How Can You Reduce Your 1 in 3 Cancer Risk by Melissa Stockman
Part 1: What are the recent cancer statistics? & How does free radical damage occur?
As per the American Cancer Society, women have a 1 in 3 risk of developing cancer & men have a 1 in 2 risk! Females have a 1 in 8 risk of developing breast cancer & men a 1 in 7 risk of developing prostate cancer. (These are based on 2009-2011 data, current risk is higher, especially on LI.)
So, if you are a female and with 2 girlfriends, statistically speaking, 1 of you 3 will probably develop cancer. Theoretically, out of your son & his father, or your 2 sons, 1 of the 2 are likely to develop a cancer.
Let me help you understand by simplifying how free radical damage occurs. An atom is the smallest part of a chemical & is made up of a nucleus & outer ring(s). The nucleus (inner core) consists of positively charged particles called protons. Surrounding the nucleus are outer ring(s) that consist of negatively charged particles known as electrons. Once a ring is full of electrons (negative particles), another ring starts forming outside of the first ring. Once that ring is full, another ring starts outside of that full ring of electrons. The inner rings are full of electrons. The outer most ring may be full or not full of electrons. If the outer most ring is full of electrons, it is more stable. When the atom’s negatively charged outer shell is not full, it will look to gain or lose or share electrons to fill this outermost shell & become more stable. A free radical is an atom (molecule or ion) whose outer shell is not full of paired electrons, or negative charges. This is unstable because it’s looking to gain or lose or share electrons in its outer shell to become stable. Unpaired electrons in an outer shell are unstable because they want to be paired & the outer shell will tend to either give away or gain or share an electron to become stable. The nearby atom who lost or gained an electron to stabilize the other atom now has an unfilled outer shell & is now unstable itself. This starts a chain reaction of even more free radical formations. In order to stay healthier, we must stop this chain reaction that creates more free radical damage, especially because it accumulates with age.
Learn more in Part 2 Free Radicals or contacting me for a private consult.
By Melissa Stockman RN, BC-ANP, PNP Medical Director of TimeToPlay , Board Certified Nurse Practitioner & RN Email: rejuvn8melissa@aol.com
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