Can Bras Cause Breast Cancer?
By Kum Martin
If you are selecting a bra just for the sake of a good look and outward show and not according to your body convenience, then you can be in a great danger. You can end up developing breast cancer. Many researches and studies proved that due to tight fitting bras the lymphatic vessels get compressed and poison accumulates in the breast tissue.
Breast cancer, in which tight and uncomfortable bras contributes a lot, develops mostly after the age of 40; and the most affected regions are Northern Europe and North America.
According to the World Health Organization, the constant pressure on the breast due to tight bras closes the vessels and lymph valves, and stopped them from flushing out the poisons that collect in the tissue of the breast and stop the passage of nutrients and oxygen. This is the main reason for the cancer.
The researchers have found that with the beginning of the menstruation cycle, estrogen levels increase in the body resulting in bulging of breasts. If a woman continues to wear the bra of same size, the lymphatic vessels will be squeezed.
However, breast cancer can be avoided to a certain extent by minimizing the time period of wearing the bra. Women are advised to take off their bras at night or day when they are at home. Those women who take off their bras during sleep have fewer chances of developing breast cancer. Even those who have developed lumps, cysts or tenderness can also cure the problem by taking off their bras during sleep. Massage breasts after taking off the bras and take deep breathe.
Observing the demand of bras, business for this is also booming. Avoid push-ups and sports bras. Instead opt for voluminous cotton bras.
2010/03/15
After Breast Cancer - How to Move on From a Breast Cancer Treatment
After Breast Cancer - How to Move on From a Breast Cancer Treatment
By Rita Ridgwick
Taking care of yourself after breast cancer
If you're recovering from breast cancer, your body and mind has had a huge amount to deal with. You've probably not been able to focus on anything other than dealing with hospital appointments, treatments, operations and scans. Life may have just been going on around you, but now it's time to start the next step of your life!
So what's the next step of your life after breast cancer? It's all about taking care of yourself so you can enjoy a healthier future. Now is the time to focus on your recovery both physically and mentally and get your life back on track.
It's important to start focussing on the positive aspects of life so that your mind and body can begin to heal themselves. There are some simple things you can do to start a new healthy lifestyle. They don't have to be huge changes otherwise they can be hard to maintain, but follow our guidelines and you should start to see some changes.
Diet
Start eating a balanced diet - A balanced diet is about giving your body the right amount of nutrients that it needs, it's about maintaining healthy eating habits rather than trying a quick fix diet. A balance diet should make you feel good and you should have more energy if you manage to stick to it.
Here's some quick tips on maintaining a healthy balanced diet:
• Don't try and change everything about your diet overnight. Changing everything usually leads to cheating, so take small steps. Try swapping things for healthier choices, such as using olive oil instead of butter, eating salad instead of chips. If you fancy something sweet try eating some fruit.
• Eat in moderation - we all need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fibre, vitamins and minerals to sustain a healthy body, despite what some diets recommend. Try eating good fats such as oily fish, nuts and seeds.
• Cut down on your portion sizes, you should feel satisfied after eating not full!
• Make sure you have at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, try to vary them over the course of the week.
• Try to avoid ready made meals as they are usually higher in salt, sugar and saturated fats - get back to basics and start cooking from scratch. If you don't have much time try looking for healthy quick recipes, there are plenty out there.
• Cut down on alcohol - women shouldn't be drinking more than 14 units per week. • Drink plenty of water.
• Smoking - Stop! We all know the dangers of smoking, but for cancer sufferers it is even more vital to stop. You can reduce the risk of your breast cancer recurring and the risk of developing a secondary type of cancer will be lower.
Get Active
These days people are a lot less active, we have all these modern conveniences that work for us and more opportunities to relax and watch TV.
You don't have to introduce a strict exercise regime into your life, but start with small changes such as walking to the shops instead of driving or take the stairs instead of the lift.
If you feel you're ready to start exercising after your breast cancer, check with your doctor on what sorts of exercise you should be doing and how long you spend on each activity. Exercise is a great way to build and maintain strong and healthy bones, muscles and joints. If you're feeling depressed after your cancer or have feelings of anxiety, exercise will really help to alleviate some of these stresses.
There are many more benefits to exercise, but the one that is really important for people who are recovering from cancer is it stimulates the production of endorphins. Endorphins are a chemical substance produced by your own body when exercising that will make you feel happy and exhilarated!
Get motivated
Now you're over the treatments and operations, find the time to do something for yourself. You could start a new hobby, join a club, meet new people or just enjoy time with your family. If you follow the advice in this article, you should start to feel more alive and revitalised!
Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31. The single parent of a 7 year old daughter she came to fully understand the concerns and issues associated with breast cancer and it's treatment.
By Rita Ridgwick
Taking care of yourself after breast cancer
If you're recovering from breast cancer, your body and mind has had a huge amount to deal with. You've probably not been able to focus on anything other than dealing with hospital appointments, treatments, operations and scans. Life may have just been going on around you, but now it's time to start the next step of your life!
So what's the next step of your life after breast cancer? It's all about taking care of yourself so you can enjoy a healthier future. Now is the time to focus on your recovery both physically and mentally and get your life back on track.
It's important to start focussing on the positive aspects of life so that your mind and body can begin to heal themselves. There are some simple things you can do to start a new healthy lifestyle. They don't have to be huge changes otherwise they can be hard to maintain, but follow our guidelines and you should start to see some changes.
Diet
Start eating a balanced diet - A balanced diet is about giving your body the right amount of nutrients that it needs, it's about maintaining healthy eating habits rather than trying a quick fix diet. A balance diet should make you feel good and you should have more energy if you manage to stick to it.
Here's some quick tips on maintaining a healthy balanced diet:
• Don't try and change everything about your diet overnight. Changing everything usually leads to cheating, so take small steps. Try swapping things for healthier choices, such as using olive oil instead of butter, eating salad instead of chips. If you fancy something sweet try eating some fruit.
• Eat in moderation - we all need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fibre, vitamins and minerals to sustain a healthy body, despite what some diets recommend. Try eating good fats such as oily fish, nuts and seeds.
• Cut down on your portion sizes, you should feel satisfied after eating not full!
• Make sure you have at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, try to vary them over the course of the week.
• Try to avoid ready made meals as they are usually higher in salt, sugar and saturated fats - get back to basics and start cooking from scratch. If you don't have much time try looking for healthy quick recipes, there are plenty out there.
• Cut down on alcohol - women shouldn't be drinking more than 14 units per week. • Drink plenty of water.
