By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amanda_M_Cravens]Amanda M Cravens
When thinking about the people in life that we love the most; that we try hardest to protect and that we'd be lost without, we tend to think of the women in our lives. It is our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives, daughters and other special women that we feel the most protective over. Unfortunately, they are also the people most likely to be diagnosed withe breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Luckily, breast cancer does not have to be a life sentence. Detecting it early equals a greater chance of survival. Cancer in the breast can be detected by self breast exams (SBE), clinical breast exams (CBE) and mammograms. Taking the time to learn about breast cancer and informing others can help save a life of the people we love.
Self breast exams should be done monthly after the woman's menstrual cycle. There are several steps to performing a SBE. First, without a shirt or bra on, a woman should examine her breasts in the mirror looking for warning signals such as lumps, dimpling, discharge or any other sudden changes in the appearance of the breast. Continue looking at the breasts with both arms above the head. Second, lying down with the right arm overhead, use the three middle fingers of the left hand to feel around the right breast. Starting at the nipple and moving outward, make circular motions around the breast using light pressure, then medium pressure and hard pressure. Next, using the same fingers, feel the breast in lines going up and down the breast from the nipple. Switch the arm and the hand and redo the steps on the left breast. Although doing SBE's is not the recommended method for finding breast cancer, it is highly important in helping women know what is normal for their breast and their body while helping to spot any changes.
To assist in early detection, women over 20 are also encouraged to get clinical breast exams (CBE) by their doctor every three years and every year after age 40. The process of a CBE is much like that of a SBE only it is done by a trained medical professional.
While self breast exams and clinical breast exams are important factors in detecting breast cancer, the most effective tool is a mammogram. Mammograms are recommended yearly for women over 40.
The best detection method is to use all three of this exams together as recommended.
While early detection is helpful to survive breast cancer, there are also steps that can be taken to prevent it. A person can help to prevent breast cancer by limiting alcohol consumption to 1 drink a day, exercising regularly, knowing their body and knowing their family history.
Together, we can educate all of the special women in our lives and encourage them to start a breast exam schedule.
For more information on family health and nutrition topics visit [http://myfamilyplate.com]http://myfamilyplate.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Detecting-Breast-Cancer-to-Save-a-Life&id=6527645] Detecting Breast Cancer to Save a Life
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Obesity: A Leading Cause Of Breast Cancer
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Whittaker]Kirsten Whittaker
Important news on a leading cause of breast cancer. New research has found that obesity is the largest cause of the hormone sensitive type of breast cancer in mature women.
Doctors know that carrying too much fat ups hormone levels, and past studies have found that women past the menopause with elevated levels of the oestrogen hormone along with testosterone have from 2 to 3 times the chance of developing breast cancer compared to those with the smallest levels of these hormones.
After menopause, the fat cells in a woman's body become the chief source of hormones.
Experts know that risks of developing breast cancer include family and reproductive history, use of hormones and exposure to radiation. The troubling thing is, about 70% of those who get breast cancer don't have any of these known risk factors. What's more, over the last 20 years the numbers of overweight and obese people have been going up, now reaching alarming numbers. As have the numbers with breast cancer.
The team of researchers looked at health records from almost 6,300 postmenopausal women from 13 different studies in an attempt to find out why some of them were diagnosed with the hormone sensitive form of cancer of the breast, while others were not.
They saw oestrogen levels in obese subjects were 50% higher than leaner women; testosterone levels were 16% higher leading them to conclude that weight had the biggest bearing on sex hormone levels, followed by smoking 15 cigarettes or drinking more than 2 and a half alcoholic drinks a day.
And while family history and being older are risk factors for breast cancer that you can't control, drinking too much alcohol, smoking cigarettes and most damaging of all, being overweight or obese are things that you can most certainly do something about. Start by knowing where you stand, and calculating your own BMI.
If the number is higher than it should be, over 25.0, it's time to start making some changes. There are lots of programs to help you lose weight, but no matter which you choose, the simple secret to losing weight it to take in fewer calories than you burn.
Look at what you're eating, and make changes that limit your processed and high calorie food intake and include more natural, healthy options like fruits, veggies and whole grains.
You'll also want to talk to your doctor (especially if you've been inactive for a while) about a fitness program. It's always smart to start slow, and work up to thirty minutes of moderately intense activity on most days of the week. By watching what you eat, and being more active, you'll start to see the weight drop off.
The good news is that even a small weight loss, such as 5-10% of your body weight, can bring benefits. And encourage you to keep going.
Obesity is not only a leading cause of breast cancer. By holding onto those extra pounds you increase your risk of life altering diseases like this as well as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, depression and even painful osteoarthritis. All good reasons for tackling any weight issues now, while you have the chance to influence your health now and in the future.
FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the [http://www.reallyworks.org/?source=ez]Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover more on the [http://reallyworks.org/blog/category/cancer/]leading cause of breast cancer and steps you can take to minimize your risk.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Obesity:-A-Leading-Cause-Of-Breast-Cancer&id=6543565] Obesity: A Leading Cause Of Breast Cancer
Important news on a leading cause of breast cancer. New research has found that obesity is the largest cause of the hormone sensitive type of breast cancer in mature women.
Doctors know that carrying too much fat ups hormone levels, and past studies have found that women past the menopause with elevated levels of the oestrogen hormone along with testosterone have from 2 to 3 times the chance of developing breast cancer compared to those with the smallest levels of these hormones.
After menopause, the fat cells in a woman's body become the chief source of hormones.
Experts know that risks of developing breast cancer include family and reproductive history, use of hormones and exposure to radiation. The troubling thing is, about 70% of those who get breast cancer don't have any of these known risk factors. What's more, over the last 20 years the numbers of overweight and obese people have been going up, now reaching alarming numbers. As have the numbers with breast cancer.
The team of researchers looked at health records from almost 6,300 postmenopausal women from 13 different studies in an attempt to find out why some of them were diagnosed with the hormone sensitive form of cancer of the breast, while others were not.
They saw oestrogen levels in obese subjects were 50% higher than leaner women; testosterone levels were 16% higher leading them to conclude that weight had the biggest bearing on sex hormone levels, followed by smoking 15 cigarettes or drinking more than 2 and a half alcoholic drinks a day.
And while family history and being older are risk factors for breast cancer that you can't control, drinking too much alcohol, smoking cigarettes and most damaging of all, being overweight or obese are things that you can most certainly do something about. Start by knowing where you stand, and calculating your own BMI.
If the number is higher than it should be, over 25.0, it's time to start making some changes. There are lots of programs to help you lose weight, but no matter which you choose, the simple secret to losing weight it to take in fewer calories than you burn.
Look at what you're eating, and make changes that limit your processed and high calorie food intake and include more natural, healthy options like fruits, veggies and whole grains.
You'll also want to talk to your doctor (especially if you've been inactive for a while) about a fitness program. It's always smart to start slow, and work up to thirty minutes of moderately intense activity on most days of the week. By watching what you eat, and being more active, you'll start to see the weight drop off.
The good news is that even a small weight loss, such as 5-10% of your body weight, can bring benefits. And encourage you to keep going.
Obesity is not only a leading cause of breast cancer. By holding onto those extra pounds you increase your risk of life altering diseases like this as well as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, depression and even painful osteoarthritis. All good reasons for tackling any weight issues now, while you have the chance to influence your health now and in the future.
FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the [http://www.reallyworks.org/?source=ez]Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover more on the [http://reallyworks.org/blog/category/cancer/]leading cause of breast cancer and steps you can take to minimize your risk.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Obesity:-A-Leading-Cause-Of-Breast-Cancer&id=6543565] Obesity: A Leading Cause Of Breast Cancer
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Lower Breast Cancer Risk With These Grocery Items
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Whittaker]Kirsten Whittaker
More news on diet and breast cancer risk. A pair of studies on veggies and on coffee have brought attention to some new superfoods that might actually help lower breast cancer risk.
Both research projects examined freely made lifestyle choices when it comes to drinking coffee and eating certain vegetables and the impact these choices might have on future risk.
The study on vegetables was conducted by a team who made use of lab rats to see whether a specific compound (apigenin) impacted the formation of tumors when introduced into a rat's body compared to rats who were not given the substance.
Apigenin is naturally part of foods like parsley, apples, celery, oranges and some nuts, as well as other foods, and appears not just to slow the growth of tumors but it also reduced the amount of tumors in the body. Keeping some minimum levels of apigenin in the blood seems to be beneficial in terms of breast cancer risk reduction.
So next time you see a garnish of celery or parsley, it might be a good idea to have a taste.
The study on coffee took place in Sweden and was conducted by a team using a study group of women with an age range between 50 to 74 years old and they were studied in two groups, one with cancer of the breast, and the other without.
Participants were matched for age, and the team saw that those who regularly drank 5 or more cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of estrogen receptor negative breast cancers. Other studies have brought similar results.
Here are some other interesting numbers that come from the two studies...
- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast.
- 30 is the BMI number where women are considered to be obese, which is a recognized risk factor that's identified by the study on coffee and many other studies as increasing your risk of developing this form of cancer.
