Showing posts with label breast cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breast cancer. Show all posts

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Breast Cancer And How To Avoid It

By Spencer Tabbs

Women today have high incidence of malignant breast tumours. The most popular ages are in their late forties but some are affected on the teens. Using the situation from the environment right now such as the car emissions, cigarette smoking, and burning of non-biodegradable materials are major variables using its polluting effects. The abrupt climate changes allowed some innovators to improvise a method to decrease and someday remove this present problem by making electronic cars, materials which are recyclable plus a Nicotek Metro E-cigs promo code electronic cigarette for the chain smokers. It is good that technology is accompanied by green ideas to preserve environmental surroundings even though it is progressing.

Information dissemination is important as well as the conduct of seminars for women. It is important to deliver them the truth and how to diagnose themselves before confirming a final diagnosis through the doctor with a series of diagnostic tests including mammography.

Even though it is found out that triggers of these breast tumours would be the bad smoke emitted it's also linked through lifestyle and diet. Since women today tend to enjoy junk food which are generally with preservatives or grilled, in addition to smoking rather than using Nicotek Metro E-cigs promo codes electronic cigarettes some of the chemicals present can be a causative agent in which this supposed to be benign tumours turn out to be malignant.

A sad fact about these malignant tumours is that they can mutate to cancer at varying stages but the good thing about having breast cancer is that it is one of the cancers that are having high percentages of curability and survivability. Compared to cancers which are diagnosed at their late stages and can be considered a disease most people will surely not overcome.

The best electronic cigarette Nicotek Metro E-cigs promo is a great one of prevention without driving the vice of smoking. Since lots of women already smoke by using this innovation it can help them to be free from one of the factors that cause breast tumours. Aside from the seminars because it will be taught to them how to examine their breast then they should do it frequently so that no traces of lumps could be felt throughout the self-breast exam.


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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Signs of Breast Cancer

By Situz Ku

If you feel that bust cancer merely targets old women, it is best to think two times because cancer on the breast can occur to numerous young girls. In reality, a significant amount of young women of all ages are determined with an early on stage associated with breast cancer tumor disease.

Most women may not be really conscious of this plus they are not talked about the best way identify signs of breast cancer in ladies that's why it is really important that they need to look pertaining to signs of their body.

Women not simply the good old ones and also the youth ought to be responsible more than enough about themselves by getting good proper care of the idea, and enjoying for unusual symptoms they could found. Even when they are generally younger, they're not yet exempted through any diseases much like cancer from the breasts. Some forewarning signs of breast cancer in ladies to challenge are:

* Nipple signs. This symptom will be the first sign that a majority of women should check if they believe that there's something wrong using their breasts. The actual nipples grow to be retracted or perhaps indented. This typically points downward besides the regular facing instantly. Women could also notice abnormal and widespread discharges from your nipple.

* Busts shape and also size alterations. Another early danger signal of chest cancer will be the changes within the size on the breast. The adjustments normally happen bit by bit but occasionally, the adjustments may occur rapidly and most effective for you noticed effortlessly. The dimensions may sometimes grow greater or lesser, it varies according to every lovely women.

* Color changes. The color could possibly be visible so ladies can immediately see that there's something wrong using the breasts. It may well look reddish or pink along with the skin can evoke a skin of the orange. These modifications may occur one at this time or transpire all simultaneously.

* Roughness in the skin. The roughness would likely usually occur to the nipple aspect; however it can also be visible with any a part of the breasts skin.

* Lumps or perhaps cyst. When a new lump can be found in the bust, then probably this will be confirming that your young woman could possibly be suffering out of cancer in the breast. Go as well as see a medical professional for boob's physical examination to discover if your lump is basically associated along with cancer in the breast.

If all these warnings signs of breast cancer in ladies are seasoned, do certainly not be alarmed an excessive amount. See a medical professional immediately to get a visit and verdict. When all these signs are generally detected sooner, there can be a bigger opportunity for treatment and medication.

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Popular Therapies against Stage 4 Breast Cancer

By Tyler Weber

Today, many cancer therapies are very sophisticated and effective on fighting off cancer. The days are gone when humans are powerless against cancer and its consequences. It is common knowledge that cancer up to now is still difficult to cure however, the advancements in treatment strategies today make these therapies better than before.

Breast cancer is perhaps one of the most common and feared cancer types. When this type of disease is discovered at stage 4 breast cancer or the malignant stage, it is very difficult to treat. Many therapies may be available but it will still be very hard if cancer is already on the metastatic stage.

Many people can seem at a loss when faced with the different treatment options for stage 4 breast cancers. To help you with this, let us examine some of the most popular and effective medical treatment for breast cancer: Surgery to excise the cancer cells - Surgery aimed at taking away cancerous cells in the body is one of the treatments to eradicate cancer. When it is possible to remove the cancerous cells through surgery without affecting much of the organ or body function, this alternative may be the best option. Surgery for cancer treatment is ineffective if the cancer has spread throughout the body already. This therapy is only effective against some localized tumors or those that have not spread into the body systems. This means that cancer has to be at the early stages so that this surgery can be effective.