• Smoking - Stop! We all know the dangers of smoking, but for cancer sufferers it is even more vital to stop. You can reduce the risk of your breast cancer recurring and the risk of developing a secondary type of cancer will be lower.
Get Active
These days people are a lot less active, we have all these modern conveniences that work for us and more opportunities to relax and watch TV.
You don't have to introduce a strict exercise regime into your life, but start with small changes such as walking to the shops instead of driving or take the stairs instead of the lift.
If you feel you're ready to start exercising after your breast cancer, check with your doctor on what sorts of exercise you should be doing and how long you spend on each activity. Exercise is a great way to build and maintain strong and healthy bones, muscles and joints. If you're feeling depressed after your cancer or have feelings of anxiety, exercise will really help to alleviate some of these stresses.
There are many more benefits to exercise, but the one that is really important for people who are recovering from cancer is it stimulates the production of endorphins. Endorphins are a chemical substance produced by your own body when exercising that will make you feel happy and exhilarated!
Get motivated
Now you're over the treatments and operations, find the time to do something for yourself. You could start a new hobby, join a club, meet new people or just enjoy time with your family. If you follow the advice in this article, you should start to feel more alive and revitalised!
Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31. The single parent of a 7 year old daughter she came to fully understand the concerns and issues associated with breast cancer and it's treatment.
How to Tell Your Children You Have Breast Cancer
How to Tell Your Children You Have Breast Cancer
By Rita Ridgwick
Letting your children and family know you have breast cancer
When patients are diagnosed with breast cancer, they often find it very hard to come to terms with the illness and often are in self-denial. However what makes it real is when the time comes to tell your children. Talking to your children about your illness is a very tough undertaking and will be distressing for you all.
It's vital that you share the news of your cancer with your children as soon as you can. Your initial reaction will be to keep the news from them in order to protect them, but don't undervalue the strength and support you get from your children. Most specialists share the view that children should know about the situation.
Children often sense something is wrong and may even start to think it's their fault which can often lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation from the family. It's going to be at the forefront of your mind, so they will probably hear you talking about the situation to your spouse or on the telephone so it's essential that you're upfront with them.
Keep a positive attitude
A positive attitude goes a long way in helping anyone through any type of illness. Try and be positive when you tell your children about your illness, explain to them that lots of people survive cancer and that millions of pounds are being spent on research to help you get through this illness. Most children will have heard of cancer through friends at school or relatives. They may have heard of relatives of friends who have died from cancer, so will find it a very terrifying subject. By explaining your cancer in a positive light, you will provide them with hope and comfort.
Before you sit your children down to tell them about your cancer, try and write down what facts you plan to tell them. Keep it simple and provide them with the basic details. Tell them how you found out you had cancer, how the doctors plan to help you, what treatments you are going to have and if you are going to need an operation.
You may choose to tell them about the side effects of treatments such as radiotherapy and chemo so they know what to expect. If you lose your hair and don't warn them about it, it can become very frightening for them. If you choose to wear a headscarf or a wig, try and involve them. Ask them their opinion on the colour or fabric, or ask them what styles they prefer.
Children can feel very isolated in this kind of situation if you try and keep facts from them. Always communicate openly with them and encourage them to be part of your treatment by inviting them to the hospital with you where appropriate.
If you feel you are unable to cope with telling your children about your illness, you may wish your spouse, another member of your family or a close friend to tell them. However difficult it may be for you, you should try and be there when that happens even if you don't say anything. Once the conversation starts you may find that you can join in and you can reassure your kids and give them some positive hope.
What facts should you give to your kids?
This very much depends on the age of the children. You may decide to tell your older children more details and the keep the basic facts for the younger ones. Sit down and think about each child, how they cope with things and what you feel they are capable of dealing with. After all, you know your kids the best so it will ultimately be down to you to decide.
Concerned about your child's reaction?
If you are concerned about how your child has reacted to the news, in the first instance try and talk to them and provide them with reassurance. Go through the facts with them again and involve them in your treatments. Communicate with them honestly throughout your illness so they don't imagine the worst case scenarios. If you feel this isn't working it may be worth contacting a local support group or your doctor.
There are experts trained in this area and it's important that you deal with these emotions as soon as possible.
Is your daughter worried this might happen to her in the future?
If you have a daughter chances are that she might start to worry about breast cancer herself. Most cases of breast cancer just happen, however it can occur more often than usual in some families. If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, ensure your daughter is "breast aware". Be open and honest and teach her how to check her own breasts.
Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. She was the single supporting parent of a 7 year old girl so fully understands the difficulties of helping your children to cope with the effects a breast cancer diagnosis can have on a family.
By Rita Ridgwick
Letting your children and family know you have breast cancer
When patients are diagnosed with breast cancer, they often find it very hard to come to terms with the illness and often are in self-denial. However what makes it real is when the time comes to tell your children. Talking to your children about your illness is a very tough undertaking and will be distressing for you all.
It's vital that you share the news of your cancer with your children as soon as you can. Your initial reaction will be to keep the news from them in order to protect them, but don't undervalue the strength and support you get from your children. Most specialists share the view that children should know about the situation.
Children often sense something is wrong and may even start to think it's their fault which can often lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation from the family. It's going to be at the forefront of your mind, so they will probably hear you talking about the situation to your spouse or on the telephone so it's essential that you're upfront with them.
Keep a positive attitude
A positive attitude goes a long way in helping anyone through any type of illness. Try and be positive when you tell your children about your illness, explain to them that lots of people survive cancer and that millions of pounds are being spent on research to help you get through this illness. Most children will have heard of cancer through friends at school or relatives. They may have heard of relatives of friends who have died from cancer, so will find it a very terrifying subject. By explaining your cancer in a positive light, you will provide them with hope and comfort.
Before you sit your children down to tell them about your cancer, try and write down what facts you plan to tell them. Keep it simple and provide them with the basic details. Tell them how you found out you had cancer, how the doctors plan to help you, what treatments you are going to have and if you are going to need an operation.
You may choose to tell them about the side effects of treatments such as radiotherapy and chemo so they know what to expect. If you lose your hair and don't warn them about it, it can become very frightening for them. If you choose to wear a headscarf or a wig, try and involve them. Ask them their opinion on the colour or fabric, or ask them what styles they prefer.
Children can feel very isolated in this kind of situation if you try and keep facts from them. Always communicate openly with them and encourage them to be part of your treatment by inviting them to the hospital with you where appropriate.
If you feel you are unable to cope with telling your children about your illness, you may wish your spouse, another member of your family or a close friend to tell them. However difficult it may be for you, you should try and be there when that happens even if you don't say anything. Once the conversation starts you may find that you can join in and you can reassure your kids and give them some positive hope.
