Diary of a Breast Cancer Journey - What Happens and How Do You Get Your Head Around It?
We were driving down the highway to Denmark; a small, beautiful town on the south coast of Western Australia. After a few hours of travelling, we pulled off the road to stretch our legs. It seemed like the middle of nowhere; farmland on either side of the highway stretched out into rolling green hills. The road was dead straight for miles in both directions. We had left the CD playing loudly in the car and the Doors song Roadhouse Blues, punched its beat into the stillness. Without saying anything, we spontaneously started singing out, "Let it roll baby, roll..." at the top of our voices. At first we sang and swayed to the beat, then freeing inhibitions, we allowed our bodies to be danced across the road; laughing, twirling, dancing and singing with pure abandon. It was exhilarating!
Previously we had been sitting quietly for a few hours, lost in our own thoughts, looking out the window. After our dancing and laughing, we had magically been re-energized and lifted into a joyful, animated state that lasted the rest of the day. It's that easy, I reminded myself, why do we keep forgetting to be joyful and energized? Why do we make things so complicated? Why don't we listen to our bodies more often?
The body is so wise and so capable of an aliveness and vitality that we rarely tap into. The saddest part of it though, isn't just that we don't enjoy our vitality, but that we mostly disconnect, abuse and bully the body into an unnatural, fatigued and stressed state. Movement, sunshine and fresh air - miracle medicine! We seem to require reasons and research to convince us to be healthy and happy and we want instruction on how to do it. We are willing to pay for health and we have become blinded to truth and brainwashed by science and marketing.
In less than three minutes of dancing, we had all become energized, flexible, joyful and lighter. Yes, I do know from studies that we released and balanced chemicals, endorphins and hormones. Filled ourselves with negative ions and oxygen, released carbon dioxide, gases and toxins; absorbed vitamins and anti oxidants; moved lymph fluids and enhanced the immune system; alkalised the ph balance and blah, blah, blah. Do we really need to nit-pick and dissect everything before we understand the truth of truth?
I believe that we could read every scientific paper ever written and not know more than a grain of sand about how nature works. Only nature itself can show us how it works, and it can only achieve this by example. We really do not need to know what sunshine is and how or why it affects our bodies - but we know that it does; because we feel it. The very first and last thing we do is breathe; without breath there is no life and yet we rarely recognise it as a healing property or an essential life sustaining force. If lack of breath is death, then surely it is obvious that limited breath will create illness and disease! We have all felt a heightened sense of well-being due to sound, vibration, colour or movement, but very few would recognize these as healing influences.
We tend to isolate disease and name it. Disease is not just a condition of an organ or a function; it is evidence that the whole organism is in crisis. Heart disease is not simply a mal function of the heart; cancer is not just abnormal cells trapped within a tumour; arthritis is not just wear and tear on our joins. We can temporarily treat a disease or artificially support or repair parts, but we must return to our natural laws to address the cause. Most disease is an unconscious form of suicide - suicide through neglect, ignorance or abuse.
A gardener can look at a diseased plant and know that it is in distress due to lack of sunlight or water. He doesn't focus on the dead leaves or the invading insects - he studies the environment of the garden. Disease sets in due to lack of essential requirements. It might be weeds robbing the plant of nutrients, too much water, not enough light or harsh weather conditions. Although a gardener might have to chop back a few branches (surgery) and add fertilizer (drugs) his main concern is in bringing the environment back into balance. He will relocate the plant if it is in a stressful position; protect it with mulch, feed the soil or erect a wind break. Much of our modern medicine can be likened to chopping off the dead wood. It doesn't address the cause and it doesn't produce long term solutions; the problem will either return or show up in other areas.
We expect a pill or a procedure to restore us and we actually believe it does. We recover from one disease and then return to our previous habits. Cancer, as an example, is not the result of any particular carcinogen. A healthy body easily deals with toxins, bacteria, pollutants, virus, parasites and any and all imbalances. The body is designed to heal, protect and renew itself. I doubt that we will ever know the amazing capacity we have to maintain our bodies. I really don't believe that any of us understands just how far away from nature we have taken ourselves. Disease is the result of many, many abuses, and over a long period of time. Most of us pay little attention to what we eat, specifically what we need to eat. We ignore pain or mask it with medication. We lack sleep and often use pills to induce unnatural sleep. We live according to artificial light rather than follow the rhythm of night and day. We breathe air conditioning and polluted air most of the time. We eat and drink an extraordinary amount of chemicals. Many people need medication to digest and eliminate food; that is, we can't even crap without help! Our water is bleached. Even our own thoughts are flooding our bodies with stress hormones and acidic chemicals. We hold our bodies in bondage by sitting and staring into computer screens, in a sea of radiation; contorting muscles and inhibiting blood flow.
Don't cry out in despair at the unfairness of disease or wonder at its cause. All of us are actively destroying our bodies in so many ways - everyday. Perhaps this modern world does require some compromise but, do we really see just how much we are compromising?
