Being excessively overweight and eating foods rich in fats are both possible risk factors for developing breast cancer. Excessive exposure of the breasts to X-rays or other forms of radiation increases the likelihood that cancer cells will develop and there is some evidence linking a higher risk of breast cancer with long-term use of replacement oestrogens - the hormones given to woman to replace those lost during menopause - although the data is not conclusive.

The role of oral contraceptives in increasing breast cancer risk is even less clear. Some studies, in fact, seem to indicate that the combined pill may actually reduce a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer. Contrary to popular belief, failure to breast-feed does not increase the risk of breast cancer; nor, on the other hand, is breast-feeding a protective factor. Risk factors such as obesity and high fat intake are avoidable, but there are also unavoidable risks including age (after 45, the risk of developing breast cancer increases); previous breast cancer; a history of breast cancer in your mother or sister; early onset and late ending of menstruation; and not having had children or having them after the age of 30.

Although you may fall into a high-risk group, remember the chances are that you will probably never get breast cancer. Whether you fall into the high-risk group or not, regular check-ups are your best defence. Doing something about it could save your life.

Any out-of-the-ordinary change in appearance, texture, feel or function of your breast should be considered a symptom, however tentative and you should report it to your doctor immediately. Do not panic, but do not waste any time either. Most changes, such as the appearance of lumps, turn out to be non-cancerous. However, you should be particularly alert to three types of changes: a lump or thickening of tissue inside the breast, a change in the shape of any part of the breast and any fluid that comes from the nipple.

Depending on the symptom, your doctor will examine you and order tests to determine whether the sign indicates the presence of breast cancer or, more likely, is caused by something else. Minor surgery in the form of a biopsy may be necessary, but most doctors will not perform one unless a preliminary examination indicates that cancer may be present. If there is any doubt in the mind of your doctor, he will probably refer you to a specialist who may check the interior of your breast without actually using a needle or knife. The most common way of doing this is by taking a mammogram (a breast X-ray). If the mammogram reveals a suspicious spot, then a biopsy will most likely be the next step. A biopsy can be performed in one of two ways: a hollow needle may be passed into the breast to extract fluid containing cells, or the specialist may use a knife to remove a small or large portion of tissue. The first method is called an aspiration biopsy, the second is known as a surgical biopsy. An aspiration biopsy will be done either in the specialist’s surgery or in the outpatient’s department of a local hospital with a local anaesthetic. A surgical biopsy is usually done in a hospital and will take more time.

The simplest way to remove a breast cancer surgically is by an operation that is often called a lumpectomy. In this procedure, which is usually performed in conjunction with radiotherapy, the surgeon removes the tumour and a small amount of tissue around it, but leaves the skin over it in place. The most extensive procedure is the radical mastectomy - the total removal of the breast along with underlying chest muscles and the axillary lymph nodes in the adjoining armpit. Today, radical mastectomies to remove breast cancer are done much less often than previously even though some surgeons still believe that they offer the best chance of total eradication of the disease.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to breast-cancer.treatment-and-guides.com/ Breast Cancer

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Prevention efforts seem to have failed. The doctor used the dreaded “C” word…cancer. Now what? We hear a lot of buzz about amazing cures and successes, “If you’ll just buy my book, take my pills or visit my center.” The very word, cancer, scares us so completely, we believe we’re going to die any minute. Sadly, it’s those fears the frauds are counting on. They want you to be so afraid you’ll try anything…even their product. Many of us are so frozen in fear, we ignore that fact that many forms of cancer are treatable…often, actual cures have been developed and adopted as standard treatment for cancer. Sometimes, the fears generated by frauds can cause us to choose back-alley, ineffective treatments instead of viable ones recommended by our doctors. If we just calm down and begin to study the situation, we can often relieve our fears and make rational decisions that will avoid the frauds and help our doctors help us heal.

