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Cancer is one of the most terrifying words in our vocabulary. Almost every one of us has a family member, or an acquaintance who is struggling with this terrible disease. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women (just behind lung cancer).
The National Cancer Institute estimates 178,480 new cases in females for the year of 2007 and 40,460 female deaths and 2,030 new cases in males (yes, men do get breast cancer) and 450 male deaths as a result of breast cancers. With the current trends, 1 in every 8 women (12.7 percent) will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Not only does a diagnosis of breast cancer have horrible consequences on the quality and length of life for the individual with the cancer, but also it often imposes many hardships on the immediate family of the victim.
God has blessed each of us with a body that not only desires to maintain optima; health but is also equipped to do so if we simply observe the natural laws that provide the innate self-healing built within. It is far easier to nourish the body in such a way that it doe not allow development of breast cancer than it is to treat breast cancer once it had developed.
It is interesting and somewhat alarming, as well as revealing, that cancers seem to occur in husbands and wives. Often when the wife had breast cancer, the husband is more likely to develop prostrate cancer and vice versa. The most likely explanation is that they are both eating similar foods and are exposed to similar environmental toxins that increase the overall risk of cancer. There is a strong correlation between cancers in general and nutrition.
Early detection is promoted as the best chance for a cure for breast cancer. Unfortunately, mammograms are the method most doctors choose for the early detection.
“Studies show that mammograms increase the risk of breast cancer from 1 percent to 3 percent per year (depending on the technique used), which means that if you religiously have a mammogram every year for 10 years, you increase your risk 10 percent to 30 percent…Radiation experts aggress that the breast is one of the areas of the body most sensitive to cancers caused by radiation exposure.” (Russell Blaylock, M.D.)
In the last few years is has become well-known that hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of breast cancer. Many doctors no longer recommend Estradiol, one of the most powerful forms of estrogen, which is found in Premarin. The increased risk of side effects out weighs any potential benefit. Back as early as 1975, it was known that women on Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) were developing uterine (endometrial) cancer at a rate four to eight times grater than in untreated women (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, John R. Lee, M.D.).
Cancer Progression
Most cancers are many years developing—probably 20-30 years before they are clinically detected. Due to the slowness of this pre-cancerous stage, the body’s innate surveillance mechanism had ample opportunity to detect the abnormal growth and terminate it (Breast Cancer and Iodine, David M. Derry, M.D., Ph.D.). Unfortunately, with the prevalence of breast cancer today, we know that this process is often impeded and thus 1 out of every 8 women and almost every family are finding themselves dealing with the devastating disease.
Considering the present day environment in which we live—the exposure to toxins on a daily basis in the air we breathe, the water we drink and bathe in, and the food we eat—it behooves us to make the wisest choices possible when it comes to diet and lifestyle in order that we can equip our bodies to fend off this devastating disease as well as the other many onslaughts it is subjected to daily.
Role of Diet & Lifestyle
T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., in his excellent book, The China Project, has shown us conclusively from his decades (over 50 years) of study in human nutrition that animal protein, once it exceeds 5% of the daily caloric intake, is one of, if not the strongest promoter of cancer progression.
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The Standard American Diet (SAD) is centered around animal protein foods with the average American consuming over 100 grams of protein daily-primarily from animal sources. The intake of protein from animal sources in the United States is among the highest in the world (Eat to Live, Joel Fuhrman, M.D.).
Is it any wonder that breast cancer and other cancer incidences in the U.S. are also among the highest in the world?
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While good nutrition is a powerful ally, bad nutrition promotes the development of both cancers (breast and prostrate specifically), it also determines your chances of survival.
(Russell Blaylock, M.D., The Blaylock Wellness Report, March 2007) |
There are several reasons that a diet high in animal products dramatically increases not only the risks of many types of cancer but also the proliferation of the cancers. Many processed animal foods are rich sources of nitrate (used as a preservative). In the stomach environment, nitrates form nitrosamines—carcinogenic compounds.
“Iron promotes cancer development as well as the growth and spread of existing cancers. Meats have one of the highest absorbable forms of iron, with about 80 percent to 90 percent being absorbed.” (Russell Blaylock, M.D.).
Dr. Johanna Budwig demonstrated decades ago the benefit of Omega 3 fats with theory anti-inflammatory properties in supporting the body’s self-healing while a diet rich in Omega 6 fats strongly promotes the growth and spread of tumors. Flax seeds are not only a rich source of Omega 3 fats but also a rich source of lignans, which occupy some of the estrogen receptor sites, lessening the negative impact of excess estrogen in the body. Most Americans consume about 50 times as much Omega 6 as they do Omega 3 fats. A more optimal ration would be equal parts of both with a dramatic reduction in overall fat intake.
Dr, David Derry, referenced earlier, theorizes from his private practice and researches what he believes to be the underlying cause of not only fibrocystic breast disease but also breast cancer. He believes the prevalence of both is related to a low intake of the essential mineral iodine.
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He states: “I propose that the iodine is the trigger mechanism for apoptosis (the natural death of cells) and the main surveillance mechanism for abnormal cells in the body. Iodine triggers the death of cells which are abnormal or which have normal programmed death as part of their life cycle.
This is a part of a general thesis that iodine and thyroid hormone act as a team to provide a constant surveillance against abnormal cell development, chemicals that are carcinogenic, and the spread of cancer cells within the body.”
Concluding Thoughts
In our limited space for this very brief discussion of breast cancer, we see there is a host of underlying factors that come into play that allow for the proliferation of malignant cells that lead to not only breast cancer but also various other cancers. Since our bodies are bombarded from a of environmental factors-stress, lack of sunshine (resulting in deficiency of vitamin D-3) an lack of exercise, and a lack of nutrition because of poor food choices—it behooves each of us to be diligent in making our diets and lifestyles the very best we can. We must minimize our exposure to those things (toxins, environmental elements, foods, stress, etc.) that hinder our bodies’ unique ability to perform the self-healing and concentrate on providing the conditions that are conducive to supporting innate self-healing and optimal health.
There is no doubt among the learned scientists like Dr. T. Colin Campbell that a diet rich in raw, living plant foods provides the most optimal conditions to enjoy optimal health, freedom from cancers and other chronic diseases, as well as longevity. If you have not given a primarily raw plant-based diet a ‘test-drive’ for at least 60 days, I’d encourage you to make a commitment to do so beginning today. Let’s do all we can to help our bodies ward off cancer and chronic disease rather than creating fertile ground in which disease flourishes! Ask God, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to direct you in all truth and to help you commit to providing the utmost care for this marvelous body He has entrusted to your care.
 Oiln Idol, N.D., C.N.C. is Vice-president of Health at Hallelujah Acres and author of the book Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Hallelujah Diet.
Text and graphics courtesy of Hallelujah Acres Diet & Lifestyle newsletter Back To The GardenSM newsletter (Issue #49 March/April 2008, pgs. 20-21). CLICK HERE to download a pdf version of this and other Back To The GardenSM newsletters.
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