Radiation - Radiation is also one of the most popular therapies when it comes to cancer treatment. It makes use of a radioactive energy source to kill the cancer cells and stop it from multiplying uncontrollably. There are essentially two ways to deliver the radiation to the target cancer cells: an external radiation source or an internal radioactive implant. In external radiation sources, the radiation beams come from a device or equipment that does not essentially come in contact with the body. Unlike the internal radiation source that needs to be implanted inside the person's body to be effective.

Chemotherapy against cancer - The use of special medications that have properties to fight cancer is called chemotherapy. Although the cancer medicines work in different methods, they all have an end goal of stopping the cancer progression. This can lead to an end or merely a break in the cancer cycle. There may be side effects with this treatment however it still has a great potential in helping cancer stop its deadly course.

This article has hopefully shed some light on the subject of cancer treatments and therapies.

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Stage 4 Breast Cancer and the Methods for Early Detection

By Kara Marie

One of the most feared diseases of this century are malignancies and cancers. There are various types of cancers today but one of the most feared and common types are breast cancer. Men and women alike display a frightening increase in breast cancer rate. Breast cancer stage 4 is scary because there is a very low chance that the cancer therapies will be effective at that point.

Stage 4 breast cancer tells you that the cancer cells have already reached places and organs that are not within the breast region. A cancer discovered at this stage already will not have a good prognosis. Breast cancer must be prevented as early as possible so that the prognosis will be better. When breast cancer is detected early, the therapies will have the best effect.

This means that we should not wait for stage 4 breast cancer before finding ways to detect it.

Breast Self Exam - This is one of the most effective way to detect and prevent breast cancer. Essentially, it is easy, does not cost you a thing and you can do in the comfort of your homes. This screening test could be done while laying around in bed or even while taking a bath. Through breast self examination, many breast cancers can be detected and cured at a time when therapies and targeted treatment is most effective. It is even observable that many patients have discovered that they are suffering from breast cancer only after their partner has palpated a lump in their breast. It is always a good practice to make regular self checks to ensure that you do not have the early symptoms of cancer of the breast and do not wait until you reach stage 4 breast cancer before doing anything.

Breast examination by a health care provider - This could also be done to ensure that you do the self exam correctly or sometimes to confirm some findings. This could be a good way to detect cancer even before it progress and wreak havoc on the body.

A mammogram - It is through a mammogram that small cancerous breast lesions can be seen even before they turn to stage 4 breast cancer. This radiographic exam can detect breast cancer even without the lumps felt or other symptoms as well. Women are the majority of breast cancer sufferers in spite of the fact that it can happen to men too. After menopause, the age range near 50, women have higher risk of breast cancer.

Do these preventive and screening measures now and do not wait for it to reach stage 4 breast cancer before starting.

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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Breast Cancer And Estrogen

By Rita Goldman

For many years women were told that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) offered as Estrogen Therapy (ET) or a combination of Estrogen and Progesterone (Hormone Therapy or HT) was the easy way to avoid any symptoms of the menopause. Women were given either natural or synthetic hormones to reduce hot flashes, headaches, moodiness, insomnia, and vaginal dryness.

Unfortunately doctors are beginning to realize that women have a unique hormone profile. That means that the effect of hormone replacement therapy could work for your neighbor, but have no effect on you.

Recent medical studies have indicated that there is a link between HRT and breast cancer risk. Both natural and synthetic Estrogen and Progesterone can cause acceleration in the growth of breast tissue, and breast cancer can first appear in fast growing tissue. Some doctors believe that estrogen is broken down within the breast tissue, and the resultant compound can then bind to strands of DNA and cause breast cancer that way.

Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to isolate one cause of cancer and blame it on one specific thing because hereditary, diet and lifestyle all play a part At this time doctors think that there is a definite increased risk of breast cancer when ET and HT are used beyond five years, but other doctors feel that the risk is there period.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, then it may be that HRT can stimulate the growth of small tumors, or hidden cells called micrometastases. There is no proven link between women who have a genetic risk of cancer and HRT. But today doctors are erring on the side of caution and making a recommendation that women with a cancer risk avoid HRT.

However, there are a number of women who are comfortable with the risks and want to take HRT anyway. A close relationship with your doctor is important and a journal which can pinpoint exactly what is happening is a good idea. There is an evidence that a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables will regulate the levels of estrogens in your system naturally. Macronutrients are not going to do any harm and there is a strong argument that they can ward off a cancer risk in their own right as well as regulating hormones. Another benefit is adequate exercise which does not mean going to a gym. A brisk walk that elevates the heart rate slightly for half an hour is just as beneficial as a gym membership. It is cardiovascular exercise and it reduces the risk of obesity, because the link between obesity and cancer is certainly there.

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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Some Information on Breast Cancer

By Amanda Gamdana

Each and every October has been designated pink ribbon month. Unlike other specific days and sometimes weeks, breast awareness has been given a month. You may find local companies that promise to help with financial help and promoting pink objects. This all sounds very positive but just how much of this money is put towards giving information on breast cancer to the public and on research?

I have always been a great believer in knowledge and in this case learning more about breast cancer and when you should have a mammogram are important. If it is caught very early, recovery rates are good.

Although the information on breast cancer is available on the internet constantly, more resources are put into awareness of it during the month of October to tell women about what's available to them and to let them know that catching it early is vitally important. Sometimes it can even be treated successfully when caught later on.

