Actress Angelina Jolie is in the news again for her radical approach to health.
In May 2013, she revealed the shocking news that she had opted for a double mastectomy in an attempt to ward off breast cancer.
Ms. Jolie’s reasons? Her genetic history of inheriting the defective gene BRCA1 which apparently increases her breast cancer risk to 87%.
Angelina’s own mother tragically died of ovarian cancer at the age of 56 after a courageous and hard fought 10 year battle. Jolie’s aunt died of breast cancer at the age of 61.
Both women had the defective gene BRCA1. Defective mutation of the BRCA2 gene also results in increased risk.
Now, Ms. Jolie is making headlines again for hinting that she plans additional preventative surgery. This next round of going under the knife would involve a hysterectomy and an oophorectomy to remove her ovaries. These surgeries will eliminate the estimated 50% chance she may develop ovarian cancer, again due to the BRCA1 gene.
However you may feel about Ms. Jolie’s health decisions, one thing is clear: some women will go to extreme lengths to avoid the risk of female cancers.
While I am not personally of the philosophy that we are a slave to our genes and need to remove body parts to be healthy over the long term, knowing our genetic history and biological tendencies can indeed be helpful as we navigate our life choices, including dietary and environmental influences.
While I admire Ms. Jolie’s determination and gumption, it’s not at all certain that undergoing surgery will actually prevent cancer. The harmful mutation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes may also increase the risk of other types of cancer such as pancreatic.
Would reducing cancer risk for the breasts and ovaries by surgically removing them in fact spike the risk for the more deadly pancreatic cancer, the third most common cancer for those with a defective version of these genes? Pancreatic cancer can’t be avoided by surgically removing it as the pancreas is a vital organ. Worse, it is a silent disease with few if any symptoms and is difficult to screen for.
In fact, this is exactly what happened to one BRCA2 positive woman with a strong family history of ovarian cancer. She had her tubes and ovaries removed in what she thought was a smart preventative move only to be diagnosed with the more deadly pancreatic cancer.
Time will tell if a surgical approach for preventing cancer is truly effective, but until that time, it seems wise to manage cancer risk with appropriate diet and lifestyle choices, not by removing body parts and organs.
How to Protect Yourself With a Cancer Prevention Lifestyle
According to the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF), Traditional Diets, which all contained both animal and plant foods farmed by nontoxic methods, are rich in factors that are highly protective against cancer. Many of these protective factors are found only in animal fats such as butter, cream, tallow, lard, egg yolks and organ meats.
Below is a list of the nutrients suggested by the WAPF that are especially critical for preventing cancer and the foods that contain them in high amounts. Please note that obtaining these nutrients via supplements manufactured in a factory setting is not an optimal way to consume them.
Co-enzyme Q10: Highly protective against cancer. Found only in animal foods.
Vitamin A: Beta carotene in plant foods is not Vitamin A, is not easily converted to Vitamin A in the body and never converted in quantities to support optimal health. True Vitamin A strengthens the immune system. Essential for mineral metabolism and endocrine function. Helps detoxify. True vitamin A is found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil; fish and shellfish; and liver, butter and egg yolks from pasture-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin A than the typical modern American diet.
Vitamin C: An important antioxidant that prevents damage by free radicals. Found in many fruits and vegetables but also in certain organ meats valued by primitive peoples.
Vitamin B6: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Contributes to the function of over 100 enzymes. Most available from animal foods especially grassfed raw milk.
Vitamin B12: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Found only in animal foods. Liver is the best source by far.
Vitamin B17: Protects against cancer. Found in a variety of organically grown grains, legumes, nuts and berries.
Vitamin D: Required for mineral absorption. Strongly protective against breast and colon cancer. Found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil, lard, shellfish and butterfat, organ meats and egg yolks from grass-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin D than the typical modern American diet.
Vitamin E: Works as an antioxidant at the cellular level. Found in unprocessed oils as well as in animal fats like butter and egg yolks.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Strongly protective against breast cancer. Found in the butterfat and meat fat of grass-fed ruminant animals.
