Breast Cancer Medicines

The wife of a friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer nine years ago. She underwent mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She was well after that. She was a pride of the medical establishment and was invited to the ?Celebration of Life? party. But it was not to be. Soon after receiving the invitation she did not feel well. Her arm swelled and the doctor said this could be due to the effect of radiotherapy done NINE years ago. In November 2002, she was hospitalised and diagnosed as having metastasis of the brain. She underwent radiotherapy. After the tenth treatment she developed severe lung infection and her white blood counts dropped drastically. Further radiation treatments (twenty more sessions) were abandoned. She remained immobilised in the hospital for more than two months. After that, she developed bladder infections. She was discharged from the hospital at the end of January 2003. In mid-March 2003, she passed out stools with blood and her blood pressure dropped (internal bleeding?). On 17 March 2003, my friend called to say that his wife had died that afternoon.

My experience in cancer work has shown that death and suffering do not come suddenly following the appearance of a small lump in the brain. Then, what about the blood in the stools? Could this be another of the effects of radiation? I have once said: ?In serious cancer cases, even doing nothing could be better than taking the so-called scientific, proven heroic path.?

Stories from England

The Daily Mail of 31 March 1995 carried an article entitled: ?Cancer Deception? by Paul Eastham. Four angry members of RAGE (Radiotherapy Action Group Exposure) told the Members of Parliament?s Health Select Committee that ?thousands of breast cancer victims were ?fooled? into having needless radiation which left them crippled and in agony.? They said doctors had assured them that radiotherapy was needed only as a precautionary measure after ?their breast surgery and did not warn that their bones could crumble and they could lose the use of limbs.?

RAGE was founded by Lady Ironside who suffered paralysis of the arm after having undergone surgery and radiotherapy because of breast cancer. Her bone became brittle after radiotherapy and she suffered repeated fractures to her injured arm, collar bone and four ribs.

Lady Ironside said: ?The radiographers weren?t frank with me. All of us in RAGE were told that there would be no profound side effects. We would suffer perhaps temporary nausea and exhaustion but no permanent injury … Perhaps I was trusting and foolish. Now I suffer severe pains and paralysis. If I had been properly informed about the dangers, I would have walked away and said, ?No, thank you?, and taken my chances.?

Later, Lady Ironside discovered that nearly one in five breast cancer patients irradiated at one London hospital suffered severe injuries which would steadily get worse.

The suffering of Lady Ironside is not an isolated case of radiation side effects. Many others have also suffered like her. RAGE represents 1,000 breast cancer radiation victims and is in touch with 2,000 more.

Former art historian Lorna Patch, 72, was forced to stop working after her right arm was paralysed following radiotherapy. She said: ?I was never warned about the risks. I am in constant pain. The condition is quite irreversible and progressive.?

Jan Millinglon is a 55-year-old headmistress. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982. She had a lump removed and then underwent radiotherapy. Jan Millinglon claims that the hospital distributed leaflets at the time of her treatment declaring that the side effects were short-lived. Her right arm, however, is paralysed as a result of radiotherapy.

For more information about complementary cancer therapy visit: http://www.cacare.com, http://www.NaturalHealingForYou.com, http://www.BookOnCancer.com

Taking care of yourself after breast cancer

If you’re recovering from breast cancer, your body and mind has had a huge amount to deal with. You’ve probably not been able to focus on anything other than dealing with hospital appointments, treatments, operations and scans. Life may have just been going on around you, but now it’s time to start the next step of your life!

So what’s the next step of your life after breast cancer? It’s all about taking care of yourself so you can enjoy a healthier future. Now is the time to focus on your recovery both physically and mentally and get your life back on track.

It’s important to start focussing on the positive aspects of life so that your mind and body can begin to heal themselves. There are some simple things you can do to start a new healthy lifestyle. They don’t have to be huge changes otherwise they can be hard to maintain, but follow our guidelines and you should start to see some changes.

Diet

Start eating a balanced diet - A balanced diet is about giving your body the right amount of nutrients that it needs, it’s about maintaining healthy eating habits rather than trying a quick fix diet. A balance diet should make you feel good and you should have more energy if you manage to stick to it.