- 45% of premenopausal women who have breast cancer have the estrogen receptor negative form of the disease; this was the form of disease examined in the study on coffee.
- 51 is the average age a U.S. woman will go through menopause. Those working on the coffee study suggest that the age a woman starts menopause as another key factor in breast cancer risk.
- 200,000+ women in the U.S. are given a diagnosis of breast cancer
- 6 to 10 million women are prescribed hormone replacement therapy annually in the U.S. The study on veggies was looking at how to cut the chances of this form of cancer associated with these medications.
Talk with your doctor about how to lower breast cancer risk, and be aware that preventing disease is always easier than treating it once it happens. The good thing to take from these two studies is that there are things you can do, actions you can take, to defend yourself against breast cancer. It's up to you.
FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the [http://www.reallyworks.org/?source=ez]Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover other ways to [http://reallyworks.org/blog/category/cancer/]lower breast cancer risk successfully.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Lower-Breast-Cancer-Risk-With-These-Grocery-Items&id=6560938] Lower Breast Cancer Risk With These Grocery Items
More news on diet and breast cancer risk. A pair of studies on veggies and on coffee have brought attention to some new superfoods that might actually help lower breast cancer risk.
Both research projects examined freely made lifestyle choices when it comes to drinking coffee and eating certain vegetables and the impact these choices might have on future risk.
The study on vegetables was conducted by a team who made use of lab rats to see whether a specific compound (apigenin) impacted the formation of tumors when introduced into a rat's body compared to rats who were not given the substance.
Apigenin is naturally part of foods like parsley, apples, celery, oranges and some nuts, as well as other foods, and appears not just to slow the growth of tumors but it also reduced the amount of tumors in the body. Keeping some minimum levels of apigenin in the blood seems to be beneficial in terms of breast cancer risk reduction.
So next time you see a garnish of celery or parsley, it might be a good idea to have a taste.
The study on coffee took place in Sweden and was conducted by a team using a study group of women with an age range between 50 to 74 years old and they were studied in two groups, one with cancer of the breast, and the other without.
Participants were matched for age, and the team saw that those who regularly drank 5 or more cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of estrogen receptor negative breast cancers. Other studies have brought similar results.
Here are some other interesting numbers that come from the two studies...
- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast.
- 30 is the BMI number where women are considered to be obese, which is a recognized risk factor that's identified by the study on coffee and many other studies as increasing your risk of developing this form of cancer.
- 45% of premenopausal women who have breast cancer have the estrogen receptor negative form of the disease; this was the form of disease examined in the study on coffee.
- 51 is the average age a U.S. woman will go through menopause. Those working on the coffee study suggest that the age a woman starts menopause as another key factor in breast cancer risk.
- 200,000+ women in the U.S. are given a diagnosis of breast cancer
- 6 to 10 million women are prescribed hormone replacement therapy annually in the U.S. The study on veggies was looking at how to cut the chances of this form of cancer associated with these medications.
Talk with your doctor about how to lower breast cancer risk, and be aware that preventing disease is always easier than treating it once it happens. The good thing to take from these two studies is that there are things you can do, actions you can take, to defend yourself against breast cancer. It's up to you.
FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the [http://www.reallyworks.org/?source=ez]Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover other ways to [http://reallyworks.org/blog/category/cancer/]lower breast cancer risk successfully.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Lower-Breast-Cancer-Risk-With-These-Grocery-Items&id=6560938] Lower Breast Cancer Risk With These Grocery Items
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Oncotype DX: Do All Patients With Early Stage Breast Cancer Need Chemotherapy?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ramesh_T_Kumar]Ramesh T Kumar
What is Oncotype Dx?
There are over 25000 genes in human beings. Several of these genes were analyzed in breast cancer patients undergoing clinical studies to identify a group of 21 genes that were most strongly correlated with cancer recurrence. Studies done on these genes in breast cancer tissue became the basis for developing the Oncotype Dx test to determine what is called a Recurrence Score.
How do you use the information from this test?
The Recurrence score determines the risk of patients developing a recurrence of their breast cancers over the following ten years.
This information also helps cancer physicians choose the most appropriate form of treatment including the ability to determine the likely benefit from chemotherapy.
Thus, this test not only allowed physicians to be able to predict the behavior of these cancers better but also allowed a more accurate estimation of the beneficial effects of adding chemotherapy.
Do we need to perform this test on ALL patients diagnosed with breast cancer?
Traditionally, physicians have used breast cancer characteristics such as size of the cancer, receptor status, and lymph node status to estimate how likely their cancer is to come back, and to help determine treatment decisions including the need for chemotherapy. These characteristics are still helpful in choosing a course of treatment, but the additional information provided by the Oncotype DX test has helped refine the treatment choices that can be offered to these patients.
