Archive for the 'Breast Cancer' Category

Alternative Cancer Treatment - Reconstruction post Breast Cancer

Published
by
Meng Lim
on May 27, 2008
in Breast Cancer
. 0 Comments
by www.thealternativecancertreatment.com

In the tragic cases where a full mastectomy is necessary to treat breast cancer, reconstruction is usually a welcome option. Modern technologies allow for the restoration of your breasts to an appearance that looks natural. These surgeries are conducted by specialized plastic surgeons and are now considered normal for patients undergoing a mastectomy.

There are a variety of approaches and each case is unique. Consultation with a physician is required in order to select the one that is right for you.

One commonly chosen reconstruction technique is breast implants. Today implants are commonly saline filled bags contained within a silicon shell. They are placed in front of the chest wall muscles and under the skin which covers the breast area.

In the past silicon filled implants were more commonly used than they are today. Then a concern arose regarding the possibility of silicon leaking into the body thus causing immune system malfunction. The FDA has recently announced that after years of careful observation and study there is little basis for worry thus making silicon breast implants legal again. Some individuals prefer them because they behave differently within the body.

In some cases, reconstruction is done during the mastectomy. In others, physicians recommend a waiting period to allow the body to heal before any further surgery. Each case is individual and can only be decided on its own merits.

In most instances, two-stage delayed reconstruction is performed if the skin and chest wall tissues are flat. An implant, called a tissue expander that functions much like a balloon under the tissue is placed between the muscles. The surgeon then injects saline in stages over time so that the sac is gradually filled. In many cases, the expander itself becomes the implant. In other cases, the expander may be removed in a later procedure and replaced with a permanent implant.

Another breast surgery type that might be conducted are tissue flap procedures. These procedures use skin from the stomach, thighs or other areas as part of the entire process.

TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap) surgery is one of the most common types of muscle flap surgeries. It utilizes tissues from the lower abdominal wall. A pedicle flap leaves the tissue attach to its original blood supply and stretches the tissue up toward the breast area. A free flap muscle procedure removes all of the tissue in addition to muscles, fat, and blood vessels. It then reattaches them to blood vessels under the chest.

Another, almost equally common procedure takes tissue from the upper back. A flap is moved in front of the chest wall in effort to create a pocket. A breast implant is then inserted into the pocket. Additionally, other procedures are available such as gluteal muscle tissue.

In each case, nipple and/or areola reconstruction may or may not be part of the total surgery. It may be done later or not at all. Rarely is the nipple from the original breast used as a replacement out of concern that it may regenerate the cancer.

Keep in mind that reconstructive surgery is not performed without risks.

All of the normal surgical complications such as infection or scarring, and capsular contracture (scar tissue forming around the implant) can occur. Additionally breast implants might not last a lifetime, and depending upon each individual’s circumstances including age. Replacing your implants might require an additional surgery at a later time period in life. The end result might or might not be what the patient wanted or expected. Only a consultation with a physician specializing in reconstruction will provide the patient with realistic outcomes to expect.

About the Author:
The scientifically proven food that consistently show ability to destroy cancer cells is fucoidan. The extract from brown seaweed. Visit my site at Alternative Cancer Treatment see how this wonderful food is backed by more then 600 indepandent research.

Alternative Cancer Treatment - Performing a Breast Self-Exam

Published
by
www.thealternativecancertreatment.com
on May 23, 2008
in Breast Cancer
. 0 Comments
by www.thealternativecancertreatment.com

Generally, about 1 in 12 women will contract breast cancer at some age and the odds are higher later in life. Courtesy of modern medicine, many breast cancers can be successfully treated with minimum impact. However, one’s treatment success level is extremely dependent on early detection. The earlier breast cancer is detected the higher your chance for survival. One easy way to increase the odds of early discovery is the performance of a regular breast self exam.

The goal of breast self examination is to detect changes which might signal a condition worth investigating more closely, either with a professional clinical exam, mammogram or other diagnostic aid. Those changes might indicate an abnormality. But to judge what’s abnormal, it’s essential to know what constitutes normal. That varies from individual to individual, though there are commonalities.

The first step in conducting a proper self-exam is to know what your own breasts feel and look like in general. Each and every part of the body goes through subtle changes on a regular basis. Throughout the menstrual cycle these changes might be exaggerated. Breasts may become enlarged and even more sensitive. If you start your self-exam a few days prior to your period every month it will become a habit. If you are post-menopausal you should choose the same day each month to perform the exam.

Remove your clothing and stand in front of a mirror and make a visual inspection of your breasts. Look for any changes that might be present in only one breast. Normal menstrual cycles and other hormonally related variations typically affect both breasts simultaneously. Look for any changes in breast size or areola (the darker skin around the nipple). Make note of any wrinkling orange-peel like skin that isn’t from cold temperature. Most areola are round. Observe the breasts for any lack of symmetry.