Is there a cure for cancer? I don't think so, at least not by today's methods or treatments; at best, we achieve varying degrees of remission. We are simply removing the dead wood and then continuing to poison the garden.
If the body is tired, lacking vitality and well-being, then let's call that 'disease' and bring it back into balance in a natural and nurturing way. Perhaps we might only need to dance it back to life.
Sonya Green is webmaster and author of Reinventing Myself. Her writing reflects her passion for finding Joy in everyday life. Love, health and happiness are available to us us. http://www.reinventingmyself.com Excerpt: To read full diary see: http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/ Copyright Sonya Green 2008 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sonya_Green |  |
Top 4 Major Factors of Breast Cancer in Young Women
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women; more and more young women are suffering from breast cancer. There are 4 major factors leading to breast cancer.
1. The Change In Hormone Levels
More and more young women are suffering from breast cancer. As a medical point of view, the age of incidence of breast cancer is becoming younger, mainly because of urban lifestyle changes.
Environmental pollution, food contamination, the tense psychological pressure, the change in hormone levels and some other man-made factors have led to the increase in risk of breast cancer in young women.
2. Too Much Spiritual Pressure
One of the important factors lead to breast cancer is related to mental stress. Many people today face more competitions, and loss the natural way of life. Usually work overtime in the evening, drink more coffee, smoking, eat more genetically modified food, etc.
3. Late Marriage, Postponement Of Childbearing And Less Breast-feeding
Epidemiological statistics show that late marriage, late childbearing, less breast-feeding is a negative factor to women. However, it is not very sure whether this is a real risk of breast cancer incidence. We recommend women bear naturally in the age for fertility.
The breast will proliferate after women bear. If there is no breast-feeding, it is unfavorable to the baby health, on the other hand it is negative to the natural cycle of women. Breast-feeding can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
4. Breast Enlargement Products Containing Excessive Hormones
If there contains unhealthy or excessive hormone in breast enlargement products, it must be unfavorable to breast.
Win Ho writes articles about cancers, introduces symptoms of several types of cancer, cancer causes, treatment and more. You can find more cancer informations in his site http://www.helpcancertreatment.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Win_Ho
Flax Seed in Breast Cancer Prevention
If you get to know better the health benefits of flax seed, you may come across the fact that its nourishing properties are attributive of its omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibers, and high-lignan content. Given these medicinal constituents, then it won't be difficult to think of flax seed as a powerful agent against breast cancer. Millions of women from around the world-particularly those in the postmenopausal stage, are inflicted with breast cancer and while a fully determined cure is still unavailable, flax seed supplementation is what medical researchers are hoping to be an effective prevention against this deadly disease.
The grain's anti-cancerous property is mostly attributed to its high-lignan content, where flax seed is regarded as the chief source of lignans among various plant species. Pertinent research confirms that the antioxidant lignan helps reduce the proliferation of cancerous cells. Experiments also reveal that a reduction in tumor size among breast cancer patients was evident following a period of supplementation with flax lignan capsules under a controlled diet. But the most successful results materialized when diets were supplemented with ground flax seed and the lignan capsules. Though the potential of flax seed as an anti-breast cancer agent is not yet fully recognized by the scientific community, the grain's observed ability to regulate the excess production of estrogen hormones during the post menopausal stage likely becomes the springboard to prevention. Moreover, flax seed retains its stature as a promising remedy that medical authorities have been using to treat certain cases of cancer.
The medicinal benefit of flax seed is however not limited to the control of cancer and tumor cell regeneration. In fact, it is imbibed with nutritional values that promote an overall healthy body. Besides the antioxidant activity of lignans, flax seed is also enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fibers-both soluble and insoluble.
Omega-3 is an essential factor to cellular mechanisms, and this unsaturated fatty acid lowers bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol) levels. Dietary fibers on the other hand enhance digestion as well as the absorption of essential nutrients in the body, which is an important factor in boosting immune system functions. Maintaining good blood circulation and strong immune defenses are indispensable factors to the upkeep of health, particularly in surviving the after effects of cancers. What makes chemotherapeutic treatments (that are probably thought of as the only effective means to fight cancer cells) dangerous is that these procedures compromise immune system conditions. The side effects of chemotherapy such as diarrhea, hair loss, and blood cell diseases among others convey compromising repercussions to a patient's overall health.
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. So for women crossing over to the post menopausal stage, it wouldn't cost so much to sustain a daily supplementation of milled flax seed and flax lignan capsules to help regulate estrogen levels in the body. In the end, flax seed becomes your mighty protector against breast cancer!
Bruce Maul is a partner in Gold Flax Seed, Inc. which provides only top quality Flax Seed and Health related products. Learn more about Flax Seed by visiting http://www.goldflaxseed.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Maul
Breast Cancer and Exercise - A Moving Patient Gathers No Cancer
"It's too early, it's too late, I'm tired, my feet hurt, my whole body hurts, I'm hungry," these are many of the excuses that keep us from exercising. It is really important that you don't make excuses but make changes to your life. I'm saying this not because I enjoy working out all the time, which I don't, but because your risk of breast cancer can be diminished by exercise.
