Mesothelioma Treatment Options Are Very Limited If The Disease Is Detected Too Late: If you suspect that you have any form of cancer, you really should schedule an appointment with your family doctor ...
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Understanding Breast Cancer Causes: The Keys to Prevent the Disease
The causes of breast cancer and its prevention are probably the two major questions of every woman who are concerned about the disease. There are many myths surrounding this disease that are mistaken for facts. Some people believe that it cannot be prevented, and others believe that we cannot detect it through self examination. Those mistaken beliefs lead to confusion and even worsen the condition of the person suffering from breast cancer. To prevent it from occurring in the first place, we must know the causes and the risk factors. Gender and age are the two biggest risk factors. This type of cancer is more common in women over 50 years of age (around 65-70% of all cases). Race also plays a significant role; in the US, white women have a greater risk to develop the cancer than African American women.
If a woman has a history of cancer in one breast, the likelihood for the cancer to develop in other breast is increased by three to four times. Women who have a family history of breast cancer are also at greater risk. You should also be aware of any genetic changes and mutations that are passed along in your family. The disease is linked to the abnormal genes BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. Thus, women who inherit those abnormal genes, especially BRCA 1, should be more aware since they tend to develop the cancer at early age. Additionally, they are also at higher risk to develop ovarian cancer.
Hormonal factors also play a major role, too. Women whose period starts at early age (such as 11 years old or younger) and women who experience late menopause (such as 55 years old and older), are more likely to develop the cancer. Women who give birth before the age of 30 may be protected from breast cancer. On the contrary, women who never give birth at all are at higher risk.Besides child-bearing, breastfeeding is an important factor as well. Mothers who breastfeed their infants are less susceptible to cancer than those who do not.
Other lethal diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke are often linked to poor lifestyle and dietary habits. Breast cancer is not an exception. Women who consume alcohol regularly are at higher risk, depending on the amount consumed. On the other hand, it is believed that regular exercise may reduce the risk, although there is no definitive guide on how much exercise one should do. The risk is also higher in women who receive radiation therapy in the upper body to treat particular diseases before the age of 30, and those who are overweight.
Understanding the causes of breast cancer is very critical. It can help women to prevent the disease from ever happening. Do not let breast cancer take your whole life.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The 6 Most Common Diagnostic Techniques For Breast Cancer in America
The United States has the highest rate of breast cancer in the world. Breast cancer in America is even indicated as the second most common cancer, after skin cancer. Since 1990, death rates have decreased by almost 30%. Nevertheless, it still causes a lot of death, not just in America, but also worldwide. In 2007, it was expected to cause 40,910 deaths in the US alone, which accounts for almost 2% of all death cases.
There are several risk factors for breast cancer in America which would be different from one area to another. Most of the cases in America are caused by the following factors: older age, menstruating at an early age, older age at first birth or have never given birth, a personal history of breast related diseases (both benign and malignant), radiation therapy on the chest/breast, estrogen or progesterone replacement therapy, or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
However, breast cancer in America seems to have a better prognosis and treatment system nowadays. Before treating the cancer patients, doctors should perform several tests or examinations on the patients, such as:
1. Physical exam and history: Physical examination is done to the whole body to check the general signs of health. A history of the patient's past illnesses and habits could be a reference for the doctor about how to treat the cancer if the patient is indeed suffering from the disease.
2. Mammography: This diagnostic technique utilizes low-energy X-rays to check for any abnormal masses in the breast.
3. Ultrasonography: After a mammogram, it is possible for your doctor to perform ultrasonography as well. This is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses ultrasound (sound waves with the frequency greater than 20,000 Hz).
4. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Like ultrasonography, MRI is also a complementary diagnostic technique. With this method, your doctor can determine which stage your cancer is at right now. Compared to X-ray, it works better at imaging augmented breasts.
5. Blood chemistry studies: A sample of your blood will be taken and tested for any anomalies. When someone has breast cancer, the breast tissue will release certain substances into the bloodstream at unusual amounts (either lower or higher than normal).
6. Biopsy: This is a test that involves the removal of a small part of the breast tissue for examination. The tissue sample is then observed under a microscope to check for any signs of cancer. There are four types of biopsies: excisional biopsy, incisional biopsy, core biopsy, and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy.
The diagnostic techniques mentioned above are the most common screening methods for detecting breast cancer in America. For more information about this disease, please visit our website.
7 FAQs About Breast Cancer
1. What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that originates from breast tissue. Malignant tumor itself is a group of cancer cells which invade the surrounding tissues; it can also spread to other parts of the body which are not directly related to the affected area.
