cancer information

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Breast Cancer Information - Every Woman Should Read This

By Tyson J Stevenson

Tip! Stay Away From Tanning Beds: It is a myth to believe that tanning beds and sunlamps are free of harmful UV rays. These cosmetic instruments might make your skin more attractive in the short-term, but they can significantly increase your risk of developing skin cancer in the long-term.

Millions of women are affected with breast cancer all around the world. Breast cancer is growing like an epidemic and is predicted that 45,000 patients will die from breast cancer, this year. If you feel a solid lump in your breast, you must visit a specialist for consultation.

Breast cancer symptom:

Breast cancer in its early stages does not cause any pain. Unfortunately, in early stages when breast cancer develops, it does not show any breast cancer symptom. But as it grows, it can cause remarkable changes, which a woman should note. Breast cancer symptoms include thickening or lump near or in the breast, change in the shape or size of the affected breast, tenderness of nipple or nipple discharge, inversion of nipple into the breast, pitting or ridges of the breast, skin of the breast appears warm, red, swollen and scaly. A lady should visit her doctor if she persist with any breast cancer symptom.

Specialists diagnose breast cancer by any of the following examinations:
palpation, mammography, ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration, needle biopsy or surgical biopsy.

Tip! Secondhand smoking: it is also known as passive smoking because you tend to inhale smoke without actually holding a cigar or a pipe between your lips. The people who are exposed to this kind of smoking have 24% chances of developing lung cancer.

Breast cancer treatment:

Breast cancer treatment options depend on location and size of the tumor in her breast.

Various methods of breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer treatments can be systemic or local. Radiation therapy and Surgery are the local breast cancer treatments. Local breast cancer treatments are used to destroy, remove, or control the growth of cancer cells. Hormonal therapy and Chemotherapy are systemic treatments. Systemic treatments are targeted to control or destroy cancer cells all over the body. Different forms of breast cancer treatment can be prescribed at the same time or one after other.

Surgery is one of the most common breast cancer treatments. Many types of surgical interventions may be used. A surgical intervention to remove breast is called a mastectomy. An operation carried out to remove the cancer cells without affecting the size of breast is called breast conserving surgery or breast sparing.

Tip! Don't drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn't matter what type of alcohol it is.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy: Under this breast cancer treatment specialists use high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing.

Chemotherapeutic breast cancer treatment: specialists use different types of drugs or combination of different drugs to kill cancerous cells or stop them from growing. Drugs are given in cycles; a treatment period is followed by a recovery period that is again followed by another breast cancer treatment.

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Hormonal therapy for breast cancer treatment is used to stop the growth of cancerous cells that affect the female hormones. This breast cancer treatment may include use of medicines, which change the way hormones work or surgery to remove the ovaries that produce female hormones.

Breast cancer treatment decisions are complex. The decisions are usually affected by the stage of the disease, judgment of the doctors and the consent of the patients.

Breast cancer pictures can be found on various websites and in medical books. These breast cancer pictures can be helpful to make the patient's know about their cancer stage and the possible remedy if any..

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Funds are arranged through various programs like breast cancer walk to spread breast cancer information among the affected and suspected people and to give them moral and economic support as well.

Tyson J Stevenson writes on a wide variety of health related subjects, always with valuable news & reviews. Expect to see his name often.

A related resource is Breast Cancer Signs

Further information can be found at News2Reviews

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Veggies for Breast Health? The Breast Cancer/Vegetable Connection

By Danna Schneider

Tip! Keep your weight down. Supposedly there is a link between being overweight and getting breast cancer, especially if you gain a lot of weight after menopause It seems that the more fatty tissue the more oestrogen you have and high oestrogen levels are linked to breast cancer.

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer women get, putting lung cancer second to this growing female epidemic. Although the exact causes of breast cancer still are not known, studies and statistics show that a woman's risk of getting breast cancer increases as she ages.

A new intriguing study suggests - no, concludes - that not only is a vegetable-rich diet good for preventing breast cancer, but it also significantly improves a breast cancer patient's odds of the disease returning after remission.

You may have been going all these years, thinking that eating your veggies was just a good health measure that was only the skinny minnies and health nuts. Well, new studies are showing that the consumption of vegetables is not only preventative maintenance against many kinds of cancers, but it also dramatically improves a woman's odds of breast cancer returning
once she has gone into remission.

Tip! Don't drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn't matter what type of alcohol it is.

Not only is it the mere consumption of your leafy greens and brightly colored veggies, it's also got a lot to do with the variety of veggies that are consumed. The wider the variety, the better the women's chances were in the study of continuing on in full remission and recovery from their cancer.

The Carotenoid Connection

So, what exactly is the responsible factor for this improvement of odds against the return of cancer? It's a tiny little micronutrient, found commonly in many vegetables, called carotenoids which is believed to be responsible. The reason this conclusion was reached is that women who did not see their breast cancer return tested with very high carotenoid blood levels, while the women who did see their breast cancer return did not.

Tip! Avoid hormone therapy. There is a link between women who have hormone therapy after menopause and breast cancer.

The same women who had high levels of this potent antioxidant compound said that they not only consumed a veggie-rich diet, but that they also consumed a wider variety of vegetables in their diet, which lends itself to higher levels of this antioxidant in the blood stream. This translates into a powerful anti-cancer message : Eat your veggies, just like your grandma said.

Visit Natural Breasts: Enhancement and Health for information on how to naturally manage breast health, as well as beautify your breasts and keep them healthy and "young". Danna Schneider is the founder of Breast Enhancement.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Breast Cancer Prevention Tips

By Michael Russell

Cancer & Health- It's All About The Cell. Discover the Truth about Cancer and How to Eliminate Sickness and Disease Naturally by Health Expert Dr. Thompson.

Despite all the 'noise' about breast cancer being one of the worst killers of women in the world today, it is annoying that most women still do not take active steps towards protecting themselves from this dreaded condition. Although, the increasing prevalence of breast cancer and perhaps other cancerous conditions has been linked to environmental factors such as the increasing levels of radiation and chemicals released into the air, water, soil and food that we consume in the civilized world; or to genetic and hereditary factors, the role of other self imposed factors cannot be ignored.

There are a lot of things every woman can do individually or collectively, to prevent breast cancer. Poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise or ingestion or hormone mimicking medications, all play crucial roles in the cause of breast cancer and any attempt at preventing this disease should begin from here.

A simple positive and optimistic attitude has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. This will sound amazing to many people; however, it will suffice to explain that several medical studies have demonstrated the link between a positive attitude and an improved immune system. Laughter and humor has been shown to enhance the body's immunity and prevents against cancer and other diseases. You must have heard the slogan 'happy people don't fall sick'. Part of maintaining a positive attitude is learning to express your feelings. The mind is free and open and energy flows freely throughout the body when there are no accumulated pains and anxieties weighing you down.

