Definition: Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer in women in the United States, with a lifetime risk of one in eight women.

• Breast cancer results from the interplay of genes with environmental factors (such as food choices, exercise, lifestyle, and estrogen exposures) and environmental toxins (such as radiation and pesticides).
• Breast cancer is generally hormone-driven cancer; higher lifetime risk is associated with higher estrogen exposure. Seventy percent of breast cancers express hormone receptors for progesterone or estrogen.
• Breast cancer is categorized in stages 0-4. Five-year survival rates are high in women with early-stage cancers: stage 0, 100%; stages 1 and 2, 98% for local invasion, 83.6% for regional invasion; stage 3, 57%; and in women with metastatic breast cancer, 23.4%.
• One percent of breast cancers occur in men.
• Some of the factors that can increase the rate of breast cancer include: increasing age, geographic region (Western world), family history of breast cancer, mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, ionizing radiation exposure in childhood, history of benign breast disease, late menopause (>54 years), early age at menarche (<12 years), nulliparity or older age at first birth, high mammographic breast density, hormone therapy,  obesity in postmenopausal women, tall stature, alcohol consumption (more than one drink/day), high insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels.
• PALB2 Gene +: Someone who inherits a PALB2 mutation faces a 35% chance of developing breast cancer by age 70, and if she also has a strong family history of the disease, her risk is about 58% by age 70. Moreover, an inherited PALB2 mutation confers a somewhat increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Inheritance of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation confers about a six-fold higher risk — about 69% to 72% — of developing breast cancer, compared to a person without the mutation.
• Recommendations for people who test positive for PALB2 are similar to those who inherit a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation: annual MRIs alternating with mammograms — each once per year — with a clinical breast exam twice a year. A prophylactic mastectomy can also be an option.
• Some of the factors that can decrease the rate of breast cancer include: geographic location (Asia and Africa), early age of first full-term pregnancy, higher parity, breastfeeding (longer duration), obesity in premenopausal women, fruits and vegetable consumption, physical activity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Treatment:

Environment/LifeStyle

• Exercise 30-60 minutes 5 days a week
• Yoga 
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid smoking
• Get adequate sleep
• Avoid toxins including insecticides, pesticides, and other chemicals such as EDTA
• Do not cook or store food in plastic

Mind-Body

• Practice stress reduction technique
• Seek counseling if needed

Diet

• Eat a Mediterranean-based diet
• Increase organic fruits and vegetables including cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage
• Increase foods high in fiber content, omega 3 and 9 oils, and fermented soy foods
• Eliminate alcohol, trans-fats, processed foods
• Reduce sugar intake, and saturated fat in dairy and meats
• If you eat meat, eat only hormone-free meat
• Drink RO-filtered water or distilled water
• Consider a macrobiotic diet

Certain supplements and medications may be useful in treating breast cancer