One of the most important things to remember with information on breast cancer especially with something as serious as this is where you get your information from! Up to date information is published regularly on the internet by doctors and research organizations and they can give you a good picture about what you need to know.

Don't forget to always search for the latest findings because they will probably be the most significant and try to get information from your doctor about his thoughts on the subject. Any information on breast cancer you discover should also be given to all the members of your family even the younger ones who may not consider that they are at risk.

The importance of knowing these risks is because you may need to be screened earlier than would normally be the case. Breast cancer in the family is sign that you may need the mammogram earlier.

You should also find information on breast cancer pertaining to doing a self-exam. If you are able to examine yourself you may be in a position to find the lumps earlier. Once you have learned how to self-examine, make sure you tell the rest of your family and that it's important for them to learn as well.

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Sunday, April 19, 2009

Do You Have IBC - Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

This is not your normal type of breast cancer. What is the norm - you ask? It is self examination looking for lumps or a hard tissue mass, MRI exam, mammogram, etc.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a change in the breast tissue that does create a lump or hard tissue mass. Instead it is a redness, or possible swelling, maybe a warm feeling the breast area, or it could be an infection.

Bottom line it is some sort of change in the breast that is not normal. Check it out - immediately!

If you call your Doctor and ask about about IBC, he may not know what it is. Look for a medical professional that does about IBC. As I said it is not your normal breast cancer type.

Regardless of what some doctors may say IBC is not caused by an infection, it is caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph nodes. IBC is only about 1% to 3% of all breast cancers that have been detected in the U.S.

What are the symptoms? They are definitely different than what you might expect. There are no lumps and won't probably show up on a mammogram.

It appears that African-American and younger women have a higher incidence. IBC is aggressive in its growth. In fact, when it is first noticed it could already be at Stage III. By the time it is diagnosed it could be late State III or even Stage IV and may have already metastasized to other parts of the body.

So what are the signs...

Anything unusual with the breasts
One breast larger than the other
Soreness in one breast
Redness, rough texture like an orange peel
Inverted nipple
Thickened areas
A warm feeling which would indicate infection
Any pain with breast manipulation or otherwise

A doctor may be slow to diagnose, find another doctor. You cannot delay any diagnosis, days are important.

Locate some vitamin supplements like immune booster products, vitamin B17, apricot seeds (kernels), antioxidants, parasite and detox cleansing programs.

Cancer can be the result of a weak immune system or an immune system that is not doing its job correctly. Supplementation with vitamins, herbs and minerals that are targeted towards correcting the body's immune function is very important.

Vitamin B17 and apricot seeds, according to some information, target the cancer cells directly. Books have been written about vitamin B17 or laetrile. One is "The Death of Cancer", by Dr. Harold Manner.

Another alternative holistic natural treatment that is FDA approved is hypothermia combined with low radiating dose. All methods of treatment need to be considered especially the natural way. Chemo and radiation treatment are very destructive to the body's immune system.

Be aggressive in your research, check all forums, blogs, etc. Ask questions not only online but of the medical professionals that you have access to for any suggestions they may have on your options for treatment.

Joni Bell has many years of extensive study in the area of natural cancer prevention and treatment. He has numerous success stories of people being diagnosed living cancer free with use of alternative methods. http://apricotpower-info.com

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Breast Cancer Overview

By Dr Taylor Cromish

Breast cancer is a malignant growth that starts from cells in the breast. It is one of the commonest cancers women suffer and between 40 and 55 years of age. It is unfortunately one of the main causes of female death below the age of 60 but more women now beat it than ever.

Understandably many women fear breast cancer. Modern treatment is curing more women than ever but as with most illnesses early diagnosis leads to better odds of cure. Men do get breast cancer but there is a much lower incidence.

Incidence

Breast cancer rates have increased by more than 50% over the last twenty years. The highest rates of breast cancer occur in Northern Europe and North America and the lowest rates are in parts of Africa and Asia. The good news is thanks to better diagnosis and treatment survival rates are improving.

Death rates have been dropping steadily since 1990 and one of the keys to this is early diagnosis. Indeed medical experts attribute the decline in breast cancer deaths to both this and more effective treatments.

Treatment of Breast Cancer

The treatment you will get depends on the type of cancer and if it has gone out of your breast elsewhere in your body. How far, if at all, the cancer has spread is called staging. Stage 0 means the cancer is just in the breast and stage 4 means it is spread through your body. What combination of treatment you receive depends on the stage and is the same for males and females.

Treatment options for breast cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone treatment and biological therapy with drugs such as Herceptin. Treatment takes place in two forms, which are local and systemic.

Localized therapy for breast cancer includes surgery and sometimes x-ray therapy. The drug treatments can affect your whole body as well as the cancer but with modern regimens the side effects are not as bad as they used to be.

Survival

More women conquer and beat cancer each year. With earlier diagnosis and smaller spread of cancer survival rates are high. Individuals are all different however and there are lots of examples of women with more advanced cancer beating it and living long lives. Males and females have broadly the same chances of beating the disease.

Breast cancer rates are increasing and affect all ages. It is devastating to be diagnosed with cancer. But with better and earlier detection breast cancer can be beaten.

Breast cancer does not mean you are going to die but it is an enormous shock, which can be taken on and overcome. Female relatives may need to be assessed as many cancers are related to particular genes.

