Everything About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the dreaded diseases, but with the recent developments especially in the area of discovering and developing more effective and efficient life-saving treatments, patients see new hope and excitement.

However, women should know about some of the herbs that are found to have estrogen-like actions, especially those with history of this disease or at high risk. Some of these herbs are black cohosh, blue cohosh, chasteberry, dang gui, dong quai, ginseng, hops, licorice, motherwort leaf, saw palmetto, rhodiola rosea, red clover, soy, vitex berry, and wild yam.

Although evidences cannot be established that the use of herbs could either increase or decrease the risk of breast cancer, it is still best not to gamble with chance on their use.

Stereoscopic digital mammography, a new diagnostic technique capable of producing three-dimensional, in-depth views of breast tissue, could significantly reduce the number of women who are recalled for additional tests following routine screening mammography. Results of a clinical trial being conducted at Emory University Breast Clinic in Atlanta were presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Stereoscopic digital mammography consists of two digital x-ray images of the breast acquired from two different points of view separated by about eight degrees. When the images are viewed on a stereo display workstation, the radiologist is able to see the internal structure of the breast in three dimensions. In the ongoing clinical trial, researchers use a full-field digital mammography unit modified to take stereo pairs of images. The workstation enables the mammographer to fuse the stereo image pair and to view the breast in depth.

In the study, stereo mammography reduced false positives by 49%. This huge drop in percentage has strong implications with regard to needless cost in time and money.

(Source)

Women who suffer from breast cancer sometimes ask how did it happen to me? Here’s the explanation shared by Medicine Net:

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the body. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. When breast cancer cells spread, the cancer cells are often found in lymph nodes near the breast. Also, breast cancer can spread to almost any other part of the body. The most common are the bones, liver, lungs, and brain. The new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer. For that reason, it is treated as breast cancer, not bone cancer. Doctors call the new tumor “distant” or metastatic disease.

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. (more…)

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.

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.

The same gene which may hold the key to life, causing cells to divide and multiply is responsible for the progression of cancer. This is the result of research from the Northwestern University who have found the said protein going mad, inducing abnormally fast cell division. Scientists who found the existence of high levels of the said protein in cancer cells have successfully reduced the ability of these afflicted cells to divide by removing it form the cells, effectively controlling the disease. Genes and proteins interact to dictate the way cells divide and can even turn into cancer cells. (more…)

Elastography is an imaging technology that examines the mechanical properties of materials, in this case breast tissue which tends to have an altered state when afflicted by breast cancer. The lumps you feel out of place when you do a home exam may be proof oh having the disease but without a professional to verify it, it’s still a hunch. Ultrasound has been the norm of the screening process for years and it relies on the different ways tissue reacts to ultrasound waves that is interpreted and displayed as images on the screen. The technology uses sound to diagnose and verify the elasticity of tissue, an abnormality would reflect as an area of unusual density. The tests conducted to far by researchers on the said new screening tool has been at an impressive 100% with only less than 90% success rate for ultrasound scans. (more…)

Recent studies show that women who have breast cancer increases the likelihood of a sister to get the disease even after 20 years of that sibling being diagnosed. This heightens the need for regular check-ups which would allow proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. Breast cancer is a treatable disease with early detection as key. Advents with newer digital scanning technology have increased the speed of detection and has greatly increased the ability of treatment in many women. For women who have had relatives with breast cancer, no worry for your likelihood of contracting the deadly disease is highly unlikely yet not impossible. Vaccines and other preventive measures have been in effect for many years now and has been impacting the lives of many afflicted women. Just hope a better treatment would be found to increase the chances of preventing recurrence of the cancer which in many cases does indeed return.