This is a sponsored post in partnership with Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. In the past, I remember feeling like I saw pink ribbons and discussion of breast cancer all month long. The last couple of years, I seem to see far less. Maybe that is just me. However, I am happy to be coming to you guys today with this post both for breast cancer awareness but also with information on how to reduce YOUR breast cancer risk.
My grandma holding me and my sister Erica, shortly after I was born.
My great-grandmother passed away from breast cancer before I was born. My grandmother had ovarian caner (which is commonly linked to breast cancer) and beat it. Two of my aunts have also had and then recovered from breast cancer. This is all in a single side of my family, so it seems like a high prevalence. Though one aunt was told her form of breast cancer was not believed to be genetic. Still, it is a big concern for me and the other women in my family.
My sister’s wedding. My mom, my little sister Jorden, my older sister Erica, and myself.
Scientists, physicians, and community partners in the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program
(BCERP), which is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), study the effects of environmental
exposures on breast cancer risk later in life. They created a mother-daughter toolkit
(http://bit.ly/BCERPtoolkit) mothers can use to talk to daughters about steps to take together to reduce risk.
It’s too soon to say for certain whether avoiding certain foods or chemicals may lower the risk of breast cancer. However, BCERP has resources to help parents and families learn about potential ways to reduce risk. I am always one to lean towards “why take the risk?” and I feel that same way in the case of all four suggested steps. I love how they work in the mother/daughter angle because supporting family members can be a great way to spread the word and makes sure that they are doing what they can to stay informed and to reduce their risk.
Additionally, this advice is often suggested for other health purposes anyway. If there is a chance that it may also help lower breast cancer risk, that just gives me more motivation to do what I already thought was the right thing. If you’re interested in reading more, please visit the resource page to find additional flyers and info.
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Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
This post currently has 9 responses.
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Peggy Nunn
This is so important and I think it has become complacent now. I am in a study for Sisters of Cancer Ladies. They are trying to compare my sisters to me to see the difference.
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Rosie
This is good information, and it isn’t hard to edit habits to be on the safe side.
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Sarah Hayes
I dont have breast cancer in my family but several women have had pancreatic cancer. I will definitely use these tips to keep me and my daughter as healthy as we can be. Its such a terrible way to lose a loved one.
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ellen beck
My husbands cancer in a salivary gland has BRC1 markers which is the same as the markers in breast cancer. It is very rare, in fact only 24 or 25 cases have beeen presented. He And I think his came about environmentally at a military base as a child where chemicals were released. I love the e mother daughter talks but men get breast cancer too. I a almost thinking they would need to have some testing to see if they carry the gene. I think someday we will be there too.
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Dorothy Boucher
I love what you wrote here and shared with all of us, I hope more people pay attention to this, so many lives are lost due to this.
@tisonlyme143 -
gloria patterson
This is a hard subject for a lot of people to read about or even talk about. So far our family has been lucky but you never know
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Susan Hartman
I learned something new today. Thank you. I will pay more attention to the numbers in the recycling triangle.
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Cheryl
I’ve been lucky not to have any personal experience with breast cancer.
Isn’t it fantastic to think that each and every single one of us could make a difference.