Breast Cancer

The cell is the basic building block of the body, making up all of our tissues and organs. As cells
grow old and wear out, new ones replace them. This process is called cell division.

The balance between dying and growing cells is vital to maintain the normal functioning of our bodies. If the number of growing cells exceeds the number of dying cells, then a lump (or tumor) will develop. If the cells in the tumor divide haphazardly and grow in an aggressive manner, this is called a cancer or malignant tumor. Malignant cells have the potential of invading adjacent tissues and can spread to other parts of the body some distance away from the main (or primary) tumor. This process of distant spread is called metastasis. It can occur through the blood stream or the lymph vessels. A breast cancer occurs when the cells of the milk glands or the milk ducts grow and divide in a disorderly manner. This may be detected as a lump in the breast. It can take years for a tumor of 1 cm in diameter to grow in the breast.

What are the different types of breast cancer?
There are two main types of breast cancer: invasive and non-invasive.

Type 1 – Invasive breast cancer
This cancer is more aggressive and has the ability to spread elsewhere in the body and thus may cause death.

Type 2 – Non-invasive breast cancer
This type is confined to the ducts or lobules of the milk glands. It is a non-invasive cancer and does not usually spread to other parts of the body. However, it may develop into an invasive type if left untreated.

The medical name for non-invasive breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) if it occurs in the milk gland ducts (tubes), or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) if it occurs in the gland lobules. It is not considered as cancer as such.

Breast lumps
You should not panic if you discover a breast lump, particularly if you are young (less than 40 years old) and you do not have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. A breast lump is more likely to be benign (noncancerous) than malignant (cancer). Only 10% of breast lumps seen by doctors in
breast clinics are cancers. However, if you find a breast lump you should not delay in consulting your doctor.

What are the treatment options for invasive breast cancer?
The purpose of breast screening is to detect the cancer at an early stage in women who appear well and do not have any symptoms of the disease. The earlier that a breast cancer is detected, the more likely it is to be treatable. ‘Early’ breast cancer implies that the cancer lump is relatively small, has not invaded the overlying skin or underlying chest wall, and that the lymph glands in the armpit are not involved at all (or are only minimally involved). It also means that the cancer has not spread (metastasized) to any other part of the body.

Before any treatment is started, the breast specialist (doctor) must first be certain as to whether the cancer has spread beyond the breast by arranging various tests called ‘staging investigations’. Once the specialist has the results of these tests, the best treatment option for that particular patient can be determined.

Types of treatment for breast cancer include:

• Surgery

• Radiotherapy

• Chemotherapy

• Hormone therapy

• Biological therapy.

Surgery – what are the surgical options?
Each patient should play an active role in selecting the appropriate surgical treatment with the specialist. Studies have shown that removal of the whole breast (mastectomy) does not prolong life when compared with removal of the cancer lump alone (lumpectomy). As lumpectomy preserves
more of the breast, it is associated with a better body image compared with total mastectomy.

If you have a successful lumpectomy, i.e., the lump was completely excised with clear margins, then radiotherapy to the whole breast is usually required. In some cases (approximately one third) mastectomy is the preferred treatment option. It is also advisable to remove some lymph glands from the armpit (this is called axillary dissection – axilla means ‘armpit’) if the cancer is invasive. If the lymph glands do not contain cancer, then the outlook for the patient is very good. However, the more lymph glands that contain cancer and the bigger the cancer is, the greater the chances are that the cancer may come back after treatment. This helps the specialist to predict the behavior of the breast
cancer, and to know if more aggressive treatments, such as chemotherapy, are needed.

Removal of the lymph glands increases the chances of arm swelling (lymphedema), arm stiffness and pain. Therefore it is preferable to remove the minimum number of glands and this can be dafely achieved through a technique called the sentinel node biopsy.

Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is usually given to the breast area following breast conservation surgery and sometimes after mastectomy. Radiotherapy is given to help prevent a recurrence in the breast area.

