What Women MUST Know To Protect Their Daughters From Breast Cancer


by Dr. Sherrill Sellman, MD (excerpt from Dr. Sellman’s newly released book)

These days, young women are besieged by many challenges. Social pressures, economic concerns, health problems, schoolwork, and family tensions all tilt the stress barometer into the dangerous red zone. Skipping meals, eating junk food along with starvation diets have become a way of life for teenagers. More than ever, young women seem to be burning the candle at both ends.

Women’s lifestyles and behaviors directly affect their physical and emotional wellbeing, both for the short and long term. It’s no wonder that their hormonal health is under attack. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), painful periods, irregular or absent periods, ovarian cysts, polycystic ovaries, fibrocystic breast disease (lumpy, painful breasts) endometriosis, hormonal migraines, fibroids, acne, allergies, fatigue and mood swings are occurring in young women at epidemic rates. Many girls try to ignore their health problems hoping they will disappear. Others schedule appointments with their doctors. Odds on, they will leave the doctor’s office with either a prescription drug or some version of the Birth Control Pill.

Rather than perceiving hormonal imbalances as aberrations created by the many abuses of modern life. Medicine has convinced women that menstruation itself, is the problem and those natural menstrual cycles are dangerous, disease producing and require medical intervention. Doctors have also convinced many women that their ovaries are the villains behind their health problems and emotional turmoil. The solution: shut it down. The method: some form of birth control!

The erroneous notion that menstruation is a rather unpleasant, toxic process has been around for a hundreds, if not thousands of years. So has the belief that the source of a woman’s suffering resides within her ovaries, uterus and her menstrual flow.

In a syndicated column written by a well-known Australian doctor a reader asked the following question. “My doctor told me recently that monthly periods were now regarded by some as a ‘disease’ and totally preventable. Is this true?” His reply. “Why should women be burdened with loss of valuable blood each month, which is often not manufactured in similar amounts, often leading to anemia and chronic tiredness? Taking the active ingredients of the oral contraceptive pill daily, with no seven-day break solves the problem.”

The sentiment that periods are a disease - or at least a most unwelcome, unproven and unsafe physiological process - reflects a growing trend amongst both physicians and pharmaceutical companies to promote the theory that menstrual cycles should be eliminated.

Leading the charge to eradicate menstruation is Dr. Elsimar Coutinho, Professor of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Human Reproduction in Brazil. In his book, “Is Menstruation Obsolete?” Dr. Coutinho argues that monthly bleeding is not the “natural” state of women and that actually places them at risk of various medical conditions. The author maintains that menstruation is neither medically meaningful nor sound. He asserts that prehistoric women had fewer than 160 periods in their lifetime. On the other hand, modern women, start menstruating earlier, and spend less time pregnant, and have more than 400 menstrual cycles.

Dr. Coutinho believes that women should be able to choose the timing and frequency of their periods. In addition to perceiving menstruation as a failed process, he also contends that it is devoid of beneficial effects and may even be harmful to women’s health. Coutinho’s work suggests that the most medically advanced “treatment” for menstruation would be its total cessation in all reproductive- aged women.

According to Dr. Coutinho, the profoundly complicated reproductive system that has taken millions of years of evolutionary fine-tuning has now been declared obsolete and harmful. Medical science is about to provide the rationale and the means to make menstruation completely disappear. The solutions are simple: just give all women a continuous low dose birth control pill which is used continuously for 84 days followed by a seven-day break. This will allow only 4 bleeds a year. (By mimicking pregnancy, the Pill literally shuts down the ovaries, and causes a forced bleed each month not a natural menstrual cycle).

Physicians and researchers alike have enthusiastically embraced Dr. Coutinho’s theory. They see no reason why all women wouldn’t want to have fewer periods. Whether is a problem such as migraines or the just the “ inconvenience and messiness “ of menstruation, the Pill can now come to the rescue

Now that “medical advances” have conquered menstruation and drug companies’ glossy marketing campaigns have succeeded in extolling the Pill’s virtuosity, what has actually been achieved? What does the future portend for all the young women presently seduced by these promises? Does the Pill really improve a woman’s health? Or, will it contribute to a health catastrophe of unparalleled proportions?

