Breast Cancer Medicines

In 2005 I was diagnosed with an aggressive and invasive form of Breast Cancer. Even at age 52 it was a shock to me. An even greater shock was finding out through researching Breast Cancer that 1 in 8 women would, at sometime in their lifetime, be diagnosed with Breast Cancer. This statistic was staggering to me.

The good news is that the mortality rate, or number of deaths, due to Breast Cancer is on the steady decline. Treatment is customized for each patient's specific cancer. Being an author, I decided to take notes about my treatment should I ever want to write a book about it.

When women think of having a Mammogram the first word that comes to mind is, 'ouch!' or something similar. Unfortunately, until medical science comes up with a better method, Mammograms are a fact of life for women, especially over the age of 40.

Being a person who is usually viewing life on the up side, I found more humor in what I was going through than I ever thought possible. People do not associate cancer with laughter but I hope to change that, to a degree, anyway. Your doctor will not tell you how to prepare for a Mammogram but I will here.

Exercise #1

1. Open your refrigerator door and insert one breast between the door and the main box.
2. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut as hard as possible and lean on the door for good measure.
3. Hold that position for five seconds.
4. Don't breathe.
5. Repeat again in case the first time wasn't effective enough.
6. Repeat all steps on the other breast.

Exercise #2

1. Visit your garage at 3:00 a.m. when the temperature of the concrete floor is just perfect (anywhere below 32 degrees.)
2. Take off all your warm clothes and lay on the floor with one breast wedged tightly under the rear tire of the car.
3. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until the breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled.
4. Turn over and repeat for the other breast.

Congratulations! You are now properly prepared for your Mammogram.

The day of my first Mammogram after my diagnosis was one I will never forget. I entered Hooterville Breast Care Center with more apprehension than usual. When I told her I might be writing a book about my treatment, the technician said she wanted to be called Ginger. I made a note of that. I wasn't sure if we would still be speaking after she was done with me. And, since the body parts to be examined are so personal, I named my right breast, Laverne, and my left breast, Shirley. Laverne was under the gun today.

I have to give kudos to Hooterville for supplying me with an extra large gown even though I told her that, at my age, all I needed to do was pull up my skirt! Then Ginger led me into the room with the Booby Trap. It's the only contraption I know of that takes cups and turns them into saucers without having to sweep up glass. Ginger is tall, pretty…oh, who cares? This is about me.

You larger than tiny gals know the drill. I stepped up to the Booby Trap and introduced myself. He didn't care and we all now it's a 'he.' Ginger pulled out the largest shelf she had and invited Laverne to have a seat. Laverne obliged having had the memory of her last Mammo squeezed out of her.

As Ginger pressed the button on the floor, I knew what was coming even if Laverne didn't. I was grinding my teeth as the top shelf began depressing Laverne into enough square footage to carpet my veranda! She began to spill over the sides and reminded me of that old fifties, 'The Blob.' Satisfied that she could squeeze no more, Ginger told me to hold my breath and don't move. Now I must note here that it was not possible to take a breath because my right lung was oozing out my nipple! And as for moving…well that's too ridiculous to even address. “I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”

Several pictures were taken in different poses and than Laverne was released to wait with me while Ginger put them up for auction on Ebay. As we're waiting, I looked down at Laverne and she was as red as a tomato. It took all my self-control to keep from hollering down the hall, “I need a bucket of ice…I'm on fire in here!” Ginger must have found some takers because she returned to take me to the ultrasound room.

I can be flippant about it now because the pain is gone. What I want you to realize from reading this account is that attitude is very important in your recovery. I chose to see the humor in a difficult situation. Because of that, you had a good laugh or two by reading about it. I am pleased to say that I am a two-year survivor and should the cancer return, I hope I will again be able to laugh a little.

More about the author's experience can be found at: http://www.lscoffman.com

L. S. Coffman is the published author of “Cancer…It Won't Get The Breast of Me,” a novel, “Sentenced To Redemption,” and two children's picture books.

Sidestepping screening: What factors make women avoid annual mammography?

Breast cancer has the highest incidence and mortality rates worldwide, and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States. While mammography is far from perfect, it remains the best screening tool available for the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

But studies show that about one in four women, forty and older, have not had a mammogram within the last two years. That figure is even worse for low-income women, with 40% admitting that they have never stepped within a few feet of the bucky. A recent study out of New Hampshire revealed that more than one-third of the women in that state who are eligible for mammography have either never had the breast cancer screening test or have not been tested in more than two years (Cancer, September 12, 2005).

