Looking through the newspaper and my bi-monthly Fitness trade magazine, earlier this morning, I was trying to find something interesting to blog about. I notice that stories about childhood obesity are everywhere. Planning on blogging about that, I first looked at some comments and emails regarding yesterdays entry and they led me right into more thoughts about the breasts and breast cancer.
Firstly, Carol, there is still much controversy over soy and breast cancer. From my understanding the way it “mimics” (for lack of a better word) estrogen, does still make me wary of not over doing my own soy intake. This is why I opted to try the rice based cheese when we were out shopping together. It’s also one of the reasons I drink almond milk instead of soy (though I still bake with soy milk). I think too much of anything can wreak havoc on our bodies and on plant-based diet (or any diet, really) mixing things up seems to really help up get ALL our important nutrients. The concern is that certain cancers and specifically certain breast cancers are estrogen driven and will thrive and grow best being fed that hormone. Additionally, what might be a good amount of soy for a pre-menopausal woman, might be different for a post-menopausal woman. Keep doing your homework on this topic, as I will, too, and I will keep reporting in on what I learn.
Next topic…breast DENSITY. I have always been told I have both cystic and dense breasts. I have gone for mammograms since I am 30 because my gynocologists have always been concerned that neither they, nor I would feel something amidst all that density. I have, just recently, become aware of the fact that just being dense seems to put us at a higher risk for breast cancers. I am not saying this to alarm you in any way, just to share the knowledge I have learned from who else but OUR mutual dentist, Dr, Kritchmer’s wife, Tammy. Currently going through chemotherapy for her breast cancer, she is busy petitioning our government to change laws that would allow women to know EXACTLY what is going on inside their dense breasts. Her story is a bit frightening, as she was given a clean bill of health at her last mammogram, but had found a lump in her own breast at the same time. She learned that in the state of Connecticut, any woman diagnosed as having dense breasts must, by law, be notified and educated about her risk category and additional tests that may benefit her. Little fighter that she is, she is petitioning for this same Senate Bill to be passed in the state of Florida. She has also started a non-profit organization called I’m Dense, Are You?
Now, getting back to yesterday’s blog entry, I DO believe that eating a plant-based diet, keeping tabs on not over-eating soy, and exercising regularly are all great ways to lower our risk of this while keeping our over all health in tact. My belief is that over all wellness (physically and mentally) are a great way to keep our immune system boosted, which hopefully keeps us in that great state of homeostasis and somehow protects us from the evils of illness and disease. All that said, I know that Tammy Kritchmer is in fantastic shape, exercises regularly and has a great family, so reality is that sometimes despite everything we do, sometimes bad things just happen.
Every day, I guess we need to do the best we can making smart choices and keeping our fingers crossed that we get a little lucky. Not a one of us gets a free pass. We need to keep taking care of ourselves, our loved one and each other. Together we can get through ANYTHING!
I wish this was a bigger image…this is Tammy on the cover of October’s Parkland Life magazine. Keep fighting girl!