Breast cancer prevention means controlling the environmental toxins running rampant in your home.

Manufacturers love to say that their products only use trace amounts of dangerous chemicals, often known or suspected carcinogens. But the problem is these “trace” chemicals add up in a woman’s system. This is especially true because the industrial era has brought so many chemicals into our lives in places that we might never have suspected.

Carcinogens hide in personal care products, furniture, building supplies, and cleaning products to name just a handful. But there are a number of steps that you can take to detox your home of many of these chemicals.

One of the biggest changes holistic health nutritionist and breast cancer survivor Kristina Sampson’s made in her life is switching to cleaning with vodka. That’s right, this health guru couldn’t believe what she found in so many of the household cleaning products we use without even thinking. Today, Sampson heads to the liquor store for her cleaning fix because she’s found that the cheapest vodka in the store is one of the best natural disinfectants on the market.

But that’s just the beginning. With the help of Sampson and tons of research, we’ve uncovered a crazy list of chemicals that all women should avoid where possible.

81 Toxic Breast Cancer Prevention Culprits Hiding in Your Home

Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body, and they are found in everyday products. They disrupt the body’s endocrine system (a bodily system made up of glands and hormones) from sending the correct signals. This group of chemicals include parabens, phthalates, triclosan, and triclocarbon. Of 40 women tested, parabens were found in 99 percent of their breast tumors, according to Sampson. These ingredients are used because they are chemically very stable which is good for manufacturing but bad for your body. Since the chemicals can’t break down, they stay in your system. Avoid them by reading labels. Also, avoid anti-bacterial products that likely contain triclosan. Here are a number of places they hide.

1. Shampoo

2. Conditioner

3. Body lotion

4. Face lotion

5. Anti-aging creams

6. Toothpaste

7. Socks

8. Foundation

9. Shaving cream

10. Anti-perspirants

11. Deodorants

12. Makeup remover

13. Spray gel

14. Facial wash

15. Eye cream

Fragrance

Many products that contain endocrine disruptors also contain another scary culprit, fragrance. When you see the word fragrance, you may picture fields of lavender or sunflowers–a subtle natural fragrance that makes all of your favorite products that much more appealing. Not so fast. Fragrances are one of the most dangerous chemicals in everyday products. Here’s why: Fragrances are protected by intellectual property and that means that manufacturers don’t have to tell you the source of the fragrance. Basically, it’s a ridiculous loophole that allows companies to hide what could be hundreds of chemical additives. Fragrance are a means of hiding endocrine disruptors, allergens, and neurotoxins in products. And they’re everywhere including almost all of the products listed above. Avoid fragrance by choosing fragrance-free products or fragrance that comes from natural sources which are listed. Here are some places you’ll find fragrance.

16. Soap

17. Body wash

18. Lipstick

19. Lip gloss

20. All purpose cleaner

21. Perfume

22. Body spray

23. Pet shampoo

24. Hand soap

25. Scented candles

26. Diffusers

27. Facial masks

28. Massage oil

29. Dryer sheets

30. Laundry soap

BPA

While BPA is also an endocrine disruptor, it gets a separate category because it’s found in another category of household products. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used in plastics and resins.

31. Canned foods

32. Baby toys

33. Baby bottles

34. Plastic #7, polycarbonate

35. Compact discs

36. DVDs

37. Protective eyewear

38. Sales receipts

39. Sippy cups

40. Cell phones

41. Laptops

42. Tablets

43. PDAs

44. Computer gaming units

45. Game consoles

Benzene

Benzene is a colorless or light colored liquid that’s very flammable. Benzene is one of the top chemicals used for industrial purposes in the U.S. It’s also a chemical linked to breast cancer.

46. Tobacco smoke

47. Glue

48. Paints

49. Furniture waxes

50. Detergents

51. Gasoline

52. Solvents

1,3-Butadiene

This chemical is found in many of the mammary tumors of rodents. It’s an air pollutant and a human carcinogen. The pollutant had a greater impact on younger female rodents than on older.

53. Latex gloves

54. Spray sunscreens

55. Carpet

56. Adhesives

57. Rubber

58. Tires

Lead

Lead is a naturally occurring substance that’s found in the Earth’s crust. It’s an element, so it can’t be broken down into smaller pieces. Researchers have found that lead is a substance that causes cancer to grow. Although more research needs to be done to know definitively, it’s good practice to avoid this known neurotoxin whenever possible.

59. Drinking water

60. Soil

61. Ceramics

62. Bullets

63. Batteries

64. Pipes

Mercury

Methylmercury can disrupt the hormone regulated cellular process. Higher accumulations have also been found in cancerous breast biopsies of women than in women without cancer. Mercury is also known to impact the central nervous system. Those exposed to too much, can suffer from a wide array of symptoms including sleep disturbance, headaches, fatigue, memory and concentration problems, and neuropathy.

65. CFL lightbulbs

66. Fish

67. Thermometers

68. Thermostats

69. Skin lightening creams

70. Antiques

71. Vaccines

72. Dental fillings

Pesticides

Household pesticides and pest killing poisons are often listed as human carcinogens. Dichlorvos, a common ingredient in household pesticides, for example is associated with mammary tumors in rats and mice. Another, glyphosate is linked to non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Avoid household pesticides as much as possible in your home. Use natural methods like predatory insects to protect your garden and household plants.