This is despite the enthusiastic efforts by breast cancer screening advocacy groups to promote screening and boost awareness (American Cancer Society, May 9, 2005).

Of course, the issue is too complicated to attempt to summarize in a single-shot. Still, breast imaging experts agree that certain broader obstacles continue to plague cancer screening programs and continue to keep women out of screening facilities.

Personal experience

Chances are that every woman knows at least one person in her life who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, treated for breast cancer, or, worst of all, had a breast cancer scare. And if it happened to a friend (or even a friend of a friend), why couldn't the same fate befall her? As a result, many women subscribe to the “ignorance is bliss” school of thought. Getting an annual mammogram would then be akin to actively searching for a problem, pointed out Dr. Daniel Kopans, director of breast imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The possibility of breast cancer is scary enough the process of getting a mammogram only adds to that anxiety, he said.

For a woman who has undergone screening, one bad experience — in the form of a false-positive mammogram or an benign biopsy — can make for a lifetime of aversion, according to Dr. Carol Kornmehl a radiation oncologist in Ridgewood, NJ and the author of The Best News About Radiation Therapy

On the other hand, personal experience can have the opposite effect. “Women who have a family member or close friend with breast cancer are more likely to learn and see first hand the advantages of yearly mammography,” said Dr. Nancy Elliott of the Montclair Breast Center in Montclair, NJ. But if their experience at the radiology facility is a negative one, all good influence may go out the window, she added.

“Women sometimes forgo timely mammograms because of life events such as taking care of a sick relative or losing a spouse. Because women take care of the world, we forget to take care of ourselves,” said Dr. Beth Deutch, founder/medical director of HerSpace: Breast Imaging Associates in Monmouth, NJ.

Dr. Elizabeth Shaughnessy, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the division of surgical oncology at the University of Cincinnati agreed: “Family care issues may be a problem as women age. Women tend to be primary caretakers of their own parents, and spouses. Often, they delay their own care because they are dealing with the care of others who may be sick or dying.”

Referring physicians

Assuming that many women will find any excuse to avoid annual screening, whose responsibility is it to make sure that she still does it? Physician referral for screening has proven to be the strongest evidence why women get screening regardless of age, according to Cheryl Kidd, director of education for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Dallas.

Still, the influence of a primary care physician (PCP) does have its limitations. Shaughnessy stressed that each generation faces medical management differently. For example, women born in the pre-baby boomer era tend to follow their physician's recommendations before taking initiative in their own care. Unless the physician tells them to obtain a mammogram, they most likely won't. On the other hand, younger generations take a different view of self-care. They are more in tune with their bodies and are more apt to undergo screening tests.

Education is key. A large medical organization may support screening, but if an individual's doctor does not, his or her patient is not likely not avail herself of those services, Kopans said.

Public policy

A mixed message is being delivered to women as to the details of screening. Government and professional organizations advocate mammographic screening for breast cancer, but differ on what age, and how often, a woman should screen. Consumer and breast cancer organizations also offer potentially conflicting information. Some believe that women have been misled about the benefits of screening in women, ages 40-49., stating that there is no proof that mammography reduces breast cancer mortality in women less than 50 (National Breast Cancer Coalition, May 23, 2004)..

The Komen Foundation, as well as the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) recommend screening yearly beginning at age 40. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommend screening every one to two years beginning at age 40.

There are various reasons for the controversy in screening. One is that some of the trials were flawed in one way or another, which skewed results. Another is the tendency of the media to sensationalize news which, in turn, influences public opinion. In addition, in the 90s, there was a major cover-up at a government agency ignoring facts and trivializing the significance of breast cancer screening among women in their forties.

So whose advice should a woman heed? “There are no data that, when properly analyzed, have ever shown that any of the parameters of screening change abruptly at any age,” wrote Kopans in a recent commentary. “The age of fifty is completely meaningless and is arbitrary. Although many 'experts' understand this, opponents of screening have not found it necessary to alert women and their physicians to this fact”(The Death of Mammography by Rene Jackson and Alberto Righi, Caveat Press. Ashland, OR, 2005, p. 144).

Access

Mammography services currently face many challenges: it is the most frequently litigated radiology modality not enough radiologists are choosing careers in breast imaging and reimbursement rates are still dismally low. Mammography centers are closing their doors, forcing women to either travel longer distances for a screening mammogram, endure a longer wait time, or forgo the test altogether..

