Breast cancer occurs due to the irrepressible growth of cells in the breast that invades the nearby tissues and spreads throughout the body. These collections of irrepressible growth of tissue are called tumors or malignant tumors. However, not all tumors are cancerous.

Breast cancer has been diagnosed in large numbers in North America and Europe. In 2001, about 200,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States alone. Every woman has a 1 in 8 risk of developing breast cancer, but the risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower, barely 1 in 28.

The risk of getting breast cancer is generally higher among older women, women with a family history or previous history of breast cancer, women who had radiation therapy in the chest region, women who started their periods before 12 years old, women who had menopause after 50 years old, women who never had children or had them age 30 or older, or women with genetic mutation. In recent times genetic mutations for breast cancer have become a hot topic of research.

The breast cancer tumor has the following symptoms: lump or thickening that appears on the breast or underarm, changes in the breast’s shape, nipple turned inwards followed by colorless discharge, red or scaled skin or nipple, or ridges on the breast skin.

If a woman experiences any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean she has breast cancer. In such a case she should undergo a breast cancer personal check-up. It is estimated that 95% of breast cancer is detected through personal check-up. The breast cancer personal check-up includes checking for lumps in the breasts after each menstrual period, puckering the skin, and checking for nipple retraction or discharge. For consistent result, every woman should do a breast cancer personal check-up at the same time every month. Various other techniques such as mammography, thermography, ultrasonography, computerized tomography scan etc, can also help detect breast cancer.

Breast cancer treatments include surgery that removes cancerous tissues, with breast conservation therapy (BCT) being one such surgery. Other breast cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and biologic therapy. Radiotherapy is a common breast cancer treatment, and radiation treatment and chemotherapy may follow surgery to ensure the destruction of the stray cancer cells.

Even after undergoing many or all of these breast cancer treatment measures, unfortunately almost half the women suffer from a recurrence of the disease.

If you are searching for ways to battle breast-cancer-treatment.info/sitemap.htm” target=”_new Breast Cancer, visit Susan’s site at breast-cancer-treatment.info” target=”_new breast-cancer-treatment.info. Susan’s other articles are also available at sports-and-recreation-hub.info” target=”_new sports-and-recreation-hub.info.

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Breast cancer is a reality many women will have to deal with. Statistics show that one woman out of nine will develop breast cancer in her life. Whether it be a dear friend, a close family member or herself, every woman will be touched by breast cancer in one way or the other. Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all cancers.

Every woman should be aware of the risk factors and change those she can to lower her risk of developing breast cancer in her life.

Women who are not active physically, smoke or consume a lot of alcohol are at higher risk to develop breast cancer.
Women who have their first child at a later age or have never given birth are at higher risk to develop breast cancer.
Women who had their first period at an earlier age (less than 12 years old) are at higher risk for breast cancer.
Woman who have close family members who had develop breast cancer are at higher risk for themselves.
Women who are older. The further a woman advances in life, the higher her probability of developing breast cancer.
Women who experience a late menopause (after 55 years old) have an increase risk of developing breast cancer.

There is hope however and certain measures have proven to help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer for a woman. It is recommended to exercise regularly, lose any excess weight, lower alcohol consumption and stop smoking. It is also proven that women who breastfeed their babies are at lower risks to develop breast cancer.

Certain measures, by finding breast cancer at an earlier stage can lower the complication rate and morbidity associated with this condition. The two most recommended measures are to do a mammogram exam every two years after the age of 50 (or earlier if a woman has risk factors) and doing a breast self-examination. It is also recommended for a woman to visit her doctor regularly. One has to know that about two thirds of breast tumours are found by the woman herself upon doing her self-examination.

Many organizations and industries have joined forces to push back breast cancer and one can only encourage them by donating time or money for this worthy cause. There are many researches on breast cancer conducted worldwide and it is expected that the near future will see the decline of this devastating affliction.

Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to: bestmenopause.com bestmenopause.com drnathaliefiset.com drnathaliefiset.com or a-1hypnosis.com a-1hypnosis.com

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Tags: breast cancer

Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer that takes place in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is made up of visceral and parietal membranes which surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane immediately surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering the visceral membrane. There is a lubricating fluid between these membranes that make up the mesothelium. This fluid helps organs move easily between surrounding structures. In the case of the lung, it helps reduce friction between the lung and chest wall during normal breathing as the lung expands.

Here are more facts about mesothelioma:

There are different types of mesothelioma
In the abdomen, it is called peritoneal mesothelioma; on the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma; and if it develops on the heart, pericardial mesothelioma.

It develops mostly on the lungs:

The most common location for mesothelioma to develop is on the lungs. About two-thirds of all mesothelioma cases develop in the pleural mesothelium. This mesothelioma on the lungs is called malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The remaining cases develop in the peritoneal mesothelium in the abdomen. A tumor in the abdominal mesothelium is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Rarely, mesothelioma occurs in other mesothelial tissue, such as on the heart or on the reproductive organs.

It may have other causes:

Although asbestos is the major cause of mesothelioma, up to 30–50% of all cases are not clearly related to previous asbestos exposure. Other possible reasons include previous exposure to radiation or to particular minerals closely related to asbestos that are found in the soil. Smoking has not been shown to be a cause of mesothelioma. However, if a smoker has also been exposed to asbestos, this significantly increases his or her risk of developing other types of lung cancer.

It has a long development time:

It has a long latency period, which means that symptoms don’t develop for 20–50 years after environmental exposure. The average age at which symptoms usually start to appear is around 60 years old.

It occurs more in men than in women:

Mesothelioma affects men about three times more often than women in the US. Occurrence rises gradually with age. In other parts of the world, where exposure comes primarily from other environmental sources, such as in Turkey, mesothelioma occurs about equally in men and women.

It is a rare disease:

An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the US. In other countries, the number of cases varies. Overall, the number of cases reported each year seems to be increasing.

Mesothelioma Cure:

Doctors and researchers are searching and working hard to find solutions pertaining to a cure for Mesothelioma but have not discovered any yet.

Joyce Richards writes for mesotheliomahealth.net mesotheliomahealth.net

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Tags: lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma

On 25 May 2007, I received an e-mail. The writer wanted me to help her sister-in-law, Jane (not real name), a thirty-nine-year old female who was diagnosed with colon cancer. She had undergone a surgery to remove a tumor, about the size of an orange, from her bowels. The cancer was probably at Stage 3 or 4. After the surgery, Jane underwent twelve cycles of chemotherapy over a six-month period. The writer wrote: “we did try to convince her to take your herbs by showing her some of your testimonials and documentation while she was undergoing chemotherapy. However, she was not convinced about herbs.”

Six months after completion of her treatment, a CT scan revealed multiple lesions in her liver, indicating that the cancer had spread to her vital organ. The oncologist suggested Jane undergo another twelve cycles of chemotherapy.

Knowing the seriousness of her situation, the writer brought Jane to meet one of my helpers. After a brief explanation, Jane was skeptical about our herbs! Jane proceeded with her next round of chemotherapy. After completing two cycles of her second-round of chemotherapy, she suffered discomforts such as: water retention, tiredness, etc. The writer wrote: “The oncologist even suggested she eat a lot of organ meat such as liver from animals. How ridiculous it sounds from a person in the medical fraternity? At this moment on, she felt a bit uneasy with the oncologist and also with her treatment.”

The writer ended with a plea: “Would it be possible for her to meet up with you if you ever come here? Maybe you can be more convincing in your explanation about your herbs. Please help.”