What facts should you give to your kids?
This very much depends on the age of the children. You may decide to tell your older children more details and the keep the basic facts for the younger ones. Sit down and think about each child, how they cope with things and what you feel they are capable of dealing with. After all, you know your kids the best so it will ultimately be down to you to decide.
Concerned about your child's reaction?
If you are concerned about how your child has reacted to the news, in the first instance try and talk to them and provide them with reassurance. Go through the facts with them again and involve them in your treatments. Communicate with them honestly throughout your illness so they don't imagine the worst case scenarios. If you feel this isn't working it may be worth contacting a local support group or your doctor.
There are experts trained in this area and it's important that you deal with these emotions as soon as possible.
Is your daughter worried this might happen to her in the future?
If you have a daughter chances are that she might start to worry about breast cancer herself. Most cases of breast cancer just happen, however it can occur more often than usual in some families. If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, ensure your daughter is "breast aware". Be open and honest and teach her how to check her own breasts.
Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. She was the single supporting parent of a 7 year old girl so fully understands the difficulties of helping your children to cope with the effects a breast cancer diagnosis can have on a family.
2010/03/14
Feeding Breast Milk
Feeding Breast Milk
By Lorna Maralack
Breast milk is the finest milk for newborn infants. It contains all the right nutrients and it is constantly the correct temperature. Feeding breast milk to a newborn infant is best since breast milk is designed to utterly fulfill your baby's nutritional requirements.
Breastfeeding has lots of benefits. It provides an extended list of medical advantages where it allows protection against some conditions and provides a minimised threat to other conditions. In certain situations the result of these breast lactating benefits last long after the nursing has ended. Then there are of course the benefits for breast lactating moms. The chance of breast cancer will be far less severe and the womb contractions because of breast feeding prevents serious blood loss while allowing the womb to restore to its normal size more quickly.
Feeding breast milk to a baby provides benefits intended for a mother and her baby. The moment you find just how many advantages there are, it generates some real mind boggling questions. If it truly is this fabulous, why have we ever had an era when bottle feeding has become widespread? What keeps new moms from attempting and being successful at breastfeeding in our day? Why do new moms still quit on breast feeding without trying very hard?
Many years ago breastfeeding has been a universal practice. If you have been a novice at nursing there were enough other breast lactating mothers present to look at and learn from. There used to be no other option besides breast lactating - in other words there simply was no plan B! Today women recognize that just in case they do not succeed at breast lactating they can always choose bottle feeding. Rather then seriously considering the advantages of breast feeding and applying that as an incentive to succeed at breast feeding, they keep the back door ajar in the direction of bottle feeding.
I am so thankful that I didn't give up on breastfeeding my babies. When I look at them I am able to notice in which way breast feeding has positively affected their lives. With a family history of allergies as well as being prone to some medical conditions, my babies' resistance to ailments in addition to allergies has for the most part improved resulting from me breast feeding them. For the first year and a half after my eldest was born I was still unaware of the rather household as well as generally accepted brands of babies' medicine. From the moment an infection or ailment arises I have been regularly advised to simply breastfeed some more.
I have enjoyed many hours of fun in the company of my children, because of all of the time which I saved! There is no need to buy, sterilize, prepare, heat up and cool down bottles. Breastfeeding is so convenient! I don't have to rise up in the middle of the night to heat or cool down or make a bottle while baby cries and waits. I can tell you many stories on the joys and wonders of breast feeding. Let me end off by telling you that it has been all worth it...!
Lorna Maralack has breastfed both her two premature babies and in doing so obtained plenty of experience that she has documented in an ebook.
By Lorna Maralack
Breast milk is the finest milk for newborn infants. It contains all the right nutrients and it is constantly the correct temperature. Feeding breast milk to a newborn infant is best since breast milk is designed to utterly fulfill your baby's nutritional requirements.
Breastfeeding has lots of benefits. It provides an extended list of medical advantages where it allows protection against some conditions and provides a minimised threat to other conditions. In certain situations the result of these breast lactating benefits last long after the nursing has ended. Then there are of course the benefits for breast lactating moms. The chance of breast cancer will be far less severe and the womb contractions because of breast feeding prevents serious blood loss while allowing the womb to restore to its normal size more quickly.
Feeding breast milk to a baby provides benefits intended for a mother and her baby. The moment you find just how many advantages there are, it generates some real mind boggling questions. If it truly is this fabulous, why have we ever had an era when bottle feeding has become widespread? What keeps new moms from attempting and being successful at breastfeeding in our day? Why do new moms still quit on breast feeding without trying very hard?
Many years ago breastfeeding has been a universal practice. If you have been a novice at nursing there were enough other breast lactating mothers present to look at and learn from. There used to be no other option besides breast lactating - in other words there simply was no plan B! Today women recognize that just in case they do not succeed at breast lactating they can always choose bottle feeding. Rather then seriously considering the advantages of breast feeding and applying that as an incentive to succeed at breast feeding, they keep the back door ajar in the direction of bottle feeding.
I am so thankful that I didn't give up on breastfeeding my babies. When I look at them I am able to notice in which way breast feeding has positively affected their lives. With a family history of allergies as well as being prone to some medical conditions, my babies' resistance to ailments in addition to allergies has for the most part improved resulting from me breast feeding them. For the first year and a half after my eldest was born I was still unaware of the rather household as well as generally accepted brands of babies' medicine. From the moment an infection or ailment arises I have been regularly advised to simply breastfeed some more.
I have enjoyed many hours of fun in the company of my children, because of all of the time which I saved! There is no need to buy, sterilize, prepare, heat up and cool down bottles. Breastfeeding is so convenient! I don't have to rise up in the middle of the night to heat or cool down or make a bottle while baby cries and waits. I can tell you many stories on the joys and wonders of breast feeding. Let me end off by telling you that it has been all worth it...!
Lorna Maralack has breastfed both her two premature babies and in doing so obtained plenty of experience that she has documented in an ebook.
Breast Cancer Risks
Breast Cancer Risks
By P.S. Orr
Breast cancer risks are important information that every women should know since this disease is one of the most common cancers found in women. One risk is having thyroid disease. In an Italian report, it was shown that about 50% of the women in the study who developed the disease had thyroid conditions which were not yet diagnosed. These included three distinct thyroid disorders: Goiter, Hashimoto's, and sub-acute thyroiditis. Subclinical and sub-optimal hypothyroidism were not included in this study. This study may suggest that doctors ought to test their thyroid patients for cancer, which might help with early detection and preventive measures. It also shows that a lack of iodine may be an easily reversed breast cancer risk.
