Could Hormones Lower Your Risk Of Cancer?

Hormones And Cancer: The Relationship Is More Complex Than You Might Think

Hormones affect every cell in your body, determining:

• Height
• Weight
• Mood
• How you process food
• How your immune system works

Read the news, and you will find studies that suggest a direct link between hormones and an increased risk of various types of cancer.

You will read about how hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), which are commonly prescribed to women to reduce the symptoms of the menopause or estrogen dominance in men and women, can cause:

 

• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Colorectal cancer

Decreasing Breast Cancer Risk With The Right Hormones

Consider the following: In an extensive European study of over 54,500 women in 2005, women on HRT combinations containing synthetic estrogens and progestins had an increased risk of breast cancer, but those using bioidentical preparations did not.¹

How To Lower Colorectal Cancer Risks

Medical research literature also shows that postmenopausal HRT users may have a lower risk of colon cancer than non-users.²

The Plot Thickens: Why It Is Important To Select The Right Type Of Hormones

Most people are not aware of the very critical difference between some types of hormones. Let’s use estrogens as our first example.

The Good (And The Bad) Type of Estrogen

Estrogen is often referred to as a single hormone. But did you know there are actually different types of estrogen?

The three major naturally-occurring estrogens in women are estradiol, estrone, and estriol. They are secreted in the ovaries, placenta, and adrenal glands. However, these hormones weren’t created equal.

How does estradiol work – it works in the following ways:

• Increases HDL and decreases LDL and total cholesterol
• Decreases triglycerides
• Decreases fatigue
• Enhances libido
• Maintains our bone structure
• Improves memory
• Works as a potent antioxidant
• Aids the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and zinc
• Maintains skin tone and texture

Estrone is the second strongest estrogen and is most abundant in the body postmenopausally. After menopause, estrone is produced within our fat cells and is often the referred to as the “bad” estrogen. Many researchers believe that estrone, in excess, may increase a women’s risk of breast cancer.

Hormonal Imbalance: Too Much And Too Little Is A Problem

Another commonly-made assumption is that estrogen or other particular hormones can cause cancer. This simply cannot be so, because no hormone works in isolation; they function as a team.

What Happens When You Have Too Much Estrogen

Let’s a look at the example of estrogen dominance, when there is too much estrogen in the body, during the perimenopausal period. During this time, estrogen levels are usually high, and progesterone levels are typically low.

That can lead to symptoms, such as:

• Weight gain
• Depression with anxiety
• Water retention
• Heavy periods
• Increased risk of breast cancer
• Fatigue
• Hypothyroidism (Read: Thyroid Disease)
• Cervical dysplasia
• Breast tenderness
• Irritability/mood swings
• Poor sleep

Estrogen dominance can also increase your risk factor for cancer because estrogen’s primary function is to promote cell growth.

What Happens When You Have Too Little Progesterone

Now let’s take a look at progesterone. Before menopause, progesterone is produced by the ovaries. After menopause, it is produced in small amounts by the adrenal glands.

But progesterone production typically starts to decline in women in their mid-30s and men after age 60. It is times like these when estrogen dominance can occur.

The symptoms of low progesterone are:

• Weight gain
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Depression
• Pain and inflammation
• Osteoporosis
• Decreased libido

The Solution

The good news is that by balancing any estrogen dominance, health can be restored. This can be achieved with the right amount of progesterone, which can protect against breast cancer by slowing down estrogen-fueled growth and division of breast tumor cells.⁵

What About Your Thyroid?

Those with thyroid disease or thyroid symptoms have more to consider. Adding estrogen will block thyroid hormones, even natural estrogen. Adding testosterone may make your thyroid hormones work more strongly.

A Safer Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

If you are considering HRT as an option, another way to protect against cancer is by being aware of the massive difference between bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) and synthetic hormone replacement therapy. They are a world apart.

Synthetic hormones give incomplete messages to cells, preventing them from being able to do their job correctly. Bioidentical hormones, on the other hand, have the same chemical structure as the hormones that are naturally present in our bodies, so they are usually well-received by our cells.

How To Achieve Natural Hormonal Balance

Our aim should always be to help the body get back into its natural, healthy state when cancer risks are inherently low. But don’t worry, getting on the road to recovery doesn’t have to be complicated. There are many ways we can start promoting this natural balance at home.

These are the best natural foods, remedies, and solutions that you can incorporate into your lifestyle for optimal hormonal balance…

1. Lifestyle Factors

First and foremost, look at your lifestyle.

Remember to:

• Reduce stress with meditation for at least 10 minutes per day. Stress can impact hormone balance immensely. Chronic stress, for example, leads to higher cortisol (Read: Hormone Audit Cortisol Questionnaire) levels, and too much cortisol inhibits progesterone production.
• Get 7-9 hours of sleep daily. Sleep influences the hormone that controls appetite and fat loss. Insufficient sleep also raises stress hormone levels, which will increase your appetite.
• Exercise, to balance weight and improve sleep. This can, in turn, give your hormones a nice positive boost.

2. Opt For Hormone-Balancing Foods

Reducing inflammatory foods can work wonders for your general health, as can adding more:

 

• Fiber
• Antioxidants
• Limiting refined carbohydrates

If you then add in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, which are rich in Indole 3 Carbinol—a known cancer growth blocker—you’ll be well on your way to hormone problem prevention.

Broccoli sprouts also help balance estrogen levels. They contain a substance called DIM, which helps your body excrete excess estrogens.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with postmenopausal breast cancer, so make sure you’re getting a little sun every day, and you’re taking a high-quality supplement.⁶

3. Support Detox Pathways

We are exposed to toxins on a daily basis. They enter our bodies in the form of pesticides, medications and over-the-counter drugs, fumes, heavy metals, plastics, and food additives.

These toxins can affect the production and function of hormone receptors, and modify the levels of a wide range of hormones, which include:

• Thyroid hormones
• Estrogen
• Testosterone
• Insulin
• Cortisol

Detoxing your body regularly can help you eliminate these hormone-disrupting toxins from your body’s tissues.

For a simple body detox:

• Remove foods and drinks that likely contain toxins, such as soda and processed foods.
• Get adequate protein daily. Protein-rich foods contain amino acids needed by the liver for detoxification.
• Add in liver supporters and detoxifiers, like vegetable blends that contain broccoli, kale, spinach, kale and Brussel sprouts.
• Take detox supplements, such as Liver Love (Click Here for Liver Love), NAC, milk thistle, turmeric, beet leaf and Fresh Essentials (from IH) or another high-quality multivitamin.

Partner With Healthcare Providers

At IH, we’re experts in thyroid health as well as HRT, so if you’d like more support with regaining a natural hormone balance.

We would be more than happy to discuss all of the options available to you, and those we recommend for your specific situation and case history.

Written by Dr. Roz Ranon of Integrative Health. Dr. Roz Ranon, NMD is an Arizona board-certified Naturopathic Physician practicing with Dr. C at Integrative Health with a focus on Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

Learn more about Dr. Ranon here