We do not need to perform this test on ALL patients diagnosed with Breast cancer. Oncotype Dx for breast cancer was initially used to help patients with stage I and II cancers who do not have lymph node or distant spread of their tumors and who have tumors that were positive for estrogen receptors. Traditionally, these patients have been treated with such medications as Tamoxifen alone. It was felt that many of these patients failed this form of treatment and could have been served well with the addition of chemotherapy in addition to Tamoxifen. Oncotype Dx thus allows identification of this subset of patients who could benefit with the addition of chemotherapy while sparing others from it.
Newer studies are suggesting similar predictive and prognostic value in those patients who have early stage, estrogen receptor positive breast cancer who already show cancer spread to lymph nodes in the axilla.
There is no benefit of this test in patients with non-invasive breast cancers and those who have obvious evidence of breast cancer spread.
In summary: Oncotype Dx is a simple test that has had a profound impact on our ability to predict the prognosis as well as to tailor make more precise treatment decisions in patients with early stage breast cancers.
This test is but a harbinger of things to come in the world of cancer care where testing cancers at a molecular level for each individual patient will lead to further refinements in our ability to plan effective treatment strategies for them.
Dr. Kumar is a board certified Radiation Oncologist who is co-founder of a private practice group in Florida. He has over 17 years experience dealing with cancer patients including several members in his own family who have been afflicted by this disease.
His philosophy of managing patients is through a unique holistic approach that takes into account the wishes and needs of patients and their families. He believes that any battle is won at the level of the mind first before the body goes into action to win the war. His website http://curingcancerofthemind.com reflects this philosophy.
He is always available to help any patient with questions regarding cancer and radiation therapy and can be reached at 772 293 0377.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Oncotype-DX:-Do-All-Patients-With-Early-Stage-Breast-Cancer-Need-Chemotherapy?&id=6575027] Oncotype DX: Do All Patients With Early Stage Breast Cancer Need Chemotherapy?
What is Oncotype Dx?
There are over 25000 genes in human beings. Several of these genes were analyzed in breast cancer patients undergoing clinical studies to identify a group of 21 genes that were most strongly correlated with cancer recurrence. Studies done on these genes in breast cancer tissue became the basis for developing the Oncotype Dx test to determine what is called a Recurrence Score.
How do you use the information from this test?
The Recurrence score determines the risk of patients developing a recurrence of their breast cancers over the following ten years.
This information also helps cancer physicians choose the most appropriate form of treatment including the ability to determine the likely benefit from chemotherapy.
Thus, this test not only allowed physicians to be able to predict the behavior of these cancers better but also allowed a more accurate estimation of the beneficial effects of adding chemotherapy.
Do we need to perform this test on ALL patients diagnosed with breast cancer?
Traditionally, physicians have used breast cancer characteristics such as size of the cancer, receptor status, and lymph node status to estimate how likely their cancer is to come back, and to help determine treatment decisions including the need for chemotherapy. These characteristics are still helpful in choosing a course of treatment, but the additional information provided by the Oncotype DX test has helped refine the treatment choices that can be offered to these patients.
We do not need to perform this test on ALL patients diagnosed with Breast cancer. Oncotype Dx for breast cancer was initially used to help patients with stage I and II cancers who do not have lymph node or distant spread of their tumors and who have tumors that were positive for estrogen receptors. Traditionally, these patients have been treated with such medications as Tamoxifen alone. It was felt that many of these patients failed this form of treatment and could have been served well with the addition of chemotherapy in addition to Tamoxifen. Oncotype Dx thus allows identification of this subset of patients who could benefit with the addition of chemotherapy while sparing others from it.
Newer studies are suggesting similar predictive and prognostic value in those patients who have early stage, estrogen receptor positive breast cancer who already show cancer spread to lymph nodes in the axilla.
There is no benefit of this test in patients with non-invasive breast cancers and those who have obvious evidence of breast cancer spread.
In summary: Oncotype Dx is a simple test that has had a profound impact on our ability to predict the prognosis as well as to tailor make more precise treatment decisions in patients with early stage breast cancers.
This test is but a harbinger of things to come in the world of cancer care where testing cancers at a molecular level for each individual patient will lead to further refinements in our ability to plan effective treatment strategies for them.
Dr. Kumar is a board certified Radiation Oncologist who is co-founder of a private practice group in Florida. He has over 17 years experience dealing with cancer patients including several members in his own family who have been afflicted by this disease.