73. Roach sprays

74. Roach baits

75. Bath and kitchen disinfectants

76. Rodent poisons

77. Insect repellants

78. Weed killers

79. Products that kill mildew

80. Flea and tick soaks

81. Bleach

Don’t panic. Of course some of these chemicals are currently in your home. It’s nearly impossible to be free of all environmental toxins. But there are steps that you can take to start reducing the build up. Some, of course, are easier than others. Start buying natural makeup and personal care products free of the chemicals above. Clean with vodka, white vinegar, and baking soda rather than chemical cleaners. Choose natural materials like untreated wood and glass in your home instead of plastic. And lose the chemical pesticides.

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Image: Wicker Paradise 

The post 81 Toxic Breast Cancer Culprits Hiding in Your Home appeared first on EcoSalon.

Have you become immune to breast cancer prevention messages? Then get ready to fall in lurv with the Feel Your Boobies Foundation.

It’s October, and you know what that means: Breast cancer prevention messages and pink everything everywhere. (Like, everywhere.) And while the message itself is uber-important, it sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, dontchathink? Breast cancer prevention is serious business and needs to be treated as such, but not just in October. And not just through ribbons and pink products. We don’t want to become so aware that our awareness becomes apathy.

In other words, we need to start copping a feel, ladies.

That’s where the Feel Your Boobies campaign comes in: “It takes a friendly, maybe even provocative, approach to promoting proactive breast health,” says founder Leigh Hurst, who launched the foundation after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 33. It was then she realized that she never really paid much attention to breast cancer messages. For fun, she had t-shirts made for her friends that said “feel your boobies,” and setup a one-page website to sell them. Suddenly, she was receiving orders from across the country, and the Feel Your Boobies Foundation was born.

“We target women under 40, primarily, and based on my own experience I know that many of these women don’t even think about breast cancer,” says Hurst. “Our campaign is really trying to find ways to put our message in places where younger women wouldn’t expect to see it.” Examples include an aerial banner that flies up and down the beach in the summer, a Boobies Bus that hands out free car magnets to those who spot the car, and a flash mob in NYC – you know, no biggie.

And I have to say, it works! I too have become immune to all the cutesy breast cancer prevention messages that are out there, and ever since I learned about the Feel Your Boobies crusade, I’ve felt myself up more in the past month than ever before (kidding, sort of). The FYB message is to-the-point and proactive. When you hear the slogan, you can’t help but do it (seriously, give it a go).

The message doesn’t just tell you to be aware of breast cancer – it tells you how to annihilate it in its tracks. It’s a simple message that’s been saving oodles of lives every year. Not only is the Feel Your Boobies Foundation celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, but Hurst is also celebrating 10 years cancer free (you go girl). And you know what that means: There are plenty of shenanigans in the works.

“Our campaign wouldn’t be here without our followers,” says Hurst. “They do the sharing, they spread our message. And because they do, our campaign has saved lives. So this year’s campaign focus is about giving our followers the credit they deserve.”

The Give Urself a Hand campaign will be launching at the end of September as their way of saying thanks. There will be a sweepstakes where people can upload their “feel your boobies” pics to the group’s Facebook page, and the person’s snapshot with the highest votes will win a trip to NYC with a friend. There’s also going to be a Fiat giveaway. More deets on both are available on the website.

National Feel Your Boobies Week is October 10-17, and here are three tips on how to do so that could not only save your life, but a friend’s as well:

How to Feel Your Boobies

• Use pads of fingers
• Press firmly
• Examine collarbone and underarm area

What to Look For

• Lumps or thickening
• Puckering or inflammation
• Nipple discharge

When to Feel Your Boobies

• In the shower
• While getting dressed
• Whenever you want

For more information on breast cancer prevention, check out the Feel Your Boobies website. It’s pretty fabulous.

Related on EcoSalon

BPA Creates Environment That Promotes Breast Cancer Growth, Study Finds

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Image: Leigh Hurst

The post 10 Years of Breast Cancer Prevention: Feel Your Boobies Celebrates Badassery appeared first on EcoSalon.

Young women everywhere are tucking their cell phones into their bras – but is cell phone radiation putting them at risk for breast cancer?

Bras are the new purse: When you’re all dolled up with everywhere to go, it’s the perfect place to stash your credit cards, cash, keys, iPod and cell phone for easy access (especially when you don’t have a boyfriend to sucker in with, “Babe, can you hang onto this for me?”). It’s become so commonplace there are now bras available (like the JoeyBra) that double as a convenient – and literal – carry-all.

However, scientists are starting to link breast cancer with cell phone radiation. Young women across the globe are coming forward with stories of breast cancer diagnoses and an alarming pattern: The location of the tumors line up perfectly with where they used to store their cell phones.

Such was the case for Tiffany Frantz, who recently appeared on The Doctor Oz Show. At just 21 years old, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She’d been keeping her cell phone in her bra for the past four years, and after the diagnosis she and her parents began to connect the dots. She was young and healthy, had no family history, and didn’t have the breast cancer gene. The only other culprit in her lifestyle was how she carried her cell phone.

It’s been two years since her diagnosis. After undergoing a mastectomy on her left breast and reconstructive breast surgery, she’s spreading the word to women everywhere: Make your bra a no phone zone. Tiffany’s also part of a new study dedicated to finding a direct link between cell phone radiation and breast cancer.

Although it’s still considered a myth that cell phone radiation causes breast cancer, why take the chance? I’d much rather heed the warning now instead of threatening my health and future – especially when the solution is such an easy fix.

Are you concerned about the effects of cell phone radiation on your health?

Related on EcoSalon:

10 Foods to Fight Breast Cancer
ABC’s Amy Robach Diagnosed with Breast Cancer After On-Air Mammogram
Can an Apple a Day Keep Breast Cancer Away?

Image: JoeyBra

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