Will drinking alcohol and eating tofu increase the risk of getting breast cancer?
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Volition drinking booze and eating tofu increment the risk of getting chest cancer?
It'due south Breast Cancer Awareness Calendar month, and CNA Lifestyle asked medical experts to weigh in on whether our lifestyle habits have an impact on getting the illness.
The furnishings are the same no matter what kind of booze you potable. (Photo: Pexels)
02 Oct 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 13 Aug 2022 02:02PM)
When information technology comes to breast cancer, at that place are a few run a risk factors that can't be helped, such as genetics, historic period, and yes, the fact that yous're a woman. But there are besides some everyday choices that could contribute to the risk of developing it.
Having said that, information technology is also important to know that there is no magic bullet to dodge; for case, avoiding alcohol doesn't mean you'll be gratis of chest cancer.
"Cancer causes are multifactorial, and so no one unmarried cause alone is responsible," said Dr Raymond Ng Chee Hui, senior consultant with National Cancer Center Singapore'southward Division of Medical Oncology.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Calendar month (BCAM) rolls in this October, CNA Lifestyle asked some breast cancer experts near whether or not some lifestyle habits practise have an event or not – from work-related stress to what you consume.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Y'all might desire to put down that beverage, ladies. With every 10g increase in alcohol consumed per solar day, the take chances of chest cancer is increased by 5 per cent in women who have non reached menopause, and by ix per cent in those who are menopausal, said Dr Samuel Ow, vice chairperson of the organising committee of BCAM-related events in Singapore this year.
A standard drink refers to about 14g of pure booze, which can exist plant in a 355ml or a small can of regular beer; a 145ml or a small glass of wine; and 45ml or a shot of distilled spirit.
"Alcohol tin change the way a adult female's body metabolises oestrogen, leading to an increased level of oestrogen and other hormones associated with hormone-receptor-positive chest cancer," said Dr Esther Chuwa, consultant breast and full general surgeon at Gleneagles Hospital.
"Alcohol may also increase breast cancer run a risk past damaging Dna in cells."
And if you think drinking red wine is fine because of its purported health benefits, the booze in it only doesn't work in your favour.
"The association betwixt booze consumption and breast cancer does non differ between the type of alcoholic beverages," added Dr Ow.
PUTTING ON WEIGHT
The possibility of breast cancer is a more of import reason to sentinel your weight than fitting into apparel and looking good – especially as yous grow older.
Women'due south oestrogen levels drop substantially afterwards menopause when the ovaries cease to produce the hormone, said Dr Chuwa. But in overweight or obese post-menopausal women, oestrogen continues to be made past the fatty tissues.
Body fat too produces insulin, which, along with oestrogen, are adventure factors for breast cancer, said Dr Ow, who is as well consultant with the Department of Haematology-Oncology at National Academy Cancer Constitute, Singapore.
READ: Consumption of sugary drinks linked with cancer adventure: Study
And for the record, obesity tin likewise increase the adventure of other tumours such every bit in the colon, uterus and pancreas, added Dr Ng.
"Regular practise tin can lower one's breast cancer gamble by 10 per cent to 20 per cent," said Dr Chuwa. If you're already exercising, that'south great – but consider cranking up the intensity.
To reap those protective benefits, you'll need to exercise for at least 150 minutes a week at a moderate intensity, such equally brisk walking or cycling.
If you don't accept the time, aim for 75 minutes a week but amp up the intensity when you're jogging or swimming, she said.
If you lot're wondering which is improve – jogging, weight grooming or yoga – cardio exercises that increase your heart rate, and brand y'all pant and perspire are the best.
"Exercises that assistance with weight loss are probably preferred," said Dr Ng.
EATING TOFU, SOYBEAN MILK AND EDAMAME
You might have read that soy, soybean milk and other foods rich in isoflavones are contenders for raising the risk of breast cancer.
Isoflavones are phytoestrogens (the constitute version of oestrogen), which take been linked to increased risks in high concentrations.
Merely co-ordinate to Dr Chuwa, information technology depends. Whole food sources of soy practice non contain enough levels of isoflavones to exist unsafe enough, simply some soy supplements do comprise college levels, she said.
"Some studies have suggested a link between soy or isoflavone supplements and an increased run a risk of chest cancer in women who have a family unit or personal history of breast cancer or thyroid problems."
But overall, Dr Ow agreed that phytoestrogens from foods do not increase the run a risk of breast cancer. "In fact, there is a suggestion that phytoestrogens may protect Asian women from breast cancer," he said.
Citing a Singapore study done on more than 35,000 women, Dr Chuwa said that approximately 10mg of isoflavones (that's one standard serving of tofu) a day reduces breast cancer gamble past 18 per cent.
"Just, every bit with any nutrient, eating in moderation is recommended," she said, explaining that a moderate amount of whole soy foods is 1 to two daily servings.
READ: Do vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and kale actually help fight cancer?
If you lot're wondering how much soy-based foods that is, a single serving can be a cup of soy milk, one-half a cup of cooked soy beans or edamame, an ounce of soy basics or one-third loving cup of tofu.
STRESSING OUT AT WORK
At that place's no clear-cut prove to point at stress every bit a culprit, but Dr Ng did warn that it can lead to bad habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake and poor diet – all of which are associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Nonetheless, Dr Chuwa believed that "stress is an imminent risk factor". "Long-term or chronic stress has been associated with a weakened immune system that, in turn, leads to a lowered defense against cancer," she said.
READ: How to convince your stubborn mum and dad to get for a health check-up
USING Nascence Control PILLS
A 2022 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine institute that women who used hormonal contraception had a slight gamble increase of breast cancer compared with women who had never used them.
It was a massive study of near 1.8 million women over 11 years, only according to the experts, the 11,517 breast cancer cases that turned up is a very pocket-size number.
"The increased relative risk observed in the written report translates into 1 new case of invasive breast cancer for every 7,690 women using hormonal contraception every year," said Dr Chuwa. "The overall run a risk of breast cancer among hormonal contraceptive users is low."
Dr Ow agreed that birth control pills, a commonly used form of hormonal contraception in Singapore, has "little or no increased risk of chest cancer".
READ: Long-term hormone utilize after menopause tied to Alzheimer's risk
In addition, Dr Chuwa said that hormonal contraception has "other significant health benefits".
"The pocket-sized increased take a chance of breast cancer identified in this study needs to be interpreted in the context of the benefits of hormonal contraceptive employ, including the decreased risk of ovarian, endometrial, and colon cancer," she said.
If you lot need to speak confidentially to someone nigh chest cancer, call 6225 5655, a complimentary helpline past the National Cancer Centre Singapore. Information technology is the kickoff cancer helpline in Singapore and is manned by trained nurse counsellors, who tin can also accommodate complimentary wig fittings for patients.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/breast-cancer-causes-prevention-234421
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