Six or seven years ago I had some non-cancerous lumps removed from my left breast. I wasn’t too concerned and neither was my doctor, but because it was impossible to feel or see what was beneath the lumps, I decided to have them removed. My mother’s a breast cancer survivor, so I want to be very aware of any changes in “the girls.”

All was well, and continues to be, however, my doctor suggested I begin taking vitamin C as she strongly believes it can lower the risk for developing breast cancer. Not everyone in the field of breast cancer research shares her enthusiasm. According to breastcancer.org, “Although selected studies have found that women who consume higher amounts of vitamin C have a lower risk of breast cancer, research in general has not shown a strong connection.”  That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of taking vitamin C to prevent breast cancer, but even though it might not help, it can’t hurt.

My doctor gave me a sample of Emergen-C, asserting that this form of vitamin C was absorbed into my body more easily than pills. She also encouraged me to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables.

I’ve taken Emergen-C almost every day since that time, and I don’t know about it lowering my risk for breast cancer, but I can tell you that I haven’t had nearly as many colds. Maybe Linus Pauling was right!