The Shocking Facts About the Pill

The pill has become the most popular method for birth control. But, in recent years, oral contraceptives have increasingly been prescribed to young women for noncontraceptive purposes. The Pill has become the darling of the medical world for treating just about any hormonal problem a girl may have and then some. To date, the Pill is prescribed for acne, to “regulate” periods, for heavy bleeding, and painful periods, to treat PMS, endometriosis, migraines, ovarian cysts and polycystic ovaries. The Pill is even prescribed to girls as young as thirteen for acne.

The Pill is said to be one of the safest drugs around. But is it?

In December 2002, the US government published its biannual Report on Carcinogens that added all steroidal estrogens to the list of “known” human carcinogens. The gravity of this finding cannot be overstated: all estrogens used in HRT and oral contraceptives have now been proven, unequivocally, to cause cancer!

To make matters even worse, synthetic progesterone (proteins) such as Provera or Depo-Provera, used in HRT, oral contraceptives, injections and implants are also listed as carcinogens.
This is the indisputable fact: the ingredients of the Pill, whatever its formulation, cause cancer. How can any carcinogens be deemed safe especially when given to vulnerable young women? Studies have linked estrogens and progestins to breast, ovarian, endometrial, cervical, skin, brain and lung cancers.

There is nothing natural about taking the Pill. As a result of the Pill, a woman’s ovaries may be permanently damaged, resulting in infertility. Fabio Bertarelli, a billionaire manufacturer of fertility drugs told the Wall Street Journal: “Our usual customers are women over 30 who have been taking birth-control pills since they were teenagers or in their early 20’s.”

Contraception formulas also increase the risk of coronary artery disease, immune dysfunction, liver toxicity, strokes, blood clots, osteoporosis, gum disease, high blood pressure and ectopic pregnancies. The side-effects include nausea, vomiting, migraine-type headaches, breast tenderness, allergies, weight increases, changes in sex drive, depression, head hair loss, facial hair growth, colitis, Crohn’s disease and increased incidence of vaginitis. Many of these effects may persist long after the discontinuation of the Pill.

In addition, the Pill depletes Vitamin B1, B2, B6, Folic Acid, B 12, vitamins C, E, K, zinc, selenium, magnesium and the amino acid tyrosine, essential for proper thyroid function.

Even more alarming is the fact that the earlier a woman uses the Pill the greater the risk of developing breast cancer and also having a worse prognosis. One disturbing study showed that the Pill caused chromosomal aberrations in the breast tissue of young female users. This research was further backed up with a study showing that there was a 100 percent increased risk of breast cancer, which extended from 10 years of pill use down to just three months! So, it is of no surprise that women as young as 17 years old are now being diagnosed with breast cancer.

In one landmark study, researchers found that women who took the Pill before the age of 20 and were later diagnosed with breast cancer, have tumors with the worse prognoses than do breast cancer patients who started taking the Pill at a later age or had not previously taken it. Another study found this most terrifying result: the younger the women were at the time of diagnosis, the greater the possibility they would die within five years.

Echoing these findings, the U.S. National Cancer Institute published a study in 2003 showing that the risk of breast cancer was significantly increased for women between the ages of 20-34 who had used the Pill for at least six months.

Progestins make their own mischief, raising “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure, altering sugar metabolism, compromising the immune system, and creating undesirable masculinizing effects. One study found that women who used Depo-Provera before the age of 25 increased their relative risk of breast cancer by 50 percent and for women using it for six or more years; their risk was raised significantly to 320 percent.

Of further concern are studies showing that oral contraceptives and Depo-Provera contribute to bone loss in adolescents.

With the arrival of the continuous low dose Pill, normal menstrual cycles are now fair game for the drug companies. This option appeals to many young women who believe that menstrual cycles are, indeed, “a curse” and an unnecessary inconvenience. Nutritionally depleted diets, stress and environmental toxins, the real culprits of menstrual irregularities and hormonal imbalances, have been all but ignored by doctors who prefer to opt for a quick drug fix.

Getting healthy is really the challenge before us. Understanding the immense importance of a healthy diet, good nutritional support, exercise, relaxation techniques along with the guidance of competent holistic health practitioners is the only way to truly assist young women to regain their hormonal health and ensure their fertility.

Should menstruation, an intrinsic expression of a woman’s physiological and psychological self, ever be made obsolete? Absolutely not!

