| Did you know breast or ovarian cancer can be | | | | people being fat was highest in women. The most |
| inherited? In fact, there are 500,000 women in the | | | | common cancers linked to excess body weight were |
| U.S who carry a gene mutation that puts them at | | | | endometrial, breast and colorectal cancers. Getting in |
| risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). | | | | daily exercise can also protect and reduce your risk |
| "All cancer involves changes in genes called mutations. | | | | for cancer. |
| However, in most people, these changes occur after | | | | * Diet tied to survival in breast cancer patients. A |
| birth, usually later in life and only in a limited number | | | | study published in the December 2008 Journal of |
| of the body's cells. Hereditary cancer refers to | | | | Clinical Oncology found women with the highest |
| cancer that is caused by a mutation that is present | | | | intakes of healthier foods were about half as likely to |
| at birth and in all cells of the body. This gene change | | | | die during the study period as women with the |
| makes individuals more likely to develop cancer in | | | | lowest intakes, even with other important factors |
| their lifetime but doesn't mean they will definitely | | | | taken into account -- like the initial size of the breast |
| develop the disease. Certain cancers, including those | | | | tumor, the treatment type and patients' smoking |
| of the breast, ovary, and colon, are more likely than | | | | habits. |
| others to be hereditary." | | | | * Herbs and spices fight off cancer compounds. |
| Some hereditary mutations or gene changes linked to | | | | Several herbs and spices have been compared to |
| breast cancer have already been identified. The two | | | | effective cancer-fighting drugs. Be sure to add these |
| most common are BRCA1 and BRCA2 (for breast | | | | six herbs to your diet: tumeric, ginger, cinnamon, |
| cancer 1 and breast cancer 2). Blood tests are now | | | | labiates which include mint, thyme, marjoram, |
| available to determine if someone carries one or both | | | | oregano and basil, apiums include parsley and celery |
| of these two gene changes. | | | | root, and alliums include garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, |
| If you have a mother who was diagnosed with | | | | and chives. |
| breast cancer, get tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 | | | | * Breastfeeding cuts breast cancer in high risk |
| genes. While there may not much you can do on | | | | women by fifty nine percent. The new study, |
| your genetic history, there are a few things you can | | | | published in The Archives of Internal Medicine, used |
| change to your lifestyle. | | | | information from 60,075 participants in the second |
| * Eat raw walnuts. Walnuts contain compounds that | | | | Harvard Nurses' Health Study. If your mother has |
| reduce the risk of breast cancer. Molecular analysis | | | | breast cancer, you may want to consider the |
| showed that increased consumption of omega-3 | | | | benefits of breastfeeding. Certain types of breast |
| fatty acids contributed to the decline in tumor | | | | cancer may be rarer among women who breastfeed |
| incidence, but other parts of the walnut contributed | | | | their babies for at least six months. |
| as well. | | | | If you have a family history of breast cancer, doing |
| * Keep your weight in check. A study of cancer | | | | these few simple steps towards a healthier lifestyle |
| among overweight people in Europe showed the | | | | can help decrease your chances later in life. |
| proportion of new cases of the disease caused by | | | | |