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Thursday, March 5, 2009

Avoid Dairy Products To Prevent Cancer

By Rita Goldman

Prof. Jane Plant, PhD, CBE is one of the many women who battled against breast cancer and survived to tell the tale. She has endured five cases of breast cancer and has surpassed all of them. This happened because she used her keen observation as a scientist to discover what has been causing her cancer.

By the way, Prof. Jane is Chinese but has been living in the UK ever since she moved. What did she discover in her observation from her own breast cancer case? She discovered that dairy products have a direct link in causing her cancer. How did she do this? Well, she closely studied the differences between the Western countries and the Asian countries regular kind of foods.

She noticed that most foods found in the Western hemisphere are mostly composed of dairy products. Cheese and milk are two of the most common dairy products but these are also used as ingredients in various kinds of food like pasta sauces, yogurts, ice creams, coffee creamers, and a whole lot more. This entails that most Americans and Europeans take in dairy products as part of their daily diet because even their simplest foods contain these products from cows.

She compared this discovery with her native Chinese cultures usual eating habits. According to her, traditional Chinese do not take in any form of dairy products. When a mother has a baby and she doesnt have enough milk to feed her baby, she uses the services of a wet nurse, who is lactating mother, to feed her child. They do not feed their children with cows milk. The statistics of breast cancer in China is very low even if they are the most populous country in the world.

Chinese who first moved in to Western countries are also not at risk of developing breast cancer because they still stick to their traditional diet. The succeeding generations after them are likely to have breast cancer risk because they are adapting the Western form of diet. This shows that breast cancer risk doesnt run in the genes alone but also in the kind of foods we take in everyday.

After all of these observations, Prof. Jane Plant, PhD, CBE totally eliminated dairy products from her daily diet. She started reading food labels when she shops for food in the grocery to check whether the product she is buying contains any dairy produce in it. She noticed that the five lumps of her breast cancer started to shrink significantly after cutting off her dairy products intake.

Her doctors and colleagues are astonished by the miraculous healing she is undergoing. She shared her secret to one of her doctor friends but he was somewhat skeptical with the idea at first. However, the same doctor is now teaching his medical students and even his patients about the negative effects of dairy products in breast cancer development.

We salute Prof. Jane for this kind of discovery because of her willpower to continue living and eliminate her breast cancer for good. The National Cancer Institute hasnt released official information about the effects of dairy products in breast cancer development. But surely enough, the real life experience of a woman, one that belongs to the highly educated people, who once battled cancer, tells us that her discovery about dairy products is one of the best breast cancer prevention and healing you can learn from.

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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

A Glimpse Into The Shadowy World Of Breast Cancer

By Donald Saunders

Breast cancer is the commonest type of cancer that occurs in women and, after lung cancer, it is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. In 2004 no fewer than 186,770 new cases of breast cancer were reported according to the American Cancer Society and this number appears to be rising year on year.

It is also worthy of note that breast cancer is not confined only to women and that 1,815 men contracted the disease in 2004 and that 362 men died of breast cancer that year.

The breasts in women are complicated pieces of machinery comprising glands, fat and connective fibrous tissue. Each breast has numerous lobes which are divided into lobules and end in the milk glands and there are also a large number of tiny ducts from the milk glands that join together and end in the nipple.

Eighty percent of breast cancer cases start in these ducts in a condition referred to as infiltrating ductal cancer. It is also reasonably common for breast cancer to develop in the lobules where it is referred to as lobular cancer. Other types of cancer are referred to as inflammatory breast cancer.

Pre-cancerous changes (referred to as 'in situ') are also common in women and are changes that have not spread from the place in the breast where they were originally spotted. When these changes occur within the ducts then the condition is called ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS and if changes occur in the lobules they are referred to as lobular carcinomas in situ or LCIS.

The most serious form of breast cancer is known as metastatic cancer which involves the spread of a cancer from the place where it began. Breast cancer most frequently metastasizes into the lymph nodes above the collarbone or under the arms on the same side of the body as the cancer which results in pain and swelling as the lymphatic drainage system is compromised. Other relatively common sites of breast cancer metastasis include the brain, liver and the bones.

Excluding the obvious factor of gender, age is a very important factor when looking at the risk of contracting breast cancer. In spite of the fact that breast cancer can and does occur at any age the risk of finding it increases with age. A healthy woman aged 30 will generally have a 1 in 280 chance of developing breast cancer during the next ten years of her life. However, this then rises to a probable 1 in 70 chance when that same women is in her forties.

Family history is also an important risk factor for breast cancer with the risk being at its highest when you have a close relative (like a mother or aunt) who has suffered from cancer of the breast at a young age.

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Saturday, December 20, 2008

Stage 4 Cancer: Understanding Breast Cancer

By Jenni Snook

Breast cancer is probably the most common cancer affecting women. It may be true that this risk to men is minute, nevertheless, it is essential that everyone understands the risk to them. This is especially true when it comes to women. This article covers everything you need to know about breast cancer, in particular, the symptoms that you need to recognise in order to diagnose the disease as early as possible.

