Birth Control and Breast Cancer

HRT and the Pill – Known Breast Cancer Causing Agents

I was a midwife for more than 10 years before I realized that the government KNOWS that the birth control pill and hormone replacement therapy increases risk for breast cancer.  In just perusing a midwifery blog, I came across the National Institute of Health’s list of cancer causing agents and it confirmed that the birth control pill was a KNOWN cancer causing agent.

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/report_on_carcinogens_13th_edition_the_508.pdf http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Publications/OrganSitePoster.pdf

Early in my career, I was told that women “needed” Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in order to save them from heart disease and incontinence.  They quietly admitted to the “possibility” of increased risk for breast cancer expecting that we wouldn’t notice and go ahead and write a prescription for every woman from childhood to nursing home.  I raised my hand at the educational (in doctrinal) meeting I was at and commented that I would much rather die of heart disease than cancer.  My colleagues were mortified.

But I never believed that it made sense to give estrogen to women at the point when their body was naturally down-regulating estrogen production.  I am not happy that HRT has been directly linked to increased breast cancer risk but I am not surprised.

It never made sense when looking at women’s health throughout the lifespan, that giving estrogen containing products would be helpful to the normal development of a teenager’s reproductive system.  It has now been shown that the longer a woman is on “the pill” before the birth of her first full-term pregnancy and birth, the greater the risk of breast cancer.  Breast cancer risk is also increased in women who have delayed childbearing until well into their 30’s and so the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill creates another risk factor for breast cancer.

Correlation Between Estrogen Dosage and Cancer Risk

Compound this with a study released this year showing a direct correlation to the amount of estrogen in birth control pills and the amount of breast cancer diagnosed.  We have pills with only 10mcg of estrogen now, compared with those with 30-35 mcg of estrogen.  If 10mcg work- why do we have pills with 3 times the dose?  And at least 3x’s the risk?

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-08/aafc-ruo072914.php

How to Avoid Xenoestrogens

So now we are all becoming aware that XENOESTROGENS (toxins that behave like estrogen in our bodies and disrupt the natural balance of hormones in our bodies) give us exceptionally high levels of estrogen that increase our risk for breast cancer.  Mercola’s tips for avoiding Xenoestrogens.

• Store food in glass containers, the most inert containers you can use
• Use natural cleaning products
• Buy and eat organic foods as much as possible, especially milk, which is frequently contaminated with bovine growth hormone
• Avoid processed foods
• Avoid MSG, artificial food additives and artificial sweeteners
• Stay away from unfermented soy
• Use natural brands of personal care products, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics

Many Xenoestrogens are banned for human exposure in other countries.  Americans need to be educated to avoid these toxins since it seems like our government is more concerned about light bulb energy than cancer prevention.  Meanwhile the Susan G Komen organization states that they are committed to breast cancer prevention, yet have little or no information about the huge impact of estrogens on the development of this devastating cancer.

Take Control of Your Breast Health

This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Learn your body’s cycle to avoid pregnancy, eat organic green vegetables and get some exercise.  The Midwives of New Jersey would love to see you this month for a physical with breast exam and your thermogram.  Don’t delay, make your appointment today!

To learn more about breast thermography visit https://midwivesofnj.com/services/thermography/