Here’s some quick tips on maintaining a healthy balanced diet:

? Don’t try and change everything about your diet overnight. Changing everything usually leads to cheating, so take small steps. Try swapping things for healthier choices, such as using olive oil instead of butter, eating salad instead of chips. If you fancy something sweet try eating some fruit.
? Eat in moderation - we all need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fibre, vitamins and minerals to sustain a healthy body, despite what some diets recommend. Try eating good fats such as oily fish, nuts and seeds.
? Cut down on your portion sizes, you should feel satisfied after eating not full!
? Make sure you have at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, try to vary them over the course of the week.
? Try to avoid ready made meals as they are usually higher in salt, sugar and saturated fats - get back to basics and start cooking from scratch. If you don’t have much time try looking for healthy quick recipes, there are plenty out there.
? Cut down on alcohol - women shouldn’t be drinking more than 14 units per week.
? Drink plenty of water.
? Smoking - Stop! We all know the dangers of smoking, but for cancer sufferers it is even more vital to stop. You can reduce the risk of your breast cancer recurring and the risk of developing a secondary type of cancer will be lower.

Get Active

These days people are a lot less active, we have all these modern conveniences that work for us and more opportunities to relax and watch TV.

You don’t have to introduce a strict exercise regime into your life, but start with small changes such as walking to the shops instead of driving or take the stairs instead of the lift.

If you feel you’re ready to start exercising after your breast cancer, check with your doctor on what sorts of exercise you should be doing and how long you spend on each activity. Exercise is a great way to build and maintain strong and healthy bones, muscles and joints. If you’re feeling depressed after your cancer or have feelings of anxiety, exercise will really help to alleviate some of these stresses.

There are many more benefits to exercise, but the one that is really important for people who are recovering from cancer is it stimulates the production of endorphins. Endorphins are a chemical substance produced by your own body when exercising that will make you feel happy and exhilarated!

Get motivated

Now you’re over the treatments and operations, find the time to do something for yourself. You could start a new hobby, join a club, meet new people or just enjoy time with your family. If you follow the advice in this article, you should start to feel more alive and revitalised!

Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31. The single parent of a 7 year old daughter she came to fully understand the concerns and issues associated with breast cancer and it’s treatment.

A huge resource of further useful information and articles about breast cancer can be found on the Breast Cancer Corner website.

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

Breast Cancer in Women

Facts

The emotional trauma brought about by cancer among women brings to light the importance of awareness of what breast cancer really is. Unknown to many, breast cancer is a single disease but a collection of diseases that originates in the ducts and lobules of the female breast. According the American Cancer Society study of 2007, breast cancer ranks next to non-melanoma skin cancer as the most prevalent cancer in women. It is estimated that about 178,000 women each year are affected with the disease with approximately 40,500 probable fatalities.

In 2006, another major ACS study indicated that the number of new breast cancer cases have immensely dropped from the levels reached in 2002 and 2003. This leveling off of new cases has a profound impact as there was a twenty-year continuous rise in the number of new cases. Medical advancement and social awareness contributed to the decrease.

In addition to this, the five year survival rate for localized breast cancer has risen to almost a hundred percent in recent years. For cancer cases that have spread to nearby tissues, the survival rate is at eighty three percent. However, those with later stage breast cancer have a survival rate of only twenty percent. Overall, the survival rate for all stage of breast cancer is eighty percent for a five year period and eighty percent for ten years.

Screening

Nowadays, cancer screening has become an integral part of the overall disease prevention method that women undergo. There are several ways to conduct breast cancer screening. This includes monthly breast self-examination, physician performed clinical breast examination and screening mammography. When a mass or lump is notice during these examinations, a biopsy is undertaken in order to analyze the lump for the presence of cancerous cells. Breast cancer biopsy, may be done using fine-needle aspiration, large needle core or surgical dissection.

Additional tests like magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound or PET scan may be done to determine the size, extent and exact location of the cancer. The combination of all these tests gives the physician an idea on how the cancer may react to treatment. This also helps doctors predict a patient’s life expectancy.

Treatment

The treatment of cancer generally involves surgical removal of the tumor or the entire breast. This may be followed by an accompanying therapy to eliminate any trace of cancer cells in the body.

Mastectomy and breast-sparring surgery are two ways of performing removal of the tumor. During these procedures, a full lymph node or sentinel lymph node dissection is also done to check if the cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes.

