Cancer is the second leading cause of illness and death in the United States, accounting for one in four deaths. One-third of all cancer deaths can be prevented with lifestyle changes and early detection. Cancer control month highlights advances in fighting cancer. This includes prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer.
What are the Key Statistics about Cancer?
• After heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
• Over a lifetime, about 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women in the United States will develop cancer.
• Cancer rates and deaths have been on the decline since the early 1990’s.
• One third of cancers detected will be related to overweight or obesity, physical inactivity and nutrition.
According to Dr. Mercola
40 Women With Breast Cancer Had This "Cosmetic Ingredient" in Their Tissues
New research has detected the presence of paraben esters in 99 percent of breast cancer tissues sampled. The study examined 40 women who were being treated for primary breast cancer. In 60 percent of cases, five of the different esters were present.
Parabens are chemicals with estrogen-like properties, and estrogen is one of the hormones involved in the development of breast cancer.
The study notes that:
"Variation was notable with respect to individual paraben esters, location within one breast and similar locations in different breasts.
Overall median values in nanograms per gram tissue for the 160 tissue samples were highest for n-propylparaben and methylparaben; levels were lower for n-butylparaben, ethylparaben and isobutylparaben...
The source of the paraben cannot be identified, but paraben was measured in the 7/40 patients who reported never having used underarm cosmetics in their lifetime."
Sources and Dangers of Parabens
Deodorants and antiperspirants are some of the primary sources of parabens, but the fact that even those who reportedly never used them still had parabens in their breast tissue clearly demonstrates that these chemicals, regardless of what products they're added to, can, and apparently will, accumulate in breast tissue.
It's important to recognize that whatever you spread on your skin can be absorbed into your body and potentially cause serious damage over time, as this research demonstrates.
To learn more about the potential toxicity of your cosmetics, read the Environmental Working Group's extensive Skin Deep Report. Parabens inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds, and are used as preservatives. On the label they may be listed as:
How to Avoid Some of the Most Common Culprits
Avoiding parabens and other harmful chemicals requires becoming an avid label reader. Beware that products boasting "all-natural" labels can still contain harmful chemicals, including parabens, so make sure to check the list of ingredients. Another alternative is to make your own personal care products. In many cases it's much easier than you might think. Michael DeJong, environmentalist and author of books on green living has a book called Clean Cures, which is chockfull of affordable, easy, natural remedies you can prepare at home to treat ordinary ailments with items you have in your own refrigerator and pantry.
When it comes to deodorants, one option is to skip it altogether. Simple soap and water works quite well. For some additional odor-protection, try a pinch of baking soda mixed with a small amount of water.
Beware: There's a Brand NEW Class of Cancer-Causing "Estrogens"...
Recent research has also confirmed the existence of a previously unknown class of cancer-causing materials that can be found in thousands of consumer products. Some of them are even added to supplements and foods as "nutrients." These estrogen-mimicking compounds are: metals.
Yes, a broad range of metals have been shown to act as "metalloestrogens" with the potential to add to the estrogenic burden of the human breast, thereby increasing the risk of breast cancer. The following metals have been identified as being capable of binding to cellular estrogen receptors and then mimicking the actions of physiological estrogens:
"... [E]xposure to sodium selenite (and sodium selenate) is difficult to avoid, as it is the primary source of supplemental selenium in mass market vitamins, foods, beverages, etc. The same is true for inorganic forms of chromium, copper, nickel, tin and and vanadium, which you will find on the labels of many mass market multivitamins. Another daily source of metalloestrogen exposure for millions of consumers is aluminum-based antiperspirants."
Cadmium Linked to Higher Breast Cancer Risk
A recent study published in the journal Cancer Research indicates that women whose diets contain higher levels of cadmium are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer. Cadmium is a heavy metal long known to be carcinogenic, and, as you can see by its inclusion on the list above, it's also been identified as a metal that can bind to estrogen receptors, effectively mimicking the female hormone estrogen. The study found that among close to 56,000 women, those with the highest intakes of cadmium were 21 percent more likely to develop breast cancer .
Cadmium leaches into crops from fertilizers, or when rainfall or sewage sludge deposit it onto farmland. Potatoes and whole grains are a couple of the primary sources cadmium, but it's also present in air pollution from the burning of fossil fuel, and can therefore also be inhaled. According to the Los Angeles Times:
"The study offers new evidence in a large human population that environmental chemicals that mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen may contribute to women's risk of certain cancers, including endometrial and breast cancers.... The finding comes just three months after the Institute of Medicine, a prestigious body of independent biomedical researchers, concluded that a host of other factors — most within a woman's power to control, such as obesity and hormone-replacement medication — were the most important sources of breast cancer risk.
The report they're referring to is Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued in December of last year, which discusses environmental impacts on breast cancer risk.
The report is a step in the right direction, as it recognizes the need to further investigate the role environmental toxins play in the development of breast cancer. This is important, because while individuals can do their best to avoid harmful chemicals, if we really want to quell the rise in cancers of all kinds, we must remove chemicals linked with cancer from consumer products, manufacturing, and other sources of exposure.
What are the Key Statistics about Cancer?
• After heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
• Over a lifetime, about 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women in the United States will develop cancer.
