Almost daily, people I encounter ask me why I decided to stop eating meat. The short and sweet answer is that the decision was simply due to a desire to live a healthier lifestyle. But if I really think about it, I know that I am aiming to do as much as I can to mediate any cancer risk I may have now that there is a family history. I want to be healthy for my kids…I want to set an example for them…and to be honest, I feel so much better when I eat a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and sustainable fish.
I don’t have time to watch much television, but during the day, when my children are in school, I tune in to The Talk on CBS. I’ve actually attended a couple of live tapings in addition to participating in their weekly Twitter chats which are informative, thought-provoking, and entertaining. The show’s hosts include Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, and Aisha Tyler who discuss the latest headlines, interview celebrities, and offer parent-focused segments.
Last week, Sharon Osbourne discussed her decision to have a double mastectomy after taking a genome test with her husband and learning that she had the breast cancer gene. Osbourne has a history of colon cancer, and combined with the gene and the state of an implant that had begun leaking, she consulted with her physician to make the decision.
I’ve thought a lot about Sharon Osbourne’s decision…and while at first it may seem extreme, I think for her it was the right decision. I can’t imagine learning that kind of information and worrying for the rest of my life about “what if?” With my own family history, I know that if there was an option to prevent that cancer, that I would do what I could, within reason.
So the question begs…how far would you go to prevent breast cancer…or for that matter, any kind of cancer?
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I am having a hysterectomy by 30 or exactly at 30 to prevent uterine, ovarian and/or cervical cancer, I like Sharon have a genetic problem from birth (Lynch Syndrome) and it causes early onset of all the female cancers and can aid in breast cancer forming (though rare) I spoke with my high risk OB-GYN and decided it was best for me.