Jan/120
Men Get Breast Cancer
Next to lung cancer, breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any other cancer. It’s the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 44 and one is 13 women will have it sooner or later.
“Breast cancer is the third most common cancer in the world today, despite the fact that it is confined almost entirely to the female sex. Breast cancer incidence rates are rising in several developing countries, and it is already the most frequent female cancer in many,” revealed Dr. Corazon A. Ngelangel, professor, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, College of Medicine, and a consultant at the Medical Oncology Section of the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital.
The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown. But the risk of developing the disease increases after the age of 35, especially in those with a family history of the disease. Breast cancer is also more common in obese women and in those who have never had children or who had a child for the first time after the age of 30.
Those who begin menstruation early and women who had late menopause are also at risk for developing the disease. The same is true for women who previously had breast cancer. The odds are high that these women will have the disease in the other breast too.
Unknown to many, breast cancer can affect men but not as frequently as women. Less than one percent of cases occur in males, usually at middle age or older.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in male breast cancer. Other high-risk groups include those who are exposed to dust, gasoline, grease, carbon monoxide, and radiation. Men with gynecomastia, the enlargement of the breast that follows exposure to estrogen and alcoholic cirrhosis (in which the liver has been destroyed by years of heavy drinking) are likewise susceptible to the disease.
“Although breast cancer can occur in young boys (the youngest reported was five years old), the incidence generally rises with age. The majority of patients are more than 60 years old. Earlier cancer denotes a strong family history, manifested by the presence of many female relatives with breast cancer,” said Dr. David Y. Dy, a general surgeon and surgical oncologist at St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Philippines.
Surprisingly, male breast cancer appears to be less common in married men and in those with many children. Like women, most cases have been observed in the left breast although it is not clear why.
“About half of all breast cancers develop in the upper outer portion of the breast, the part of the breast closest to the underarm. The second most common site is the area surrounding the nipple, where about 18 percent of breast cancers are found,” said Marrion Morra, assistant director of the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center at Yale University School of Medicine in Connecticut, and Eve Potts in “Choices: Realistic Alternatives in Cancer Treatment.”
Still, majority of breast cancer cases occur in women. Ngelangel believes the presence of the female hormone estrogen may have something to do with the disease.
“The most important risk factor for developing breast cancer is sex. Being female puts you at great risk. The reason for this is estrogen. Women have more of this hormone than men which probably explains why breast cancer is common among females,” Ngelangel said. (Next: Breast cancer myths.)
Dec/110
Cause of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is very common in women. In fact, it is the second leading cause of death for women with cancer. There are three times more cases of breast cancer than any of the other gynecological cancers put together. Cases of breast cancer have increased from one out of 20 women, to one out of every seven women who have acquired the disease. This disease is not exclusive for females alone. Statistics show that out of 100 women having breast cancer, there will be one male patient developing this kind of cancer.
Age
A girl who starts having her menstrual cycle before the age of 12, or a woman who starts going through menopause after 50 years old are at higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Nationality
Studies have shown that certain racial groups such as European and African women tend to have higher risk of breast cancer compared to Asian women. However, studies also show inconsistencies in this theory since the statistics change once geography is included in the study, since an Asian women living in a western country showed the same risk as the original inhabitants.
Diet
High consumption of corn oil, oil secreted by meat, and polyunsaturated fats increase the risk of person acquiring breast cancer. Monounsaturated fats like canola oil and olive oil promote better heath.
Heredity
Though there is no available proof suggesting the breast cancer is linked to heredity in any way, it is still believe that patients who have a family history of breast cancer are at higher risk of acquiring breast cancer.
Alcohol
Researches showed that women taking more alcohol have 6% increased risk of getting the cancer as compared to those who do not, or consume moderately.
Hormones
A test was conducted in June 2005 where findings noted that women taking hormonal drugs, like medical estrogen, have a higher risk of acquiring breast cancer.
Other
Other factors believe to be risk factors include not having a child, or delayed first childbirth, or not breastfeeding.
Nov/110
Breast Cancer – What is an ”Early Stage” Breast Cancer?
An “Early Stage” breast cancer is sometimes referred as Stage 1 breast cancer. In such cases, the affected region is less than 2-2.5 centimetres in diameter. However, cancer does not spread inside the tissue of the breast. In fact, among all the women detected for breast cancer in the U.S, 63% of them suffer from “Early Stage” Breast Cancer, as it is still localized to the tissue of the breast.
Today, Breast Cancer is considered to be one of the most deadly and emotional types of cancers occurring in women. However, it should be kept in mind that it is not only women, who are at a risk of having breast cancer. Men can also have such type of cancers, but most patients are female.
Early detection increases chances of survival
If the breast cancer is an early stage one and it is properly detected and treated, the survival rate of that patient increases to a large extent. The best trick to fight breast cancer is to catch it early on and generally women can detect it by finding a typical lump in any one of their breasts. Women should immediately check out in such cases but they should not worry, as all lumps are not cancers.