The average wait in New York is 40 days or more (versus two weeks in the later 1990s). In some parts of the country such as Florida, there is a three-month wait for a screening mammogram. Since 1990, the percentage of mammography facilities open in the U.S. has dropped by almost 9%.

“Often it is difficult to obtain an appointment or there is a lengthy waiting period some women may just give up and then forget to make the appointment,” said Deutch.

If changes aren't forthcoming in the reimbursement rates, access will become even more limited, according to Kidd. Low reimbursement serves as a disincentive to the development of breast cancer medical expertise and impedes patient access to quality care, she said.

Lead author Dr. Robert Smith from the American Cancer Society pointed out that “radiologists do not have a patriotic duty to read mammograms or to specialize in mammography (but) from a broad public health perspective, we have a collective duty to women at risk for breast cancer to acknowledge that we may be about to face a crisis and not wait for that crisis to occur before we seek solutions” (Reuters Health, August 26, 2005).

Cost

Cost has often been cited as a barrier to screening mammography. However, the American Cancer Society (ACS) holds that lack of accurate knowledge of coverage rather than actual costs have deterred many women from screening.

Most insurance covers screening mammography and most states have laws that mandate health insurers to reimburse some or all of the cost of a mammogram. Medicare also pays for a yearly screening. But women 65 years and older, and women earning less than $20,000 per year, are more likely to misunderstand their coverage, according to the ACS. This narrows it down to women with higher incomes and better education, regarding of their insurance status.

Matters are even more dire for women without insurance, many of whom don't have access to healthcare or are contending with doctors who offer no advice on breast cancer screening, said Kornmehl said. Their lack of compliance may also be fueled back a lack of understanding of the point of screening.

Some states have set up programs that would reduce, or even eliminate health insurance co-payments in an effort to encourage women to comply with screening guidelines. But that loss of income will need to be offset by someone.

“Unfortunately, insurance companies and the federal government think mammography is too expensive, so women have to make a decision about what is important,” said Elliott. “Is it the hairdresser, the massage, the restaurant, or the mammogram?”

Rene' Jackson RN BSN MS
Freelance Health Writer

“The Death of Mammography”
Rene' Jackson RN BSN MS
Alberto Righi, MD
Published November 2005
Caveat Press

Read the press release, reviews, and excerpts from the book at: http://www.rjacksonrn.com rene@rjacksonrn.com

For the last three months, I have been nursing a deep concern: would the lump I found turn out to be breast cancer? How many other women have had that terrible feeling of dread when they came across their own lump? I have to say, I agonised over it for several weeks. Should I waste the time of the Doctor? If I waited a bit longer it may go away of its own accord. If I didn?t go to the doctor I wouldn?t have to hear the bad news. All absolutely na?ve and irrational responses for a supposedly educated lady like me. But when you are faced with something like this, I now understand how your mind can play tricks on you, and you can convince yourself of anything no matter how ridiculous it would seem in the cold light of day, or even bury your head in the sand if you want to.

Having seen all the news recently about Kylie Minogue, and having my own customers who have had varying levels of breast surgery from lumpectomy to mastectomy, I finally overcame my procrastination and went to see my doctor who referred me to the Breast clinic. Thankfully, my appointment came through very quickly. The consultant examined me, and I had a mammogram on both breasts a scan and a fine needle aspiration. All of these examinations were only slightly uncomfortable and any embarrassment I felt was very quickly eradicated by the caring, compassionate and sensitive staff who dealt with me at each stage. We even had chance for a giggle when my breasts wouldn?t fit onto the standard mammogram plate ? I am after all an H cup!

My results picked up the lump I was aware of, but more significantly a group of small lumps I was completely unaware of and that could only be picked up by the scan. However, in my case, the news was good: no need for surgery, no need for treatment, and only a requirement for a regular check up. I know how lucky I am. I can only imagine how other women react at being given their results ? good or not so good. And I don?t profess to be an expert on the subject. My experience pales into insignificance against those ladies who receive worse diagnoses than mine.

One thing that sticks in my mind from my talks with the consultant, the radiographers and the breast care nurses, was that they were all surprised I had left it so long before being checked out. After the event, I am angry with myself that I did leave it so long. After all, what would have happened if the results had shown cancerous growths?

The bottom line ladies, is: don?t wait. Don?t procrastinate. Don?t think you are wasting doctors? time. I certainly did not feel that any person I came across at the hospital thought I had wasted their time ? they were genuinely as pleased as me that the outcome was good.

I have picked up some statistics and self awareness tips below ? copied directly from the UK Breast Cancer Care site (http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk) which I have found very useful:

1. Approximately 41,700 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK (245 men).

2. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for almost one in three of all cancer cases in women.

