October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Affecting one in eight U.S. women, breast cancer is a modern American epidemic.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women in the United States after lung cancer. However, the number of women who have died of breast cancer has decreased by 42% from 1989 to 2019 thanks to early detection and treatment improvements. As a result, more than 431,800 breast cancer deaths were prevented during that period. Although Black women are diagnosed less often with breast cancer than White women, they have a 41% higher death rate from the disease.
Since 2007, the number of women aged 50 and over who have died of breast cancer has continued to decrease. The number of women under age 50 who have died of breast cancer has stayed steady. From 2013 to 2018, the death rate for women with cancer dropped by 1% each year.
Did you know that more than 40 years ago, physician, “founder of modern epidemiology,” and pioneer breast cancer researcher—Prof. Brian MacMahon—wrote almost prophetically, “One of the most important contributions of epidemiology to the fight against cancer has been the demonstration that many of the prevalent forms of human cancer are preventable” [Emphasis added] (MacMahon 1969).
In recent years, the role of inflammation in many diseases, including cancer, has been increasingly recognized. Chronic inflammation appears to be an important risk factor for breast cancer and may influence both the development and conduct of breast cancer.
Evidence continues to indicate that chronic inflammatory changes are associated with breast cancer risk. The C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase protein, is considered to be a classic marker for inflammation. Testing for CRP is both readily available and fairly inexpensive. (We can run CRP in addition to other inflammatory markers here at Hydrate IV Therapy!)
A study published in the journal “Menopause” in 2017, reported that “higher expression levels of the proinflammatory markers CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8 were associated with a higher percent mammographic density (PMD) among premenopausal women, and higher expression levels of interleukin 6 were associated with higher PMD among all women (24.1% vs. 18.5%, p = 0.007). What this basically means is that there is significant evidence that inflammation plays a role in breast cancer.
So what does this mean for you? It means you can help yourself be less at risk for breast cancer by understanding how your lifestyle can help prevent it. Reducing inflammation can play a large role in preventing breast cancer, among other inflammatory lifestyle diseases.
Eating an anti-inflammatory diet such as a Mediterranean diet, limiting alcohol and coffee, doing a nutritionally dense body detoxification program spring and fall to reduce environmental stressors that may be causing inflammation, managing stress and knowing both your current inflammatory markers AND how your body processes inflammation and oxidation are all ways you can help yourself.
Here at Hydrate IV Therapy IV Therapy and Wellness, Dr Ann can guide you through this process. From an anti-inflammatory diet, to a comprehensive detox program, appropriate testing, including functional genetics to see just how your body handles inflammation, oxidation and detoxification, our wellness services are designed specifically to guide you on your path to optimal wellness.
Feel free to call Hydrate IV Therapy IV Therapy and Wellness to schedule a complimentary 15 minute Discovery call with Dr . Ann to see how we can guide you on your journey to optimal wellness!
Whether they are used to address specific health concerns or simply as part of a routine wellness plan, IV Therapy Services can do so much more than simply provide hydration. They also deliver targeted nutrition directly into the bloodstream where it is most needed—and best utilized—to help your body heal faster and stay strong longer! Whether you’re feeling under the weather or just looking for a little extra glow for an upcoming event, our comprehensive menu of all-natural vitamin drips was created with you in mind. All IV Therapies are administered by our licensed medical professionals at the location of your choice (within the greater Phoenix area), making it easier than ever to enhance your well-being anytime, anywhere.