Natural Cancer Cure…and other fraudulent claims: Frauds come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Perhaps the biggest price people pay is chasing after these things when sound treatments are available. You will rarely hear a reputable doctor use the word, “cure,” when referring to cancer. Immediately, then, a red flag should go up in your mind if someone is offering or claiming a cure. Other claims that should strike you as suspicious are ones that suggest standard cancer treatments, like radiation or chemotherapy kill people. Let’s get this straight right now…people die from some types of cancer. Some terminal cancer patients choose to receive experimental treatments in a last ditch effort to try and slow the disease. For frauds to use this to get you to distrust a doctor’s standard treatment, however limited the success rate, should be considered a crime. The only time you should consider experimental treatments or claims of those outside of the medical community is if you have a terminal condition and you’ve exhausted all accepted medical treatments. You’re a grown-up, now. You should get all the objective advice and information you can, about every treatment you’re considering, but people trying to sell you non-standard treatments are not objective…you need to do your own homework…and this is the most important homework assignment you may ever get .

Do Your Cancer Research: Biopsy is usually the first bit of research done to verify a suspicion of cancer. That’s where the doctor collects cells for the lab to analyze. Ask your doctor for a paper copy of the test results. This will give you the exact name of the cancer, if the cancer is malignant (harmful), and other useful information. Based on this, your doctor will recommend other tests to determine the stage (extent of growth) or grade (speed of growth) and treatment options to consider. Take lots of notes and ask lots of questions! While continuing the test/treatment recommendations of your doctor, take this information to a second opinion appointment with another doctor, not associated with the first one. While doctors are highly educated, they are human. Doctors and their staffs make mistakes. Second opinions are so you can head off mistakes before they happen.

Awareness and understanding of standard treatment options, risk factors, success rates, unique terminology and second opinions will all help you be a better patient, active in the treatment of your disease. This is why, before the second opinion appointment, you need to research the information from your doctor. Search reputable sources on the Internet for everything you can find about your specific cancer. Yes, you’ll need a dictionary and medical encyclopedia. A great place to begin your research is the cancer.gov/” target=”_blank U.S. National Cancer Institute. It’s where I’ve found most of my reliable cancer information. Print all the information about the cancer, stages, grades, treatment options, success rates, survival rates and treatment centers. Highlight the parts that apply to you and write questions for your doctors. Take all the information with you to all your appointments with your doctors. Make sure to point out when their opinions differ and gauge their reactions. If their recommended treatments differ from what your research shows, ask them why. Some doctors will be humble, thank you, and offer to look into it further. Other doctors will need to be replaced, as was the case with my wife’s father.

My father-in-law’s doctor made a mistake, treating a very aggressive life-threatening cancer with cosmetic surgery. By following the steps I’ve listed in this article, I was able to convince the new doctors to follow-up with radiation to significantly reduce the probability of relapse. Since, with his cancer, relapse is almost always fatal, it was better to be safe, even if it cost the HMO a couple more bucks.

Some doctors and HMO’s get a little confused as to who makes your health care decisions..

Cancer Treatment Team Leadership: The Oncologist (cancer doctor), your primary doctor and often other specialists are essential leaders in the successful treatment of your cancer but you are in charge. They will present you with options, including diet, supplements, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and a vast amount of information for you to digest to make informed decisions. If you do your homework, you can control the fear, eliminate the frauds, reduce the mistakes and make the right decisions in your fight against cancer.

Glen Williams is founder and CEO of EHF, Inc. and Webmaster for e-health-fitness.com e-health-fitness.com. He has done extensive research on personal and family health and fitness issues and has been helping and advising people on health since 1987.

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Mesothelioma lawsuits seem to be becoming more and more prevalent as the disease and its causes become more well-known. You may have seen commercials for attorneys advertising their services in this specialized area. Due to the fact that decades can pass before the disease rears its ugly head, it has become apparent that the companies responsible for exposing their workers to asbestos so many years ago may no longer be in business. But there is something you can do.

Mesothelioma, commonly known as Asbestos Cancer, is a rare form of cancer that is most frequently known to occur when the affected person has come in contact with asbestos and inhaled its particles. It does, however, emerge in some individuals without ever having made contact with asbestos and occurs more in men than women, but can affect both genders. The name Mesothelioma is derived from mesothelium, which is the membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. When cancer cells are active in the mesothelium, that membrane begins to deteriorate and the cancer can continue spreading to other parts of the body.

