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So it's important to realize there are things that we can control and there are things that
we can't. We can't always say that we can prevent disease but we can at least help to
reduce the risk of disease, whether that be cancer or other diseases.
There are a few specific factors that we know that will increase a woman's risk of developing
a breast cancer: a high fat diet and a sedentary lifestyle. And those factors also increase
the risk of recurrence in a woman that's been treated for breast cancer. I am definitely
a believer in a good balanced diet, high in fruits and vegetables, all different colors
on your plate, just like your mom told you. Minimal saturated fats, I personally am a
minimal to no processed foods. Again, we don't have any evidence that this is going to reduce
the risk of cancer or other disease but to me it's just a healthier way to live. I tend
to stay out of things that came in boxes, bags or cans. I don't necessarily recommend
that for my patients but it's something that we do talk about.
The environmental angle is a really interesting one because we are really learning a lot more
about the role of chemicals and toxin exposures. Again, not only with breast cancer but in
disease... There are several chemicals that have been linked to an increased risk of breast
cancer, studies ongoing. Again, this is one of the reasons that I tend to recommend trying
minimizing toxins from your life. And I look at toxins in a global sense, not just the
plastic that you microwave your food in but your whole environment, your whole mental
outlook, the people you surround yourself by and trying to create a more calming, peaceful,
nurturing environment in every aspect of your life.
Personally I think that's where we need to be looking is not just diet, not just exercise,
not just proper sleep, but looking at everything in your life and where can you make little
tweaks and little changes to reduce the toxicity?