Early detection of breast cancer is indeed crucial, as Sun-Times reporter Kaitlin Washburn’s story on young women being diagnosed with the disease recently pointed out. However, beyond screening, it’s also critical to address the role lifestyle factors play in reducing cancer risk.
Genetic predisposition is a key factor in breast cancer, and while we can’t change our genes, we can control our lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising and eating a balanced diet all influence metabolic health, which can affect cancer development. This is particularly important for women with BRCA mutations and those in communities where access to health care is limited, leading to delayed diagnoses and worse outcomes.
Metabolic health is a vital aspect of cancer prevention. Studies show that metabolic imbalances such as obesity, high glucose levels and insulin resistance can create conditions that enable cancer to thrive. This is especially true for breast cancer, where these factors are associated with poorer outcomes.
In addition to diet, maintaining a healthy gut is essential in cancer prevention. A diverse, well-functioning gut microbiome supports immune health and can enhance the body’s ability to fight off disease. Research has even shown that certain gut bacteria can improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies, such as immunotherapy.
So, assessing your diet and daily movement are good places to start when it comes to lifestyle prevention methods. Monitoring sugar intake, focusing on whole, fiber-rich foods, including fruits and vegetables and incorporating daily movement may help improve metabolic and gut health as well as overall cancer resilience.
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That said, lifestyle changes alone are not a complete solution. We need to look at the whole picture for tools to reduce cancer risk, including testing for genetic predispositions, regular screenings and addressing barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment.
But it’s equally important to promote comprehensive prevention strategies that include lifestyle modifications. It’s time to broaden the conversation to include lifestyle factors, empowering women to take control of their health.
Julia Holden, Lincoln Park
Gun industry shouldn’t get off scot-free
In his most recent column, Jacob Sullum argues that the father of the boy who killed two students and two teachers at a Georgia school in September should not face criminal charges for his son’s actions.
Mr. Sullum has a point — it’s always difficult to judge parents for their children’s behavior. We’ll see what is revealed during the trial and whether in this case, the father did act recklessly.
But Mr. Sullum might consider another common-sense solution that may have prevented this shooting and many others: Repeal the law that provides gun manufacturers and dealers immunity from civil liability. Instead of seeking justice from parents for school shootings, let’s hold the gun industry accountable for the devastating impact of its product.
Gun crime and murders are exponentially higher in America than in most high-income nations. This is for one simple reason: Gun manufacturers and dealers have bought the support of the GOP to protect themselves from accountability for the horrific impact of their product on our society. This makes guns more easily available to Americans, even children, than in most similar countries.
If Congress made the gun industry liable for the harm their product causes (just like every other product) the gun industry might shrink dramatically, saving thousands of lives from gun violence annually.
Barry Owen, Lake View