By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness

Breast cancer has saturated women’s awareness in recent years as one of the most frightening threats to a woman’s health. In fact, breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer among women. Over 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. So when I came across a new study linking black cohosh to breast cancer, I was understandably concerned.

As more and more negative side effects of using HRT come to light, millions of women have begun to switch to natural remedies for menopausal symptoms. And one of the most popular is black cohosh. But now it seems that this herb may not be safe for women with breast cancer.

Not Best for the Breast

In the study, researchers from the Mylan School of Pharmacy at Duquesne University in Pittsburg fed an extract of black cohosh to mice specially bred to develop mammary tumors. The daily dose was comparable to 40 mg. of the herb – about the amount a woman would take to relieve menopausal symptoms. After a year, they found that black cohosh significantly increased the number of tumors that spread to the lung, suggesting that the herb might make mammary tumors more aggressive.

According to the study’s lead author, Vicki Davis, PhD, “Although it is unfortunate to be eliminating another option for women needing therapies to relieve menopausal symptoms, our findings suggest that women who may be at high risk of having an undetected breast tumor and certainly those who do have breast cancer should proceed with great caution – or simply avoid – taking black cohosh.”

Does that mean that all women should avoid using black cohosh? Absolutely not! The researchers readily admit that they didn’t find any evidence that this natural remedy for menopause increases the risk of developing breast cancer. And the evidence they did find only hints at the herbs effect on humans with breast cancer. All this study really shows is that black cohosh causes breast cancer tumors to spread in mice.
That said, if you are menopausal and have breast cancer, it couldn’t hurt to find other natural alternatives like soy. And since the herb may have an adverse effect on undetected breast tumors, it’s also a good idea to get regular mammograms.

Now, like me, you probably remember the Lancet study last year that concluded that mammograms weren’t effective in conclusively detecting breast cancer. The only problem was that this particular study was flawed. And, while it’s true that mammograms aren’t perfect, Time magazine recently pointed out that mammograms find more tumors at earlier stages of breast cancer development than any other screening test currently available.

Here’s even better news – a study conducted last spring by an international team of researchers found that mammograms can substantially lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. The 20-year study, which was conducted in Sweden, looked at data from 210,000 women between the ages of 20 and 69. They found that women, ages 40 to 69, who receive screening reduced their risk of dying from breast cancer by 44 percent compared to those who did not. Mammograms can find smaller tumors, which are generally easier to treat and may be missed by women doing monthly self-exams. Beginning at age 40, it’s a good idea to start getting mammograms once a year – unless you’re at high risk or have a family history of the disease. If you are at greater risk, most experts advise earlier and possibly more frequent screening.

Heavy Metal

But, just because grandma never had breast cancer, don’t think for a minute that you’re in the clear. Seventy-five percent of women afflicted don’t have family history of the disease. So what’s causing the rising number of breast cancer cases? The biggest culprit, it seems, are environmental toxins – and a new study has just found another contaminant that is directly linked to the disease. The study, led by researchers at Georgetown University, found that low doses of cadmium, similar to the levels we encounter every day, mimic the female hormone estrogen and may increase the risk of developing breast cancer. In the study, which tested cadmium’s effect on animals, researchers found that the metal caused an increase in the weight of the uterus, changes in the lining of the uterus and increased density of the mammary glands. In rats exposed to cadmium while still in the womb, there were changes in their mammary glands and puberty began earlier than normal.

Cadmium’s health effects are nothing new. The metal has long been a target of environmental researchers because exposure can lead to kidney damage and bone disease. But the Georgetown findings were a surprise. “We never expected to see this strong a relationship, given how different the cadmium and estrogen compounds are,” said Mary Beth Martin of Georgetown University. “Cadmium’s ability to functionally mimic estrogen and its effect on cell growth is quite remarkable.”

But the problem with cadmium isn’t just that it increases the risk of breast cancer. The biggest problem is that, like most other environmental toxins, it’s so hard to avoid. The metal is everywhere – in inks and dyes, plastics, batteries, cell phones, computers, fertilizers and pesticides. And because it’s used in so many manufacturing processes, cadmium finds its way into our air, water and even our food – especially shellfish, liver, refined grains, coffee and soft drinks. Fortunately, a couple of herbs can help reduce cadmium’s toxicity. Alfalfa contains chlorophyll and vitamin K, two nutrients that help remove cadmium from the body. And garlic is a potent detoxifier that helps rid the body of the metal.

Nix Cancer with Nutrients

It’s hard to avoid all of the dietary sources of cadmium and other carcinogens that can contribute to breast cancer. But you can fight fire with fire – or maybe I should say food with food. Certain foods – and dietary supplements too – can give you an edge against breast cancer.