Depending on the stage of the cancer, procedures such as radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy may be done to fully rid the body of cancer cells. Radiation therapy is done using a machine to target a certain area around the breast and killing trace abnormal cells which are left behind after surgery. Breast cancer chemotherapy follows the same principle but to a larger extent. It involves the entire body and is usually administered to prevent metastasis or recurrence to happen. It can be taken orally or intravenously depending on the patient’s arrangement with her physician.

Hormonal therapy, for its part, is used in cases where the cancer cells have hormone positive receptors. Drugs are used to cut off the supply of estrogen or progesterone to the cancer cells stopping its growth and spread to other areas in the body.

Breast Cancer Staging

As mentioned earlier, staging dictates the kind of treatment necessary for a certain cancer case. Cancer staging is typically grouped into five stages. Carcinoma in situ or Stage 0 is when the cancer is just starting to develop and has yet to reach other tissues and organs. Stage 1 happens when the cancer has formed a mass smaller than 2 centimeters. In this stage, the cancer has yet to affect neighboring lymph nodes. Stage 2 is when the cancer is about 2-5 centimeters and has not yet affected the underarm lymph nodes. Stage 3 happens when the cancer has affected the underarm lymph nodes and measures more than 5 centimeters. In Stage 4, other organs such as the lungs and liver are already affected by the disease. At this stage, the cancer may have already spread throughout the breast or may have affected the other breast.

Risks Factors and Symptoms

Make note that the hormone, estrogen, plays a key role in the development of the cancer. Some breast cancer cells have estrogen receptors that facilitate their growth and progression. Even when a woman is already in menopause, the other parts of her body produces the hormone androgen that is converted into fatty deposits and ultimately estrogen. This is the main reason why women with more fat are at higher risk for breast cancer.

More than ever, new and improved breast cancer treatment methods have helped more women fight the illness and live longer, more meaningful lives. However, sometimes cancer can recur even with the removal of tumor and affected lymph nodes. This is the reason why breast cancer survivors are generally advised to continue having regular consultation with their physician.

A patient may experience complications or side effects brought about by treatment. Radiation therapy, for example, may cause temporary aches, pains and swelling of the breast area. It is best to ask your doctor about these complications so you would be ready for their occurrence.

Here are some conditions that help us know when to contact your physician. If you notice a presence of a lump in the breast or armpit, if you are above forty and have not had a mammogram the previous year, if you are above thirty-five with an immediate relative who had breast, ovarian or colon cancer, and finally, if you are unsure about your health condition and want to learn how to perform self-examination of the breast.

In closing, your best ally against breast cancer is yourself. Awareness of the risk factor and breast cancer signs and symptoms is your best prevention against this unwelcome illness.

Don’t Fall Victim to Breast Cancer, Identify the Early Warning Signs and Find out about Symptoms and Treatment Options Today. Visit Symptoms-of-Cancer.com today and find more information about how to identify Breast Cancer Symptoms

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

Women are usually more comfortable than men about going to the doctor for checkups and regular medical screening, yet strangely younger women tend to ignore symptoms that might be a warning sign of cancer. But what are the symptoms for breast cancer and other potential cancer signs?

Thinking cancer is a problem of the old, or that most cancers are incurable they let symptoms go. This is a tragic mistake that costs lives, even young lives. Striking a balance between awareness and denial is tricky, which is why online medical resource WebMD asked experts to talk about changes in your body that should bring you to the doctor for a checkup.

1) Unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds in a month, if you haven’t been doing anything to encourage it. Cancer isn’t always the answer here, sometimes an overactive thyroid can be to blame, but you won’t know until you see your doctor.

2) Bloating (”my jeans don’t fit!”) that happens every day and lingers for more than a few weeks should be investigated. You may have blood work and CT scans as your doctor rules out ovarian cancer, an often silent and utterly treatable form of cancer.

3) Breast changes, not just lumps, but redness or thickening of the skin (or a rash that stays around for a few weeks) on the breast can be the first sign of a rare, aggressive form of cancer. If the look of a nipple changes, or you see discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding) you should be evaluated at once.

4) For pre-menopausal women, bleeding between periods should be checked, especially if your cycles are typically very regular and spotting is unusual for you. Bleeding after menopause is also a must-check symptom.

5) Skin changes, not just in moles, but changes in the pigment of the skin, sudden bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling are all things you want to bring to your doctor’s attention if they persist for more than a few weeks.

