October-Breast Cancer Awareness Month
As we transition from the warm weather, to fall festivals and the excitement of football, October is a month brimming with cherished events. However, amidst all these celebrations, one observance stands out for its significance and importance – Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This can be a touchy and dreadful season for some, and we will forever honor the mothers, daughters, and close friends who have lost their lives from this devastating and horrific disease. As a person who is passionate about seeing others heal, my heart can’t help but to advocate for the men and women who are fighting for their health and life. Since it’s breast cancer awareness month, it’s important that we educate ourselves on the science and hope behind this disease.
In 2021, 282,000 people were diagnosed with breast cancer. Roughly 900 people primarily women were diagnosed with breast cancer every single day in the United States. Breast cancer is the #1 diagnosis and the second leading cause of cancer death following lung cancer. This means that 1 in 8 women are most likely to develop breast cancer.
Risks are age, genetics, family history, obesity, breast density, tobacco use, alcohol use, and null parity (never have given birth.)
Three most commonly known receptors found in breast cancer tumors are estrogen, progesterone, or HER2-neu. Researchers have found when asparagine was in breast cancer tumor, it had a higher likelihood of spreading to other organs. When it was reduced, cancerous cells spread a lot less.
Asparagine is a non- essential amino acid that’s super common. Our bodies use it as a building block for proteins to convert one amino acid into another to that the cells can work the way they’re suppose too.
Asparagine allows the cancerous cells in breasts to transform into a version that can travel through the bloodstream to the organs where tumors develop. This amino acid is also found in many foods and nearly impossible to avoid completely.
High and low Asparagine foods include, Asparagus, beef, dairy, eggs, fish, legumes, nuts, poultry, seafood, seeds, soy, and wholegrain. Foods with very low asparagine are mostly found in fruits and veggies.
Limiting asparagine doesn’t prevent cancer cells, but it does make it less likely that they metastasis. This reminds us that cancer is impacted by our diet. Researchers showed that a plant based diet converts aggressive breast cancer to a more treatable form.
There are many factors that contribute to the cause of breast cancer, and I firmly believe it’s a pandemic that we need to fight for to prevent and heal the right way. With more education and awareness on this topic, we can fight for our health and advocate for what matters most, a human life.