[agness]

I have read that, of all things, being anorexic in your teens decreases one's risk of developing breast cancer as you age. I think it has to do with theories around caloric restriction and aging.

I have always been a normal BMI for my age but I became very thin and depleted while doing extended breast feeding. I do feel as though, in spite of my body's ability to breastfeed, that it was detrimental ultimately to my health.

I have come across a lot of information about electrolyte imbalances and the adrenals. Once your body is thrown out of whack by overexertion, stress, poor diet, chronic dehydration, or prolonged illness it actually starts to go into a downward spiral and our bodies start to lose more magnesium and zinc and our copper levels elevate. This is very pro-inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic. I only know this about my situation as I sought care with a naturopathic oncologist prior to starting chemo. My medical oncologist wasn't interested in understanding why my disease started or why I was so depleted; my blood labs looked fine for chemo but I'm lucky that chemo didn't kill me. Thank goodness my naturopathic oncologist helped me to heal my body of its depletion.