Squeeze a nipple gently and note any fluid that comes out. Some lactation is normal in some women. But yellowish, pus-like fluid is a reason to call your physician for a closer look. It may be a simple infection or it could be an early sign of a developing tumor. Repeat the procedure for the other nipple.

Check the breast for tumors by feeling carefully over the entire surface of the breast with your arms lowered. Make sure you include not just the surface from the breast bone to the side, but also up toward the armpit as well. Press your finger pass firmly moving your hand slowly as your feel for any thickening or lumps.

Not all lumps are cancerous, in actuality most of them aren’t. A lump could be a simple cyst- which is a fluid filled tissue sac. Often the can be moved slightly and are round. These are benign, but you might want to have them removed regardless. Some will fade away spontaneously over time.

Cancerous lumps are typically harder and less regular in their shape and size. Typically they are attached to breast tissue. Not all hard lumps are cancerous either, so don’t get yourself worked up. Many are what are called fibroadenomas, a benign clump of cells. Professional testing is required to know for sure what you have.

Be very aware of any lumps that you notice changing in size. Cancer is malignant, uncontrolled growth and reproduction of cells in tissue. Cancerous tumors do not remain static, but instead increase in size and later can potentially spread to other areas of the body.

Continue the self exam by placing the arms overhead and then applying pressure all the way from the breastbone up to the armpit again. Repeat this process on both sides of the body.

Perform the procedure again while lying down, first with the arms lowered, then raised overhead. Again try to feel any changes, especially tissue which has become hard. The procedure can be repeated in the shower in order to lower friction on the skin, but it can sometimes be difficult to find changes or lumps with water beating on your skin. Try baby oil instead.

All women over the age of 20 should be performing breast self-exams on a regular basis, and women over 40 should get a mammogram annually.

About the Author:
The scientifically proven food that consistently shows ability to destroy cancer cells is fucoidan. The essence of brown seaweed Click Alternative Cancer Treatment to learn more about how it has help me and the 600+ researches backing it.

prognosis for metastatic breast cancer

Published
by
Roselyn Capen
on March 3, 2008
in Breast Cancer
. 0 Comments
by Roselyn Capen

When the cancer has advanced fully, it spreads out to other organs. The process of spreading out from the original site is called metastasis, and the stage is referred to as metastatic breast cancer. Sometimes, all cancer cells do not die even after treatment for cancer, and these cells can break out from the original site and travel to other organs through blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, and develop tumors in other organs. This recurrence of cancer in other organs is called metastatic breast cancer, too.

Metastasis can occur due to three reasons. The first reason has already been stated, that is, when some cancer cells escape from treatments and make cancer recur. The second is when, during a treatment, the cancer goes on advancing, and starts developing tumors in other organs, and sometimes, when cancer is diagnosed so late due to carelessness of the patient or inefficiency of medical professionals, that it has already metastasized to other parts of the body.

When breast cancer recurs, the breasts, bones, lungs, chest wall, liver and/or brain start developing it, and show changes. Breast cancer has the highest risk of spreading. If another kind of cancer develops after breast cancer has been treated, it is probably breast cancer recurring. This is good news, because breast cancer is more treatable than any other kind of cancer. Also, if the cancer comes back in the breast that was not diseased earlier, it is probably a new cancer, and not a recurrence.

Another important piece of information is that three out of ten breast cancer patients later develop metastatic breast cancer. If no organ of yours has been affected by the metastatic disease, if cancer cells regress somewhat after treatment for metastatic cancer and if your cancer cells have the female estrogen and progesterone hormones, your cancer has a higher chance of being treated.

Metastatic breast cancer, owing to its nature, requires extensive treatment. Therapies like chemotherapy, hormonal treatment, immune therapy alone with regular mammograms, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, bone scans etc. are necessary. The treatments can be purpose-specific. For treating the whole body, systemic therapies have to be implemented; for treatment of specific organs, local treatments like mastectomy and lumpectomy are done, and for alleviating pain, therapies along with oral aspirin intake are adopted.

A lot of research is going into slowing down and completely stopping further advancement of metastatic breast cancer. Even though this is the worst phase of your cancer, it is important that you know that many women with the metastatic disease have lived happily and normally while taking their treatment. You will have to decide when to end your treatment, for the higher the number of treatments you take, the higher the side-effects. This decision is the hardest to take, but you will know you have tried everything, prolonged your life as much as you could have. Spend the rest of your life being happy, and taking regular medication. Happiness is known for prolonging life, too.

About the Author:
Get all the details about the treatments for metastatic breast cancer. The early detection of a breast cancer symptom is important for the success of any treatment.

Male Breast Cancer Symptoms

Published
by
Jake Gadlin
on February 21, 2008
in Breast Cancer
. 0 Comments
by Roselyn Capen

Men have underdeveloped breast tissues which puts them at a risk of developing breast cancer. Even though male breast cancer is not very common, and females are hundred times more vulnerable to breast cancer, one in hundred breast cancer cases occur in men.

