We now know that breast and ovarian cancers are hormonally driven by estrogen. Estrogen helps to keep blood vessels elastic, increases good cholesterol and strengthens our bones by absorbing calcium from the blood. However, too much of it can speed up the growth and multiplication of bad cells. Our body's natural estrogen is 'strong' estrogen, and can be counterbalanced by 'weak' estrogens from plant foods. 'Good' and 'bad' estrogens are formed when the body prepares to remove it from the system. They are therefore waste products.
The breasts are loaded with estrogen receptors and are very sensitive to changes in hormones. When strong estrogens lock on to receptors, they give out very powerful signals for cell growth. The more powerful the signal, the greater is the potential for cancer. In fact, when weak estrogens fill receptors, they prevent strong estrogens from attaching, hence reducing the stimulus for cells to multiply and get out of control. High-fibre foods can help to bind estrogen in the bowel, preventing its absorption back into our bloodstream.
Certain chemicals and pesticides are quite similar to our body’s natural (‘strong’) estrogen. They therefore have the same effect of stimulating cell growth and division, increasing the cancer risk. That’s why we have to pay attention to them. There are ‘anti-estrogens’ drugs in the market like tamoxifen that block estrogen’s effect in breast tissue. They are commonly given to breast cancer patients after they have finished the treatment and have to take it for a number of years.
While there is no denial about the power of lifestyle, it is not a cancer-free guarantee. Someone once said, “Good lifestyle is like the ship and sails but there are still the winds and waves. The former we can control to increase the probability of a safe crossing; the latter, we cannot , even a well-captained ship may founder.”
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