Bionsen

Hi everyone,

Bionsen and the charity Against Breast Cancer have come together to launch a campaign called ‘Early Morning, Early Warning’ to encourage women to check their breasts regularly as part of their morning routine. We aim to get women more familiar with what to look out for, how to check their breasts and ultimately promote early detection of any issues.

To launch the campaign, breast care nurse specialist and trustee of the charity, Victoria Harmer will be running a question and answer session here in the blog area of www.bodyhealthdebate.co.uk.

We are asking women to submit any questions related to breast awareness and breast cancer and its causes and treatment. Please submit your question here by leaving a comment and Victoria will post her advice here in the blog on 6th October.

Please feel free to let your family and friends know about the session and ask ANY question that you may have. Thank you!

We wanted to share this link to a fact sheet produced by the breast cancer charity, Breakthrough on ‘deodorants, anti-perspirants and breast cancer risk’. You can download the file from the link below or order a copy. We hope you find it useful…..

http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/what_we_do/breakthrough_publications/deodorant.html

Breast cancer is the leading cause of deaths in women around the world, second only to lung cancer. With the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women. According to statistics compiled by the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer on a yearly basis. Approximately 465,000 of those diagnosed will die from the disease.

In developed countries, the lifetime probability of acquiring breast cancer is 4.8 %. In developing countries, it is 1.85%. The probability for a woman to develop any form of cancer in her lifetime is 13%.

One of the best ways to fight against breast cancer is through knowledge. There are a plethora of web resources available, and to save you time and money, we have compiled together the top resources. This breast cancer resource guide features 50 valuable websites that will help you and your loved ones get informed. Let’s join together and fight breast cancer!

American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
This website is an excellent place to start. You can easily choose a cancer topic, and plenty of information will be available for your perusal. Look to the left under the “Find It Fast” section, and you will find cancer facts and figures, research programs, clinical trials, stories of hope, and an article titled “Making Strides against Breast Cancer.” Type “breast cancer guide” into the Search category and you will be taken to the ACS- Detailed Guide to Breast Cancer, which provides lots of useful information.

National Cancer Institute
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/
This site features a variety of topics related to breast cancer including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. This site also includes information about breast cancer in men.

Imaginis- The Women’s Health Resource
http://www.imaginis.com/
If you want to find general information on breast cancer, then this site offers a number of breast cancer topics as well as related cancer topics. It also boasts statistics on breast cancer, including incidence, screening and survival.

Breast Cancer Center
http://www.patientcenters.com/breastcancer/
This web resource is aimed at those who have metastatic breast cancer (which is Stage IV cancer). It is also aimed at those patients who are suffering through a recurrence of the cancer. There are news and articles listed, as well as lots of general information. There is also information about emotional support and how to cope with treatment.

Cancer Research UK
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk
This site provides the causes and symptoms of breast cancer, as well as tests and treatment for breast cancer. It also offers coping methods for those living with advanced breast cancer.

MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/breast_cancer/
Take a look through the Breast Cancer Index and you will find a wealth of information. If you are a fan of pop star Kylie Minogue, listen to an audio podcast of her discussing her fight with breast cancer.

Detailed Breast Cancer Risk Calculator
http://www.halls.md/
If you would like to estimate your chances of developing breast cancer, then visit this site and answer the questions listed to assess your risk.

BreastCancer.Net News
http://www.breastcancer.net/
This website provides breaking news on breast cancer treatment and research findings on a consistent basis.

National Cancer Institute- Med News
http://imsdd.meb.uni-bonn.de
This site offers comprehensive information about the treatment options for breast cancer. There is also general information about breast cancer and the stages of the disease.

Breastfit.com
http://www.breastfit.com
This site provides a guide to fit and healthy breasts. There is information about self exams, breast cancer types, myths and treatments.

Understanding Breast Cancer
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk
Here you will finds a multitude of information on such topics as breast lumps, causes and diagnosis, treatments, organizations, resources and support.