Source: www.whatwomenmustknow.com
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Previous Comments

Roz Kadir commented on 14-Apr-2010 05:56 PM3 out of 5 stars
This isn't a completely balanced view as for some women the fear of conceiving makes the pill the only real reliable form of contraception. The writer of this piece might mention what alternatives there are for women as this article is very frightening for the reader who trusts her medical doctor to look after her.
Kris commented on 14-Apr-2010 09:15 PM5 out of 5 stars
I have been hearing this so often in the last month, women who have been to their doctor and advised to take the pill or Depo-Provera to save themselves from too much blood loss and anaemia. Maybe I can forward this article to them. We would all love to believe this option was good. Many will.
Anonymous commented on 14-Apr-2010 10:07 PM5 out of 5 stars
I was on the pill for 10 years and in that time suffered depression and loss of sex drive. Several months after going off the pill the depression disappeared and my sex drive came back with a vengeance! I have known for many years now that the pill was bad news, as many of my friends all suffered the same symptoms. There are other alternatives, know your cycle, use condoms!
Anonymous commented on 14-Apr-2010 11:55 PM5 out of 5 stars
I agree...know your cycle, use condoms. "Fear of conceiving?"...if you aren't prepared to conceive, you shouldn't be having intercourse...another problem of our culture that causes emotional problems, strained relationships, infidility and the breakup of our family fabric...sex was designed from the start to be b/t two committed marriage partners.
Anonymous commented on 15-Apr-2010 12:54 AM5 out of 5 stars
When are we going to learn to respect nature? It is the way it is and can't be changed to suit our every needs. The reason why we have health problems is because we don't respect the functioning of our own bodies. It requires the food nature provided in order to function properly.

Nature is much more powerful than us and that's exactly why we have to respect it. Unless it changes on its own there's nothing we can do.

Our only option is to accept nature's ways and learn to deal with it as best we can.
Anonymous commented on 15-Apr-2010 12:59 AM5 out of 5 stars
The question is how do you reverse the damage done?
Anonymous commented on 15-Apr-2010 02:45 AM5 out of 5 stars
I completely agree. Let the body do what it's supposed to do. Do not interfere. It is proven time and time again that messing with the body's natural processes only ends badly. And thank you for the previous comment: "if you aren't parepared to conceive, you shouldn't be having intercourse." I agree completely. Why would you even consider using the pill with all of the evidence proving that you would be voluntarily poisoning your body! Most importantly why are doctors promoting the pill?? This only supports the idea that we should never completely trust our doctors. Take their advice with a grain of salt and make an informed choice as an independent individual.
Della commented on 15-Apr-2010 05:57 AM5 out of 5 stars
"if you aren't prepared to conceive, you shouldn't be having intercourse..." ?? Really?? I am 28, professional, out of school, make decent wage and am fully "prepared to conceive" but I sure as heck don't want children right now. Are you saying that I shouldn't be having sex with my partner, who I have been in a committed rel'p with for 4 years?? What a thoughtless comment. I'd like to know what the alternative suggestions are other than "know your cycle" because that is not entirely helpful, since you can still 1) make a mistake and be wrong about your ovulation and 2) have an unanticipated ovulation.
Anonymous commented on 15-Apr-2010 08:05 AM3 out of 5 stars
I'm going to be honest and say that this article terrifies me. I have been on the pill for about 3 years, the only reason being to control acne...this article makes me want to stop immediately, but I am terrified of the detox that occurs when one goes off BC. I have heard horror stories.
Anonymous commented on 15-Apr-2010 04:18 PM4 out of 5 stars
This is a great article & clarifies everything I have believed for a long time. I was put on the pill when I was 14 to control my cycle. I was then taken off the pill when I turned 21 due to side effects & have never looked back.
Thank you for this article.
Anonymous commented on 16-Apr-2010 07:20 AM3 out of 5 stars
I would absolutely love to see some options proposed for non-hormonal and non-invasive birth control.

Condoms can fail.

