Veronica Taylor — her “Pokémon” co-star who voiced lead character Ash Ketchum — announced the death of Lillis, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May.
This is not a political statement. If you are a woman and are unable, or choose not, to have children, please have yourself more regularly screened for breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers.
Women who do not have children are at a higher risk for these types of cancers as well as other disorders. Doctors don't always recommend increased screening for childless women despite the increased risk.
And, in general, women should regularly do self exams of their breasts for lumps or changes in the breast tissue, ideally as a part of your shower/bath routine.
It's even more pronounced in smaller mammals like rabbits. If you don't spay your rabbit and don't let it breed within the first 3 years it will have ~80% chance of developing Uterine cancer and dying 12-18 months later. Usually dying beween 3 and 5 years old. A spayed rabbit, or one that's breeding will live to 8 if all goes well.
It appears to be breast, ovarian and uterine cancers.
It appears to be exposure to the bodies sex hormones, primarily during reproductive years.
Taking certain types of hormonal birth control seems to have a similar protective effect, while others have an increased risk (At least in the case of ovarian cancers).
I knew there were increased risks for some women from longitudinal exposure to birth control, but I never knew it could have a protective affect in others. Biology is wild man. Our bodies and the things we put into them are constantly in a battle somewhere between saving us, and killing us at all times. It's both fascinating and also a bit terrifying really, at least to me.