3. Breast cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in people in the UK, after lung cancer and bowel cancer.

4. The incidence of breast cancer in British women is increasing by more than 1% each year.

5. Survival rates beyond five years are improving, probably due to increased breast awareness, earlier detection and improved treatment.

6. Earlier diagnosis and better treatment have led to a 29% fall in breast cancer mortality rates since 1989 (1993-2002).

7. It is estimated that around 172,000 women are alive in the UK who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the last ten years.

Breast awareness means women getting to know how their breasts look and feel normally so that they notice any change that might be unusual. Detecting a change early means that if cancer is diagnosed any treatment may well have a better outcome.

Follow the 5-point breast awareness code:

1. Know what is normal for you

2. Know what changes to look and feel for

3. Look and feel

4. Report any changes to your GP without delay

5. Always attend routine breast screening if you are aged 50 or over

Nine out of ten breast cancers are detected by women themselves or their partners. Although most breast changes will prove to be benign (non-cancerous) women should always report any concern to their GP.

Changes to be aware of:

size - if one breast becomes larger, or lower

nipples - if a nipple becomes inverted (pulled in) or changes position or shape

rashes - on or around the nipple

discharge - from one or both nipples

skin changes - puckering or dimpling

swelling - under the armpit or around the collarbone (where the lymph nodes are)

pain - continuous, in one part of the breast or armpit

lump or thickening - different to the rest of the breast tissue.

Check out http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk and other local breast cancer support organisations and websites if you are not in the UK.

More importantly, check yourself out and see your doctor quickly if you do find something.

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The most common type of breast cancer in women that is noninvasive is referred to as DCIS, which stands for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. The term “in situ” refers to cancer cells that have not moved out of the system in which they began to grow. With DCIS the cancer cells develop in a milk duct in the breast and are found before they have a chance outside of the duct. DCIS is the noninvasive version of Ductal Carcinoma and is usually discovered during the course of a regular mammography because it can show up as specks of calcifications. If these specks appear, then the next step is a biopsy.

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ is referred to as a Stage 0 cancer, but it is taken very seriously by doctors. Treatment for DCIS is usually much more aggressive than it's in situ cousin, LCIS (or lobular neoplasia). Even though it is a serious condition, there is plenty of time to educate yourself and weigh all your options concerning treatment and possible reconstruction. There is close to a 100% rate of success in treating DCIS with the standard medical treatment.

DCIS usually appears in two different forms, which describe how the cancer looks on pathological examination under a microscope. The comedo type will express dead cells out of it, much like a pimple or zit on the skin, hence the name comedo.

The non-comedo DCIS types are 1) solid where the DCIS cells fill in the milk duct all the way, 2) cribiform DCIS where the cells do NOT completely fill in the duct, in fact there will be some areas of empty space between the cancer cells and 3) papillary and micropapillary DCIS in which the cells are sparse, like cribiform, but have a pattern to them.

The comedo type is considered to be more aggressive than that of the non-comedo types. By looking under a microscope, a pathologist can tell the difference between the two based on the number of dead, or necrotic, cells in the middle of the milk duct. Have large amounts of dead cells in a cancerous area means that the cancer can be faster growing.

Even though DCIS is considered to be a pre-cancer or Stage 0, the treatment options are very similar to invasive ductal carcinoma. Depending on where the area of DCIS is located and how many areas there are, a patient will have a choice between a lumpectomy and mastectomy. As with Stage 1 and higher cancers, further treatment will be decided based on the size of the area or tumor, the pathologic grade, HER2 status, lymph node involvement and the hormonal status. Family history and other related risk factors should also be taken into consideration when deciding on treatment options.

While a diagnosis of DCIS can be frightening, it is certainly a very treatable condition. Fortunately by catching the cancer before it has broken out of the ductal system and made its way into the fatty breast tissue or lymph system, the chance that the disease has spread is very very small.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Just as women are susceptible to breast cancer, men are at a high risk for developing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is most common in men over the age of 50, however it is important to note that any man, no matter the age can suffer from prostate cancer. This is the reason why it is extremely important for all men to have the proper screening when it comes to prostate cancer.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may wonder whether or not there is a real prostate cancer cure. There is no real answer to that question. A prostate cancer cure depends on the severity of the cancer and how quickly it is discovered. Many men have real success with a prostate cancer cure when they are young, relatively healthy and begin their treatment as soon as the cancer begins. It is much hard to find an adequate prostate cancer cure when it is caught at a very late stage. Treatment and cures are two very different things. Here are some things you should know when you think about prostate cancer cure.