Breast cancer can be defined as unusual growth that occurs in the breasts region of the body. For women, it's natural that the breasts change size every month due to their menstrual cycle. It's possible that you may feel a sort of ball or lump when examining your breasts. Many of these may not be dangerous, nevertheless there exists the potential that they may be cancerous. The danger is that if one of these lumps is actually cancerous, then it could potentially mestastisize to other regions of the body. This simply means that it could disperse. Cells from the breasts can travel to other areas of your body via the bloodstream of lymphatic system. This diffusion can be pretty slow, or in some cases, it can be rather quick.

You may have heard medical experts say on various occasions that in the early phases of breast cancer, you may not detect any symptoms at all. As a result, symptoms tend to become more obvious as the cancer grows. You should be able to detect at least one of the following symptoms if you have cancer:

1. Feeling pain as well as soreness in the breast.

2. One or both of your breasts may begin to discharge and this can be either without colour, slightly yellow or even ressemble blood.

3. If the size of the breasts changes, this may be an indication of cancer. However, other changes may occur that are related to the contour and even the overall texture. In addition to this, if a breast feels exceptionally hot to touch, there could be an underlying issue that is serious in nature.

4. Other signs of breast cancer are swelling in the breast or in the lymph node that is located under your arm.

5. It's common for people to start feeling itchy, some burns and physical ulcerations on the breast's skin.

There is not just one type of breast cancer, there are various. There are also some physical signs that indicate that breast cancer has begun to grow. It's absolutely vital that you know how to do a breast examination on a regularly. Doing it once or twice every month is enough. The above symptoms are a good indication if you have breast cancer, and you should immediately call your doctor and get an examination if any of them appear.

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

A Look At Breast Cancer In Men

By Fisiwe Owen

You may wonder why during October you see pink ribbons everywhere. Unlike other specific days and sometimes weeks, breast awareness has been given a month. Some companies use this month to pledge financial support to the cause and sell object colored in pink. This all sounds very positive but just how much of this money is put towards giving information on breast cancer to the public and on research?

Information is a powerful weapon, so learning about breast cancer and knowing when your screening should take place are really important issues. You should be aware that your chances of a good recovery are improved when breast cancer is caught in the early stages. Although the information on breast cancer is available on the internet constantly, more resources are put into awareness of it during the month of October to tell women about what's available to them and to let them know that catching it early is vitally important. There have even been occasions where cancer has been treated in the later stages.

Just remember to check the source of any information on breast cancer you discover and read. When it comes to health issues of any kind, you have to rely on doctors and the latest research to give you a clear picture of what you need to know. Always try to research the most recent information as it will probably have more bearing but you should always contact your doctor in any case and see what he has in mind. Any information on breast cancer you discover should also be given to all the members of your family even the younger ones who may not consider that they are at risk.

It may seem a great deal of trouble but if the information suggests you require a mammogram then it better to know now. You will probably already know if there as a history of breast cancer in your family and this should indicate the necessity for a mammogram earlier. It's always worth knowing you to examine yourself as well.

If you know how to properly check your breasts for lumps, you have a much greater chance of finding a lump early. Other women you know whether family or friends can also benefit from knowing how to examine themselves for lumps so make sure you get them to do it as well.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

3 Popular Breast Cancer Tests

Around 44,500 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Although the exact cause is still unknown, we know that it begins when the breast tissues start to multiply in a rapid and uncontrolled way. The symptoms of this type of cancer are often difficult to identify but fortunately there are a number of tests your doctor can perform. In this article I will be discussing three of these tests.

1) PHYSICAL INSPECTION:- This is usually the first breast cancer test your doctor will perform. Although most lumps can be found during self examination there are certain abnormalities you may not notice. A trained doctor who has experience examining breasts for signs of cancer is much more likely to spot any of these abnormalities that you may have missed. If they do notice anything they will then be able to recommend further tests.

2) MAMMOGRAM:- This is an x-ray for the breasts. It is very useful for identifying any abnormalities in the breast such as lumps or calcium deposits. These abnormalities may turn out to be early signs of breast cancer so a mammogram is a good way to detect any early warning signs. However, it cannot be used to determine whether these abnormalities are cancerous so if your doctor does notice anything during the mammogram they may call you back for further testing.

3) FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY (FNAC):- This breast cancer test involves inserting a fine needle into any lumps or abnormalities that your doctor has discovered. They will then be able to to determine whether the lump contains fluid (and is therefore non-cancerous) or is solid (and therefore potentially cancerous). If the lump is solid the needle will allow your doctor to extract some of the cells for further examination under the microscope. This examination will then reveal whether or not the cells are cancerous.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types in the UK and can prove fatal if it is ignored. However, when identified early it is usually very treatable. If you notice anything different about your breasts then it is better to be safe than sorry. Go see your doctor and get yourself tested right away. It could be a crucial step towards combating this type of cancer.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Breast cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about the various breast cancer tests by visiting http://blog.freefitnesstips.co.uk/breast-cancer-explained.html

Monday, December 1, 2008

3 Tips for Preventing Breast Cancer

Breast cancer affects around 45,000 people in the UK each year. No one is sure exactly what causes this condition but it develops when cells in the breast start to multiply in a rapid and uncontrolled way. Although no one knows the exact cause there are number of factors that have been linked with prevention. In this article I will be discussing three tips that could help you prevent this nasty disease.