Obesity and becoming overweight are also breast cancer risks. After menopause, there is a 1.5 times the risk for the illness in obese women compared to women at a healthy weight. Other studies show that thousands of deaths per year in American women over 50 who have cancer might have been avoided if the women had maintained a lower weight. Overweight women also have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies. High levels of estrogen can stimulate estrogen sensitive tissues in obese women, causing rapid growth of estrogen-responsive breast tumors.
Another risk for overweight women is the later detection of tumors. It is harder to the problem in heavy women than it is in thin women. Where the excess body fat is located also becomes a risk. A large amount of abdominal fat gives a woman a greater breast cancer risk than those with fat distributed over the hips, backside, and legs.
Genetics play a huge role in breast cancer risks. If your mother had the disease, you are much more likely to develop it than someone who has no family history of breast cancer. Additional family members with cancer increase your own likelihood of having it as well. There are many studies in genetics that may cause cancer and the way the genes affect children of those who have breast cancer.
It has also been shown that smoking causes increased risk. There have been studies showing that smoking can increase the risk of breast cancer as much as 59 percent. Because cancer can be dormant for several years, controlling our lifestyle can help prevent or minimize the chances of developing the disease. Maintaining a healthy weight, getting the thyroid checked and quitting smoking, in addition to eating healthy foods, taking proper exercise, and getting regular checkups are all ways of minimizing breast cancer risks.
By P.S. Orr
Breast cancer risks are important information that every women should know since this disease is one of the most common cancers found in women. One risk is having thyroid disease. In an Italian report, it was shown that about 50% of the women in the study who developed the disease had thyroid conditions which were not yet diagnosed. These included three distinct thyroid disorders: Goiter, Hashimoto's, and sub-acute thyroiditis. Subclinical and sub-optimal hypothyroidism were not included in this study. This study may suggest that doctors ought to test their thyroid patients for cancer, which might help with early detection and preventive measures. It also shows that a lack of iodine may be an easily reversed breast cancer risk.
Obesity and becoming overweight are also breast cancer risks. After menopause, there is a 1.5 times the risk for the illness in obese women compared to women at a healthy weight. Other studies show that thousands of deaths per year in American women over 50 who have cancer might have been avoided if the women had maintained a lower weight. Overweight women also have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies. High levels of estrogen can stimulate estrogen sensitive tissues in obese women, causing rapid growth of estrogen-responsive breast tumors.
Another risk for overweight women is the later detection of tumors. It is harder to the problem in heavy women than it is in thin women. Where the excess body fat is located also becomes a risk. A large amount of abdominal fat gives a woman a greater breast cancer risk than those with fat distributed over the hips, backside, and legs.
Genetics play a huge role in breast cancer risks. If your mother had the disease, you are much more likely to develop it than someone who has no family history of breast cancer. Additional family members with cancer increase your own likelihood of having it as well. There are many studies in genetics that may cause cancer and the way the genes affect children of those who have breast cancer.
It has also been shown that smoking causes increased risk. There have been studies showing that smoking can increase the risk of breast cancer as much as 59 percent. Because cancer can be dormant for several years, controlling our lifestyle can help prevent or minimize the chances of developing the disease. Maintaining a healthy weight, getting the thyroid checked and quitting smoking, in addition to eating healthy foods, taking proper exercise, and getting regular checkups are all ways of minimizing breast cancer risks.
Breast Cancer Cause, Control And Cure For The Benefit Of Humankind
Breast Cancer Cause, Control And Cure For The Benefit Of Humankind
By Joydeep Guha Dam
Cancer accounts to a death of 6 million human lives per year. Modern medicine is aging with breath taking advances in cancer care with increasing awareness, preventing, detection, therapy, research and symptom management. Last 15 years has been a revolution. It is likely to fight Cancer out by getting an early detection especially at a pre cancer stage thus yielding best cure with much shorter treatment time, lesser cost, lesser body insult.
Am I at risk for breast cancer? Breast cancer is the most common malignancy-affecting woman in North America and Europe. Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. Close to 200,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States in 2001. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women behind lung cancer. The lifetime risk of any particular woman getting breast cancer is about 1 in 8 although the lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower at 1 in 28. The diagnosis once confirmed by Doctor shocks in such a way that not only the patient suffers but entire family suffers the shock. Thus the patient and family both suffer differently and that adds to the total burden of cancer related illness.
Know your breast: The breast is a collection of glands and fatty tissue that lies between the skin and the chest wall. The glands inside the breast produce milk after a woman has a baby. Each gland is called as lobule and many such lobules make up a lobe. There are 15 to 20 lobes in each breast. The milk gets to the nipple from the glands by way of tubes called ducts. The glands and ducts get bigger when a breast is filled with milk, but the tissue that is most responsible for the size and shape the breast is the fatty tissue. There are also blood vessels and lymph vessels in the breast. Lymph is a clear liquid waste product that gets drained out of the breast into lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small, pea-sized pieces of tissue that filter and clean the lymph. Most lymph nodes that drain the breast are under the arm in what is called the axilla.
Risk factors for breast cancer: They can be divided into those that you cannot change and those that you can change. Some factors that increase your risk of breast cancer that you cannot alter include being a woman, getting older, having a family history (having a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer doubles your risk), having a previous history of breast cancer, having had radiation therapy to the chest region, being Caucasian, getting your periods young (before 12 years old), having your menopause late (after 50 years old), never having children or having them when you are older than 30, and having a genetic mutation that increases your risk. Genetic mutations for breast cancer have become a hot topic of research lately. Between 3-10% of breast cancers may be related to changes in either the gene BRCA1 or the gene BRCA2.
Women can inherit these mutations from their parents and it may be worth testing for either mutation if a woman has a particularly strong family history of breast cancer (meaning multiple relatives affected, especially if they are under 50 years old when they get the disease). If a woman is found to carry either mutation, she has a 50% chance of getting breast cancer before she is 70. Family members may elect to get tested to see if they carry the mutation as well. If a woman does have the mutation, she can get more rigorous screening or even undergo preventive (prophylactic) mastectomies to decrease her chances of contracting cancer. The decision to get tested is a highly personal one that should be discussed with a doctor who is trained in counseling patients about genetic testing.