During the 1940s, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos, but at that time, the dangers were not known. The symptoms of Mesothelioma many times do not appear for up to 30 to 50 years after exposure. Depending on your age, you may have relatives who have unfortunately, contracted this disease while working with asbestos or simply from being exposed to it in other ways.

If you or someone you know or are related to have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, there are steps you can take to receive compensation. Although a monetary settlement will not cure the disease, its benefits may help to make the sick individual live more comfortably and possibly ease their suffering somewhat.

Although there are individual cases, many Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed as class action suits due to the fact that so many people were affected at the same time at the same place. Even if the responsible company is no longer in business, the attorneys can still obtain monetary settlements through other means as there have been billions of dollars set aside for disbursements regarding Mesothelioma lawsuits.

If you or someone you love has contracted Mesothelioma, do an online search for lawyers in your area who handle these types of cases. A settlement made to you through a Mesothelioma lawsuit can offer a degree of support in more ways than one. The compensation received can assist in alleviating some of the burden of medical treatment costs, especially for those who are uninsured, and also possibly give an individual a chance to live in a more comfortable atmosphere, overall.

Find numerous resources on

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Three main lifestyle habits lay the foundation for breast cancer prevention. They include:

• Staying physically active
• Limiting alcohol
• Eating right

The evidence so far tells us healthy eating and regular exercise really does contribute to breast cancer prevention. Plus, if you limit your exposure to substances that promote breast cancer, you will benefit even more.

There are some risks toward a higher incident of breast cancer that you cannot control. These include:

• Your age
• Genetic make-up

Although these two factors may loom against you there are still steps you can take on your own to prevent breast cancer. They provide no guarantee that you still will not develop the disease. They will give you a start toward breast cancer prevention.

Some of the easiest things you can control is what you eat and drink and how much exercise you get.

There remains a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. Seems that it does not matter the type of alcohol one consumes, whether it be wine, beer or mixed drinks, there does not seem to be a difference according to researchers. A step toward breast cancer prevention would be to limit your alcohol to less than one drink per day or to avoid alcohol completely.

Researchers tells us there is also a clear link between obesity or weighing more than is appropriate for your age and height and breast cancer. This is especially true if you gain the extra weight late in life or after menopause. The reason for this is that excess fatty tissue is a source of circulating estrogen in the body. Breast cancer risk is linked to how much estrogen you are exposed to during a lifetime.

If you stay active with a regular exercise regime you are better able to maintain a healthy weight. This one accomplishment alone lowers your risk of breast cancer regardless of age or genetic make-up. We are consistently told to aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week. Always try to include weight-bearing exercises like walking, jogging or aerobics, which have the added benefit of keeping your bones and joints strong and healthy.

To date studies suggest a slight decrease in risk of invasive breast cancer for women who eat a low-fat diet. The effect is modest. It is probably a good idea to eat a low-fat diet anyway because it reduces your risk of other diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. A low-fat diet also can help you maintain healthy weight, which in turns, will help you in taking steps toward breast cancer prevention.

For the greatest benefit limit fat intake to less than 35 percent of your daily calories and restrict foods high in saturated fat.

Researchers have discovered two promising agents to help us prevent breast cancer. They are:

1. Retinoids
2. Flaxseed

Retinoids are natural or synthetic forms of vitamin A. Retionids may have the ability to destroy or disturb the growth of cancer cells. Retinoids may also be effective in premenopausal women and in those whose tumors are not estrogen-positive.

Flaxseed is quite high in one phytoestrogen, which is “lignan.” Phytoestrogens are compounds that occur naturally and lower circulating estrogens in the body. Lignan appears to decrease estrogen production and may help to inhibit the growth of some breast cancers.

Research continues, however, any woman at any age or genetic make-up can start today toward breast cancer prevention simply by staying active, watching what you eat and limiting intake of alcohol.

Source: Mayo Clinic

© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Written by: Connie Limon. For an extensive list of FREE reprint articles about Breast Cancer visit us at smalldogs2.com/BreastCancerArticles smalldogs2.com/BreastCancerArticles

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Tags: breast cancer, cancer prevention, cancer risk