The latest American Cancer Society's guidelines for physical activity recommend 30 minutes daily of brisk exercise at least 5 days a week. Is there any data to back this up? There sure is. In fact exercise can help prevent both pre and post menopausal breast cancer and if you have had breast cancer, a regular exercise program will improve your survival. Here's the data.
The first study was recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2008;100:608). This is a report from the Nurses Health Study II which included 64,777 premenopausal nurses. They were given questionnaires regarding physical activity starting in 1997. After 6 years of follow up, 550 women developed breast cancer. Women whose total activity equaled 3.25 hours per week of running or 13 hours per week of walking had a 23% lower chance of getting breast cancer. This was especially true when the activity occurred in younger women aged 12-22.
A similar article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2003 (2003;290:1331) demonstrated a 20% drop in the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who engaged in 10 hours per week of moderate intensity exercise like tennis, jogging or aerobics. This information is taken from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study involving more than 74,000 women aged 50-79. Don't worry if you can't jog, there were also benefits for those who walk, bike, or swim 5 days a week.
Finally, a study of 1491 women who had received treatment for early stage breast cancer revealed a 44% improvement in survival if they engaged in 30 minutes of walking a day for 6 days every week (J Clin Oncol 2007;25:2345). This survival improvement was enhanced if the women also ate a diet high in fruits and vegetables. The interesting finding is that the benefit was regardless of weight. Your weight is less important than your lifestyle choices of exercise and diet preventing breast cancer recurrence.
So, no more excuses. Get out there and move a little, walk, run, play tennis, or swim. Whatever you do, you can be sure that you will decrease your risk of breast cancer.
Robert Avery MD, is a practicing oncologist in the St. Louis area. He has a keen interest not only in cancer care and therapy but also nutrition and how is helps prevent cancer. He is owner of Citrine Sun, an online company dedicated to helping cancer patients through every stage of their illness through education and natural supplements. An interesting newsletter and information about helpful supplements are available at his website, http://www.citrinesun.com Contact Dr. Avery through his email, AskDrAvery@citrinesun.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Avery_M.D. |  |
Transfer and Proliferation of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer directly to the expansion around, the lymphatic and blood flow. The lymph nodes should be to prevent cancer cells from the primary tumor Yat, the first barrier, if cancer cells through the lymph node barrier is usually recidivism supraclavicular lymph nodes and then penetrated into the blood vein. In addition to the transfer axillary lymph node cancer, also involving the parasternal lymph nodes, for more than the second and third and fourth intercostal, in the first half of breast cancer in the area and areola more so, from here then repeat lymph node cancer. Breast cancer cells may also directly cause vascular invasive metastasis. Side by intercostal thoracic vein into the ipsilateral unknown vein into the pulmonary circulation. Breast deep tissue, breast and chest wall into the vein axillary vein into the subclavian vein and unknown vein, lung metastasis is an important way, the flow of qi intercostal vein and the vein-odd vein, the superior vena cava last Rufei, Ki Venous system through intervertebral vein, vertebral venous plexus, after the group connected with the vertebral vein, vertebral venous system and the vena cava blood flow in intra-abdominal pressure can change the flow of each other, so that some patients in the absence of a superior vena cava ( Such as the lungs) transfer before a skull, spine, Pengu, such as the transfer.
For a long time, people found that breast cancer may have been in attendance at the distant metastasis, despite the clinical was not attending to, this constitutes a conservative implementation of the theoretical basis for chemotherapy. According to today has been able to tumor size, lymph node involvement in the number and variety of other biological characteristics of a preliminary estimate of distant metastases minimal level of risk exists.
http://www.makehealth.org/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Zhao
Robin Zhao - EzineArticles Expert Author
Early Detection Signs Or Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Early detection of this disease is vital!
There are different signs and symptoms of breast cancer. One of the first signs or symptoms is feeling a lump in the breast. This lump will feel different then the other breast tissue around it.
It is known that more then eighty percent of women discover lumps by checking themselves. A physician can detect breast cancer by giving you a mammogram.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer may help save your life.
When the disease is discovered early, you have more treatment options and a better chance for a cure. Most breast lumps aren't cancerous.
Yet the most common sign of breast cancer for both men and women is a lump or thickening in the breast.
Often, the lump is painless.
Even though the public has learned a great deal about breast cancer, there remain more than a half-dozen popular breast cancer myths.
At least one such myth relates to the signs of breast cancer. Many women believe that finding a lump in the breast means that they have breast cancer, which is untrue.
Another symptom of breast cancer is Paget?s disease of the breast.
It is a syndrome that presents skin changes like redness and flaking skin of the nipple. As this advances symptoms may include itching, tingling, sensitivity, pain and burning and on occasion discharge from the nipple. About half of women that are diagnosed with Paget?s will also have a lump in the breast.