? Treatment: There are many treatment options available for prostate cancer. No two men are alike and no two men respond the same way when it comes to a prostate cancer cure. For example, if you find a tumor and your doctor feels that it might be prostate cancer, he or she might take a ?watching waiting? approach, meaning that the tumor will be monitored for a time before a course of action is taken. Some men may respond well to chemotherapy and others do well with hormone therapy.

? Early detection: The best way to find the proper prostate cancer cure for you is to make sure that the cancer is detected in its early stages. Most doctors recommend regular screening if you are at high risk for developing prostate cancer. Men over 50 and African American men are at the highest risk for developing prostate cancer. Also, if you have a family history of prostate cancer, then you should also get regular screening. Screening for prostate cancer involves your doctor examining your prostate gland. He or she is looking for abnormal cell growths and tumors. If something abnormal is found, your doctor will recommend a prostate cancer treatment that is right for you.

It is important to remember that any prostate cancer cure will depend on your individual case. Your doctor will help you find a treatment that is right for you.

You can also find more info on Prostate Cancer New Treatment and Prostate Exam . Prostatecancertreatmenthelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about prostate cancer treatment.

Generally speaking, a great deal has already been discussed on the issue of hormone replacement therapy. However, less is known specifically about this form of therapy for breast cancer survivors. One reason for this is that physicians are concerned about prescribing any of these drugs to their patients for fear that it might increase the risk of cancer recurrence. But along with this, blanket statements regarding hormone replacement therapy are quite inappropriate. Each individual woman should be given the chance to consider the risks and benefits of hormone replacement based on their personal situation. Every woman experiences menopause differently, with varying degrees of symptoms. Some women go through menopause with little difficulty and without increased risk of osteoporosis or heart disease. For others, menopause is traumatic and can introduce increased chances of illness into their lives.

Professional practice in medicine has endorsed allowing women to replace ovarian hormones with hormone replacement therapy once the ovaries begin to fail. Evidence and clinical experiences indicate that the benefits clearly outweigh the risk and expense of such therapy. However, evidence has yet to be found with regards to the risks to women surviving beast cancer. Most concerns are based on speculation and anecdotal experience alone.

For most women, the question lies in the correlation between hormone replacement therapy and an increased risk of breast cancer. Does hormone therapy contribute to breast cancer? Before starting such treatment, physicians often require their patients to get a baseline screening mammogram and because women receiving treatment are under a physician's surveillance, they are more likely to get annual screenings. Although there is no difference between women who are not on hormone replacement and those who are on it for less than ten years, once the duration exceeds the ten-year benchmark, there is a slight increase in breast cancer incidence, but the numbers are insignificant. There also appears to be anecdotal data that women with breast lobular neoplasm may have an increased risk for recurrence with hormone replacement therapy. However, with or without this form of therapy, these women are still at an increased risk of recurrence.

On the other end of the spectrum, how does one know that one is cured of breast cancer? Unfortunately, there is no absolute way to know. Statistical probabilities can be given based on the cancer's characteristics. If one is destined to relapse, it will usually happen in the first five years after the diagnosis. Regrettably, late recurrences do rarely occur. Breast cancer patients are advised that once treatment is complete, they should consider themselves cured, move on.

Medical research shows that low dose hormone replacement therapy for less than 10 years does not significantly contribute to the development of breast cancer in the general population, but the question is, does this apply to the population of women cured of breast cancer? Sadly, there are no studies to confirm this and no evidence has yet surfaced from past studies to answer this. The safest way to think about it though, is that for women with a high probability of cure, the benefits of this treatment far outweigh the risks.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Breast Cancer.

In 1995, Ju was thirty-six years old and her son seven years old. One night she felt a lump in her right breast. This was later diagnosed as cancerous. It has been twelve years since her diagnosis and Ju is still doing fine. In May 2007, I conducted an in-depth interview of her case.

Q: You said your family is very important to you. Was there any ?pressure? in your family life?

Ju: Not really. All along I was an independent and strong willed person. Whatever I wanted to do, I would do it and then inform my family. My husband respected me as an individual. In fact, I normally would probe my husband to help me make decisions. He is more of a quiet type, which initially I did not know how to appreciate. That was one of the things I have begun to realize. Before I found the lump in my breast, I was very depressed.

Q: Would you like to share your feelings about your relationship with your husband?