Exercise is another tool that you will find very useful in your fight against breast cancer. Aerobic exercises, at least 3-4 times a week, constant breath work and deep body awareness (as in yoga meditation) are all effective in preventing breast cancer. Exercise has been shown to be very effective in maintaining a healthy body and mind. By exercising regularly, you will do yourself a great favour, because you will not only be preventing breast cancer, you will also be making it easier to maintain a sound mind and healthy body.

Eating healthy food is another great tool in preventing breast cancer. A great deal of cancers are caused by the chemicals and preservatives in the food we eat. Most genetically modified foods (GMO) i.e. food materials that were enhanced in the laboratory, are known to pose serious health dangers to consumers. Also, the hormone mimicking substances in contraceptive pills and other prescription pills could predispose you to cancerous growth. Thus, taking the right supplements could also be an effective tool in the fight against breast cancer.

Tip! Aspirin. Well, they said that aspirin was good for preventing heart attacks and now they say there is definitely a link between taking a regimen of aspirin and preventing breast cancer.

Besides all these, self examination of the breast regularly is the number one means of detecting any changes in the breast. It is advisable to examine the breast at the same time every month; this will make it easier to spot any changes in the shape, color or texture of the breast. Common signs or changes to look out for are: lumps, thickening or knots anywhere in the breast, unusual swelling or warmth, change in size, color or texture such as reddening or darkening of the breast, itching or scaling especially on the nipple, sudden discharge, rashes, dimpling of the skin or unusual pain. Although, most of these changes might not be a sign of impending breast cancer, however, you never can tell. Forget all what you have heard, it is still possible to prevent breast cancer.

Tip! Don't drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn't matter what type of alcohol it is.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Breast Cancer Explained

By Paul R. J. Smith

Women of any ages are at the risk of developing breast cancer at any stage in there life but the risk increases the older you get. Other factors of developing the disease play a part too such as a significant family history of the disease, although this doesn't mean that you will get breast cancer it does mean you should be more aware of the chances of getting it.

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The onset of your period at an early age is thought also to have a link to women developing breast cancer at some stage in there life, your alcohol intake and the fact of being a smoker may also play a part.

Signs to watch out for

The detection of breast cancer at an early age can greatly improve your chances of overcoming the disease and a breast screening programme is in operation for women over 50. For women under this age it is important to be "breast aware" and there are ways for checking yourself which should be done on a regular basis.

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The easiest way to self check is at a time when you are taking a bath or shower, running a soapy hand all over the breast and up under the arm is the quickest and easiest method.

The national health breast awareness state there is a five point code, Get to know what is normal for you

Take notice of your breast, how they look and feel. Make it a point to know off by heart what to check for.

Always report any changes however small to your doctor.

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Attend the breast screening programme if you are over 50.

Performing a self check takes but a few minutes but could save your life, as you perform the self check you are searching for any changes to the shape and size of your breast and also feeling for any lumps as these are often the first clear indication of breast cancer developing.

If you do find a lump it doesn't always mean the worst, 9 out of 10 lumps found in the breast are in fact benign, but it is important that should you fins a lump however small to seek medical advice and rule out the onset of cancer.

Tip! Don't drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn't matter what type of alcohol it is.

Treatments and Prognosis

There are generally four different types of treatment for breast cancer. These are, surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy, the choice made for your treatment will involve several different factors such as if you have had your menopause, the type of breast cancer you have, the size and stage and the results of tests done on the cancer cells.

Breast cancer treatment also goes on stages and grades starting from grade 1 where the cancer is slow growing, stage 2 which is intermediate and stage 3 where the cancer is fast growing or spreading. The lower the grade the better chance of complete recovery, with stage 3 the cancer is more likely to return after treatment, but there are no set rules these are only guidelines.

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Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Breast Cancer - Paget's Disease

By Michael Russell

Tip! Pesticides. This one surprised me but there is a definite link between exposure to pesticides and breast cancer.

One of the rare types of Breast Cancer is Paget's disease of the nipple, which can appear as a rash on the nipple. The rash or other changes in the nipple can indicate a cancer in the breast ducts, many times located under the nipple, which has then extended itself onto the surface of the nipple.

Sometimes this sign of breast cancer indicates a small ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is a very early breast cancer that has not yet left the duct. Other times, Paget's disease of the nipple may indicate an invasive cancer somewhere else in the breast. In some cases, a woman who shows signs of Paget's disease of the nipple will additionally have an abnormal mammogram or have lump in her breast.

Tip! Gets lots of sunshine as breast cancer is less prevalent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by fog or smog.

Before we move on I want to clarify that Paget's disease of the nipple is not the same as Paget's disease of the bone, which is a severe bone disease. Sir James Paget, a British surgeon and physiologist, discovered both conditions which were first documented by him, but they are completely unrelated diseases. Paget's disease of the nipple can also affect men, although it is rare.

Paget's disease of the nipple is often first noticed when physical signs of the disease appear. Signs of Paget's disease usually only occur on one nipple and can include persistent crustiness, scaliness, or redness of the nipple, itching or burning of the nipple and surrounding areola and bleeding or oozing from the nipple and areola.

Paget's disease can often be confused with other skin conditions, such as breast eczema. Breast Eczema is a highly treatable condition which can be characterized by red, itchy patches or weeping blisters around the nipple which reoccur, but clear up with proper treatment. Paget's disease does not clear up with routine treatment for eczema or infection and usually only affects one nipple.

Tip! Aspirin. Well, they said that aspirin was good for preventing heart attacks and now they say there is definitely a link between taking a regimen of aspirin and preventing breast cancer.

A mammogram is the next step to check for cancer in the actual breast. Sometimes any underlying abnormal breast mass will not be present on a mammogram. A clean mammogram combined with an abnormal nipple finding requires further investigation.

A biopsy of the nipple tissue will need to be performed. Usually this consists of a "punch biopsy" that removes a small amount of tissue to check for cancer. If the mammogram indicates other areas of concern within the breast, biopsies of those areas should be performed.

Tip! Avoid hormone therapy. There is a link between women who have hormone therapy after menopause and breast cancer.

If Paget's disease is caught early while it is still confined to the nipple and underlying breast ducts, the patient typically has an excellent prognosis. However, if Paget's disease of the nipple is associated with an invasive breast cancer or if the cancer has spread out of the breast to other areas of the body (metastatic disease), the survival rate can be lower.

Treatment of Paget's disease of the nipple involves surgery, radiation treatment and Chemotherapy or drug therapy (such as tamoxifen). Like other types of breast cancer, the location of the cancer will determine which type of surgery is done - a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Radiation therapy usually follows a lumpectomy.

A recent development in surgical treatment involves removing only the nipple and areola (sometimes followed by radiation therapy) in patients whose Paget's disease has no other underlying breast cancer, thus allowing the woman to keep her breast. Following treatment, an artificial nipple can be recreated using skin grafts and tattooing.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Monday, November 20, 2006

Breast Cancer - Ductal Lavage

By Michael Russell

Cancer-Free. Gentle, non-toxic healing of cancer is not only possible - I've done it for over 800 people in the last 6 years.