• Cancer rates and deaths have been on the decline since the early 1990’s.
• One third of cancers detected will be related to overweight or obesity, physical inactivity and nutrition.
According to Dr. Mercola
40 Women With Breast Cancer Had This "Cosmetic Ingredient" in Their Tissues
New research has detected the presence of paraben esters in 99 percent of breast cancer tissues sampled. The study examined 40 women who were being treated for primary breast cancer. In 60 percent of cases, five of the different esters were present.
Parabens are chemicals with estrogen-like properties, and estrogen is one of the hormones involved in the development of breast cancer.
The study notes that:
"Variation was notable with respect to individual paraben esters, location within one breast and similar locations in different breasts.
Overall median values in nanograms per gram tissue for the 160 tissue samples were highest for n-propylparaben and methylparaben; levels were lower for n-butylparaben, ethylparaben and isobutylparaben...
The source of the paraben cannot be identified, but paraben was measured in the 7/40 patients who reported never having used underarm cosmetics in their lifetime."
Sources and Dangers of Parabens
Deodorants and antiperspirants are some of the primary sources of parabens, but the fact that even those who reportedly never used them still had parabens in their breast tissue clearly demonstrates that these chemicals, regardless of what products they're added to, can, and apparently will, accumulate in breast tissue.
It's important to recognize that whatever you spread on your skin can be absorbed into your body and potentially cause serious damage over time, as this research demonstrates.
To learn more about the potential toxicity of your cosmetics, read the Environmental Working Group's extensive Skin Deep Report. Parabens inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds, and are used as preservatives. On the label they may be listed as:
- E 216
- Butyl paraben
- Ethyl paraben
- Methyl paraben
- Propyl paraben
- Isobutyl paraben
- Deodorants and antiperspirants
- Shaving gel
- Toothpaste
- Lotions and sunscreens
- Make-up / cosmetics
- Pharmaceutical drugs
- Food additives
How to Avoid Some of the Most Common Culprits
Avoiding parabens and other harmful chemicals requires becoming an avid label reader. Beware that products boasting "all-natural" labels can still contain harmful chemicals, including parabens, so make sure to check the list of ingredients. Another alternative is to make your own personal care products. In many cases it's much easier than you might think. Michael DeJong, environmentalist and author of books on green living has a book called Clean Cures, which is chockfull of affordable, easy, natural remedies you can prepare at home to treat ordinary ailments with items you have in your own refrigerator and pantry.
When it comes to deodorants, one option is to skip it altogether. Simple soap and water works quite well. For some additional odor-protection, try a pinch of baking soda mixed with a small amount of water.
Beware: There's a Brand NEW Class of Cancer-Causing "Estrogens"...
Recent research has also confirmed the existence of a previously unknown class of cancer-causing materials that can be found in thousands of consumer products. Some of them are even added to supplements and foods as "nutrients." These estrogen-mimicking compounds are: metals.
Yes, a broad range of metals have been shown to act as "metalloestrogens" with the potential to add to the estrogenic burden of the human breast, thereby increasing the risk of breast cancer. The following metals have been identified as being capable of binding to cellular estrogen receptors and then mimicking the actions of physiological estrogens:
- Aluminum
- Antimony
- Arsenite
- Barium
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Lead
- Mercury
- Nickel
- Selenite
- Tin
- Vanadate
"... [E]xposure to sodium selenite (and sodium selenate) is difficult to avoid, as it is the primary source of supplemental selenium in mass market vitamins, foods, beverages, etc. The same is true for inorganic forms of chromium, copper, nickel, tin and and vanadium, which you will find on the labels of many mass market multivitamins. Another daily source of metalloestrogen exposure for millions of consumers is aluminum-based antiperspirants."
Cadmium Linked to Higher Breast Cancer Risk
A recent study published in the journal Cancer Research indicates that women whose diets contain higher levels of cadmium are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer. Cadmium is a heavy metal long known to be carcinogenic, and, as you can see by its inclusion on the list above, it's also been identified as a metal that can bind to estrogen receptors, effectively mimicking the female hormone estrogen. The study found that among close to 56,000 women, those with the highest intakes of cadmium were 21 percent more likely to develop breast cancer .
Cadmium leaches into crops from fertilizers, or when rainfall or sewage sludge deposit it onto farmland. Potatoes and whole grains are a couple of the primary sources cadmium, but it's also present in air pollution from the burning of fossil fuel, and can therefore also be inhaled. According to the Los Angeles Times:
"The study offers new evidence in a large human population that environmental chemicals that mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen may contribute to women's risk of certain cancers, including endometrial and breast cancers.... The finding comes just three months after the Institute of Medicine, a prestigious body of independent biomedical researchers, concluded that a host of other factors — most within a woman's power to control, such as obesity and hormone-replacement medication — were the most important sources of breast cancer risk.
The report they're referring to is Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued in December of last year, which discusses environmental impacts on breast cancer risk.
The report is a step in the right direction, as it recognizes the need to further investigate the role environmental toxins play in the development of breast cancer. This is important, because while individuals can do their best to avoid harmful chemicals, if we really want to quell the rise in cancers of all kinds, we must remove chemicals linked with cancer from consumer products, manufacturing, and other sources of exposure.
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