Radiotherapy is not a systemic treatment and only affects the area that is being treated. It is painless, but there are some side-effects such as skin redness and tiredness, these are usually mild and are temporary. Radiotherapy involves sophisticated machinery which directs high
energy beams at the cancer and surrounding tissue. The individual treatments are referred to as fractions and take a few minutes a day. Radiotherapy is usually given every day. A course of radiotherapy can last from 3 to 6 weeks.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the name of a group of anticancer drugs used to kill cancer cells.

It is sometimes used as part of the treatment for breast cancer. Some patients require chemotherapy prior to surgery if the tumor is very large. Not all patients will require chemotherapy. This will depend on several factors related to the individual’s breast cancer. Chemotherapy is offered to patients where they are likely to benefit from the treatment. This will be discussed with a specialist in chemotherapy who will discuss the benefits of the treatment. The type of chemotherapy which will be offered is based on the current research which has shown a benefit for a particular group of patients.

There are several different types of chemotherapy drug combinations which are used to treat breast cancer. They are normally given into the vein via a drip. Chemotherapy is usually given in the outpatient setting. The treatment usually lasts for 4–6 hours and is given in cycles of 2–3
weeks. This is followed by a rest period of 2–3 weeks until the next cycle starts.

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment which affects all the cells in the body. Healthy cells as well as cancer cells are affected and this can cause side-effects. These can include nausea, fatigue and hair loss. It is important to remember that most side-effects from chemotherapy are
temporary as healthy cells recover quickly. Side-effects are managed very well throughout the treatment process to minimize any discomfort.

Hormonal therapy
Hormonal therapy is used as a form of treatment for breast cancer. This is not to be confused with the hormone replacement therapy which is used during or following the menopause.

Hormonal therapy given as a treatment for breast cancer works by blocking the effects of the hormone estrogen, which in some patients can promote the growth of breast cancer. Cancer cells that have estrogen receptors are referred to as hormone receptor positive. If there are no receptors on the cells, this is referred to as hormone receptor negative. Hormonal therapy would not be effective for patients who are hormone receptor negative.

The goal of hormonal therapy is to prevent the hormones from being taken up by the cells thereby slowing or stopping the growth of cancer. There are several different types of hormonal therapies and they work in slightly different ways. The most commonly used hormone therapies are:

• Tamoxifen

• Aromatase inhibitors

• Zoladex.

An individual’s suitability for hormonal therapy is determined by a variety of factors which must be carefully assessed.

Biological therapy
This refers to the use of proteins capable of blocking the growth process of breast cancer. Herceptin and Avastin are examples of such drugs. They are much better tolerated than chemotherapy.

Treatment of non-invasive breast cancer
In non-invasive breast cancer, the cancer cells remain confined to the ducts or lobules. The medical name for non-invasive breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) if it occurs in the milk gland ducts (tubes), or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) if it occurs in the gland lobules.

LCIS is not considered cancer as such. The presence of this abnormality in a breast biopsy means that the patient has an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The risk means that about 1 in 3 women with LCIS will develop breast cancer within 30 years of being diagnosed with the original condition.

DCIS usually appears as small white spots on the mammogram, called micro-calcifications. Occasionally, it shows as a lump in the breast or as a blood stained nipple discharge. However, this type of cancer does not usually spread beyond the breast. It is a relatively common finding in women participating in the screening program. The likelihood of non-invasive cancer/DCIS spreading to the lymph glands in the armpit is approximately 1 in 200 cases. This small number is why armpit surgery (axillary dissection) is not routinely performed for DCIS, unlike the invasive type of breast cancer.

What are the treatment options for DCIS?
Non-invasive cancer/DCIS can be treated by mastectomy or by a limited, but complete, removal of the abnormal area, called a wide local excision. Mastectomy is required for widespread DCIS or DCIS located behind the nipple area. The cure rate is approximately 98% for mastectomy.
As mentioned earlier, removal of the glands of the armpit is not usually necessary for non-invasive cancer/DCIS.

For those women who have a lumpectomy (removal of tumor lump) rather than a mastectomy (removal of breast), radiotherapy is recommended in most cases. The use of tamoxifen may also be necessary in some cases where the risk of recurrence is high.

Some DCIS lesions that are small and low grade can be cured completely by local removal alone, with no additional treatment.