Another helpful piece of information is that some types of cancers, like the Inflammatory breast cancer and Pagent's disease show classic symptoms of their own type. Very red and hard breasts which keep getting sore show along with the regular breast cancer symptoms are a classic case of the Inflammatory breast cancer, whereas very itchy, red, scaly rashes, easily confused for eczema, on the breasts along with other breast cancer symptoms are Pagent's disease.
Always get the doctor to clarify your doubts.
Unlike the more common form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer does not generally present as a lump.
The disease grows as nests or sheets that clog the lymph system under the skin. Often the symptoms are attributed to other diseases and thus the diagnosis may take a long time to occur.
For many women, abnormal cell activity in breast fluid will be the first warning of the potential development of breast cancer signs and symptoms. This early warning system gives women and their doctors precious extra time to implement a more vigilant, personalized breast health treatment plan.
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. This test is used to look for breast disease in women who do not appear to have breast problems. It can also be used when women have symptoms such as a lump, skin change, or nipple discharge.
Each year 180,000 women get breast cancer, this is an increase of over 50 percent of the women who were developing breast cancer before 1950.
The chances of developing breast cancer increases with age.
But, don't think that you don't have to worry if you are younger than 40, because more and more young women are also developing breast cancer than ever before.
Be vigilant in your breast exams and you will have greater peace of mind.
Early detection methods of detecting breast cancer has improved survival rates tremendously. Even with the amount of women developing breast cancer increasing, the amount of women who actually die of breast cancer these days is decreasing due to early detection and better treatment methods.
A screening mammogram is used to look for breast disease in women who have no breast concerns. A diagnostic mammogram is used when a woman has symptoms or if there are other barriers to accurate testing like breast implants.
Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not have any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow screening recommendations. In most cases, the first signs of breast cancer are recognized as a small and often palpable lump in the breast.
Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the best approach for them. They may benefit from starting mammograms when they are younger, having them more often, or having other tests. If you are at higher risk, your doctor might recommend an ultrasound or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) be done along with your mammograms.
If you notice any of these warning signs of breast cancer do not panic. Call your health care provider early and have it checked out. Not all these changes may represent cancer but you will not know unless you are examined.
Yet there is more reason for optimism than ever before.
In the last 30 years, doctors have made great strides in early diagnosis and treatment of the disease and in reducing breast cancer deaths.
In 1975, a diagnosis of breast cancer usually meant radical mastectomy - removal of the entire breast along with underarm lymph nodes and muscles underneath the breast.
Today, radical mastectomy is rarely performed. Instead, there are more and better treatment options, and many women are candidates for breast-sparing operations.
Most breast cancer symptoms are visually observable and highlight the need for regular breast self exams.
While breast cancer cannot be prevented, early detection of cancer warning signs and early diagnosis dramatically increases the likelihood of successful treatment.
The good news is that many times, especially if a lump is caught early, women with breast cancer go on to live full, healthy lives after treatment.
Some women also join support groups so they can talk to other women with breast cancer who are feeling the same emotions, this can be very beneficial and supportive.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Neill
The Effects of Hair Loss Following Chemotherapy
You might not think about how important your hair is until you face losing it. And if you have cancer and are about to undergo chemotherapy, the chance of hair loss is very real. Both men and women report hair loss as one of the side effects they fear most after being diagnosed with cancer.
Hair loss happens because the chemotherapy affects all cells in the body, not just the cancer cells. The lining of the mouth, stomach, and the hair follicles are especially sensitive because those cells multiply rapidly just like the cancer cells. The difference is that the normal cells will repair themselves, making these side effects temporary.
Chemotherapy may be described as treatment of cancer with different drugs and chemicals. It has been seen that majority of patients undergoing chemotherapy suffer from hair loss.
The reason is hair follicle cells grow quite fast and the drugs used for chemotherapy attack any cell growing and attacks healthy hair follicle cells also.
Can hair loss be prevented during chemotherapy treatment? There is no known way to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss. However, not all chemotherapy medications cause hair loss.
You should consult with your doctor about the type of treatment recommended for you and what its side effects are likely to be. Whether or not you lose your hair depends in part on the specific medication and dosage administered. Women should consider visiting a wig salon before they begin losing their hair so that the specialist may become familiar with her present hairstyle and color.
Some wig salons specialize in hair loss from chemotherapy and are able to offer women specific advice. A wig specialist may also wish to measure the woman's head size to make sure an average wig will fit. Custom-made wigs sometimes take several weeks to have made.
Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also attack other rapidly growing cells in your body - including those in your hair roots. 6
Chemotherapy hair loss, and changes in skin and body can be devastating after effects of cancer treatment. Fortunately, most of the time hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary. You can expect to regrow a full head of hair six months to a year after your treatment ends, though your hair may temporarily be a different shade or texture. Remember the hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary.
It usually starts to grow back about six weeks after the person finishes their chemotherapy, and it may look and feel different from the person's original hair. It may be curlier or a slightly different color.
