As you may probably have heard, Angelina Jolie recently came forward in The New York Times about her decision to have a double mastectomy. She did it in an attempt to prevent cancer because her doctors claimed that she had an estimated 87% chance of getting breast cancer after she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. Her decision is being met with both praise for “taking control” of prevention- even calling her heroic, as well as criticism from those who claim she could have kept the gene from switching on if she maintained a healthy lifestyle.
This is a very important blog. Please take a few moments to read this all the way through to the END, so you have more knowledge to empower yourself, and forward this to all the women in your life.
Because her mother died of cancer and got it at an early age, I can’t really say I blame Angelina for being nervous and taking such an extreme route as a double mastectomy in an attempt to protect herself, especially if the doctors she was working with were really pushing that option. But I can’t say that I think it was her only option at this point. And if you’re nervous about your own health and your own options, keep in mind, her case was very, very special. The doctor’s estimate of her breast cancer risk, if accurate, was far from an average woman’s likelihood of developing the disease (the average woman only has a 12-13% chance). Angelina’s chances were also at the higher end of the supposed range even for those with the BRCA1 gene mutation. On the Susan B Komen breastcancer site, the risk level for those with the BRCA1 gene mutation is stated to be much lower (50-70%), and it states:
Women who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have an increased risk of breast cancer [7-9]. Estimates of this increased risk vary greatly. Women who carry a BRCA1 gene mutation have a 50 to 70 percent chance of developing breast cancer by age 70…
Together, BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are thought to explain a large portion of hereditary breast cancers [5]. Most breast cancers, however, are not hereditary. And, many women with a BRCA1 mutation will never have breast cancer [7-9]. Thus, a combination of factors likely determines who will get breast cancer.
With the information she was given, she made the choice she felt was best for herself and her family, and I can’t fault her for that. We all have to have to make our own decisions and do what we feel is best.
That said, I’m a firm believer in what a healthy lifestyle can do to prevent cancer and possibly even keep those mutations from becoming deadly in women and men (yes, men can have the gene mutation, too!) who have inherited an increased likelihood of developing breast cancer. By first removing and reducing toxicity building up in your body, as you do in the Beauty Detox program, and then refraining from bombarding it again with more toxins from processed foods, pesticides, bad habits like smoking and excessive drinking, swaying away from diets like the raspberry diet, and harmful ingredients in skin care and cleaning products, you’re keeping your body from becoming an inviting playground for cancer cells to proliferate. Eat your Beauty Foods not just to look gorgeous, but to defend yourself from disease. When your body is more alkaline, and there is an abundance of oxygen in your system, it supports a healthy, disease-free state. Removing the toxins is a lot less drastic than removing your breasts when there’s no cancer there, and that, too, could help save your life. Anyone can make healthy lifestyle choices as a preventive measure; you don’t need to be tested for a gene mutation.
Genes only account for 5% to 10% of a woman’s likelihood of getting cancer. Some of those genes are inherited, while others are acquired by exposure to chemicals and radiation. Even identical twins only had a 20% concordance rate where breast cancer was concerned, so clearly a person’s lifestyle is much more predictive of the cancer risk than genes are. Breast cancer cases also tie into other factors, such as obesity and excessive alcohol consumption, two things that are addressed when you’re on the Beauty Detox plan.
You may also be inhibiting those mutated genes from taking effect when you make healthy lifestyle choices, like maintaining a plant-based diet rich in antioxidants (the more fresh and colorful your diet, the better!), getting regular exercise, not smoking, enjoying some time in the sun (not too much, but some!), and keeping your weight within a healthy range along with your routine breast cancer checks.
Reasons Not to Assume the Preventive Surgery Is the Best—or Only–Solution
Having a preventive double mastectomy based on a test for a BRCA1 gene mutation is being touted as the most effective way to avoid breast cancer. But is it? Breast tissue goes beyond the breasts and into the chest cavity, under the arms, in the abdomen, and above the collarbone. Not all of that will be removed, so the risk of developing breast cancer still exists. What you eat and the activities you engage in will affect all the cells in your body, not just the ones that are removed.
The breast cancer risk for those with the gene mutation may not be as high as you think to begin with (or as high as they Myriad Genetics company and doctors are telling you). The statistics being tossed around claiming that there’s up to an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer when you test positive for the gene mutation are based on studies of women who had lots of breast and ovarian cancer cases in their families.
Those patients wouldn’t have needed genetic testing to tell them they had an elevated risk of some kind or that they needed to be particularly diligent about their routine breast exams, diet, habits, and physical activity. Someone with the BRCA1 gene mutation and only one case of breast cancer in their family would most likely not have an 80 percent risk. It would probably be much lower than that (and again, the risk would correlate to the lifestyle), and hardly a reason to opt for a preventive double-mastectomy. In essence, the gene testing tells you nothing new, and instead can frighten you into an unnecessary surgery that will permanently alter your body, your mind, and your life.