6) Trouble swallowing that has you changing the consistency of the foods you eat is a symptom not to be ignored. Your doctor will take a careful history, order chest X-rays or other exams of the GI tract.

7) Blood in the wrong place, such as in your urine or stool could be a warning sign you doctor will need to investigate. Coughing up blood must be evaluated too, especially if this happens more than once.

Gnawing belly pain and depression can be an early sign of pancreatic cancer according to some researchers, though the link isn’t well understood. These two symptoms happening together for even a few days are reason enough for a trip to your doctor.

9) Persistent indigestion without pregnancy might be a red flag for cancer of the esophagus, stomach or throat. Your doctor will do a careful evaluation before deciding what tests, if any, to order.

10) Changes in your mouth such as white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, especially if you smoke, are clues you need to bring to the attention of your dentist or doctor.

11) Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be evaluated right away, as it can be an early symptom of some cancers.

12) Changes in lymph nodes like a lump or swelling in the nodes under your armpit or neck, or on any part of your body could be an early warning sign. If the change in the lymph node stays around for a month or more, see your doctor.

13) Fever without any explanation (the flu or another infection) can suggest early blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma. If the fever comes with jaundice or change in the color of your stool, call your doctor for a physical, X-ray, CT scan, MRI or other testing.

14) Fatigue is a vague symptom that can point to cancer, especially if there’s no other reason (busy schedule, late nights, etc.) for feeling so wiped out, even after you’ve gotten a good night sleep.

15) Prolonged coughs are a discomfort of colds and allergies, but a cough that lasts three to four weeks shouldn’t be ignored any longer. Your doctor will do an exam, check your lung functioning and order X-rays, especially if you smoke.

If any of these easy-to-ignore symptoms suddenly becomes a part of your life, don’t wait. Instead, listen to your body and make the time to see a doctor about your concerns. Denial can, and does, kill many people, even young ones. You owe it to yourself and those in your life who love you to have warning symptoms for breast cancer or other cancer signs checked out by your doctor so that you won’t be one of them.

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

If you are selecting a bra just for the sake of a good look and outward show and not according to your body convenience, then you can be in a great danger. You can end up developing breast cancer. Many researches and studies proved that due to tight fitting bras the lymphatic vessels get compressed and poison accumulates in the breast tissue.

Breast cancer, in which tight and uncomfortable bras contributes a lot, develops mostly after the age of 40; and the most affected regions are Northern Europe and North America.

According to the World Health Organization, the constant pressure on the breast due to tight bras closes the vessels and lymph valves, and stopped them from flushing out the poisons that collect in the tissue of the breast and stop the passage of nutrients and oxygen. This is the main reason for the cancer.

The researchers have found that with the beginning of the menstruation cycle, estrogen levels increase in the body resulting in bulging of breasts. If a woman continues to wear the bra of same size, the lymphatic vessels will be squeezed.

However, breast cancer can be avoided to a certain extent by minimizing the time period of wearing the bra. Women are advised to take off their bras at night or day when they are at home. Those women who take off their bras during sleep have fewer chances of developing breast cancer. Even those who have developed lumps, cysts or tenderness can also cure the problem by taking off their bras during sleep. Massage breasts after taking off the bras and take deep breathe.

Observing the demand of bras, business for this is also booming. Avoid push-ups and sports bras. Instead opt for voluminous cotton bras.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in the medical industry. He also offers top quality tips like:

Discover Cancer, Colon Cancer Symptoms

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

Women employ different methods to fight breast cancer. They will do exercise regularly, eat the right diet and even take the correct supplements and vitamins to ward off the cancer. However, very few women actually know that it is possible to fight the disease with green tea.

Green tea is replete with antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols. These play a big role in preventing cancer cells from forming in the tissue. In addition, antioxidants destroy already present cancer cells and prevent the disease from progressing. In fact, different studies have been conducted to find the effect of green tea on cancer. One study used participants who had different stages of this disease, and it was found that in women, who drank the maximum tea, the cancer did not progress to the extent it progressed in women who did not drink tea.

Green tea can also help to find other types of cancer. Men can reduce the chances of prostate cancer as well as breast cancer. Yes, it is possible for men to get breast cancer too. Even ovarian cancer patients can improve their lifespan by drinking tea on a daily basis. In addition, tea slows the progress of colon, esophageal, stomach, skin, bladder, and pancreatic cancer. In numerous studies conducted, patients who drank the tea lived longer than patients who did not drink the tea.

