Cancer Prevention

Understanding Estrogen Testing and Breast Cancer Risks

Understanding Estrogen Testing and Breast Cancer Risks

Estrogen alone is not the issue when it comes to increasing the risk of breast cancer. The real issue is how is your estrogen being metabolized.


Two components in cruciferous vegetables are indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and diindolylmethane (DIM). Studies have found that these compounds can inhibit the formation of the "bad" 16-alpha-hydroxy estrone estrogen metabolite. One study found that DIM had the ability to decrease its production by 50 percent while increasing production of the "good" 2-hydroxy estrone metabolite by 75 percent.

Household Chemical That May Contribute To Breast Cancer

Household Chemical That May Contribute To Breast Cancer

According to the senior author of the study, William Baldwin, an assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso, the chemical called 4-nonylphenol binds to estrogen receptors in breast tissue which increases the risk for breast cancer.

Part of the problem is that the chemical, which mimics estrogen, may last longer in the body than natural estrogen.