High Fat Diet Linked to Breast Cancer
By Melanie McGrath
Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without normal control. About 85 percent of breast cancers originate in the mammary ducts, while about fifteen percent arise in the lobules, the ducts that carry the milk. Cancerous tumors in the breast usually grow very slowly so that by the time one is large enough to be felt as a lump, it may have been growing for as long as ten years. According to a study done by the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland a diet high in fat significantly increases a woman’s risk of developing invasive breast cancer. In the mid-1990s, the National Institute of Health-AARP Diet and Health study collected detailed dietary information from 188,736 postmenopausal women. After approximately four and a half years, researchers checked back with the women to see who had developed breast cancer. The researchers concluded that women getting more than forty percent of their calories from fat had a fifteen percent higher chance of developing breast cancer than women who got only twenty percent of their calories from fat[i]. There is evidence that saturated fats may increase breast cancer risk. Sources of saturated fats include foods from animal origin, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil and cocoa butter. Research has shown that women who eat their fair share of fruits and vegetables have much lower rates of breast cancer. The minimum recommendation is to eat five servings per day of fruits and vegetables. Some nutrients including vitamin C and E and phytochemicals such as pycnogenols and carotenoids play a role in reducing risk for breast cancer. Fiber can also reduce your risk of breast cancer[ii].
The breast cancer incidence for Native American women varies depending on region. Incidence rates are lower among American Indian women living in Arizona and New Mexico, as well as Alaska Native women, than among White and African American women. In any one year, 32 out of every 100,000 American Indian women and 79 out of every 100,000 Alaska Native women are diagnosed with breast cancer. In comparison, 112 out of every 100,000 White women, 95 out of every 100,000 African American women, and 70 out of every 100,000 Latina women are diagnosed with breast cancer[iii]. Breast self-exam is a screening method that is intended to find early tumors, particularly those that develop in the time between annual mammograms and clinical breast exams. By doing breast self-exams once a month, women can become familiar with the way their breasts look and feel normally and thus may be able to recognize changes such as thickening, lumps, spontaneous nipple discharge or skin changes, such as dimpling or puckering[iv].
To perform a breast self-exam, you should first look at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your hands on your hips, look for breasts that are their usual size, shape and color and breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling. If you see that they are dimpling, puckering, bulging, red, sore or swelling bring them to the doctor’s attention. Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes. While you’re at the mirror, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge. Next, feel your breasts while lying down. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast, you can move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows. Be sure to feel all the breast tissue: just beneath your skin with a soft touch and down deeper with a firmer touch. Finally, feel your breast wile standing; cover your entire breast like when you were lying down[v] .If you find anything while doing your breast exam let your doctor know. Your doctor will perform a series of screening tests including a mammography and an MRI to get a proper diagnosis. It’s always better to detect any type of cancer early. You can lower your risk of breast cancer by lowering the amount of calories you get from fat and exercising regularly. For native women, cut down on the amount of fry bread you consume as well as all fried foods. Skim the fat off homemade soups or remove as much fat from the meat as you can and all the chicken skin. Don’t worry there will still be enough to flavor the soup.
Sources:
[i] Newstarget.com (2007) “High-fat diet linked to increased breast cancer risk” http://www.newstarget.com/
[ii] Garrett, Laura S (2007) ‘Breast Cancer’ http://www.coolnurse.com/
[iii] Breasthealthonline (2001) National Women’s Health Network Fact Sheet Breast cancer and Native American Women http://breasthealthonline.org/
[iv] Susan G. Komen for the cure (2007) “Breast Self-Exam” http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BreastSelfExam.html
[v] Breastcancer.org (2007) ‘The five steps of a breast self exam’ http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp