In 2020, breast cancer became the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer worldwide – About 2.26 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and about 685,000 women lost their battle with the disease.
Cancer is characterized by abnormal cell growth, with the potential to invade or spread throughout the body, as the normal control mechanism stops working.
In 2020, breast cancer became the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer worldwide. About 2.26 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and about 685,000 women lost their battle with cancer.
Causes of carcinogenesis:
The most frequent causes of carcinogenesis focus on:
• Genetic factors (predisposing background)
• Immune factors (viral infections)
• Environmental factors (radiation, sun, atmosphere, smoking, diet)
Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment:
Recommendations for cancer prevention and treatment are not significantly different from recommendations for the general population. Specifically, they concern:
• Normal and healthy weight
• Increased physical activity
• Reduced alcohol consumption
• Avoiding smoking
• Diet rich in plant fiber
• Low-fat foods
• Good sources of lean protein
• Rules for proper processing, preparation and cooking of food
• Avoiding sugar consumption
How important a role does diet play in cancer prevention?
According to a recent research published in 2019, interestingly, if the person’s eating habits were better, cancer incidences would have been avoided in a percentage of:
35% in Western countries
20% in developing countries
• 5.2% of all cancers are associated with poor diets and poor eating habits.
• 1 in 5 cases of cancer is associated with obesity, high alcohol consumption, tobacco use and low physical activity.
• A total of 13 types of cancer are related to being overweight or obese and of course they are an important risk factor for some type of cancer.
How is nutrition linked to the appearance of cancer?
According to research of the last decade, a diet rich in saturated fat, processed foods, sugar, salt, poor in antioxidants and fiber is inextricably linked to the occurrence of cancer.
At the same time, the existence of obesity and diseases such as diabetes are additional risk factors in the development of various forms of cancer.
What is the purpose of red meat in my diet?
Researchers have mainly focused on red meat in recent years, due to the preservatives in processed red meat (nitrates & nitrite-nitrosamines), which seem to cause carcinogenesis when they accumulate in the body. Also, there is particular interest around the way meat is cooked, as high temperatures create carcinogenic substances (HCA, PAH) according to the National Cancer Institute.
Finally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the risk of colon cancer appears to increase by 17% for every 100g serving of red meat per day.
Can antioxidants and nutritional supplements help in prevention?
Antioxidants are natural substances contained in food, which bind free radicals, thus protecting cell destruction. Clearly, due to this property, it is important to have them in the daily diet, always in the context of a balanced diet and exercise.
Sources of natural antioxidants:
Berries
Cruciferous vegetables – Broccoli
Turmeric, Pepper
Garlic, Cinnamon
Nuts & their oils
Olive oil
Legumes
Carrots
Tomato
Green leafy vegetables
Food supplements
As far as nutritional supplements are concerned, the researches of recent years report quite conflicting results, Researches concerning, respectively, supplements such as Vitamin D, Calcium, Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, lycopene, folate and zinc have not shown statistics significant results in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
The theory surrounding nutritional supplements is based on the phrase “If small amounts of a nutrient can do good, then large amounts should create even greater benefits for the body.”
(“A little of a nutrient is good, then a lot must be better”), but we still don’t seem to be able to support this scientifically, beyond some individual clinical trials with specific preparations.
For all the women who fought, are fighting and will continue to fight with breast cancer, we owe the prevention and the early diagnosis that we have today in our hands and we can successfully treat a large percentage of cases.
Don’t forget them, let’s not forget them!
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As a seasoned news journalist, I bring a wealth of experience to the field. I’ve worked with world-renowned news organizations, honing my skills as a writer and reporter. Currently, I write for the sports section at News Bulletin 247, where I bring a unique perspective to every story.
