What to do Before You Have Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast cancer is a major health concern and you need to know if you have breast cancer symptoms or signs. Women including men have breast cancer as I wrote in my last newsletter. According to the recent survey worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer death in the world.

Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer among women. The number of cases worldwide has significantly increased since the 1970s, a phenomenon partly blamed on the way that we eat and the pollution that exists in the water, air, and food. The other big factor in cancer is the thoughts that we have. Toxins and chemical pollution cause acid and free radicals in our body and so do negative thoughts. It is these acids and free radicals that change your body's pH and that depletes the oxygen in your cells allowing cancer to form freely and to multiple. To protect yourself against cancer, you need to know the signs of breast cancer so you can take action against it right away and to learn good nutritional habits.

Due to the high incidence of breast cancer among older women, screening is now recommended in many countries. Recommended screening methods include breast self-examination and mammogram. This test has been estimated to reduce breast cancer-related mortality by 20-30%. Routine and annual mammography of women older than age 40 or 50 is recommended.

Mammograms do not detect all possible cancer tissue. They can detect micro calcification of calcium, which might indicate the presents of cancer. Calcium can deposit in tissue and this is caused by an acid body. To stay in solution, calcium must have enough sodium in the surrounding liquid. In an alkaline body, there is plenty of sodium to keep calcium in solution, but in an acid body, calcium will precipitate out and form crystals.

Early signs and symptoms of breast cancer are usually not painful. This may be the reason why most women don't know they have breast cancer until after several breast cancer signs and symptoms start to appear. You should see your health care provider, if you notice the following: · Lump in the armpit or above the collarbone that does not go away in two weeks or so. Although most breast lumps are not cancerous, it always best to check them out

· Breast discharge is a common problem and is rarely a symptom of cancer, but if it is from only one breast or if it is bloody, then check with your doctor

· Nipple inversion is a common in normal nipples, but nipple inversion that has developed recently can be of concern

· Changes in the breast skin including redness, changes in texture, and puckering. These changes are usually caused by skin diseases but occasionally can be associated with breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a condition where you lack oxygen in your cells and when you have an acid body. To prevent cancer from forming, you need to learn how to make your body more alkaline. In my new nutrition course, I concentrate on how you can make your body more alkaline. An alkaline body not only stops cancer but also stops and prevents most diseases from forming in your body. Don't wait until you have symptoms of breast cancer or any other disease before you start improving your health habits. Start now learning what good nutrition is and how you can be free from illness.

Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist that has a nutrition course that will help you prevent, stop, or eliminate illness. To find out more about how you can do this, go to: Using Nutrition to Stop Illness

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rudy_Silva

By Rudy Silva

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Types of Breast Cancer

Women seem to fear breast cancer more than any other life threatening disease. Research shows women are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than from all forms of cancer combined. Breast cancer is rare in men, although it does occur.

If you are one that fears breast cancer, there is more reason for optimism today than ever before. Doctors have made great progress in diagnosing and treating breast cancer in the last 30 years.

Radical mastectomy is rarely performed today. There are more and better treatment options. This article addresses the different types of breast cancer.

Breast cancer type is determined from a tissue sample (biopsy) sent to the lab for analysis. The treatment for breast cancer depends upon what type it is.

The breast's milk ducts is where the most common types of breast cancer originate. The actual point in origin is determined by the microscopic appearance of the cancer cells from a biopsy.

When breast cancer cells remain contained within their place of origin the cancer is called situ breast cancer. In situ breast cancer the cancer cells have not invaded breast tissue around the duct or lobule.

Ductal carcinoma in situ is abnormal cells in the lining of a milk duct that have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue. In this early-stage breast cancer some experts consider it to be a "precancerous" condition. Success of treatment during this stage is high. No evidence suggests that ductal carcinoma in situ affects a woman's life span. If left untreated, it may eventually develop into invasive breast cancer.

Lobular carcinomas in situ are abnormal cells contained within a lobule of the breast that have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue. It has not yet been determined if lobular carcinoma in situ is an early form of breast cancer or just a marker for the future development of cancer. Experts agree if you have lobular carcinoma in situ you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer in either breast in the future.

Invasive breast cancers break free of where they originate and invade the surrounding tissues that support the ducts and lobules of the breast. The cancer cells can also travel to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes.

Invasive ductal carcinoma accounts for the majority of invasive breast cancers.

Invasive lobular carcinoma is less common than invasive ductal carcinoma, but acts in a similar manner. It starts in the milk-producing lobule and invades the surrounding breast tissue, and can spread to more parts of the body. You might not be able to detect a breast lump with invasive lobular carcinoma. There may be a general thickening or sensation in the breast tissue that feels different. Invasive lobular carcinoma is harder to find by touch and less likely to appear on a mammogram.

Source: Mayo Clinic, personal knowledge

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about specific medical concerns.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. Article written 2-2007.

