Simple Breast Cancer Prevention Tips
I imagine most kids had two sets of grandparents, but I especially loved having two MawMaws. They were distinguished in conversation by their last name:
MawMaw Burnham
MawMaw Bryant
MawMaw Bryant was the cook out of the two; she taught me how to make biscuits from scratch and I can remember her light filled kitchen like I was standing across the bar watching her cook now. We would drive to her hair appointments in this largest vehicle known to man with the longest singular bucket seat and no seatbelts (I think!).
I spent a lot of time with MawMaw Bryant but funny enough I don’t remember many of her words. I just remember her character, her face, and her cooking! MawMaw Bryant was the oldest grandparent I had (according to the adults) and she had another unique feature:
no boobies.
As a little kid, I didn’t understand what that meant because I didn’t have any either. The big people (aka adults) would sometimes talk about her cancer. A word I didn’t understand, but the gravity of it was felt.
“She’s been battling cancer for 10 years” the adults would say. In fact, the battle would wage on for a total of 13 years when it finally won and she passed away.
The cancer was of the female kind: breast.
My mom and her sisters have always been diligent in getting checked year after year to hopefully prevent the same diagnosis. My fear of getting the C word used to be extremely high as I remember someone saying to me, “it usually skips a generation”.
One- not helpful
And two- ummmm, cue the anxiety
The color pink comes washing in each October as a reminder that breast cancer is real and a very present threat to the women we love (and ourselves).
While the presumption is that breast cancer is mainly a genetic cancer, statistics paint a different story.
85% of all people with breast cancer don’t have a single, first degree relative with the disease.
The studies show however, that possible causes of the cancer are due to genetic changes that happen as a result of aging.
I play on a team called PREVENTION and I would like to invite you to our team.
REDUCE INFLAMMATION
Persistent, low-level inflammation in the body can contribute to many diseases. One option to reducing inflammation is hidden in the refrigerator, behind the deli meat, but across from the mustard.
d a i r y
Dairy is inflammation’s best friend. I know you love your cheese and ice cream but I have a few delicious swaps below.
Milk subs
Oatly Oat Milk
Planet Oat Milk
Cheese subs
VioLife (the tastiest!)
Follow Your Heart (I buy ours at Lidl)
Ice Cream
So Dairy Free Ice Cream (made from coconut milk or cashew milk)
Planet Oat Ice Cream
Other brands that sell dairy free ice cream:
Ben & Jerrys
Halo Top
Sour Cream & Cream Cheese
I recommend just eliminating but there are subs on the market. The flavor is a 4/10.
Butter
There are a ton of options but again I recommend just eliminating. Fake butter is also known as margarine.
Another way to reduce inflammation is with a golden milk or golden tea. Turmeric is a potent natural anti-inflammatory and it may play a role in preventing breast cancer by shutting off the blood supply to tumors.
My go-to’s for a golden milk are:
PROTECT YOUR GIRLS WITH GRAPEFRUIT
Grapefruit is an excellent protector of breast tissue, but if you are taking a statin then I highly recommend talking to your doctor first.
You can eat the grapefruit, or drink grapefruit juice.
My favorite however, is adding 1 drop of grapefruit essential oil to my water. SO yummy!
You could also add to smoothies.
After you shower, treat your girls to a grapefruit massage with this easy breast cream DIY project.
Three cheers for healthy boobies! Now to find my pink ribbon!
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