Pumpkins abound- and they’re healthy!

Happy Halloween! Let’s make great use of all those pumpkins!

What a wonderful time of year it is- Fall! With Halloween in the air and Thanksgiving on the way we are surrounded by pumpkins everywhere! From carved pumpkins that are scary, funny, pretty or relay messages (i.e. my son and future daughter in law's countdown and wedding date) we love seeing them all!

In addition to the emotional side –going to the pumpkin patch, the fun of carving or the family working on it together that pumpkins offer, it’s most important to note pumpkin is healthy for you too! Pumpkin as an anti-cancer food is often forgotten about most of the rest of the year.  So what makes pumpkin help fight breast cancer?

First, pumpkin seeds contains Phytoestrogens; a plant compound that acts like the human estrogen. These can help prevent breast cancer by binding to estrogen receptors to assist by inhibiting the estrogen effects according to a study.  Many breast cancers are caused by and feed from estrogen, even male breast cancer.

The Beta-carotene content of pumpkin is converted in the body into Vitamin A which is another form of Antioxidant. These antioxidants help to protect the body against free radicals which can cause cancer. One cup of pumpkin can deliver 17mg of beta carotene, making it one of the highest sources.

Fiber has been shown to be a necessary component for lowering the risk of developing breast cancer when comparing those who consume the most to those who ate the least. Pumpkin is considered a good source of fiber.

Pumpkin is also considered to be low calorie. There are several studies out that do support a lower calorie diet with a lower incidence of breast cancer.  Most of us know already that obesity plays on a large concern of overall good health. It’s important to not “feed” the cancer cells, which is why a diet higher in vegetables, fruits and low glycemic foods are so important. “Contrary to normal cells, most malignant cells depend on steady glucose availability in the blood for their energy.” “Cancer cells thrive on glucose and starve on fats and ketones, which are food-derived energy units that are plentiful in low-carbohydrate diets.”

Whatever your recipe of choice is, fresh pumpkin can have enormous benefits! So if you choose to make your grandmother’s famous pie, add it to your smoothie (yummy!), or puree it and freeze it for a host of different recipes, pumpkins are more than just fun, they’re scary good for you too! 

Modah Ani- I Am Thankful

Vicki Singer Wolf, Co-Founder, Editor

Blog Action Day- Human Rights

Cancer Doesn’t Discriminate, Neither Should Anyone Else! #HumanRights, #Oct16

It’s expected over 2,000 new cases of Male Breast Cancer will be diagnosed with almost 500 men who will die from this disease. Yet, men may be denied insurance coverage for treatment and preventative measures simply because they are not women. Equality for breast cancer prevention and treatment is essential!

In relation to human rights #BAD13 regarding one’s health, we would hope that we are all eligible and have the opportunity to receive the highest level of physical and mental health standards that exist. Unfortunately when it comes to Male Breast Cancer, this is not always the case. To deny coverage on the grounds of gender is outright cruel.

So how would you feel as a man if you didn’t even know you were at risk for developing breast cancer? Should it matter to men if their mother, sister, aunts had breast cancer? Do men even have breast?  Yes they do! And who is checking for prevention or worse, a diagnosis? When you visit your doctor for your yearly physical (which hopefully you are and have some insurance to assist with this) and they are aware of your family history and risks, and they don’t check you for breast cancer, how does this make you feel? As a male especially if you are at a higher risk, you have the right to receive examinations and even mammograms or breast MRI’s. But most insurance companies don’t see it that way.

To date, there are still arguments over what age a female should begin to receive a mammogram, even if she is at a higher risk due to family genetics, etc. Should women receive routine mammograms starting at 50 years of age? 40? 35? I had my first baseline mammogram at 35 because I have a maternal aunt that had breast cancer. Fortunately for me, my annual mammogram a year later, assisted with early detection of breast cancer. If I had waited till I was 40 or 50- who knows if I would even be alive today!

Having sons with a family history of BRCA, breast and prostate cancer diagnosis, I don’t want them to have to wait until they feel something to get their first mammogram, however, insurance companies don’t necessarily feel the way I do.

And what happens when you’re a man and you might have breast cancer? You fill out the forms as if you were a woman; could you be pregnant? , when was your last menstrual cycle?  How old were you when you began to menstruate? Men with breast cancer should not be made to feel as though they have a stigma. Unfortunately there is not enough research for men with breast cancer and so they are treated "like a woman". Breast Cancer is a disease that affects both men and women, and for human health rights, they should be treated respectively as their bodies do have breast and they both have hormones that have an affect and are affected with the diagnosis. 