Understanding Breast Reconstruction
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk
This site provides information for women who have had, or who are about to have, reconstructive surgery on their breast as a result of breast cancer.

OncoLink
http://oncolink.upenn.edu
This cancer resource comes from the University of Pennsylvania and features cancer resources and news, as well as cancer trials. There is an “Ask the Cancer Expert” to provide knowledge regarding your specific questions.

Health A to Z
http://www.healthatoz.com
Not specifically a cancer website, this major health resource still provides plenty of information regarding breast cancer. If you type “breast cancer” into the Search category, you will be directed to a wealth of relevant links.

Canadian Breast Cancer Network
(The National Network & Voice of Breast Cancer Survivors)
http://www.cbcn.ca/
The Canadian Breast Cancer Network features recent news as well as groups, communities and links to provide you with support.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure
http://cms.komen.org
This website teaches women how to do breast self-exams. You can download and print breast self-exam (BSE) cards for your own use.

American Cancer Society- Look Good… Feel Better
http://www.cancer.org
The Look Good… Feel Better program is a free service that helps female cancer patients learn techniques for improving their appearance while they are taking chemotherapy treatments or radiation. Self-help materials such as a 30-minutre video can be ordered free of charge from this website.

TLC Tender Loving Care
http://www.tlcdirect.org/
This is a not-for-profit patient service created by the American Cancer Society. This website offers information and support for women suffering from hair loss due to their cancer treatments. Products for hair loss can be purchased from the site, as well as mastectomy products.

HealingWell.com
http://www.healingwell.com/breastcancer/
Providing both emotional and health resources, there is a great amount of breast cancer resources here, and it features new books that have been written on the topic.

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
http://www.cbcf.org
Enter this website and choose the English or French version. The CBCF provides information for those suffering from breast cancer and also features Canadian oriented news related to breast cancer and information about thinking pink and the fight for the cure.

Your Breast Cancer Guide
http://en.chatelaine.com
First published in the Canadian magazine, Chatelaine in October 2003, this informative guide is a valuable resource for patients of breast cancer and their loved ones.

Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada
http://www.willow.org
This is a breast cancer support organization that provides free information and help to those whose lives have been affected by the disease. The site features an educational video that is worth viewing.

About.com Breast Cancer
http://breastcancer.about.com
This website discusses a number of components that are important to know about breast cancer- everything from what it is, to the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. This website also discusses how to cope with your workplace if you are fighting against cancer, such as sick time, medical leave and telling your colleagues and your boss about your condition.

Breast Friends
http://www.breastfriends.com
A helpful and caring website dedicated to improving quality of life for breast cancer patients and survivors. This not-for-profit organization’s website features two inspirational videos called “A Practical Guide to Breast Cancer Support” and “Breast Friends Programs and Testimonials.” This is an excellent website to visit for support and a dose of inspiration.

Info Breast Cancer (Stan and Carol’s Web Site)
http://www.infobreastcancer.ca
This is a down to earth personal website with plenty of useful information. In particular, the “Helpful Hints” section has much to offer the breast cancer patient.

The Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com
If you wish to give hope to others through a charitable donation or by way of your story of hope, this is a site that you will want to visit.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Association (IBC)
http://www.ibchelp.org/
IBC is a form of breast cancer that is less common. This site provides a multitude of helpful information on the topic, including screening methods, standard tests and survivors’ stories.

Mama’s Health.com (Breast Cancer)
http://www.mamashealth.com
This website features a short list of breast cancer hotlines and information centers for your reference.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength
http://www.networkofstrength.org
This network has been around for 30 years and its mission is clear- to reinforce the point that no one needs to go through breast cancer alone. If you are looking for strength and emotional support, do not bypass this website.

Breast Wishes
http://breastwishes.org
This website looks at the human side behind the disease. Here you will find tools and tips from survivors, what to say to someone with cancer, recipes, poetry, and ways to know what your risk is.

NBC- National Breast Cancer Coalition
http://www.stopbreastcancer.org
To help do your part when it comes to the legislative side of breast cancer, visit this site and join others as an advocate for the cause.