Although tea should not be considered a miraculous cure, it can definitely help to reduce the chances of developing not just breast cancer, but also other types. Patients suffering from cancer should consult their doctors before starting to drink green tea.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in the medical industry. He also offers top quality tips like:

Discover Cancer, Colon Cancer Symptoms

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

Melanoma has been a health issue for generations. For women, breast cancer is a well know enemy. Medical doctors and scientists continue the long fight against all types of cancer. Until a cure is found, women must continue to fight the battle. These holistic remedies have been proven through research to help, so here are some tips you can use to get smart on ways to fight back.

Eat Your Broccoli - Yes, eating broccoli may help reduce your chances of getting breast cancer. It is stated to be one of the best veggies that battle many diseases. Because of the large vitamin content contained in this vegetable, it reigns supreme on the list of fruit and vegetable department for cancer fighting. Undoubtedly, it is known worldwide that broccoli provides more vitamin C compared to orange. Additionally, it possesses a large amount of calcium that you get in milk. A new research demonstrates precisely how effective broccoli is: young ladies consuming only one stalk of broccoli weekly appeared to be 40% unlikely to develop breast cancer. How should you eat your broccoli: raw or cooked? Cooking will eliminate isothiocyanates which rev up your liver in order to reduce the effects of carcinogens; at the same time, in prepared broccoli you will digest a lot of indoles that reduce cancer by aiding your body to digest growth hormones. Therefore, raw broccoli or cooked both will help fight the scourge breast cancer.

Work That Body - Help aid the prevention of breast cancer by working out to control excessive estrogen. Study suggest that exercising for about three to five hours weekly cut your risk in half of breast cancer, simply by decreasing tumor-promoting estrogen in your bloodstream. Women who engage in having over six hours of physically demanding recreational exercise were 23% more unlikely to have breast cancer when compared with inactive women, the research shows. Exercising seems to help women, irrespective of age. However, the added benefits were only observed in individuals with no family history of breast cancer. The study does not prove that physical exercise single-handedly eliminate breast cancer or even demonstrate exactly how exercising might reduce breast cancer risk. The results of working out on the body’s hormones and weight might help, researchers imply.

Demolish Bad Fat From Your Diet - Cut virtually all harmful fats. Women eating a lot of trans fats tend to be two times as prone to suffer from breast cancer as women who consume the least. Trans fats prevent the action of enzymes that break down carcinogens. Women who have a diet high in fat may well increase their chance of getting breast cancer when you older, say researchers. A study of more than 13,000 women from Norfolk discovered that women who consumed the most saturated fats - like those contained in chocolate bars, snacks and fast food - were almost twice as prone to develop cancer, in contrast to those that ate the smallest amount. Numerous studies have failed to establish a link between fat and breast cancer, nevertheless; researchers point out that the kind of food survey used by previous research workers could have masked the problem. It is clearly recognized that being overweight increases the probability of breast cancer, but this particular research points the finger at fatty foods in particular.

Enjoy Soy - Research shows that consuming soy may slightly lower your risk.

Munch on Walnuts - Research suggests 2 Servings of walnuts each day might keep cancer at bay. By simply munching on 2 oz. of delicious walnuts, you can squash errant cells because of the anti-cancer compounds found in walnut. A serving every day could impede breast-cancer growth up to 50%, based on the American Institute for Cancer research.

Beans are Good For you Too - Women who consume beans and lentils have a high decrease of developing breast cancer compared to women who rarely eat them, based on a study in the International Journal of Cancer (2005;114:628-33). It only takes 1/2 cup serving of beans each day to lower your breast cancer risk by a whopping 30%.

Drink Green Tea - According to clinical studies, one unique benefit that green tea has is to fight and/or reduce your chances of getting cancer. Green tea drinkers are said to be much less likely to get cancer than non-drinkers. This was confirmed by some clinical studies; green tea is hugely popular and has been for quite some time now. In China, green tea is consumed because of its medicinal benefits and now, increasingly more people today all around the world are sipping the extraordinary tea. The polyphenol content of green tea effectively fight cancer cells from developing, it also contains fiber, which adheres to toxins and helps whisk them from your body.