[ ... ]

New evidence in Colon Cancer prevention unveiled at American College of Nutrition

Fresno, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2000) Newly released research at the Symposium on Advances in Clinical Nutrition, sponsored by the American College of Nutrition, found that eating two servings of raisins a day may help lower the risk of colon cancer. This study was designed to confirm an earlier hypothesis that the combination of dietary fiber and tartaric acid in sun-dried raisins plays an important role in colon function and health.

"We found a significant, positive correlation between consuming sundried raisins and a change in some colon cancer risk factors," said Gene Spiller, Ph.D., lead study author and researcher at the Health Research and Studies Center in Los Altos, California. "Eating as little as two servings - or 1 cup - of raisins resulted in beneficial changes in colon function that may help combat the estimated 130,000 new cases of colorectal cancer expected to be diagnosed this year."

In this clinical study of 16 healthy men and women, beneficial colonic changes were measured as decreased fecal bile acid concentration, decreased fecal transit time and increased fecal bulk. In other words, eating two servings of raisins helped speed food and waste through the digestive system while decreasing the bile acids in the colon that may promote the growth of cancerous tumors. These results are positive because the decreased transit time and increased fecal bulk mean that dietary carcinogens may be diluted and have less time to act negatively on the colon wall, according to Spiller. " Also, the colon's pH may be lowered, modifying a risk factor for colon cancer. This means colonic diseases typical of a low-fiber diet, such as cancer and diverticular disease, may be prevented," Spiller explained.

Raisins are somewhat unique in having this protective effect because they contain tartaric acid. According to a 1996 study by Spiller and colleagues, tartaric acid present in significant amounts only in raisins, grapes and the tropical fruit tamarind plays a significant role in decreasing the time it takes for food and waste to move through the digestive system and reducing harmful bile acid concentrations. "The combination of fiber and tartaric acid in raisins helped to speed transit time and decrease bile acids beyond what would be expected from fiber alone," said Spiller.

In addition to the fiber and essential vitamins and minerals raisins contribute to the diet, recent independent laboratory analysis sponsored by the California Raisin Marketing Board (CRMB) found that raisins are a good source of inulin and several antioxidants, including catechins, plant sterols and flavonoids. Inulin, a fiber-like carbohydrate, ferments in the colon and creates conditions that promote healthy colon cell growth and help prevent growth of abnormal cells
that may lead to disease. Only a few other commonly eaten foods, such as onions, garlic and wheat, are known to be good sources of inulin. Also, many other studies have shown that catechin and other phytochemicals are effective in helping to inhibit tumor development in animals.

"Because the environment, including diet, may account for about 65 percent of the risk of getting colon cancer, we need to do our part to eat a diet with plenty of fruit, such as raisins and other dried fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and beans that may help lower the risk of getting colon cancer," said Spiller. The American College of Nutrition works to provide physicians, nutritionists, dietitians, health care team members and investigators opportunities to increase their understanding of the basic science underlying clinical nutrition and of the clinical practice of
nutrition.

Spiller's study was funded by the CRMB, which was created by a State Marketing Order in 1998 and is 100 percent grower funded. Its mission is to support and promote the increased use of California-grown raisins, and it sponsors research of the fruit's nutritional benefits. California's San Joaquin Valley produces the highest quality raisins in the world, with more than 5,000 growers residing in this fertile valley 240 miles long and 50 miles wide.

[ ... ]

Different Causes of Cancer

Cancer, a condition resulting from abnormal cell division presents more than 100 different types of cancer named after the organ or cell type from which they originate. Irregular splitting up of cells that afterwards attacks various body tissues normally causes Cancer diseases. Cancer stretches to various body parts with time making the cancerous cells malignant. If not treated immediately after diagnosis, it can cause complicated illnesses that can cause death. The leading cause of deaths is cancer with almost two-thirds of it being caused by ecological factors. There are various environmental causes of cancer with the term environment referring to the external environment as well as the personal environment.