Health Talk. Breast Cancer
http://www2.healthtalk.com
This website provides information for those suffering from breast cancer and those who love them.

Breast Thermography
http://www.breastthermography.com
A look at what medical infrared imaging is and how it can help in the early detection of breast cancer.

Helping Children Cope with Breast Cancer
www.youngsurvival.org
A four page PDF document that gives mothers diagnosed with cancer suggestions for helping their children to cope with their diagnosis.

Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer (ACS)
http://www.cancer.org
This website features an excellent article that deals with many aspects of helping children come to terms with what it means when a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. (This article is not just about breast cancer, but all forms of cancer.)

Parenthood.com
http://www.parenthood.com
This particular page provides ways to help children cope with hearing the news of their mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer.

BreastHealthOnline
http://www.breasthealthonline.org
This website provides information, support and resources, not just for breast cancer but for your breast needs in general.

Cancer News
http://www.cancernews.com
This website is dedicated to bringing the latest cancer news and information in regards to treatments, diagnosis and the prevention of cancer.

Chemocare.com
http://www.chemocare.com
If you are looking for information regarding chemotherapy, then you are likely to find it at this web resource. The site looks at what happens during chemotherapy and how life will be afterwards.

Roberts Review: New Cancer Treatments
http://www.robertsreview.com
If you have heard something on the news or read a piece in your newspaper about a new cancer treatment for breast cancer (or any other from of cancer), then visit this website to see if it has made the front page here.

The Breast Site
http://www.thebreastsite.com
An informative guide to breast health. This site includes information about breast cancer, breast surgery, and the right bras. You can stay ahead of developments through its breast blog.

True Faces of Breast Cancer
http://www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
This website provides a wealth of information with a personal slant. Be aware however that the lack of graphics makes this website a little hard on the eyes.

I Can Cope
http://www.cancer.org
I Can Cope is an educational program sponsored by the ACS. Many communities offer I Can Cope Classes for free. It is also possible to take the classes online. Visit the website for more information.

Tell A Friend
http://www.cancer.org
Tell A Friend is an early detection breast cancer program where women encourage their loved ones and friends to have a mammogram.

The American Breast Cancer Guide
http://www.abconline.com
If you would like to order a free copy of “The American Breast Cancer Guide,” which is a comprehensive resource directory, then you should visit this site to find out how.

Breast Cancer Network Australia
http://www.bcna.org.au
This beneficial website from Australia has information for people who have been newly diagnosed with the disease, as well as information regarding secondary breast cancer, policy & advocacy and plenty of stories. There is also a hair loss fact sheet.

Breast Cancer Care-Changes You May Face
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk
This website focuses on what to expect from breast cancer treatment, including early menopause, body image and sexuality.

Action Breast Cancer
http://www.cancer.ie
This website is chocked full of beneficial information for the breast cancer patient. There is a section on drug therapies and one on younger women and breast cancer. This website comes from Ireland.

AHRQ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
http://www.ahrq.gov
This website looks at surgery choices for women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. This site is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Love to Know- Wholesale Mastectomy Bras
http://lingerie.lovetoknow.com
A look at mastectomy bras and the benefits of wearing one after breast surgery.

Are we missing any others? Just leave your suggestions in the comments and we will add them to the list.

There is plenty of information on the web regarding the breast cancer - paraben debate but it can take time to find good quality information. In order to save you hours of searching we have outlined some of the best areas to learn more about the subject.

1. http://www.live-naturally.co.uk

This page on Live Naturally outlines some of the effects of using Parabens.

A quote from them on the subject of Parabens “We believe the least amount of chemicals our bodies are exposed to, the better for our health, whether through additives and preservatives in food or cosmetics and skincare.”

2. http://pathguy.com

Ed Friedlander MD outlines the case that anti-perspirants are not a breast cancer risk.

3.  http://the-coveted.com

Gives a great rundown of the top 5 problem ingredients used in cosmetics today.