Certain factors which increase a woman's risk of breast cancer can be altered including taking hormone replacement therapy (long term use of estrogens with progesterone for menopause symptoms slightly increases your risk), taking birth control pills (a very slight increased risk that disappears in women who have stopped them for over 10 years), not breastfeeding, drinking 2 to 5 alcoholic drinks a day, being overweight (especially after menopause), and not exercising. All of these modifiable risk factors are not nearly as important as gender, age, and family history, but they are things that a woman can control that may reduce her chances of developing a breast malignancy. Remember that all risk factors are based on probabilities, and even someone without any risk factors can still get breast cancer. Proper screening and early detection are our best weapons in reducing the mortality associated with this disease.
What are the signs of breast cancer? Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not have any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow screening recommendations. As a tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms including: lump or thickening in the breast or underarm, change in size or shape of the breast, nipple discharge or nipple turning inward, redness or scaling of the skin or nipple, ridges or pitting of the breast skin
Can you prevent breast cancer? The individual cannot control the most important risk factors for the development of breast cancer. There are some risk factors that are associated with an increased risk, but there is not a clear cause and effect relationship. In no way can strong recommendations be made like the cause and effect relationship seen with tobacco and lung cancer. There are a few risk factors that may be modified by a woman that potentially could influence the development of breast cancer. If possible, a woman should avoid long-term hormone replacement therapy, have children before age 30, breastfeed, avoid weight gain through exercise and proper diet, and limit alcohol consumption to 1 drink a day or less. For women already at a high risk, their risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced by about 50% by taking a drug called Tamoxifen for five years. Tamoxifen has some common side effects (like hot flashes and vaginal discharge), which are not serious and some uncommon side effects (like blood clots, pulmonary embolus, stroke, and uterine cancer) which are life threatening. Tamoxifen isn't widely used for prevention, but may be useful in some cases.
There are limited data suggesting that vitamin A may protect against breast cancer but further research is needed before it can be recommended for prevention. Other things being investigated include phyto estrogens (naturally occurring estrogens that are in high numbers in soy), vitamin E, vitamin C, and other drugs. Further testing of these substances is also needed before they can be recommended for breast cancer prevention. Right now, the most important thing any woman can do to decrease her risk of dying from breast cancer is to have regular mammogram screening, perform breast self-exams once a month. Follow a few, easy steps, you will soon know what is normal for you and will quickly be aware of any changes. If you find a lump or other change, note down where it is and make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Question for young women's are how to look? Well it is medically suggested that you stand up straight in front of a mirror with your arms loosely by your sides. Raise your arms above your head and move from side to side so you can see your breasts in the mirror, from different angles. What should you look for? A change in the size of either breast, change in the shape or position of nipple, bleeding or discharge from the nipples, unusual dimpling or puckering. How do you feel for changes? Lie flat on your back with your head on a pillow. Put a folded towel under the shoulder on the side of the breast you are checking. This helps to spread the tissue so that it is easier to feel. Examine one breast at a time. Put the hand on the same side of the breast that you are going to examine under your head. With your other hand flat and fingers together, use the flats of your fingers to feel around the breast in small, circular movements, in an anticlockwise direction. Cover the whole of the breast including the nipple. Check your armpit for lumps in the same way, starting in the hollow and moving down towards the breast.
Now examine the other breast in the same way. If you think you have found something, feel the same area on the opposite breast. If they are the same it's probably just your shape, but if you are at all worried, do visit your doctor. Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control and can then invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. Large collections of this out of control tissue are called tumors. However, some tumors are not really cancer because they cannot spread or threaten someone's life. These are called benign tumors. The tumors that can spread throughout the body or invade nearby tissues are considered cancer and are called malignant tumors. Theoretically, any of the types of tissue in the breast can form a cancer, but usually it comes from either the ducts or the glands. Because it may take months to years for a tumor to get large enough to feel in the breast, we screen for tumors with mammograms, which can sometimes see disease before we can feel it.
The earlier that a breast cancer is found, the more likely it is that treatment can be curable. Screening mammograms are simply x-rays of each breast. The breast is placed between two plates for a few seconds while the x-rays are taken. If something appears abnormal, or better views are needed, magnified views or specially angled films are taken during the mammogram. Mammograms often detect tumors before they can be felt and they can also identify tiny specks of calcium that could be an early sign of cancer. Regular screening mammograms can decrease the mortality of breast cancer by 30%. Woman should get a yearly mammogram starting at age 40 (although some groups recommend starting at 50), and women with a genetic mutation that increases their risk or a strong family history may want to begin even earlier. Between the ages of 20 and 39, every woman should have a clinical breast exam every 3 years and after age 40 every woman should have a clinical breast exam done each year.
There are some experimental screening modalities that are currently being studied. These include MRI, ductal lavage, ultrasound, optical tomography, PET scan, and digital mammograms. Depending on the results of the mammograms and/or ultrasounds, your doctors may recommend that you get a biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to know for sure if you have cancer, because it allows your doctors to get cells that can be examined under a microscope. There are different types of biopsies; they differ on how much tissue is removed. Some biopsies use a very fine needle, while others use thicker needles or even require a small surgical procedure to remove more tissue. Your team of doctors will decide which type of biopsy you need depending on your particular breast mass. Once the tissue is removed, a pathologist will review the specimen. The pathologist can tell if it is cancer or not; and if it is cancerous, then the pathologist will characterize it by what type of tissue it arose from, how abnormal it looks (known as the grade), whether or not it is invading surrounding tissues, and if the entire lump was excised, the pathologist can tell if there are any cancer cells left at the borders (also known as the margins). The pathologist will also test the cancer cells for the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as a receptor known as HER-2/neu. Basic 4 stages of breast cancer are called as
Stage 0 (called carcinoma in situ) Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) refers to abnormal cells lining a gland in the breast. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) refers to abnormal cells lining a duct.
Stage I - early stage breast cancer where the tumor is less that 2 cm across and hasn't spread beyond the breast
Stage II - early stage breast cancer where the tumor is either less than 2 cm across and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm; or the tumor is between 2 and 5 cm (with or without spread to the lymph nodes under the arm); or the tumor is greater than 5 cm and hasn't spread outside the breast
Stage III - locally advanced breast cancer where the tumor is greater than 5 cm across and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm; or the cancer is extensive in the underarm lymph nodes; or the cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone or to other tissues near the breast
Stage IV - metastatic breast cancer where the cancer has spread outside the breast to other organs in the body
Depending on the stage of your cancer, your doctor may want additional tests to see if you have metastatic disease. If you have a stage III cancer, you will probably get a chest x-ray, CT scan and bone scan to look for metastases. Each patient is an individual and your doctors will decide what is necessary to adequately stage your cancer.
What are the treatments for breast cancer?