There are lots of potential side effects that go along with mastectomies, so having the surgery as a preventive measure based on a test that can’t guarantee that you’ll get cancer is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Those test results tell one tiny part of the story; your lifestyle tells so much more.
Even if you are a carrier of the BRCA1 gene mutation, that does not mean there’s breast cancer in your future, even without the surgery. In BRCA1 mutation carriers, other things come into play. For example, hormones and how the body handles DNA damage are factors. Even genetically, the risk for breast cancer is tied to more than just this one gene. You can powerfully use your lifestyle and the environment in which you choose to live as the way to assert your control over your risk of getting cancer.
If the test, which costs $3000 or more because of a patent that belongs to Myriad Genetics and may not be covered by insurance, gives you a false positive (which is completely possible), then you could not only lose your breasts (if you choose to go that route) and set yourself up for months of surgeries, treatments, and painful recovery, you could lose thousands and thousands of dollars to the pharmaceutical industry–all for nothing. From a financial standpoint, the pharmaceutical industry is really the one who stands to gain something if women begin taking these preventive measures in droves instead of being diligent about living clean, healthy lives and continuing their regular breast exams to catch cancer early if it does happen.
The benefits of the preventive surgery could be overblown, too. In an article in the Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which studied high-risk women who had double-mastectomies and a control group of women who did not, the results looked as if the surgery was incredibly effective (1.9% of the women in the first group got breast cancer over 5.5 years after the follow-up, and 49% of the women who did not have surgery got breast cancer). However, there were concerns regarding selection bias in this particular study, and the results could have been skewed. That’ s not to say that the double mastectomy isn’t effective at preventing cancer, just that it may not be as effective as it’s believed to be and it may not reduce a woman’s chances of developing the cancer so drastically.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t be tested for the BRCA gene mutation if you’re likely to have it, just for peace of mind or because you know you would still definitely want to take extreme preventive measures if your results were positive (there are pros and cons to having the testing done). Again, gather all the information you can first, before you make the decision that is right for you. It’s just important to be aware of the everyday changes, the ways you can cleanse your body, that anyone can do whether they can afford or want/need to have the testing done.
Other Factors Could Play into Risks, Even with the BRCA1 Mutation
Some people with the BRCA1 mutation get breast cancer as early as their 20s. Some get it much later in life. Some may never develop it at all. That means there’s most likely something else going on that’s causing so much variation from person to person, and breast cancer may not occur just because of that gene mutation in those who test positive for it. Could those differentiating factors be dependent upon lifestyle choices, nutrition, and general health? Why not? We already know that lifestyle and diet factor into cancer risks in people who do not have the gene mutation.
Some foods are known to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells:
- Brazil nuts and mushrooms are high in selenium, which has demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing breast cancer.
- Leafy greens help prevent cancer because their carotenoids help push free radicals out of the body.
- Bell peppers are Beauty Vegetables that offer antioxidants that sweep more toxins from your body. They also purify your cells. Try my Rainbow Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe, a healthy alternative to many other oily dishes.
- Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant that has been tied to inhibiting cancer growth. You can incorporate turmeric into your diet with Veggie-Turmeric Quinoa.
- Beets have been shown to suppress tumor growth.
- Flaxseed has been shown to reduce the growth and spread of breast cancer cells in mice. Sprinkle some freshly ground flaxseeds on your salads or soups.
- Berries, blueberries in particular, have also been tied to long-term breast cancer prevention.
- Raw and short-cooked cabbage and sauerkraut have been associated with a decreased risk of developing breast cancer. There’s one more reason to eat your Probiotic & Enzyme Salad.
- Peaches and plums have been shown to inhibit growth of breast cancer cells.
- Fiber, like that found in the Glowing Green Smoothie, and cilantro to help carry the toxins out of your body as you detox.
Physical activity is also strongly linked to a person’s likelihood of developing breast cancer. A woman’s sedentary lifestyle can increase her breast cancer risk because of “higher serum concentration of estradiol, lower concentration of hormone-binding globulin, larger fat masses, and higher serum insulin levels.”
Something else you can do: get outside! In a study conducted by the Northern California Cancer Center and the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Miami, it showed that vitamin D from exposure to sunlight could reduce the risk of breast cancer between 25% and 65%. Do something fun and enjoy the benefits of taking a few moments of down time to recharge and de-stress. Of course, just as everything else, do not overdo sun exposure.
Your diet and lifestyle can do a lot to prevent diseases, including breast cancer. You have a lot of power in the daily way you choose to live your life! Those considerations are often overlooked when solutions like preventive double-mastectomies are in the spotlight, but a diet rich in organic, colorful produce, fiber, and antioxidants is the best defense against a cancer risk and sweeps toxins out of your body, too.
I hope this gives you more helpful information to empower you in determining what is best for you and your body. Please pass along, so we can all be more powerful with the more knowledge we have.
