Every October will be filled with messages, advertisements, events, talks and many editorials about creating awareness for Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is the leading common cancer among women in Singapore and the numbers are increasing every year. And we asked ourselves, can we prevent breast cancer? Yes we can and also reduce our risks of getting breast cancer.
Photo by Anna Tarazevich
Breast cancer occurs when cells in women's breasts grow and mutate uncontrollably causing tissues to lump together in a mass which is also called tumour. When ovaries in women produce excessive amounts of oestrogens and progesterones over a long period, it create hormonal imbalance. This imbalance can lead to the hormonal related diseases such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, etc. Our bodies are capable in producing the right amount of hormones to keep us healthy. However we can also disrupt the balance due to our lifestyle such as excessive intake of food containing hormones which usually are from animals (diary and meat), excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and being overweight (did you know that fats produce hormones too?).
We are advocates for a healthy lifestyle (especially plant-based eating) and we recommend everyone to take an active role in keeping your health in check (healthcare and insurance costs are ever-rising annually!). We really like this science-backed strategy with four key components by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM is based in US)- Let's Beat Cancer Program:
- Eating a whole food, plant-based diet. Healthful foods from plants (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans) lower breast cancer risk.
- Exercising regularly. Physical activity, especially vigorous exercise like running and fast cycling, lowers risk of breast cancer.
- Limiting alcohol. Alcohol increases risk of breast cancer.
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Excess body weight increases odds of getting breast cancer after menopause.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
We can all play a huge part in improving our health and reduce our risk of getting seriously ill. You can find out more about PCRM's Let's Beat Cancer Program here: https://www.pcrm.org/news/news-releases/lets-beat-breast-cancer-program-features-free-virtual-plant-based-nutrition.
Learn how to reduce risks of breast cancer and share this knowledge with everyone around you.
