You may have heard about the latest research undertaken by Cancer Research UK which has concluded that around 40% of cancers in women could be avoided through lifestyle choices.
The lifestyle risk factors considered for women (for all female cancers not just breast cancers) are as follows, starting with the highest risk to the lowest.
· Overweight
· Alcohol
· Occupation
· HRT
· Inactivity
· Not breast feeding
· Radiation
It should be noted that being overweight is only a risk factor in post-menopausal women and in pre-menopausal women it actually reduces your risk by 20%. Now that is not a reason to overeat this Christmas.
The one area here which has not been considered, as always, is our exposure to chemicals. It could be seen as a lifestyle choice although, really, we are exposed to so many chemicals in products which we cannot control, that is a matter of “contaminated without consent”. In this research the only place chemical exposure was included was in relation to Occupation where women could be in contact with dangerous chemicals. I had a quick look at this list and you might be interested to know that it included Formaldehyde and Mineral Oils, both of which are found in cosmetics and other things in the home.
I will be looking at the research in more detail and will report on any more interesting findings.
If you want to read more now, go to the Cancer Research UK website
Nikki Mattei – Healthy Breasts For Every Woman Campaign
