Women's Index > Breasts > Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer turns the breast into a two-sided coin. On one
side, it is the giver of life, but on the other it can be the taker of life. In
America, there is a one in eight chance of a woman contracting it and one in
every three of these women may die.
Every year about six
hundred New Zealand Women die from breast cancer and
more than 1500 are diagnosed and actually about ten
times more women die from breast cancer than cervical
cancer.
It is predicted that if New Zealand trends continue
to follow those of other countries then greater
numbers of women will be diagnosed with this disease
every year.
The exact causes of
breast cancer arent known although genetics
(family history) and lifestyle are believed to be
factors along with bodily toxins, antiperspirants,
wearing a bra (see below) and other possibilities.
Early detection is
vital in the successful treatment of breast cancer,
and something every woman should learn is
self-examination. The majority of lumps found
in breasts are benign - non-cancerous. Learning how
breasts look and feel normally means that
abnormalities will be found quickly and the chance of
recovery in the event of cancer is greatly improved.
A study* of 4,700
women found that women who wore bras had an increased
chance of acquiring breast cancer. It is very
possible that the constant pressure that the bra puts
on the breast is limiting the flow of toxins that
need to be released, resulting in the increased
cancer rate.
The Study found the
highest rate of breast cancer in those who wore bras
24 hours a day, and the lowest rate in those who
never wore bras. The study suggested that women
should wear their bra less than 12 hours a day.
It is worth noting
that when breast cancer is detected, breast removal
surgery does not normally extend one's life. Surgery
may remove the symptoms for a while and chemotherapy
will almost certainly make you feel an invalid.
The trends among affected women in Europe are to
suffer the lumps which can just go away without
medication and it is our feeling that alternative /
complementary medicines can be more beneficial in
reversing symptoms.
Prevention
of Breast Cancer
With a basic understanding of the breast, you will
see that self-care can make a difference in the
health of your breast tissues.
It is imperative that
toxins be continually removed through the body's
veins and lymphatic vessels. When these toxins are
unable to exit the body properly, the possibility of
cancer increases.
Research** in
New Zealand has now proven that breast feeding
reduces the likely hood of breast cancer. A research
project analyzed results of studies done in 30
countries and found that with each birth, a woman's
chances of breast cancer reduce by 7% and over 4% for
each year that she breast feeds.
* Singer,
Sydney Ross. Dressed to Kill: The Link Between Breast
Cancer and Bras, Garden City Park, NY: Avery Pub.
Group, 1995
Breast
Cancer and the Bra
** Preventative Medicine, Otago University
Breast massage for health |