Is Breast Cancer Inherited

Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 01:27 Written by Natural Health Team Wednesday, 26 October 2011 01:27

Health Information about Is Breast Cancer Inherited

Breast cancer knows no social boundaries. It’s a disease that can affect anyone. Some prominent women who’s lives that have been touched by breast cancer include Jill Eikenberry actress age 52; Peggy Fleming age 49 figure skater; Kate Jackson age 50 (Charlies Angels); Olivia Newton-John age 50 actress singer; Nancy Reagan age 77 former first lady; Melissa Etheridge age 43 singer; and the beautiful Suzanne Summers actress. These high rates of breast cancer are not acceptable to the women of the world and must be met with scientific research that provides results.

Early education on self-breast exam and early screening is extremely important in achieving good outcomes. Self-exam and physician examination will detect cancer at a rate between 70 – 80%. Adding screening mammography (mammograms) will increase detection to 96 – 98%. It has been shown that early detection through clinical exam and mammography can reduce breast carcinoma mortality by 20 to 30%. Today’s gold standard for screening (mammograms) will still miss between 10 and 15% of neoplasm.

Like other cancers, breast cancer is an uncontrollable growth of breast cells, and is caused due to the mutation of certain genes present in your breast cells. This mutation can either be genetically inherited, i.e. it might have come from your parents, or it happened during changes in your body, like aging or due to life in general. Breast Cancer can also occur due to hormonal changes in the body, like during menopause.

There are many theories about the prevention of breast cancer. Many of these theories, or almost all of these theories, suggest in some way or the other that a balanced diet and regular exercise are the main preventives of breast cancer. Most of these research studies try to pinpoint the main preventive in the diet that helps prevent breast cancer.

Simply put, cancer of the tissues in breast is called breast cancer. It usually surfaces in the form of a lump or tumor in and around the breast. Every lump found in the breasts is not necessarily an indicator of breast cancer; sometimes it may not be associated with breast cancer at all. It is normal for lumps to be formed, especially during the growing up stage. They can also be formed as a result of hormonal changes and they are usually temporary.

Medical doctors have said that, traditionally, more white women have contracted breast cancer compared to African American women, but that when the latter suffer from breast cancer, it is usually a more aggressive type of cancer that is exceedingly more difficult to treat.

Contraceptive pills have small quantities of the hormones progesterone and estrogen which is often linked with increased risk of breast cancer. Despite the presence of these two hormones and the prolonged use for a period of 10 years and more it does not cause breast cancer. Birth control pills have some benefits too. They are, they decrease the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer, they relieve pelvic inflammatory disease, menstrual disorders and they improve the bone mineral density.

Breast cancer in young women is more likely to be hereditary. That makes sense – if you’ve inherited a gene mutation and you will only need one or two more mutations to get cancer, you’re one step closer and you’re likely to get there faster, whereas if you “acquire” breast cancer, you still need to get all the genetic mutations.

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Breast Cancer Awareness Sydney

Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 09:27 Written by Natural Health Team Wednesday, 26 October 2011 09:27

Health Information about Breast Cancer Awareness Sydney

These collections of irrepressible growth of tissue are called tumors or malignant tumors. Breast Cancer Awareness SydneyHowever, not all tumors are cancerous.

Breast cancer has been diagnosed in large numbers in North America and Europe. In 2001, about 200,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States alone. Every woman has a 1 in 8 risk of developing breast cancer, but the risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower, barely 1 in 28.

The risk of getting breast cancer is generally higher among older women, women with a family history or previous history of breast cancer, women who had radiation therapy in the chest region, women who started their periods before 12 years old, women who had menopause after 50 years old, women who never had children or had them age 30 or older, or women with genetic mutation. In recent times genetic mutations for breast cancer have become a hot topic of research.

The breast cancer tumor has the following symptoms: lump or thickening that appears on the breast or underarm, changes in the breast’s shape, nipple turned inwards followed by colorless discharge, red or scaled skin or nipple, or ridges on the breast skin.

Lung Cancer Secrets Revealed Click here

If a woman experiences any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean she has breast cancer. In such a case she should undergo a breast cancer personal check-up. It is estimated that 95% of breast cancer is detected through personal check-up. The breast cancer personal check-up includes checking for lumps in the breasts after each menstrual period, puckering the skin, and checking for nipple retraction or discharge. For consistent result, every woman should do a breast cancer personal check-up at the same time every month. Various other techniques such as mammography, thermography, ultrasonography, computerized tomography scan etc, can also help detect breast cancer.