Comments

It has been twelve years since my wife and I started CA Care in 1995. We have seen and helped thousands of terminally ill cancer patients. The problem faced by Jane is very common indeed. Over the years we have learnt many lessons about “helping people”. There is a saying: “There is no incurable disease, only incurable people.” Our statistics tell us only thirty-percent of patients who came to see us benefit from our herbs and counseling, the remaining seventy-percent did not. Many of those who came were only seeking for a “magic bullet” and an easy way out. In this case, Jane did not believe in our work in the first place. She worked in a pharmaceutical company. As such, perhaps she has the idea that only “scientifically manufactured pharmaceutical drugs” can cure diseases — herbs and non-conventional therapies are all hocus-pocus. Such an attitude is understandable. Each of us has our own beliefs and opinions.

On our part, we learnt early that we can only help people who want our help. We would not go as far as to “brain wash” or go out of our way to influence people to follow our therapy. Patients need to believe and be comfortable with what we do — only then can they be committed in their healing. We cannot change people.

To make the situation worse, our help is provided free-of-charge. There seems to be a perception that something given for free is cheap or has no value. For the past twelve years we devoted much time and efforts doing just that. A Canadian friend of mine once asked: “Chris, what is your trap,” while an Australian friend commented: “What you are doing is against the norm of the Western capitalist cultures.” Perhaps to help fellow human beings without asking for a fee is alien to democratic, capitalist cultures, but for the Oriental cultures “service to help mankind” or “kiu-lang (translated as save people), do happen and is nothing unusual. As for the trap? Well, there is no trap — that is if you understand Oriental cultures.

Let me pose a few questions for you to reflect on.

One, Jane had Stage 3 or 4 colon cancer and underwent chemotherapy. Was chemotherapy done with curative or palliative intent? If it was to cure, surely it has failed. In my search of medical literature, I learnt that for Stage 1 or 2 colon cancer, the contribution of chemotherapy is only 8 to 15 percent, in term of five-year survival. In my earlier writings, I even suggested that such perceived benefits could be substituted by taking of herbs or a change of diet.

Two, after twelve cycles of chemotherapy, the cancer metastatised to the liver. Why? To what extent had chemotherapy contributed to this spread? Do patients ever pose such a question? It is acknowledged that chemo-drugs are toxic to the liver.

Three, more chemotherapy was recommended for Jane’s metastasis. Again ask: Is this to cure or to palliate? If the intent was to cure — what do you think would be the chance of success this time? Remember, the first round of chemotherapy had failed. After the first two cycles of chemotherapy, Jane suffered adverse side effects — is this not telling Jane that something is not right?

Four, the oncologist advised Jane to eat more organ meat. To alternative practitioners, animal proteins are “bad for cancer”. Jane should read more about this subject instead of relying on just one-view-opinion of an oncologist.

Five, there is a saying: “To know is science, to assume one knows is ignorance.” In cancer, ignorance often kills. By virtue of her being on the staff of a pharmaceutical drug company does not make Jane “all knowing.” To assume that she knows “all” about drugs for cancer is indeed naïve of her. While it is good to be skeptical, it is surely presumptuous to totally accept the notion that herbs are ineffective and pharmaceutical drugs are better. There is no greater tragedy for those who have eyes but refuse to see, have ears but refuse to hear.

Six, whilst Jane’s sister-in-law showed concern for her, it is up to Jane to realize that: “Her health is entirely her own responsibility. She is the author of her own life story. Others can only help. Jane has to make her own decision and be ready to live with the consequences of that decision.” It is sufficient for Jane’s sister-in-law to play the role of a “little angel” by alerting her to a different possibility. The rest is for Jane to act accordingly following her heart.

Seven, after having received their treatments, patients should take a pause at some point in time, before it is too late and evaluate their outcomes. Ask these questions: “Do I benefit from the treatment? Do I get any better? If things do not work out as expected, do I still want to persist on the same path? When do I say enough is enough? Am I brave enough to say enough is enough?

For more information about complementary cancer therapy visit: cacare.com cacare.com, NaturalHealingForYou.com NaturalHealingForYou.com, BookOnCancer.com BookOnCancer.com

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Tags: cancer patient, chemotherapy, colon cancer, healing