Is your environment harming your breast health?

EARLY DETECTION saves lives! Early detection of breast cancer not only saves lives, but in today’s world, there is good treatment, therefore early screening is crucial. However, helping to prevent breast cancer is also important and there are many environmental factors, including hidden chemicals that can impact our breast health.

Environmental factors that cause breast cancer include exposure to air pollution (like nitrogen dioxide and dioxins), certain chemicals (such as benzene, solvents, and pesticides), and endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics, personal care products, and household cleaners. Other contributing factors include radiation exposure, tobacco smoke, and shift work that disrupts the body’s internal clock

According to Dr Rivane Chybar-Virgo, medical doctor and health and wellness coach, speaking at a bi-weekly ‘Health Talk Sunday Series’, exposure to these environmental factors have been known to create DNA mutations. They have also been linked to many health issues, including diabetes, obesity, and fertility problems, and some cancers.

“Exposure to air pollutants, including heavy metals like lead and mercury, and components of traffic exhaust like nitrogen dioxide, is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Long-term exposure to dioxins from industrial emissions may also be a factor,” Chybar-Virgo said.

For example, benzene is a chemical found in auto exhaust and tobacco smoke and has strong evidence linking it to breast cancer. Some solvents including occupational exposure to high levels of organic solvents and gasolene components has been identified as a risk factor. Certain pesticides and other chemicals found in agricultural runoff and on food can be linked to increased risk.

“Chemicals like bisphenols (BPA, BPS) and phthalates, found in many plastics, are known to mimic estrogen and may increase cancer risk. Many products, including fragrances, chemical sunscreens, and some hair and skin products, contain EDCs like oxybenzone, benzophenone-3, and parabens,” Chybar-Virgo said.

“PFAS are found in many products and have become common contaminants in drinking water, with some studies linking them to increased breast cancer risk and impaired breastfeeding ability,” she added.

Other environmental factors include radiation, and exposure to ionising radiation, such as from atomic bombs, has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Both smoking and second-hand smoke increase breast cancer risk, and working nights can alter the body’s internal clock and has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, especially after many years of work.

“Long-term and frequent night-shift work is considered a probable human carcinogen because it disrupts the body’s natural 24-hour cycle. This can suppress melatonin production, which has anti-cancer properties,” Chybar-Virgo said.

“High-dose ionising radiation exposure to the chest, such as from radiation therapy for other cancers, especially before age 30, is a well-established breast cancer risk factor. Low-level radiation from diagnostic tests like X-rays is not thought to significantly increase risk,” she added.

Lifestyle and Dietary Factors Include:

• Alcohol consumption: Regular and heavy drinking is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, in part by affecting estrogen levels and causing DNA damage.

• Tobacco smoke: Both active smoking and long-term exposure to second-hand smoke are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk may be greater for women who started smoking before their first full-term pregnancy.

• Poor diet: Diets high in red and processed meat, saturated fat, and sugar, and low in fruits and vegetables, may increase breast cancer risk, especially for postmenopausal women.

• Lack of physical activity: A sedentary lifestyle is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, while regular exercise is considered a protective factor.

• Obesity: Being overweight or obese, especially after menopause, is a significant risk factor for breast cancer. Excess fat tissue can increase estrogen levels, which fuels the growth of certain breast cancers.

Some women will get breast cancer even without any other risk factors that they know of. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect. Most women have some risk factors, but most women do not get breast cancer. Talk with your doctor about ways you can lower your risk and about screening for breast cancer.