1) CONSUME LESS ALCOHOL:- A number of studies have suggested that drinking alcohol can increase your chances of getting this type of cancer. Cancer Research UK estimate that around 2,000 of the breast cancer cases reported in the UK each year are caused by alcohol. Multiple studies also suggest that the amount of alcohol consumed directly influences your likelihood of contracting this disease. Therefore, if you drink alcohol you are more at risk than a none drinker and if you are a heavy drinker then you are more at risk than a moderate drinker.

Now I am not suggesting that you completely alter your alcohol intake because there are other factors that influence breast cancer too. However, it could be a good idea to monitor your alcohol consumption for a week and see if there is anywhere you could make some cutbacks. Perhaps, instead of drinking a glass of wine with every evening meal you could alternate and have it every other night. Maybe instead of going for weekly drinks with friends you could go for a meal or to the cinema on alternate weeks. Small changes such as these could help you reduce your overall alcohol consumption.

2) EAT MORE HEALTHY FOODS:- A lot of researchers agree that a healthy diet is a key element of breast cancer prevention. In particular, trans fats have been linked with the development of this type of cancer. On the other hand fruits and vegetables are thought to lower your risk of contracting this disease because they contain cancer protective vitamins and phyto-chemicals.

If your diet contains a lot of processed or man made foods then you really need to cut down as these are normally loaded with trans fat. Also try to make sure you are eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Like with alcohol, you don't have to make significant changes to your diet right away. Instead, try to substitute one of the processed foods in your diet with a piece of fruit or veg every week. Before you know it your overall diet will have improved for the better and this could make the difference between contracting this type of cancer and not.

3) DO MORE EXERCISE:- Exercise is believed to help prevent this type of cancer. A study from Dr Michael Leitzmann that was published in the Journal of Breast Cancer Research [1] suggests that vigorous activity such as running, competitive sports and intense dancing could reduce your risk of contracting this disease. However, less intense exercise did not have the same effect. Therefore, if your current lifestyle is relatively inactive try and do some intense exercise two or three times per week. If you are stuck for ideas jogging, sprinting, skipping and team sports are all good choices.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK. However, by following the preventative tips discussed in this article you can hopefully avoid it. Reducing your alcohol consumption, improving your diet and becoming more active are positive lifestyle choices that everyone should make. Not only will you be improving your overall health but you could protect yourself from this cancer type of cancer too.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Breast cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Sources:
[1] Michael F Leitzmann, Steven C Moore, Tricia M Peters, James V Lacey Jr, Arthur Schatzkin, Catherine Schairer, Louise A Brinton, Demetrius Albanes., Journal of Breast Cancer Research, 2008

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about breast cancer prevention by visiting http://blog.freefitnesstips.co.uk/breast-cancer-explained.html

Friday, November 21, 2008

3 Possible Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that affects around 44,500 people each year. Of these around 300 are believed to be men. It develops when tissues in the breast start to multiply in a rapid and uncontrolled fashion. Like other types of cancer, the symptoms can often be difficult to spot. However, if you know what you are looking for then your chances of identifying this condition early are greatly increased. In this article I will be helping you do just that by discussing three of the possible symptoms.

1) A LUMP OR THICKNESS IN THE BREAST:- Most breast lumps are not cancerous. According to Cancer Research UK 90% of these lumps are caused by; non-cancerous changes in the appearance of the breast, cysts (pouches of fluid in the breast tissue) or Fibroadenoma (a group of fibrous glandular tissues). However, this is still the most common breast cancer symptom so it is worth getting any lumps you do identify checked out by your doctor. Even if they do turn out to be non-cancerous you can identify the cause and possibly have the lump removed simply by going to see your doctor.

2) A CHANGE IN THE BREAST SKIN'S APPEARANCE:- If your breast skin starts to look different this could be a sign of breast cancer. This type of cancer may cause your breast skin to become dimpled (like an orange peel), wrinkled, swollen or inflamed. However, like with lumps a change in the breast skin's appearance can be down to other factors. It may be caused by another less serious medical condition, some medications you have been taking or some other influence. Whatever the cause, you should have any unexplained change in the skin examined by your doctor to be on the safe side.

3) LIQUID DISCHARGE FROM THE NIPPLE:- Another possible symptom of breast cancer is nipple discharge. This discharge can be in the form of either blood or pus that is clear, green or yellow. However, like the above symptoms discharge from the nipple is generally down to other causes. Even so the only way to be sure is to go and see your doctor who will then be able to perform further tests and identify the cause.

Breast cancer is relatively difficult to spot. Even if you do identify one of the symptoms listed above, it is does not necessarily mean you have cancer. However, by knowing what to look for you can take action early and go see your doctor. If they determine that the symptoms are non-cancerous you can put your mind at rest. If the symptoms do turn out to be cancerous you are still in a good position because the cancer has been discovered early when it is much more treatable. Examine your breasts regularly and if you notice any of the symptoms listed in the article go see your doctor right away.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Breast cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about the various breast cancer symptoms by visitng http://blog.freefitnesstips.co.uk/breast-cancer-explained.html

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

What Are The Symptoms For Breast Cancer?

By Don Pedro

Radiation therapy can be used to treat breast cancer. This therapy involves the sending of gamma rays to the affected region. This ray will destroy the growth of the cancerous cell within the breast. This is an option that can save the breast from being removed totally. It has proved very effective to a lot of women. It might to you too - so stay open and be positive that you will be saved... and you will be!

