Most of us have been touched by cancer in some way; Whether yourself or a loved one has been affected, a cancer diagnosis can be a devastating battle. To all those in our Hamama community who have been touched by cancer, we stand with you. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness in fighting this disease. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women2 and less than 1% of men in the United States9. The main goal for this campaign is to educate everyone about the prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer. “In 2022, an estimated 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 51,400 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.” -National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. 6 Facts About Breast Cancer 65% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage (there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast), for which the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%2 Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. It is estimated that in 2022, approximately 30% of all new women cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer2 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime2 There are over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States2 Every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States2 Breast cancer treatment can be highly effective, especially when the disease is identified early. Treatment of breast cancer often consists of a combination of surgical removal, radiation therapy and medication1 Cancer and Microgreens Studies around the compound sulforaphane, which is found in certain microgreens, show that it can reduce the risk of common cancers3. Sulforaphane may block the initiation stage in carcinogenesis by inhibiting enzymes that convert procarcinogens to carcinogens and inducing phase 2 enzymes that metabolize carcinogens to facilitate excretion6. Microgreens in the Brassicaceae family contain such compounds that may protect against cancers4. Brassica5 vegetables (also known as cruciferous vegetables) include broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and mustard plants. In these studies, sulforaphane was shown to have anticancer effects3 against prostate, breast, and urinary cancers in preclinical studies, but more research is still needed in this area. Sprouted broccoli seeds were shown to have an abundance of this compound7. A 2012 study8 conducted by the University of Maryland and the United States Department of Agriculture looked at 25 different kinds of microgreens. They found 4 to 40 times higher amounts of beneficial nutrients in microgreens - including cruciferous veggies - when compared to mature plants. For example, red cabbage microgreens had 40 times more vitamin E and 6X more ascorbic acid than regular cabbage. We look forward to more in-depth studies on how microgreens can play a significant role in contributing to health and wellness in all areas and encourage you to explore the scientific literature! Ways to Help Use your voice, passion, and resources to help us RISE to reach every woman and make sure she has access to the screenings, support, and care she deserves. Together we rise! 💗 Breast Cancer Support and Resources American Cancer Society American Breast Cancer Support Association Cancer Care National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. CDC Easily Grow Your Own Greens at Home Interested in growing your own broccoli, cabbage and other highly nutritious microgreens? Get your Hamama Starter Kit and begin your journey of growing fresh, healthy homegrown greens today. GROW MICROGREENS NOW Shop Hamama Kits Microgreen Starter Kit $35 + Free Shipping Microgreen Starter Kit with Bamboo Frame $69 + Free Shipping Microgreen Starter Kit - Ceramic Edition $69 + $15 Shipping Green Onion Kit $49 + $5 Shipping Sources: World Health Organization National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. NCBI Journal of Food Science Merriam Webster Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Johns Hopkins Medicine Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Susan G. Komen