Surgery: Almost all women with breast cancer will have some type of surgery in the course of their treatment while some women will be candidates for what is called breast conservation therapy (BCT) where surgeons perform a lumpectomy which means they remove the tumor with a little bit of breast tissue around it but do not remove the entire breast. Some patients will have a sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure first to determine if a formal lymph node dissection is required. Sometimes, the surgeon will remove a larger part (but not the whole breast), and this is called a segmental or partial mastectomy. Most patients with DCIS that have a lumpectomy are treated with radiation therapy to prevent the local recurrence of DCIS.More advanced breast cancers are usually treated with a modified radical mastectomy. Modified radical mastectomy means removing the entire breast and dissecting the lymph nodes under the arm.
Chemotherapy: is the use of anti-cancer drugs that go throughout the entire body. The higher the stage of cancer you have, the more important it is that you receive chemotherapy; however, even stage I patients may benefit from chemotherapy in certain cases. In early stage patients, the risk of recurrence may be small, and thus the benefits of the chemotherapy are even smaller. There are many different chemotherapy drugs, and they are usually given in combinations for 3 to 6 months after you receive your surgery. Depending on the type of chemotherapy regimen you receive, you may get medication every 3 or 4 weeks; and you may have to go to a clinic to get the chemotherapy because many of the drugs have to be given through a vein. Two of the most common regimens are AC (doxorubicin and cycolphosphamide) for 3 months or CMF (cycolphosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil) for 6 months. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the different regimens that your medical oncologist will discuss with you. Based on your own health, your personal values and wishes, and side effects you may wish to avoid, you can work with your doctors to come up with the best regimen for your lifestyle.
Radiotherapy: uses high-energy rays (similar to x-rays) to kill cancer cells. It comes from an external source, and it requires patients to come in 5 days a week for up to 6 weeks to a radiation therapy treatment center. The treatment takes just a few minutes, and it is painless. Radiation therapy is used in all patients who receive breast conservation therapy (BCT). It is also recommended for patients after a mastectomy that had large tumors, lymph node involvement, or close/positive margins after the surgery. Radiation is important in reducing the risk of local recurrence and is often offered in more advanced cases to kill tumor cells that may be living in lymph nodes.
Hormonal Therapy: When the pathologist examines your tumor specimen, he or she finds out if the tumor is expressing estrogen and progesterone receptors. Patients whose tumors express estrogen receptors are candidates for therapy with an estrogen-blocking drug called Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is taken by pill form for 5 years after your surgery. This drug has been shown to drastically reduce your risk of recurrence if your tumor expresses estrogen receptors. However, there are side effects commonly associated with Tamoxifen including weight gain, hot flashes and vaginal discharge that patients may be bothered by. There are also very uncommon side effects like blood clots, strokes, or uterine cancer that may scare patients from choosing to take it. You need to remember that your chances of having a recurrence of your cancer are usually higher than your chances of having a serious problem with Tamoxifen, but the decision to undergo hormonal therapy is a personal one that you should make with your doctor. There are also newer drugs, called aromatase inhibitors that act by decreasing your body's supply of estrogen; these drugs are reserved for patients who have already gone through menopause. Talk to your doctors about these new therapies.
Biologic Therapy: The pathologist also examines your tumor for the presence of HER-2/neu over expression. A compound called Herceptin (or Trastuzumab) is a substance that blocks this receptor and helps stop the breast cancer from growing.
Follow-up testing: Once a patient has been treated for breast cancer, they need to be closely followed for a recurrence. At first, you will have follow-up visits every 3-4 months. The longer you are free of disease, the less often you will have to go for checkups. After 5 years, you could see your doctor once a year. You should have a mammogram of the treated and untreated breasts every year. Because having had breast cancer is a risk factor for getting it again, having your mammograms done every year is extremely important. If you are taking Tamoxifen, it is important that you get a pelvic exam each year and report any abnormal vaginal bleeding to your doctor.
Drink Green Tea: Generations of families in India and Asia have been turning to tea to cure what ails them. Green tea could benefit at least five vital organs, including the heart. Earlier, green tea was thought to improve urinary and brain function, combat beriberi disease, and alleviate indigestion. In other words, green tea was considered to be a multi-purpose elixir, able to treat a wide variety of health problems. But this ancient remedy has now found a place in modern scientific literature, thanks to a new wave of studies on the medicinal properties of green tea. While studies on human subjects have been inconclusive, initial evidence from the laboratory looks incredibly promising.
While green tea can be beneficial in attacking everything from high cholesterol to depression, it has perhaps gotten the most attention for its impact on cancer. Antioxidants are important because they can stop the enzyme activities that give rise to cancer. In essence, they repair DNA problems that have been caused by oxidants or free radicals. Green tea has been considered a godsend for good health because it contains antioxidants known as catechins. These substances have been called impressive inhibitors of cancer growth. Here's how they do it: lab tests show that they combat oxidants prior to cell injuries, stop the growth of tumor cells, and reduce the occurrence of tumors.
This article is meant to give you a better understanding of breast cancer. Use this knowledge when meeting with your physician, making treatment decisions, and continuing your search for information.
Stay Healthy, as Health is Wealth!
By Joydeep Guha Dam
Cancer accounts to a death of 6 million human lives per year. Modern medicine is aging with breath taking advances in cancer care with increasing awareness, preventing, detection, therapy, research and symptom management. Last 15 years has been a revolution. It is likely to fight Cancer out by getting an early detection especially at a pre cancer stage thus yielding best cure with much shorter treatment time, lesser cost, lesser body insult.
Am I at risk for breast cancer? Breast cancer is the most common malignancy-affecting woman in North America and Europe. Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. Close to 200,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States in 2001. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women behind lung cancer. The lifetime risk of any particular woman getting breast cancer is about 1 in 8 although the lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower at 1 in 28. The diagnosis once confirmed by Doctor shocks in such a way that not only the patient suffers but entire family suffers the shock. Thus the patient and family both suffer differently and that adds to the total burden of cancer related illness.
Know your breast: The breast is a collection of glands and fatty tissue that lies between the skin and the chest wall. The glands inside the breast produce milk after a woman has a baby. Each gland is called as lobule and many such lobules make up a lobe. There are 15 to 20 lobes in each breast. The milk gets to the nipple from the glands by way of tubes called ducts. The glands and ducts get bigger when a breast is filled with milk, but the tissue that is most responsible for the size and shape the breast is the fatty tissue. There are also blood vessels and lymph vessels in the breast. Lymph is a clear liquid waste product that gets drained out of the breast into lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small, pea-sized pieces of tissue that filter and clean the lymph. Most lymph nodes that drain the breast are under the arm in what is called the axilla.