One diagnostic technique being studied to detect early stage breast cancer is Ductal Lavage. Ductal lavage was first thought of by George Pappanicolou - since he felt that all breast cancers start in the ductal system, then why not test cells from the ducts for cancer. He tried to extract fluid and cells from the duct but it was difficult and not many other researchers had an interest in what he was trying to do in the 1950s.

20 years later, some other doctors picked up where Pappanicolou had started and began studies of ductal lavage on the west coast. Dr. Pappanicolou was actually the developer of the pap smear test for cervical cancer, so the ductal lavage technique is often referred to as a "pap smear" for the breast.

Tip! Gets lots of sunshine as breast cancer is less prevalent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by fog or smog.

Now we know that over 95% of breast cancers start in the cells lining the breast ducts and that it can take 8 to 10 years for cells to grow into a 1 cm tumor that can be felt or seen on a mammogram. A ductal lavage (lavage is French for wash or rinse) consists of flushing cells out of the breast duct using suction and a saline wash.

The procedure involves little to no discomfort. A doctor will apply an anesthetic cream that will numb the nipple area. A breast pump is used to determine which 1-2 ducts will be flushed later in the procedure. When the ducts to be flushed have been located, more anesthetic is put in the duct and a catheter is placed. Salt water is flushed through the catheter into the duct and the cells collected to be looked at by a pathologist.

Tip! Don't drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn't matter what type of alcohol it is.

When a pathologist looks at the cells, he or she is looking for abnormalities which could suggest that cancer might develop at a later date. Women may want to consider preventive measures if abnormalities are found to be present in the breast. Those can include careful monitoring with mammography, clinical breast exams and breast self-exams; prophylactic mastectomy (preventive breast removal) for women at very high risk of breast cancer and the use of the drug tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen.

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The presence of abnormal or atypical cells in a woman's breast does not mean she will develop breast cancer. Studies show that most atypical cell do not become cancer. Because of those findings, ductal lavage is recommended to be performed only on women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer. That would include women with a strong family or personal history of breast cancer, those who carry the BRCA gene mutations and those who have had non-cancerous conditions from prior biopsies. (Lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical hyperplasia)

Tip! Pesticides. This one surprised me but there is a definite link between exposure to pesticides and breast cancer.

The procedure is currently available in a few locations across the US., but as more doctors complete the training for the procedure it will become more widely available. In most cases a woman must meet some eligibility requirements in order to have a ductal lavage performed on their breasts.

Dr. Susan Love is one of the biggest advocates for the procedure in the United States. She feels that ductal lavage can help physicians better understand the development of breast cancer along certain groups of women and in addition, help identify women most likely to develop breast cancer based on hereditary and environmental factors.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Breast Cancer - Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

By Michael Russell

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There are many types of breast cancer and not all look the same way. Not all breast cancers show up as a lump. One type of breast cancer that does not typically present as a lump is Inflammatory Breast Cancer or IBC. IBC makes up only 1% to 6% of all breast cancers, so many people are not familiar with the disease.

IBC is the most aggressive type of breast cancer. It tends to grow at a much faster rate than the other types of cancer. IBC grows in sheets or nests of cells in the breast as opposed to growing in a solid tumor. IBC grows in the dermal (skin) lymphatic system which explains why there is usually no lump associated with it. The symptoms of IBC appear due to the cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels below the skin - typically presenting as warm skin and color changes. Because of the involvement of the lymphatic system, IBC carries an initial Stage 3 diagnosis, however, the earlier you detect the disease and begin treatment, the greater your chances of survival.

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Symptoms of IBC include a rapid, unusual increase in breast size; nipple discharge or change in the areola area (the pigmented area around the nipple); any skin changes of the breast such as redness, rash or blotchiness; a flattening or retracting of the nipple; persistent itching of the breast or nipple; dimpling or ridging of the nipple; a lump or thickening of the breast tissue; any lymph node swelling under the arm or above the collar bone; stabbing pain or sore breast; and a feverish breast. These symptoms may appear quickly and seemingly out of nowhere. Mammograms and ultrasounds usually miss IBC unless there is a tumor involved.

IBC can be detected by a number of biopsy methods. A skin punch biopsy or needle core biopsy in combination with an MRI and/or a PET scan are usually the course of action when investigating suspicious symptoms. Any area of concern removed by biopsy must also include the tissue from below the skin surface. Another term used to refer to IBC in a pathology report is "dermal lymphatic involvement".

Tip! Aspirin. Well, they said that aspirin was good for preventing heart attacks and now they say there is definitely a link between taking a regimen of aspirin and preventing breast cancer.

Some doctors will treat women with an antibiotic for mastitis upon initial consultation. Mastitis is a benign breast infection. If your symptoms have not improved after 7-10 days of antibiotic treatment, insist on a biopsy. Some skin rashes can be caused by allergies or are reactions to certain soaps and/or detergents. Changing the soap or detergent you use can sometime resolve a skin rash, but if there is no improvement you should insist on a biopsy.

One myth of breast cancer is that is does not hurt. Most of the time breast pain comes from non-cancer causes, such as hormonal changes. With IBC there is pain involved more so than other types of breast cancer.

The treatment for IBC includes chemotherapy, modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and auxiliary lymph node dissection (ALND) and radiation. If the cancer is hormone receptive, a hormonal treatment like Tamoxifen is used.

As with all breast cancer symptoms, any indication of IBC should not be taken lightly. Chances are in your favor that it will be benign, but in the event that you do have IBC, early detection and treatment are key to your survival.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Friday, November 17, 2006

Breast Cancer - Hereditary Breast Cancer

By Michael Russell

Cancer involves mutations, or changes, in genes. In most people affected by cancer, these genetic changes happen after birth later in life. In Hereditary Cancer, the cancer is caused by a genetic mutation that the person was born with. Some cancers, such as breast, ovary and colon tend to be hereditary, but that doesn't mean that you will develop a cancer in one of these areas if you have an immediate family member that has experienced the disease. Not all genetic mutations will develop into cancer, however, the mutation will increase the chance that the person will have a higher risk of developing cancer.

Only 10% of all breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary. Some of the factors that increase the occurrence of hereditary breast cancer are breast cancer before age 45, male breast cancer, cancer in both breasts and many cases of breast and/or ovarian cancer on one side of the family. If you have two relatives from the same side of your family with breast cancer, your risk of getting the disease can be increased. However it does not mean that you will definitely get breast cancer. You also must keep in mind that the risk for hereditary cancer can be passed on from your mother or your father. You must look at both sides of the family.

Tip! Color your diet with a large variety of colorful, cancer-fighting fruit and vegetables. There are seven different color ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and vegetables, we are extending our consumption of cancer (and other disease) fighting nutrients.