Aspirin - A new research of more than 4,000 women clinically determined to have breast cancer reveals that taking aspirin regularly is found to substantially improve survival and decrease the chance of recurrence, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Whenever you research details about breast cancer, make sure to obtain information through reputable resources. Any time you are facing health problems of all kinds, you must depend on medical doctors and also the most recent research to provide you a good understanding of things you need to find know. Although the majority of tips on breast cancer may have quite a few facts, you should always search for up to date results, and it is also advisable to know what your physician has planned for your wellness. This information must be shared with women in your family, so that they know they might be at an increased risk, and should pay attention to their breast health at a younger age.

I have been a staunch supporter on the front lines of the battle against breast cancer. But this fight took on a new meaning for me when my younger sister called and told me she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Since that day, I have been an even greater advocate in the efforts to help stamp out this scourge against women. Women should use every weapon in their arsenal to protect herself, mother, daughter, sister, friend or any woman for that matter.

Obtaining the best medical care early in the diagnosis is critical and this is the issue that concerned me most when I heard my sister had been diagnosed with cancer, I knew that she did not have health insurance and that would have a direct impact on the quality of care she would receive. Because my sister did not have health insurance, we had a long fight to get her proper medical care.

Holistic approaches are to be commended, and I believe they have tremendous value, however, in my sister’s case, she needed radical surgery. Everyone woman must chose the best remedy for her in concert whit her physic. But women can do a number of things to help fight against this dreaded disease. Now, many women are confused by the news that a government task force recently concluded that women younger than 50 don’t need regular mammograms. Your best bet: discuss your particular health history with and options with your doctor, as factors such as family history of breast cancer play a big role in deciding what’s best for you. You can also get more information by reviewing my lens.

Never forget that early detection is the key, always consult your doctor!

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

With nearly 200 thousand women and almost 2 thousand men diagnosed with breast cancer every year, it’s important that your nursing assistants know the basics about this common disease. Here is some information about who is at risk for breast cancer, the symptoms of the disease, suggestions for helping clients on chemotherapy and more practical tips to help your CNAs assist clients with breast cancer. Feel free to share this information with the nursing assistants at your workplace.

Who Is at Risk for Breast Cancer?

The National Cancer Institute estimates that one out of every eight American women will get breast cancer. Because the exact cause of breast cancer is still unknown, there are no sure ways to prevent it. This means that all women are at risk for developing the disease. However, certain factors increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, including:

Age: Most breast cancer cases occur in women over the age of 50 and the risk is especially high for women over age 60.

Family History: Being a close blood relative of someone with breast cancer increases the risk.

Reproductive History: For example, the risk increases for women who started their menstrual periods before age 12, developed menopause after age 55, were never pregnant or had their first child after age 30.

Lifestyle: Certain lifestyle choices increase the risk for breast cancer, including:

• A high fat diet
• Two or more alcoholic drinks per day
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise

What are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Typically, early breast cancer does not cause any symptoms or pain. However, as the cancer grows, it can cause changes, including:

• A new lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area that feels different than the surrounding tissue
• A change in the breast size or shape
• Dimpling or puckering of the breast skin
• Pulling in or puckering of the nipple
• Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away
• Pain or tenderness in one spot that does not change during the monthly cycle
• A new, sudden nipple discharge that appears only in one breast
• An itchy, sore, or scaly area on one nipple

Caring for a Client on Chemotherapy

“Chemo” is used to kill cancer cells that have metastasized throughout the body-meaning they have moved away from the original site of the cancer. Chemotherapy weakens a person’s ability to fight off infection. Keep in mind that handwashing is the best way to stop the spread of germs! In addition, your client may be told to wear a mask when among a crowd of people. IMPORTANT: If you feel sick, wear a mask and gloves…or don’t work with clients on chemo!

Don’t assume that every client will have severe side effects from treatment-some people don’t. (Although worrying about the effects of “chemo” can make the situation worse.)

Skin problems may occur so provide a bath or encourage the client to bathe daily, using mild soap and lotions. The nails require extra attention as they may darken or become brittle. Follow your workplace policy regarding nail care.

Mouth care is extremely important during chemotherapy. Soft toothbrushes help prevent gum damage. Keeping the mouth moist may be a challenge. Try offering lollipops, ice chips and Popsicles.