Risk factors for breast cancer: They can be divided into those that you cannot change and those that you can change. Some factors that increase your risk of breast cancer that you cannot alter include being a woman, getting older, having a family history (having a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer doubles your risk), having a previous history of breast cancer, having had radiation therapy to the chest region, being Caucasian, getting your periods young (before 12 years old), having your menopause late (after 50 years old), never having children or having them when you are older than 30, and having a genetic mutation that increases your risk. Genetic mutations for breast cancer have become a hot topic of research lately. Between 3-10% of breast cancers may be related to changes in either the gene BRCA1 or the gene BRCA2.
Women can inherit these mutations from their parents and it may be worth testing for either mutation if a woman has a particularly strong family history of breast cancer (meaning multiple relatives affected, especially if they are under 50 years old when they get the disease). If a woman is found to carry either mutation, she has a 50% chance of getting breast cancer before she is 70. Family members may elect to get tested to see if they carry the mutation as well. If a woman does have the mutation, she can get more rigorous screening or even undergo preventive (prophylactic) mastectomies to decrease her chances of contracting cancer. The decision to get tested is a highly personal one that should be discussed with a doctor who is trained in counseling patients about genetic testing.
Certain factors which increase a woman's risk of breast cancer can be altered including taking hormone replacement therapy (long term use of estrogens with progesterone for menopause symptoms slightly increases your risk), taking birth control pills (a very slight increased risk that disappears in women who have stopped them for over 10 years), not breastfeeding, drinking 2 to 5 alcoholic drinks a day, being overweight (especially after menopause), and not exercising. All of these modifiable risk factors are not nearly as important as gender, age, and family history, but they are things that a woman can control that may reduce her chances of developing a breast malignancy. Remember that all risk factors are based on probabilities, and even someone without any risk factors can still get breast cancer. Proper screening and early detection are our best weapons in reducing the mortality associated with this disease.
What are the signs of breast cancer? Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not have any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow screening recommendations. As a tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms including: lump or thickening in the breast or underarm, change in size or shape of the breast, nipple discharge or nipple turning inward, redness or scaling of the skin or nipple, ridges or pitting of the breast skin
Can you prevent breast cancer? The individual cannot control the most important risk factors for the development of breast cancer. There are some risk factors that are associated with an increased risk, but there is not a clear cause and effect relationship. In no way can strong recommendations be made like the cause and effect relationship seen with tobacco and lung cancer. There are a few risk factors that may be modified by a woman that potentially could influence the development of breast cancer. If possible, a woman should avoid long-term hormone replacement therapy, have children before age 30, breastfeed, avoid weight gain through exercise and proper diet, and limit alcohol consumption to 1 drink a day or less. For women already at a high risk, their risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced by about 50% by taking a drug called Tamoxifen for five years. Tamoxifen has some common side effects (like hot flashes and vaginal discharge), which are not serious and some uncommon side effects (like blood clots, pulmonary embolus, stroke, and uterine cancer) which are life threatening. Tamoxifen isn't widely used for prevention, but may be useful in some cases.
There are limited data suggesting that vitamin A may protect against breast cancer but further research is needed before it can be recommended for prevention. Other things being investigated include phyto estrogens (naturally occurring estrogens that are in high numbers in soy), vitamin E, vitamin C, and other drugs. Further testing of these substances is also needed before they can be recommended for breast cancer prevention. Right now, the most important thing any woman can do to decrease her risk of dying from breast cancer is to have regular mammogram screening, perform breast self-exams once a month. Follow a few, easy steps, you will soon know what is normal for you and will quickly be aware of any changes. If you find a lump or other change, note down where it is and make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Question for young women's are how to look? Well it is medically suggested that you stand up straight in front of a mirror with your arms loosely by your sides. Raise your arms above your head and move from side to side so you can see your breasts in the mirror, from different angles. What should you look for? A change in the size of either breast, change in the shape or position of nipple, bleeding or discharge from the nipples, unusual dimpling or puckering. How do you feel for changes? Lie flat on your back with your head on a pillow. Put a folded towel under the shoulder on the side of the breast you are checking. This helps to spread the tissue so that it is easier to feel. Examine one breast at a time. Put the hand on the same side of the breast that you are going to examine under your head. With your other hand flat and fingers together, use the flats of your fingers to feel around the breast in small, circular movements, in an anticlockwise direction. Cover the whole of the breast including the nipple. Check your armpit for lumps in the same way, starting in the hollow and moving down towards the breast.
Now examine the other breast in the same way. If you think you have found something, feel the same area on the opposite breast. If they are the same it's probably just your shape, but if you are at all worried, do visit your doctor. Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control and can then invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. Large collections of this out of control tissue are called tumors. However, some tumors are not really cancer because they cannot spread or threaten someone's life. These are called benign tumors. The tumors that can spread throughout the body or invade nearby tissues are considered cancer and are called malignant tumors. Theoretically, any of the types of tissue in the breast can form a cancer, but usually it comes from either the ducts or the glands. Because it may take months to years for a tumor to get large enough to feel in the breast, we screen for tumors with mammograms, which can sometimes see disease before we can feel it.
The earlier that a breast cancer is found, the more likely it is that treatment can be curable. Screening mammograms are simply x-rays of each breast. The breast is placed between two plates for a few seconds while the x-rays are taken. If something appears abnormal, or better views are needed, magnified views or specially angled films are taken during the mammogram. Mammograms often detect tumors before they can be felt and they can also identify tiny specks of calcium that could be an early sign of cancer. Regular screening mammograms can decrease the mortality of breast cancer by 30%. Woman should get a yearly mammogram starting at age 40 (although some groups recommend starting at 50), and women with a genetic mutation that increases their risk or a strong family history may want to begin even earlier. Between the ages of 20 and 39, every woman should have a clinical breast exam every 3 years and after age 40 every woman should have a clinical breast exam done each year.
There are some experimental screening modalities that are currently being studied. These include MRI, ductal lavage, ultrasound, optical tomography, PET scan, and digital mammograms. Depending on the results of the mammograms and/or ultrasounds, your doctors may recommend that you get a biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to know for sure if you have cancer, because it allows your doctors to get cells that can be examined under a microscope. There are different types of biopsies; they differ on how much tissue is removed. Some biopsies use a very fine needle, while others use thicker needles or even require a small surgical procedure to remove more tissue. Your team of doctors will decide which type of biopsy you need depending on your particular breast mass. Once the tissue is removed, a pathologist will review the specimen. The pathologist can tell if it is cancer or not; and if it is cancerous, then the pathologist will characterize it by what type of tissue it arose from, how abnormal it looks (known as the grade), whether or not it is invading surrounding tissues, and if the entire lump was excised, the pathologist can tell if there are any cancer cells left at the borders (also known as the margins). The pathologist will also test the cancer cells for the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as a receptor known as HER-2/neu. Basic 4 stages of breast cancer are called as
Stage 0 (called carcinoma in situ) Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) refers to abnormal cells lining a gland in the breast. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) refers to abnormal cells lining a duct.