The two hereditary mutations that are looked at for breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2. The test for these two genetic factors are done by taking a blood sample. Both of these BRCA mutations (BReast CAncer 1 and 2) are associated with breast and ovarian cancers.

So what factors should you consider when thinking about genetic testing? The age and onset of breast cancer. What other types of cancer are present. What other family members have/had cancer and their relationship to you. When you meet with a genetic counselor, they will go over your family's medical history and information. This will include first-degree relatives, such as your parents, siblings and children. second-degree relatives like grandparents, aunts and uncles and your third-degree relatives or cousins.

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Genetic testing can help a breast cancer patient make decisions about types of treatment and follow-care. A woman with the one of the BRCA mutations may decide to have both breasts removed completely to help reduce the risk of reoccurrence. Having your healthy breasts or ovaries removed to prevent cancer is called a "prophylactic surgery" and many women who test positive for the genetic mutations decide to go that route. They may just decide to take Tamoxifen to lower their risk.

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Not only can women take advantage of risk reduction techniques based on the results of their genetic testing, there are also increased surveillance tools that can help high risk individuals with early detection. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasound are two tools that can be combined with a mammogram to detect breast cancer in its most treatable stage.

Not every person who carries a genetic mutation will develop cancer. You must remember that genetic testing does not detect breast cancer and it will not tell you if you will get breast cancer in your lifetime. The decision to participate in genetic testing is very personal and there is no right or wrong choice in making the decision to have it done.

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Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Breast Cancer - Young Women

By Michael Russell

Tip! Don't drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn't matter what type of alcohol it is.

Although many people believe that young women don't get breast cancer, the fact is they can and they do. One in every 229 women between the ages of 30 and 39 will be diagnosed with breast cancer within the next 10 years.

The statistics that surround younger women and breast cancer are frightening. Although only a small percentage of all new breast cancer cases each year involve women aged 40 and younger, breast cancer is still the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 15 and 54. The number of young women diagnosed each year with breast cancer is between 11-12,000. Close to 1400 of those women will die each year. A lot of young women and their doctors do not realize that they too are at risk for this disease.

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One of the problems with detection of breast cancer in younger women is that a mammogram is not an effective screening tool for women under 40. Younger women tend to have dense breast tissue and that prevents tumors or areas of calcifications to be seen in the film. Because of the lack of screening tools, younger women are often diagnosed at a later stage in the disease than their older counterparts. In addition, young women's cancers are generally more aggressive and have lower rates of survival. The survival rate for 5 years is 83% for younger women - lower than the survival rate for post-menopausal women.

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Another issue that impacts younger women who have breast cancer is that most research is done on breast cancer patients who are over the age of 40 or post-menopausal. Younger women are an underrepresented population in research studies. The drug Tamoxifen is an example of a drug which affects post-menopausal women differently than pre-menopausal women, so younger women who are prescribed this drug as treatment need to do careful research on their own to make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks of the drug.

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An additional area of concern for younger women who have breast cancer include issues such as early onset on menopause and fertility issues. Many young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have not yet begun a family. One of the side effects of chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapies can be irreversible menopause. Tamoxifen is a drug that can affect fertility, so again, younger women will need to research their choices carefully if they plan to have children or start a family in the future. One of the newer treatments for women with hormone receptive breast cancer has only been shown to be effective with post-menopausal women, so a treatment option that younger women will have to make in the future is if they want to take tamoxifen OR shut down or remove their ovaries to bring on early menopause to benefit from a more effective treatment.

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The final issue that young women with breast cancer face is the isolation they sometimes feel - brought about by being the youngest in their support group and having to deal with different issues than their older counterparts. One organization which helps provide a network for young breast cancer survivors is the Young Survival Coalition.

Remember - no woman is too young to have Breast Cancer.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

What Not To Say When Your Loved One Tells You She Has Breast Cancer

By Diana Rivers

Tip! Avoid hormone therapy. There is a link between women who have hormone therapy after menopause and breast cancer.

Your best friend just told you she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. You have been friends for years, but now you don't know what to say. Your mind goes into overdrive, suddenly thinking up and casting off all kinds of remarks and platitudes. So, what exactly do you say and how do you say it?

This scenario is being played out every day across the country. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 213,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. With numbers like that, it is critical that women get the support they need right from the beginning.

Tip! Pesticides. This one surprised me but there is a definite link between exposure to pesticides and breast cancer.

What a breast cancer patient won't tell you is that those first reactions and subsequent comments made early in her diagnosis have a huge impact on her state of mind throughout her cancer journey. Not all comments are helpful, and in fact, many well-meaning statements can actually be hurtful.

The first thing to keep in mind is that a newly-diagnosed person is not her usual self. Her sense of who she is has just been turned upside down. There's no way to sugar-coat it: she has just been told she may be dying. She experiences panic, dread, fear, depression, despair, hopelessness, and other emotions, often from one minute to the next. Her grounded world has fallen away leaving her brittle and vulnerable.

Later on her the cancer journey, a survivor may become acclimated to a new identity of a woman with breast cancer and a different sort of "normalcy" will start to form. It doesn't take the place of that once-secure reality, but it allows life to go on.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on a cold January morning via the telephone. Yes, that's right: by telephone. I then called family and friends for support. Here's a few of the first reactions people had to the news of my breast cancer. I like to call this, "What NOT to say to a woman who just told you she has breast cancer."

"You will be OK. I promise!" (Let's be real. No one can promise you that you will be OK. You're already not OK.) While a lot of women are successfully pushed breast cancer out of their lives, some will die. You don't have to say anything about that, but just remember that the woman knows she faces a journey of the unknown, so don't lie. Just simply say you will be there for her every step of the way.

"There are so many things medicine can do these days. The treatments are so much better than they used to be." While that sounds encouraging, my mother, who died of breast cancer in 1979, was treated with surgery, chemo, radiation, which was exactly what I was treated with last year. If you aren't an oncologist, avoid statements about what treatments can and cannot do these days. Support her choice of treatment even if you don't like it.

"You got it early, didn't you?" Don't ask this question! OK, first, what if she didn't get it early? Do you want to make her feel worse about that? Secondly, what if it was detected early, but early detection doesn't save her? In spite of what you may think, not all women survive cancer with early detection. Don't push her to tell you the stage at which her cancer was detected. Keep your curiosity to yourself. If she wants to talk about it, she will.

"You have to keep a positive attitude. It helps you heal." What a load of malarkey. Let's be real: if being positive was all it took to have a good medical outcome, we could wish away all our illnesses. The American Cancer Society notes that although optimism has been promoted by some as a path to longer survival for cancer patients, in reality the scientific evidence of its true role has been (at best) mixed. So don't dump that extra burden on her. What if she doesn't feel positive, but instead feels sick, fatigued, puffy, depressed, angry, or drugged? Negative feelings are entirely appropriate under the circumstances. Let your friend express her feelings around you without the pressure to be a Pollyanna. That's you being a real friend.