A diet rich in soy can help protect against breast cancer. A study last year in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention found that women who eat soy on a regular basis are 60 percent less likely to have “high-risk” breast tissue. Soybeans are a rich source of biologically active phytochemicals, including protease inhibitors, phytates, phytosterols, lecithin, saponins, phenolic acids and isoflavones (a type of phytoestrogen). In addition, soybeans provide significant amounts of protein, calcium, zinc, B vitamins, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show that the rate of breast cancer in American women is several times higher than that of Japanese women. The lower cancer rate in Japanese women has been attributed to their high intake of protective soy phytochemicals. Recent studies that investigated the benefits of dietary soy indicate that soy contains plentiful phytoestrogens that may reduce circulating steroid hormones and inhibit breast-cancer-cell proliferation, thus reducing the overall risk of developing breast cancer.

Broccoli is another potent food in the war against breast cancer. The key to this cruciferous vegetable’s anti-cancer activity is indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C), which is formed whenever broccoli is cooked or crushed. But the real news for women is that this compound can protect against estrogen-induced breast cancer. A study by the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center found that I-3-C prevents excess estrogen from binding to receptors in the breast and modulates genes that, if damaged, promote cancer growth. Better yet, clinical trials have found that I-3-C has a sustained modifying effect on estrogen. While adding broccoli to you diet is a good first step, if you really want to benefit from I-3-C’s ability to protect against the formation of tumors, look for it in supplement form (often simply called “broccoli extract”).

Another supplement that can help guard against breast cancer is N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of the amino acid, cysteine. New research presented at the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research shows that women with the highest levels of plasma cysteine cut their risk of developing breast cancer by more than half.

The prospective, case-controlled study was conducted among 32,826 women in the Nurses’ Health Study. A total of 712 incidents of breast cancer were matched to 712 controls by year of birth, time of day that the blood was drawn, fasting status, month of blood sampling, recent use of postmenopausal hormones at the time of blood collection, and menopausal status. Scientists used conditional logistic regression with adjustment for other breast cancer risk factors to estimate the relative risks for breast cancer by levels of plasma total cysteine. What they found was that the women in the highest level of plasma cysteine group had a significant 56 percent reduction in the risk of developing breast cancer compared with those in the lowest level group.

Researchers recently have unveiled the benefits of Co-Q10 in breast-cancer treatment. This vital antioxidant is also known as ubiquinone, so called because it is present in all the body’s cells. A research group at the Institute for Biomedical research, University of Texas, Austin, conducted a study with 32 high-risk breast-cancer patients who were given 90 mg of Co-Q10 daily. The main observations were improved survival rate, no signs of further metastases, overall improved quality of life and the apparent partial remission of tumors. Another study reviewed ten case histories of breast cancer patients. The findings revealed that those patients taking Co-Q10 improved their survival rates and that cancer reversal was evident in some subjects.

One Last Thing …

According to the American Cancer Society, obesity is a risk factor in breast cancer, especially for women after menopause, since having more fat tissue can increase your estrogen levels and consequently increase your likelihood of developing breast cancer. Excess weight also increases the risk of your body’s ability to store environmental estrogens – which can lead to breast cancer.

If you’re overweight and eat a high-fat diet, look for ways to cut back. Although nobody really knows the exact role dietary fat plays in breast cancer, some forms of fats such as omega-3 (in flaxseed or fish oil) and monounsaturated fats like olive oil appear to provide protective benefits against the disease. On the other hand, excessive amounts of saturated fats such as those found in meats and dairy products may lead to an increased incidence of breast cancer.

Research Brief …

Amid all of the discouraging studies on breast cancer, I did find one study that gives hope those with Alzheimer’s disease. According to a new study in Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, People with Alzheimer’s who take a daily dose of sage (Salvia officinalis) may experience improvements in memory and mental capacity, as well as a decrease in agitation.

In the new study, 30 adults between the ages of 65 and 85 with mild to moderate AD were randomly assigned to receive 60 drops per day of sage extract or placebo for four months. The patients were assessed every two weeks using two rating scales (Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale and Clinical Dementia Rating) to measure the degree of impairment of various aspects of cognition, such as memory, orientation, judgment, problem-solving, speech and personal care. Higher scores suggest more severe impairment.

After 16 weeks, the patients taking the sage extract experienced significant improvements in cognition compared with those who took the placebo. Scores on the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale increased by 22 percent in those taking the placebo, but decreased by 26 percent in the sage group. The placebo group also experience periods of agitation more often, suggesting sage may have a beneficial effect on mood.

Alzheimer’s is one of the most frustrating diseases for both those who have it and their caregivers – and medical science seems to be moving at a snail’s pace to find effective ways to improve the symptoms, let alone find a cure. So, it’s heartening to hear of a natural remedy that may help to ease at least some of the agony that accompanies the disease.

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References:

“Common antioxidant may decrease risk of breast cancer.” EurekAlert. 14 Jul 2003.

Jakes RW, et al. “Mammographic parenchymal patterns and self-reported soy intake in Singapore Chinese women.” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. 2002; 11:608-613.

Johnson MD, et al. “Cadmium mimics the in vivo effects of estrogen in the uterus and mammary gland.” Nature. 2003; 10.1038/nm902.

“Research casts doubt on safety of black cohosh for women with breast cancer.” EurekAlert. 12 Jul 2003.

“Sage may be effective for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.” Healthnotes Newswire. 10 Jul 2003.