His philosophy of managing patients is through a unique holistic approach that takes into account the wishes and needs of patients and their families. He believes that any battle is won at the level of the mind first before the body goes into action to win the war. His website http://curingcancerofthemind.com reflects this philosophy.
He is always available to help any patient with questions regarding cancer and radiation therapy and can be reached at 772 293 0377.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Oncotype-DX:-Do-All-Patients-With-Early-Stage-Breast-Cancer-Need-Chemotherapy?&id=6575027] Oncotype DX: Do All Patients With Early Stage Breast Cancer Need Chemotherapy?
Friday, March 9, 2012
What Is Prophylactic Mastectomy?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ramesh_T_Kumar]Ramesh T Kumar
Meaning of prophylactic mastectomy: It is the surgical removal of a non-cancerous breast with the intention of preventing onset of breast cancer in that breast.
The question of prophylactic mastectomy comes in two clinical situations:
1. Those women who have been diagnosed with cancer in one breast and who are concerned of a new cancer coming up in the opposite breast and thus explore the possibility of removing this breast as prevention. This is called contra-lateral prophylactic mastectomy (the word contra meaning the opposite side).
2. Those women who do NOT have a diagnosis of cancer but who have high risk factors for developing breast cancer. Such patients may explore the possibility of removing both breasts to prevent the onset of cancer. This is called bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (the word bilateral meaning both sides).
Let us consider the first situation of contra-lateral prophylactic mastectomy in women already diagnosed with cancer in one breast. The following are some of the situations where this decision may be appropriate.
1. Diagnosed at age 45 or younger, regardless of family history.
2. Diagnosed at age 50 or younger and EITHER of the following:
- at least one close blood relative with breast cancer at age 50 or younger.
- at least one close blood relative with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.
3. Diagnosed with two breast primaries (includes bilateral disease or cases where there are two or more clearly separate ipsi-lateral primary tumors) when the first breast cancer diagnosis occurred prior to age 50,
4. Diagnosed at age 60 or younger with a triple negative breast cancer.
5. Diagnosed with two breast primaries when the first breast cancer diagnosis occurred prior to age 50.
6. Personal history of ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.
7. Close male blood relative with breast cancer.
8. Women of Ashkenazi Jewish, Icelandic, Swedish, Hungarian, or Dutch descent.
9. Development of invasive lobular or ductal carcinoma in the contra-lateral breast after electing surveillance for lobular carcinoma in situ of the ipsi-lateral breast..
10. Lobular carcinoma in situ confirmed on biopsy.
11. Lobular carcinoma in situ in the contra-lateral breast.
12. Diffuse indeterminate micro-calcifications or dense tissue in the contra-lateral breast that is difficult to evaluate mammographically and clinically.
Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy may be considered in women who have the following situations:
1. Those with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation.
2. Those with close blood relative with a known BRCA1, BRCA2 mutation.
3. First or second-degree blood relative meeting any of the above criteria for individuals with a personal history of cancer.
4. Third-degree blood relative with two or more close blood relatives with breast and/or ovarian cancer (with at least one close blood relative with breast cancer prior to age 50).
5. Those with a history of treatment with radiation to the chest.
6. Those with atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia, especially if combined with a family history of breast cancer.
7. Those with dense breasts that are difficult to evaluate through mammograms and breast exams. Those with several prior breast biopsies for abnormalities with a strong concern about breast cancer risk.
The decision to proceed with prophylactic mastectomy should be taken very seriously because of its irreversible nature and its major implications on the physical and psychological welfare of these women. There are a number of non-surgical options that are available to lower the risk of breast cancer in the situations outlined above. It is strongly urged that women exploring this difficult decision discuss with expert physicians regarding less radical, non-surgical options.
Dr. Kumar is a board certified Radiation Oncologist who is co-founder of a private practice group in Florida. He has over 17 years experience dealing with cancer patients including several members in his own family who have been afflicted by this disease.
His philosophy of managing patients is through a unique holistic approach that takes into account the wishes and needs of patients and their families. He believes that any battle is won at the level of the mind first before the body goes into action to win the war. His website http://curingcancerofthemind.com reflects this philosophy.
He is always available to help any patient with questions regarding cancer and radiation therapy and can be reached at 772 293 0377.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-Prophylactic-Mastectomy?&id=6577264] What Is Prophylactic Mastectomy?
Meaning of prophylactic mastectomy: It is the surgical removal of a non-cancerous breast with the intention of preventing onset of breast cancer in that breast.
The question of prophylactic mastectomy comes in two clinical situations:
1. Those women who have been diagnosed with cancer in one breast and who are concerned of a new cancer coming up in the opposite breast and thus explore the possibility of removing this breast as prevention. This is called contra-lateral prophylactic mastectomy (the word contra meaning the opposite side).