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Having said that, don't become Debbie Downer either. Since most people are just plain frightened by the topic of death, they react to cancer in ways to make themselves, not the cancer patient, feel better. Bad news dredges up memories of surgeries, emergencies, and/or traumas for some people, and they just can't seem to stop themselves from sharing all about those experiences, usually in vivid detail.

If the urge is there to tell a newly diagnosed woman about your sister's breast cancer, please repress it. Don't blab about other traumas to an already-worried person. Hospitals, doctors, needles, procedures, the euphemistic "discomfort" are not areas that she needs to dwell on right now. She could be on her last nerve and have no more resources to absorb these stories. Trust me; you are not the only one telling her. The accumulation of such tales over the course of a day would send the strongest of us to hide under the covers.

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In my breast cancer support group we joke that we could make big money making smiley-face tee-shirts for breast cancer patients that say: "Thank you for NOT being compelled to tell me your (or other person you have known) disease, surgery, illness, death, dying, trauma, injury, loss, or similar story. Talk less and listen more."

Show her she has real, tangible help. If you are close enough, offer to go with her as her as an advocate through the medical and/or insurance system. Take notes for her at doctor appointments. Make meals for her and her family so she doesn't have to cook. Buy loungewear sets so she can rest without being in t-shirt and pajama pants all the time. Run the vacuum on Tuesdays. Read to her or tape her favorite shows. Tune in to her likes and needs. Send her chocolates if she likes them; peanut brittle if she doesn't.

And most of all, don't make a big show of concern in the beginning of her cancer journey and then forget about her over the subsequent months or years. Yes, being a support person for someone with cancer isn't easy, but you can find great joy in it, too.

Help the woman you know with breast cancer by laying a foundation of support and love that she can return to in her mind over and over again. Here's one of my favorites: "You are an exceptional, irreplaceable person in my life. You are rare and matchless. I want you to be as healthy and happy as you can possibly be, and I plan to do whatever I can to make that happen for you. You can count of me. I'm not going anywhere."

Diana Rivers is a free-lance author and breast cancer survivor living in Appleton, Wisconsin with her husband and three cats.

Monday, November 13, 2006

How To Make Life Easier For All Who Suffer From Breast Cancer

By Terry Weber

Tip! Avoid hormone therapy. There is a link between women who have hormone therapy after menopause and breast cancer.

I am personally aware of how hard it was to see, Ann, one of my daughters, struggle with the pain of the treatments for her breast cancer. After many long months in the hospital, Ann, in 1995, was relieved of all of her pain as she left us and went to be with the Lord. Her parents, her husband her brothers and sisters, her two children, her friends, her many young autistic students - - all of us, still miss Ann very much.

But, today, because of the many improvements in breast cancer prevention and care,
thousands of lives are being both helped and saved worldwide, every year. In this
way, other families are spared the heartache our family has experienced with our
loss of Ann. But, much more research needs to be done and research, as you know,
costs lots of money.

Tip! Gets lots of sunshine as breast cancer is less prevalent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by fog or smog.

If you know anyone with breast cancer, you have first hand knowledge of the pain,
the upset and the struggle that must be endured with today's ways of treating this
kind of cancer.

Back in '95 I'd have given anything and paid any price to simply reduce Ann's
agonizing pain. One of the aims of breast cancer research is to find better ways to
diagnose and treat those with breast cancer. So far, there is no sure cure, but there
are lots of newly discovered and less painful treatments available. These have been
discovered by intensive research and then put into practice. In this way the suffering
of breast cancer patients is much less in many ways.

Ann's husband has this to say about his wife:

"Ann was diagnosed via a mammogram in October 1993 shortly after we got home
from our year in Israel. By the time she was diagnosed her cancer was stage 4
metastasis and had spread to her hips and liver. She had a mastectomy and then
radiation and chemotherapy. In June of 1994 she had massive chemo with stem cell
transplant at the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, she had her stem cell infusion
on July 5. I well remember how we watched the July 4th fireworks from a hospital
room overlooking the Delaware River. She seemed to do a bit better for a while after
that.

In June of 1995 I was invited to a conference in Cambridge England. Ann went with
me and we spent some time in London. We took a wheelchair with us because she
could not walk for any long period of time. By the end of the trip she was not feeling
well and when we got home we immediately called her oncologist. She entered the
hospital the next day. The cancer had reinvigorated and had spread pretty widely.
She was in St. Luke's until she died in August. There are a lot of things that she
endured. I had to give her injections every day for almost a month before her stem
cell procedure. I don't remember how many major and minor surgeries�
mastectomy, catheter placement, catheter removal, etc. She spent over three
months in the hospital during her treatment. She endured it all with grace and
courage. She mostly worried about the kids and me. She was a remarkable person
and I miss her very much."

Before her marriage Ann, who was 43, had been an excellent, and dedicated teacher
of autistic children. Those who worked with Ann and the children were often filled
with astonishment and praise for the way Ann so lovingly cared for "her kids." She
treated each one as a special person and did her very best to comfort, teach and
help them in every way.

Even after her marriage, she and her husband often invited the children to spend a
weekend with them in their home. In this way Ann tried to help the children's
parents so they could have a couple of day's relief from the constant care that
autistic children always require.

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So, if you would like to donate some of your money toward breast cancer research,
here is an easy way to do it: order one or more of my useful, comfortable and very
special PINK SLEEP MASKS. I guarantee and promise you that 25% of the money you
send for this special sleep mask will be given directly to one or more of the Breast
Cancer Research Foundations for you and we all thank you for your help.

Alternative Cancer Therapy Guide. A Consultant's Guide to over 100 safe, proven alternative cancer treaments. An important and rapidly growing field.

Terry L. Weber

http://www.crafty-ones.com/web/viewproduct.asp?prodID=3085

Terry Weber is a retired advertising/direct mail sales letter copywriter and inventor of several useful items. Terry and his wife Doris are Habitat For Humanity, RV Care-A- Vanners who, for the past eight years have volunteered to help build more than 39 houses all over the USA. They travel to and from the 2-week long builds in their RV. The money they make on their Crafty-Ones website
helps them pay their expenses to and from those volunteer Habitat builds.
P.S. Due to the high cost of gasoline we can no longer afford to drive the RV to
Habitat builds. The RV is parked until gasoline prices come down. (4/28/06)

Saturday, November 11, 2006

What Every Woman Should Know About Breast Cancer

By Stacey Chillemi

Alternative Cancer Therapy Guide. A Consultant's Guide to over 100 safe, proven alternative cancer treaments. An important and rapidly growing field.

Why do women fear breast cancer more than any other disease? Because each year thousands of women develop breast cancer in our society and as scary as it sounds the percentage of breast cancer continues to rise. This type of cancer is very common in our society. Nevertheless, with the help of medical technologies breast cancer is now 90% curable when diagnosed early.

