Why Protect Our Boys?

Protect Our Breasts has reached an incredible number of women over the last few years, sharing about how exposure to environmental toxicants can increase one’s risk for breast cancer later in life. Through the process of our research, we have come to learn that the effects of these endocrine disruptors and toxicants are not limited to breast cancer. The hormone system of both men and women can be affected, and it is theorized that the rise in the use of industrial chemicals in the last century is associated with the increasing incidence rates of most hormonal cancers in many developed countries (State of the Science 2012).

This month of Movember (No Shave November), Protect Our Breasts is expanding our reach and focusing on testicular cancer, which was diagnosed in about 9000 men this year in the United States. Testicular cancer is also the most common in men aged 15-35 years old, a large portion of our community. Recent research has shown that the environment is a crucial risk factor for this disease, and it is not just the environment of the men, but of their mothers. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute has reported findings that suggest that early and fetal exposure to environmental factors may influence the development of testicular cancer.

These environmental factors include endocrine disruptors that exist in every day life, such as pesticides and synthetic estrogens in our plastic products. However, avoiding endocrine disruptors as a young woman and mother can help reduce this risk of your son developing testicular cancer. Young men can help themselves by not only avoiding these chemicals, but completing regular self exams, because if caught early, 99% of men diagnosed will survive testicular cancer (Testicular Cancer Foundation).