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What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer : How Hormone Balance Can Help Save Your Life

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"Your risk of surviving malignant breast cancer is just about the same as it was 50 years ago, when the only treatment was mastectomy: about one in three. In other words, despite billions of dollars in research and hugely expensive and risky treatments, the conventional medical approach to breast cancer isn't working, and talk of prevention is virtually nonexistent." These are the opening words of the long-awaited book by John R. Lee, M.D., with David Zava, PhD and Virginia Hopkins, published by Warner Books. (Those of us who have heard Dr. Zava speak on the subject have been looking forward to his research and information in printed form.) The amount of research is first of all evident by the 63 pages of references in the back of the book. Many of these are covered in detail in the material.

Breast cancer is so prevalent in our modern society that it is a source of fear to most women. The statistics in chapter 1 from the National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society include: a 40% increase from 1973 to 1998 and 15% of women who die of cancer are from breast cancer. The U.S. and Canada have the highest rates of breast cancer worldwide.

In Part 1, the traditional methods of treatment with radiation, chemotherapy and drugs such as Tamoxifen are related in large part to pharmaceutical funding of medical schools and research. Most of the risk factors for breast cancer, such as age, geography, early pregnancy, diet, alcohol, exercise, oral contraceptives and HRT are related in one way or another to estrogen dominance. What is the process of cancer development and how does a cancer cell differ from a normal cell? This information is covered in detail in Part 1.

Part 2 gives us details on the nature of estrogens, progesterone and androgens in the role of women's health. Dr. Ercole Cavalieri, research scientist at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, coined the phrase "Angels of Life and Angels of Death" referring to estrogens. This is due to their beneficial and harmful natures. How estrogens are balanced with progesterone; the relationship to the cells, the liver, the immune system; and what makes estriol a superior, safer estrogen is thoroughly covered in this section.

What about other hormones: androstenedione, testosterone, DHT and DHEA? Read chapter 10: "The Nature of the Androgens." Especially important are the last two chapters in this section, researching the problems of HRT, ERT, Tamoxifen and Raloxifene. Read this shocking information: "In case you have any doubts as to the extent to which drug companies are controlling physicians, did you know that pharmacies sell prescribing information to drug companies? That's right. A drug company rep can purchase a list of all the doctors who are filling prescriptions at a particular pharmacy, and find out exactly what they're prescribing. How's that for an invasion of privacy?" (p.179)

Finally, we come to Part 3-how can we prevent and/or heal breast cancer? Guidelines for using natural progesterone are outlined for various circumstances, such as premenopausal, menopausal, with endometriosis, breast fibrocysts, PMS, menstrual migraine, hysterectomy or ovariectomy and women using estrogen. The use of other hormones is also covered. A chapter on saliva testing explains how and why it is valuable and gives helpful instructions.

What about soy, dietery fat and carbohydrates? Much nutritional information is given, including "Dos and Don't's of the Anti-Cancer Diet." (p.289) Also covered is the matter of the environment with the effect of xenohormones and other toxins. Is your liver in good shape? What support can you give your system to counteract the negative effect of all these poisons?
This is a brief summary of what to expect from this remarkable book, which is informative, positive and hopeful.

This book will scare the bejesus out of ya, so make sure you're ready for the in-your-face reality this book offers. Are you ready to read about everything contributing to breast cancer from pesticides to plastic bottles? We're talking bug spray, plastic water bottles, beef, cow's milk + milk products, nail polish, polish remover, furniture, hair dryers, computers, and on and on. I was afraid to eat or touch anything for days! But the premise of this book isn't to scare but to educate you.

While this book focuses on progesterone and diet to ward off or control breast cancer from spreading, it also slams current drug treatments and drug companies, along with mammograms. The information in this book is exactly the opposite of what your doctor will probably tell you. But are you willing to bet your life that your doc really knows what he or she is talking about and not just repeating the widespread word of rich and powerful drug companies or manufacturers of mammography equiptment?

So if you're like me and have just recently found a lump in your breast, take some time to get used to the idea that you might have cancer. Then if you want to know the harsh reality about breast cancer, read this book. It might just save your life.

Finally a book on breast cancer that explains the REAL causes: (1)environmental exposure to toxic chemicals like pesticides and petroleum products that mimic our own natural hormones, estrogen specifically; (2) nutritional deficiencies from eating junk food that allow these toxic chemicals to inhibit normal detoxification mechanisims that take place in the Liver and Gastrointestinal tract; (3) taking prescription drugs which amount to synthetic derivations of our natural hormones, which inhibit normal cellular communication and can damage our DNA, resulting in formation of hormone-driven tumors; (4) chronic emotional stress which uses up our B-vitamins, essential fatty acids and other essential nutrients needed to maintain our immune and detoxification systems, as mentioned above.
Dr. Lee is a hero and a mentor. I highly recommend that ANYONE interested in the REAL causes of breast, ovarian, uterine and prostate cancers, AND how to prevent them, should read this book, and the two previous books by Dr. Lee, on Menopause and Premenopause, both available on this website!
More and more people are waking up....and beginning to understand the horrible mistake we made by trusting large corporations (drug companies)that place profits before people. Reading books by Dr. Lee will educate us and show us how with a little time reading, we can learn how to take care of ourselves while living in a world that is run by corporations trying their hardest to destroy us!
Read and share this book with those you love!

