Endocrine disruptors, such as chemicals in plastics, can disrupt the oestrogen receptors in our bodies and affect our health. Not in a good way! We all need to know about this. Your body and endocrine system has already been disrupted through cancer treatment and the menopause. We mustn’t overload it even more.

Bruce Blumberg, a professor of Developmental and Cell Biology at the University of California, Irvine, discusses the impact of endocrine disruptors on our bodies and the environment.

These disruptors can be found in various products which are all around you, including plastic containers, vinyl blinds and floors, and cosmetics. The effects of endocrine disruptors go beyond cancer and can also lead to obesity and infertility.

Blumberg provides practical tips for reducing exposure to endocrine disruptors and I am so grateful I get to share this important conversation with you.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro.

06:57 Endocrine disruption and hormone-dependent breast cancer.

14:22 Avoid parabens and harmful sunscreen agents, find alternatives.

19:42 Endocrine disruptors negatively affect sperm count in men.

21:48 Endocrine disruptors may link to human obesity.

24:59 Exposing mice to low dose chemical causes obesity.

32:10 Hierarchy of what we can eliminate to help ourselves.

36:14 Protect your lungs from water mist chemicals.

38:37 Whole fresh foods aids weight loss.

42:57 Encouraging healthy cooking through enjoyable recipes.

Connect with us:

For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org

Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer

Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

Here are links to Professor Blumbergs’s work:

https://www.amazon.com/Obesogen-Effect-Exercise-Struggle-Weight/dp/1549168983

https://blumberg-lab.bio.uci.edu/

There is also a web site for the book:

https://theobesogeneffect.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

https://move-with-menopause-and-cancer.raiselysite.com/

Leanne Pero is a remarkable woman who received an MBE from Prince William for her exceptional charity work with Black Women Rising. I had no idea of the challenges black women face when navigating cancer and I also had no idea that Leanne receives so much trolling for her exceptional work. It shows my ignorance and I am here to learn.

Leanne shares with us how we can each start to champion ourselves. We also talk about her journey through menopause and how she nearly started HRT after her breast cancer diagnosis. However, her story took an unexpected twist and turn and it shows us quite how underserved we are as women as we navigate menopause and life after cancer.

Leanne Pero, you are amazing!

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro.

07:54 Shocked by breast cancer, feeling isolated.

11:58 Black women face disparities in cancer outcomes.

15:00 Encouraging women to embrace authentic connections.

18:27 PR firm hired to handle abuse, and protect voices.

25:38 Met Prince William and had an amazing chat.

29:35 Therapy is crucial for personal and generational healing.

31:03 Women prioritise others, and struggle to prioritise themselves.

39:05 Knew HRT had risks, not well-informed.

41:39 Finally saw family doctor, diagnosed with an under-active thyroid.

44:50 Talking about health experiences outside medical norms.

49:11 Excited about our walking challenge, join us now!

Connect with us:

For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org

Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer

Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

The walking challenge I mentioned is here for you: https://move-with-menopause-and-cancer.raiselysite.com/

Connect with Leanne:

https://www.leannepero.com/

https://www.instagram.com/leanneperoofficial/

Mentioned in this episode:

https://move-with-menopause-and-cancer.raiselysite.com/

Research shows that only 4% of cancer survivors meet lifestyle recommendations. Dietician and board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition Krystle Zuniga discusses what these lifestyle recommendations are with us on the show today.

Have you been told what they are?

For solutions, of how we can help the 96% that currently don’t follow the recommendations that could potentially reduce their risks of a cancer recurrence, we need to understand that there is a gap between guidelines and behaviour. We need more discussions, less barriers to referrals for support and more awareness.

And it starts with you and I today.

Krystle Zuniga is a US based registered and licensed dietitian and a board certified specialist in oncology nutrition and the Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at UT Austin. She is incredibly good at telling us exactly what the evidence says and where there is a lack of it.

This is a powerful conversation for sure - giving us more agency in times of uncertainty.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro.

04:04 Curiosity about lifestyle recommendations and cancer survivorship.

10:27 Cancer treatment impacts daily life and nutrition.

13:39 Encouraging seeking help for health and well-being.

23:33 Busy days may lead to processed snacks.

25:00 Ultra processed foods are unhealthy, limit consumption.

28:09 Limit alcohol intake for cancer prevention, avoid it.

33:12 Carnivore diet raises cardiovascular disease risk concerns.

35:21 Limited awareness of alcohol-cancer link, booze-free trend.

40:48 Cancer research resources for in-depth information.

Connect with us:

For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org

Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer

Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

Here is the link for the World Cancer Research Fund International https://www.wcrf.org/

Connect with Krystle:

You can find more about Krystle’s work here www.canvernutritionhq.com and here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cancernutritionhq/

Mentioned in this episode:

https://move-with-menopause-and-cancer.raiselysite.com/