When I was 31 years old I was informed by a doctor that I had a better than 25% chance of getting breast cancer. She advised me to have a double masectomy.
I opted instead to start going for mammagrams and was diagnosed in 1995 when I was 43 with Breast Cancer – stage 0 insitu.
My doctor advised me to have a masectomy but only on the cancerous breast.
Its now 18 years later and I’m doing fine. I did not need chemo, radiation or any drug therapy. However, I wish I had listened to my instincts and found a doctor who would have done a double masectomy.
Every time I go for a mammagram its torture.
I think Angelina made a wise choice and she is very couregous for sharing her story.
marilyn blum
princeton, nj
Thank you for this article. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February of 2012. I had NO RISK FACTORS. I am a runner. I am not overweight. I breastfed all five of my children for many, months–the longest being 20 months (my last baby). There is no history of cancer of any kind on either side of my family. None of my relatives have had cancer! I had three children before the age of 30. The only thing I can figure out is my typical “American diet”. And even with that diet, I was at a healthy weight and I ran marathons.
13 months ago, 5 weeks after my double mastectomy, my husband heard Dr. Essylstein (unsure of the spelling) speak. He bought his book. We bought many other books about nutrition, health, heart disease, and cancer. We completely changed our diet. We now eat a plant based, whole foods diets. Sure, we have slip ups—-I am not going to say that I have not had a piece of chicken in a year, but we are about 98% compliant. And I strongly believe that teaching my children the value of nutrition will hopefully prevent them from health problems, especially my girls getting breast cancer, in the future.
I think it is a balance between prevention, nutrition, and medicine. I believe now more than ever that nutrition is a very, very important piece of the “good health” picture.
As you mentioned, even with a double mastectomy, there is some breast tissue that remains. I will be checked by my surgeon yearly, but I also will do my part to prevent recurrence by continuing my lifestyle of healthy eating—plant based, whole foods.
Chemicals and toxins in our environment are the root cause- the healthy plant based diet gives your body what it needs to clear these things and run in a disease free state. I am inspired by your post and dedication with your kids.
Last May, my father was diagnosed with breast cancer after already battling kidney cancer 15 years prior. Fortunately, his mastectomy revealed that the tumor had not made it to his lymph nodes and he is back to good health. My dad has never smoked in his life, doesn’t drink alcohol, is very active and maintains a healthy diet. As a carrier of the BRCA gene, my sister and I also got tested. My sister was positive and as a result of her diagnosis, began regular mammograms. Thankfully, a recent mammogram caught 4 very small lumps in her breast that she otherwise would not have detected. She just completed her double-mastectomy despite being only 29 years old and also maintaining a healthy lifestyle chasing after her 2 young boys. Cancer has plagued our family as a result of this genetic defect but we are thankful that it gave my sister the insight to take preventative measures. I understand that women can impact their health by improving their lifestyle choices, but also think it’s undermining the struggle of many by suggesting lifestyle changes alone might have allowed them to completely avoid this problem. I applaud women who take measures to live healthy lives; I also applaud those who are born facing extremely challenging odds and are brave enough to protect themselves (even when the measures required are scary and life-changing) so they don’t have to live through what so many [even healthy] families- including mine- have.
I’m with you, Kimberly. To do something so drastic because of the “supposed” percentages is just plain foolish in my mind. You have made some good arguing points against such a drastic procedure. Fear can make us take unrealistic actions.
Dear Kimberly,
Thank you for your important BLOG. I totally agree with you to choose quality nutrition and lifestyle rather than getting one’s breast removed. That’s radical and doesn’t necessarily solve the problem.
Again, thanks for educating the masses about this issue.
Best,
Kathryn
When you say routine breast cancer checks, do you mean yearly mammograms? I am still on the fence about exposing breasts to radiation so frequently (I am 51). I’m very curious what your opinion is regarding
mammograms.
I love a lot of the things angelina stands for except for this. I really do think if she was prepared to fast and change her eating and drinking she would have got rid of the cancer or stopped it from spreading. I think she took he easy way out .
Hi Kimberly,
I appreciate this perspective, thank you for writing about this controversial topic. I understand that women have many options at their disposal to maintain their health. I am concerned that this entire media explosion over Angelina Jolies personal choice, will have women fearing their bodies, instead of loving and honoring their bodies. I choose to not live in fear. I choose to feel bold and buoyant, and I want my daughters to feel the same way about their bodies.
Wow! Well said Angie. I didn’t think of it that way and I have to say I absolutely agree. I don’t even know why she had to come out and share her personal business anyway.
Did you ever think Angelina is not tellig the entire truth? What if her doctor did find cancer in one of her breasts and she is not disclosing to protect her children. We will never know the full truth behind her decision. I like you agree that it is a very drastic decision and does not protect against breast cancer.
Thank you Kimberly for this good information. It is good to know that there is much good we can do each day in preventing disease by what we put into our bodies.