Ju: I felt like there was not enough communication between. I didn?t realize that even before I married him, he was a very quiet person. When you expect to change people, it will never happen. Now, I realize I should change myself instead of others. After my cancer diagnosis, I begun to appreciate him because he allowed me to do whatever I wanted, at the same time giving his fullest support all the time.

Q: How long did you suffer this depression?

Ju: Four to five years.

Q: Was it right before your diagnosis or was it much earlier on in your marriage? Your son must be about two years old then?

Ju: Yes, yes. We were married for six years before we had my son.

Q: What was it like during the six years?

Ju: I was working at that time. When you are on ?honeymoon?, things were always different. The depression came in after the baby.

Q: Did you become a house-mother after the baby?

Ju: Yes. I was a house mother, a housewife. And I took out my temper on my poor child. I felt very bad.

Q: Were you depressed or frustrated?

Ju: I guess both — all in one. The early power was gone. Life was no longer the same as before.

Q: Can you describe more? You said something about venting your anger.

Ju: For a two- or three-year old, my son was a very well behaved boy. He was so well behaved that I felt I was the ?bad? one. I realized this later on.

Q: Was there any particular period of time that you had ?extra stress? during this four year duration? Or was it just a chronic stress?

Ju: My husband was a chef, doing business in Kuala Lumpur. As you know, in business, income was not reliable. So, that worried me too. When I worked, I also contributed financially to my parents. So, when I stopped working, I still have to give to my parents, but there was this limit. So, it was also a financial stress.

Q: Was there any particular incident that had ?eaten up your heart?? Any specific emotional burden?

Ju: There was one thing that was nagging me. On the intellectual side, my husband did not meet my expectation. I liked to read books. I liked to discuss things. I liked to analyze. My husband was a very cool type. Even if he was angry, he would just . . . (rolling her eyes upwards to demonstrate). There would be no outburst from him. This got to me. I wanted a reaction, but couldn?t get one. I?d told him: ?Can?t you talk to me?? He would reply: ?There is nothing to talk about.? I guess that was the main factor. Sometimes you?d wish you could have found somebody different. Then I would tell myself: ?Don?t be silly. He has his good points.?

Q: Was this situation, an up down up down situation, or what is constantly there?

Ju: I would say it was constantly there.

Q: Can we say that you are living an unsatisfied life?

Ju: Yes, at that point in time.

Q: Anything else that you want to add? Anything that stands out in your memory during these four to five years?

Ju: No, I don?t think so.

Q: Were you focused as a housemother?

Ju: Yes. But I expected a lot. Even from my child. I expected him to be more extrovert and outspoken like me. My son is also quite a quiet person.

Q: Are you a perfectionist?

Ju: I am a perfectionist. That?s why I hurt myself in the process. When I do something, it has to be done perfectly — and my way only.

Q: People?s way?

Ju: No. I guess I learnt it the hard way. In the process I hurt myself and I hurt a lot of people.

Q: This was the stressful period before the cancer diagnosis. Before that, was there any stress, during your childhood, in your family, like a trauma or an accident?

Ju: During childhood, I had a fall and my wound could not heal. I had to use a high dosage of penicillin at that time. Even until now, I am not supposed to take any more penicillin. My body will reject it.

Q: In your childhood days, were you bullied?

Ju: My sister would always bully me. I am the youngest daughter. Only one sister (fifth) bullied me most of the time.

Q: Did you feel hurt?

Ju: Oh yes. We always fought. I used to hate her at one time. It was a very strong emotion. I felt very suppressed. But by teenage years, we?ve made up.

Q: What was your relationship with your father?

Ju: All along the relationship with my father was very good. I was and am very close to my parents.

Q: What about your childhood?

Ju: I was from a poor family. In school, I felt a bit left out or overlooked by my teachers. There was this lady teacher in particular that made me feel that way. When I was seven, eight or nine years old, I already started to find out what was good for me. I learnt to fend for myself and that helped me later on in life.

Q: While you were working, was there any stress?

Ju: There were a lot of reports to do, but it was fine.

Q: During the stressful period of four to five years before cancer, do you have any unexplainable symptoms? Like insomnia, anxiety attacks, constipation?

Ju: Constipation, yes. I used to suffer that, especially two to three days before my menses. My husband used to buy me the ?liquid thing? for inserting.

Q: Can you describe your menses? Were there clots, or any pain?

Ju: No, not much but a lot of bloating. Sometimes I had headaches.

Q: Did you have stomach problems?

Ju: Yes, I did. If I took the wrong food, I would have diarrhea too.

