By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND of Balance Wellness Center

Breast Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in young women ages 20-59, accounting for 37% of new cases and 22% of deaths.  An estimated 4,415 Canadian women under the age of 50 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and close to 575 will die.

With more women being affected by breast cancer, education and awareness are extremely important in the fight against this disease.  The treatments for women with breast cancer have advanced significantly over the past few years, however early detection is still a woman’s best bet in conquering breast cancer.

Genetic factors, although very important, are not the only risk factors that predispose young women to breast cancer.  Hormones, environment, lifestyle and personal health history play a big role. 

 Are you at higher risk?

First period before 12 years of age

First child after 30 or no children at all

Mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer

Female relative with ovarian or endometrial cancer

Father or brother with prostate cancer

Overweight or obese

Dense breast tissue

Moderate to high alcohol intake

Smoker

Radiation exposure

Frequent flying

Environmental chemical exposure

High fat diet

Fibrocystic breast disease

Personal history of breast cancer

Oral contraceptive use

Hormone replacement therapy

Lack of physical activity

Shift work and night working 

Even if you do not fall into any of the above categories, it is important to get to know your breasts and pay careful attention to any changes that occur.  Look, touch and pay attention to how they feel.  It’s important to be aware of the following:

LUMPS – Palpable masses in any area of the breast and the tissue up to the armpit or unusual thickening of breast tissue that doesn’t go away after your period.

PAIN & SENSATION – It’s normal to experience breast tenderness before your period but pain, swelling or itching in a localized area is not normal.

SIZE & SHAPE – Rapid unexplained changes in the size, shape or position of one or both breasts or the appearance or direction of the nipples.

TEXTURE – Dimpling, puckering, scaling or redness of the skin that doesn’t go away.

DISCHARGE – Sudden onset of nipple discharge or comes from only one breast.

Consult your medical provider should you notice any of the above.  Ensure you get yearly PAP tests and breast exams at least every 3 years. If you have a family history of breast cancer, talk to your medical provider about more frequent screenings.

By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND of Balance Wellness Center

The pill is prescribed for many “non-contraceptive” reasons such as acne, uterine fibroids, PMS, heavy bleeding or cramping with no consideration as to safety from breast cancer and blood clots. With the incidence of hormone induced cancers on the rise, it is important to address the root cause of your health problem before applying a band aid approach.

DID YOU KNOW…

Women taking “low dose” birth control pills are getting more estrogen than what is recommended for post-menopausal women.  “Low dose” just means lower than before, which is still a problem as the research shows.

Hormones are fundamental to health; when a hormone imbalance occurs it often causes health problems. The pill often masks imbalances with estrogen and progesterone.  Too little progesterone relative to estrogen can result in estrogen dominant symptoms like weight gain, breast tenderness, anxiety, fluid retention and fibrocystic breasts.

Uterine fibroids which can cause heavy, painful periods can actually be promoted by taking the pill or hormone replacement therapy.  Increased estrogen intake and xenoestrogen exposure from chemicals in products such as plastics, pesticides, cosmetics, household cleaning products and even the water we drink promotes the growth of uterine fibroids.

Diet and lifestyle are often key factors in many health problems. Foods such as red meat, dairy, shellfish, and peanuts promote inflammation and thickening of the uterine lining which results in pain and heavy bleeding.  Bowel problems caused by stress and poor diet can also promote inflammation and increase menstrual pain.  Heavy bleeding and excess cramps can also be associated with overexertion, chronic illness, food sensitivities and vitamin deficiencies.

It is important not to overlook other physical hormonal imbalances.  A concern such as weight gain may be associated with low thyroid function that could result from elevated estrogen or excess stress hormone production.  Weight loss is also difficult in women with elevated testosterone.

Accessing hormones as well as considering lifestyle and diet are critical to getting to the root of women’s health concerns.  Before using the pill to manage your health concerns, look a little deeper to understand what’s happening in the body to build a healthier you.

By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND

If you are like 80% of women, you probably have some idea that your period is coming by characteristic physical and emotional changes.  Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) encompasses more than 150 different symptoms that occur cyclically after ovulation in the two weeks before your monthly period. 

Feelings of anxiety, irritability or anger are stereotypically associated with PMS but women also describe the feeling of fatigue and lethargy.  Physical changes such as bloating, breast tenderness, food cravings, headaches and digestive upset are also common.  No particular assortment of these is diagnostic but it’s the regularity of them on a monthly basis that matters. 

What happens before your period

Several hormonal changes in estrogen and progesterone happen before your period.  The absolute levels of these hormones are no different between PMS sufferers and other women.  Studies have shown that serotonin levels in women who suffer from PMS drop during the last half of the menstrual cycle.  Altered levels of this mood hormone may play a big role in both the physical and emotional changes associated with PMS. 

Diagnosis

Most women don’t keep track of their monthly cycles.  The best evaluation of PMS is a symptoms journal.  It’s important to be able to rule out other medical sources of the symptoms.  Thyroid problems, blood sugar imbalances and depression can often be mistaken for PMS. 

 Prevention

Hormonal imbalances are a major cause of PMS but lifestyle factors can play a big role in prevention.

Caffeine slows down the body’s ability to deal with estrogen, progesterone and serotonin.  This may cause more breast tenderness, swelling and water retention.

Alcohol also affects the liver and can aggravated blood sugar imbalances leaving you more vulnerable to have cravings.

Animal fat contained in meat and dairy increase prostoglandins that can aggravated PMS and make you more likely to suffer from menstrual cramps.

Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish and healthy oils.  Keeping a well balanced diet will help your whole body in balance.

Regular exercise, stress management and weight loss are reported to help sustain healthy hormone balance and improve women’s ability to cope with PMS.

One significant benefit of dealing with PMS naturally is that it serves as a motivational tool to help women make lifestyle changes that have a positive cascade effect on their general health.