2. Those women who do NOT have a diagnosis of cancer but who have high risk factors for developing breast cancer. Such patients may explore the possibility of removing both breasts to prevent the onset of cancer. This is called bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (the word bilateral meaning both sides).
Let us consider the first situation of contra-lateral prophylactic mastectomy in women already diagnosed with cancer in one breast. The following are some of the situations where this decision may be appropriate.
1. Diagnosed at age 45 or younger, regardless of family history.
2. Diagnosed at age 50 or younger and EITHER of the following:
- at least one close blood relative with breast cancer at age 50 or younger.
- at least one close blood relative with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.
3. Diagnosed with two breast primaries (includes bilateral disease or cases where there are two or more clearly separate ipsi-lateral primary tumors) when the first breast cancer diagnosis occurred prior to age 50,
4. Diagnosed at age 60 or younger with a triple negative breast cancer.
5. Diagnosed with two breast primaries when the first breast cancer diagnosis occurred prior to age 50.
6. Personal history of ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.
7. Close male blood relative with breast cancer.
8. Women of Ashkenazi Jewish, Icelandic, Swedish, Hungarian, or Dutch descent.
9. Development of invasive lobular or ductal carcinoma in the contra-lateral breast after electing surveillance for lobular carcinoma in situ of the ipsi-lateral breast..
10. Lobular carcinoma in situ confirmed on biopsy.
11. Lobular carcinoma in situ in the contra-lateral breast.
12. Diffuse indeterminate micro-calcifications or dense tissue in the contra-lateral breast that is difficult to evaluate mammographically and clinically.
Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy may be considered in women who have the following situations:
1. Those with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation.
2. Those with close blood relative with a known BRCA1, BRCA2 mutation.
3. First or second-degree blood relative meeting any of the above criteria for individuals with a personal history of cancer.
4. Third-degree blood relative with two or more close blood relatives with breast and/or ovarian cancer (with at least one close blood relative with breast cancer prior to age 50).
5. Those with a history of treatment with radiation to the chest.
6. Those with atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia, especially if combined with a family history of breast cancer.
7. Those with dense breasts that are difficult to evaluate through mammograms and breast exams. Those with several prior breast biopsies for abnormalities with a strong concern about breast cancer risk.
The decision to proceed with prophylactic mastectomy should be taken very seriously because of its irreversible nature and its major implications on the physical and psychological welfare of these women. There are a number of non-surgical options that are available to lower the risk of breast cancer in the situations outlined above. It is strongly urged that women exploring this difficult decision discuss with expert physicians regarding less radical, non-surgical options.
Dr. Kumar is a board certified Radiation Oncologist who is co-founder of a private practice group in Florida. He has over 17 years experience dealing with cancer patients including several members in his own family who have been afflicted by this disease.
His philosophy of managing patients is through a unique holistic approach that takes into account the wishes and needs of patients and their families. He believes that any battle is won at the level of the mind first before the body goes into action to win the war. His website http://curingcancerofthemind.com reflects this philosophy.
He is always available to help any patient with questions regarding cancer and radiation therapy and can be reached at 772 293 0377.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-Prophylactic-Mastectomy?&id=6577264] What Is Prophylactic Mastectomy?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Custom Printed Pink Promos for Breast Cancer Awareness
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amin_Ramjee]Amin Ramjee
It is reportedly believed that one in every eight woman in the United States will get affected by an invasive type of breast cancer in the course of her life. This is a reality that many people have to deal with and it is vital that any effort towards cancer awareness is given the much needed support. Breast cancer awareness promotional products have been used effectively to raise awareness about the ailment and custom printed pink promos are one of the items that have been effectively used for this purpose.
The pink ribbon is the most conspicuous badge for breast cancer awareness and in all countries, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in the month of October. In America, many cancer awareness organizations are given a considerable amount of money by the corporate world for sponsorship. Getting involved in this drive to create awareness about breast cancer is a an effort that helps to raise money for research and other activities is a noble act that can also help bring visibility to any company that shows its sympathies to the idea.
Any company that chooses to distribute custom printed pink promos as giveaways for cancer awareness is creating a very big difference in the lives of many people who get affected with this problem. Custom printed pink promos will raise awareness while at the same time helping your business keep its brand visible in many events that are held for the purpose of this awareness.
While showing your support at the fundraisers, at the medical centers, health campaigns and related events, your logo and your company name and message will be prominently displayed on the pink promos that you distribute and this will help you stay in the eyes of prospects.