Definitely Angelina’s choice, I just don’t know why we all have to know about it.
I have been a yoga practitioner and yoga teacher for years – physically fit, daily meditation practice, plant-based diet, never smoked, no alcohol, gluten-free, dairy-free, and live a cleansing lifestyle as a health and cleansing coach!! Basically one of the healthiest people I know, yet, I found a breast lump just 4 months after a routine mammogram!! So, the healthy lifestyle is not always going to keep us cancer/disease-free. Don’t get me wrong – I still believe in the healthy/cleansing lifestyle – in fact, now more than ever, I embrace it as my way to stay cancer-free. And, I have to believe that had I not lived the lifestyle I had, that the cancer may have showed up earlier and been more aggressive.
I had genetic testing, and although BRCA negative, I was advised (by the geneticist) to consider bi-lateral mastectomy because of a deep/strong family history. Being a very alternative person I wanted no part of radiation (which is what was recommended) – and yet, my financial situation and the general western medical/insurance model and attitude toward alternative therapies left me unable to pursue alternative therapies as a choice. I was on my own, and terrified. I went into bi-lateral mastectomy with reconstruction as my alternative to radiation and more.
Here’s what women everywhere need to know …. it doesn’t always work, and contrary to what Jolie stated, you don’t always come out looking beautiful. I cannot tell you how many well-meaning women suggested to me that now I’d have ‘beautiful, perky breasts’ as if this made cutting off my breasts somehow worthwhile???
My reconstruction failed – yes, this happens!! – and I was left fairly mutilated. I’ve gone through a year of physical and emotional pain, had numerous surgeries to reconstruct and been diagnosed with post traumatic stress. Instead of spending my days teaching yoga, and showing off ‘perky’ breasts – I spend my days going from therapy to therapy, so I can learn how to navigate life in a pained body that has been destroyed. The insurance company would not pay for the ‘alternative’ treatment for cancer that I wanted – a treatment that might have left me cancer-free — instead the insurance company paid for me to have a bi-lateral mastectomy, reconstruction and so far, a year of physical therapy, doctor’s visits, and multiple surgeries — and….I have no way of knowing if I am or will remain cancer-free???
I understand Angelina Jolie’s decision but I fear for all the women that will follow her lead, for all the women who will buy into the cancer fear mongering that is part of our culture.
I hope women will take the advice from one who has been there, and really consider the alternatives – they are out there.
Live clean, healthy, and active lives
do your own, regular self examination
if you have dense breasts, think twice about mammograms (they could be useless)
if you find a lump, don’t race to a biopsy (cancer cells can migrate) – insist that your doc take the lump out and then biopsy
only consider mastectomy as a last resort
just my opinion!!
Thank you for sharing these intimate details. I think they are real concerns that women need to know and you were brave enough to share. You sound like a wonderfully health conscious person who didn’t have the odds in her favor, and I think youre prob right when you said that if you didn’t have the lifestyle you had that it may have been more aggressive. Its hard for some people to still have that viewpoint. I too hate when others downplay the removal of breasts by saying they’ll come out more “perky.” I have witnessed a “bad” reconstructive job which cannot be fixed at this point-it is what it is for this person.
I wish you luck and healing in all aspects. And thanks again!
Hi Kim,
I had been hoping you would take up this topic on your blog.
Excellent piece. Thanks so much. Would you consider doing
a blog post that explores the next step in this, which
is the reconstructive surgery. Are the implants safe ?
I always wondered about the health implications
of the reconstruction and what women really need to know.
Thanks again. ds
I do agree that eating properly is critical to our health. And I love your books. Having a mother with breast cancer and a cousin with ovarian cancer at 27 I qualified for genetic testing. Fortunately I do not have the gene. In addition my sister in law had breast cancer at 39. After seeing what they went through I wouldn’t hesitate to have a double mastectomy if I had the mutation. Not to mention my good friend had the mutation had the surgery and was glad she did. Upon pathological testing they found per cancerous cells that didn’t show up on a mammogram. Just like gambling when you are given the odds of an 85-90 percent chance and the odds not in my favor, diet or not, I wouldn’t wish that treatment on anyone. Thankfully my family members survived their ordeal but why would you put yourself through that if you knew it could be avoided?
Dear Kimberly,
I totally agree with your theory as above. Thanks for the information. I will forward the article to everyone I care about.
Hideko
Thank you. I am BRCA1 positive and have chosen to increase monitoring rather than surgery. It is true that ovarian cancer is much harder to detect, so removing my ovaries is still an option. I found out about the BRCA1 mutation when I was 42. I am 47 now and waiting for signs of menopause before I remove my ovaries. The ovaries are so important and modern medicine doesn’t understand all its functions. By removing them before the body’s reproductive organ’s functions begin to fade to which they are essential might be more dangerous.