Sometimes hair grows in grey until the person's hair color (also called pigment) cells begin to work again. Most people will have a full head of hair again about six months to a year after they stop taking chemotherapy.
The decrease in blood cell counts does not occur right at the start of chemotherapy because the drugs do not destroy the cells already in the bloodstream (these are not dividing rapidly). Instead, the drugs affect new blood cells that are being made by the bone marrow.
Radiation only causes hair loss on the particular part of the body treated. If radiation is used to treat the breast, there is no hair loss on your head. But there might be loss of hair around the nipple, for women who have hair in that location. Radiation to the brain, used to treat metastatic cancer in the brain, usually causes complete hair loss on the head.
Cold caps don't work for everyone. They only block certain drugs and are not suitable for use in all types of cancer. You can't really have scalp cooling if there is too high a risk that cancer cells could be presenting the scalp blood vessels.
This is because there would be a possibility that the cells in the scalp blood vessels would not be killed by the chemotherapy. It certainly is not advisable for leukemia or lymphoma treatment, for example.
You cannot wear a cold cap if you are having continuous chemotherapy through a pump either, because you would have to wear the cold cap all the time, 24 hours a day. Chemotherapy is very effective in killing cancer cells, but it also affects normal cells as well. The strength of the drugs used in chemotherapy causes side effects that can bring discomfort and inconvenience.
Typical side effects of chemotherapy include gastrointestinal tract problems, hair loss, low blood cell counts, skin rashes, fatigue, and infertility. It is important to remember that most side effects are manageable, and if they become problematic, there is medication to treat them.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Neill |
Go Bra-Less and be Free from Breast Cancer
The increasing rate of breast cancer has changed so many things about how an average lady should dress, eat or live. It is estimated that every two minutes someone is diagnosed with breast cancer and every thirteen minutes some dies as a result of breast cancer. This is an alarming record. It has also been shown that breast cancer tends to be higher in cultures where bras are worn frequently compared to where bras are absent.
In a report titled 'Dress to Kill, the link between breast cancer and bras', the authors examined the habits of 4700 American women, nearly half of them had breast cancer before compiling the report. It was discovered that wearing a bra for 12 hours daily increased the risk for breast cancer, cystic breasts, breast pain, breast tenderness and other breast related conditions. Ladies who had bras on for 18-24 hours daily have over a 100% increased incidence of breast cancer compared to those who don't wear bras at all. It is quite funny, but what this suggests is that by wearing a bra you are 3-4 times more likely to get breast cancer than by smoking cigarettes.
You may be wondering 'why is this so?' but the facts available are that bras create constant pressure on the breast, which compresses and constricts and hinders the lymphatic movement to the chest area. If you are a woman who wears a bra and you see red marks and lines after taking your bra off, you are at a greater risk for breast cancer.
The role of lymph is to flush out toxins and debris from tissues. If this flow is impaired, like when wearing a bra, tissues get toxic. We also impair toxin release by using underarm deodorants, which plug up and block our pores.
In another similar study done in the UK with a hundred women who suffer from fibrocystic breast disease, it was discovered that going bra free for three months had an astounding effect on the cure of these womens’ disease. This study showed how effective this single treatment of going bra free was in overcoming a particular breast condition.
The bra has been a fundamental part of female clothing for so long, no matter what it is associated with it, I understand that it isn't going to be an easy task to suddenly drop a life long habit, not when it has to do with such crucial part of the body. This is understandable. You cannot just go bra free overnight but if you must wear a bra, try it along the lines below which will most likely reduce the risk associated with the wearing of a bra:
- Don't wear tight bras. Make sure the bra has a loose fit and always remove it when it is not necessary to wear it.
- Choose a bra with no under wires. These wires block the energy meridians from moving freely through their natural cycles.
- Around your menstrual periods, use a larger size bra as increased oestrogen levels in the blood during this period cause tissues to retain fluids making the breasts larger and the bra tighter.
- Stop the use of deodorants/antiperspirants, if you can. Wash your armpits often with soap and water instead.
- Bathe daily. The body releases 30% of all the toxins it produces through the skin.
- Use a shower filter that filters out chlorine. Chlorine also causes several forms of cancer. As you shower, your skin and lungs are absorbing huge amounts of chlorine.
- Occasionally incorporate Poke Root tincture into your diet to help the lymph flow more easily (especially if you have little white dots around the outside of your irises. This is known as a Lymphatic Rosary and is a sign of a slow or sluggish lymphatic system.)
- Sleep naked or in a stretchy T-shirt. Women who wear cotton or nylon non-stretchable materials while they sleep and who roll over often, can cut circulation off as these materials resist stretching.
- And most importantly wear bras only when it is completely necessary, this will reduce the number of hours you wear bra a day to the barest minimum.
Michael Russell Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell |  |
Breast Cancer - Touchable And Unbelievable
The most common form of cancer in women - which affects about 10% of the world's female population - is still the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women. about 20% of all breast cancer cases ending in death.
