Tip #3: Cancer Prevention for Women and Recipe!

Click here to see the first two Cancer Prevention Tips for Women!

3. Get Screened!!

I cannot say enough about the importance of screening. For example, colorectal cancer is considered THE MOST PREVENTABLE CANCER because a screening colonoscopy can usually find a pre-cancerous polyp before it turns into cancer. Unfortunately, many women are not getting this important screening. 

Here is a list of screenings for various cancers and when women should get them:

• Breast Cancer - All women should do monthly self breast exams. Starting at age 40, get your annual mammogram and clinical breast exam. If a woman is at very high risk (due to genetic risk or family history), she may need an annual MRI.
  
• Cervical Cancer - By the age of 21, all women should have annual Pap tests. Consider getting the HPV vaccine.
  
• Colorectal Cancer - Have a screening colonoscopy at least every 10 years. Depending on family history and polyp risk, women may need to be screened every 5 years.
  
• Oral Cancer - Have an oral cancer screening by your dentist every year.
• Skin Cancer - Have a whole body skin check by a doctor every year.
  

Cancer Prevention Recipe: Spicy Chicken over Potatoes

Here is a recipe that I made this week. It was surprisingly good! Of course, you can made any additions and subtractions to fit your taste. I had fresh jalapenos from my garden, so I went ahead and used them. Yum!

Ingredients:

• red potatoes (enough for 3-4 people)
• 1 head of broccoli
• 1 pound of chicken breast or tenderloin
• cooking spray
  
• salt
• pepper
• 2 jalapeno peppers
• non-fat plain yogurt
• Dijon mustard

Directions:

1. Carefully dice jalapeno peppers (I have to wear gloves to cut them or else I can't wear my contact lenses for 3 days!)
   
2. Wash potatoes, pierce multiple times with fork and put in microwave for 8 minutes (or bake, which takes much longer!).
3. Bake chicken in the oven (or toaster oven) at 350 degrees. I coat the pan with cooking spray and sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of chicken. Cook until done (tenderloins will take less time than chicken breast).
   
4. While potatoes and chicken are cooking, cut broccoli into bite size pieces. Steam broccoli in a steamer, stir fry pan or microwave.
5. Once chicken is cooked, cut it into small bits, add enough yogurt to coat chicken, add Dijon mustard to taste and mix in diced jalapenos. (I probably used 1 cup of yogurt and 1/4 cup of mustard).
6. Serve in a bowl with potatoes cut open on the bottom, covered with chicken mixture and topped with broccoli.

This was great the next day for lunch too! Just heat up all 3 parts and serve as leftovers.

Enjoy!
- Julie