Breast Cancer Fund exposes environmental causes of breast cancer so you can live a non-toxic life

(NaturalNews) Breast cancer awareness in America has evolved into nothing more than a marketing competition where everything is painted pink and consumed for profit. Consumers rally behind a cause, buying up all that is pink, without understanding the environmental causes behind breast cancer. Much of the money collected by the top breast cancer awareness organizations goes to pay high-dollar salaries or is funneled into more pharmaceutical research and testing equipment that doesn't get to the root of the disease.

Instead of getting to the heart of the problem, breast cancer awareness merely draws attention and gives power to the disease, lining up more women for early diagnosis. The awareness hardly does what it should -- educating women on why they're getting cancer in the first place.

A breast cancer charity that focuses on actual prevention

One such educational charity, the Breast Cancer Fund, is taking strides to go beyond the pink fluff and start educating men and women on the environmental causes negatively affecting their breast health. Noting that 1 in 8 women are now diagnosed with the disease, the Breast Cancer Fund believes it's not enough just to diagnose. It's more important to help women prevent it altogether. That doesn't mean we should advocate women to have their breasts lopped off in fear. Prevention means understanding the chemicals one's exposed to every day and eliminating them to minimize risk so the breasts don't become centers for disease.

One of the goals of the Breast Cancer Fund is to influence and pressure both state and federal governments to ban mass-produced synthetic ingredients that wind up in American products. This means they are advocating for body care products that don't disrupt one's hormones. Hormone-disrupting phthalates and bisphenols wreak havoc on the endocrine system of the body, negatively affecting the mammary glands, among other important glandular systems like the ovaries, testes, thyroid and thymus.

By cleaning up consumer products and bringing greater education and oversight, consumers could be better-protected from scandals like lead in lipstick, mercury in face cream or formaldehyde in hair-straightening products.

The Breast Cancer Fund believes Breast Cancer Awareness month, October, would be better named Breast Cancer Prevention Month. By prioritizing environmental prevention over breast cancer recognition, more women could make lifestyle changes before it's too late. Relying on the medical system's route of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery at the last moment only victimizes women by destroying their quality of life and depleting their finances.

By supporting the Breast Cancer Fund, men and women learn to create a cleaner home environment, one that is free of synthetic, petroleum-derived fragrances and hormone-disrupting chemicals that are toxic to the cells. Some examples include the following:

• Alkylphenol ethoxylates (found in some detergents and stain removers)
• Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, or EGBE (found in some glass, floor, oven and general household cleaners)
• Perfluorinated compounds (found in some stain guards, non-stick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics, carpeting and furniture)
• Chemical flame retardants (including PBDEs used in furniture and electronics)
• Bleached tampons and chlorinated products
• Pesticides
• Polyvinyl chloride plastics
• Formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate in nail polishes

The Breast Cancer Fund also teaches healthy alternatives to replace the modern chemical lifestyle. These include but are not limited to:

• Drinking out of glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic bottles
• Cooking with stainless steel or cast iron instead of non-stick cook wear
• Heating food in the oven instead of using plastic containers in the microwave
• Letting children play with toys that do not contain plasticizers

The Breast Cancer Fund also educates consumers on the toxic ingredients in personal care products so one can avoid:

• Hair dyes which can contain hormone disruptors like resorcinol
• Liquid hand soaps containing triclosan/triclocarban
• Anti-aging creams with "BHA" on the label
• Sunscreens with UV filters that mimic estrogen
• Skin lighteners with hydroquinone
• Heavily scented products with synthetic fragrances
• Moisturizers, ointments and skin creams with petrolatum (which can be contaminated with PAHs)
• Fungicides, shaving creams, hair gels and hair coloring containing nonylphenol
• Hair spray, gel, mousse or shaving cream that contains isobutane, a propellant that can be contaminated with 1,3-butadiene

This is only the beginning. To learn more about breast health and breast cancer prevention, visit the Breast Cancer Fund's website.

Sources:

http://www.breastcancerfund.org/" target="_blank">http://www.breastcancerfund.org