Author: Connie Limon. Visit http://smalldogs2.com/NutritionHealthHub and http://www.camelotarticles.com

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By Connie Limon

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10 Ways To Cope With Breast Cancer

If you or someone you know is suffering from breast cancer there are some steps you can take to cope with this horrible disease. You are not alone so read a compilation of things you can do.

Statistics show that over 200,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, but the good news is: Due to earlier detection and improved treatments, breast cancer deaths are declining.

Breast cancer brings on many physical and emotional changes in women and is a fearful and burdensome experience. If you are one of the many women facing this dreaded disease or know someone who is facing breast cancer, here are ten ways that will hopefully make coping with it easier.

1. Turn to the Lord

Pray to the Lord for strength and courage. Keep your faith in him always. Find a special scripture and read it whenever you are feeling down.

You will be amazed at the strength and comfort this will give you during this time. Remember, God always listens and he answers our prayers.

2. Talk to a Friend

Find a friend or family member that you can confide in and are not afraid to express your different emotions in front of them.

Just being able to share your feelings and know that someone is listening will be a big factor in getting rid of some of your anxiety.

3. Hug Someone

Hug your friends and family whenever you feel the need for support and comfort. Words do not have to be spoken, because the hug will tell it all.

You'll be amazed at how good this makes you and the person you hug feel.

4. Facing Breast Cancer is Constantly On Your Mind

When you find out you have breast cancer, your first thought when you wake up every morning will be about how you and your family are going to deal with this.

Remember, this is a normal reaction at first. Have patience and eventually this thought will change from dreading the future to excitement about how you will become a survivor.

5. Focus on Life One Day at a Time

Slow down and take time each day to do things that you want to do. If you feel up to it, spend the day with someone you really like.

Most of all keep a positive attitude every day and don't worry about what is going to happen tomorrow.

6. Cry When You Need To

You may find yourself crying a lot during this time. This is perfectly normal because you are facing a crisis you never expected.

Don't be ashamed to cry or let others see you cry. Crying is a good way of dealing with your stress and is a large factor in emotional healing.

7. Ask For Help

Don't be afraid to ask friends for help with errands and taking care of your younger children. If your spouse or children volunteer to do your chores, accept their offer.

Remember, everyone sincerely wants to help you during this difficult period. This will also give your family and friends a chance to show you how much they appreciate what you have done for them.

8. Support is Available.

Besides the support you receive from your family and friends, you can also go to the local women's breast cancer support group. You will reap many benefits from the relationships you establish with other breast cancer survivors at the support groups.

There are also support groups available for your family members if they feel they need to talk about their feelings.

9. Do Something for Yourself

If you feel up to it, spend the day shopping or going to a movie. Curl up on the couch with a good book or watch a funny video. "Take a Nap" if you want to.

10. Don't Feel Alone

Always remember, you are not alone and you are a Cancer Survivor!!!!

Hopefully, these steps offered you some comfort and took some of the anxiety of breast cancer away. Remember, look forward to your future and appreciate TODAY!!!

Bob Pardue is owner of the PictureMed breast cancer info site. Learn more about breast cancer in women by visiting http://www.picturemed.com/breast-cancer/contents.htm right now ...

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Breast Cancer Biopsy

When there is a suspicious palpable tumor or a breast tumor with a serious chance of malignancy, without having performed an FNA, or when having performed a PNA , but there is no definitive diagnosis, then the patient must be taken to the OR and to have the tumor removed under general anaesthesia, and sent it for histology while the patient is still under anaesthesia.

This procedure is called quick biopsy, because the removed part is examined immediately by a pathologist under the microscope after freezing it to -200C for one minute in order to cut it into small slices.

While the surgeon is waiting in the OR for the results. In case of cancer, the surgeon proceeds with the necessary procedure, which has been previously agreed to by the patient. If the result is negative, the patient may return home on the same day.

The same goes if the reply of the quick biopsy raises a serious suspicion for cancer but does not confirm it with certainty.

In this case it is most preferable to postpone the final procedure for another day, awaiting the "normal biopsy" instead of proceeding with a partial or total mastectomy, which may prove unnecessary if there is no malignancy after all.

In the quick biopsy procedure, the pathologist, depending on his experience, picks from his material the most suspicious part and cuts it into very thin slices which are immediately examined under the microscope.

If cancer is hiding a few millimeters away, then there will be no cancer in these sections and consequently, the reply of the quick biopsy will be negative for malignancy, while this actually is not the case.

This is done for expediency reasons, because the patient is under anaesthesia and the surgical group is waiting, while the examination of the entire tumor under the microscope requires hundredths of sections and processing which takes several days.

This is exactly what happens at the normal biopsy, the entire tumor is cut into dozens of sections is examined in detail by one or more doctors. This method eliminates the possibility of "missing" a malignancy. A normal biopsy is always performed after the quick biopsy, on the rest of the material.

A normal biopsy or histological examination is always performed on every part removed from the human body. Nowadays, due to the progress of the science of cyttology, i.e. the science that can place a diagnosis of a disease upon examining cells, quick biopsies are more rare and are performed only in cases when repeated FNAs have not given a clear diagnosis,.