2. How does it occur?
This disease is caused by the mutation or abnormal changes in our genes which trigger the overgrowth of cancerous cells. What normally happens in our body is that when old cells die, they are replaced with new ones. If a genetic mutation occurs, the cells rapidly grow and multiply out of control to form a tumor. The malignant tumor is what we call cancer.
3. What are the warning signs?
One of the most common symptoms of the disease is the presence of a lump in the breast. Abnormal lumps can also be found in the lymph nodes of the armpit. Other symptoms include the change in size, shape, and tenderness of the breast, inversion of the nipple, skin dimpling, and bloody or clear discharge from the nipple.
4. I have breast cancer history in my family. Can I inherit the disease?
Every woman or man can be affected by the disease regardless his or her family history. Although indeed family history increase your risk of getting the cancer, in fact, only 10-15% of all breast cancer cases are believed to be caused by inherited gene mutation. About 80% of women who are diagnosed with the disease do not have family history of the disease.
5. What factors can increase my risk of getting the cancer?
The disease may be caused by many factors including sex, age, race, as well as childbearing and breastfeeding. Women aged 55 or older or those who give birth for the first time after the age of 30 have higher chance of getting the cancer. In the U.S., Caucasian women are also more prone than African American women. On the other hand, women from Native American, Asian, and Hispanic origins have lower risk.
6. Does it also occur in men?
The disease can also occur in men, although very rarely. However, breast cancer cases in men tend to be more serious due to late diagnosis.
7. I am diagnosed with this cancer recently. Can it be cured? What are my odds of surviving?
The chance of survival from the disease depends greatly on what stage it is at. The earlier it is detected, the more likely it can be cured. Thanks to modern medical technology, new diagnostic techniques offer more accurate diagnosis. A patient may undergo treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery depending on the type and stage of the cancer.
Breast cancer is the second most common as well as the second most lethal cancer in women. Visit our website to get more details about the cancer as well as pictures on breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Detection And Treatment
One of the most feared diseases by women is breast cancer. Although it occurs mainly in women, in some rare cases it occurs in men as well. Many women are very afraid of this disease as it might cause them to lose their breasts. Even worse, it can also be deadly, like any other cancer cases. It is believed that all women have the possibility to suffer from this disease if they mistreat their body. There are, however, several things that you can do to minimize the side effects of breast cancer.
The simplest thing that you can do by yourself to detect breast cancer is by feeling your breasts. This method is called Breast Self-Examination. Usually, after you have finished your monthly period, the lump that is potential to be the cell of breast cancer is more touchable. You just have to feel your breast for any lumps. If you find one, do not panic. It is normal for you to be wary but you should keep in mind that it is somehow curable depending on how bad the cancer cell is. You can go to a doctor to for a mammogram or ultrasound procedure in order to find out if you really do have breast cancer, find out the severity of the cancer and to know what future actions you should undertake in order to cure it.
After you have done the check-up, usually your doctor will give you two options. To remove the cancer cell, you can either undergo a surgery or take chemotherapy sessions. Your doctor will most likely suggest you to take chemo. You will be advised for a surgery only if the condition of the cancer cell in your breast is too severe. Many people fear chemotherapy because of its potential side effects, such as hair loss. Even so, it is proven effective by many people in treating cancer.
Besides chemotherapy and surgery, another option is to try alternative medication. However, this treatment won't work effectively by itself. It can be used to complement chemotherapy sessions. It is intended to minimize the side effects of chemo that most women fear of. Some of the methods of alternative medication include acupuncture therapy, taking herbal drinks like ginseng, and even healthy diet. All of these can be quite helpful to help patients cope with their chemo sessions that can be quite stressful.
In short, although breast cancer is lethal, it is curable. What matters the most is that you need to detect the symptoms as early as possible because it increases the chances for a successful treatment.
More to learn about Breast Cancer and Skin Cancer, you can find at our website!
Stay Healthy, Mom
Husbands have to suffer a lot when their wives are out on a vacation for a day or two. This is when they realize that their wives manage their houses, kids, offices and everything incredibly well. A Woman has to be fit as a fiddle round the clock right from making early breakfast for her son to late night dinner for her husband. All this requires a lot of hard work, patience and of course strength. Be it a Sunday or a Monday, she doesn't get any time to sit and think about her health. Women have proved their immense talent in every field. They try to be perfect mothers, wives, colleagues, employees and friends but if all of this is at stake of their health then this is of no use. Health comes first but for women it comes very first.