In order to answer the question what environmental factors cause cancer, it is vital to know that these factors can be both external as well as personal. External environmental causes of cancer identify those environmental pollutants, which increase the cancer risk. Over 85 percent of cancers cases arise owing to lifestyle preferences individuals make placing them at high risks of developing cancer. For instance, tobacco causes over 30 percent cancer deaths. The risk of developing cancer due to environmental factors is incomparable. Ultra violet rays from the sun, sunlamps and tanning beds cause different skin cancer types such as melanoma. Various environmental causes of cancer amount from peoples way of life and exposure to agents found in the water or air.

Over past years, it has been estimated by epidemiologists that there are many death percentages attributed to environmental factors. For example, thirty percent of cancer deaths have been credited to tobacco. Medical procedures, nutrition and diet, alcohol, gynecologic or reproductive factors, chemical substances, asbestos exposure, magnetic field and electric exposure and exposure to nuclear facility are other cancer causes. When finding out what environmental factors cause cancer, keep in mind that various environmental factors, both external and personal cause cancer. Research has proven Ultraviolet and ionizing radiation to be cancer causes to humans. The sun produces ultraviolet radiation and excess exposure to the UV radiation is the main cause of melanoma, squamous cell and basal skin cancers.

Carcinogens are materials that increase the chances or risk of cancer. When determining what environmental factors cause cancer, consider environmental carcinogens. These carcinogens may make direct or indirect damages to the DNA and may cause cancer. This is a probable explanation as to why not every environmental exposure to carcinogens may cause cancer. The time span of the exposure and its intensity is also a determining factor of whether one will develop cancer. A number of known environmental carcinogens include chemical surfactants, water or air pollution, and various infectious agents like parasites, bacteria and viruses.

The main environmental causes of cancer are generally associated with the personal and external environment. Radiation, sun exposure and environmental pollutants are some of the external environmental cancer causes. Individuals ways of life ranging from the diet to the elements one uses or is exposed to like tobacco and nutrition have been proven to cause cancer.

[ ... ]

Regular Exercise After 30 Minimizes Breast Cancer Risk

Straight from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the last 56th Annual meeting. If you can be older than 30 years old, to exercise an hour a week She's cut the risk of breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in the United States. 192,370 women with this form of cancer diagnosed in 2009.

The good news is that mortality rates are in this type of cancer in the right direction - down.
While this is welcome news to be sure, today, far too many women still have to face this potentially disfiguring and often dangerous and always worrisome Cancer. Which is why researchers have been looking for opportunities to all natural and 100% under control, you can use to reduce your risk.

This was the motivation for the research presented at the ACSM meeting, a fairly comprehensive view of activity (among others) in a large Group of women.

4296 women were asked about their activity during the four phases of the life in question, 10 to 15 years, 15 to 30 years, 30 to 50 years and over 50 years. The subjects completed an intensive survey, including questions on ethnicity, education, menstruation and pregnancy history, use of oral contraceptives and female hormones, breast health screening procedures, family history of cancer, smoking, diet, alcohol consumption, stress and the Amount of weekly exercise.

"An average amount of exercise up to 60 minutes per week was defined," says lead researcher Lisa Sprod from the School of Sport and Movement Computer science at the university, "so that each exercise was less than 60 minutes below the average, about 60 minutes on the average, and everyone that chose to stay highly competitive, "chose this category."

The researchers found that breast cancer risk does not have a relationship to the amounts of exercise in 30 years, but once a subject was on 30 their risk of breast cancer to have been reduced if it was active. Those who are most active between 30 and 50 years old were less likely to develop breast cancer than those who were less active in this same period.

This reduced risk of assets held as well as the women passed her fiftieth birthday, it took was one hours activity per week for them to be less likely to To develop breast cancer than those who do not want to be active.

"Regular exercise seems to have protective effects for this age group of women," said student researcher Sprod. "Meeting physical activity Recommendations can act like a recipe for prevention when it comes to breast cancer. " This supports existing data that links exercise and breast cancer risk, mainly because they are maintained at a constant level of activity during a
Life.

Exercise is known to have a beneficial effect on hormonal activity, current weight and weight gain with age, and the immune system. If all this whets the appetite for more active, talk with your own physician to him or her about how you want to start.