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We do not know what causes breast cancer, although we do know that certain risk factors may put you at higher risk of developing it. A person's age, genetic factors, personal health history and diet all contribute to breast cancer risk.

Before I go any further, we need to start at square one. We may know what breast cancer is, but do we really know the entire factors (details) behind the disease? Let us ask ourselves, "What is breast cancer?"

Breast cancer is when the cells in a woman's body begin to grow and reproduce out of control, which creates a collection of tissue called a tumor. However, just because you have a tumor in the breast does not mean it has to be cancerous.
If the cells that are growing out of control are normal cells, the tumor is not cancerous. However, if the cells that are growing out of control are abnormal and does not function like the body's normal cells, the tumor is cancerous.
Cancers are named after the part of the body from which they originate. Breast cancer originates in the breast tissue. Like other cancers, breast cancer can infect and grow into the tissue surrounding the breast. It can also pass through to other parts of the body and form new tumors. This course of action is called metastasis.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, after nonmelanoma skin cancer. Over the past 50 years, the number of women diagnosed with the disease has increased each year.
Today, approximately one in almost every eight women (13.4%) will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. It is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 35 to 54.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005, approximately 211,240 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and approximately 40,410 will die. Although these numbers may sound frightening, research tells us that the death rate could decrease by 30% if all women age 50 and older who need a mammogram had one.

Only 5-10% of breast cancers occur in women with a clearly defined genetic predisposition for the disease. The majority of breast cancer is not related to their family history. The risk for developing breast cancer increases as a woman ages.

Below I listed the warning signs of breast cancer. It is important to understand what the disease is and to know the symptoms, so you can get medical attention if necessary.

Look for:

� Lump or thickening in, near the breast, or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle.

� A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a seed.

� A change in the size, shape or contour of the breast.

� A bloodstained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple.

� A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed).

� Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.

� An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.

� A marble-like hardened area under the skin.
These changes may be found when performing monthly breast self-exams. By performing breast self-exams, you can become familiar with the normal monthly changes in your breasts. All doctors stress the importance of breast examinations. The problem is that most women do not know how to give a breast examination to them and instead wait until they see their doctor. By then it could be too late. This is why it is important to learn how to give you a breast examination.

Breast self-examination should be performed at the same time each month, three to five days after your menstrual period ends. If you have stopped menstruating, perform the exam on the same day of the month. To perform a breast self-exam, follow the steps described below.

In the mirror:

1. Stand undressed from the waist up in front of a large mirror in a well-lit room. Look at your breasts. Do not be alarmed if they do not look equal in size or shape. Most women's breasts are not. With your arms relaxed by your sides, look for any changes in size, shape or position, or any changes to the skin of the breasts. Look for any skin puckering, dimpling, sores or discoloration. Inspect your nipples and look for any sores, peeling or change in the direction of the nipples.

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2. Next, place your hands on your hips and press down firmly to tighten the chest muscles beneath your breasts. Turn from side to side so you can inspect the outer part of your breasts.

3. Then bend forward toward the mirror. Roll your shoulders and elbows forward to tighten your chest muscles. Your breasts will fall forward. Look for any changes in the shape or contour of your breasts.

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4. Now, clasp your hands behind your head and press your hands forward. Again, turn from side to side to inspect your breasts' outer portions. Remember to inspect the border underneath your breasts. You may need to lift your breasts with your hand to see this area.

5. Check your nipples for discharge (fluid). Place your thumb and forefinger on the tissue surrounding the nipple and pull outward toward the end of the nipple. Look for any discharge. Repeat on your other breast.
In the shower
6. Now, it is time to feel for changes in the breast. It is helpful to have your hands slippery with soap and water. Check for any lumps or thickening in your underarm area. Place your left hand on your hip and reach with your right hand to feel in the left armpit. Repeat on the other side.

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7. Check both sides for lumps or thickenings above and below your collarbone.

8. With hands soapy, raise one arm behind your head to spread out the breast tissue. Use the flat part of your fingers from the other hand to press gently into the breast. Follow an up-and-down pattern along the breast, moving from bra line to collarbone. Continue the pattern until you have covered the entire breast. Repeat on the other side.

Lying down

9. Next, lie down and place a small pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head. Place your left hand on the upper portion of your right breast with fingers together and flat. Body lotion may help to make this part of the exam easier.

10. Think of your breast as a face on a clock. Start at 12 o'clock and move toward 1 o'clock in small circular motions. Continue around the entire circle until you reach 12 o'clock again. Keep your fingers flat and in constant contact with your breast. When the circle is complete, move in one inch toward the nipple and complete another circle around the clock. Continue in this pattern until you have felt the entire breast. Make sure to feel the upper outer areas that extend into your armpit.

11. Place your fingers flat and directly on top of your nipple. Feel beneath the nipple for any changes. Gently press your nipple inward. It should move easily.
Repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 on your other breast.
Cancerous tumors are more likely to be found in certain parts of the breast over others. If you divide the breast into 4 sections, the approximate percentage of breast cancers found in each area are (in clockwise pattern):

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� 41% upper, outer quadrant
� 14% upper, inner quadrant
� 5% lower, inner quadrant
� 6% lower, outer quadrant
� 34% in the area behind the nipple

Almost half occur in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, towards the armpit. Some physicians refer to this region as the "tail" of the breast and encourage women to examine it closely.

See your doctor if you discover any new breast changes, changes that continue after your menstrual cycle, or other changes that you are concerned about such as:

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� An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.

� A lump or thickening in, near the breast, or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle.

� A change in the size, shape or contour of the breast.

� A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a seed.

� A marble-like area under the skin.

� A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed).

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� Bloody or clear fluid discharge from the nipples.

� Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.

If you go to your doctor and your doctor finds cancer, you and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to eliminate the breast cancer, to reduce the chance of cancer returning in the breast, as well as to reduce the chance of the cancer traveling to a location outside of the breast. Treatment generally follows within a few weeks after the diagnosis.

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The type of treatment recommended will depend on the size and location of the tumor in the breast, the results of lab tests done on the cancer cells and the stage or extent of the disease. Your doctor usually considers your age and general health as well as your feelings about the treatment options.

Breast cancer treatments are local or systemic.

� Local treatments are used to remove, destroy or control the cancer cells in a specific area, such as the breast. Surgery and radiation treatment are local treatments.

� Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells all over the body. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy such as tamoxifen, and biologic therapies like Herceptin, are systemic treatments. A patient may have just one form of treatment or a combination, depending on her needs.

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Following local breast cancer treatment, the treatment team will determine the likelihood that the cancer will recur outside the breast. This team usually includes a medical oncologist, a specialist trained in using medicines to treat breast cancer. The medical oncologist, who works with the surgeon, may advise the use of tamoxifen or possibly chemotherapy. These treatments are used in addition to, but not in place of, local breast cancer treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy.

Remember get a mammogram. You should have a baseline mammogram at age 35 and a screening mammogram every year after age 40. Mammograms are an important part of your health history. If you go to another healthcare provider, or move, take the film (mammogram) with you.

