Winning the Battle against Breast Cancer

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One of the greatest fears of a healthy woman is encountering breast cancer at some point in her life. The prospect of cancer is scary enough on its own, and combining that with the loss of self-esteem that accompanies breast cancer makes it even worse. However, there is never a point of complete defeat when it comes to breast cancer, and just a little prudence and lifestyle modification can go a long way in preventing the disease, or bettering it once diagnosed.

Considering that breast cancer affects one in 14 women across the world, it is increasingly important to identify the causes of the disease and understand how it can be diagnosed in the early stages, and even be possibly prevented.

Causes:
There has been no cause pinpointed for the development of breast cancer. It is a combination of various environmental and genetic factors. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), radiation therapy, and certain drugs (e.g. diethystibestrol) are possible causative agents of the disease. Individuals with a familial history of the disease are more likely to develop breast cancer, owing to the mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Diagnosis:
Women are a hundred times more prone to breast cancer than men are. Women are advised to carry out regular self-breast examinations by feeling for any lump, discharge, pain, lumping, inflammation, irritation or other abnormality in the area around the breasts, including the shoulder region. They should undergo mammograms every year after the age of forty. The earlier the cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chances of its successful treatment.

Prevention:
• Maintain a health weight- Obesity has been linked to increased chances of developing breast cancer.

• Switch to a healthy diet- It is advisable to consume a ‘sattvik’ diet, which consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, pulses, nuts, legumes, whole grains, low fat dairy products etc., and curb the consumption of refined food and saturated fats.

• Exercise regularly- The importance of regular exercise in the form of jogging, swimming, yoga, pilates etc. cannot be overstressed for one’s wellbeing.

• Stay away from chemicals- Right from prescription drugs (principally antibiotics) and pesticides in vegetables to deodorants and skin creams, a wide variety of chemical substances used in our daily lives have been found to be carcinogenic.

Deodorants and antiperspirants interfere with the body’s excretion process leading to the accumulation of toxins in the underarms, which is believed to potentiate cancer development. It is advisable to completely abstain from their use.

• Quit alcohol and smoking- Women who abuse alcohol and smoke regularly are more prone to breast cancer than those who do not.

• An early first pregnancy and breast- Feeding reduce the risk of breast cancer by nearly one-half.

Recent research has indicated that yoga can significantly improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Yoga is also generating interest as an effective practice to prevent breast cancer in healthy women. The major effect of yoga is brought about by the reduction in the levels of the stress-hormone, cortisol, which is elevated in patients with the disease. Some yoga poses (e.g. Bridge pose) are useful in the treatment of insomnia. Insomnia interferes with melatonin production in the body, which is linked to increased chances of developing breast cancer.

Yoga poses that involve movements in the shoulder region stimulate the activity of the lymphatic glands, which is believed to decrease the chances of developing breast cancer. Some of these poses are:

• Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
• Tadasana (Mountain pose)
• Extended Balasana (Extended child’s pose)
• Garudasana (Eagle pose)
• Gomukhasana (Cow face pose)

Practicing these poses for half an hour each day will benefit you in a variety of ways, not just in the possible prevention of breast cancer, but also in your general wellbeing. Give yourself the gift of a lifetime by starting yoga today!