October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I want to highlight the sobering reality of this enduring statistic. As a breast cancer survivor of over twenty years, I find it remarkable—and troubling—that the ratio of women diagnosed with breast cancer remains one in eight. This was the same statistic when I was diagnosed in August 1994. It amazes me for two reasons: “Why isn’t the ratio higher?” and “Why is it still this high?” These questions, though not profound, form the premise of this discussion, which I hope you’ll find thought-provoking.
Let’s start with, “Why isn’t the ratio higher?” Over the years, the number of breast cancer diagnoses climbed steadily. From the time I was born to when I was diagnosed, the incidence of breast cancer spiked. Several factors contributed to this rise, including:
- Increased consumption of hormone-laden and processed foods starting in the mid-20th century.
- A surge in women receiving hormone replacement therapy during the same period.
- Greater exposure to environmental toxins during the first 40 years of my life.
- Widespread use of cosmetics and personal care products containing estrogenic compounds.
Each of these factors increased the likelihood of elevated “bad” estrogen levels in people, making breast cancer more prevalent. It’s easy to understand why the occurrence of breast cancer escalated during those decades.
Given that many of these factors remain present today, you might expect the ratio to have increased over the past twenty years. (Don’t misunderstand—I’m grateful that it hasn’t risen to one in seven or one in six.) While we’ve seen positive changes, such as the availability of more organic foods, fewer hormone replacement therapy prescriptions for certain women, and non-toxic cleaning and personal care products, the majority of the population remains unaware of these options or the reasons to make better choices.
So, why hasn’t the ratio risen? In my view, many people have become informed and have made conscious efforts to adopt healthier, more wholesome lifestyles.
Now, let’s address the second question: “Why is the ratio still that high?” The answer partly lies in a lack of widespread education, but that’s not the whole story. Alarmingly, what was once considered an “older woman’s disease” is now affecting younger women more frequently. When I was diagnosed at 40, I was considered “young” to have breast cancer. Sadly, many women in their thirties are now facing this diagnosis. This alarming shift leads me to seek answers.
Women in the Western world are often exposed to excessive estrogen from an early age. Unless they take specific steps to reduce their exposure to estrogen-laden foods and products, most pre-menopausal women are estrogen-saturated. Personal care products and cosmetics, which are heavily marketed as essential to beauty, often contain hormone-disrupting ingredients, making them one of the most concerning exposures.
Thankfully, many people are turning to safer alternatives in personal care, food, and cleaning products. However, as seen on shows like Shark Tank, re-educating the public about these healthier options can be both costly and challenging. Unfortunately, we’ve grown accustomed to “the norm,” and that norm may be what’s keeping the breast cancer ratio from dropping.
What can you do?
Educate yourself about everything you put on, in, and around your body. While you can’t always control your environment, small, simple changes to your lifestyle can make a significant difference. Imagine if, within the next decade, we could reduce the ratio to one in twenty women diagnosed with breast cancer! Achieving this will require determination from those of us who are informed to spread the word and, more importantly, make the necessary lifestyle changes ourselves.
It’s not enough to know better; we must act on what we know. While breast cancer may never be completely eradicated, we can greatly reduce its occurrence.
Please understand, there is no guilt in being diagnosed with or fighting breast cancer—nor in losing that battle despite a courageous fight. However, I feel a responsibility to share what I’ve learned in hopes of decreasing the chances of breast cancer for you or a loved one.
My heartfelt desire is to see this statistic drop as much as possible—so let’s make it happen!
Carin Hansen was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40. After a long battle she emerged victorious and began a one-on-one wardrobe and beauty consulting business for other women journeying through cancer. She has been a model, actress, talent agency owner, benefit founder, certified acting/modeling instructor, writer, speaker and passionate cancer advocate. It is important to remember that Carin is not a physician and does not subscribe to or recommend any particular medical procedure or alternative treatment. She strongly urges you to consult with your Primary Physician, Oncologist and/or Surgeon before implementing any of her suggestions found in her articles, newsletter, blogs and books.
