I went for my annual breast cancer screening this week and was particularly inquisitive about why the fibroadenomas (benign tumors) I have had for many years started shrinking. I was told that as women age, the tumors tend to become atrophic (shrink). What makes them grow (whether they are benign or cancerous) is the estrogen we produce during our reproductive years. Hallelujah! A positive sign of my aging...shrinking tumors.
I asked the doctor why it is that menopausal and post menopausal women develop breast cancer if they no longer produce the estrogen of a younger woman. She told me that breasts develop calcification and some of them become cancerous. I would venture to say they become cancerous because of genetics or even diet. There are two types of calcification in the breast (it has nothing to do with calcium in your diet, by the way):
Macrocalcification - coarse (larger) calcium deposits that are most likely changes in the breasts caused by aging of the breast arteries, old injuries, or inflammation.
Microcalcification - tiny specks of calcium in the breast. May appear alone or in clusters.
Once a woman reaches the age of menopause, it's best to keep inflammation in the body down to an absolute minimum or eliminate it completely. Many of the sites online (WebMD, Mayo Clinic, etc.) say that inflammation is one cause of calcification in the breast. I've said it before...Why tempt fate?
It's best to focus on eating whole foods and foods that are high in fiber. Here are some anti-inflammatory foods to try.
Citrus fruits -- Vitamin C and Vitamin E are essential antioxidants
Dark, leafy greens -- High in Vitamin K
Tomatoes -- The fruit's red pigment, lycopene, is a potent antioxidant
Wild-caught salmon -- Contains a rich concentration of omega-3 fatty acids
All these foods are excellent ways to help minimize inflammation. Don't look at it as an overwhelming task. Take baby steps by incorporating leafy greens into a salad at lunch, or add a piece of whole fruit to your breakfast. Consume more foods straight from the farm as well. Oh, and you should already know this...Eat fewer processed and fried foods.
And, as I've written in an earlier post, try some meditation. It's thought to keep inflammation in the body down. Here are some links from Kathy's Healthy Living with more information on inflammation -
http://www.kathyshealthyliving.com/apps/search?q=inflammation
Dr. Michael Greger talks about the foods women should stay away from to prevent cancer and, especially, if they've been diagnosed with it. It's a little over 2 minutes...
I asked the doctor why it is that menopausal and post menopausal women develop breast cancer if they no longer produce the estrogen of a younger woman. She told me that breasts develop calcification and some of them become cancerous. I would venture to say they become cancerous because of genetics or even diet. There are two types of calcification in the breast (it has nothing to do with calcium in your diet, by the way):
Macrocalcification - coarse (larger) calcium deposits that are most likely changes in the breasts caused by aging of the breast arteries, old injuries, or inflammation.
Microcalcification - tiny specks of calcium in the breast. May appear alone or in clusters.
Once a woman reaches the age of menopause, it's best to keep inflammation in the body down to an absolute minimum or eliminate it completely. Many of the sites online (WebMD, Mayo Clinic, etc.) say that inflammation is one cause of calcification in the breast. I've said it before...Why tempt fate?
It's best to focus on eating whole foods and foods that are high in fiber. Here are some anti-inflammatory foods to try.
Citrus fruits -- Vitamin C and Vitamin E are essential antioxidants
Dark, leafy greens -- High in Vitamin K
Tomatoes -- The fruit's red pigment, lycopene, is a potent antioxidant
Wild-caught salmon -- Contains a rich concentration of omega-3 fatty acids
All these foods are excellent ways to help minimize inflammation. Don't look at it as an overwhelming task. Take baby steps by incorporating leafy greens into a salad at lunch, or add a piece of whole fruit to your breakfast. Consume more foods straight from the farm as well. Oh, and you should already know this...Eat fewer processed and fried foods.
And, as I've written in an earlier post, try some meditation. It's thought to keep inflammation in the body down. Here are some links from Kathy's Healthy Living with more information on inflammation -
http://www.kathyshealthyliving.com/apps/search?q=inflammation
Dr. Michael Greger talks about the foods women should stay away from to prevent cancer and, especially, if they've been diagnosed with it. It's a little over 2 minutes...
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