the health risks associated with HRT. Women
on HRT had an increased risk of heart attacks,
strokes, blood clots, and certain cancers.
Notably, women who took estrogen plus
progestin were more likely to be diagnosed
with breast cancer. The cancers were also
larger and more aggressive, and the death rate
was higher than in women taking a placebo.
Many times menopause symptoms can be
treated naturally, but if you and your doctor
decide that HRT is necessary, stay away from
synthetic hormones, especially progestins.
Instead, choose bioidentical hormones at
levels that make sense for your needs.

Stay Active. Multiple

studies have linked
physical activity with
a decreased risk of
breast cancer. Being
active can help you
lose weight, keep
insulin functioning
properly, and lower
estrogen
levels.
Researchers found
that even physical
activity associated
with an occupation,
like
nursing
or
More

Prevent and Fight Breast Cancer, Naturally

Go Easy on the Alcohol. Research suggests
that drinking alcoholic beverages may
increase a womans risk of hormone-sensitive
breast cancer. Alcohol intake, even moderate
amounts, may affect hormone levels in
women.
Breastfeed Your Baby. The longer women
breastfeed their babies, the more protected
they are from breast cancer. Thats the
conclusion of a review published in the
journal Breastfeeding Medicine that
examined the results of 27 studies.
Be Cautious About
Chemicals. When
the Environmental
Working
Group
analyzed popular
fragrance products,
they found an
average of 14
chemicals not listed
on the label, and
many of these chemicals have not been
subject to governmental safety assessments.
Four of the fourteen are known hormone
disrupters. Synthetic chemicals are pervasive
in our environmentfrom pesticides sprayed
on our produce, formaldehyde and bisphenol A
leaking from plastics, and dioxins that have
infiltrated our food chain. These chemicals
can increase our risk of cancer and other
diseases. Limit the use of chemical-laden
personal products, household cleaners,
pesticides, and herbicides. Buy organic
produce, and reduce the use of food and
beverages sold in plastic containers.

Fight Back Against Breast Cancer

Signs and Symptoms of

BREAST CANCER
See your doctor
if you notice any
of the following:

A lump, swelling,
or thickening in
part of the breast
or underarm

Dimpling, puckering,
or flattening of the
breast skin or nipple
Skin irritation, redness, itching, or scaling of breast
or nipple
Changes in size, color, or contour of breast
Unusual nipple discharge, especially if clear or bloody
Pain or tenderness of the breast

When in doubt, always consult your

physician or healthcare practitioner.
This article is intended to provide you
with information to maintain your health.

You dont have to feel powerless against the

threat of breast cancer. Feel more in control
by taking action steps to improve your health
and by including nutrients that have been
shown to make a real difference in fighting
back against breast cancer.

Sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter or listen to my radio show at: TerryTalksNutrition.com
2016