While the clinical and mammographic image are very suspicious. Nowadays, it is consider a mistake not to perform an FNA in all suspicious tumors, and to take the patient directly to the OR for a surgical procedure and a quick biopsy.

It is amazing how many women have underwent in the past unnecessary breast procedures for a biopsy of benign tumors, with an emotional impact and financial cost.

More for Breast healthy visit http://www.cancer-hopes.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Reader

By Michael Reader

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The Gene Treatment That Can Stop Breast Cancer In Its Tracks

Once the tumor is asleep, it gives the immune system a chance to launch an attack and destroy what's left of it. You induce a terminal sleep and then the immune system just gobbles up the tumors.Thousands of women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease affects one in nine women at some point in their lives.

Treatment normally consists of surgery to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy, and radiotherapy to kill off and remaining cells. Around 60 percent of women have tumors that thrive on the female hormone estrogen. These patients are often treated with estrogen - blocking drugs to prevent the hormone feeding the tumor and so helping it to grow. Tamoxifen is the best known of these. But for the remaining 40 percent of breast cancer patients, hormone - blocking drugs are useless because the tumors don't need estrogen to flourish. These types of tumors are often fast- growing.

Researchers have made two important discoveries concerning these dangerous cancers, the first is that one particular gene called Id1, is very active in them. The second is that, by switching off this gene, they can trigger off something called senescence - a kind of sleep like state in which cancer cells stop dividing and the tumor starts to shrink.

Although hundreds of genes are believed to be involved in the development and growth of breast cancer, the latest research has focused on the Id1 gene because previous studies showed that although it is normally only produced by the embryo when it is developing in the womb, it seems to be reactivated again in certain tumors, such as breast cancer.

Scientists implanted the gene into mice. Those mice that were treated formed aggressive tumors. The next step was to turn off production of the gene, using a drug called doxycycline, a medicine often used to treat infections. When gene output was turned off, researchers found that the tumor effectively "fell asleep", and that the cancer cells that previously divided at a rapid rate, stopped dividing completely.

In 40 percent of cases the cancer then shrank as the immune system attacked and destroyed the remaining malignant tissue. Although the results are interesting they have yet to be replicated in humans.

http://www.thegrafter.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Bain

By George Bain

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Breast Cancer Prevention Tips

Despite all the 'noise' about breast cancer being one of the worst killers of women in the world today, it is annoying that most women still do not take active steps towards protecting themselves from this dreaded condition. Although, the increasing prevalence of breast cancer and perhaps other cancerous conditions has been linked to environmental factors such as the increasing levels of radiation and chemicals released into the air, water, soil and food that we consume in the civilized world; or to genetic and hereditary factors, the role of other self imposed factors cannot be ignored.

There are a lot of things every woman can do individually or collectively, to prevent breast cancer. Poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise or ingestion or hormone mimicking medications, all play crucial roles in the cause of breast cancer and any attempt at preventing this disease should begin from here.

A simple positive and optimistic attitude has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. This will sound amazing to many people; however, it will suffice to explain that several medical studies have demonstrated the link between a positive attitude and an improved immune system. Laughter and humor has been shown to enhance the body's immunity and prevents against cancer and other diseases. You must have heard the slogan 'happy people don't fall sick'. Part of maintaining a positive attitude is learning to express your feelings. The mind is free and open and energy flows freely throughout the body when there are no accumulated pains and anxieties weighing you down.

Exercise is another tool that you will find very useful in your fight against breast cancer. Aerobic exercises, at least 3-4 times a week, constant breath work and deep body awareness (as in yoga meditation) are all effective in preventing breast cancer. Exercise has been shown to be very effective in maintaining a healthy body and mind. By exercising regularly, you will do yourself a great favour, because you will not only be preventing breast cancer, you will also be making it easier to maintain a sound mind and healthy body.

Eating healthy food is another great tool in preventing breast cancer. A great deal of cancers are caused by the chemicals and preservatives in the food we eat. Most genetically modified foods (GMO) i.e. food materials that were enhanced in the laboratory, are known to pose serious health dangers to consumers. Also, the hormone mimicking substances in contraceptive pills and other prescription pills could predispose you to cancerous growth. Thus, taking the right supplements could also be an effective tool in the fight against breast cancer.

Besides all these, self examination of the breast regularly is the number one means of detecting any changes in the breast. It is advisable to examine the breast at the same time every month; this will make it easier to spot any changes in the shape, color or texture of the breast. Common signs or changes to look out for are: lumps, thickening or knots anywhere in the breast, unusual swelling or warmth, change in size, color or texture such as reddening or darkening of the breast, itching or scaling especially on the nipple, sudden discharge, rashes, dimpling of the skin or unusual pain. Although, most of these changes might not be a sign of impending breast cancer, however, you never can tell. Forget all what you have heard, it is still possible to prevent breast cancer.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

By Michael Russell

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