Something that is rarely considered and I feel equally relevant to all disease is the underlying issues that come from the mental state of being. Many important books have been written about the probably causes of illness. One that focuses on this is by Carolyn Myss and Dr. Norm Sheally . Their take on breast cancer is that it is a fourth charkra issue or a heart charkra issue. It isn’t a blame your attitude approach but a realistic approach to preventing degenerative disease by energetically clearing blockages in that area. They believe that all disease comes from blockage and I personally was able to clear a doctor diagnosed grapefruit size growth in my uterus almost overnight. He was shocked at the results of the ultrasound. This sounds outrageous but it is true. I used some affirmations and a very deep study of the material on this subject that I believed to be effective. I even feel that this is the true future of medicine if our perspectives could radically change by the expanded knowledge that includes the power of our thoughts and intentions. My family and I use this perspective as a model and have not had a reason for a doctor visit in years. I am 64.
Hi Christine,
I couldn’t agree more. I worked as a professional health intuitive for 6 years and the overwhelming number of health issues I saw had significant mental/emotional/spiritual underpinnings. True healthy nutrition and physical care are essential, but without a deeper understanding of our other ‘inner’ aspects, even those with healthy lifestyles would often end up in my office completely perplexed as to why they were still so ill. Carolyn Myss, Dr. Shealy and many others have tried to pave the way for a truly ‘wholistic’ medicine; one that embraces and takes into consideration every aspect of us as individuals. Our physical body does require attention and healthy care, this is undebatable. But our mental, emotional and spiritual aspects require just as much understanding and healthy care for us to know true health. Thank you for sharing your story so honestly. You join the ranks of Ms. Myss, Dr. Shealy and so many others who continue to try to get this message out for the benefit of all. We are all the better for it.
Thank you for your courageous post. Please will you give the title/s of the book/s you mentioned. I have a book written by Caroline Myss – but obviously not what you referred to .With thanks. Rosemary
Hi Kimberly,
Thanks for writing this article. Diet was the first thing I thought about when I read about Angelina Jolie’s choice (having just purchased and read your latest book). She’s so brave for making her choice and generous for sharing it. And although it’s a personal decision, her status as a celebrity and her openness has led to an open discussion. Diet and chemical exposure are so often ignored in any health issue today, as you have pointed out. You should have your own OP-ED on this issue in the NYTimes and in many other publications.
What about The Gerson Therapy?
I was just gonna say the same thing, what to do if and after your are diagnosed with breast cancer? What are our options outside of the mainstream way of dealing with cancer (chemotherapy and radiation). I believe like Tess states the Gerson Therapy is a route or Stanislaw R. Burzynski, M.D., Ph.D in Houston pioneer and warrior in the fight against not only cancer but in fighting the mainstream killing cancer “treatments.”
Thanks Kimberly for the great article.
I agree with you on the above. A healthy Lifestyle can prevent a lot
In my opinion , Mrs. Jolie overreacted a, Double Mastectomy will not prevent Cancer later on in Life, unless she really changes her Lifestyle , eating habits
I will share the article with all my female patients.
barbara
I’m sorry but you can’t judge her it’s her decision, I had a friend whose mum passed away from cancer at an early age and left twin girls, my friend never got tested she passed away two years ago in her twenties and left two young children. She was very careful with her diet etc. I’m sure when you are told you have a chance of cancer (no cure) you are going to do what ever is neccessary at the time to maintain your life.
I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed when I was 41 years old and have zero family history of breast cancer. I had always maintained a healthy lifestyle, yet somehow I was the 1 out of every 8-9 women who are diagnosed. Ladies. Please, please, please stay on top of your self exams and mammograms.
Hi Kimberly
I want to thank you for your informative info on breast cancer.
You are the best at demistafying the real cause of most cancers.
Thank you for helping and educating us all!
Love
Dana
Thank you for posting an alternative view. I was most horrified to read of Angelina’s surgery, but I’m sure she made the right decision for her and I certainly don’t fault her for her decision – I just found her decision so incredibly drastic. Is that truly the only way to prevent cancer? I would just hate to see women follow her example when they could have other options such as eating and living a more healthy life style.
Monica.
There is this theory with cancer that you need two events to occur in order to develop cancer. For those with the BRCA1 mutation, they already have that first event so the likelihood of them getting cancer is much higher. Sure, eating healthy and all that can prevent from DNA damage and mutations but genes are still a huge factor.
Now there’re a lot of gene polymorphisms that predispose us to cancer but by a tiny amount. However, BRCA1 is a HUGE factor for the development of breast and ovarian cancer. There’s a lot of research being done on the BRCA1 at the moment so hopefully we’ll be better able to understand how it works.
As for now it’s really up to the women to get the mastectomy. The epidemiologists didn’t magically come up with those percentage numbers, it’s been well studied and the chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer is quite high… Diet and exercise can only take us so far.
