October as a Reminder, Not a Fear Trigger
October brings Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For many women, the pink ribbons and campaigns are reminders to book a mammogram. And while screening has its place, true prevention goes deeper than detection.
At Aura & Meta, I believe prevention is not about living in fear of disease, but about understanding how your body’s systems – hormones, detox pathways, immunity, genetics, and energy – work together to create either resilience or vulnerability.
Did you know almost 1 in 7 women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime? Each year, around 55,000 women are diagnosed in the UK. About 80% of cases are in women over 50. (Breast Cancer Now)
Hormones and Risk: The Oestrogen Connection
Breast cancer risk increases when there is long exposure to unopposed oestrogen or poor hormone clearance. In perimenopause, when progesterone drops earlier than oestrogen, many women develop what is called oestrogen dominance. This shows up as heavy periods, breast tenderness, mood swings, and bloating.
If oestrogen is not metabolised properly, it can recirculate and create more active metabolites, some of which may damage DNA. The liver, gut, and detox pathways are central here: when they are sluggish or overloaded, hormones do not leave the body efficiently.
Functional Medicine asks: not “how do we suppress hormones?” but “why is the body struggling to process them?”
If you experience ongoing hormonal symptoms such as breast tenderness, mood swings, or fatigue, it may be time to look deeper. Schedule a consultation
Toxins and the Burden on the Liver
The modern environment exposes us to endocrine disruptors in plastics (BPA, phthalates), cosmetics (parabens), pesticides, and household chemicals. These chemicals mimic oestrogen, adding to the load the liver must already process.
When the liver is busy neutralising daily toxins, hormone detoxification is less efficient. This can leave women more vulnerable to oestrogen-driven imbalances.
Read more in my blog: Beyond the Liver: Hidden Toxins That Disrupt Midlife Hormones
At Aura & Meta, we work with women to support liver and detox pathways through nutrition, testing, and energy alignment. Book your discovery session
Gut Health and the Estrobolome
The gut microbiome contains bacteria that help break down oestrogen, known as the estrobolome. If the gut is inflamed or imbalanced (dysbiosis), oestrogen is reabsorbed rather than excreted.
This creates a double hit: not only hormonal imbalance but also increased risk for breast tissue stimulation. Supporting the gut is one of the most underrated aspects of cancer prevention.
Read more in my blog: The Hidden Link Between Hormones & Blood Sugar (and the Estrobolome)
If you struggle with digestive symptoms, bloating, or irregularity, your gut may be signalling an imbalance. Discover how our integrative approach can support gut health and hormone balance.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine Lens: Preserving Your Life Battery
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we are born with a life battery, an inherited reservoir of chi (vital energy). Every day, through how we eat, breathe, sleep, and think, we either preserve or deplete this battery.
When daily energy is insufficient, the body starts dipping into its deeper reserves. Over time, if these reserves are drained, disease can manifest.
Cancer, from this perspective, is not an overnight event but the result of long-term depletion. Prevention, therefore, is about preserving the daily battery:
- Eating whole, colourful foods that give true vitality
- Breathing deeply to restore the nervous system
- Resting when tired, instead of pushing endlessly
- Choosing thoughts and environments that nourish rather than drain
Prevention becomes an act of energy stewardship. Every meal, breath, and thought is either charging or draining your life battery.
Read more in my blog: Life Battery: Energy Medicine and Menopause
Genetics: Predisposition is Not Destiny
Some women carry genetic variants – such as BRCA1/2 or differences in detox enzymes (COMT, GST, MTHFR) – that influence risk. But genetics are only part of the story. About 5 to 10% of breast cancer cases are due to inherited genetic changes, while 23 to 30% are considered preventable through lifestyle and environmental choices. (Cancer Research UK)
Functional medicine views genes through the lens of epigenetics: how lifestyle, environment, and stress switch genes on or off. For example:
- A woman with BRCA1 may reduce risk significantly through diet, movement, toxin reduction, and stress management.
- Genetic testing can identify where detox pathways need extra support. For example, if you methylate oestrogen poorly, cruciferous vegetables and certain nutrients can support those pathways.
Genetics are like a map. Functional medicine gives you the tools to choose the best route.
Learn more in my blog: Genetic Testing and Women’s Health
Genetic insights can guide powerful, personalised prevention. Explore genetic testing to understand how your DNA influences detox pathways, hormones, and long-term resilience.
Functional Medicine Foundations for Prevention
Cancer prevention is not about one superfood or one supplement. It is about daily habits that reduce your body’s burden and restore balance.
- Nourish the Liver: Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, cauliflower) provide compounds like DIM and sulforaphane to support oestrogen metabolism.
- Support the Gut: Fibre, probiotics, and fermented foods keep elimination moving.
- Balance Blood Sugar: Insulin resistance fuels inflammation and hormone disruption; stable meals with protein, fibre, and healthy fats are key.
- Reduce Toxin Exposure: Swap plastic bottles, choose fragrance-free body care, use natural cleaning solutions.
- Move Your Body: Exercise reduces circulating oestrogen and improves immune surveillance.
- Emotional Detox: Chronic stress, resentment, or suppressed emotions also burden the system. Kinesiology and breathwork help release what weighs you down.
If emotional or energetic weight feels as heavy as physical symptoms, kinesiology may help you clear what your body has been holding onto. Learn more about how it works
Prevention as Empowerment
Functional medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine both remind us that cancer is rarely random. It is often the result of years of imbalance. The empowering truth is that daily choices, in food, breath, movement, and mindset, can tilt the scales back toward resilience.
By supporting your detox pathways, balancing your hormones, honouring your genetics, and protecting your energy, you are not only lowering your risk of breast cancer but also cultivating clarity and vitality for years ahead.
This October, let Breast Cancer Awareness be your call to action. Awareness is powerful, but prevention is transformative.
Book your discovery session today to explore how functional and energy medicine can help you create resilience from the inside out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I prevent breast cancer naturally in midlife?
Focus on balancing hormones, supporting detox pathways, and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. Eat fiber-rich foods, cruciferous vegetables, and avoid inflammatory foods such as alcohol and endocrine disruptors.
What role do hormones play in breast cancer risk?
Excess or poorly metabolised oestrogen can increase risk. Supporting the liver and gut to process hormones efficiently is essential for prevention.
How does functional medicine approach cancer prevention?
By addressing root causes like inflammation, toxicity, genetic predisposition, and energy imbalance through nutrition, lifestyle, and emotional work.
Explore related articles on detox, gut health, and hormonal balance at Aura & Meta Blog