Exchangers, thank you for joining us for part two of this very informative and important feature.

Today, we will continue the conversation with Mrs. Williams. It is October 31st and we thought what better way to end the month’s awareness drive than to summarise to our followers the causes and risks associated with breast cancer.

What is Breast Cancer? What are some of the causes?

Cancer is simply an uncontrolled growth of the body’s cells. We mentioned, in pt. 1 of this feature, that the breasts respond to hormones; and that they are constantly growing and shrinking. This process needs to be carefully controlled. As a result, anything that upsets the control of breast growth can cause breast cancer.

What raises your risk for breast cancer?

Some of the things that increase your risk of breast cancer include:

1. Anything that messes up your hormone balance, e.g. long-term use of oral contraceptives (the pill), hormone disorders eg PCOS ( Polycystic ovarian syndrome) and hormones in your food.
2. Early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after 55), having your first child at an older age or never having given birth.
3. Having a family history of breast cancer (or other types of cancer).
4. Some women have a genetic problem called a BReast CAncer (BRCA) gene mutation.
5. Lifestyle causes: drinking alcohol, lack of exercise and obesity. 

How can you reduce the risks associated with Breast Cancer?

There is not much that can be done about the inherited risks for breast cancer, but let’s improve on the ones we can change:

Hormonal balance:

• Wherever possible, avoid using hormone-based contraceptives.
• Examine your skincare products carefully.
• Lower your intake of soy-based products, soy can influence your hormone levels.

Lifestyle causes:

• Reduce or completely remove alcohol from your diet.
• Try to maintain a healthy weight for your height.
• Exercise regularly.

Common sense:

• Examine your breasts EVERY SINGLE DAY.
• Follow the guidelines for your age for breast cancer screening. 

Tell us a little about the support/services you offer at Teshuva Wellness.

My husband and I run a holistic wellness practice in Montego Bay, Jamaica. We offer several services to help you care for your breasts. My favourite is infrared breast imaging. We use a high-tech infrared camera to take a heat picture of your breasts. Using the temperature pattern of your breasts, we can identify areas of abnormal heat, which can help us find problems that may need further attention. There is NO PAIN, NO SQUEEZING, and NO RADIATION. The test is FDA-approved.

I am also a certified mastectomy fitter, which means I provide special bras and prosthetic breasts for women who have done breast surgeries. I love to see these women regain their hope, confidence, and comfort.

 

Neisha Williams is a registered nurse with qualifications in emergency nursing and occupational health. She manages the Teshuva Wellness Centre in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She is passionate about educating women about breast health, and general wellness. For more details, please visit www.teshuvawellnessja.com.