Hair care should be done delicately. Use only mild shampoos and soft brushes. Gently towel dry the hair-avoid using a hair dryer.

Encourage your clients to eat high protein and/or high calorie foods when able. Eggs, milkshakes and supplements like Ensure are examples. Offer frequent small snacks-during the time of day your clients feel their best. Keep non-perishable snacks at the bedside. This is a time when “crackers in bed” are OK!

More Care Tips for Your Clients with Breast Cancer

• Encourage self care. Clients under stress often lose interest in everyday activities-even if they are capable of performing them. They may welcome the opportunity to still “be in control”.
• Get your clients outside if they can go. Daylight will help relieve feelings of sadness. If they can’t go out, open the curtains.
• Give extra attention to grooming. Breast surgery can affect how a woman feels about her body. Lending a hand to “do” her hair or help her with make-up may mean a great deal.
• The affected side of her body is more vulnerable to infection due to decreased lymph flow. Any small cut, such as a paper cut, can cause an infection. Even many years “post-op”, a woman must be careful with that arm/hand. Any swelling or change in sensation must be reported immediately.
• Never take a blood pressure on the side where a woman has had breast surgery!
• Listen when your clients express their emotions. Listening is a powerful way to help them feel better.

Linda H. Leekley BS, RN
President, In the Know, Inc.
http://www.knowingmore.com

Do you struggle to provide your nursing assistants with high quality continuing education? With over 120 inservice topics (including modules on cancer and dozens of other disease processes), In the Know has the solution to nearly any problem facing your nurse aides. Using our inservices ensures that your CNAs will learn more-and achieve more. As a result, their client care will improve dramatically! And, we stand by the superior quality of our teaching materials with a 60-day money back guarantee.

Please visit my website at http://www.knowingmore.com to download a FREE Inservice Topic.

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

Our medical system focuses primarily on early detection and the destruction and removal of cancer cells. This is important yet isn’t it just common sense to prevent breast cancer in the first place?

Our federal government spends about $900 million annually on breast cancer research and programs. There are also many outreach community programs such as the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation which has invested roughly $1 billion since its inception 25 years ago.

But what about focusing on real prevention rather than on more technology for earlier detection?

Are we any closer to discovering effective means of preventing breast cancer? According to our media which drives sensational news and is financially supported by the world’s wealthiest industry, the pharmaceutical companies, there are very few specific preventatives which western medicine can endorse.

BUT we do have medical research which DOES prove viable alternatives for prevention. I will cover just one of them.

One risk of breast cancer is thyroid disease. This comes from several research articles. The first to make this connection was one out of Pisa, Italy where they demonstrated that 50% of the 103 women with ductal cell carcinoma (breast cancer) had undiagnosed thyroid conditions. These included thyroid goiter (most often caused by low iodine), Hashimoto’s (thyroid autoimmune condition) and sub-acute thyroiditis (inflammation).

This percentage of the participants with thyroid disease would have been even higher if both subclinical and sub-optimal hypothyroidism had been included. The conclusion of this research suggested that physicians should screen their breast cancer patients for thyroid problems.

Yet here is such a typical example of how a conclusion can be too narrow because it does not connect itself with other relevant research.

There are many studies from around the world which have made the connection between iodine and the lowered incidence of breast cancer.

In 1976 the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, published a study focusing on the incidence of cancers in various countries around the world. At that time this study shook the world because it exposed the much higher rate of breast cancer in U.S. women as compared with Japanese women. Their conclusion found the only variable between the two cultures was the high intake of iodine rich foods found in Japan.

How are the two studies, the one from Italy and the one from The Lancet, possibly related?

They indicate a couple of important points.

The first is that women with breast cancer have a high incidence of thyroid issues. We know that these issues, thyroid goiter, low thyroid hormones and Hashimoto’s have their origin in inadequate intake of iodine and iodide.

Your physician may not agree with this last statement regarding Hashimoto’s but that is only because they are not familiar with the latest research.

So, might an iodine deficiency cause a woman to develop an enlarged thyroid? Most definitely.

Might an iodine deficiency cause a woman to develop Hashimoto’s? Certainly.

Might an iodine deficiency predispose a woman to develop breast cancer? Yes and this research along with about another 20 articles should be compelling enough to incite us to take action.

