Christina Applegate and 30Something Breast Cancer

(http://v2 NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/christina-applegate1 NULL.jpg)Our prayers go out to the beautiful and talented actress Christina Applegate (http://www NULL.imdb NULL.com/name/nm0000775/), 37, who recently discovered she has breast cancer. (http://www NULL.ribbonofpink NULL.com/content/young-women-breast-cancer NULL.jsp?usertrack NULL.filter_applied=true&NovaId=3350119524833097200) While breast cancer is not a common occurrence in women in their thirties, enough cases occur to have the medical society take notice.

The website Ribbon of Pink (http://www NULL.ribbonofpink NULL.com/)points out that “some of the factors affecting older women are applicable to younger ones as well. They include:

• Genetic predisposition: Approximately 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are a result of genetic mutations, most commonly in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (http://www NULL.cancer NULL.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/brca). Women with these mutations often develop breast cancer at a younger age.
• Atypical hyperplasia (http://www NULL.mayoclinic NULL.com/health/atypical-hyperplasia/DS01018) (A benign—noncancerous—condition in which cells look abnormal under a microscope and are increased in number): This condition increases a woman’s risk of developing cancer by between 4 or 5 times.
• Previous radiation: Radiation on the chest for a previous cancer, such as during childhood, significantly increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer (some reports say by 12 times).
• Menstrual periods: Women who began menstruating early (before age 12) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. The same is true for women who go through menopause at a late age (after age 55).
• Obesity: (http://www NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com/fullArticle NULL.aspx?id=394) Being overweight (http://www NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com/womenshealth/62/girlfriends NULL.html) has been a breast cancer risk factor in some clinical studies. Fat tissue produces a small amount of estrogen, which can make your estrogen levels higher. This can promote tumor growth.
• Alcohol use: Excessive alcohol intake has been clearly linked to breast cancer, with women who drink (http://www NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com/fullArticle NULL.aspx?id=216) two to five drinks a day having approximately 1.5 times the risk of developing breast cancer relative to women who drink no alcohol.
• Physical activity (http://www NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com/fullArticle NULL.aspx?id=145): While this one is still up for debate, evidence is mounting that women who engage in moderate exercise (http://www NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com/fullArticle NULL.aspx?id=198) have their risk of developing cancer reduced by 18 percent or more.

The exact role of these factors in the early development of breast cancer is unclear, as cancer is often a culmination of several risk factors. If you were diagnosed at a young age, remember that you were not singled out…”

We here at SingleMindedWomen.com support the Pink Door, (http://www NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com/fullArticle NULL.aspx?id=221) an organization that supports single women who are recovering from Breast Cancer. We hope you’ll do the same. Just click through to this link… (http://www NULL.pinkdoornonprofit NULL.org/)

I had a blast (from the past) writing “Mad Men and Rad Women: Who Won the Battle of the Sexes?” Having grown up midway between the ’60s and the ’70s, I’ve enjoyed reliving some of issues that seemed so important at the time: most specifically, the sexual revolution. Forget the clothes, the music, the hairdos…Oh hell, let’s not forget any of it.

Instead, let’s enjoy where we are now.

Living for today,

Josie

SMW Relationship Editor