Tip! Avoid hormone therapy. There is a link between women who have hormone therapy after menopause and breast cancer.

Examine your breasts each month after age 20. You will become familiar with the contours and feel of your breasts and will be more alert to changes.

Have your breast examined by a healthcare provider at least once every three years after age 20, and every year after age 40. Clinical breast exams can detect lumps that may not be detected by mammogram. Never be afraid to ask questions. Contact your American Cancer Society that can answer your questions or lead you to the person that can answer your questions.

Tip! Gets lots of sunshine as breast cancer is less prevalent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by fog or smog.

I have written many published articles. I have appeared three times on News 12 on the talk show New Jersey Women and has had articles written about her efforts to help people with epilepsy. I have contributed time in helping people with epilepsy and making society more aware of the disorder

Books Written and Published :

1. Epilepsy You're Not Alone
2. Eternal Love: Romantic Poetry Straight from the Heart
3. My Mommy Has Epilepsy (Children's Book)
4. Keep the Faith: To Live and Be Heard from the Heavens Above (poetry book)
5. Live, Learn, and Be Happy with Epilepsy
6. Epilepsy and Pregnancy: What Every Women Should Know
Co-authored by Dr. Blanca Vasques.
7. Faith, Courage, Wisdom, Strength and Hope (Poetry Book)
8. Let the love of Life Be the strength of your Soul
9. How to Become Wealthy Selling Informational Products

Friday, November 10, 2006

Breast Cancer - Recurrence

By Michael Russell

Natural Cancer Treatments. Over 350 treatments & 2,000 testimonials that no-one else will tell you about. Affs: Free promotional Report. 61.

One of the issues that every breast cancer survivor must deal with is the possibility of the cancer coming back. We call this a recurrence and even though rates of breast cancer recurrence are lower and survival rates much higher, there is still that chance that the breast cancer will come back after the initial occurrence and treatment. There are three ways in which breast cancer can recur.

The first type of recurrence is called a local recurrence. when cancer recurs locally, it will come back in the original breast area. This is because of a failure of the original treatment. Even when there is a mastectomy, a local recurrence can happen because it is impossible remove all the breast tissue, skin and fat from the area. If even one cancer cell remains after the initial treatment, a local recurrence can happen.

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The second type of recurrence is regional in nature. By regional we mean that the cancer has come back outside of the original breast and lymph node area. This is considered to be more serious than a local recurrence, but not as serious as a distant recurrence. The areas in which regional spread of the disease occur include the chest muscles (pectoral), the lymph nodes surrounding the neck area, the internal breast lymph nodes in the breast bone and rib areas and in the lymph nodes above the collarbone. This type of recurrence is rare.

Tip! Gets lots of sunshine as breast cancer is less prevalent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by fog or smog.

The third and most serious type of recurrence is called a distant recurrence. This is also referred to as a metastasis. The areas where distant spread can occur are most likely to occur are bone (25%), liver, brain, bone marrow, lungs or other organs. Sometimes this is referred to as metastatic disease or Stage IV breast cancer. The survival rate becomes much lower once metastasis occurs, with a life expectancy of 18 months on the average after discovering it.

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer may include bone pain, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, weight loss (possible indication of liver metastases, neurological pain or weakness and headaches.

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If you are a breast cancer survivor, you should be aware of the symptoms of metastatic spread. These symptoms can include bone pain (bone), weight loss (liver), loss of appetite (liver), headaches (brain), neurological pain or weakness (brain/spine) and shortness of breath (lungs). However, keep in mind that having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you should panic. A good rule of thumb is the "three week rule". If you have a pain or other symptom that lasts more than three week, see your doctor. If you have an unrelenting pain or constant pain, see a doctor. Cancer pain does not go away compared other types of pain which will come and go. Like back pain caused by muscle spasms and/or non-cancer related disc problem.

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If you suspect you have a recurrence of breast cancer, see your doctor. They will schedule some diagnostic tests like a CAT scan, bone scan, or MRI to try to find the root of your symptoms. Usually surgery is not a treatment option, but there are many other treatments, like radiation and/or chemotherapy that could possibly put a recurring cancer back into remission. There are amazing advances in treatment being made all the time.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Breast Cancer - Herceptin and HER2

By Michael Russell

Tip! Don't drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn't matter what type of alcohol it is.

One of the biggest and most exciting advances in recent history in the fight against breast cancer is a drug called Herceptin. (Trastuzumab) The drug has shown to be very successful against certain types of advanced breast cancers. Some more recent clinical trials have shown that herceptin may also be successful against certain types of earlier stage breast cancers. Herceptin has been approved for use in 1998 by the FDA.

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By certain types of cancers we are referring to those that over-express a protein that is called HER2. HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. HER2 can be found on the surface of cells and it is what is responsible for keeping the growth of the cell in check. When HER2 malfunctions and begins to produce too much of itself due to a mutation it can cause the cells to produce too much of themselves too quickly. This in turn can make cancers behave in a much more aggressive manner. The HER2 over-expression is a factor in 20% to 30% of breast cancer occurrences.

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The official scientific big word description of Herceptin is that it is a monoclonal antibody, engineered via biotechnology. The way it works is by attaching itself to any cells that are overproducing the HER2 protein. It attacks the protein receptors which then slows the growth of the cells down. It targets the HER2 protein as opposed to traditional types of treatment which tend to destroy all fast growing cells in their path, healthy or cancerous. This is a big improvement over certain types of chemotherapy. The development of targeted treatments like Herceptin is the wave of the future.

So how does a breast cancer patient receive herceptin? Their cancer must show that it over-expresses the HER2 protein. This is determined by having a pathologist test the cancerous cells that were removed from the breast during surgery. He or she will stain the tissue with a solution that will highlight any instance of overproduction of HER2. If a patient has the HER2 over-expression present, they are considered to be HER2 positive and therefore it could be possible to treat their cancer with herceptin if needed.

Herceptin is not for everyone. It is approved for treatment of women with advanced cancer in combination with the chemotherapy drug, paclitaxel. There are side effects associated with the drug and one of those includes cardiotoxicity which can cause serious heart problems in patients. Therefore heart monitoring before, during and after treatment is crucial. Less serious side effects include fever, chills, increased cough, diarrhea and weakness. If herceptin is given with chemotherapy, nausea is possible. Other moderately severe side effects include loss of white blood cells and anemia.

A diagnosis of breast cancer can be a frightening thing, especially if you are in the percentage of patients that have the more aggressive HER2 cancer. Knowing that there is another treatment that has been proven to be effective against those types of cancers brings increased hope of survival to these women and men.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Breast Cancer - Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

By Michael Russell

Tip! Avoid hormone therapy. There is a link between women who have hormone therapy after menopause and breast cancer.

