Extra-Virgin Olive Oil May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in the U.S. alone, with 25 percent of all cancer cases in women being breast cancer. In 2008, the number of newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer cases reached 182,460, while the number of newly diagnosed non-invasive cases was estimated at 67,770. Researchers are constantly looking for new ways to fight breast cancer, and one new treatment may be right in your own kitchen. In recent studies published in the open access journal, BMC Cancer, and lead by Javier A. Mendez, PhD, of the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain, it was found that extra-virgin olive oil may cut the risk of breast cancer. Mendez and his colleagues conducted various tests using extra-virgin olive oil, which is produced without heat or chemicals by pressing the olives, retaining the compounds that are lost in other processes. The team found that two of the compounds found in extra-virgin olive oil, secoiridoids and lignans, were effective in suppressing the HER2 breast cancer gene, which is found in 20 to 30 percent of breast cancer cases.

Although these findings are extremely positive, researchers say that since the compounds were used in very concentrated measures during the study, it is unlikely that simply consuming more olive oil will reduce the risk of developing breast cancer or help treat it. However, it is very possible that new drugs will result from the findings of these studies to fight the HER2 gene that causes some breast cancers. Any new treatment for breast cancer or any type of cancer is a huge step toward finding a cure. Up to this point in time, more than 2.5 million American women have survived breast cancer, and hopefully that number continue to rise with every advancement researchers make.

Breast cancer is responsible for about 40,000 deaths each year and is the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of breast or any other type of cancer, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net