I've been on the progestin-only pill for about 8 yrs, but would like to see some solid alternatives for it before going back to barrier methods with higher failure rates.
Anonymous commented on 16-Apr-2010 03:52 PM5 out of 5 stars
There are "NO" birth control methods out there that are foolproof, ALL come with risks. We live in a selfish society and want easy solutions. If you don't want children "right now" then don't have sex. That's not being thoughtless just stating a fact.
Otherwise use birth control of your choosing and accept it comes at a price.
Anonymous commented on 19-Apr-2010 06:48 AM5 out of 5 stars
Everyone keeps speaking of other alternatives! I have been in a relationship for 8 years and never had a pregnancy scare I have also never been on birth control. There are methods and things you can do to be careful and still have fun. Frankly I agree with womens sexual freedoms and the choice of birth control but some doctors don't let women know what the negative effects birth control can have; so far women are told it's the only solution for comfortable periods and not getting pregnant so I don't agree that this article has to give alternatives, doctors certainly dont! I have never made a decision based on one opinion I think for myself and research everything. It is not everyone elses job to provide us with double sided arguments dont we have minds of our own still? Or have we lost those too!
Anonymous commented on 24-Apr-2010 06:38 AM5 out of 5 stars
I have been off the pill since 2002 and used a basal thermometer to be aware of when i ovulate to avoid pregnancy. I have one child who we tried for using the same method to GET pregnant. I didn't like the way BCP effected my body. So you can find other more natural methods if need be.
Anonymous commented on 27-Apr-2010 01:06 PM5 out of 5 stars
If you want to have fun without getting pregnant there are alternatives.

You can use a dildo. If you can't get a dildo a well lubricated cucumber, carrot or katrika(brinjal) will do it.

Many doctors are now recommending this option as safe without the possibility of contracting STD's, etc.

You can have fun without the encumbrances of pregnancy, STD's, etc.

Also some are advocating lesbian relationships as an alternative to safe sex without contraceptives.
Anonymous commented on 29-Apr-2010 11:54 PM5 out of 5 stars
Wake up!! This is not about "Thinking for Yourself"! This is an issue of Medical Doctors abusing their office. They take an oath that says "FIRST DO NO HARM" Putting a young teen on a drug that is un-needed, for a unlimited amount of time and then ignoring study after study that shows its harm is tantamount to malpractice. But this is Big Pharma's present to us all.

Patient's go to doctors BECAUSE they need advice. Unfortunately MDs have become so over-educated they have forgotten how to think. If someone on the street stated these things you would think he/she was a raving idiot. But put MD next to their name and all of a sudden it is genius. Be warned and be careful. Up is down, normal is abnormal and good is bad. Stay away from MDs if at all possible.
Anonymous commented on 30-Apr-2010 02:16 AM5 out of 5 stars
Wake up!! This is not about "Thinking for Yourself"! This is an issue of Medical Doctors abusing their office. They take an oath that says "FIRST DO NO HARM" Putting a young teen on a drug that is un-needed, for a unlimited amount of time and then ignoring study after study that shows its harm is tantamount to malpractice. But this is Big Pharma's present to us all.

Patient's go to doctors BECAUSE they need advice. Unfortunately MDs have become so over-educated they have forgotten how to think. If someone on the street stated these things you would think he/she was a raving idiot. But put MD next to their name and all of a sudden it is genius. Be warned and be careful. Up is down, normal is abnormal and good is bad. Stay away from MDs if at all possible.
Anonymous commented on 11-Jun-2010 04:16 PM5 out of 5 stars
So we're not even safe on the low dosage mini pill. This would explain my problems over the last few years with vaginitis and sugar metabolism. And the really scary thing is that only last week I discussed these problems with my doctor and asked her whether the pill could be the problem and she said absolutely not. That's it - it's condoms for me!
commented on 24-Jun-2010 04:31 AM2 out of 5 stars
My experience with the birth control pill is an unusual one, however without the birth control pill, I would have been confined to my home. At age 12 I began menustrating and soon after my bleeding was very heavy with large clots, and was bleeding almost daily. It was an imbalance in my hormonal system. The only way to stop the bleeding was to use the hormones found in the birth control pill. I was put on the pill for about 2 years. Upon discontinuing the pill, my periods were very painful - so much so that I missed school and work on the first day of my cycle. I almost lost my job due to these "inconveniences". Women's roles in society have changed since the 1950's. They work outside the home, participate in sports, and are expected to perform. Incapacity due to heavy bleeds and painful periods have to be remedied somehow - unless you find staying home and "putting up with" heavy bleeding and painful cramps part of your "natural cycle".
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