Once you have the green light to get slow, is steady progress, what you want. Ten minutes a day for the first few weeks is an important first step. If you are capable of not so much to increase slowly, the length and the intensity of your workouts. In this way you will avoid injury, you build your endurance and attack (and) achieve the fitness goals.

Also, your gym might also have better protection against breast cancer.

[ ... ]

Breast Cancer Treatment at Emory Atlanta

Breast cancer can best be described as a type of cancer, when cells divide and grow abnormally in breast tissue. The place where breast cancer Origin can be found in the rule, either in the milk ducts or lobules. Cancerous tumors usually grow very slowly, through time is a lump detectable by self-examination, it may have as much as 10 years old. However, it is important to understand the difference between invasive Breast cancer and carcinoma in situ. The following is an overview of the various types of carcinoma in situ and invasive breast cancer.

Carcinoma in situ is a disease that takes place in which an abnormal cell growth in either the ducts or lobules, but has not spread to surrounding Breast tissue. The term "in situ" actually means "in place", which obviously reflects the steady nature of the abnormal cells. Ductal (DCIS) and Lobular (LCIS) carcinoma in situ are the two subcategories of the disease. DCIS is a disease in which abnormal cells always start in the hollow areas of the milk ducts.

These abnormal cells bear a strong resemblance to those of invasive cancer - DCIS can be treated effectively with invasive carcinoma. It is for this reason that it is very important, often
Undertake investigations themselves.

Invasive cancer is when these abnormal cells that spread within the ducts or lobules into the surrounding breast tissue. Invasive Cancer doesn? t necessarily mean the disease has spread across the chest. When an invasive cancer detected early - when a tumor is still relatively is small, it can be successfully treated. However, if the cancer is more advanced, and the tumor is larger, the chance of a successful outcome is reduced. This advanced stage of poorer results, because the larger tumor can spread to other organs such as liver, lungs and bones.

Invasive cancer is when these abnormal cells / tumor spread into surrounding tissues and organs of the chest. However, invasive cancer was still only confined to the breast area. If invasive cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be treated with successful results. But in advanced stages where the tumor has spread to other organs such as liver, lung and bone affect the treatment have lower success rates.

When a woman finds a lump, it is extremely important to get it checked out, with the likelihood of invasive cancer is about 20%. You can do this by either always a mammogram or a biopsy. Mammography is also additional information on the size and severity of the tumor. And if necessary, a Biopsy is taken, a doctor can give definitive answers to what type of cancer and its severity.

[ ... ]

Avoid Colon Cancer By Colon Purifying

Cleansing your colon aids to the body of bad elements and parasites that can not actually deliver a number on the human body. A good cleaning Colon is a step in a suitable way to prevent colon cancer. Now there is education readily accessible on the mortality of colorectal cancer and the
Importance of early detection.

Colon cancer usually begins in the colon, starting from an amount of dead cells that have lied dormant for a long time. A Individual is an even greater risk if there is a family history of colon cancer. Colon cleansing is a healthy step in the fight against very competent Cancer. There are several factors that make cancer and more people really need to do in order to be educated about them.

Unhealthy diets, which are short in fiber, lack of exercise, poor sleep habits and smoking are all sparks for the colon to go wild. After long time of abuse Colon, it is likely that a blockage will occur and could probably not really dealt with or ignored. In this case, you have just a breeding base for cancer to develop, distribute and.

By preventing the arrival natural bowel cleansing and of course watch your diet and ensure that it is sufficient in the fiber are definitely opportunities To prevent colon cancer. Colorectal cancer is a slow growing cancer and it usually makes no sense to wait until it started signs of cancer prevention.

A major contribution of the threat comes into play when fat collects in the wall of the intestine and the rectum. They just there hanging out and grow in large chunks of no more than a danger to your health.

Regular physical activity is also very useful because it what it does is allows your physical structure flush harmful toxins that can actually contribute to cancer. As already mentioned, smoking get a different risk of colon cancer as well as extreme radiation, can come unnecessary X-rays, CAT scans and mammograms.

Symptoms such as eczema, frequent flu, allergies, weak immune system, poor intestine Movements, low levels of vitality, and bloating can be revealing, too many toxins in the human body. Therefore, colon cleansing can significantly reduce your Chances for colon cancer.

