During the last two months, benign tumors were found in my breast and uterus. In February, my first mammogram EVER revealed a fibroadenoma in my right breast.
Then in March, during a routine Pap smear, a fibroid (it was originally thought to be a polyp, but pathology revealed otherwise) was found and surgically removed several weeks later.
During the weeks of anxious waiting, an ultrasound, a biopsy, and an operation were performed before both tumors were declared noncancerous. Naturally, I did a lot of internet research during that time.
Risk Factors and Prevention of Female Cancers
I read about the risk factors, and prevention for endometrial, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, and anal cancer.
Many of the things that increase the risk are beyond our control, such as genetics, and the age at which a girl has her first menstrual cycle.
Many of the prevention tactics are common sense. Make sure you go in for screenings, eat right, maintain a healthy weight, and do not smoke.
Those were no surprise.
The statistics about childbearing and breastfeeding were the ones that intrigued me, and reminded me that women can never go wrong by following God’s plan for us, which is written in the Bible.
In 1 Timothy 5:14, the younger widows (under age 60) are encouraged to remarry and bear children:
Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
There are other verses about keeping the home, and bearing children, but this passage reminds me that being married, bearing children, and keeping house, are protections for women, rather than punishments.
Women who give birth to their first child after age 35 are about 40% more likely to get breast cancer than women who have their first child before age 20. Also, the more childbirths a woman has had, the lower her risk of breast cancer (Susan G. Komen).
Mothers whose childbirths are spaced closer together may get more benefit than those whose childbirths are spaced further apart. The exact reasons are unclear, but may be related to the changes in breast cells that occur during pregnancy (Susan G. Komen).
Breastfeeding (which is part of God’s design for our bodies) also lowers the risk of breast cancer. Women who gave birth to 3 children after age 25 and never breastfed have 2 times the risk as women who have never had children (Web MD).
Other studies have suggested that for every year a mother breastfeeds, the risk of breast cancer drops by 4.3% (Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer).
Only one type of breast cancer (10 to 20% of all breast cancers) is increased by having more children, and having them earlier. It is called Triple Negative Breast Cancer because it tests negative for hormone receptors and HER2 in the lab (you can find definitions for these terms on the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation website).
However, women who breastfeed for more than 12 months are half as likely to develop Triple Negative Breast Cancer (Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation). Once again, God’s design for the female body is evident.
Also, both endometrial and ovarian cancers are lowered by having more children (cancercenter.com, and Daily News). Women who have been pregnant and carried the baby to term before age 26 have a lower risk of ovarian cancer than those who have not (American Cancer Society).
According to cancercenter.com, researchers are still investigating why pregnancy seems to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. The female body just seems to thrive when childbearing.
Another interesting fact is that women who don’t ovulate do not get ovarian cancer (The Telegraph). The Lord in his mercy included a built-in protection for the women who cannot have children naturally.
Cancer of the cervix, vagina, and anus are caused by HPV, or the Human Papillomavirus. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States (www.cdc.gov). Although there is a vaccine, HPV could be completely avoided if everyone remained pure until marriage, and remained faithful throughout.
Obeying God’s Word Can Never Be Wrong
I am not a doctor, or even a nurse. I have not perfectly followed God’s plan myself. Among other things, I didn’t have my first child until age 26, I used to smoke, and have a fair amount of space between each child.
Even if I followed all of the recommendations for lowering my risk of female cancers, there is truly no ironclad way to completely prevent them, at least not at this time. Although it may seem so, simply helping others to avoid cancer is not the point of my post.
Instead, I want to use my experience from the last 2 months to show the wisdom of God’s design for our bodies, and how his plan for our lives can protect us from harm. More than anything, I want to keep reminding myself, that although following Him can be difficult at times, it will always bring blessings in the end. I can never go wrong by obeying God’s word.
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
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