Q: Were you on any hormone pills?

Ju: No.

Q: Were you on any particular diet? Or was there any particular food that you like very much?

Ju: Oh yes. I love Western food. When I was working, in the hotel, we were doing quite well. We used to go to Western restaurants for all those kind of food. I like baked crabs, oxtail soup, fried char koay teow.

Q: How would you describe your social life? Late nights?

Ju: Late night because of my shift. I finished around 11.00 p.m., and sleep was around 12.00 mid-night.

Q: What about your knowledge on cancer.

Ju: If you get cancer, you die — that much that I knew at that time. And then, I knew that there would be no cure for cancer. I didn?t have friends who suffer from cancer and I was really ignorant then.

Comments

Leaves do not rattle without breeze. Similarly, there must be a reason or reasons why Ju had cancer at such a young age of thirty-six. None of her siblings or parents has cancer. Ju was a healthy person and in life was not exposed to any known carcinogen. Alas, medical science could not offer any reason for this.

We are told that breast cancer strikes women randomly for no known reason or prior warning. Besides that, has anyone ever asked why cancer strikes on the left breast in some women and the right breast in others? Again, medical science has no answer!

The Chinese holistic healers have long known that cancer could be due to emotional distress and unfulfilled expectation in life. Ju had been living an emotionally unsatisfied life and was depressed for some time. Something was ?eating her up? from within. To the Chinese, the Stomach Meridian is one important energy channel that nourishes the breasts. Emotional distress could impede the energy flow through this channel as manifested by her ?weak stomach.? Blockage of energy flow could give rise to mass or tumor.

Over many years of experience, I have noticed that a yang or male-related-emotional distress generally results in cancer of the right breast in women. Yin or female-related distress results in cancer of the left breast. One practical lesson to learn from this story — take life easy and try not to carry too much ?emotional baggage?. Let go and be happy.

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

Breast feeding is said to be the best nutritional choice for feeding your new newborn baby, but it also has proven health benefits for moms as well. You can lose that pregnancy weight quicker by breastfeeding because it burns extra calories and lowers your body fat content ? without exercise! Breastfeeding also releases a hormone called oxytocin which will cause your uterus to contract and return to its normal size more rapidly. It reduces the amount of postpartum bleeding and also improves the storage of minerals in your bones which lowers the risk of osteoporosis. Breast feeding can also help in preventing ovarian and breast cancers. And of course, it?s a wonderful way to bond with your new baby.

So if you are a new mom, or mom-to-be who has chosen breast feeding instead of the prepared formula method, you are probably interested in using a breast pump. Breast pumps are especially great for moms who work outside the home or who can?t be available at every feeding time for their newborn. They come in several designs and the two options for usage are either manual or electric.

As in most situations, there are pros and cons each method. Following are some details on these two types of breast pumps to help you make an informed decision and prepare before you buy ? or rent.

Manual pumps are preferred by lots of new moms who say that they appreciate the convenient size. They are simple to use because you control the suction manually. Hand pumps are also more affordable, lighter and quieter than electric pumps, and many new mothers say it is a more natural feeling ? closer to how it feels when the baby is feeding directly from your breast.

For busier and working moms, an electric pump might be a better choice than the manual kind because they are much faster at pumping and some models even have the option to pump both breasts at the same time.

Breast pumps are widely available for purchase and you might also like to know that many hospitals offer the option of renting a top-of-line model directly from them. You?ll have to estimate the cost per day in comparison to the price you would pay if you purchased your own though to make sure that it will work out for you financially.

Being a new mom can have its share of challenges, so be nice to yourself and look for a breast pump that best suits your lifestyle. By comparison shopping online or polling some moms who have been though the experience, you?ll save yourself both time and effort that you?ll be able to share instead with your new bundle of joy.

Electric breast pump Ease and efficiency are the strengths of these models. Moms who pump often ? to provide breast milk exclusively after returning to work or to feed twins, for example ? usually opt for the increase in production offered by an electric or battery-powered pump. Most offer the option of pumping both breasts at the same time.

Jenny is a 42 year old mother of three. Being a housewife is quite easy especially when the kids are at school and the husband is at work. The rest of the day is spent cleaning the house and doing the laundry with an hour to spare at the local gym.

After taking a shower, Jenny felt some pain the breast. This could be just menopause symptom so there was no need to worry. The pain got worse the next few days and sensing this was something else, finally decided to visit the doctor.

The doctor was a family friend. The initial diagnosis was done by touching the breast followed by a scan using a mammogram.