Custom printed pink promos are perfect giveaways for trade shows, for breast cancer awareness educational programs, business handouts and much more. By giving the printed pink promos away, you showcase your logo and ensure that you are always remembered thus creating an opportunity for your business to grow. There is no better way to advertise your company while at the same time you lend your support to a worthy cause. Breast cancer awareness campaigns are very important and it is important that the public is made aware of the implications of breast cancer as a disease.
Awareness and early detection has saved many lives. With custom printed pink promos, you also play a part in saving these lives while also promoting your company. There is only one way to deal with the menace of cancer. To battle the disease, there has to be awareness, scientific research and funding. Joining hands with organizations that are actively involved in all these activities will always produce positive results. These organizations welcome any combined efforts to raise awareness and are quite open to the idea of the corporate world assisting them with funds while promoting their businesses. Custom printed pink promo items are thus multifunctional in that they help businesses build their brands while at the same time advancing the fight against cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great time for businesses to show their support for victims and organizations. A great way to do so is with [http://www.discountmugs.com/nc/occasion/breast-cancer-awareness/]Breast Cancer Awareness Promotional Products which can be custom designed at DiscountMugs.com. With a wide variety of pink promos like pens, key chains, [http://www.discountmugs.com/nc/category/ceramic-mugs/]Coffee Mugs, shirts, and more, you can have them printed for your organization or event. Shop DiscuontMugs to get yours today.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Custom-Printed-Pink-Promos-for-Breast-Cancer-Awareness&id=6574421] Custom Printed Pink Promos for Breast Cancer Awareness
It is reportedly believed that one in every eight woman in the United States will get affected by an invasive type of breast cancer in the course of her life. This is a reality that many people have to deal with and it is vital that any effort towards cancer awareness is given the much needed support. Breast cancer awareness promotional products have been used effectively to raise awareness about the ailment and custom printed pink promos are one of the items that have been effectively used for this purpose.
The pink ribbon is the most conspicuous badge for breast cancer awareness and in all countries, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in the month of October. In America, many cancer awareness organizations are given a considerable amount of money by the corporate world for sponsorship. Getting involved in this drive to create awareness about breast cancer is a an effort that helps to raise money for research and other activities is a noble act that can also help bring visibility to any company that shows its sympathies to the idea.
Any company that chooses to distribute custom printed pink promos as giveaways for cancer awareness is creating a very big difference in the lives of many people who get affected with this problem. Custom printed pink promos will raise awareness while at the same time helping your business keep its brand visible in many events that are held for the purpose of this awareness.
While showing your support at the fundraisers, at the medical centers, health campaigns and related events, your logo and your company name and message will be prominently displayed on the pink promos that you distribute and this will help you stay in the eyes of prospects.
Custom printed pink promos are perfect giveaways for trade shows, for breast cancer awareness educational programs, business handouts and much more. By giving the printed pink promos away, you showcase your logo and ensure that you are always remembered thus creating an opportunity for your business to grow. There is no better way to advertise your company while at the same time you lend your support to a worthy cause. Breast cancer awareness campaigns are very important and it is important that the public is made aware of the implications of breast cancer as a disease.
Awareness and early detection has saved many lives. With custom printed pink promos, you also play a part in saving these lives while also promoting your company. There is only one way to deal with the menace of cancer. To battle the disease, there has to be awareness, scientific research and funding. Joining hands with organizations that are actively involved in all these activities will always produce positive results. These organizations welcome any combined efforts to raise awareness and are quite open to the idea of the corporate world assisting them with funds while promoting their businesses. Custom printed pink promo items are thus multifunctional in that they help businesses build their brands while at the same time advancing the fight against cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great time for businesses to show their support for victims and organizations. A great way to do so is with [http://www.discountmugs.com/nc/occasion/breast-cancer-awareness/]Breast Cancer Awareness Promotional Products which can be custom designed at DiscountMugs.com. With a wide variety of pink promos like pens, key chains, [http://www.discountmugs.com/nc/category/ceramic-mugs/]Coffee Mugs, shirts, and more, you can have them printed for your organization or event. Shop DiscuontMugs to get yours today.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Custom-Printed-Pink-Promos-for-Breast-Cancer-Awareness&id=6574421] Custom Printed Pink Promos for Breast Cancer Awareness
Monday, March 5, 2012
Go Pink and Support Breast Cancer Survivors!
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Fabiola_Delgado_De_La_Flor]Fabiola Delgado De La Flor
Breast cancer affects one in eight women in the US. In 2010 alone, a quarter of a million women were diagnosed with this type of cancer. Twenty-five percent of those women will die. But grim statistics don't tell the whole tale. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic, and plenty of ways to show your optimism!
