The most fascinating and empowering thing I learned about after going through cancer, and the inspiration behind my lifestyle changes, is the concept of epigenetics,

What is epigenetics? 

It's a rapidly growing field of science which is proving the idea that we don't have control over our genes is outdated. Mind-boggling, hey? 

It's literal meaning is: things imposed 'on top of genetics'.

In a nutshell, the food we eat, stress, our lifestyles, how much sleep we get, how often we exercise, and our surrounding environment can trigger changes in the way our genes express themselves. When these genes are switched on, it can lead to chronic illness.

What makes this so empowering is that we can switch these genes 'on' and 'off'. We all have genetic predispositions to different types of diseases, but having a predisposition doesn't mean that inheriting that disease is our destiny. 

It's pretty amazing to think that the decisions we make every day can either make us genetically stronger, or genetically weaker, isn't it? And we all want to be stronger, don't we?

One of the most common question I get asked when people find out I had cancer at such a young age is, “was there a family history?”

There was no previous history of breast cancer in my family. After my first cancer diagnosis (breast cancer) I tested negative for the BRCA1 and 2 gene mutations. Bizarrely though, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer one month after me. It was a different type of breast cancer, which suggests they are not genetically linked. 

This, and my melanoma diagnosis two years later, which was closely followed by the loss of a dear friend to cancer two years later, have led me on a pretty fascinating (and at times incredibly challenging!) journey which has helped me understand more than I hoped I would in my lifetime about the things that not only cause cancer, but other health issues too.

In 2017 I attended a breast cancer symposium at the Garvan Institute for Medical Research in Sydney, where I heard the latest insights from world leading cancer researches.

The most significant take away for me was that the role of family history in cancer is overestimated, and that acquired gene mutations – i.e. those that have been acquired at some point in a person’s life – rather than inherited genes, cause the majority of cancers. 

So, how does our living environment come into play?  

The air we breathe, the food we eat, what we drink, what we put on our skin and the products we use in our homes can cause changes to our DNA. Young children, those with weakened immune systems and the elderly are particularly susceptible. 

Scott Kahan, MD, sums it up perfectly:

"Genes load the gun, environment pulls the trigger".

The World Health Organisation acknowledges the role of our surrounding environment in the onset of disease:

"Most diseases involve many genes in complex interactions, in addition to environmental influences... genetic susceptibility need not necessarily be abnormal. In some cases, individuals are born with with genes that are altered by lifestyle habits or exposure to chemicals." 

Here are some statistics and insights that are worth being aware of:

• Indoor air is estimated to be 5 times more polluted than outdoor air [Source: Nicole Bijlsma - building biologist].

• Mould is in 50% of buildings and 1 in 4 people are genetically susceptible - meaning they cannot produce antibodies to mould. Mould is insidious in that it can wreak havoc with every major system in the human body. Mould is a problem even in new builds, which are designed with energy efficiency in mind, meaning they are air tight, and the lack of adequate ventilation causes condensation, which leads to mould growth. There are no requirements in the Building Code of Australia to mitigate mould growth (there is in the UK and the US).

• Rates of childhood asthma have increased by 400% since the 1970s. Studies have shown links between levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs - from cleaning products, paints and building materials, for example) and the likelihood of a child developing asthma.

• There are 113 million chemicals registered for use on Chemical Abstract Service, 90% of these have never been tested for their impact on human health. 200,000 new chemicals are added to this database every week! There is nothing. being done in terms of regulating these chemicals here in Australia - meaning many of the products on supermarket shelves are not only not proven to be safe, but contain ingredients that are known to be harmful (i.e. carcinogenic or hormone disrupting).

• New cancer diagnoses have tripled in the past 35 years, 1 in 2 people will have cancer before they turn 85. [Source: Nicole Bijlsma - Building Biologist].

• Peer reviewed research has demonstrated links between wireless radiation and adverse biological effects - including reproductive dysfunction, changes to DNA, immune dysfunction, altered brain development, sleep and memory disturbances and increased brain tumours. [Source: Environmental Health Trust].

• A class of chemicals used in non-stick cookware (perfluoroalkyl acid) has been linked to ADHD, high cholesterol, thyroid disease and infertility [Source: US National Library of Medicine].

• Multiple studies have shown links between migraines and perfume, and 26 commonly used fragrance ingredients in perfumes sold in Australia are banned or restricted in the EU because of proven adverse health affects (hormone disrupting and carcinogenic ingredients).

In an article she wrote for the Huffington Post, Dr Soania-Mathur says:

"The cause of all illnesses can really be placed on a spectrum with environment and genetics contributing to varying degrees."

"Globally we have seen a rise in genital malformations in baby boys, reduced sperm counts in men, increased incidence of premature birth, early puberty amongst our girls, a rise in neurobehavioural disorders in children such as autism and learning disabilities, early onset puberty and type 2 diabetes. Not to mention the worldwide increase over the past 50 years of increased malignancies. If one looks at this increased rate of disease of over the past decades it cannot be explained by genetics alone."

"Regardless of our genes, the more unhealthy our environment, the more unhealthy we are,".

The purpose of this article is not to overwhelm, or alarm you. 

Knowledge is power. 

We have more information at our fingertips than any generation before us about the things that are making us sick. I've certainly learned more than I had anticipated I would in my lifetime, the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Isn't that an incredible gift?

We have an amazing opportunity to educate ourselves and make changes not only to optimise our own health, but our loved ones too. Ignorance is not bliss. We have a responsibility to act upon this information, so that we may leave a lasting legacy to benefit the health of generations to come. 

Of course, we can't change absolutely everything, and trying to do so can indeed be overwhelming. But there are small changes we can implement, that can make a huge difference. More on these soon.