There were a lot of cancer cells present so another test had to be done. The doctor had to be sure so a sample was extracted and sent to a pathologist for analysis. After testing, it was only then that a woman?s greatest fear has become a reality. Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer and this was already on the 3rd stage.

The third stage means the cancer has grown to more than 5 cm. in size and has spread to other parts of the body. This leaves removing the breast useless since the disease can no longer be contained.

Can there still be hope for Jenny who is already in the advanced stage of breast cancer? The truth is, the chances of recovery are very difficult.

Being informed of breast cancer is a shocking experience. There were some initial signs of disbelief then acceptance. The doctor explained everything to Jenny including the treatments available and the survival rates.

This was going to be Jenny?s greatest battle and this was just the beginning of a long struggle.

Chemotherapy was the best option now. The drugs produced some side effects like nausea and skin rashes but Jenny just thought this was short term since there is something bigger growing inside the needed to be killed.

Both Jenny and the doctor went ahead with removing the breast with a procedure called a mastectomy. Since modern medicine can have this reconstructed, this was a small price to pay. To make sure that all the cells had been wiped out, radiation therapy followed.

Jenny was happy to hear that the cancer was gone nearly a year after the diagnosis was done. Some people say this was a miracle since the battle which had taken so much was finally won. There was a huge party and everyone who prayed and supported were there to celebrate a second chance at life.

The doctor pointed out that the cancer can recur. This is the reason that Jenny still had to visit the clinic often for therapy and tests to make sure everything was wiped out.

Advanced breast cancer is sometimes hard to tell. A self examination at home is not enough which is why the patient should go to the doctor for a checkup once or twice a year.

There are a lot of people who die of breast cancer and a significant number are also diagnosed every year. The person can fight hard like Jenny did or simply give up to the disease.

Until a cure is found, the only thing people can do is work on the options and hope that a miracle will happen.

Breast Cancer Information Breast Cancer Care

Matt McMillan

America received a shocking piece of news in March 2007. John Edward's wife, Elizabeth, had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She spoke calmly, with inner strength, about how she had asked her husband to continue his presidential campaign, and how she wanted to campaign by his side. She did not want to be best known by her illness she wanted, in fact, needed, to carry on as normally as she could.

Her diagnosis gave a face to this illness. Americans began to discuss Elizabeth and John Edward's decisions. Globally, people talked about how deeply cancer affects families. Breast cancer is something that affects many, and almost everyone has known someone who has died from it. Her announcement gave a face to it and it made people think. It brought the topic out in the open.

What is metastatic breast cancer? Also called Stage IV breast cancer, it is cancer that has spread from the original (primary) site to other organs or tissues in the body, such as bone, liver, lungs or brain.

Sometimes, like Mrs. Edwards, it is a recurrence of the original cancer. However, in one out of ten diagnosed, the first diagnosis that a woman hears is metastatic breast cancer.

In it, cells break away from the breast, circulating through the blood and lymphatic system. The body's immune system attacks these circulating cancer cells. Most do not survive, but if the immune system malfunctions or is weak, or for another, unknown reason, will usually spread to the bone, then lung and liver next. The cells that have metastasized are still breast cancer cells, no matter where they are found in the body.

Treatment is palliative, improving quality of life, relieving symptoms and aimed at extending a woman's lifetime. But there are new treatments coming that are giving more hope to those patients with this cancer. Many women with this illness choose to become part of a clinical trial in order to access treatments that are not yet approved by the FDA.

If it is “estrogen-receptive,” hormonal therapies such as the drug Herceptin can be lifesaving. Chemotherapy is indicated in bone, lung and liver metastases. For bone metastases, radiation and the drug bisphosphonate are often used. For liver and lung metastases, occasionally surgery is used. For cancer that has spread to the brain, radiation and surgery are used.

Palliative care to relieve symptoms from both the cancer and treatment involves drug and non-drug treatments such as relaxation therapy, acupuncture, and dietary management. Besides physical symptoms, palliative care for patients who are being treated or who cannot be cured focuses on spiritual and emotional needs, as well as physical needs.

As far as anyone knows today, metastatic cancer can't be cured. Sometimes, treatments can actually stop the cancer from growing for months or years. When Elizabeth Edwards asserted that she thought her own might be treatable, people listened. She gave a face to this illness - a loving, brave, wise, face - that no one will forget.

For more information on breast cancer try visiting http://www.breastcanceranalysis.com - a website that specializes in providing breast cancer related information and resources including information on metastatic breast cancer.