Changes need to be made, updates need to happen. Let’s begin recognizing that breast cancer is not just a women’s disease so we can all be treated equally. 

WHO Constitution: "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being..."

Please, share this with your physicians and care takers so we can all be treated equally, preventatively and continue in good health. Visit HIS Breast Cancer Awareness at www.hisbreastcancer.org for more detailed information on male breast cancer. 

Modah Ani- I Am Thankful

Editor: Vicki Singer Wolf, Co-founder

National Previvor Day-for Men!

You’re a guy, with a family history of breast cancer, you become educated and decide to have genetic testing done and you test positive- do you have a prophylactic double mastectomy?

In today’s news it’s everywhere- Angelina Jolie tested positive for the BRCA gene, her mother died from breast cancer and she has chosen at 37 years of age to have both Breast removed as a preventive measure. What if you’re a guy? What about Angelina’s son?  What if you’re Grandmother, mother, aunt, sister had breast cancer or were tested positive for the BRCA mutation?  Well guess what- this is not just a woman’s disease and men need to be educated just as much!

Let’s talk about the specifics on testing for the genetic mutation, BRCA. Diagnosing if you have the BRCA mutation is accomplished by a blood test. Testing may or may not be covered by insurance depending on individual coverage as well as your family history risk factors. In addition, being a male, will add its additional challenges.   It is recommended you obtain all of the detailed information and receive genetic counseling prior to testing regarding the risks in case you receive a positive diagnosis so you are emotionally prepared for the changes in your life that will need to occur.

There are two types of mutation; BRCA1 and BRCA2, each with their own higher risk factors. The names BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 and breast cancer susceptibility gene 2. When there is a mutation of the gene, there is difficulty with prevention of uncontrolled cell growth and they can grow cancer. In women, there is a higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer and depending on whether it’s BRCA1 or 2 other cancers are at an increased risk as well. When a male is diagnosed with the BRCA1 mutation, there are increased risk of Breast, Pancreatic, Testicular and Prostate cancers. A BRCA2 mutation has an increased risk of Male Breast Cancer, Pancreatic and Prostate Cancers. Additional cancers such as colon, stomach, gallbladder and melanoma are also at a higher risk however there are more statistics for women (pre and post menopausal) than for men. 

So you’re a guy, with a family history of cancers; maybe a mom withbreast or ovarian, an uncle with prostate or pancreatic. You didn’t really think that the two were related but now you’re thinking twice about it (hopefully!).  You thought, my mom had breast cancer and maybe her sister (your aunt) did too, but that’s not important to me, only maybe a sister if you have one. Now you know more! You can be at risk for breast or other cancers too! What should you do?

First, get educated. Information can be a great tool. I had several bouts with breast cancer and that’s why I had BRCA testing done. Although I have 3 sons (no daughters) and two brothers, I had an aunt and my mother who both had breast cancer as well as uncles who died at a young age from other forms of cancer. I wanted my family to be educated.  Now after having my brother Harvey diagnosed with breast cancer as well as prostate cancer, we know that he and other members of our family also carry the BRCA gene mutation. Our sons are at a higher risk of carrying the gene and developing cancer. None of us to date have elected to have a prophylactic mastectomy however we do believe strongly in surveillance and have made many life style changes to help in prevention and fight our odds.  My sons and nephews have not been tested yet, however there will be a day when they will need more information and most likely will be.  If so, they may choose a preventive method such as mastectomy; each person needs to do what works for them, what puts their minds at some ease.  Until then, we choose to eat healthy, exercise, take nutritional supplementation and have a positive mental attitude but most importantly, we watch and listen to our bodies. Men can perform a self breast examination and learn their breast so they know if there is a change-just like a woman.  For men, an inversion at the nipple as well as any lump or discharge is a warning, so don’t wait, get it checked because men do get Breast Cancer.  Know your family history; think about having genetic testing and you may choose the “Jolie” way for prevention. Also, men can have cosmetic surgeryfollowing a mastectomy, just like a woman.

There’s so much more information available than I can fit into this so please view the links below to learn more about BRCA Genetic testing and Male Breast Cancer; then you can make an educated decision, learn your risks and take the right preventive measures for you whether that includes a ProphylacticMastectomy is up to you.

HIS Breast Cancer Awareness

http://hisbreastcancer.org/

FORCE- Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

http://www.facingourrisk.org/index.php

Cancer.gov

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

Or

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malebreast/Patient

Moffitt Cancer Center

http://www.moffitt.org/research--clinical-trials/partnerships--studies/icare/overview

Best of Health,

Modah Ani- I Am Thankful

Editor; Vicki Singer Wolf, Co-Founder