Cholesterol: A potent antioxidant that protects against free radicals in cell membranes. Found only in animal foods.
Minerals: The body needs generous amounts of a wide variety of minerals to protect itself against cancer. Minerals like zinc, magnesium and selenium are vital components of enzymes that help the body fight carcinogens. Minerals are more easily absorbed from animal foods.
Lactic Acid and Friendly Bacteria: Contribute to the health of the digestive tract. Found in old fashioned lacto-fermented foods.
Saturated Fats: Strengthen the immune system. Needed for proper use of the essential fatty acids. The lungs cannot function without saturated fats. Found mostly in animal foods.
Long-Chain Fatty Acids: Arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help fight cancer on the cellular level. They are found mostly in animal foods such as butter, organ meats, cod liver oil and seafood.
Additives in Processed Foods that Can Cause Cancer
While a cancer prevention lifestyle includes eating a whole foods diet rich in the nutrients above, it is equally as important to avoid the chemicals, additives and other dangerous substances in processed foods that contribute to its development.
The list below provided by the Weston A. Price article How to Protect Yourself Against Cancer with Food summarizes what to avoid:
Trans Fatty Acids: Imitation fats in shortenings, margarines and most commercial baked goods and snack foods. Strongly associated with cancer of the lungs and reproductive organs.
Rancid fats: Industrial processing creates rancidity (free radicals) in commercial vegetable oils which are in nearly all processed cookies, crackers and chips.
Omega-6 fatty acids: Although needed in small amounts, an excess can contribute to cancer. Dangerously high levels of omega-6 fatty acids are due to the overuse of vegetable oils in modern diets.
MSG: Associated with brain cancer. Found in almost all processed foods, even when “MSG” does not appear on the label. Flavorings, spice mixes and hydrolyzed protein contain MSG.
Aspartame: Imitation sweetener in diet foods and beverages. Associated with brain cancer.
Pesticides: Associated with many types of cancer. Found in most commercial vegetable oils, fruit juices, vegetables and fruits.
Hormones: Found in animals raised in confinement on soy and grains. Plant-based hormones are plentiful in soy foods.
Artificial Flavorings and Colors: Associated with various types of cancers, especially when consumed in large amounts in a diet of junk food.
Refined Carbohydrates: Sugar, high fructose corn syrup and white flour are devoid of nutrients. The body uses up nutrients from other foods to process refined carbohydrates. Tumor growth is associated with sugar consumption.
What Do You Think?
Do you think it’s a good idea to have surgery to remove breasts and ovaries if one has a defective, mutated gene that raises cancer risk considerably? Or, is a cancer prevention lifestyle which includes emphasis on Traditional Diet a better approach?
More Information
How to Protect Yourself Against Cancer with Food
Angelina Jolie Reveals Plans for More Surgery after Double Masectomy
Would You Ever Do Chemo or Radiation for Cancer?
Unfortunately a healthy lifestyle will not prevent cancer when you have a gene mutation.
Yes!
Isn’t she pregnant again?!!
Her position is hard to understand (and to follow), and makes one worry about sending the wrong signals to the public. Our organs are not “risky” per se.
If you have the BRCA gene Marisol, your breasts are in fact risky. Very risky (as in up to 90% sure to get cancer!). I’d say that’s risky, wouldn’t you?
It is my understanding that Angelina Jolie did not have a true mastectomy, instead she redid the implants she had for over 20 years. It is a little known or discussed fact that implants are not something one has for a lifetime rather they have to be re-done usually every 20 years, for some sooner. That’s why Angelina had her reconstruction so fast which is not recommended for mastectomy patients and is in fact discouraged. I do not believe she will actually have a hysterectomy or have only her ovaries removed or anything else. The people who are stars as well as the ones who actually run Hollywood spin the stories we are told. Usually to increase their likeability or to promote a movie of some kind, however there is also as of late the idea of being able to sway the populace and that is what you are seeing with the Angelina story. Of course it is needless to say never ever do something just because a Hollywood star claims they are or have done something or will do something. Rather ignore their advice and do your own research and make your own choices just like we were all taught as children. Ultimately the responsibility for our lives and what we do to our bodies rests with us. Hollywood is make believe and the people involved in make believe will tell you all sorts of things. Don’t listen or believe them,
Don’t forget iodine! Especially for keeping lady parts healthy.