The most common type of breast cancer in women that is noninvasive is referred to as DCIS, which stands for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. The term "in situ" refers to cancer cells that have not moved out of the system in which they began to grow. With DCIS the cancer cells develop in a milk duct in the breast and are found before they have a chance outside of the duct. DCIS is the noninvasive version of Ductal Carcinoma and is usually discovered during the course of a regular mammography because it can show up as specks of calcifications. If these specks appear, then the next step is a biopsy.

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Ductal Carcinoma In Situ is referred to as a Stage 0 cancer, but it is taken very seriously by doctors. Treatment for DCIS is usually much more aggressive than it's in situ cousin, LCIS (or lobular neoplasia). Even though it is a serious condition, there is plenty of time to educate yourself and weigh all your options concerning treatment and possible reconstruction. There is close to a 100% rate of success in treating DCIS with the standard medical treatment.

DCIS usually appears in two different forms, which describe how the cancer looks on pathological examination under a microscope. The comedo type will express dead cells out of it, much like a pimple or zit on the skin, hence the name comedo.

The non-comedo DCIS types are 1) solid where the DCIS cells fill in the milk duct all the way, 2) cribiform DCIS where the cells do NOT completely fill in the duct, in fact there will be some areas of empty space between the cancer cells and 3) papillary and micropapillary DCIS in which the cells are sparse, like cribiform, but have a pattern to them.

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The comedo type is considered to be more aggressive than that of the non-comedo types. By looking under a microscope, a pathologist can tell the difference between the two based on the number of dead, or necrotic, cells in the middle of the milk duct. Have large amounts of dead cells in a cancerous area means that the cancer can be faster growing.

Even though DCIS is considered to be a pre-cancer or Stage 0, the treatment options are very similar to invasive ductal carcinoma. Depending on where the area of DCIS is located and how many areas there are, a patient will have a choice between a lumpectomy and mastectomy. As with Stage 1 and higher cancers, further treatment will be decided based on the size of the area or tumor, the pathologic grade, HER2 status, lymph node involvement and the hormonal status. Family history and other related risk factors should also be taken into consideration when deciding on treatment options.

While a diagnosis of DCIS can be frightening, it is certainly a very treatable condition. Fortunately by catching the cancer before it has broken out of the ductal system and made its way into the fatty breast tissue or lymph system, the chance that the disease has spread is very very small.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Monday, November 06, 2006

Breast Cancer - Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)

By Michael Russell

Tip! Gets lots of sunshine as breast cancer is less prevalent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by fog or smog.

The majority of all breast cancers start in the ducts of the breast. However, the ductal system is not the only area of the breast where cancer can grow. At the inside end of the duct is a lobe. This is referred to as the lobular system, where the milk is produced. 10% to 15% of breast cancers get their start in the lobes of the breast. Before lobular carcinoma develops, it begins as lobular carcinoma in situ or LCIS.

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By "in situ" we are referring to cancer cells that are present in a system, but have not yet spread outside of it. The term LCIS refers to an increase of abnormal cells in the lobes of the breast that produce milk.

Although the abnormal cells classified as LCIS could develop into cancer and are called Stage 0 cancer, it is not considered to be an actual cancer. Having it present in the breast means that cancer could develop over time. Because of this new way of thinking about LCIS, doctors have started to rename it "lobular neoplasia" which is in reference to the abnormal growth of the cells.

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Since women with LCIS have a much higher risk of ending up with breast cancer they must be followed up closely. A lot of times a woman will find out she has LCIS because of a biopsy that was done for something unrelated to the LCIS. While LCIS has been reclassified as a "non-cancer" that is treated differently than Ductal Carcinoma in situ, it is still a worrisome condition. Women who have been diagnosed with this should talk over all their options with their breast specialist to make a well informed decision on what, if any treatment options to follow.

Women with LCIS will be followed up closely. The standard followup will be a regular mammogram and screening. It will also consist of monthly self exams and regular visits to a breast specialist. Most women receive no other treatment for LCIS. If they do notice changes in their breasts or any thing that appears to be abnormal, they should contact their doctor immediately.

Some women may choose to take tamoxifen and may possibly participate in the STAR clinical trial. The STAR trial compares the effects and preventative effectiveness of tamoxifen and raloxifene. Both drugs reduce the amounts of hormones in the breast tissue. These drugs are usually taken for a period of five years. Tamoxifen has shown in studies to reduce the occurrence of more advanced breast cancer by up to 49% in women that have had LCIS or that have additional risk factors for developing breast cancer. Those addition risks are having atypical hyperplasia, or a family member with the disease. Recent studies have shown raloxifene to be very effective in preventing breast cancer in post menopausal women.

Some women who have a high risk of developing breast cancer may choose to have a preventive mastectomy of both sides with reconstruction to prevent breast cancer from occurring. Women who have this procedure will have a much lower risk of developing the disease.

Michael Russell

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Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Breast Cancer Symptoms And Diagnosis

By Scott William

Cancer & Health- It's All About The Cell. Discover the Truth about Cancer and How to Eliminate Sickness and Disease Naturally by Health Expert Dr. Thompson.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women if the relatively less aggressive skin cancer is excluded from counting. Breast cancer accounts for about 32 percent of all cancer diagnosed in women.

Breast cancer is very uncommon in male. In families carrying the breast cancer associated genes, male members may be affected disproportionately compared to the general population. In the general population female to male breast cancer may occur at a rate of 1 to 100 (1:100 for male: female).

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Prior to introduction of mammography screening breast cancer was often diagnosed as a large lump in the breast, because women were not paying attention to the development of breast tumors. Introduction of mammography had significantly changed the natural history breast caner. In industrialized nations like the United States breast caner is most commonly detected on mammography screening. Mammography screening also brought a great sense of awareness to women and this has resulted in earlier detection of breast cancer.

Even if a woman does not get mammography screening, they are very much aware of the risk of development of breast cancer and thus tend to observe and even examine their breasts. Most women do self-breast examination in between mammograms. Because of this increased awareness, women presenting with locally advanced breast cancer are quite rare in the industrialized nations.

In some women breast cancer may have spread to distant organs, before mammography screening or symptoms showed the breast cancer. This can happen because early stage breast cancer does not usually cause any symptoms. If the cancer has spread to other organs these women may present with symptoms related to these organs. For example if the cancer has spread to the bone the woman may develop bone pain or bone fracture.

Diagnosis of breast cancer involves a biopsy procedure. Most often an abnormality in the mammogram leads to a biopsy, many other times, the woman may have felt a lump in the breast or the physician examining the patient may have felt a lump in the breast.

Biopsy is the procedure by which a small part of the breast tissue is removed and examined under the microscope. A typical beast cancer would show classic features of breast cancer. Sometimes the abnormality may be a non-invasive breast cancer or so called carcinoma in situ.

Tip! Gets lots of sunshine as breast cancer is less prevalent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by fog or smog.

Scott William is the webmaster for Medicineworld.org a site dedicated to medical information. For more information regardings diagnosis and symptoms of breast cancer please visit authors website.