The constant research work on breast cancer has shown a strong link between high fatty foods and breast cancer. Countries with staple food based diets like Japan of the 1950s have recorded minimal occurrence of breast cancer. With this, I'm sure you will want to watch out for the fat content of your food.

If you are very positive, even when breast cancer is staring you in the face, unseen forces will come to your aid and heal you. I know this sounds crazy but history has it of lots of ladies that have also survived breasts cancer because of their strong faiths. If they could, you can as well. What's stopping you is the belief that you can be healed. To get started, get the belief. After the belief, then find out what those ladies who survived did and do the same thing. Nothing can stop you from getting the same results, except of course, your mind.

Excessive consumption of fat and alcohol can enhance the development of breast cancer. You should watch your food and drinks even though it has not been proven that these two culprits cause cancer, we know it contributes to it.

Breast cancer is a major killer of women all over the world in general. The actual cause of breast cancer has not been agreed upon but body size, age, level of alcohol and fat content in the body are known associates of breast cancer. Therefore don't get overweight, reduce alcohol consumption, exercise a lot and avoid fatty foods for protection against breast cancer.

Breast cancer is almost painless at the initial stage; this has made early detection somewhat difficult. One of the symptoms however that can be felt early enough is armpit itching. The itching can even extend beyond the armpit and extend to the surroundings of the breast. Although this is not a must feel symptom before breast cancer can be diagnosed, it is advised that you take note and report all irregular cases of armpit itching.

Statistic shows that breast cancer reoccurrence is about 10% in treated patient. This deadly disease should not be allowed to reoccur. After a successful treatment of breast cancer, you should maintain a regular monthly appointment with your doctor to prevent the disease reoccurring.

Breast cancer is an ailment caused by the formation of malignant cells within the breast tissues. Although the ailment is common in women, it is almost non existence in men although few diagnoses have been made. The cancer is known to be heterogeneous as it shows variation in different women.

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Thursday, October 9, 2008

Write Your Own Breast Cancer Survivor Story!

By Roselyn Capen

Breast cancer is something that can happen when you are so busy with many different things that you don't realize it until it's sometimes too late. Some people will feel no pain at all, which is sad because most breast cancer will have no pain and nothing showing until it is already too late.

Never think that you can't get breast cancer, for anyone can get it, no matter your age or genetics, although that may play a part in it. For your own peace of mind it is better to get checked, then not to and then find out that you have breast cancer and that it has spread.

When you hear the stories of people who have defeated and are still surviving the disease, or when you look back at yourself fighting it at various stages in life, you draw immense strength from the fighting spirit the anecdote rekindles in you. Reserve this strength for times when you've almost given up hope or when people make you feel miserable - you've earned it.

There are people who can not even think of handling something as gruesome as cancer, and it's only natural. And not everyone you meet will sympathize with you, or share your grief, and if they did, only tears and mourning would prevail in the world. You will have to stand up alone, gather the courage to talk with doctors and know all there is to be known about the progress of your treatment. You have just one body, and you should do all you can to not let it go.

Breast cancer can be vanquished with sheer will, the many proud survivors will tell you. Be willing to cure it. If you feel sad, do not demean yourself. Everyone feels depressed sometime or the other and cries. It's normal to let your emotions flow out, but accumulating grief within you will put so much more pressure on your already very sick body and will dampen all your chances to recover. Vent out your anger, outrage, frustration, whenever you feel you need to, no one would call you weak for doing so, but remember, do not lose hope.

Do not think of your disease. Forget that you are ill. It is matters of your life, yes, therefore live every second of it, even if you're physically ill. Revert all your energies to things you love, to things that make you happy, cultivate your gardening or reading or fashion designing hobby, be with friends you love to be, and those who make you laugh. You will discover your disease not governing you anymore, and your well-wishers will always be there to ensure your cancer gets treated, and you get healed.

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Saturday, September 6, 2008

Lobular Breast Cancer

By Ray Lam

About 1 in 10 breast cancers diagnosed (10%) are invasive lobular carcinoma. This means that the cancer is growing in the cells that line the lobules of the breast. Invasive lobular cancer can develop in women of any age. But is most common in women between 45 and 55 years old. It is possible for men to get invasive lobular breast cancer, but this is very rare.

The types of cancer vary in their prognosis and the way in which they present. Lobular carcinoma (in situ and invasive) will be discussed here. The term 'in situ' refers to pre-invasive breast cancer. This is breast cancer which has not yet penetrated ('invaded') through the basement membrane (the membrane at the base of the epithelial lining of ducts or glands). In situ carcinoma has the potential to become invasive carcinoma, and so is treated as an early form of breast cancer. In the left-hand image below, you can see how the normal cells which form the lobules of the breast might look. In lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS, the image to the right), the lobular cells have developed the ability to multiply out of control - one of the characteristics of cancer. The cancerous cells have not yet spread beyond the lining of the lobule. This is known as LCIS.

The outlook for invasive lobular breast cancer is much the same as for ductal breast cancer. Lobular breast cancer is not a more aggressive cancer, as is sometimes said. It is more common for it to be diagnosed in both breasts at the same time. And if you have invasive lobular breast cancer diagnosed in one breast, there is a slightly higher risk than there is for ductal breast cancer of getting it in the other breast in the future.