This form of cancer is the one considered to have the most serious psychological effects on women. Some specialists say that it happens because this form cancer affects what most women consider to be their symbol of femininity: the breast. Depression is often diagnosed in women who have breast cancer, which makes the treatment even harder.
Risk factors
Many factors are considered to be the possible causes of breast cancer. Contrary to what many people may think, breast cancer also affects men, in smaller proportions - about 1 case in 1000.
Here are some factors considered to be involved in the development of breast cancer:
Age
One thing is for sure about breast cancer: the risks increase with age . Statistics show that for a woman who lives to the age of 90, the risk of getting breast cancer is about 12,5% (or 1 in 8) . However, it's not impossible for young women to have breast cancer and when it happens, the cancer tends to be more aggressive. This is inflammatory breast cancer, difficult to detect because it does not appear in mammography or ultrasound and is often mistaken for mastitis, a simple breast infection .
Genes
Familial breast cancer is rare (less than 5%), but it can happen and it was found to be linked to two different genes. Although this is not a high risk factor for breast cancer, women who have cases of breast cancer among their relatives should have tests more often.
Hormones
The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that women who take combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives and combined estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy were at increased risk.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Earlier found, better chances of survival. This is the statement that summarizes the cure for breast cancer and it only makes more important the medical advice that says that women should have a complete check up, including a mammogram and an ultrasound, once a year, especially once they reach their 30s or 40s. A self-examination of the breasts should be done monthly.
Any sign of nodules or lumps found by the woman while doing her self-exam must be taken into account. Most women think that these lumps have something to do with their periods and in many cases they do, but they can also signify the presence of a tumor and that's why the doctor must be told as soon as possible .
The symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some have lumps and some don't. Some women have a white or light-yellow secretion "leaking" from the nipple, some women feel that their breast is tender and swollen. There are those women who feel nothing and these are the most dangerous cases .
The self-exam and the mammogram once a year are the best ways to diagnose breast cancer. If something is found by self-examination, regardless of whether the woman had already had a mammogram that year, another should be done.
Treatment
Medicine has improved a lot in the past few years and the treatments for breast cancer have become more powerful and effective .
There are different options for treatment of breast cancer and doctors can choose the correct one by taking into account the overall health of the woman affected:
- Local or Regional Treatments are directed right to the breast and also to the lymph nodes around the breast.
- Systemic Treatments are directed to the whole body.
- Alternative and Holistic Treatments are important to the person because they include not only the body, but also the mind and spirit as well.
In spite of that, the best treatment is no treatment at all, in other words, prevention.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell | |
Common Sense Tips to Cut Breast Cancer Risk
We've all been watching the annual parade of 'pink' - all in the name of raising money to fight breast cancer! The objectives are admirable - more money for research for early detection and maybe to defeat the causes of breast cancer. AND it's important.
Somehow, despite all the pink ribbons and fundraising, the disease continues to affect thousands of families every year. Today breast cancer affects nearly 1 in every 6 women and all cancers affecting 1 in 3 women. There is no family that has been left untouched by cancer. An astounding toll!
So, what's going on here? Are there ways to minimize my chances of getting it?
You know, it didn't seem like the odds of being affected by breast cancer were as great when I was growing up. That didn't mean I didn't see loved ones affected. In fact, my mother-in-law contracted the disease and I would massage her right arm after her mastectomy removed not only her breast but also the lymph nodes under her arm, leaving swelling and hard lumps. Because of my mother-in-law, I also had an unusually large clientele of breast cancer patients or those recovering from breast cancer.
Even with those experiences, it seemed that if you had a relative who was affected, genetically you had a better chance of having breast cancer. In fact, a common response to the very mention of 'Cancer' was an automatic assumption that you had been diagnosed and given a death sentence. Of course, we now know that isn't the case and much progress in diagnosis and successful intervention/treatment has occurred in the past two to three decades. At the same time, we've also seen the incidence of breast cancer skyrocket! So it's now our responsibility to find and practice common sense habits that will help the long-term prognosis for us and for our daughters and granddaughters.
According to a number of research efforts at major universities and research centers, there's ample evidence to suggest that our immune systems are being weakened from exposure to toxins and chemical poisons. Everyday exposure to chemical poisons in our household and personal care products can keep the body from warding off or mitigating breast cancers and other diseases.
So what are everyday exposures that I might have?
We know that much of the current surge of interest in natural and organic products is coming from women - fully 60-80% depending upon which research study you are focusing on. These are women who want to improve the overall wellness of their families and themselves. Just that fact, alone, is cause for celebration. But every consumer also needs to realize what 'natural and organic' may be covering up in their everyday products!
Not everything that carries a byline of 'natural and organic' is free from toxic or harmful ingredients. Becoming educated about toxic ingredients, like the ones in the following list, is critical to your efforts to buy products that 'Do No Harm'.
Avoid these Red Flag ingredients in your products:
· Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)
· DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (Triethanolamine)
· Dioxin (not listed as an ingredient - a by-product from manufacturing)
· DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl)
· FD&C Color Pigments
· Fragrances
· Parabens (common xeno-estrogen preservative)
· PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
· Phthalates (emulsifier, extender, softener - commonly used in baby products/bottles/etc.)
· Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol
· Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
· Triclosan (anti-bacterial thought to create super-bugs; non-recyclable contaminant in water)
· Sunscreen ingredients like benzophenone, avebenzone, cinemates, PABA
Begin by reading the ingredient label on every product. Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that many of these toxic ingredients are hormone disruptors, wetting agents that assure the products act faster/penetrate better, and preservatives known to affect health. Making a choice to purchase products that contain NO xeno-estrogens or other toxins is a bold step in the right direction!
I really believe that we could all begin this effort by simply checking out the back labels in our bathrooms. While it's pretty scary to think about, experts tell us that most of us come in contact with over 200 toxic chemicals before we get dressed in the morning. That means we are bathing ourselves in toxins!
Whether it's the shampoo and conditioner, the body wash, our toothpaste, deodorant, hair styling products, or the makeup on our face, it all adds to the chemical load on our bodies. I encourage you to replace just one or two products a week with products certified ToxicFree® - your assurance the product contains no hormone disruptors, carcinogens or other known toxic ingredients. Each step will create a safer, cleaner, healthier home for you and for your family.
Every woman really needs to take exercise seriously as well. Just 30 minutes of exercise per week has been shown to return major benefits. A recent study revealed that 30-150 minutes of exercise per week greatly reduced the risk of developing breast cancer.
According to the lead researcher, breast cancer rates were 50% lower in the group of women who exercised - and up to 70% lower among African-Americans who exercised. The best news was that the risk for various types of breast cancer was reduced - even the most aggressive types.
Teaching our families how to prevent illness begins with a healthy role model. READ labels, exercise, buy healthy products, do regular self-examination - and teach your daughters the same wellness habits!
Linda Chae is President & Chief Formulator for Chae Organics, Inc. and a pioneer in 'go natural' skin care for consumers. Her commitment to clean, safe toxic free products requires organic ingredients backed by scientific research. As a consumer advocate, protecting human beings from dangers in skin care and hair care products became personal when she became a cancer survivor herself. To order her products, visit http://www.chaeorganics.biz Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Chae |  |
Breast Cancer Types
Ductal cancer has a pre-invasive stage known as breast ductal carcinoma in situ. Once the cancer cells invade the basement membrane of the breast and penetrate the underlying supportive tissue, it is then called invasive ductal cancer. These cancers often lead to the formation of fibrous tissue within the breast that shows on a mammogram with stellate structure. Once large enough to be felt on palpation, a lump of this origin is quite firm in relation to the surrounding breast tissue.
Lobular cancer is often termed "infiltrating" lobular cancer because the cancer cells infiltrate the supporting tissue in a linear fashion. Cancer cells appear as interspersed cords among normal breast tissue, making both mammographic diagnosis and detection by palpation more difficult. The association of infiltrating lobular cancer with a change in the terminal lobular units of the breast duct characterized by atypical lobular cells thought to be the pre-invasive phase of infiltrating lobular cancer. This proliferation of cells was called lobular carcinoma in situ and seemed to be similar to ductal carcinoma in situ in invasive ductal cancer. With more studies, it was found that lobular carcinoma in situ was not necessarily a malignant transformation and when found by itself in a breast biopsy, it did not go on to give rise to an infiltrating lobular carcinoma in most cases. Its presence did, however, may lead to believe that the breast tissue was more prone to cancer of both ductal and lobular types and this increased risk was to two to three times the average woman's risk.
Mucinous or colloid breast cancer accounts for five percent or less of breast malignancies. In this type, the cancer cells retain the ability to secrete mucin, a liquid material that accumulates within the cells. This type of cancer has a good prognosis and is not prone to spread to the lymph nodes and blood system.
Papillary breast cancer is quite rare and under microscopic examination of cancer tissue, the cells form patterns that look like fern rods. The invasive form of this type of cancer is well differentiated and has a good prognosis. Since papillary cancers tend to have a central localization in the breast, often behind the nipple, local control without deformity can be difficult.
The inflammatory type of breast cancer involves a high-grade cancer cell of ductal origin that has a high propensity to spread to the lymph vessels, especially those just beneath the skin. Often, there is no mass or lump upon palpation, but swelling and redness is visible resembling an infection - thus the name inflammatory breast cancer. The treatment protocol usually involves a trial of antibiotics without a response followed by a skin biopsy that will reveal cancer cells in the dermal lymph vessels. This type of breast cancer is very aggressive and surgical removal will not be able to control it locally. However, treatment has evolved that has substantially improved the outlook for women with inflammatory breast cancer. Chemotherapy given as an initial treatment often dramatically changes the breast to a normal appearance, then making local control with surgery and radiotherapy feasible.
There are very, very rare malignancies of the breast that originate form the lymph (lymphoma), or from fat (liposarcoma), or from the skin or its glands. These account for less than a fraction of one percent of all breast cancers.