That's why this October its time to support the cause. Breast cancer awareness and research lead to longer lives for your friends and family, and that's worth supporting!
So how can you help with breast cancer awareness? How can you help save lives?
The most important thing you can do is just to talk about breast cancer. Amazingly, many women still don't seek screening and thus do not get treatment soon enough. These women indeed have lower survival rates.
What else can you do? Go pink! Today the pink ribbon and the color pink is universally associated with breast cancer. When you wear breast cancer pins or pink ribbon charms or pink bracelets or whatever you choose, you're reminding people that there's hope. You're reminding people that it's possible to save lives, and that it's their responsibility to help save lives. You're leading the way by taking that responsibility on yourself: suggesting, asking, imploring, and shaming others into following your lead.
You don't need to put on a pink ribbon every day to create awareness. A great way to create awareness is to put the pink ribbon directly on stuff that you use every day, so you know it will always be there: your grocery totes, coffee mugs, jogging caps and backpacks can all "wear" the pink ribbon all the time.
When you show your awareness and motivate others to do so, you've taken the first step. The next step is to support research and treatment programs.
So how can you support the cause? How can you save even more lives?
This October is breast cancer awareness month and it's a great opportunity to increase both awareness and funding for the cause. Hundreds of events are happening around the world, from the "Avon Walk For Breast Cancer" to "Wear It Pink Day" in the UK, you can participate in events that help save lives.
Walkathons bring in millions of dollars for breast cancer research and for support for victims. But if walking isn't your thing, there are many activities where you can participate, from golfing to swimming to biking.
Better yet, if you can't find the right activity for you, you can organize your own! It's not too late to get an event up and running this year. Put one together. Challenge people to do something fun. Take the lead and save lives! Whatever you decide to do: Go Pink!
Sienna Pacific is a manufacturer of [http://www.siennapacific.com/lapel-pins/breast-cancer-pins.html]Breast Cancer Pins of the highest quality and offers free artwork with your [http://www.lapelpinsdirect.com/]Custom Lapel Pins order. Or if you wish, you can browse their awareness products in their online store.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Go-Pink-and-Support-Breast-Cancer-Survivors!&id=6586923] Go Pink and Support Breast Cancer Survivors!
Breast cancer affects one in eight women in the US. In 2010 alone, a quarter of a million women were diagnosed with this type of cancer. Twenty-five percent of those women will die. But grim statistics don't tell the whole tale. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic, and plenty of ways to show your optimism!
That's why this October its time to support the cause. Breast cancer awareness and research lead to longer lives for your friends and family, and that's worth supporting!
So how can you help with breast cancer awareness? How can you help save lives?
The most important thing you can do is just to talk about breast cancer. Amazingly, many women still don't seek screening and thus do not get treatment soon enough. These women indeed have lower survival rates.
What else can you do? Go pink! Today the pink ribbon and the color pink is universally associated with breast cancer. When you wear breast cancer pins or pink ribbon charms or pink bracelets or whatever you choose, you're reminding people that there's hope. You're reminding people that it's possible to save lives, and that it's their responsibility to help save lives. You're leading the way by taking that responsibility on yourself: suggesting, asking, imploring, and shaming others into following your lead.
You don't need to put on a pink ribbon every day to create awareness. A great way to create awareness is to put the pink ribbon directly on stuff that you use every day, so you know it will always be there: your grocery totes, coffee mugs, jogging caps and backpacks can all "wear" the pink ribbon all the time.
When you show your awareness and motivate others to do so, you've taken the first step. The next step is to support research and treatment programs.
So how can you support the cause? How can you save even more lives?
This October is breast cancer awareness month and it's a great opportunity to increase both awareness and funding for the cause. Hundreds of events are happening around the world, from the "Avon Walk For Breast Cancer" to "Wear It Pink Day" in the UK, you can participate in events that help save lives.
Walkathons bring in millions of dollars for breast cancer research and for support for victims. But if walking isn't your thing, there are many activities where you can participate, from golfing to swimming to biking.
Better yet, if you can't find the right activity for you, you can organize your own! It's not too late to get an event up and running this year. Put one together. Challenge people to do something fun. Take the lead and save lives! Whatever you decide to do: Go Pink!
Sienna Pacific is a manufacturer of [http://www.siennapacific.com/lapel-pins/breast-cancer-pins.html]Breast Cancer Pins of the highest quality and offers free artwork with your [http://www.lapelpinsdirect.com/]Custom Lapel Pins order. Or if you wish, you can browse their awareness products in their online store.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Go-Pink-and-Support-Breast-Cancer-Survivors!&id=6586923] Go Pink and Support Breast Cancer Survivors!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)