Breast cancer treatments include surgery that removes cancerous tissues, with breast conservation therapy (BCT) being one such surgery. Other breast cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and biologic therapy. Radiotherapy is a common breast cancer treatment, and radiation treatment and chemotherapy may follow surgery to ensure the destruction of the stray cancer cells.

Even after undergoing many or all of these breast cancer treatment measures, unfortunately almost half the women suffer from a recurrence of the disease.

lung cancer treatment breakthroughs Click here

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How to detect and prevent cervical cancer

Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 07:28 Written by Natural Health Team Wednesday, 26 October 2011 07:28

Health Information about How to detect and prevent cervical cancer

Thanks to widespread screening, the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased significantly.  Pre-cancer lesions can be detected and removed before they become malignant.  In 2010, approximately 12,200 patients are estimated to be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States.  An estimated 4,210 will die of this disease. 

Screening tests include either conventional Pap smear or liquid cytology, with or without HPV (human papilloma virus) DNA test.  The current recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for normal-risk women are as follows: 

1)  Pap smear to start at age 21

2)  < 30 years of age:  every 2 years

3)  > 30 years of age:  every 3 years

4)  Stop screening at age 65-70, after 3 normal tests during the last 10 years.

Screening is more frequent for high risk women.  High risk conditions include previous cervical cancer, exposure to DES (diethylstilbestrol) as a fetus, and immunocompromised conditions (by organ transplantation drug, chemotherapy, steroids, or HIV).  Please keep in mind that the screening recommendations above apply to “asymptomatic” patients.  If you think that you have new symptoms, such as abnormal bleeding, unusual heavy discharge, pelvic pain, pain during urination, etc, discuss with your doctor.

With the recent development of vaccines, cervical cancer is now also a potentially preventable disease.  The American Cancer Society recommends HPV vaccination for girls starting at age 11 up to 18.  It is not yet clear whether vaccination for the age range of 19-26 is beneficial or not.  The Gardasil vaccine prevents infection of four strains of HPV.  Strains 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and strains 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts cases. The Cervarix vaccine protects against HPV strains 16 and 18.  Neither vaccine offers absolute prevention of all types of cervical cancer-causing HPV.  Therefore, vaccinated women should still see their health care provider for routine cervical cancer screening.  It should be noted that recently the FDA also approved the use of HPV vaccination for boys and men ages 9-26 for the prevention of genital warts. 

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Cervical Cancer Chemotherapy

Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 03:28 Written by Natural Health Team Wednesday, 26 October 2011 03:28

Health Information about Cervical Cancer Chemotherapy

can be done with chemotherapy and of course the selection of this therapy based on cancer stage. Chemotherapy is generally not used as monotherapy and combined with other types of therapies such as surgery and radiation therapy.

What is Chemotherapy?

is a treatment method that aims to kill cancer cells. These drugs target cancer cells by damaging and inhibit cell growth factors. On some types of chemotherapy drugs that conventional chemo drug effects not only result in only cancer cells but also on healthy cells. So that the side effects often occur after administration of chemotherapy, for example, is hair loss, nausea and vomiting.

Chemotherapy drugs are usually given through an intravenous (IV) or orally. Actually there is another route that can be used but for the gift of is more common with intravenous or oral.

Some types of chemotherapy are usually used in the treatment of cervical cancer are:
Carboplatin
Cisplatin
Paclitaxel
Fluorouracil (5FU)
Cyclophosphamide
Docetaxel
Ifosfamide
Gemcitabine
Side effects are common in chemotherapy

Side effects of chemotherapy can vary, depending on the type of drug administered. There are drugs that specifically cause nausea, vomiting, there is cause baldness, there is cause a decrease in white blood cells. But in general chemotherapy drugs will cause nausea, hair loss and fatigue. Currently developing drugs that function to overcome the side effects that arise after the chemotherapy so that patients will feel more comfortable post-chemotherapy.

How many times do chemotherapy?

The frequency of chemotherapy depend on various factors. The doctor will make the appropriate treatment plan based on cancer type, stage, health factors, type of chemotherapy drugs are given and other treatment methods are used.

In cervical cancer, chemotherapy drug delivery is generally administered every week or every three weeks. If the delivery method every 3 weeks it will be given as many as 6 cycles. In some cases, chemotherapy can not be done fully as much as 6 cycles, so doctors sometimes have to choose other treatment alternatives.

Things that should be known before chemotherapy

is an intensive treatment that patients should know a few things before chemotherapy:

What chemotherapy drugs will be given
Why is this drug was chosen
How long will last and how much chemotherapy cycles
What side effects will emerge
What side effects that require medical attention
What is the success rate of treatment with this chemotherapy with another woman in the same case
Whether chemotherapy will have an impact on daily activities
Is there a drug that will be given to overcome the side effects of chemotherapy

Dr. Walden is a premier Manhattan Plastic Surgeon, and is often asked to comment, as a medical expert, on CBS, ABC, Fox News, and other media outlets. Dr. Walden has covered issues including current cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation, prevention of breast cancer, and many other topics. Watch as Dr. Walden gives some good information on Breast Cancer Awareness and the importance of regular screenings. This video is part of an Informational Podcast Episode and Blog Post on Business Bits With Jim Farrell.

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Specialists Provide Personalized, Gender-specific Care for Women with Lung Cancer

Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 October 2011 03:28 Written by Natural Health Team Tuesday, 25 October 2011 03:28

Health Information about Specialists Provide Personalized, Gender-specific Care for Women with Lung Cancer

The Women’s Lung Cancer Program, directed by Yolonda L. Colson, MD, PhD, is dedicated to understanding the significance of gender in lung cancer susceptibility, tumor biology, and disease course in order to develop the most effective, personalized treatment plan for each patient.

Program specialists are evaluating specific genetic mutations in tumors, as well as the greater susceptibility of women to develop certain types of lung cancer, such as bronchoalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and adenocarcinoma.

In addition, Program specialists are examining the basis for the development of lung cancer in women who have never smoked (accounting for 20 percent of all women with lung cancer, compared with only five to 10 percent of male lung cancer patients).

Program experts also are evaluating ways to reduce the high recurrence rates of early lung cancer among women – as high at 40 percent with an average 60 percent survival rate. The Program is dedicated to advancing the understanding and identification of lung cancer as a women’s cancer – accounting for more deaths among women each year than breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined.

Providing highly specialized diagnosis and treatment for women diagnosed with lung cancer, specialists in the Program use:

·Sub-specialized radiologic and pathology tools;

·Expert surgical intervention;

·Advanced medical and adjuvant therapies;

·Cutting-edge translational research;

·Comprehensive support services.

Through thoracic surgeons, oncologists, pulmonologists, social workers, and other specialists, the Program offers the latest in clinical trials, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and oncology therapies designed to improve outcomes.

The Program is currently leading several promising research studies, including:

·Characterization of micrometastatic nodal disease in lung cancer – This NCI-funded Phase I/II clinical trial is exploring the clinical application of an optical imaging technology that uses safe, invisible, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent light to permit sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification via real-time image guidance during surgery.NIR fluorescent lymphotrophic contrast agents permit non-radioactive, real-time lymphatic mapping that will provide a clinically applicable means to improve surgical staging with expected therapeutic benefit to patients with early-stage lung cancer;

·Design and validation of drug-eluting polymers for peri-operative loco-regional drug delivery – These pre-clinical studies examine numerous polymer and nanoparticle drug delivery mechanisms aimed at preventing cancer recurrence at either the suture line or within regional lymph nodes following surgery. Copolymer films containing paclitaxel are being evaluated to prevent growth of recurrent disease following resection of primary tumor nodules. Polymer nanoparticles with ph-sensitive intracellular drug release mechanisms have been shown to migrate through lymphatic channels to deliver chemotherapy to regional lymph nodes.

Patient Support

The Program offers the Women’s Lung Cancer Forum, a monthly meeting for patients with lung cancer and their family members, held in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Designed to provide a supportive environment for patients to learn about lung cancer and become advocates for lung cancer care, surrounded by fellow survivors of lung cancer, the Forum offers seminars on a wide range of topics, presented by medical professionals, advocates and cancer survivors.

The Forum is held on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Gretchen S. and Edward A. Fish Center for Women’s Health at the Brigham and Women’s Ambulatory Care Center, 850 Boylston Street, 4th Floor, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Attendance is open and does not require registration.

For close to 175 years, Brigham and Women’s Hospital has been the most trusted name in women’s health. Our women health center has been the site for important advances in women’s health. Our team works to improve the health of women and transform their care. For more information about BWH, please visit http://www.brighamandwomens.org/.

infectioncontrolsociety.org Health awareness programme by ICSP

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