Michael Russell Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell | |
Breast Cancer in Young Women
Sometimes a cancer is unusual, not in itself, but in the situation which it occurs. Breast cancer is most common in women over 50; there are several cases in women in their 40s. It is far rarer in women under 40, but it does occur. We tend to be particularly shocked when it occurs in a young woman. In this situation it is detected as a lump, since generally, breast cancer screening through mammography is not done in young women.
Very often, a young woman gets misdiagnosed. She detects a lump and she is told it is just lumpy breasts and it is followed for a while until doctors realize it's something serious. Although this can be horrifying, in fact, it's quite understandable, since the vast majority of lumps in women under 35 are totally benign and the risk of cancer is very low. The fact that cancer is not diagnosed immediately doesn't mean that the young patient will die; since most breast cancers have been around 8 to 10 years, and whether it is diagnosed the minute you find it or six months later isn't the critical factor. We're so horrified when a young woman gets breast cancer that there's a disappointing number of lawsuits against doctors failing to find breast cancer in this population, because they're often misdiagnosed and because it's such a gut-wrenching situation. However, in most cases the doctors are not negligent. Still, doctors should be taught that young women can develop breast cancer and that doctors should remain vigilant.
Many doctors believe that breast cancer in a young woman is more aggressive than in older ones. Two studies have recently shed some light on this theory. Both studies showed that the mortality from breast cancer was higher in women who had been pregnant in the past four years. Risk was assessed to be higher right after pregnancy and decreased with each year, going back to normal after four years. Since young women are more likely to have been recently pregnant, they will show more of this effect. This suggests that it may not be the woman's age itself that affects aggressiveness but the changes in her immune system and hormones that go with pregnancy.
Breast cancer in young women is more likely to be hereditary. That makes sense - if you've inherited a gene mutation and you will only need one or two more mutations to get cancer, you're one step closer and you're likely to get there faster, whereas if you "acquire" breast cancer, you still need to get all the genetic mutations. That doesn't work all the time. Like older women, the majority of younger women with breast cancer have no family history. Nevertheless, if you have breast cancer in your family you are more likely to get it at a younger age than if you don't.
Overall, there is no evidence that breast cancer under 35 matched for prognostic features is any more aggressive than a cancer in an older woman. Younger women do, on the other hand, have a higher incidence of poor prognostic features. Still, a young woman and an older woman with the same tumors will have the same general prognosis.
Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Breast Cancer Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell | |
Breast Cancer - Prevent With Healthy Living
Generally speaking, breast cancer can be explained as an abnormal growth or a mass of cells, also known as a tumor, anywhere within the breast or immediate surrounding area. Usually the breast tumor is felt to be a lumpy mass during the early stages of breast cancer. If a woman feels a lump or abnormality of the breast of any kind, she should see a doctor immediately. In many cases, there is no cause for alarm, but because breast cancer can be a killer, medical attention is highly recommended.
When breast cancer is detected early, it can be treated quickly and effectively - usually with excellent results. Quick treatment is essential because all breast tumors start off benign initially. If the tumor has not begun to grow abnormally and is removed during the benign stage, the cancer may not spread. If the cancer does not spread, the woman is able to lead a normal, cancer-free life from that point on.
As with most cancers, the exact cause of breast cancer has not been pinpointed. However, there are many risk factors applied to many women. There are many arguments that breast cancer is hereditary, so if there is a history of the cancer in a woman’s family, she should see a doctor regularly for preventative measures. While heredity may play a role, life choices do as well. For instance, women who smoke cigarettes and consume alcohol regularly are at a higher risk for breast cancer than those who do not. Additionally, obese women that do not engage in regular physical activity are at an elevated risk for breast cancer.
It has been found, however, that altering the levels of hormones in the body can lead to different forms of cancer, breast cancer included. Many women take drugs and supplements that have estrogen as a main ingredient. These medications are used to increase sexual drive, assist in lactation, or deal with menopause. There are studies currently underway to help determine the influence of increased levels of estrogen on the development of breast cancer.
Despite the exact causes of breast cancer being unknown, there are many resources explaining and suggesting how a woman might prevent it. While much of this literature is purely speculation, there are precautions all women can take including maintaining a healthy body weight. Because overweight women have a higher chance of developing breast cancer, it is a good idea to lose the fat. Also, regular visits to the doctor are recommended. However, one of the best ways a woman can monitor her breast health is by conducting the at-home exam once a month.
In addition to regular doctor visits and maintaining a healthy body weight, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise can also influence the onset, or not, of many types of cancers. Foods that contain nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants essential to preventing breast cancer include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and legumes. Other good foods are any type of citrus, tomatoes and soy products. A diet low in carbohydrates may also be helpful.
Combining the healthy diet with regular exercise, a positive attitude and an overall healthy lifestyle may dramatically reduce a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer. By no means are these suggestions the only answer, but should be followed as part of an overall attempt at living as healthy as possible.
Michael Russell Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell | |