Breast Cancer Symptoms

By John Marston
Cancer is a term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer can spread through the bloodstream and invade nearby tissues. It can spread into the lymphatic system into other parts of one’s body. There are numerous types of cancer. Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs is carcinoma. Leukemia is a form of cancer that begins in blood forming tissue such as bone marrow and will cause a large number of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood stream. Multiple myeloma and lymphoma cancers start in the cells of the immune system. Cancer that begins in the bone, cartilage, fat, blood vessels, or muscle is sarcoma. Each year in America, 211,000 women learn they have breast cancer. Other than skin cancer breast cancer is the most common type of cancer found in women is this country. Common symptoms of breast cancer include a change in how the breast or nipple feels and a change in how the breast or nipple looks.
If there are changes in how the nipple or breast feels, possibly a thickening or lump in or around the breast or underarm area, such a change can be a symptom of breast cancer. So can tenderness in the nipple.
Changes in how the nipple or breast looks may be the nipple turning inward into the breast. Another change could be a different shape or size of breast. Still other changes that might occur in the breast, nipple, or areola may be red, scaly or swollen skin. The skin may have ridges or pitting and look like the skin of an orange.
Still, another sign that there could be breast cancer is a nipple discharge. The nipple may discharge a fluid if there is breast cancer.
In early stages breast cancer usually does not cause pain. If a woman is having pain or other symptoms that do not go away she should see her health care provider. It is likely the symptoms are not due to breast cancer. Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. If a woman does have these symptoms she should tell her doctor. Any problems that might exist can be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

By John Marston
Anything that may increase the chance of developing a disease is considered a risk factor. As research has indicated women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer.
The exact causes for breast cancer are not known. Often doctors cannot explain why one woman may develop breast cancer but another does not. What is known is that bruising, bumping or touching the breast does not cause cancer. Breast cancer is not contagious. It is not “caught” from others.
There have been studies that have revealed some of the risk factors for breast cancer. Among those risk factors are a woman’s age, a family or personal history of breast cancer, changes in her breast, changes in her genes and her menstrual history. Other risk factors for breast cancer include a woman’s race, if she has had radiation therapy to the chest, and her breast density. Still other factors for breast cancer include taking diethylstilbestrol (DES), her being overweight or obese after menopause, not being physically active, and her alcohol consumption.
Breast cancer is not common in women before menopause. As women age their chances for breast cancer development can increase. Breast cancer occurrence is greater for women over age 60.
The chance of a woman developing breast cancer is greater if her mother, sister or daughter has a history of the disease. If a family member developed breast cancer before the age of 40, the risk is even greater for a woman developing breast cancer. Other relatives having breast cancer, either on her maternal or paternal side of the family, can also place a woman at greater risk for developing breast cancer.
Having a personal history of breast cancer can also increase a woman’s risk. If a woman has had breast cancer in one breast the risk of getting breast cancer in the other breast increase.
Changes in a woman’s breast can place a woman at risk for breast cancer. Cells in a woman’s breast may look abnormal under a microscope. Abnormal cells such as atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ (or LCIS) increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer.
Changes in a woman’s genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, and others may increase the risk for breast cancer. Tests from family members who have been known to have breast cancer can reveal the presence of specific gene changes in family members. In order to improve the detection of this disease in women who have these changes in their genes health care providers may be able to suggest ways to try to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
A woman’s menstrual and reproductive history can place a woman at risk for breast cancer. Women having their first menstrual period before age 12 have a greater risk for developing breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer increase the older a woman is when she had her first child. A woman going through menopause after age 55 places her at greater risk for breast cancer. If a woman has never had children she is at a greater risk of breast cancer. Taking menopausal hormone therapy with estrogen plus progestin after menopause appears to increase risks for breast cancer. Studies have shown no link between miscarriage or abortion and risks for breast cancer.
Race is another risk factor for breast cancer. Caucasian women more often than Latina, African or Asian American women are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Radiation therapy performed to the chest, including the breast, before a woman is age 30 is another known risk factor for breast cancer. Studies indicate the younger the age of a woman when she received radiation treatment the higher the risk for breast cancer in later life.
A woman’s breast tissue is either fatty or dense. Placing them at a higher risk of breast cancer are older women whose mammograms, or breast x-rays, reveal more dense tissue.
Diethylstilbestrol, also known as DES, was given to some pregnant women in the United States during the 1940’s until 1971. This is no longer given to pregnant women. Taking DES during pregnancy may slightly increase the risk for breast cancer. The possible effects on the daughters of women who were given DES while pregnant are still being studied.
A woman being overweight or obese after menopause can increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer. Studies have indicated that after menopause the risk increases for women who are overweight.
A physically inactive lifestyle may contribute to risks for breast cancer. If a woman is active it can prevent weight gain and obesity and therefore reduce chances for breast cancer.
Drinking alcohol increases risks for breast cancer. Studies indicate the more alcohol a woman drinks her risk for breast cancer increase.
Researchers are currently studying other possible risk factors for breast cancer. Currently being studied are the effect of diet, genetics, physical activity, and certain environmental substances increasing the risks for breast cancer.
Avoiding known risk factors for breast cancer can help women protect themselves against breast cancer. Risk factors for breast cancer such as family history cannot be avoided. These should be discussed with her doctor.
Most women who have known risk factors do not get breast cancer. Many women with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease. Most women with breast cancer have no clear sign for risk factors other than growing older.
If a woman thinks she is at risk for breast cancer she should discuss her concern with her doctor. Her doctor may be able to suggest ways she can reduce her risk. At risk or not, a woman should plan scheduled checkups with her health care provider. Prevention is the best cure.

Reducing Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

By John Marston
Second only to lung cancer breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. Only with early detection and effective treatment will it be likely to reduce the number of women who die from breast cancer each year.
There are some factors that are known to decrease a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer. Among those factors are SERMs, prophylactic mastectomy, aromatase inhibitors, prophylactic oophorectomy, and exercise. It is not known if factors such as abortion, diet, environment, second hand smoke, smoking, or statins can increase a woman’s risk factors for breast cancer.
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators, or SERMs are drugs acting similar to estrogen on some tissues in the body such as bones, while blocking estrogen effects on other tissues. Certain SERMs have been shown in studies to lower the risk for developing breast cancer for women at risk for developing this disease. Unfortunately there can be side affects with SERM drugs such as endometrial cancer, blood clots in veins and in the lungs, and stroke. A woman must discuss with her health care provider both benefits and risks of taking SERMs.
If there is a family history of breast cancer removal of both breasts, or prophylactic mastectomy, may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer for a woman. Careful consideration must be given before a woman makes a decision to have prophylactic mastectomy. It is important that breast cancer risk assessments and counseling are undergone before making such a decision. Women who have prophylactic mastectomy may develop anxieties and depression as well as concern about their body image.
Aromatase inhibitors decrease the body’s estrogen and can lower the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Most of a woman’s estrogen is made outside the ovaries from androgen (another hormone) in postmenopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors work by stopping the action of the enzyme aromatase which converts androgens into estrogens. Negative side effects from taking aromatase inhibitors include decreased bone density and effects on a person’s brain function such as talking, memory, and learning.
Decreasing the amount of estrogen made by the body with the removal of both ovaries, or prophylactic oophorectomy may reduce a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer. Drugs may also be given to decrease the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries. However, the sudden drop in estrogen may cause symptoms of menopause to occur such as hot flashes, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, vaginal dryness, loss of bone density or lack of interest in sex.
Hormone levels may reduce if a woman exercises four or more hours per week and can lower the risk for breast cancer. Exercise effectively reducing breast cancer risk is greater in younger women of low weight or normal weight. Exercise should be safe and the risk of injury to bones and muscles must be taken into consideration.
Abortion has not been shown to increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Studies have not yet proven a connection with abortion and breast cancer.
Studies are being conducted to discover if diet can be an influence for breast cancer risks. A beta-carotene rich diet, according to studies, may reduce the risk for breast cancer.
Environmental concerns have not been linked to breast cancer. Studies indicate environmental exposures such as chemicals, metals, dust, and pollution have not shown a risk increase for breast cancer.
Statins are cholesterol lowering drugs. Studies have not indicated that statins have any effect on risks for developing breast cancer.
It has been shown in studies that smoking does not contribute to a woman’s risk of breast cancer. Second hand smoke also the studies indicate does not affect the risk for breast cancer. There are many known factors that place women at risk for developing breast cancer. Women need to educate themselves as to what the risk factors for breast cancer are and what preventive actions may be taken in order to decrease the number of women who lose their lives to breast cancer each year.

The Face Of Metastatic Breast Cancer

By Riley Hendersen
America received a shocking piece of news in March 2007. John Edward's wife, Elizabeth, had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She spoke calmly, with inner strength, about how she had asked her husband to continue his presidential campaign, and how she wanted to campaign by his side. She did not want to be best known by her illness; she wanted, in fact, needed, to carry on as normally as she could.
Her diagnosis gave a face to this illness. Americans began to discuss Elizabeth and John Edward's decisions. Globally, people talked about how deeply cancer affects families. Breast cancer is something that affects many, and almost everyone has known someone who has died from it. Her announcement gave a face to it and it made people think. It brought the topic out in the open.
What is metastatic breast cancer? Also called Stage IV breast cancer, it is cancer that has spread from the original (primary) site to other organs or tissues in the body, such as bone, liver, lungs or brain.
Sometimes, like Mrs. Edwards, it is a recurrence of the original cancer. However, in one out of ten diagnosed, the first diagnosis that a woman hears is metastatic breast cancer.
In it, cells break away from the breast, circulating through the blood and lymphatic system. The body's immune system attacks these circulating cancer cells. Most do not survive, but if the immune system malfunctions or is weak, or for another, unknown reason, will usually spread to the bone, then lung and liver next. The cells that have metastasized are still breast cancer cells, no matter where they are found in the body.
Treatment is palliative, improving quality of life, relieving symptoms and aimed at extending a woman's lifetime. But there are new treatments coming that are giving more hope to those patients with this cancer. Many women with this illness choose to become part of a clinical trial in order to access treatments that are not yet approved by the FDA.
If it is "estrogen-receptive," hormonal therapies such as the drug Herceptin can be lifesaving. Chemotherapy is indicated in bone, lung and liver metastases. For bone metastases, radiation and the drug bisphosphonate are often used. For liver and lung metastases, occasionally surgery is used. For cancer that has spread to the brain, radiation and surgery are used.
Palliative care to relieve symptoms from both the cancer and treatment involves drug and non-drug treatments such as relaxation therapy, acupuncture, and dietary management. Besides physical symptoms, palliative care for patients who are being treated or who cannot be cured focuses on spiritual and emotional needs, as well as physical needs.
As far as anyone knows today, metastatic cancer can't be cured. Sometimes, treatments can actually stop the cancer from growing for months or years. When Elizabeth Edwards asserted that she thought her own might be treatable, people listened. She gave a face to this illness - a loving, brave, wise, face - that no one will forget.

Alternative Breast Cancer Treatment Options

By Jon Arnold
Being diagnosed with Breast cancer isn’t something anyone wants to have in their lives. Luckily, for the majority of people, medical technology has advanced enough that with proper treatment, recovering and continuing on with life is greater than ever.
While you might have heard of it, you may not be aware of all the options that are available to you. However, conventional and alternative breast cancer treatment options are numerous. Many probably already know a bit about the conventional methods radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy and hormone treatment, though they might not know everything doing a web search and taking a look at information available on websites may be a good way to gain a little more knowledge into what exactly are your options when it comes to alternative breast cancer treatment.
Cancer is a tough one to beat, especially if it is not caught early. While the traditional methods of dealing with breast cancer have been found effective based on medical science knowledge today, you may wish to consider looking at treatment options. These alternative breast cancer treatment options are something that can be used in conjunction with conventional methods of treatment in order to increase the body’s natural healing abilities.
One of the more commonly known types of alternative treatment options is touch healing. This covers things like chiropractic, massage and Reiki treatments. All of these deal with bringing the body back into balance in order to help promote healing. It is also true that things like massage and Reiki have a very relaxing effect and Reiki is known to have significant pain reducing properties. It can also help to speed up the body’s natural healing process, which means you can get better faster.
One of the down sides to conventional treatments is that they can make you very tired. Being relaxed means that you can sleep better and the sleep you get is deeper. That can make a big difference in how you look at life, your situation and how you handle your treatment.
Massage can help with muscle pains as well as help you to relax. Going through treatment is a stressful process and stress hinders the body’s natural healing abilities.
Other alternative breast cancer treatments options are things like dietary changes. Adding supplements and foods to your diet that help promote good health are another way to help your body fight off the cancer and keep you from feeling run down which can make both you and your outlook feel worse than you have to be feeling. There are also homeopathic treatments that you can consider that might be of benefit in helping you to feel more like yourself even when you are going through cancer treatments.
If you would like to know more about alternative cancer treatment options, breast cancer itself or conventional treatment options and what is available, consider checking out the Internet. There are a number of websites with up to date and accurate information on what is available for you. As with any treatment plan consult with your doctor before trying anything and let them know what works and what does not for you.

Breast Cancer - A Case of Medicine Without Compassion

By Chris Teo, Ph.D.
Andi is child number ten in a family of eight brothers and two sisters. She is not married. In September 2004, at the age of forty-eight, Andi found a lump in her left breast. A lumpectomy was done by a surgeon in a hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. She then came to Penang to undergo eight cycles of chemotherapy. After this treatment, Andi was asked to go for radiotherapy besides taking tamoxifen. She declined both and came to see us on 15 March. On the day of her visit, she presented with bloatedness of her stomach and numbness of both feet.
One month on the herbs, all these symptoms disappeared. In June 2005, a blood test showed elevated ALT and AST (165 and 114, respectively) indicating something was amiss with her liver. Andi was put on liver herbs and within two months, her liver function values were restored to normalcy (ALT = 52, AST = 29). Andi discontinued taking the liver herbs. On 25 January 2006, her ALT was again elevated, at 59. On 6 April 2006, her liver function values remained elevated (ALT = 57, AST = 52). Andi resumed with the liver herbs. On 9 May 2007, Andi’s liver function values were back to normalcy ((AST = 10, ALT = 17). All other blood parameters were within normal limits. Her CEA was at 1.0 and CA 15.3 = 10.5, ESR = 5 and platelet count = 170.
On 11 May 2007, I talked to Andi and the transcript of our conversation is as follows:
Question: Did you take the liver herbs “religiously”?
Andi: Yes, I took Capsule A and B as long as I had the supply. When I ran short of supply, I did not take the capsules. As for the Liver-P, I was not very regular. Sometimes, I took it, sometimes I didn’t.
Q: After the lumpectomy in Jakarta, why did you come to Penang for chemotherapy? Did you know anyone here?
A: No, I did not know anyone here. I just followed other Indonesian patients who came here for treatment. I came to Penang because I was not happy with the doctor who asked me to go for chemotherapy. You see, I was operated on by a famous doctor in Jakarta. He is also the owner of the hospital. He is the one who asked me to go for chemotherapy after the lumpectomy. My brothers and I went to discuss the follow up treatment with him. We asked him how much the chemo-treatment cost and what drugs would be used. He was very nasty and rude. He told me: “Why do you want to know so much. Even if I tell you, you don’t understand. As for the cost, there are many types of drugs. If you are rich you use expensive drugs, and if you have less money, you use less expensive drugs. If you don’t have money, then don’t do chemotherapy at all.” I was very unhappy with his reply. So I decided to come to Penang for chemotherapy.
Q: How long did you stay here for the chemo-treatment?
A: I flew in and went to the hospital as soon as possible. It took about 4 hours for the injection to finish. The next day I flew back to Jakarta. I did this every three weeks until I was done with the eight cycles.
Q: Was the chemo-treatment a pleasant experience?
A: No. I lost my hair completely after the first cycle of chemo. My stomach felt bloated. I had to take 16 tablets of Dexamethasone twice a day. After the injection, I was alright but after I flew home I started to have the side effects which lasted about a week after each treatment.
Comments
Patients who have undergone chemotherapy may sometimes end up with derailed liver function values. Your doctors may tell you that this is a temporary set back after chemotherapy. Given a bit of time, the values return to normal. So, there is no need to take herbs. This is not the case with Andi. Without the liver herbs, Andi’s liver function values remained high. Would that lead to liver problems later? One lesson we can learn from this case is that liver herbs don’t harm your liver! The herbs make the liver function better.
Andi’s experience with her surgeon cum owner of the hospital is most tragic. A statement frequently uttered, “Some people go into medicine for the money.” This is one example of what the statement means. Some practitioners lack the compassion required of this noble profession. Some of them are just plain rude and arrogant, and they don’t know how to show love and care to their patients.

What Are Breast Cancer Symptoms?

By J. Lloyd
A disease that strikes fear in woman and everyone knows someone that has been diagnosed and treated for this. You constantly hear about breast cancer and there are constant news releases about new treatments being pioneered within the medical community. How should respond to the news reports, magazine articles and information that you receive from your own doctor?
Basically, watching for the early signs of this disease and taking immediate action can be the most important thing you ever do for yourself.
But, what are the symptoms of breast cancer? Many women do not know the basic facts that could save their lives. And, men get this form of cancer, at a lower rate, and they should also be informed.
There are several symptoms that all men and women should watch for. You should watch for:
* a lump-it will usually be small, firm and painless* a piece of skin on the breast or underarm that swells or that has an unusual appearance* veins that become more prominent on one or both breasts just under the skin surface* nipples that have a change in skin texture, develops a rash, have a discharge (other than breast milk) or that becomes inverted, or* a depression in any area of the breast surface that was not there before.
Women that already perform monthly self breast examinations know that their breasts always have a lumpy texture. Medical people say that if you do regular self-examinations, you will be able to tell the difference between your normal texture and the development of a lump. When in doubt, see a medical professional-they are there to help you and will not laugh if you are mistaken.
The medical profession tells us that only a small percentage of all lumps found in women’s breasts are malignant.
But, are you willing to take a chance and ignore the breast cancer symptoms? Being diagnosed is not a death notice-it is an opportunity for you to take action and to beat a terrible disease. Remember that every day more and more people are surviving breast cancer and living normal, healthy and long lives.
Watch for the symptoms of breast cancer. Be diligent, watchful and know the risks involved and your own family history with this disease. Even if there is no history of this disease in your family, that does not mean you are immune. Routine monthly self-examinations are the best way to ensure that you know your own body.
Do not be shy about the self-examinations and know the symptoms. No matter how slight the change in your breast, seek medical attention. Talk to your doctor; know how to be proactive in your own health care prevention and treatment. You are your own first line of defense-you know your body better than anyone else and you should be aware of any changes going on.
Think about the thousands of women every year that have survived this terrible disease. They have done so by being an actively involved in their own care and you can see many of them march every year in the Susan G. Konan race for the cure. Knowing the symptoms of breast cancer can mean the difference between you living long enough to see your grandchildren grow up or dying at an early age—the different might just be in your own hands.

Treatment Options For Breast Cancer

By Logan Pallas
Mammograms are routinely prescribed by women’s physicians as a means of early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Doctors are persistent in this recommendation because breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women after lung cancer. With early diagnosis and treatment, 97% of women with localized breast cancer are alive 5 years later.
Once breast cancer has been found, further tests will be determining the extent of the cancer, a process known as staging. Understanding the extent of the cancer helps in the formation of an effective treatment plan. The following stages are used for breast cancer:
Stage 0 is used to describe early cancers, which make up15-20% of all breast cancers. These early cancers are referred to as ‘carcinoma in situ’ or ‘cancer in place’. Occasionally an abnormality or lump seen on a mammogram is biopsied. With carcinoma in situ, a woman has a 25% chance of developing breast cancer in the next 25 years.
Stage 1 is characterized by a localized cancer, no bigger than 2 centimeters or 1", and involves only breast tissue.
Stage II has several different set of criteria.
Cancer <2 centimeters involving both axillary (underarm) nodes and breast tissue.
Cancer 2 - 5 centimeters (1"-2"), with or without lymph node involvement.
Cancer > 5 centimeters (>2"), without involvement of the lymph nodes.
Stage III is divided into several categories, with all involving cancer >5 centimeters, but varying by the involvement of nodes, skin, chest wall, and/or bones.
Stage IV is the most critical, being the stage of cancer where extensive metastasis or spreading has occurred to involve vital organs - lungs, liver, bones and/or brain.
Treatments and Therapies
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Some tumors can be inhibited by hormones. To determine if a particular tumor is sensitive to hormone exposure, a biopsy is performed, and a hormone receptor test is conducted. This receptor test also helps determine the probability of a tumor return. Physicians often use HRT in combination with other cancer therapies.
Surgery of varying types is performed to remove cancerous cells. It may be a radical surgery where extensive tissue, (the entire breasts) and/or lymph nodes, are involved; or something more conservative, such as a lumpectomy, removing only the suspect tissue.
Radiation therapy applies specialized x-rays to cancer cells and is less devastating now that ways to target the radiation are being used. Radiation is used with other treatments when, for example, surgery would carry too much risk for the loss of critical tissue.
Chemotherapy, a standard, uses ever-more targeted drugs to kill cancer cells. The newest drugs are tailored to specific cancer cell characteristics both internal and external.
Two of the newer techniques, biological therapy, a more holistic approach to use the individual’s own immune system, and bone marrow transplants, designed to protect the spread of cancer to the bone, are also being tested. While new treatments are showing success at treating and inhibiting cancers, the best recommendation from the medical community is for prevention.
Dr. Logan Pallas is a medical researcher, cancer expert and writer. For more information about effective breast cancer treatments visit Dr. Pallas' Cancer Breakthroughs website where he covers every aspect of an effective treatment in great detail.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

By Lloyd Perry
There are many different risk factors for breast cancer. The most significant of these risks factors is gender and age. Most occurrences of breast cancer occur in a certain gender and age group. Even though those outside this gender and age group are still at risk for breast cancer, the risk is not as great.
Women are at the greatest risk of developing breast cancer. Contrary to what many people believe, men can also develop breast cancer. However, women are at a much greater risk of developing breast cancer than men. Age also plays a factor in the development of breast cancer. The cancer is far more common in women over 50 versus women under 20.
Women who have relatives with breast cancer are also at a greater risk of developing the cancer themselves. This risk increases with first-degree relatives like a mother, sister, or daughter. A male relative with prostate cancer also increases the risk of developing breast cancer. If a mother and sister both have breast cancer then the risk is increased.
A history of breast cancer also leaves women at a greater risk of developing the same cancer. This happens when the cancer cells spread to the lymph glands. There is a great risk that the cancer will develop in the opposite breast. When breast conservation therapy is used as treatment for the cancer, there is a risk of cancer redeveloping in the same breast.
Some hormonal factors increase the risk of breast cancer. A woman who started her menstrual period before the age of 12 has a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer. This is also true of women that have menopause after 55, women who have a first child after age 30, and women that have never had children.
If you happen to fall into this category,You should have a mamograhm at Least once a year.
As Like any Cancer it can sneak up on us very Quickly. Early detection is our best chance of fighting this Disease.
Lloyd Perry is the founder of Infoservice.us An Online Health & Fitness Resource. Where you'll find all your Health Info Resources all in One Place.

Breast Cancer Ribbons-Showing Your Support

By Samantha Kay
You see them everywhere from jewelry, to car magnets, to symbols on grocery products, to major companies displaying them on their advertisements. The pink ribbons show everyone that you care about and are interested in finding a cure for breast cancer. Whether you just wear a pink ribbon or you are more socially active in the issue depends upon your own personal experiences with breast cancer.
Today, prominent people in the movie industry and corporations are showing their support of many different causes. One of the more popular one, particularly for women, is the breast cancer ribbon. You will see prominent people wearing the pink ribbons on their fancy designer gowns as they walk down the Red Carpet at the Oscar's or Emmy's. They are not ashamed to show their fans that they care about a special topic of interest to the community.
It is rare today that you do not know someone that has been touched by breast cancer. If you are lucky your acquaintance survived the ordeal and is back to living a fairly normal life. For those of us that have lost someone close to us it is harder because we know that early detection might have saved them.
The pink ribbon is considered to be an international symbol for breast cancer-regardless of country, the pink ribbon serves a universal meaning. One of the very interest facts is that no one company, organization or foundation owns the rights to this worldwide symbol. Each company, organizations or foundation can create their version of the pink ribbon and this will give them the rights reserved on their copyright, for example Avon has its own, as does Estee Lauder. This is one the reasons why you see so many different pink ribbons being displayed.
Pink Ribbon Day is always on the fourth Monday of October. It marks the culmination of breast cancer activities during the month of October. It is recognized as breast cancer's national day in support of awareness and research, and generates a range of activities with an education and fundraising focus. Pink Ribbon Day raises funds for research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
So, whether you have your own personalized pink ribbon that you share with friends and relatives or you are using a corporate one, you are showing your support for this very important cause. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each ribbon goes into breast cancer research-to help those looking for a cure for all of us.
You can help increase your communities breast cancer awareness and support breast cancer research at the same time by proudly wearing your ribbon. Each and every one of us can make a different in the fight against breast cancer. And, all you need to do is purchase a small pink breast cancer awareness ribbon. So, what are you waiting for-they are in all of the stores. Just pick one up and show your support!

What Is Metastatic Breast Cancer?

By Samantha Kay
The most frightening words imaginable for any woman are those when she is told that she has breast cancer. The morbid thoughts run through her head and the fear is overwhelming. Now she must endure medical treatments and examinations for several months as begins her battle against this disease.
Cancer is defined by four different stages and metastatic breast cancer is defined as stage 4 and it means that the cancer has spread beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes to other part of the body. Another way to explain this is that the cancer cells have migrated and are now growing outside of the original tumor.
Women who have stage IV breast cancer usually receive chemotherapy and or hormonal therapy to destroy cancer cells and control the disease. They may have surgery or radiation therapy to control the cancer in the breast. Radiation may also be useful to control tumors in other parts of the body. The symptoms of metastatic breast cancer varies depend on where the cancer is and how large it is.
The most common places for breast cancer to spread are within the breast or to the nearby chest wall or to the liver, lungs, or bones. Common symptoms include a lump in your breast or on your chest wall, bone pain, or shortness of breath. It is also possible that you will not have any symptoms and that the only way to keep yourself healthy is to be proactive and to take an active role in your health care. It may be necessary to have continuous laboratory tests and x-rays to determine whether or not the cancer has spread.
Work with your doctors to plan your medical treatments and to be a partner in your health care. Your doctors will consider where the cancer is located and what type of cancer treatments you had in the past. Your wishes and quality of life are also important factors.
Treatment choices may include surgery, medicines like chemotherapy or hormone therapy, and radiation. Sometimes a mix of these treatments is used and there can be side effects. Your doctor can tell you what problems to expect and can help you find ways to manage and live with them during the treatment phase.
There may come a time with metastatic breast cancer when you make a decision that quality of life is more important than quantity. If the medical treatments are not working and the effects of them are more devastating than the actual disease, you may have a choice to make.
Some people make the decision after talking to their family, friends and doctors to shift the focus of their treatments from attempting to cure the disease to staying comfortable and enjoying life. The care at this point is entirely focused on providing symptom relief as well as support for you and your family so that everyone can make the most of the time remaining.
The final choice for your care after you have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer if yours! And, you should make informed decision after talking to your doctors and family members. Medical advances in this area are moving forward every day and you never know when the cure will be found.

Ju -- A Breast Cancer Survivor of Twelve Years And Still Going Strong

By Chris Teo, Ph.D.
Ju, a thirty-six year old lady, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995. She had a lumpectomy. Ju’s cancer was at an early stage but to be sure, the doctor suggested that Ju underwent a mastectomy -- a total removal of her right breast. Ju declined and did not see her doctor ever again. She did not receive any chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormonal therapy either. She decided to seek alternative healing methods. To many people in the West, what Ju did was sheer “madness” and for anyone to suggest forsaking conventional medical treatment as in her case might even be regarded as an irresponsible “criminal act”.
Ju’s father is a herbalist and naturally she turned to him for help. Ju took herbs prescribed by her father for about a year. When she felt well and healthy she stopped taking the herbs, without even telling her father about it. Besides herbs, Ju learned to meditate, changed to a healthy diet of vegetables, nuts, juices, unpolished rice, etc., besides taking many kinds of supplements.
For seven years, Ju remained healthy. Taking a cue from the medical doctrine, after you live five years with cancer without problem, you are considered “cured.” After five years, complacency started to set in. Ju went back to her previous lifestyle and started on her “bad” diet again. To her, at that point in time, “anything goes” -- cancer was no more a threat. She found a job and went back to work.
Barely two years into her “misbehavior,” Ju’s health took a beating. She felt tired easily. Yet, she did not even bother to monitor her health in anyway -- not even examining her own breasts. One night in 2002, seven years after she first discovered a lump in her breast, Ju noticed a 2 cm lump protruding out at the scar of her operation site. The cancer recurred. She started to take juices and went on an extensive detoxification program again. It was not to be -- within six months, the lump grew into a 8 cm-hamburger-like-open-wound. One day it bled, oozing out a glass of fresh blood. Ju went to see a surgeon who immediately did a mastectomy on her. After three months, Ju regained her health. Ju was asked to undergo radiotherapy. After seven radiation treatments she developed bronchitis and decided to give up radiation. Since she was not getting better, in 2005, Ju decided to go for chemotherapy, as suggested by an oncologist. The third cycle of chemotherapy caused her to vomit the whole night. She decided to stop chemotherapy and went back to her healthy diet, juices and supplements again. As of this writing, Ju is doing well and leading a normal life. I interviewed Ju on 9 May 2007, and present the transcript of our conversation in nine parts following this article. I believe there are many lessons we can learn from Ju’s experience.
Comments
Ju is fortunate to be alive today, twelve years after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Over the years, I know of many breast cancer cases that resulted in death, three to seven years after diagnosis, even after receiving the state-of-the-art medical treatments in the best hospitals. Chantal Bernard-Marty, et al. (in: The Oncologist, Nov. 2004) wrote: “20% - 85% of patients with early stage breast cancer will develop recurrent and/or metastatic disease. Despite more than 3 decades of research, metastatic breast cancer remains essentially incurable.”
Two examples came to mind when I think of breast cancer and medical treatments. The wife of my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was bald and suffered severe side effects. After the treatments were completed, the oncologist said everything was fine. She and her husband went for a short holiday. She vomited on the plane while coming home. I was told by her husband that a CT scan showed that liver was “full” of tumors. Her stomach bloated and within days she died. It was most tragic because it was only nine months from the day of her diagnosis to her death. This episode made me wonder if it was the cancer or the treatment that caused her death.
The young wife of one of my distant relative was also diagnosed with breast cancer. She came to seek my help and was started on herbs. After three months, she decided to forgo herbs and went for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The cancer metastasised to her bones. She died while in the hospital, three years after her diagnosis. It was a painful death.
In comparison, Ju ought to be grateful for being alive up to this day. More importantly, she did not suffer to stay alive. A lesson to be learnt from Ju’s experience -- the way of modern medicine using chemotherapy and radiotherapy is not the only proven option to manage breast cancer.

Learn About Breast Cancer Prevention

By Mike Selvon
Breast cancer prevention is important for women to learn about, especially since breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women. The American Cancer Society's web site reports that over two-hundred thousand women were diagnosed with this disease in 2006 and there are over two million women in the United States who have received treatment for breast cancer. With numbers this staggering, preventing cancer should be a priority for all women.
Thanks to all the new treatments available to women, death rates from breast cancer have declined in the last several years. When deciding how to go about lowering your chances of developing breast cancer, you should consider your risk factors. A risk factor is something that can increase a person's risk of developing cancer.
Some risk factors can be controlled but others are considered irrepressible. Uncontrollable risk factors are age, gender, family history, genetic make-up, race and even personal medical history. Lifestyle risks usually fall in the "controllable" category.
These are things such as not exercising enough, being overweight, eating a diet high in fat, using birth control and smoking. It is important to take a look at your own lifestyle and family history to determine if you are susceptible to any of these risk factors.
There are certain medications available to women who fall under high risk factors for breast cancer. The drug Tamoxifen has been used in the United States for over twenty-five years to help in the fight for breast cancer prevention. The drug is taken once daily as a pill and interferes with the female hormone estrogen, preventing it from attaching itself to cells in the breast tissue.
This medication can also be used to treat women already diagnosed with breast cancer because it can slow down or cease the growth of cancerous cells. Tamoxifen has even been associated with helping prevent a recurrence in women who previously suffered from breast cancer.
A more common way to prevent breast cancer is through mammograms. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast and is the most common form of prevention. Women who are over forty years of age should get mammograms on a yearly basis.
For women in their twenty's and thirty's, the American Cancer Society's web site recommends getting clinical breast exams at least every three years from a medical professional. This test is performed using the tips of the fingers to check the entire breast area and under the arm.
In addition to mammograms and clinical breast exams, women should also perform breast self exams each month to recognize any signs of lumps or abnormalities in the tissue.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is able to help women who fall within the lower poverty levels, are uninsured or underserved gain access to screenings for breast cancer. This program is called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
The CDC's web site touts it has served more than two million women under this program since its inception in 1991. In 2000, Congress expanded this service by opening it up to women who are on Medicaid. This breast cancer control act, formally titled the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, is a way to help women, who may have little access to quality health care, have a chance at breast and cervical cancer prevention.
Breast cancer prevention can be a simple way to help you live a healthier life. Although not all risk factors are controllable, there are ways to help you recognize the warning signs of cancer. Be smart and know your body so you can live cancer free.

Breast Cancer Awareness Facts Every Woman Should Know

Breast Cancer Awareness Facts Every Woman Should KnowBy Samantha Kay
Nothing is more important than your health-you have heard this for years and years and finally realize that this true. A major disease that strikes thousands of women every year can be detected early and the survival rate is increasing.
Did you know that every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer or that more than 211,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected in the United States? You should know a few simple facts about breast cancer awareness that could save your life.
You know the routine and that you should follow your doctor's recommendations to get a mammogram on a regular basis—whether every 3 years or every year, this simple test can detect early changes in your breasts.
There are also self examinations that you should perform every month at home. I know what you are thinking-what a pain, but you can make this a simple procedure you do the first of every month when taking your shower. This is a particularly good time because your body is wet and the soap helps your hands move quickly and easily over your skin as you check for lumps.
Other than these two proactive items you can do, what else can help you be more diligent about breast cancer awareness? This is also simple and easy to follow. Be aware of the different symptoms of breast cancer. These include but are not limited to feeling a small, firm and painless lump; checking your skin for unusual swelling or appearance; a difference in size or shape that was never there before.
Also, you should know what your nipples look like-as women, we usually neglect ourselves to take care of others. Do you know what your nipples look like and would you know if there was a change in them? If the skin on your nipples changes texture, has a rash or discharge or suddenly become inverted-this is a great time to go and see your doctor.
Knowing everything you can about breast cancer awareness will provide you with an opportunity to not only take care of yourself but also your mother, sisters, daughters and friends. As women, we are bound by our common fear and misunderstanding of this terrible disease, but it does not have to be a death sentence. Early detection and treatment has increased the survival rate of breast cancer survivors to over 90%.
Become active in your community whether helping to coordinate a mammogram day at your church or office where women can sign up for the test. If you are already a survivor, sign up with your local hospital to talk to women currently being treated for the disease—they need to see that life will once again be normal for them.
We are all sisters in this battle to educate each other about breast cancer awareness and to help each other through our morale support and love for each other.

Ju's Breast Cancer Experience Part 1: Stressful and Unsatisfied Life Before Cancer Diagnosis

By Chris Teo, Ph.D.
In 1995, Ju was thirty-six years old and her son seven years old. One night she felt a lump in her right breast. This was later diagnosed as cancerous. It has been twelve years since her diagnosis and Ju is still doing fine. In May 2007, I conducted an in-depth interview of her case.
Q: You said your family is very important to you. Was there any “pressure” in your family life?
Ju: Not really. All along I was an independent and strong willed person. Whatever I wanted to do, I would do it and then inform my family. My husband respected me as an individual. In fact, I normally would probe my husband to help me make decisions. He is more of a quiet type, which initially I did not know how to appreciate. That was one of the things I have begun to realize. Before I found the lump in my breast, I was very depressed.
Q: Would you like to share your feelings about your relationship with your husband?
Ju: I felt like there was not enough communication between. I didn’t realize that even before I married him, he was a very quiet person. When you expect to change people, it will never happen. Now, I realize I should change myself instead of others. After my cancer diagnosis, I begun to appreciate him because he allowed me to do whatever I wanted, at the same time giving his fullest support all the time.
Q: How long did you suffer this depression?
Ju: Four to five years.
Q: Was it right before your diagnosis or was it much earlier on in your marriage? Your son must be about two years old then?
Ju: Yes, yes. We were married for six years before we had my son.
Q: What was it like during the six years?
Ju: I was working at that time. When you are on “honeymoon”, things were always different. The depression came in after the baby.
Q: Did you become a house-mother after the baby?
Ju: Yes. I was a house mother, a housewife. And I took out my temper on my poor child. I felt very bad.
Q: Were you depressed or frustrated?
Ju: I guess both -- all in one. The early power was gone. Life was no longer the same as before.
Q: Can you describe more? You said something about venting your anger.
Ju: For a two- or three-year old, my son was a very well behaved boy. He was so well behaved that I felt I was the “bad” one. I realized this later on.
Q: Was there any particular period of time that you had “extra stress” during this four year duration? Or was it just a chronic stress?
Ju: My husband was a chef, doing business in Kuala Lumpur. As you know, in business, income was not reliable. So, that worried me too. When I worked, I also contributed financially to my parents. So, when I stopped working, I still have to give to my parents, but there was this limit. So, it was also a financial stress.
Q: Was there any particular incident that had “eaten up your heart”? Any specific emotional burden?
Ju: There was one thing that was nagging me. On the intellectual side, my husband did not meet my expectation. I liked to read books. I liked to discuss things. I liked to analyze. My husband was a very cool type. Even if he was angry, he would just . . . (rolling her eyes upwards to demonstrate). There would be no outburst from him. This got to me. I wanted a reaction, but couldn’t get one. I’d told him: “Can’t you talk to me?” He would reply: “There is nothing to talk about.” I guess that was the main factor. Sometimes you’d wish you could have found somebody different. Then I would tell myself: “Don’t be silly. He has his good points.”
Q: Was this situation, an up down up down situation, or what is constantly there?
Ju: I would say it was constantly there.
Q: Can we say that you are living an unsatisfied life?
Ju: Yes, at that point in time.
Q: Anything else that you want to add? Anything that stands out in your memory during these four to five years?
Ju: No, I don’t think so.
Q: Were you focused as a housemother?
Ju: Yes. But I expected a lot. Even from my child. I expected him to be more extrovert and outspoken like me. My son is also quite a quiet person.
Q: Are you a perfectionist?
Ju: I am a perfectionist. That’s why I hurt myself in the process. When I do something, it has to be done perfectly -- and my way only.
Q: People’s way?
Ju: No. I guess I learnt it the hard way. In the process I hurt myself and I hurt a lot of people.
Q: This was the stressful period before the cancer diagnosis. Before that, was there any stress, during your childhood, in your family, like a trauma or an accident?
Ju: During childhood, I had a fall and my wound could not heal. I had to use a high dosage of penicillin at that time. Even until now, I am not supposed to take any more penicillin. My body will reject it.
Q: In your childhood days, were you bullied?
Ju: My sister would always bully me. I am the youngest daughter. Only one sister (fifth) bullied me most of the time.
Q: Did you feel hurt?
Ju: Oh yes. We always fought. I used to hate her at one time. It was a very strong emotion. I felt very suppressed. But by teenage years, we’ve made up.
Q: What was your relationship with your father?
Ju: All along the relationship with my father was very good. I was and am very close to my parents.
Q: What about your childhood?
Ju: I was from a poor family. In school, I felt a bit left out or overlooked by my teachers. There was this lady teacher in particular that made me feel that way. When I was seven, eight or nine years old, I already started to find out what was good for me. I learnt to fend for myself and that helped me later on in life.
Q: While you were working, was there any stress?
Ju: There were a lot of reports to do, but it was fine.
Q: During the stressful period of four to five years before cancer, do you have any unexplainable symptoms? Like insomnia, anxiety attacks, constipation?
Ju: Constipation, yes. I used to suffer that, especially two to three days before my menses. My husband used to buy me the “liquid thing” for inserting.
Q: Can you describe your menses? Were there clots, or any pain?
Ju: No, not much but a lot of bloating. Sometimes I had headaches.
Q: Did you have stomach problems?
Ju: Yes, I did. If I took the wrong food, I would have diarrhea too.
Q: Were you on any hormone pills?
Ju: No.
Q: Were you on any particular diet? Or was there any particular food that you like very much?
Ju: Oh yes. I love Western food. When I was working, in the hotel, we were doing quite well. We used to go to Western restaurants for all those kind of food. I like baked crabs, oxtail soup, fried char koay teow.
Q: How would you describe your social life? Late nights?
Ju: Late night because of my shift. I finished around 11.00 p.m., and sleep was around 12.00 mid-night.
Q: What about your knowledge on cancer.
Ju: If you get cancer, you die -- that much that I knew at that time. And then, I knew that there would be no cure for cancer. I didn’t have friends who suffer from cancer and I was really ignorant then.
Comments
Leaves do not rattle without breeze. Similarly, there must be a reason or reasons why Ju had cancer at such a young age of thirty-six. None of her siblings or parents has cancer. Ju was a healthy person and in life was not exposed to any known carcinogen. Alas, medical science could not offer any reason for this.
We are told that breast cancer strikes women randomly for no known reason or prior warning. Besides that, has anyone ever asked why cancer strikes on the left breast in some women and the right breast in others? Again, medical science has no answer!
The Chinese holistic healers have long known that cancer could be due to emotional distress and unfulfilled expectation in life. Ju had been living an emotionally unsatisfied life and was depressed for some time. Something was “eating her up” from within. To the Chinese, the Stomach Meridian is one important energy channel that nourishes the breasts. Emotional distress could impede the energy flow through this channel as manifested by her “weak stomach.” Blockage of energy flow could give rise to mass or tumor.
Over many years of experience, I have noticed that a yang or male-related-emotional distress generally results in cancer of the right breast in women. Yin or female-related distress results in cancer of the left breast. One practical lesson to learn from this story -- take life easy and try not to carry too much “emotional baggage”. Let go and be happy.

Ju's Breast Cancer Experience Part 2: Initial Reaction When Diagnosed With Cancer

By Chris Teo, Ph.D.
Ju came from a closely-knitted family of five sisters and two brothers. She was thirty-six years old when diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 – a most unexpected and shocking episode indeed. It has been twelve years since her diagnosis and Ju is still doing fine. In May 2007, I conducted an in-depth interview of her case.
Q: Tell us how the problem started.
Ju: It was 1995. My son was only seven years old then. I always felt numbness in my right hand. One night while sleeping, I felt a lump in my right breast. I jokingly told my husband, “Alamak! What if this turns out to be cancerous?” I tried doing qigong etc. When I did it, there was no numbness. When I didn’t do it, it came back again. In those days, I did not read and do not know much about cancer. After the check-up, the surgeon confirmed there was a lump and advised a lumpectomy. So, I went in the morning to have the lump removed. It was a 4 – 5 cm tumor. Two weeks later, the doctor confirmed that it was cancer and I was asked to go for a mastectomy. I refused mastectomy. The first thought that came to her mind was: “Who is going to take care of my six-year old boy?” To most people, cancer is a death sentence.
Q: Why didn’t you want to remove the whole breast?
Ju: Because I always believe in natural healing. I believe that our body can heal by itself, if given a chance to do so. That was one of the main reasons. I also believe strongly in going back to nature even before my diagnosis.
Q: Then, why did you go for the lumpectomy?
Ju: I thought that something that is not supposed to be there, better to remove it.
Q: So it is okay to remove a lump?
Ju: (Nodded in agreement).
Q: But to remove breast?
Ju: No.
Q: Apart from believing in nature, is losing a breast something that you do not want to happen? How would you feel as a lady?
Ju: I believe that our body is not permanent. Our body is only for us to use temporarily for a good cause. So, I am not very attached to any part of my body. And I have a very good husband who said that whatever I wanted to do, I should just go ahead. He supported my decisions. And for me, any decision I make, it is my life.
Q: So, you don’t mind losing a part of your breast? Removing a breast is okay?
Ju: Yes, but at that point of time, I said no. I felt that a lumpectomy had just been done. My body had hardly recovered fully and you want me to go for a mastectomy? That was one of the reasons why I was not for it.
Q: So, it is not so much of “my breast is precious” and I do not wanting to lose the breast?
Ju: I never felt like that at all.
Q: You mentioned that you believe that natural healing is the best. Did you grow up with this kind of thought? Was it because of your family? Or something that you had learned or was exposed to?
Ju: I believe in the way and life of Buddha’s teaching. We are all part of nature. I believe in karma too. Whatever has to happen has to happen. And it my case, it had already happened. So, let it be. The important thing is to live. If I could, my aim was to have a life and hope to see my son grow up. I started to read books. I learnt that there was no guarantee of a cure, irrespective of whether I do a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. There is no difference.
Q: When you were told that you had cancer, how did you take the news?
Ju: When I went back home, I was with my family. So, we sat down. My husband, my sister and all, and I really cried. I let it all out. The only person I did not tell was my mum. I didn’t want my mum to worry at that time.
Q: In front of everybody? Others cried too?
Ju: Oh yes.
Q: In 1995 when you felt a lump in your right breast, you went to the hospital. What made you decide to go for the lumpectomy? How long was the time between discovering the lump and going to the hospital?
Ju: Something like four to five months. Given a choice I wouldn’t want to go for medical intervention. But because after doing the qigong and change of diet, I could still feel the lump and a little numbness in the body
Q: When change of diet and exercise did not help, you went to the hospital. What happened?
Ju: I went to the Specialists’ Centre. After the surgeon examined me, he said, “Oh, very simple. Only the operation. Just come in the morning and in the afternoon, you can go back.” He scheduled it for a week later.
Q: Were you ready for the lumpectomy?
Ju: Oh yes! Once I made up my mind, that’s it.
Q: So you wanted to get rid of it?
Ju: Yes.
Q: When did you break the news to your family?
Ju: After the lumpectomy -- after the lab results came back. I went to see the surgeon again with my husband and my son. My son was running around -- I can still remember that. The doctor did not stage my cancer, except that it was a very early stage. But he told me this: “If you do your mastectomy, I guarantee you that you will be cancer-free.” But I did not believe him. I am very skeptical about things. I did not go back to see him anymore. I realized that it was only I, myself who could take care of my well-being.
Q: This lumpectomy -- was it a family decision or your own?
Ju: I made up my own mind.
Q: Did he suggest any other treatment?
Ju: No. He said that a mastectomy was good enough for me.
Q: How do you find your doctor? Was he an understanding person? Was he nice to you?
Ju: Yes. He did not pressure me. He just did his job.
Q: Was he fair to you?
Ju: Yes. I voiced out what I felt and he did not react negatively.
Comments
The Cartesian Medicine treats the human body as a machine devoid of mind and soul. Doctors pronounce the diagnosis in a matter-of-fact matter and the removal of women’s breasts is nothing more than a routine procedure. Patients react to doctors’ diagnosis and prognosis with great emotional pains and distress. Ju “really cried” and let it all out -- this is something we encourage patients to do.
How a person reacts to an initial cancer diagnosis varies from one individual to another. Some even try to deny it. Others try to find scapegoats but in Ju’s case “whatever has to happen has to happen.” She did not wallow in self-pity or indulge in a blaming game. Her attitude was, since it has already happened, what then is the next step to move forward.
Religious beliefs play significant roles in helping patients to cope with their cancer diagnosis. Ju showed her Spiritual maturity when faced with the greatest problem of her life. In her case, the teachings of Buddha had helped her and made her realized that her body is not permanent and is only for her to use temporarily for a good cause. Indeed, if many of us can appreciate this “truth”, our world will be a great and harmonious place to live in.

Breast Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

By Sushma Jain
Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Over the course of a lifetime, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is a cancer of the breast tissue, which can occur in both women and men. Breast cancer may be one of the oldest known forms of cancer tumors in humans.Worldwide, breast cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer). Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. Today, breast cancer, like other forms of cancer, is considered to be a result of damage to DNA. How this mechanism may occur comes from several known or hypothesized factors (such as exposure to ionizing radiation, or viral mutagenesis). Some factors lead to an increased rate of mutation (exposure to estrogens) and decreased repair (the BRCA1, BRCA2 and p53) genes. Alcohol generally appears to increase the risk of breast cancer.
Breast cancer can also occur in men, although it rarely does. Experts predict 178,000 women and 2,000 men will develop breast cancer in the United States. There are several different types of breast cancer. First is Ductal carcinoma begins in the cells lining the ducts that bring milk to the nipple and accounts for more than 75% of breast cancers. Second is Lobular carcinoma begins in the milk-secreting glands of the breast but is otherwise fairly similar in its behavior to ductal carcinoma. Other varieties of breast cancer can arise from the skin, fat, connective tissues, and other cells present in the breast. Some women have what is known as HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2, short for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, is a gene that helps control cell growth, division, and repair. When cells have too many copies of this gene, cell growth speeds up.
Causes of Breast Cancer
Simply being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer. While men can also get the disease, it is about 100 times more common in women than in men. The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Nearly 8 out of 10 breast cancers are found in women age 50 or older. About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are linked to changes (mutations) in certain genes. The most common gene changes are those of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease. The relatives can be from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. Woman with cancer in one breast has a greater chance of getting a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from the first cancer coming back Many experts now believe that the main reason for this is because they have faster growing tumors. Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian women have a lower risk of getting breast cancer. Certain types of abnormal biopsy results can be linked to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.Women who have had radiation treatment to the chest area (as treatment for another cancer) earlier in life have a greatly increased risk of breast cancer
Some pregnant women were given the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) because it was thought to lower their chances of losing the baby. Recent studies have shown that these women (and their daughters who were exposed to DES while in the uterus), have a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer. Use of alcohol is clearly linked to a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer. Women who have 1 drink a day have a very small increased risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who drink no alcohol. The American Cancer Society suggests limiting the amount you drink.Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, especially for women after change of life and if the weight gain took place during adulthood. Also, the risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is in the waist area. Breast-feeding and pregnancy: Some studies have shown that breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer risk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts 1½ to 2 years. This could be because breast-feeding lowers a woman’s total number of menstrual periods, as does pregnancy. Women who began having periods early (before 12 years of age) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
1.Lumps.
2.Rash.
3.Breast Pain.
4.Cysts.
5.Nipple Discharge.
6.Inverted Nipple.
Treatment of Breast Cancer
1.Hormonal therapy (with tamoxifen).
2.Chemotherapy.
3.Radiotherapy.
4.Surgery.

Studies Identify Gene That Causes Breast Cancer

By Jon Arnold
Recent medical studies by a team of medical scientists have made some great strides in finding the cause of breast cancer. In a thorough and extensive study of almost 5000 women, where approximately half of them already had breast cancer, this team has discovered what appears to be a common gene mutation that has about a 60% chance for an increased risk of breast cancer. This particular gene mutation was seen in about one out of every six women involved in the study.
The medical researchers state that this new discovery of the gene variant is the most important genetic risk factor associated with breast cancer found in the past 10 years. The gene is called fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), and is important because of its widespread prevalence.
In the course of the study, the medical researchers were watching for changes in the genetic code of the gene. More specifically, they were watching for changes in single nucleotide polymorphisms, also known as SNP's) that are known to be associated in some way with breast cancer. The study discovered that women who had a faulty copy of FGFR2 had a 20% higher risk of breast cancer, and that women who had two faulty copies or altered versions had as much as a 60% likelihood of breast cancer. Additionally, the study found that one in six women who participated in the study were found to have two altered version of the gene variant.
This further affirms similar research that showed a very similar link between FGFR2 and breast cancer in women enrolled in the US Nurses Health Study group by an entirely different set of medical researchers.
A statement by David Hunter of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, who was a contributor to both of these studies, indicates that these findings open up new avenues worthy of being researched to find the cause and cure for breast cancer, avenues that were previously thought to not be contributing factors.

Cathy Goodman Willed Cancer Out Of Her Body Using The Secret

By Karen Giardunio
Cathy’s story is one that could be considered beyond uplifting or inspirational –it is an out-right miracle! If you log on to her spouses website (Morris E. Goodman) at themiracleman.org you will see that before she received the blessing of Healing in her own life –she herself was the spectacular miracle in Morris’ life after he recovered from a plane crash that left no hope for restoring his beaten and broken body from the paralysis and internal injuries that accident left him with. She and Morris were married on November 10th 1990 and little did they know at that time that Morris’ story of positive and forward thinking would some day be re-awakened and prove invaluable in Cathy’s life as well.
As told by Cathy she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her response was to go home and NOT think about the illness at all. She states in the movie The Secret that instead of concentrating on the cancer she put her attention elsewhere and that she truly believed in her heart with her strong faith that we had already been healed and that in her mind she saw herself as if cancer had never been in her body to begin with. She tells how she would walk around the house saying out loud “Thank you for my healing” over and over again. As she continues her story she explains to viewers that she and her husband would only watch funny movies because they believed that laughter would be an important part of her recovery and if she was laughing she wasn’t thinking about anything to do with the diagnosis.
In just 3 short months Cathy got the word that the cancer was gone. The miracle here is that Cathy had decided early on not to take the conventional route and so this healing took place without any radiation or chemotherapy whatsoever! By sheer mind power and force of will Cathy was able to put the cancer behind her. Because her husband was able to heal himself from the massive injuries that the doctors believed would take his life Cathy knew first hand the valuable instrument the mind itself can play on the body and its own ability to heal itself. Because she accepted it for truth -her thoughts were able to work in harmony with her immune system and rid the cancer from her body entirely.
Cathy and her husband Morris are great examples of the old adage “Mind over matter!” After all what else sustains our current sense of reality if it is not our mindset? Isn’t it in the mind that we control the power over our own circumstances? Can we be hurt by someone’s unkind words without first accepting in our mind to perceive the insult as “personal” if it isn’t taken as a personal blow to our character how can we accept it as an insult? Until we welcome something can it really be real? These are the kind of insightful ideas a movie like The Secret is meant to provoke. It gives value and merit to opening ones mind and looking outside the confines of our ordinary day to day approach as well as our normal take on the world.
All in all, if nothing else, we can begin to at least consider what an invaluable asset the mind can be. More importantly still, we can evaluate the benefits of learning how to live in harmony with our thoughts in order to live a happier, healthier existence. What (or who) would that hurt…I’d wager on it hurting no one –and if that alone resulted in a peaceful resolve –maybe eventually somewhere down the line we could look at getting along with everyone around us as an option to entertain in our minds as well! Now what could (or would) that thought mean to the entire planet in the end? Cathy herself probably has a lot to say on these issues –I’d be willing to bet on it!
Karen Giardunio is a single mother who resides in the mountains just north and above Boulder, Colorado. Through the power of the sweeping concept of the "Law of Attraction!" she was able to personally connect herself with one of the leading experts in the field of Internet Marketing. It is through this great mentor that she has begun to change her life and obtain an unlimited wealth of knowledge and understanding of the need to share and serve others - in order to obtain her own hearts desires. It is her intent to pass on any information she comes into contact with, in the hopes that it will alter the lives of those who choose to further investigate the ideas she openly, and joyfully shares through her articles. If you are a frustrated Network Marketer who is looking for ways to make more money while learning how to win at the recruiting game. You can go to http://freedom.InternetMLMSuccessOnline.com to see how she won at the Network Marketing game without ever calling a single lead. This stuff works whether anyone joins your down line or not!