Stage I - early stage breast cancer where the tumor is less that 2 cm across and hasn't spread beyond the breast
Stage II - early stage breast cancer where the tumor is either less than 2 cm across and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm; or the tumor is between 2 and 5 cm (with or without spread to the lymph nodes under the arm); or the tumor is greater than 5 cm and hasn't spread outside the breast
Stage III - locally advanced breast cancer where the tumor is greater than 5 cm across and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm; or the cancer is extensive in the underarm lymph nodes; or the cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone or to other tissues near the breast
Stage IV - metastatic breast cancer where the cancer has spread outside the breast to other organs in the body
Depending on the stage of your cancer, your doctor may want additional tests to see if you have metastatic disease. If you have a stage III cancer, you will probably get a chest x-ray, CT scan and bone scan to look for metastases. Each patient is an individual and your doctors will decide what is necessary to adequately stage your cancer.
What are the treatments for breast cancer?
Surgery: Almost all women with breast cancer will have some type of surgery in the course of their treatment while some women will be candidates for what is called breast conservation therapy (BCT) where surgeons perform a lumpectomy which means they remove the tumor with a little bit of breast tissue around it but do not remove the entire breast. Some patients will have a sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure first to determine if a formal lymph node dissection is required. Sometimes, the surgeon will remove a larger part (but not the whole breast), and this is called a segmental or partial mastectomy. Most patients with DCIS that have a lumpectomy are treated with radiation therapy to prevent the local recurrence of DCIS.More advanced breast cancers are usually treated with a modified radical mastectomy. Modified radical mastectomy means removing the entire breast and dissecting the lymph nodes under the arm.
Chemotherapy: is the use of anti-cancer drugs that go throughout the entire body. The higher the stage of cancer you have, the more important it is that you receive chemotherapy; however, even stage I patients may benefit from chemotherapy in certain cases. In early stage patients, the risk of recurrence may be small, and thus the benefits of the chemotherapy are even smaller. There are many different chemotherapy drugs, and they are usually given in combinations for 3 to 6 months after you receive your surgery. Depending on the type of chemotherapy regimen you receive, you may get medication every 3 or 4 weeks; and you may have to go to a clinic to get the chemotherapy because many of the drugs have to be given through a vein. Two of the most common regimens are AC (doxorubicin and cycolphosphamide) for 3 months or CMF (cycolphosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil) for 6 months. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the different regimens that your medical oncologist will discuss with you. Based on your own health, your personal values and wishes, and side effects you may wish to avoid, you can work with your doctors to come up with the best regimen for your lifestyle.
Radiotherapy: uses high-energy rays (similar to x-rays) to kill cancer cells. It comes from an external source, and it requires patients to come in 5 days a week for up to 6 weeks to a radiation therapy treatment center. The treatment takes just a few minutes, and it is painless. Radiation therapy is used in all patients who receive breast conservation therapy (BCT). It is also recommended for patients after a mastectomy that had large tumors, lymph node involvement, or close/positive margins after the surgery. Radiation is important in reducing the risk of local recurrence and is often offered in more advanced cases to kill tumor cells that may be living in lymph nodes.
Hormonal Therapy: When the pathologist examines your tumor specimen, he or she finds out if the tumor is expressing estrogen and progesterone receptors. Patients whose tumors express estrogen receptors are candidates for therapy with an estrogen-blocking drug called Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is taken by pill form for 5 years after your surgery. This drug has been shown to drastically reduce your risk of recurrence if your tumor expresses estrogen receptors. However, there are side effects commonly associated with Tamoxifen including weight gain, hot flashes and vaginal discharge that patients may be bothered by. There are also very uncommon side effects like blood clots, strokes, or uterine cancer that may scare patients from choosing to take it. You need to remember that your chances of having a recurrence of your cancer are usually higher than your chances of having a serious problem with Tamoxifen, but the decision to undergo hormonal therapy is a personal one that you should make with your doctor. There are also newer drugs, called aromatase inhibitors that act by decreasing your body's supply of estrogen; these drugs are reserved for patients who have already gone through menopause. Talk to your doctors about these new therapies.
Biologic Therapy: The pathologist also examines your tumor for the presence of HER-2/neu over expression. A compound called Herceptin (or Trastuzumab) is a substance that blocks this receptor and helps stop the breast cancer from growing.
Follow-up testing: Once a patient has been treated for breast cancer, they need to be closely followed for a recurrence. At first, you will have follow-up visits every 3-4 months. The longer you are free of disease, the less often you will have to go for checkups. After 5 years, you could see your doctor once a year. You should have a mammogram of the treated and untreated breasts every year. Because having had breast cancer is a risk factor for getting it again, having your mammograms done every year is extremely important. If you are taking Tamoxifen, it is important that you get a pelvic exam each year and report any abnormal vaginal bleeding to your doctor.
Drink Green Tea: Generations of families in India and Asia have been turning to tea to cure what ails them. Green tea could benefit at least five vital organs, including the heart. Earlier, green tea was thought to improve urinary and brain function, combat beriberi disease, and alleviate indigestion. In other words, green tea was considered to be a multi-purpose elixir, able to treat a wide variety of health problems. But this ancient remedy has now found a place in modern scientific literature, thanks to a new wave of studies on the medicinal properties of green tea. While studies on human subjects have been inconclusive, initial evidence from the laboratory looks incredibly promising.
While green tea can be beneficial in attacking everything from high cholesterol to depression, it has perhaps gotten the most attention for its impact on cancer. Antioxidants are important because they can stop the enzyme activities that give rise to cancer. In essence, they repair DNA problems that have been caused by oxidants or free radicals. Green tea has been considered a godsend for good health because it contains antioxidants known as catechins. These substances have been called impressive inhibitors of cancer growth. Here's how they do it: lab tests show that they combat oxidants prior to cell injuries, stop the growth of tumor cells, and reduce the occurrence of tumors.
This article is meant to give you a better understanding of breast cancer. Use this knowledge when meeting with your physician, making treatment decisions, and continuing your search for information.
Stay Healthy, as Health is Wealth!
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