MANILA, Philippines - Breast cancer, according to a volunteer service network, is the leading killer of women ages 35 to 54 worldwide.
Almost half a million die from it every year, making it “one of the worst plagues of the modern world.” The Philippines also has the highest incidence rate of breast cancer in Asia and registered the highest increase of 589 percent among 187 countries over a 30-year period, from 1980 to 2010, says the Philippine Breast Cancer Network (PCBN).
Philippine Cancer Registry reports show that breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in the Philippines, with over 10,000 reported cases and around 7,000 new cases reported every year.
“One out of four who are diagnosed with breast cancer die within the first five years. No less than 40 percent die within 10 years,” PBCN warns.
According to the network, over a million women develop breast cancer without knowing it and more than 50 percent of breast cancer cases remain unexplained. Dr. Stan Chua, however, attempts to provide an explanation in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Chua claims to be a pioneer of Functional Medicine in the Philippines, a budding specialization with only around 1,200 practitioners worldwide and only 12 in the Philippines, the most in Asia.
Functional Medicine, according to him, addresses diseases by tracing the origins of the problem, with focus on creating a meaningful change through diet and lifestyle.
In an interview with this writer, Chua explains that from cysts to breast cancer, only one thing is the culprit: estrogen. Estrogen is the primary female hormone responsible for the development and effective functioning of the female reproductive system. It is also present in men, so men can also have lumps and cancer in the breasts, but since they have less estrogen than women, men have less risk of having breast cancer.
Prolonged use of Hormonal Replacement Therapy or Estrogen Replacement Therapy increases one’s chance of getting the Big C, says ICanServe Foundation, an advocacy group of breast cancer survivors that promotes early breast cancer detection.
During menstruation, puberty, pregnancy and menopause, hormones like estrogen “make everything pump up,” says Chua. This means that milk ducts get engorged. Oftentimes, milk ducts return to their normal size after menstruation, but sometimes, they do not. A milk duct becomes “fibrocystic” or with cyst, if a fluid stays on it. The cyst could be easily drained by the doctor by poking a needle on it. Nevertheless, if the cyst dries up, it becomes a solid mass or in medical terms, a tumor.
A tumor could be a fibroadenoma, the most common benign tumor among women of reproductive age. Some women, says Chua, could have multinodular or many benign tumors on both breasts. Though these would not develop into breast cancer, these tumors could increase one’s risk of having the cancer, so if a tumor increases in size or in number, one could choose to have the tumor/s taken out, Chua notes.
According to ICanServe, it is a myth to think that if one does not have a family history of cancer, one is completely safe from it. “About 70 percent of breast cancer patients have no family history of cancer,” the foundation clarifies in a report.
Though there is no exact solution one can do to prevent tumors or cancer, here are a few tips to keep lumps at bay and make sure your breasts are in tip-top shape:
1. Chew your broccoli.
“Broccoli is your ‘breast’ friend,” Chua assures. A cup of raw broccoli a day, he says, can help balance one’s estrogen levels. “Chew it very well because its enzymes are only activated by saliva.”
2. Lessen your use of chemicals.
According to the PBCN, an estimated 85,000 synthetic chemicals are registered for use today in the USA and most, if not all, are present in the Philippines. More than 90 percent of these chemicals are said to have never been tested for their effects on human health. “There is strong evidence linking some of these chemicals to breast cancer, especially xenoestrogens - chemicals that mimic the actions of estrogen and that are found in some pesticides and fuels, plastics and detergents,” the network adds.
3. Manage stress.
Too much stress, says Chua, can lead to hormonal imbalance or for estrogen levels to hype up, which increases one’s chance of developing a tumor.
4. Prevent engorgement.
Breastfeeding, according to ICanServe, does not cause breast cancer and can even lessen one’s propensity to having one as it unblocks the milk ducts.
Breastfeeding and the “stress” it can do to the breasts also have nothing to do with the Big C, Chua clarifies. Although, he says, it can trigger tumor growth (called lactating adenoma) when milk-producing glands become enlarged.
PBCN’s report also states that “studies have found more than 200 synthetic chemicals in human breast milk. It is a well-documented fact that many chemicals accumulate in body fat and remain in breast tissues for decades. Studies show that all women carry persistent pollutants in their blood, breasts and other fatty tissues.
Thus, when you are feeling like your milk ducts are engorged while lactating or before or during menstruation, apply warm or cold compress on the area to clear it up.
5. Have your breasts checked regularly.
By age 20, ICanServe recommends monthly breast examination, about a week after your menstrual cycle, when your breasts are least sensitive to touch and pain. If you do not menstruate or are post-menopausal, do the breast exam on the same day every month. As a doctor, nurse, midwife or health worker to teach you the proper way of doing the self-examination.
By age 30, the foundation suggests having an annual clinical breast exam by a doctor or health worker. Oftentimes, the doctor would recommend a yearly sonomammography or ultrasound of the breasts. Mammography could not detect abnormalities in breasts of women under 40.
By 40, in addition to self-exam and clinical tests, ICanServe vouches for yearly mammography.
Different guidelines may be set for those who have a family history of cancer, so consult a physician regularly. If you detect a lump, do not panic, but also, do not take it for granted. All lumps must be biopsied to see if they are benign or malignant.
Breast cancer is not a death sentence, ICanServe assures. It is one of the most treatable diseases. In fact, the American Cancer Society reports that “breast cancer incidence rates in women began decreasing in 2000, and dropped by about seven percent from 2002 to 2003” due to reduced use of hormone therapy after menopause, early detection, screening, increased awareness and better treatments.
Whether for sex appeal or for nurturing one’s children, it pays to take care of your bosom buddies.