Early stage breast cancer cannot always be cured, even though cancerous cells are unable to reach the lymph nodes. Women, who catch early stage breast cancer, gets treated at that point and many of them are able to enjoy life in a normal lifestyle for more than ten years. It is highly recommended for every woman to check her breasts regularly to be on the safe side, so that possible cases of breast cancers can be detected early. With proper treatment, women can enjoy high survival rates.
Symptoms of Early Stage Cancer
An early stage breast cancer can be detected on the basis of various symptoms. Some of them are unexpected abnormal changes in the anatomy & the size of the breast, appearance of the skin of the breast becomes dimpled & puckered, sudden unexpected changes in the size and shape of the nipple like the changing position and nipple being inverted. Other symptoms include abnormal discharge from the nipple, development of rash in the nipple, continuous pain in the region of armpit & breast, thickening or formation of the lump in the armpit & breast and swelling of the collarbone region & armpit.
Treatment following the detection
Any of the above symptoms determine an early stage breast cancer and any woman having such symptoms should immediately contact her general physician. Doctors examine the patient properly and if necessary, can refer them to a breast clinic for more examinations and mammogram. Upon detection of a lump, the cancerous cells can be extracted with the help of a delicate needle. A biopsy should also be done to ascertain, if the affected area or lump is malignant.
Every woman should know how to do self-examination of her beasts, so that she can know her breasts easier and recognise abnormal changes on them.
To Your Health!
Nov/110
Breast Cancer – The Newest Treatment
Newest Treatments For Breast Cancer
Among women in the United States, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer (next to skin cancer). Aside from lung cancer, breast cancer claims more American women’s lives than any other form of cancer. It is estimated that nearly one in every eight women in this country will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
It is because of these statistics that researchers work hard to find new and innovative ways to treat breast cancer. For many years, there were relatively few options for treating breast cancer. Lumpectomies, mastectomies have been, and remain, a first line of defense against cancer, but each has its advantages and disadvantages. Lumpectomies, for example, often require four to six weeks of radiation therapy following surgery. Mastectomies have more post-operative complications and a longer recovery time. Hormone therapies have found some success against hormone receptor-positive cancers by lowering the production of estrogen and blocking the effects of existing estrogen in the patient. This treatment is, unfortunately, useless against hormone receptor-negative cancers.
Another method of treating cancer is chemotherapy. A common problem with chemotherapy treatments has been the drugs’ inability to specifically target the dividing cancer cells, instead interfering with all cell division in the body. This interference can lead to aches, nausea, lack of energy, and hair loss. In more extreme instances, bone loss and treatment-induced leukemia have occurred.
In the past several years, doctors have discovered new ways to use targeted therapy to deliver the drugs used in chemotherapy directly to the cancer cells, and avoid interference with normal cell processes, as well as reduce the side effects associated with the solvents used to dissolve chemotherapy drugs such as Taxol. One such drug being used today is Abraxane, which uses a process called protein-bound nanoparticle technology to create “packages” of Taxol that have been bound to albumin, a substance that is found naturally in the body and is dissolved in water. With this advancement, there is less need for chemical solvents in the delivery process which may lead to side effects. Also, because growing cancer cells tend to rapidly accumulate albumin during the growth process, doctors theorize that binding the Taxol to albumin causes the cancer cells to actively seek out and absorb the drug for its piggybacked albumin, thus more effectively targeting the cancer over other, normally dividing cells.
Over 2.5 million women are breast cancer survivors. With new advancements in treatment available now, and future discoveries on the horizon, that number is expected to steadily increase in the future.
You can fight your cancer naturally with the Breast Cancer Diet.
Apr/110
Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Among all the types of cancer, breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed in the world today. But compared to other cancer types that are not as frequently diagnosed, fewer people have actually died because of it. This means that there are more breast cancer survivors than the other types of cancer because most of them were given the proper diagnosis of the breast cancer that they had, allowing them to know and obtain the most viable treatment possible. Here are some things that you should know regarding breast cancer diagnosis.
Invasive or non-invasive
Non-invasive breast cancer is the type where the cancer cells remain in the part of the body where it originated, whether in the duct or lobule. Invasive breast cancer is that which has passed through the walls of the place of origin and has spread and infected the adjacent tissues and at times, may travel to other parts of the body through the vessels.
Lymph node involvement
Lymph is a fluid that moves through the arteries and travels through the tissues in order to cleanse them. Lymph nodes act as filters that trap all unwanted substances, including cancer cells, and they try to eliminate them from the body. The problem is that most of the time cancer cells are not eliminated but actually settle in the lymph nodes and that is how the nodes become infected with the tumor. If more lymph nodes are involved, this means that the cancer is more threatening and has a higher risk of spreading.
Stages
There are four breast cancer stages. Stage I means that cancer is of the invasive type, but the tumor is 2 centimeters long. Stage II involves a tumor which is 2-5 centimeters which may or may not have infected or travelled to the axillary lymph nodes. Stage III means that it is now locally advanced, meaning, it has spread to more nodes and breast skin, and its size is more than 5 centimeters. With Stage IV, or more advanced breast cancer, the tumor has moved farther from the breast and has infected other parts of the body as well.