As for most types of breast cancer, surgery will be the first treatment. This may be a mastectomy or wide local excision. You will usually be given a choice between these two types of surgery. If a wide local excision is possible there is a chance that a second operation may be necessary to make sure that a clear enough area of tissue around the lump is taken. In some cases, to get a clear area of tissue it may be necessary for the whole breast to be removed. Invasive lobular cancer can sometimes affect more than one area within the breast. If this is the case the surgeon may recommend a mastectomy.

LCIS is viewed as an uncommon condition, but we don't know exactly how many people are affected. That's because LCIS does not cause symptoms and usually does not show up on a mammogram. It tends to be diagnosed as a result of a biopsy performed on the breast for some other reason.

If you have a wide local excision you will usually be offered radiotherapy to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in the same breast. If you have a mastectomy you may not need radiotherapy.

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Friday, September 5, 2008

General Principles of Treatment for Metastatic Breast Cancer

By Ray Lam

America received a shocking piece of news in March 2007. John Edward's wife, Elizabeth, had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She spoke calmly, with inner strength, about how she had asked her husband to continue his presidential campaign, and how she wanted to campaign by his side. She did not want to be best known by her illness; she wanted, in fact, needed, to carry on as normally as she could.

Cancer is defined by four different stages and metastatic breast cancer is defined as stage 4 and it means that the cancer has spread beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes to other part of the body. Another way to explain this is that the cancer cells have migrated and are now growing outside of the original tumor.

The treatment options for this cancer are the same as treating any other cancer. But treatment must be aggressive based on the stage of this particular disease. Because the definition of metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body, treatment must be speedy and assertive in order to stop the spread of the cells to any further locations in the body.

Treatment plans may include surgery wherein the cancerous growths are removed from the body; radiation during which affected cells are attacked with pinpoint x-ray technology; and chemotherapy which exposes the patient to a course of intravenous drug therapy designed to stop the growth of cancer cells. In most cases, however, a combination of several therapies will be used in order to achieve the greatest chance of success. There are also experimental and holistic therapies that patients often try in conjunction with other therapies and under the guidance of their doctor. As the needs of each patient vary, so do the treatment plans.

In it, cells break away from the breast, circulating through the blood and lymphatic system. The body's immune system attacks these circulating cancer cells. Most do not survive, but if the immune system malfunctions or is weak, or for another, unknown reason, will usually spread to the bone, then lung and liver next. The cells that have metastasized are still breast cancer cells, no matter where they are found in the body.

Treatment is palliative, improving quality of life, relieving symptoms and aimed at extending a woman's lifetime. But there are new treatments coming that are giving more hope to those patients with this cancer. Many women with this illness choose to become part of a clinical trial in order to access treatments that are not yet approved by the FDA.

If it is "estrogen-receptive," hormonal therapies such as the drug Herceptin can be lifesaving. Chemotherapy is indicated in bone, lung and liver metastases. For bone metastases, radiation and the drug bisphosphonate are often used. For liver and lung metastases, occasionally surgery is used. For cancer that has spread to the brain, radiation and surgery are used.

As far as anyone knows today, metastatic cancer can't be cured. Sometimes, treatments can actually stop the cancer from growing for months or years. When Elizabeth Edwards asserted that she thought her own might be treatable, people listened. She gave a face to this illness - a loving, brave, wise, face - that no one will forget.

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Saturday, August 30, 2008

Definition of Stage IV Breast Cancer

By Ray Lam

Stage 4 breast cancer, or advanced breast cancer, has metastasized to other tissue including bone tissue, lung tissue, or the liver. When breast cancer has overwhelmed the body's natural defenses and spread this far by the time the cancer is first diagnosed, the 5-year survival rate drops to 16%-20% in the United States (American Cancer Society).

Up to 5% of white women in the U.S., and up to 9% of black women have advanced breast cancer spread to distant tissue at the time of first diagnosis (SEER). This difference is usually attributed to poverty and lack of health insurance.

In one clinical trial published in 1997, women in complete remission after induction chemotherapy were treated with high-dose chemotherapy or no further treatment. At 5 years from diagnosis, 24% of the women treated with immediate high-dose chemotherapy survived without disease recurrence, compared to only 8% of the women who did not receive further treatment.

The 3-year survival rates were 38% for those receiving the standard chemotherapy, and 32% for those receiving the high-dose chemotherapy. Twelve percent of those in the standard-dose group had no progression of disease, compared with only 6% in the high-dose group. Furthermore, there were more side effects in the high-dose therapy group, including one treatment-related death.

Early detection is clearly the most important factor in breast cancer survival rates. Breast cancer detected at Stage 1 while it is still localized to the breast has a survival rate of 98%-100%, while metastasized breast cancer first detected at Stage 4 drops down to 16%-20%.

One strategy to improve outcomes is to increase the effectiveness of induction therapy so that patients have significant reduction in the number of malignant cells in the body before high-dose chemotherapy.

North American white women have the highest rates of breast cancer in the world, but the 5-year survival rate for all stages (Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, and Stage 4) combined is 88% for the U.S. A recent study found European countries have lower 5-year breast cancer survival rates, with England at 77.8% and Ireland at 76.2% (Lancet Oncology).

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