Dr. Lee has been maligned for so long by the medical community, but the information presented in this book cannot be ignored or taken lightly. If every doctor in America would read this book and then have the courage to act, no doubt thousands of women would benefit. I have not been personally affected by breast cancer, and am hopeful that I will never be diagnosed with it. I am following Dr. Lee's recommendations and expect to live a long and healthy life!

At last a straight forward amd well researched alternate veiw about breast cancer, its causes and its treatment. Dr. Lee and all have gone to great lengths to present meaningful and in depth perspectives on the issues that most matter in trying to understand how we can respond to breast cancer. They don't shy away from the difficult questions of how money and politics have shaped what we have been led to believe about how our own bodies function and the impact of various hormones on us. All we have to do is look in the news these days to see the mis-information that we have been fed elsewhere on HRT, cancer and such. Nor do they back away from distortions that have been feed to us about supposed sucesses on the war on cancer. Finally we have in one place a book that can point us in the direction of real hope and possible long term solutions, both individually and collectively.
I have been working with women and men with breast cancer for many years. At last I have a source of information that I can point people to that we can trust. Read this book. Then re-read it. It is a goldmine and a must if you or anyone you know has breast cancer or even concerns about it.

Everyone who has had breast cancer or who has a loved one with breast cancer should read this book. In fact, every woman should read this book because it tells the truth about breast cancer, the politics behind the treatment of breast cancer, and tells you how to prevent it. Prevention isn't profitable, so we aren't going to learn about it in the doctors office. This is an in-depth look at a subject that until now hasn't been addressed at the level of hormones and diet. As they point out, the folks who put on "Breast Cancer Awareness" month claim that breast cancer can't be prevented. It can, and you'll understand why and how after you read this book. It's time that women took control of their health by being aware and educated, and this book is a great step in that direction. It's well-written, easy to understand and very thorough on the subject of breast cancer.

I found this book to be a very timely breath of fresh air.

While reading the introduction I experienced a sense of clarity and relief that someone is telling the truth! Thank you!

As I delved more deeply into the book and began to recognize defininte symptoms of hormone imbalance in my body, I decided to take a clearer look at my lifestyle - diet, exercise, and long-held attitudes and beliefs about breast cancer, the medical establishment,
and the impact of the individual and collective physical, emotional, and spiritual environment on health.

In following some of the practical advice found within these pages and implementing some simple changes in diet and nutritional supplementation, as well as using a pure natural progesterone cream, I am experiencing higher quality of life.

This well researched and clearly written book made a powerful and positive impact on me. I highly recommend it for all women who want a consciousness raising experience (!) and encourage them to share it with their primary healthcare providers.

Thank you, Dr. Lee, Virginia, and David Zava, for your good work.

My mother had a double mastectomy and radiation. This happened because estrogen dominance led to osteoporosis, and that led to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Now she's been sentenced to 5 years of Tamoxifen. She read this book twice and went to her oncologist with the information. The doctor wouldn't even listen to her. Dr. Lee's knowledge about estrogen dominance, HRT, and progesterone cream will ring true for many women with a predilection to breat cancer, with breast cancer, with any type of cancer, or with any of the multitude of estrogen dominant conditions (allergies, autoimmune disorders like lupus and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, decreased sex drive, depression, foggy thinking, migraines, miscarriages, PMS, and strokes just to name a few!). If you have breast cancer- my advice is to read this book and then take it to your oncologist. If he/she isn't open-minded enough to read it, find another doctor. It could save your life. Also, for all who are suffering through pre-menopause or menopause, I highly recommend Dr. Lee's other books: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About PREmenopause: Balance Your Hormones and Your Life from Thirty to Fifty; What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance.

I feel this book is meant to empower women to take charge of their bodies. It is a scary subject, but knowledge is power. Take control. As the author said, M.D. does not mean "minor deity."

Prevention should be the most important thing in anyone's life and this book definitely gives you the tools that can help you prevent breast cancer. If you already have breast cancer, I encourage you to be open minded and get on the internet and seek out information on alternative cancer treatments. They are out there and there are plenty of success stories to go along with it.

Be an empowered woman and learn about your body. Don't wait.

This is a great review of cutting edge information that every woman should know. Knowledge is POWER and this book can empower you to begin to take control of your health and hopefully reduce your breast cancer risk. Dr. Edward Conley, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine Michigan State University