Treatment
Mastectomy is the complete removal of the breast. Lumpectomy involves removal of only a part of it. After surgery, radiation may be administered, depending on the personality of the cancer. Other treatments are hormone therapy and chemotherapy, which are classified as systemic therapy because they are applied to the entire body. Hormone therapy is the blocking or reducing of estrogen in the body. This treatment is available if the cancer is hormone-receptive-responsive. In chemotherapy, medicine is applied to hinder cells from multiplying.
Once the diagnosis is clear, choosing the treatment options will follow. If cancer is non-invasive, lumpectomy may be performed. But if the cancer is invasive, other forms of treatment shall be applied. Treatment for Stage I cancer is usually lumpectomy or modified radical mastectomy. Radiation may or may not follow the surgery. Treatment for Stage II cancer is usually the same as that for Stage I cancer, followed by radiation. Stage III and IV cancer may be treated by mastectomy, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy after surgery.
Cancer Personality
Doctors also tell you of the “personality” of your cancer, whether it is aggressive or not. If it is of the meaner or aggressive type, there is a higher risk for it to spread. There is therefore the need to use systemic treatment such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy. If it is of the milder type, localized treatment may be administered.
Doctors sometimes describe the spread of cancer as local, regional and distant. Local means that the cancer remains within the breast. Regional means that lymph nodes are involved, especially those under the armpit. Distant means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer is of the local or regional type, treatment may be lumpectomy or mastectomy. If cancer is distant, systemic therapy is necessary.
Knowing the breast cancer diagnosis is one reason for the decline in mortality rate. When you know the diagnosis, you know the proper treatment. As we all know, breast cancer can be treated if diagnosed at an early stage. While the number of women diagnosed may not considerably reduce, the number of women who shall seek treatment and survive shall increase. With an increase in awareness and advances in medicine, there will be more breast cancer survivors in the years to come.
Nov/100
Breast Cancer Bracelet
Breast cancer is the second cause of cancer death among women, second only to lung cancer. Although the estimated number of new cases in 2007 is relatively lower than the previous years, breast cancer advocates have not ceased. They continue to find ways to increase awareness of the disease, raise funds for its research, and help in any way they can to support the advocacy. One way to do all these is through the breast cancer bracelet.
It was Lance Armstrong who popularized the use of bracelets as a means to make a statement. The yellow bracelet that he wore in the Tour de France caused quite a stir and people asked what the wristband was about. As a cancer survivor himself, the words “Live Strong” on the bracelet conveyed a very important message to cancer victims and survivors like him.
Since then, the pink rubber bracelet has become popular with breast cancer fund-raising activities such as breast cancer walks and runs. Words like “Hope” or “Courage and Strength” are often embossed or etched around it.
Different colors have different meanings. Some manufacturers have general awareness bracelets in different colors, each color to signify a specific advocacy, whether medically or politically related. For example, the color red symbolizes AIDS and HIV. Lavender, on the other hand, symbolizes general cancer and epilepsy. For blue, it can mean child abuse or education. Purple can symbolize domestic violence and Alzheimer’s disease. Teal can be a color to symbolize ovarian cancer, sexual assault or substance abuse.
The color pink was used because of its properties. Aside from being of the same color as the breast cancer ribbon, its bright and lively color brings a positive vibe to cancer patients. It gives them hope that breast cancer can be treated and cured. If we wear the bracelet, it will make us feel our love and support. And more importantly, pink is considered a feminine color, a color that is present in any woman’s closet, and this makes the bracelet easy to match and coordinate with a woman’s wardrobe and accessories.
From the pink rubber bracelet evolved many designs and materials for the new breast cancer bracelet. It has now become an interesting piece of jewelry. Now we can find bracelets in gold and silver. Some are made of glass beads, gemstones, pearls and Swarovski crystals. A simple charm bracelet, when added with a silver or pink breast cancer ribbon charm, can be a breast cancer bracelet. Some continue to have messages like “Faith Hope and Love” or “Survivor.” There are even some distributors who make customized bracelets, such as if you want the person’s name etched on it, or if you want to add more charms or your birthstone. This makes the bracelet the perfect gift present or token, perhaps of friendship or love.
For every purchase of these products, a portion of the money goes to cancer research. Companies have raised millions of dollars from the sales of these bracelets, all to help the cancer research foundation. This is an effective way to raise funds and intensify breast cancer awareness, not to mention fun and exciting. And these bracelets can be purchased anywhere. You can search the web, or visit your local department store.
All the efforts to raise funds and increase awareness are not in vain. At present, there is a decline in the number of deaths caused by breast cancer. This is attributed to an increase in awareness, with many breast self-exam campaigns and more money to fund mammogram tests. Thus, more women seek treatment during the early stages of breast cancer. Also, cancer research is doing its share to find and create new medicine as well as modern technology and equipment to fight cancer.
The breast cancer bracelet is more than just a fashion statement. Its message of hope and love for those who have the illness makes it more meaningful and inspirational. Wear the bracelet now. Men and woman, young and old alike, should express their support to this endeavor. After all, the fight against cancer is universal. No one can confidently say that she is 100% immune from breast cancer. It may affect you, or someone you love. So whatever support that you give now will actually benefit everybody else, including you.