Know Your Risk, by Mary Olsen Kelly

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Know Your Risk,
by Mary Olsen Kelly

I wish that I had known that I was at risk. Before Breast Cancer, you really don't think about your chances of risk. Breast cancer is in the news, but it was someone else's health challenge, not mine. I wish that I had really understood the seriousness of this disease, the epidemic proportions of it's grasp. More and more women are getting it, younger women are getting it. Like a plague it runs through thousands of lives.

I thought: My family has no history of breast cancer - Wrong. I am too young - Wrong. I am healthy - Wrong.

The truth is, everyone is at risk - absolutely everyone. This disease crosses all nationalities, all ages, all levels of health.

The worst thing is, no one knows why. Or if they do know, they aren't telling. When I first got breast cancer I asked the surgeon and all the doctors I came in contact with - what the hell is going on? They mumbled things about poisons in the environment or the toxins in our food and water. One or two mentioned that although estrogen may not cause breast cancer, it does seem to act as a fertilizer for the growth of breast cancer.

I have discovered in my own research that over 95% of women with breast cancer have the type that is estrogen responsive. That means that the cancer grows faster in the presence of estrogen. To me, that also means that estrogen is very dangerous. But what does this mean? I am a woman, all women have estrogen! I guess the key is not to increase your normal levels of estrogen.

If there is so much evidence linking estrogen and breast cancer, why do gynecologists continue to recommend estrogen for menopause? In my case, my gynecologist and I both decided I should take Hormone Replacement Therapy because my bone density was low and I was in danger of osteoporosis. But there are other preventative drugs that could have been prescribed for osteoporosis. That is the mystery. Is it the power of the big drug companies? What in the world would allow a doctor to put their patients in so much risk? Why was I given estrogen in the form of Prempro ? And why did I take it?

The doctor told me taking the estrogen could increase my risk of breast cancer. But I was cocky, I didn't think I had any risk. I went ahead and took the estrogen, which proceeded to act as a fertilizer for my dormant cancer cells. I have learned the hard way that I should have avoided the Estrogen. It's definitely an insidious contributor to formation and fertilization of breast cancer cells. I stopped taking Prempro the instant that I saw my mammogram. Wish I had never taken it at all.

Breast Cancer Survivor Tips:
Plan to Survive
Decide that you are going to not only survive, but thrive. Make the decision to live, to take the journey of healing and to reach the end triumphant. Make the choice, be very clear with yourself. Say, "We are going to get through this and live a long healthy life."

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