Women’s Health Series: Breast Cancer – A Different Perspective and How Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can Help

The female breast is designed to provide optimal nourishment for babies and to provide sexual pleasure for the woman herself. The breasts are glandular organs that are very sensitive to hormonal changes in the body; they undergo cyclic changes in synchrony with the menstrual cycle. They are very intimately connected with the female genital system. Nipple stimulation also stimulates the clitoris and increases prolactin and oxytocin secretion from the pituitary gland. These affect the uterus and can cause contractions there and also in the pelvic floor muscle.

Conventional Perspective of Breast Cancer

Globally, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women.

Breast cancer, like nearly all cancers, is associated with cellular inflammation, which is the final common pathway resulting from a nutrient-poor diet full of refined carbohydrates and low in vitamin D, iodine, magnesium and omega-3 fats, excessive sugar and/or alcohol, environmental toxins or emotional stress. And inflammation precedes cancer.

Excessive estrogen (relative to progesterone) over the life cycle that is related to diet and obesity also contributes to cellular inflammation and an increased risk of breast cancer. It is well documented that estrogen and estrogen-like chemicals also known as xenoestrogens stimulate the growth of breast tissue and if in excess may increase the risk of breast cancer.

The breast is an estrogen-sensitive organ. Many women who have been on birth control pills or estrogen replacement have found that the medication resulted in enlarged and often tender breasts. Therefore the effect of these medications plus the inflammation-causing high-glycemic-index, low fiber diet which over stimulates breast tissue is a setup for breast cancer.

Holistic Perspective of Breast Cancer

Breasts are the physical metaphor for giving and receiving. The instinct to nurture others can be extremely powerful and desirable source of health and pleasure not only for others but also for ourselves.

In addition to being organs of nurturance, breasts are also symbols of sexual desirability. The cultural ideal of the perfect breast size and shape changes depending on the time in history. Whatever the ideal is, most women will not match it and it is important for women to realise how skewed women’s perceptions normally are about our breasts. Instead women should take steps to celebrate what we have got.

As with the genitals, women often feel that their breasts exist for the pleasure and benefit of someone other than themselves. Our culture has skewed the nurturing metaphor in such a way that women too often give themselves away to others, without nurturing themselves. Women give and give and give without regular replenishment until the well runs dry, or until they are unconsciously seething with resentment.

For centuries, women have been taught that being a good woman meant nurturing everyone and everything, leaving themselves for the last. This is the “burnt toast syndrome”, where a woman will make toast for everyone in the family – reserving the burnt pieces for herself. Meanwhile, if there is a man around, he will be served the best part of whatever is available – including the best cuts of meat.

Much breast cancer is related to our need to appear to be self-contained and self-nurturing, which is impossible. We do not want to bother anyone yet everyone needs the support of others to be fully healthy. The major emotion behind breast lumps and breast cancer is hurt, sorrow and unfinished emotional business generally related to nurturance. Breasts are located in the fourth-chakra energetic center, near the heart. Emotions such as regret, the classic “broken heart”, guilt over not being able to forgive oneself or forgive others are energetically stored in this center of the body, blocking the breasts’ energy.

How Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help Breast Cancer


Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are the common conventional treatment methods for breast cancer available today. Diet changes such as minimizing estrogen and inflammation, eliminating caffeine, decreasing alcohol and taking dietary supplements such as omega-3 fats, antioxidants, vitamin D, Coenzyme Q10 are also some of the lifestyle changes that can be made to help in the treatment of breast cancer.

Having to know that the etiology and pathology of breast cancer goes beyond physical and definitely involves the emotional and psychological aspects, this is where holistic therapies such as emotional work, meditation, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicines herbs come in to help in the recovery journey of breast cancer.  

One of my signature treatments Heart Opening Acupuncture is to help open the blockages where the heart area which houses the breasts are.

Inner reflective work to change emotional patterns associated with breast cancer, support groups, lifestyle changes are all important and essential parts of treatment, regardless of the conventional treatment choices for breast cancer.

Conclusion

Cancer can be a death sentence if you choose it to be. Cancer can be a whole different meaning when you see it as answers – the answers to the messages the body is sending to you rather than reacting from a place of fear. For example, seeing cancer as a message to focus on family dynamics. Seeing cancer as a message about not feeling supported. Cancer can also be all about pent up resentment.

Rather, one can choose to see it as a dance, a flow that one must step into and move within, centered on listening and responding, doing all the work required to face one’s ego and fears and to connect with one’s soul thoroughly.

TCM(Traditional Chin Med), TCM Wellness, TCM and Science, Basics of TCM, TCM SexologyXiang Jun LimDr (TCM) Xiang Juntcm, acupuncture, traditional chinese medicine, western medicine, hormonal imbalance, science, women's health, hormones, breast cancer, cancer