Breast Cancer Prevention and The American Cancer Industry

By Susan Wadia-Ells
I am angry because The United States has yet to pass breast cancer prevention laws.
Unlike the European Union, which passed a cosmetics safety law in 2005, and a chemical safety law in 2006, the U.S. Government continues to allow known and potentially carcinogenic ingredients to be added to our food supply, our air and water, our cosmetics, our body care products, our dry cleaning process, and our home and garden supplies.
As a result of the European Union’s Safe Cosmetics Act, most of the shampoos, body lotions, hair dyes and lipsticks now in our American bathrooms, are considered unsafe and banned from sale in Europe. Imported non-organic meat and dairy products from the US are also banned. This is because most meat and dairy now sold in US supermarkets, contain added animal growth hormones, which research shows contribute to breast and other type of cancers.
Meanwhile, U.S., breast cancer rates are the highest in the world. In the 1950’s, only 1 in 20 American women could expect a breast diagnosis in her lifetime. Today, in some EU countries, that number is one out of 15, in Great Britain it is 1 out of 9 and in the U.S. it is now 1 out of 7.
The European Union’s government believes it has the responsibility and the ability to protect its citizens from this breast cancer epidemic that has gained momentum in both the US and Europe for the past fifty years. So why hasn’t the US passed similar prevention laws?
“It’s the cancer economy stupid.”... to paraphrase a well-known political truism.
Environmental and nutritional science, along with medical research, is now showing us that 90% of breast cancer is preventable. This is not good news for companies within the American Cancer Industry; such business entities do not promote prevention as they must always find ways to increase surgery numbers, drug sales and radiation procedures to meet their quarterly profit goals.
Neither the US corporate media, nor our politicians have yet to talk about this huge disconnect between the industry’s need for more cancer patients and our growing international body of scientific research that understands how to stop breast cancer before it starts. The result? American women are now living with an unnecessary breast cancer epidemic.
Maybe it’s time to haul in the pink ribbons and raise some red flags.
Susan Wadia-Ells is the director of The Women, Weight and Breast Cancer Project or WWBC. This national organization offers free workshops to women's community, religious and business groups around the country, educating women about personal and public ways we can each prevent breast cancer. The project also offers women support in losing extra body fat, in order to lower one's breast cancer risk. The project's growing group of paid workshop leaders hopes to offer workshops in all fifty states by the end of 2007.

Treating Breast Cancer In Younger Women

By Jon Arnold
Breast cancer does not recognize nor respect any age differences when it strikes in women, but when women under the age of approximately 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer, studies have found that the cancer is more aggressive and typically less responsive to the traditional treatments than when it occurs in older women.
But researchers think that they may have discovered the reason that this is the case, which is forging new inroads into the treatment of and potentially a cure for some forms of breast cancer. These findings of course need additional research but the findings are significant and may lead to more targeted therapies that can treat affected patients more effectively.
The research and studies found that the tumors in women under age 45 have certain identifiable patterns of cellular activity. The interesting part is that when these patterns are observed, the same tumor cell activity in older women usually leads to a better prognosis, while that activity in younger women typically leads to a poorer prognosis. One of the results of this discovery is the possibility of age-related treatments that are targeted to the patient based on the age of the patient.
The results of this study and research was presented at a recent meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology at their annual meeting in Chicago. The research and study was funded by the National Institute of Health.
The lead clinical research said that during the process by which cells will change and become cancerous, certain specific patterns were observed in younger women's tumors that were not seen in women over age 45 to 50. A conclusion that was reached by the time, based on this evidence, is that if they are able to inhibit those processes or patterns via the use of certain drugs, some of which are already available and some are currently undergoing evaluation, there is a much better chance at effectively treating the patient, possibly even curing them. Clearly, more research is required to determine which treatments or therapies are most effective in targeting the identified cellular activity, with the goal being to halt or shut down that particular activity and halting further tumor growth.
There were approximately 200,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and almost one-fourth of them (about 46,000) were under the age of 50.

Natural Breast Cancer Cure - The Mind

By Glen Russell
Your mind is a powerful tool for self-healing and recovery from cancer. It is the ultimate natural breast cancer cure. For you to understand how this mechanism of self-healing using the mind works, it is important to understand how cancer spreads in the body when the mind is under constant stress.
According to Lothar Hirneise, world renowned cancer researcher, cancer cannot exist without stress. And there are a number of reasons for this.
1. When the mind is under constant stress the body produces high levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. Consistent high levels of Cortisol in the body suppress the immune system. The immune system is responsible for destroying rogue cancer cells in the body.
2. When the mind is under constant stress the body releases and is eventually depleted of Adrenaline. People with cancer possess virtually no adrenaline in their cells. Instead, the cells of cancer patients are overloaded with insulin and too much sugar.
When bombarded by stress, which requires a constant pumping out of adrenaline, the body ultimately becomes exhausted and is unable to process adrenaline. This causes the cells to fill up with sugar, which, in turn, results in four outcomes: (1) fermentation, (2) very rapid cell division, resulting in the formation of tumour sites, (3) the mutation of normal cells into cancer cells, due to insufficient oxygen in the cell caused by high levels of sugar, and (4) a low oxygen / sugar-rich environment, in which cancer cells are able to further multiply.
3. When the mind is under constant stress the body cannot produce enough Melatonin. Melatonin is responsible for inhibiting cancer cell growth in the body. Melatonin is produced in the pituitary gland in the brain during deep sleep between 1am-3am in the morning. Constant stress means little or disrupted sleep during this important Melatonin-producing period, meaning cancer is then able to spread in the body.
4. Nearly all cancer patients have experienced a psycho-emotional conflict shock a few years prior to the onset of their cancer. This may be the loss of a loved one for example, and is most often a highly stressful event or conflict, where the person feels there is no way out of the emotional pain, stress or inner turmoil they are feeling. Dr Ryke-Geerd Hamer, a leading German cancer researcher, studied the records of 20,000 cancer patients, and found a direct correlation between this psycho-emotional conflict occurring between 1-3 years prior to cancer diagnosis, and cancer forming in the body.
There are three important ways a person diagnosed with cancer can heal their body using their mind.
1. The first and most important way is to express and release internal emotional stress caused by the mind. This includes anger, hurt, resentment, grief, and hate – all of which are repressed feelings commonly found in those with cancer. When you are able to deal with these repressed feelings, by expressing them and releasing them, just like a valve released on a pressure cooker, these stress levels immediately reduce. This means Cortisol levels, Adrenaline levels, and Melatonin levels can begin to return to normal levels. The Mind-Body Self Hypnosis Cancer CD is an excellent tool for expressing and releasing repressed emotions in the comfort of your own home, as well as accessing someone skilled in EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).
2. A fighting spirit is also another important factor to cure breast cancer naturally using the mind. Your immune system is controlled by your subconscious feeling mind. When you are feeling up-beat and full of hope, you send your immune system the green light to go ahead and work hard for you, to begin multiplying and producing more immune system cells in your body. Guided imagery cancer CD’s are excellent for this purpose, as well as a strong spiritual belief or support group.
3. Laughter is another important factor in overcoming cancer. Inner joy and laughter is a great antidote for internal stress. There have been many cases of people overcoming cancer by watching comedy movies every day after their diagnosis, and refusing to allow any stress or conflict into their lives. And this includes stress from their partners.

A Mini-Camera For The Treatment Of The Breast Cancers

By Abu Murad
With the interface between cancerology and physics, the current technological projections to improve the assumption of responsibility of cancers rest primarily on the development of new physical methods for tracking, the diagnosis and the clinical therapy. Among those, the techniques of medical imagery based on the use of radioactive tumor tracers make important great strides thanks to the development of new and specific molecules. Beyond the instrumentation, this multi-field research extends to the clinical aspect and aims at establishing a methodology adapted in order to evaluate the advantage of the apparatus on patient. It is in this context that researchers of laboratory IMNC set up an interdisciplinary group of research with doctors of the hospital Tenon (Paris) whose work allowed the development of a hospital Program for clinical research (PHRC), national program which tallies the clinical evaluation of imager POCI on 200 patients.
POCI, a new device of medical imagery-
Within the framework of the surgical treatment of cancer, probes acting as of the meters of radioactivity were introduced in operating theatre suite to assist the surgeon in real time during the ablation of the beforehand radio-marked tumors. This technique of radio guidance gives access the precise localization and the complete ablation of tumor fabrics. It is to reinforce this technique that the team “Imagery and Modeling in Cancerology” of the IMNC undertook the development of a new generation of gamma-camera miniaturized for the assistance with the chirurgical treatment of cancer called POCI. It is about a particularly innovative application of the instrumental developments used in fundamental physics. With 13 cm2 of fields of sight and reduced dimensions , this imager was designed to be easily positioned in contact with the operational wound in order to locate the tumor lesions radio-marked during the surgical operation .
Imager POCI is currently evaluated via the protocol of the “ganglion sentinel” within the framework of the breast cancers. In practice, this last is detected thanks to the injection of a radioactive solution around the tumor. A lymphoscintigraphy then makes it possible to count the ganglia and to obtain their precise localization. Lastly, the biopsy is traditionally carried out in operating theatre suite using the probe meter of radioactivity which makes it possible to the surgeon to check the position of the “ganglion sentinel” before the incision, to identify it in the operational wound and finally, after excision, to confirm the absence of any residual radioactivity.
The clinical evaluation of camera POCI associating for the first time of the researchers of in2P3-CNRS and the AP-HP rests on a double study: to prove its equivalence compared to the gamma-cameras standards and to establish its interest in operating theatre suite in order to identify the “ganglia sentinels” not detected by the probe. Begun in January 2006 with the agreement from the Consultative Committee from protection from the people in biomedical research (CCPPRB) and that from the French Agency from medical safety from the products from health (AFSSAPS), this clinical study includes 200 patients. After examination of a hundred patients with camera POCI as well in service of nuclear medicine as in operating theatre suite, the first results are extremely encouraging.
Several groups of research, in particular in North America, in Japan and in Italy, were directed towards the development of portable gamma-cameras specifically dedicated to per-operational detection. It is in this context of strong international competition that the team of the IMNC remains the only one today to have evaluated, in operating theatre suite and on a significant number of patients, a system of imagery miniaturized for the assistance with the surgical treatment of cancer.