[ ... ]

An Antidote For Cancer?

Some scientists believe that whiskey can prevent one of the keys to Big C For a number of years, liquor has been known to not only bring destructive intoxication and addiction to their patrons, but also as a deterrent to a healthy lifestyle. But it as a weapon against cancer? Sounds controversial.

Rumors that single malt whiskey can be a tool to combat cancer have begun circulating recently. Whether it is actually owned by the water too proven. After one of the proponents of the theory, a consultant to the whiskey industry, Dr. Jim Swan, the antioxidants contained in whiskey,
particularly ellagic acid, can reduce the risk of cancer, since this acid fights the unstable atoms that aid in rapid cell replication.

He added The more cells were produced, the more likely that rogue cancer cells are born. "Whiskey, you can protect from cancer and science proves it:" he said, speaking at the Euromedlab 2005 conference in Glasgow. Dr Swan explained that ellagic acid, which in greater concentration in whiskey than in red wine, breaks down the harmful free radicals in our body.

However, still not convinced, Cancer Research UK. The Agency has concerns that what Dr Swan and would urge his supporters charged Mislead the consumer to drink large amounts of whiskey just to avoid cancer. Cancer Research found that alcohol intake can eventually lead to certain types of cancer, as in the esophagus, throat, mouth, gut and liver. Dr Swan's idea that whiskey can prevent cancer also received Criticism, owing mostly to an absence of population data to support it.

Conversely, the head of the Agency of cancer information Lesley Walker, there is evidence that high consumption of alcohol does not increase cancer risk. Ms Walker noted that while ellagic acid is a powerful Antioxidant and may greatly in the fight against Cancer Help, its presence in whiskey is not reason enough for people to start drinking before, especially as Ellagic acid can also be found in certain fruits.

The concept that a certain type of alcohol can help prevent, cancer is new, and for frequent drinkers, even noble. What would you ignore the patron alcohol Theory? But Dr. Swan's remains tested ideas, and it does not exist known positive link between whiskey and cancer. If it would be
some suggest that this is true sometime in the future, we argue, will be revolutionary.

However, in the absence of adequate information Currently, whiskey is meant as a dubious deterrent against cancer. While we all hope and pray that there is an alternative treatment of cancer soon surface, This is probably not the time to become this optimistic about the alleged benefits of whiskey.

[ ... ]

Canadian Drugs For Leukemia

Leukemia is a form of childhood cancer in general, that the cells in the blood affects connected. More often than not, has leukemia, white blood cells. The Disease begins in the bone marrow prior to spreading to other parts of the body. Leukemia is divided into two types, namely, acute leukemia, categorized, the growing rapidly and chronic leukemia, the slower-growing.

The latter type of leukemia is mainly found in children. Symptoms of leukemia consists of Fatigue, bone pain, swelling in the stomach, lymph nodes or thymus, headache, nausea, skin rashes, gum problems, extreme weakness, and patients may bleeding or bruising easily.Generic leukemia drugs are in Germany according to strict guidelines, the Canadian government introduced manufactured. These drugs on the necessary drugs. However, you can clearly different and could have different brand names. Some medications for leukemia have different names in Canada because the trade or brand names of leukemia manufacturer.

All generic drugs are manufactured registered Canada are subject to strict sanction processes and regulations such as brand name drugs. Canadian government has strict rules for Drug production and quality control as in the United States. Several Canadian drugs for leukemia are available that are cheap and therefore significant savings. Canadian drugs for leukemia at a lower cost due to the specific pricing policies in Canada and not available because they are of inferior quality.

Some drugs that are sold to Canadian pharmacies, in fact, manufactured in the USA and packaged for sale in Canada.Canadian pharmacies ship drugs for leukemia, the physician's prescription that it is sent. Canadian pharmacies shipping one Mission for three months at a time is necessary, given on the basis of the prescription by the doctor for one years time. Then have to call the customer and Request a refill of the prescription. Shipment of mines is very prompt. It is advisable to call for a mine about a month before the medication runs out, so you are not without their medications due to delays on the left.

[ ... ]