The Oestrogen Connection

Oestrogen dominance is at the heart of most breast cancers and other hormonal issues. Oestrogen is a powerful hormone with many important functions in the body, including initiation and promotion of cell growth. When the body is out of balance, oestrogen initiates and promotes breast cancer. Women are exposed to more oestrogen and for a longer time today. Signs of this excess are appearing in our daughters who are going into puberty from as young as seven.

Even a woman with low oestrogen levels can have oestrogen dominance if she doesn’t make any progesterone. Oestrogen dominance is an imbalance of the proper ratio of progesterone and oestrogen.

Some Symptoms of Oestrogen Dominance

Anxiety, depression, irritability
Autoimmune disorders such as SLE and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Hypothyroidism
Breast and endometrial cancer
Breast tenderness
Early onset puberty
Fat gain, especially around the hips and thighs
Fibrocystic breast disease
Infertility
Osteoporosis
Polycystic ovaries
Acne
Irregular periods
Difficult lactation

“PMS, ovarian cysts, endometriosis or polycystic ovaries are not normal occurrences but rather signs that the body is out of balance”2

Main Causes of Over-Exposure

Synthetic Hormones

Oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapies and fertility drugs. Thirteen year old girls are now prescribed the Pill for acne. The earlier the exposure, the more powerful are oestrogen’s stimulatory effects. Synthetic hormones increase the risk of breast and cervical cancer, stroke, heart attack, infertility and osteoporosis.

Oestrogen mimic chemicals

Known as endocrine or hormone disrupters, and are rife in our homes and the environment. These chemicals accumulate in our bodies.

Toxic Homes

Organochlorines

Lethal chlorine based chemicals that are stored in fat cells and breast tissue and some are eliminated through breast milk. Organochlorines are found in:

Herbicides, pesticides, disinfectants and shampoos.
Plastic products such as baby bottles and baby’s soft toys
Drinking water, canned and microwaved foods,
Chlorine bleached paper products eg tampons, paper cups, toilet paper.

Many cleaning and personal care products contain carcinogenic endocrine disruptors. A recent study found a significant risk between breast cancer and the use of cleaning products, air fresheners and mould removers.

General use of cleaners doubled the risk of breast cancer in women who used them the most, experts found…3

Cosmetics, personal care & baby care

SLS Found in 90% of personal care products that foam such as shampoo, toothpaste, bubble bath, skin care.

SLES Ethoxylated form of SLS. Used in detergents, soaps, pesticides and personal care products.

Dioxin Carcinogenic by-product of the ethoxylation process. Found in shampoo, toothpaste, detergents, tampons, and sanitary pads.

Nitrosamines A potent class of carcinogen found in cosmetics and personal care products. Produced when SLS combines with other chemicals.

Aluminium Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease. Some researchers have expressed concern that aluminium in antiperspirants may increase the risk of breast cancer.

Talc Used in talcum powders and cosmetic powders (and yes, this includes fashionable brands of natural mineral foundations). Routine application of talcum powder to the genital area is linked with a three-to-fourfold increase in the development of ovarian cancer.

DEA, TEA, MEA Harsh solvents and detergents used in cosmetics and face and body creams as an emollient. Long term use of DEA-based products (such as Cocamide DEA) have been linked to an increase in the incidence of liver and kidney cancer.

Perfumes Swedish research showed that three quarters of perfumed products formed DEHP, a toxic oestrogen mimic so dangerous it can cause male offspring of pregnant women to have severe genital problems.

More than 125 ingredients used in cosmetics are suspected of causing cancer and birth defects.