In the month of October, you’ve probably heard more about breast cancer than you want, but that’s a good thing. The more you know, the better.
On Tuesday (25 October), I spoke to my doctor friend from Solis Hospital, Dr. Daniels, on Asaase 99.5 Accra’s Just Us show and I was shocked to learn that there is still new information to learn:
1. Certain hair relaxers (hair straighteners) & hair dyes are directly linked to uterine and breast cancers. According to a recent CNN documentary, hair straightening chemicals increase the risk of some hormone-related cancers, such as endometrial cancer.
Now, a large study done by the University of Texas found that women who used permanent hair dye were 9% more likely to get breast cancer.
2. Contrary to popular belief, a man sucking your breast does not decrease your risk of developing breast cancer unless this is done during breastfeeding as a baby does.
3. Breastfeeding can help minimize your risk because it disrupts the oestrogen window. Women who are pregnant, have given birth, or have breastfed have a lower risk of developing cancer.
4. Stress can accelerate the progression of cancer in your body. When your body experiences stress, neurotransmitters are released, which promote the growth of cancer cells.
When you’re stressed, your body’s immune system is weakened making it harder to fight off infections and cancer. Although stress does not directly cause cancer, it increases your risk of developing cancer.
I hope you found this information useful, and if you haven’t done your screening yet, please do so immediately. It’s free!
