Everything About Breast Cancer

A study of 2400 post-menopausal women who have had breast cancer shows that a low-fat diet may help prevent the cancer from coming back.

The rate of recurrence after five years for the women who was put on a low-fat diet was 9.8%, while the rate for those ate a standard diet was 12.4%.

The most significant risk reduction — 42 percent — was with women on the low-fat diet whose tumors did not respond to the presence of the hormone estrogen (also called estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer). Women whose tumors did respond to estrogen saw a 15 percent reduction.

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Regular breast self-exams (BSEs) have been key to early detection of breast cancers. Breastcancer.org advocates this 5-step BSE:

Step 1: Look at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention:

* dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
* a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
* redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes. Continue reading…

A lot of breast cancer patients never had children. Having children at a younger age, having more children and breastfeeding have been associated with lower risk of having breast cancer. “What is not used gets damaged” is a common belief, and that belief has extended to cancer risk.

Other more practical ways to prevent breast cancer (as having children is not always an option) is a healthy lifestyle coupled with regular exercise. Taking plant-based estrogen foods like soy products does not cause or worsen breast cancer. Avoiding second hand smoke will save you from a lot of other cancers as well. The most important is regular physical check up that includes procedures for detecting breast cancer like mammography, for early detection.

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Ironically, breast cancer is more inclined to affect women in the first world than anyone else in less developed nations, probably because the “instant” life style is less popular among third world countries. Latest statistic shows the number of fatalities induced breast cancer: in Eastern Asia, 18; South Central Asia, 22; sub-Saharan Africa, 22; South-Eastern Asia, 26; North Africa and Western Asia, 28; South and Central America, 42; Eastern Europe, 49; Southern Europe, 56; Northern Europe, 73; Oceania, 74; Western Europe, 78; and in North America. The study was done per 100,000 set of the women population. As you can see, there is a tremendous difference in fatalities between poor and richer continents.

Do not take unusual pain, sensations and other symptoms lightly. You can never be so sure these days. Even if no one in your family has had cancer, do not cross out the possibility that you may have developed it.

Blood in the urine, recurrent abdominal pains, lumps in the breast and other body parts should be checked by doctors – not just once, but ask for second opinions to assure all avenues are pursued. Do not be contented with just one answer – ask for detailed explanations of why you are experiencing pain, or why lumps are present. Initiate and demand for an observation. If the symptoms still persist after a few weeks, seek other tests such as CT scan or MRI(which should be recommended by your doctor/physician of course).

Read this article and learn from the experience of a misdiagnosed patient.

Next to Lung cancer, Breast cancer is the second most notorious serial killer in the country. It is by far, the number one most wanted killer among women. It has twice the incidence rate of cervical cancer and lung cancer combined but thankfully with a mortality rate of 25% greater than the said two. Last 2005, 502,000 breast cancer induced deaths have been reported world wide. This is a significant leap compared to the rather marginalized fatality rate it caused during the 70s. There are many factors why breast cancer has suddenly become one of the leading causes of death among women but the unhealthy modern life style is taking most of the blame for it.

No one knows exactly how breast cancer is developed, or acquired. Some say it’s hereditary, but the truth is, we all have a cancer gene in our bodies waiting to be awakened. Activation is the key for a tumor to run wild in our bodies, the key is to avoid its awakening. Unfortunately, no one knows how to do that so the least any of us can hope to do is to just be cautious and be aware of the symptoms so that we can detect it early and therefore survive it.
When it comes to breast cancer, it is much more vital to be paranoid if your family has a history of it. In this case, we recommend a mammogram annually. Also, women become more susceptible to breast cancer as they age, women who are 30 and above should go for occasional check-ups. Menstrual cycle is also a factor, if you started and therefore ended too early, you might want to be more attuned to risk factors.

Women who have had suspicions and gotten negative results from screening may not be all that lucky for researchers say there is a higher probability of an assured case the next time round. There are a lot of screening procedures done yearly yet sadly there are a lot of cases of positive results for breast cancer with some skipping the blade and getting away with a normal or non-malignant mass. But as best an irony can be defined, the next time round you do suspect another lump, it may be as good as confirmed for the trends and changes that may have arisen due to t hat first false result may have already been a sign of pending disease.

Most cancers will indeed benefit from a healthy shift to a better lifestyle, a factor which greatly influences many diseases. Millions of people who smoke will surely get lung cancer, people who love red meat are more likely to get colorectal cancer and so on and so forth. Changes can be so revealing that lives people never could have imagined with their vices can be a totally new world. There are a lot of challenges to overcome such as with dietary adjustments and the withdrawal symptoms of smoking and much more but hey, “No Pain, No Gain”. So you want to live longer, live healthier for a better you for the life you save, is yours after all!