4. http://www.care2.com

This page from Care2 gives some great basic overview of the Paraben issue being used in cosmetics

5. http://www.breastcancerfund.org

This page from the Breast Cancer Fund offers a table that lists the chemicals used in cosmetics that are linked to breast cancer.

6. http://www.treehugger.com

This page on the Treehugger site outlines how women can ‘go greener’ by checking ingredients on the back of their cosmetics.

7. http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org

This page from Breast Cancer Action shows how some cosmetic companies publicly state they are against Breast Cancer but still include Parabens in their products.

8. http://www.thegoodhuman.com

This blog post from The Good Human tells us his story on why he has chosen to avoid Paraben based products

9. http://www.skrewtips.com

This blogger has looked at how many products contain parabens.

10. http://www.cancer.gov

This page from the National Cancer Institure highlights all the research relating to parabens in deodarants causing breast cancer.

Take a look at the ingredients on your cosmetics, and you will be awestruck by the extensive listing of unpronounceable chemicals. Are you putting ethylparaben, butylparaben, and propylparaben on your skin, the largest organ of your body?

These difficult-to-pronounce ingredients make up a group of chemicals known as parabens, which are preservatives added to cosmetics to prolong their shelf life. Parabens can be found in a wide array of cosmetics, such as body wash, deodorant, and face and body creams – but are they a risk to your health?

The Argument against Parabens: Link with Breast Cancer

Presence of Parabens in Breast Tumor Tissue

Recently, parabens in cosmetics have come under close scrutiny after researchers discovered that parabens correlated with increased breast cancer risk. Published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, in a study conducted by Dr. Phillippa Darbre of the United Kingdom, 18 tissue samples from 20 different breast tumors revealed parabens present in the breast tissue.

This finding is especially concerning since the chemical make-up of parabens mimics the hormone estrogen. Increased estrogen levels have been linked to breast cancer; thus, it stands to reason that parabens, which mimic this hormone, could potentially have the same carcinogenic effects. Indeed, if a breast cell’s DNA has predisposition for cancer, then parabens could accelerate the growth of malignant cells. A study published by the European Journal of Cancer Prevention came to the conclusion that the use of antiperspirant and underarm shaving had correlations with a diagnosis of breast cancer at an earlier age.

Breasts are a susceptible site for chemical storage

Additionally, as Darbre points out, women are more susceptible to hormone-mimicking chemicals because they have a greater percentage of body fat where these chemicals can be stored. The breast is one of these storage sites.

Darbre also noted that the breast tumor samples where the parabens were found were from the upper outside area of the breast, closest to where deodorants and body cosmetics are applied. Since these products contain parabens, this is cause for alarm. As well as potentially increasing the risk of developing breast cancer, parabens have been linked to birth defects and developmental disorders in children, as well as infertility and endometriosis in women.

The Argument for Parabens: No Conclusive Research

While Darbre’s findings cast a suspicious light on parabens in cosmetics and their association with breast cancer, other researchers state that more studies are needed before a link between the parabens in cosmetics and breast cancer can be ascertained.

Dr. Chris Flower, of the United Kingdom’s Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association, says that women have nothing to fear when it comes to parabens in their cosmetics and breast cancer. Flower firmly believes that research has shown parabens to be safe substances that rarely penetrate beneath the skin, and if they do, are quickly broken down into a harmless substance by the body.

So why then, was Dr. Darbre able to find parabens in the tissue samples of women with breast cancer, and what does this mean for the cosmetics companies who use parabens? According to Dr. Timothy Moynihan, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Darbre’s findings mean very little without further study.

As Moynihan points out, Darbre’s study only showed that parabens existed in the tissues of women with breast cancer; it did not prove that parabens caused the breast cancer. Additionally, Darbre’s study did not indicate what the source of the parabens was – whether cosmetics, food, or another environmental pollutant.

Moynihan also cites an earlier study in 2002 that looked at 1,606 women who used underarm deodorants and antiperspirants, evaluating the relationship between this use and breast cancer. This study found no significant increase in breast cancer in the women who used these products.