Breast Cancer - Is It In The Genes

By Je Dunn
What is the leading factor in the likelihood of a woman developing breast cancer?
The short answer…genetics!
If a woman has a history of breast cancer or there is a strong history of breast disease in her family then it is advisable to consider genetic evaluation to see if you carry the flawed gene. The test consists of a simple blood test.
Although there is testing available to determine whether or not you carry this flawed gene , this test I by no means definitive with any degree of precision that you will get breast cancer.Carrying this flawed gene only indicates that you may have a greater risk than if you did not have it.
Do Lumps in Your Breast Always Equal Breast Cancer?
Finding a lump in your breast a scary experience for any woman indeed. The good news is, although a lump in your breast could mean cancer the facts show that most breast are not cancerous. Most oncologists will tell you that the only thing worse than finding cancerous lumps in your breast is not finding them! Early detection is so important to treating and curing breast cancer.
Here are a few facts about breast lumps…
A woman’s breasts are more likely to feel lumpy between the ages of 30 and 50. A whopping 60% of woman under the age of 50 report that they have lumpy breast.
Cancerous lumps are most often very hard and are difficult to move when pushed on.
Still don’t jump to any conclusions have a doctor check out these and all breast lumps just to be safe.Other conditions that can cause breast lumps are...
Breast Cysts. These cysts are a fluid filed sack. Cysts may feel hard but are easy to move when pushed on.
Fibroadenomas.This condition causes rubbery feeling lumps that can be moved around pretty easily.
Any woman can make a few simple lifestyle changes to help prevent breast cancer such as…
Exercise at least 4 times per week, limit your alcohol intake and control your weight. These simple things can have a big impact on your health and happiness.

I Make Breast Cancer Bracelets In Honor Of My Great Grandma Jo Who Lost Her Life To The Disease

By Emily Foster
My Great Grandma Jo was a truly original person who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2000. She struggled with the disease for more than 10 years and was a tough p3rson who refused to die. During her life, she was a wedding dress seamstress, a gardener, a jewelry designer, a collector of Native American arrowheads, and a real go getter of a person. She was well versed in many crafts-crocheting, knitting, quilting, and making beaded jewelry. She passed on her love of beaded jewelry to me, her great-granddaughter and namesake, and I make jewelry for sale in honor of her.
Emily Josephine Leisure was a native Kansas who was raised through the depression years by her mother, Winnifred Leisure. She married my great grandfather who was part Delaware Indian in secret and worked in a salt mine in Hutchinson, Kansas. My great-grandfather was Dale Stout and he was a professional house painter. They lived in the same house in Hutchinson for 40 years. They had 3 sons, Jack, Steve, and John Stout. My great-uncle Jack was a professional artist (painter). A different type of painter than his father. According to my family, Grandpa Dale used to let his son Jack paint the walls of his room in murals for practice, then he would just paint over it and start over! Emily Josephine (or Grandma Jo as we all called her) and Grandpa Dale also had a daughter, Sharon. She is my grandmother and also sews, makes jewelry, and has had breast cancer. Sharon had 3 daughters- Vickie, Nicholi and Penni. My Aunt Nickie passed away from breast cancer as well. I guess you could say it runs in the family.
When I was a little girl, all my Cabbage Patch Kid clothes and Barbie clothes were made by the women in my family...especially Grandma Jo. When I would go over to her house, she would show my brother and sister and I her arrowhead collection, rocks that she found in Arizona, some that she tumbled herself, fossils and all the jewelry she had made. She had a lot of African Trade beads and things made out of gemstone. She would let us touch everything and tell us what all the stones were. She had a good story to go with each item, something about where she got it from or whom it belonged to, that made it very special.
Everything was exciting with Grandma Jo. As she became elderly, she lost her eyesight. She would still string beads by feel with a needle and stringing thread for Bingo prizes for the "old people" in the nursing home. Grandma Jo would always let us choose something for ourselves to take home. I have kept everything she ever gave me and even though most of the necklaces don't fit me anymore or are outdated, I will always treasure them.
Grandma Jo was very tough. She had a double masectomy, and chemotherapy. She lost all her hair. During her on and off struggle in and out of remission with breast cancer, she lost her husband. Great Grandpa Dale had a failing heart and had to go to a nursing home. He passed away within the same year. Grandma Jo was told many times that she would also die. She was sent home to die many times and kept on living and doing what she loved. Eventually the cancer got into her bones. Her back broke-literally-and she was told she would not walk ever again. She did walk again. It was only when the cancer spread to her brain that she did eventually lose her life after a more than 10 year battle with the disease. We all loved her dearly and still miss her. I wish she could have met my sons, but I tell them about her. She was an amazing person and I am proud to be from a lineage of tough women who are strong-willed, creative, and determined.
I have a lot of qualities in common with my Great Grandmother. I am named Emily after her. The name itself means ingenious, creative. I also crochet, scrapbook, play the flute (oh, did I mention Grandma Jo once won an award for writing the winning school fight song?), and I design and make jewelry from gemstones, shell, crystal, glass and wood. I have started my first website after selling through art and craft fairs for a couple years. My web address is www.feminineflairjewelry.com. The name of my business is Feminine Flair Jewelry. I have a handmade breast cancer bracelet available on my website.
I know that Grandma Jo is proud of me. I can tell my children what all the gemstones are, and the meanings of them. I am also a story-teller and have a series of stories I made up for my sons about a fictional police character. I wish that she could be here to see my work now that I am a 30-year-old adult and give me feedback on my art and jewelry designs, but my mom says I am a lot like her. I hope if I ever have breast cancer that I can be as tough as my Great Grandma Jo and my Grandma Sharon have been.

Cancer - It Won't Get The Breast of Me

By Linda Coffman
In 2005 I was diagnosed with an aggressive and invasive form of Breast Cancer. Even at age 52 it was a shock to me. An even greater shock was finding out through researching Breast Cancer that 1 in 8 women would, at sometime in their lifetime, be diagnosed with Breast Cancer. This statistic was staggering to me.
The good news is that the mortality rate, or number of deaths, due to Breast Cancer is on the steady decline. Treatment is customized for each patient's specific cancer. Being an author, I decided to take notes about my treatment should I ever want to write a book about it.
When women think of having a Mammogram the first word that comes to mind is, 'ouch!' or something similar. Unfortunately, until medical science comes up with a better method, Mammograms are a fact of life for women, especially over the age of 40.
Being a person who is usually viewing life on the up side, I found more humor in what I was going through than I ever thought possible. People do not associate cancer with laughter but I hope to change that, to a degree, anyway. Your doctor will not tell you how to prepare for a Mammogram but I will here.
Exercise #1
1. Open your refrigerator door and insert one breast between the door and the main box.2. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut as hard as possible and lean on the door for good measure.3. Hold that position for five seconds.4. Don't breathe.5. Repeat again in case the first time wasn't effective enough.6. Repeat all steps on the other breast.Exercise #2
1. Visit your garage at 3:00 a.m. when the temperature of the concrete floor is just perfect (anywhere below 32 degrees.)2. Take off all your warm clothes and lay on the floor with one breast wedged tightly under the rear tire of the car.3. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until the breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled.4. Turn over and repeat for the other breast.
Congratulations! You are now properly prepared for your Mammogram.
The day of my first Mammogram after my diagnosis was one I will never forget. I entered Hooterville Breast Care Center with more apprehension than usual. When I told her I might be writing a book about my treatment, the technician said she wanted to be called Ginger. I made a note of that. I wasn't sure if we would still be speaking after she was done with me. And, since the body parts to be examined are so personal, I named my right breast, Laverne, and my left breast, Shirley. Laverne was under the gun today.
I have to give kudos to Hooterville for supplying me with an extra large gown even though I told her that, at my age, all I needed to do was pull up my skirt! Then Ginger led me into the room with the Booby Trap. It's the only contraption I know of that takes cups and turns them into saucers without having to sweep up glass. Ginger is tall, pretty...oh, who cares? This is about me.
You larger than tiny gals know the drill. I stepped up to the Booby Trap and introduced myself. He didn't care and we all now it's a 'he.' Ginger pulled out the largest shelf she had and invited Laverne to have a seat. Laverne obliged having had the memory of her last Mammo squeezed out of her.
As Ginger pressed the button on the floor, I knew what was coming even if Laverne didn't. I was grinding my teeth as the top shelf began depressing Laverne into enough square footage to carpet my veranda! She began to spill over the sides and reminded me of that old fifties, 'The Blob.' Satisfied that she could squeeze no more, Ginger told me to hold my breath and don't move. Now I must note here that it was not possible to take a breath because my right lung was oozing out my nipple! And as for moving...well that's too ridiculous to even address. "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille."
Several pictures were taken in different poses and than Laverne was released to wait with me while Ginger put them up for auction on Ebay. As we're waiting, I looked down at Laverne and she was as red as a tomato. It took all my self-control to keep from hollering down the hall, "I need a bucket of ice...I'm on fire in here!" Ginger must have found some takers because she returned to take me to the ultrasound room.
I can be flippant about it now because the pain is gone. What I want you to realize from reading this account is that attitude is very important in your recovery. I chose to see the humor in a difficult situation. Because of that, you had a good laugh or two by reading about it. I am pleased to say that I am a two-year survivor and should the cancer return, I hope I will again be able to laugh a little.