Healthy weight management and breast cancer risk.
By Dr. Stella Seto, ND
October is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is the most common
female cancer in Canada and worldwide. 1 in 9 women will be diagnosed with
breast cancer in their lifetime.
A recent study published in the journal Cancer found women who are obese at
the time they are diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive cancer have a higher
rate of breast cancer recurrence or mortality. The study had patients with normal
heart, liver, kidney and bone marrow function helping to control for other factors
that contribute to cancer recurrence and survival. They found that even with
optimal treatment including chemotherapy and hormone therapy as body mass
index increased it significantly increased the risk of cancer recurrence and death.
The study found obesity at the time of diagnosis had a 30% increased risk and
almost 50% increase in mortality despite optimal treatment. The doctor in the
study suggested that interfering with hormonal changes and inflammation caused
by obesity may help reduce the risk of recurrence.
Excess fat is associated with disease but visceral fat (fat that surrounds your
organs) correlates with increased inflammation. This is why you here about the
dangers of “belly fat” as increasing risk for cardiovascular disease, another
inflammatory condition. This type of fat secretes high levels of an inflammatory
substance called interleukin 6 (IL-6). High IL-6 correlate with high levels of
another inflammatory substance C-reactive protein (CRP) that relates to insulin
resistance, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and hypertension.
Weight management and insulin control are integral in prevention and treatment
of breast cancer. There is growing evidence towards an association with insulin
resistant type 2 diabetes and cancer. A diet high in refined carbohydrates and
sugars increases insulin, which stimulates cell and DNA production. Cancer is
uncontrolled cell growth. Insulin may also stimulate insulin like growth factor,
causing overstimulation of receptors that are found to be overactive in beast
cancer.
Fat cells are able to produce estrogen, thus again stating the importance of
healthy weight management in prevention or treatment of breast cancer and
other estrogen sensitive cancers.
The body has three major forms of estrogen, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and
estriol (E3). The major form of estrogen contributing to breast cancer is E2, the
most stimulating form of estrogen. E1 increases after menopause as the ovaries
decrease in size. E3 increases during pregnancy and is thought to have a
protective effect against breast cancer, as women who have not had children are
at an increased risk.
The ratio of 2/16 hydroxy estrone ratio provides information on how estrogen is
metabolized in the body. Estrogen is fat soluble and requires the liver process it.
The 16-hydroxy estrone (16α-OHE1) is associated with higher risk of cancer. The
2-hydroxy estrone (2-OHE) seems to protect from cancer.
The ratio of these two metabolites of estrogen can determine your risk of breast
cancer.
2-OHE:16α-OHE1 (2:16 ratio) - 2:16 ratios less than 2 indicate increasing longterm risk for breast, cervical, and other estrogen sensitive cancers. This ratio can
be modified several ways. For example the brassica/cabbage family is high in
indole 3-carbinol that increases this ratio, thus decreasing cancer risk.
There are many factors that contribute to breast cancer.
With peoples lives so hectic and unbalanced it is no wonder that women’s
hormones, diet and lifestyle are also unbalanced.
Testing available at Alliance Wellness can be done to assess your risk to prevent
or treat breast cancer and other hormone sensitive diseases. With an insight into
the complex nature of hormones the physician can design a treatment plan to
bring balance back to the body.