In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration argues that the low levels of paraben use of cosmetics should not spark concern for breast cancer of health issues.

How to Protect Yourself

While there is conflicting evidence about the role parabens in cosmetics play in breast cancer, there is little doubt that chemicals are harmful to your body. Unfortunately, little has been done to protect women from the potentially harmful chemicals, such as parabens, found in cosmetics.

While the European Union banned over 1,100 chemicals from being used in cosmetics due to their link with cancer and birth defects, the United States has only banned 9 chemicals from being used in cosmetics. However, American women have demanded that cosmetics companies listen to their concerns and the following safety measures have been put into place.

• Safe Cosmetics Act. Several American states such as California have passed the Safe Cosmetics Act, requiring cosmetics companies to disclose ingredients that are listed on federal and state registries of chemicals associated with cancer and birth defects. This will assist women in arming themselves with the knowledge needed to make safe choices about the cosmetics they use on their bodies.

• Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep. The Environmental Working Group is dedicated to exposing potential threats to public health through laboratory research and review of scientific studies. The Skin Deep project has created an extensive database that allows users to search products, ingredients, and cosmetics companies for known toxins.

• Compact for Safe Cosmetics. The following is an abbreviated list of brands that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, an agreement to produce cosmetics that are free of parabens or other harmful chemicals. Still remember to read the labels, as not every product they make may be wholly safe.

o JASCO Organics

o Kiss My Face

o Perfect Organics

o Aubrey Organics

o Burt’s Bees

o Oracle Organics

o Samantharoma

o Weleda

o Nothing Nasty

o Bella Mira

While these are certainly steps in the right direction, the best way to protect yourself against parabens and other harmful chemicals in cosmetics is to simply avoid them.

In a United Kingdom experiment, two women who admitted to heavy cosmetics use were asked to give urine samples for researchers to measure the presence of parabens. In one woman, researchers found 650mg of parabens per liter of urine – a considerably high reading. This woman was then asked to avoid using any cosmetics that contained parabens and was only allowed the use of organic, natural cosmetics. After eight days of abstaining from paraben-filled cosmetics, researchers again measured her urine and found that the paraben levels had dropped to 21mg per liter.

Obviously, avoiding cosmetics is the surest way to protect yourself against parabens and their potentially harmful effects. However, if avoiding cosmetics is out of the question, please exercise caution when purchasing them, and take the time to learn what products are safe and which ones are harmful.

Hi everyone,

We found this article really useful in summarising a study that was undertaken last year on the link between aluminium and anti-perspirants.  We’ll endeaour to dig these kind of things out for you and highlight them on the blog - please let us know if you find them useful…

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1562001/Breast-cancer-’linked-to-use-of-deodorants’.html

As we enter the warmer months, many of us will become more aware of how much we are sweating and more concerned about body odour.

Sweat itself is not the cause of body odour. In fact, body odour is generated when bacteria on the skin begins to feed on sweat secreted by the apocrine glands.

Anti-perspirants work by using chemicals and aluminium compounds to close the ducts of the sweat glands and prevent the release of perspiration. Powerful astringents are used to shrink and constrict body tissue and obstruct the pores, which halts the release of sweat available for bacteria to digest.

While this method may keep us dryer, some medical professionals have expressed concerns about this continual obstruction of our body’s natural method of lowering temperature.

Many anti-perspirants can continue to work for anywhere between twelve and forty-eight hours and the sweat glands remain blocked during this period. Excessive use can even cause permanent damage to the duct and cause a painful lump to form under the arm which may require surgical removal.

For those people concerned with the idea of halting the body’s cooling system, deodorants can provide a more natural alternative. Deodorants allow perspiration but work by targeting the odour.

Antiseptic agents and germ-killing ingredients target and kill the bacteria that causes body odour on contact. Fragrances also work to combat body odour but the natural, finely-tuned balance of the body is not affected.

If you have concerns about blocking the skin’s pores with aluminium compound then searching for a deodorant could help put your mind at rest.