Male breast cancer, like any other cancer, occurs when there is a growth of malignant cells in the breast. The vulnerability for developing breast cancer in males becomes greater with age, and most male breast cancer cases occur in men between 60 years to 70 years of age. Risk factors include high levels of estrogen, which come with Klinefelter’s disease (an abnormality when a man has two X chromosomes with one Y chromosome, compared to the usual one X and one Y chromosome) and cirrhosis (a liver disease), radiation exposure, heredity, obesity and high alcohol intake.

Men have a higher risk of developing breast cancer if a member of their family has had it, compared to females, where only 5 females out of 100 develop cancer due to heredity. Also, a mutation in the breast cancer genes - BRCA1 and BRCA2 - can cause development of breast cancer. This mutation is very rarely because of heredity and is mostly acquired during the lifetime.

A prominent symptom is lump formation, similar to that in females, breast cancer in men. The lump can come with thickness of the breasts and usually without any pains. Men with breast cancer also show the peau d’orange syndrome, a condition in which breasts develop pits or bumps. Other symptoms are fluid discharge from the nipples, redness, and changes in the nipples or skin around the nipples, much like in females.

If you think you have a chance of developing breast cancer, get your breast clinically examined regularly. The best method for diagnosis is always a biopsy. Mammograms, ultrasounds, and examination of your nipple discharge can also be done, to detect lumps and cancer cell presence. If you are diagnosed with the cancer, do get your tissue tested for the presence of female hormones like estrogen and progesterone, since these hormones increase cancer activity, and can be removed by treatments.

Men can have non-invasive or in situ cancers, which have not spread outside the breast area, or invasive tumors that can spread out. Removal of lump in non invasive cancers - which is usually the first stage of cancer - is recommended. Invasive cancers vary from Stage I to Stage IV, depending upon how advanced the cancer is. Stage I cancers almost always get treated. Mortality rate keeps going higher, depending upon the stage. By Stage IV, the cancer becomes metastatic and spreads to body organs.

Treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy are adopted to control cancer growth in the last stage, when total cure becomes difficult. For all other stages, treating male breast cancer is hardly different from treating female breast cancer.

A healthy lifestyle throughout your life, with minimal alcohol intake increases your chances of survival ten folds. Early detection is also pivotal to high survival rates. Telling your closest friends and family members is necessary. If you try to hide your disease, even from your children, you will take undue stress up on yourself. It is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle with adequate rest during your treatment, and it is never a shame to ask friends or family for any sort of help or support that you might need. Your cancer is curable.

About the Author:
All about the differenty types of male breast cancer symptoms. Also men need breast cancer treatments

What Causes Breast Cancer

Published
by
Roselyn Capen
on February 18, 2008
in Breast Cancer
. 0 Comments
by Roselyn Capen

No one really knows what causes breast cancer but it is certain that there are definitely things that are linked to the disease. While having some of these things which are usually known as risks, can increase ones chanced of getting breast cancer, it can also mean that even if you have some or all of these, that you might not necessarily get it. It is not a sure fire way of determining if you will ever get breast cancer, and should not be the only thing used in determining it. It is the same way for people who get into car accidents; there are just too many different factors that play a part so it is very difficult to pinpoint it, if one can do that at all.

A statistical and empirical fact is that, with age, the chances of getting the cancer increase. This is a very vital piece of information and can not be discarded. Statistics also show that your risk of getting breast cancer go up if your immediate family has a history of breast cancer, and thus scientists argue that breast cancer can be genetically transmitted, or is hereditary. Unanimously, no one agreed race plays a role here, but individual studies say contrasting things. Statistics show women who bear children late in life have a higher risk factor, but it’s also true that they’re older. Some men do get breast cancer, though their number is very low compared to the female victims.

Birth controlling strategies can play a role; however, the idea is still underdeveloped for conclusive statements. Debates continue on the topic, but more research needs to be done to authoritatively caution women of the prevalent birth control measures.

Using alcohol is linked but then alcohol can play a big part in furthering the development of any type of cancer. One way to combat this is bring down the amount of drinks you have each day, or if you have a higher chance sometimes cutting alcohol out entirely can help.

That is the same for people who become obese, or who have weight problems all of their lives. It increases health problems in many different areas, breast cancer being one of them. And again, you can help fight that by doing a little bit of exercise a few times of week. Prevention is the key to beating this.

Like it’s said, the causes for getting breast cancer can be many and varied, and it’s not possible to understand the key factor that leads to it. However, there is a lot of research going on in this field, and someday, the key might be discovered. With that, we can prevent many women from getting ailed, diagnose lots of others early and save them from the misery of living through the disease, and cure so many others who could have just lost hope.

About the Author:
Find out the reason for the causes of breast cancer. Get information about all the traditional and alternative breast cancer treatments