Medicine always turns to research to prove its point and to establish protocols and guidelines for their physicians to follow.

But our system, when it comes to breast cancer, is one sided, focusing on surgery, prescriptions and radiation. Our system does not focus on prevention but sides with treatment from a narrower perspective.

I suggest that any woman with a family history of breast cancer or thyroid disease should be fully screened for any thyroid issue. And by the word ’fully’ I mean a much more in-depth screening than what is being recommended these days. This topic of diagnosing thyroid issues requires much more explanation.

The point here is that we have the research. We know a lot about the prevention of breast cancer. We just need to implement it.

Will it reach mainstream some day? Maybe.

But I suspect it will never happen until women become informed and educated. It is, after all, our bodies, our lives which we have so trustingly placed into the hands of professionals who are looking at us through their own set of lenses.

Thank you.

Dr. Alexander Haskell’s recent publication, Low Thyroid Hormone Symptoms, 7 Causes & 7 Solutions, dives deep into the topics of low thyroid hormones and breast cancer to offer answers, solutions and hope to millions of women. His 30 years of clinical experience as a licensed Naturopathic Physician and his last 2 years of medical research have provided him with a unique voice and practical, clinically relevant point of view. His publication is a testimony to the ideology of medicine; to educate, to empower and to encourage.

If you would like more information about this topic please email us at advancingcare@gmail.com.

Dr. Alexander Haskell’s recent publication, Low Thyroid Hormone Symptoms, 7 Causes & 7 Solutions, dives deep into the topics of low thyroid hormones and breast cancer to offer answers, solutions and hope to millions of women. His 30 years of clinical experience as a licensed Naturopathic Physician and his last 2 years of medical research have provided him with a unique voice and practical, clinically relevant point of view. His publication is a testimony to the ideology of medicine; to educate, to empower and to encourage.

If you would like more information about this topic please email us at advancingcare@gmail.com.

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

While I was doing some research on the Internet I came across an article about breast cancer. This article was explaining how early detection was a determining factor in winning the battle with breast cancer. The article was talking about how calcium deficiency expresses itself in calcium malformations in breasts. This is to say that calcium deficient persons would get calcium deposits in their breasts, which would then turn into cancer.

Is this really what happens?

This article is dedicated to my mom and all the women out there, who are willing to learn the truth about breast cancer and save themselves.

Cause of every disease is acidic body. Because of bad diet habits, like eating junk food and poor quality food, or eating to much protein, thus having to much nitrogen waste, our lymphatic fluids become acidic. In order to remove that acid and store it away, to prevent vital organ damage, our body envelopes it in fat tissue. This is why breasts are the target most of the time.

At this point, if unhealthy habits were to be continued, acidity of the body would become greater. In last attempt to save our life, our body would form calcium deposits. Calcium is drawn from the bones and is deposited in breasts to buffer the excess acid. Calcium which is alkaline, will react with these acids and form salts which are neutral. Mission accomplished. This is what official medicine is looking for at mammogram exam, to find these deposits. According to them, these calcium deposits, later become cancer.

This is wrong. Calcium deposits in breasts are not early signs of formation of breast cancer, but they are rather defense mechanism our body uses to save us from acid. To put out the fire, so to speak. Of course if bad eating habits were not stopped, and acidity of the body became even greater, cellular structure would change to adapt to new changed environment, it would mutate into what is known as cancer.

What can we do to prevent breast cancer or to cure it? We have to learn to alkalize by eating alkaline foods rich in alkaline minerals. Alkaline minerals will react and neutralize these acids. No acids, no cancer. It is that simple. Two alkaline minerals needed the most, which majority of population is short of, are calcium and magnesium. Magnesium is very important to remove nitrogen waste from the liver and kidneys. For healing electro magnetic energy to be released, in order to cure, all alkaline minerals must react against all acids present, fat and water soluble. This is why I would recommend kelp as sure winner in preventing and stopping breast cancer. Kelp is complex carbo-hydrate and it contains absolutely all alkaline minerals and trace minerals. If you supply your body with enough alkaline minerals, by eating enough kelp, chances of getting breast cancer are nonexistent.

To purchase top quality organic kelp click here now.

Learn how to alkalize and live long healthy life or die premature death.

To learn everything you need to know, to cure yourself without dangerous drugs, visit my website http://www.selfcureanddetox.com

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