When you mention “vegetable oils”, are you referring to olive oil as well? I buy the organic ‘Bragg’ brand. Is that still healthy?
Good question … olive oil would be fine. The term vegetable oils typically refers to polyunsaturated oils manufactured under denaturing conditions in a factory.
One of the recommendations for cancer prevention, and in case of cancer, is an alkaline/alkalizing diet. What I find interesting is that many of the recommendations for cancer prevention in this article, are banned according to an alkaline/alkalizing diet: eggs and dairy products. This brings up a question I have: when the categorized food as either acidic or alkaline, did they use supermarket products, or products from free range and grass fed animals. Any input on this would be welcome!
I agree totally with Melinda – none of you have any idea what Jolie’s, or anyone else’s, lifestyle is. And it’s obvious none of you or even the author understand anything about the BRCA mutations and what some of us live with. Until you have had most of your family members die of cancer and face a 87% chance yourself, in SPITE of healthy living, then mind your own business.
This article judges no one … Jolie put it out there for discussion herself when she did a press release about it. The article simply questions as a number of doctors already do … the removal of body parts when there is no proof it prevents cancer and may in fact cause a more dangerous form of cancer in a more vital organ.
Sarah, the assumption that it may spike the risk for other cancers is in error. The article you linked did not validate that assumption, so to state “that in fact” was what happened is irresponsible. It’s not like if you remove the breasts or ovaries, that sneaky mutation then targets the next available organ on the list. The nature of the mutation is that one has only 1/2 the ability to fight off cancer cells and that half, diminishes over time. The risk is a lifetime risk. To have a 2% risk of pancreatic cancer is very different from 90% breast, nearly 50% ovarian cancer risk. A good diet is always advised, but it’s not going to provide the other half of what is genetically lacking to fight the cancer cells.
This mistake you are making is that you are assuming the risk for pancreatic cancer stays the same when the breasts and/or ovaries are removed. Removing these organs changes the game .. and the risk for pancreatic. Cancer will go to the weakest link .. if the genetic weakest link is no longer there (breast and/or ovaries), it will go to the next weakest link (pancreas) if you are predisposed to cancer. Removal of body parts is not proven to reduce overall cancer risk … just removes risk for that particular organ, nothing more.
The logic that the risk to other organs would increase just does not follow. BRCA 1 is a mutation in the tumor suppressing gene. The gene either works or it doesn’t. It doesn’t increase as you remove the breasts or ovaries. There is no science to back up your claim. There is, however, for the efficacy of surgical removal of at least the ovaries. http://www.asco.org/press-center/large-study-shows-preventive-ovarian-surgery-brca1-mutation-carriers-should-be
An aside, I have the mutation. I’ve been there, done that and got the t-shirt. I also follow a whole foods diet, because it’s good for my body. The comments of some of your readers have been ignorant and horrible. There is no easy answer for dealing with this issue. Every avenue has it’s own kind of pain. Death is appointed once for every man. Our journey towards it is our own personal path.
The logic follows because it’s actually happening already … women who have had their ovaries and/or breasts removed got pancreatic cancer anyway … the third most common cancer for BRCA mutation carriers. Coincidence? Time will tell. But, women need to know the full story before making their own decision.
I’m amazed at the self righteous people in here who feel qualified to judge the life style and life choices of a woman they DO NOT KNOW. None of us have any idea about what she eats or does not eat, does or does not do, and IMO that means none of us are qualified to comment on her choices. Get over yourselves!
Of course, didn’t you realize that media coverage is only trustworthy and complete when it is used to assert one’s otherwise ignorant and uninformed view point. Otherwise, the mainstream media coverage of anything or anyone is ill of half truths and devoid of the real story. /sarc
Obviously, I agree. Ideas for articles must be running dry at this blog.