If they are over thirty, special attention needs to be given to their health, nutrition and weaknesses. Breast Cancer it is becoming quite frequent in women these days. The symptoms may vary from swelling to skin changes. Other symptoms can be dimpling, breast pain, nipple pain, nipple discharge, redness or thickening of breast skin or any kind of lump. Any lump which can be felt might not be cancer. If they feel that the lump is spread non-uniformly then they should go for cancer examination. The lump might be tender and small and might not be felt. Regular check up might help detecting it. One thing which must be remembered is that cancer can be killed if detected at early stages.
Prevention:
A healthy diet and regular exercise are necessary not only for maintaining overall health but also to prevent breast cancer. An aerobic activity for decent 30-60 minutes, fruits, vegetables and whole grain diet with low fat, limited red meat consumption and no alcohol are a few steps which would put you at lower risks of having breast cancer. These tips if followed regularly would help you remain healthy for the rest of your life.
A woman who has had full term pregnancy before age of 30 or if she has fed her children for over 12 months is at lower risk than a woman who has not. The key to avoid this cancer is staying healthy and fit. If a woman is at risk of having cancer based on above criteria she should do Breast Self Examination every month and should go to doctor for regular check up. Tamoxifen and Raloxifen are two drugs to prevent breast cancer. A doctor must be consulted before their use to know about the risks and benefits they have.
If you are a woman, do follow these tips to stay healthy, fit and smart. You must remember that there are a lot of lives connected with you. Falling sick and getting tired are not in your dictionary. If you are a husband, take good care of her and ensure that she is regular in her check-ups. If you are a son, make her feel happy and proud of you because you know she is important to you. Keep telling her 'stay healthy mom'.
Fish Oil and the Fight Against Breast Cancer
There is little, if any, guidance for consumers who wish to use supplements to help in disease prevention and treatment especially, when it comes to the fight against cancer and its prevention. Studies have repeatedly found cancer prevention properties in different types of foods and the nutrients that they contain. Several schools of Epidemiology have found consistent proof that diets high in fruits and vegetables can prevent certain types of cancer and reduce the incidence in other types. The newest evidence shows that fish oil can also provide some protection against mouth, pharynx, lung, stomach, esophageal, colon, rectum, bladder and breast cancers.
With more than 200,000 diagnosed breast cancer cases per year and 40,000 or more deaths from this disease, women deserve the best nutritional information available in order to stave off this killer. Mainstream medicine is often quick to dismiss nutritional avenues for disease prevention but in the case of breast and most other cancers, even the mainstream medical community is looking to the foods we eat to help in this fight. As more physicians accept the beneficial part of nutrition in the fight against breast cancer, supplements like fish oil will gain a wider foothold and the benefits can be seen in a wider segment of the population. In a study called VITAL (Vitamin and Lifestyle Cohort Study) those respondents who took fish oil on a regular basis (counted as 3 or more times per week) were shown to have a 32% reduction in breast cancers.
The women who took part in the study were all between the ages of 50 and 76 and had never shown signs of breast cancer. They completed questionnaires concerning their lifestyle and supplements taken and the group was followed over a period of 9 years. During the follow-up period 880 women were diagnosed with breast cancer out of over 35,000 participating women. The women who had been taking the fish oil supplements containing high levels of EPA and DHA (greater than 1 gram per day) showed a one-third reduction in the incidence of cancers. The American Association for Cancer Research scored this as a significant finding for which they were not prepared. Out of the total number of supplements taken by the participants, the fish oil showed some of the most promising benefits.
A number of natural medicine publications have picked up on this and have begun to investigate other studies looking for links to a reduction in breast cancers. Over the years fish oil has been shown to have some excellent health benefits including protecting the heart (heart disease is the number 2 killer among women), reducing the effects of aging (such as memory loss, Alzheimer's, dementia, and depression), and strengthening bones and joints. The important nutrient found in fish oil is EPA and DHA. These two molecules are two that must be gotten from your diet as the body cannot synthesize these from any thing else. An alternate essential acid is ALA but in order for the body to use it, it must first be converted to DHA and the body is not efficient at this process.
The best dietary sources of fish oil come from cold-water fish normally referred to as fatty fish. These include salmon, tuna, mackerel, cod, herring, sardines, and anchovies. Chia seeds, sunflower seeds, kelp, and olive are excellent vegetable sources of these essential fatty acids. However, many people find it easier to take a fish oil supplement that provides a high dose of EPA and DHA (greater than 1 gram per day) in purified capsule form to avoid the possibility of any heavy metal contamination. Quality sources of fish oil and omega-3 supplements are available from many retailers.
George M. Espinoza is an industrial engineering technician who has worked in the development of packaging and preservation equipment for the past 8 years. He is a certified natural healer and works with communities who are medically under served. He focuses on prevention of disease in his community work. Omega-3 Benefits