I agree with this statement.. it is irresponsible to suggest that if you have a greater than 50% chance of getting cancer you should just alter your diet and hope you don’t get it! I would be interested to know if Kimberley was given these odds that she would take that chance. She is not a doctor and is in no way an expert on breast cancer or any other type of medical condition.
I tend to agree with Marybeth. Angelina is being pro-active, which in today’s medical environment is radical. Allopathic Medicine is typically reactive, rather than pro-active. My reason for commenting is that I am not a supporter of Susan B. Kommen foundation. They give millions of dollars of donated money (to them) to Planned Parenthood (oxymoron) which we all know provides abortions. How can an organization that supports life through cancer research donate money to the death/murder process for unborn and semi-born infants? Talk about violence! if we are truly interested in “green” living, how does “pro-choice” even exist? I see a huge contradiction here.
Thank you Kimberly for your brave and informative post about this issue. Cancer has become part of everyone’s lives in this age, and we desperately need a leader such as yourself to pave the road to restoring health and wellness.
Hi, Kimberly. I’m a huge fan of your blog and I’ve read the Beauty Detox Solution. What do you think about the contraceptive pill? Is it as dangerous as people say?
I agree with you Kimberly I’ve seen many (including my boss) get rid of cancer by changing to a healthy vegan diet that was about 80% raw. but you know how some people are these days…especially if they have money. to them its easier for a doctor to “take care of them” than for them to take responsibility over their lifestyle and change old habits for the better. It’s really sad to see.
What a compassion-less statement you have made. To say “easier decision” when referring to a mastectomy is not only uncompassionate, but quite enraging as read by a woman who had to make that MOST DIFFICULT decision ever. The law of cause and effect is very strict and sometimes we have to walk in the shoes of those we critisize in order to understand them. ..so be very cautious when making such statements. For sure a narrow heart is even scarrier than some cancers.
I believe a combination of factors are causing cancer . . . contamination of food and water, toxins in nearly everything all around us and our daily practices and lack of oxygen.
I agree with Kimberly. I believe many people believe they are eating correctly and yet are still becoming toxic. Keeping our bodies in a disease resistant state includes nourishing with vitamins and minerals best absorbed through our food and detoxifying and regular cleansing, sufficient oxygen levels and our feeling of well being and being in a positive state. We all know state of mind and morale have plenty to do with healing.
We all think we are getting enough oxygen but the truth is we are not.
In 1931, when Dr. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in Physiology / Medicine for proving that viruses cannot proliferate or exist in an environment with high levels of oxygen. That’s because viruses are anaerobic, which means that they occur and thrive in the absence of oxygen. Dr. Warburg has been quoted as saying, “Deprive a cell 35% of its oxygen for 48 hours and it may become cancerous.”
He further stated that the prime cause of cancer is insufficient oxygen at the cellular level, and that cancer cells cannot survive in a high oxygen environment. “(from the Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy ebook by Madison Cavanaugh)…
I believe this is what Kimberly was getting at by saying keeping our bodies in a disease resistant state. We are so denatured these days . . . it’s a discipline to relearn our food and life in the existing environments.
I will never go get a mammogram . . . these screening methods are not safe. I don’t think squishing your breast on a hard plate when you suspect you may have cancer is sane. I think it spreads the cancer cells. I don’t think adding radiation helps either.
There are plenty of natural options available for people who are looking to heal. It requires research and relearning and changing the way we are living our lives. In doing so we may also be all doing our part in making this world less toxic too.
Lets all keep in mind that fear is a great motivator. We should also keep in mind the Medical Industry and Illness is generating a lot of profit . As well, so is nutrition industry. Read and question all opinions and advice then put it all together so that it make perfect sense to you.
I believe Kimberly is on the right track.
I know you’ll get a lot of flack for this piece but, thanks for putting it out there. Healthcare Providers are very restricted in what treatment options they can recommend due to the need to limit their exposure to malpractice suits. So, I think it is important that voices outside the healthcare system engage in the dialogue about our health since prevention and treatment is ultimately a personal choice.
Thank you for posting this! My mom had this gene. She died at age 46. She had battled breast cancer once and then again four years later. It turned to many other types of cancer and killed her not even a full seven days after she was diagnosed. It makes me sick to think I might not live to raise my kids. However, I do my best to eat well, live well, exercise often and take care of myself. I will not choose to be tested for the gene, because I feel like that might plant an unnecessary seed in my mind. I do not need the negative feelings, or worries. I will just keep living the best life that I can and try to enjoy every year that God gives me! :)
Angelina made the choice that she was comfortable with. That is a personal decision every woman must make for themselves .
Could you imagine having a double mastectomy just to find out later that you have breast cancer anyway? This is possible! My mother had a mastectomy on one side and the cancer came back on the same side. Each person will make their own choice and based on their own opinions, but know that the reason why my mother’s was undetected the 2nd time was b/c once you have the prosthesis put in you now need an MRI, NOT JUST A MAMMOGRAM!!! I don’t believe that it is standard procedure YET, they just continue giving you your mammograms assuming that cancer wont come back. Be smart and ask for MRI’s if you choose to have a double mastectomy b/c unfortunately it doesn’t mean that you are free and clear. I personally do not believe that if you have the gene that you are truly going to get cancer, however, I do believe there are many lifestyle factors that go into increasing or decreasing your risk, food being one of them (like Kim said). And as others said, stress levels and trauma have A LOT to do with the overall health of your body. If you have endured a trauma in your life and have not therapeutically dealt with it then I suggest getting assistance with overcoming those memories (I work in the mental health field & believe that years of sadness affect the body physiologically). But, this article was a great way to get people thinking!
Thank you very much Kimberly for this well thought out and informative blog.
I see that everyone did not agree with you, but I am grateful you have taken the time to put this information out there. Knowledge is power, and when it comes to something as serious or life threatening as this, all the good information you have access to is very important. I love that you did not suggest in any way that if someone feels a double mastectomy is the best choice for them that they are wrong or made a grave mistake, no you reinforced the fact that people have to do what they think is right for them. But you also brought something huge to the conversation, because everyone in this position is not going to want a double mastectomy, and will look for other options to try before doing something so drastic.
Angelina Jolie made her decision based on the information she had at the time and her life experience with her mother’s losing battle with cancer, but she is one person in many and we are all different in our emotional makeup and for many women this will not be the way for them. Again, thank you Kimberly for teaching us another way of dealing with the potential for sickness and disease in our bodies.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but until you have been in that situation you will never know what it feels like. Worry,sleepless nights and fear beyond belief. Friends and family can offer support but the burden is your own to bear. People talk about watching your diet and doing constant checks and mammograms and MRI exams. But how long can you do this? You never know when “good cells” turn into bad cells. These tests are 1 yr apart how do you know that 3mths after your test a really aggressive form of cancer doesn’t develop? One that you won’t discover for another 9 months? I have been there. I suffered with frequent breast infections and discharge for 3 yrs. it seemed like every 3 months I was on antibiotics. Every time I changed my bra or had any type of prolonged friction on my left breast I got an infection. I was monitored by specialists. Mammograms showed nothing but dense breast tissue. Finally a frustrated technician persuaded the docs to do a fine needle biopsy on a few practically invisible areas. That lead to a large needle biopsy and a small lumpectomy. That then lead to a bilateral mastectomy. Turns out the entire breast was filled with level 3 DCIS. Ductal Carcinoma Insitu. It would have becom cancer any day now but when and how. I was having several mammograms a year and still nothing showed. My mum woke up at 44 with breast cancer. I was lucky. (I hope). I have 2 young kids and a spouse. the decions are difficult and the recovery is long and painful. You don’t want to be in the “race “. All of a sudden your chances are greater than the person next to you and you can’t ignore that. Angelina is doing what it took for her to breathe easier but she is officially a part of the race. I am sure she is having many sleepless nights. You can never forget. Be gentle. Hopefully none of you will join the “race for the cure”. Peace.
Dear Kimberly,
Your most informative, well-researched blog on another option for a double mastectomy was wonderful. When I first read all about having a double mastectomy and the chance that there could still be cancer cells I wondered if I could personally make the decision to have the surgery. I know that fear is a big factor in making decisions. I had a co-worker that had a mother and sister die from breast cancer and she herself had stage one breast cancer and opted to have a double mastectomy.
To be well-informed and to seek more than one opinion when making your decision is ideal.
YOur thought provoking blog has opened the door for discussion and hopefully will enlighten both women and men that there things that they can do today to live healthy lives.
Thank you for informing the public, the gift of your knowledge to others is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
JC
Thank you for this article, four days ago I found out that I have the BRAC 1 gene mutation. I am 25 years old and have been helping my mother through her double mastectomy because of her breast cancer. This article has given me a piece of mind that surgery is not the only solution to my family’s predisposition to cancer. Thank you again -Dana
As the husband of a strong and positive 35yr old mother of two active boys who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, I find it appalling, disrespectful and simply irresponsible of anyone to even suggest breast cancer is simply a self inflicted result of inactivity and a poor diet. Especially since my wife has been devoted to your GGS, cut out all meat and dairy for going on two years and up until recently worked out 5 days a week for years! In hindsight, her weight loss probably helped her find the golf ball sized tumor at an early stage.
Had we known she had the BRCA gene prior to finding the tumor, I’m sure she’d be battling these very questions. However… anyone who has endured cancer treatment (personally or through a loved one) can attest, if there was anything they could have done to avoid it, they would have! If prophylactic double mastectomy drastically minimizes the potential diagnoses while allowing women to reclaim the power over their lives that cancer steals away from them, I’m all for it.
While I applaud Ms. Jolie’s courage and intentions, there are thousands of women who have or are facing a similar fate. How to handle one’s decision is entirely up to the individual… With the help from her team of doctors coupled with the love and support of her family! Not from a public debate on the Internet, in the media, nor from self serving nutritionalists. I’d rather take the opinion of breast surgeons and oncologists! It is hard enough on these heroic everyday women who live the rest of their lives feeling like they’re less of a woman or that they’re body has betrayed them as a result of cancer.
Respectfully,
BRCA1 Husband
Thank you for saying this. I always lived healthily because I was afraid of dying from early heart disease like three of my male relativesI Unfortunately this did not prevent me from getting breast cancer. Not the daily blueberries I eat, not the broccoli or cabbage, etc, etc. I’m so tired of reading studies or articles that say eat this, eat that to prevent breast cancer. 99 times out of 100, I did that. and I still got breast cancer.
If I had the chance to have a preventtative mastectomy before I had cancer, I would have done so. No one should criticize someone until they have walked in those shoes. Yes its a drastic act, but its a drastic disease.
When I was around 27, I had a breast lump. I was told that it was benign, and soon it went away.
A year later, I went home to spend time with my grandmother. She had ovarian/uterine and breast cancer. I never asked her any questions. I read psalms for her, and the family and I sang her favorite songs…
A few years after she passed, my father was diagnosed with prostrate cancer.
I didn’t connect the dots at that time. Why would I? I was young and healthy, or so I thought.
Again, I stood by a loved one’s side, doing anything for them, to help them through.
Eventually, I had a dream, which saved my life.
A big lady, like a Guardian Angel, appeared to me, as I was looking at a pink screen, like an X-ray… through my shirt (at my breasts.)
She warned me to go immediately, and get checked. I did, and I was led to the same doctor as Angelina Jolie’s.
I just knew that I had breast cancer, and even knew my stage.
I am a BRCA carrier, too, and my breast cancer began growing at age 30. I had cancer when my dad was diagnosed with his cancer and didn’t even know it.
Most of my family and friends were extremely shocked at the news, because I always struck them as extremely healthy and strong.
I think that things go much deeper than just eating well… without getting into strong details right now.
Weeks before my grandmother passed, she said not to worry about her… She’s going to be ok, but she worried deeply about all of us she was leaving behind. Now, I know why.
The BRCA gene, which runs in families, is very serious. And it should be taken very seriously.
My breast cancer went under the radar of self/GYN tests and mammogram. If I could go back in time to that tender age of 27 (when I had my first breast cancer scare), and the news broke out then – of Angelina Jolie and her preventative mastectomy, I would not have hesitated to get the BRCA test, too, and a mastectomy then, then after 8-cycles of chemo. Even being broke, I would have done whatever it took to get it.
I was extremely lucky to have this life-saving dream. I did get through the breast cancer, even though half of my survivorship has been plagued by chronic double vision.
Finally after 13 mos, I just had a small breakthrough, where it took a turn slightly for the better. All I added extra to my diet was Haritaki. Imagine, just one little thing can make a difference. Or maybe, it was just… a little help from beyond.
I have always felt that the best food on the planet, the only food … which is never tainted, is love. It will always fill us completely~
Actually her mother was not the only person in her family who had breast cancer. Both her mother and now her aunt lost their lives from breast. Also I am sure that she already lives a very healthy lifestyle, so I definitely support the decision she made.
I work as A cancer nurse and have cared for many women with gene mutations which cause, in some cases, the entire female side of their family to be wiped out by breast and ovarian cancer. I am all for a healthy diet, but I think we should be looking at a multi factorial approach, not one or the other. Some women believe so strongly on the healthy approach that they deny themselves opportunities to also have conventional treatment.
How do you know she lives a healthy lifestyle? We’re talking about a woman who used to do drugs and wear Billy Bob Thorton’s blood around her neck! She looks to me like she’s anorexic…that’s not very healthy either! Needless to say, Kimberly is right on when she says that your diet and lifestyle determines more of what happens than genetics…hence the study on twins. Not saying she couldn’t still get cancer but the fact is, is that just because you remove your breasts doesn’t mean you won’t get cancer. Cancer doesn’t know the difference between your breasts and your liver, or any other part of your body. If you’re not living a vey healthy lifestyle you can end up with cancer…with or without testing positive for this gene. The fact remains that cancer CANNOT live in an oxygen rich, alkaline environment…this is only obtainable by eating a healthy, mostly raw, and organic diet, along with exercise. So you go ahead and remove body parts in hopes to not get cancer and I’ll keep living a healthy lifestyle. It’s crazy what the medical world has us believing and doing these days!
Traditionally, in the case of breast cancer, the whole breast was removed. Currently the decision to do the mastectomy is based on various factors including breast size, number of lesions, biologic aggressiveness of a breast cancer, the availability of adjuvant radiation, and the willingness of the patient to accept higher rates of tumor recurrences after lumpectomy and radiation.;^^;