New Treatment Options for Breast Cancer

Last Updated on Friday, 16 September 2011 11:27 Written by Natural Health Team Friday, 16 September 2011 11:27

Health Information about New Treatment Options for Breast Cancer

Although surgery is the most effective (and hence, the most widely used) breast cancer treatment method, there are several other ways of dealing with the disease, some are more powerful than the others. These include radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, each of them with their own assets and downsides.

Most of them however are used in combination with surgery for best effects, either prior to it, in order to reduce the size of the tumor or after the operation, in order to remove any remaining cancerous cells. For a better understanding of these alternative treatment methods for breast cancer, we’ll take a closer look at each, explaining how they work and in what cases they might prove useful.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses powerful gamma rays (x-rays) which target the specific area that needs to be treated with high precision. Usually, radiation therapy is performed after surgery, to destroy any cancer cells that have not been removed or the ones that formed up where the tumor was removed. Although it can’t be used as, a treatment on its own, radiation therapy is one of the most accepted post-surgery methods of breast conserving therapy (BCT) and has a high chance of stopping the cancer from recurring.

As with all treatments involving x-rays, there are some downsides to radiation therapy. First, in order to wipe out the cancerous cells that might have formed (or remained) in the area where the tumor was removed from, the x-rays will eventually damage some of the healthy tissue too. Although the process is highly precise, the rays cannot make a difference between cancerous and normal cells, so they “burn” them together.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the administration of drugs that kill the cancer cells or stop them from growing. Most chemotherapy medications are given through an intravenous line, although some are administered in pill form. Chemotherapy is a harsh regime, which often makes people feel more ill than the illness they are suffering from; however, it has been proved very effective.

Chemotherapy is a great treatment method to use both prior and after surgery. With the help of this method, you can virtually contract the cancerous tumor before the actual surgery, making it easier and less complex to remove. In addition, chemotherapy is used in the same sense as radiation therapy after the surgical intervention, to stop the diseased cells to recur.

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Chemotherapy is administered usually in cycles where each cycle consists of a period of intensive treatment that lasts for a few days or weeks followed by a week of recovery. Most patients with breast cancer have two to four cycles of chemotherapy to start with before tests are performed to see what effects it has had on the cancer.

Chemotherapy is different to radiation as it can treat the whole body with the potential of finding other tumor cells that have migrated from the breast and surrounding area. Many people are familiar with chemotherapy’s side effects although the side effects do depend upon drugs to treat the patient.

The most common side effects are loss of hair, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting and low blood cell count making the patient more susceptible to infections, feeling sick or tired. Many notice that they bleed more than usual, especially from gums, sores and small scrapes etc.

There are three different chemotherapy strategies are used in breast cancer:

Adjuvant chemotherapy this is given to patients who have undergone curative treatment for breast cancer such as radiation or surgery. In order to decrease the possibility of the breast cancer recurrence, this treatment is given.

Pre-surgical chemotherapy this is given to shrink a large tumor and/or to kill any stray cancerous cells. This will also increase the chance that the surgery will kill the cancer completely.

Regular chemotherapy this is given routinely to people who have breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast or the surrounding local area.

Hormonal therapy may also be given, as many breast cancers such as those that have ample estrogens or progesterone receptors are sensitive to changes in hormones.

Tamoxifen Breast Cancer Treatment
Those women who are genetically at high risk of developing breast cancer may benefit from tamoxifen as it has previously been seen to decrease the incidence of the disease occurring. Raloxifene, which is used to treat osteoporosis, is now being studied for treating breast cancer.

In some breast cancer cases, a woman’s natural hormones are suppressed with drugs whereas other patients find benefits by adding hormones. Tamoxifen for instance is currently the most commonly prescribed effective hormone treatment. It can be used for treating breast cancer and in the prevention of breast cancer. Tamoxifen has few side effects and can considerably improve the life span of those women who have advanced cases of breast cancer.

Fulvestrant Breast Cancer Treatment
A further treatment, Fulvestrant has recently been approved in the USA. It is planned to be used for treating hormone receptor positive metastastic breast cancer in women who have been through the menopause. It is given following antiestrogen therapy.

Monoclonal Breast Cancer Treatment
Another treatment known as monoclonal is antibodies that are antagonistic against the proteins, which are in or around cancer cells. They recognise an invader such as a cancer cell and attack it. This antibody therapy is currently being investigated holds out a lot of hope for breast cancer sufferers.

Excessive alcohol intake and obesity following menopause can increase the risk of developing breast cancer although this increase is slight. Those physically active women have a lower risk.

Preventative or Prophylactic Mastectomies
More and more women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer are having preventative or prophylactic mastectomies to avoid them developing breast cancer.

The main risk factors for women to develop breast are age, sex and genetics. Women can do nothing about some risks so preventing death caused due to breast cancer is recommended with regular screening.

Women should undertake regular screening including self-examination, mammography and clinical breast examinations.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

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Natural Health Options Today

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 07:10 Written by Natural Health Team Tuesday, 30 August 2011 07:10

Health Information about Natural Health Options Today

In addition to conventional medicine, consumers today have a number of natural health treatment options from which to choose. While it is always best to check with your primary care provider before starting any new health regimen, individuals should also do a little homework on the different kinds of natural health care systems that are available to them.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the many natural health care options assessable to patients today. Some of the various health treatments that TCM provides patients include acupuncture, herbal medicine, or Tuina (Chinese medical massage). Other health services provided by professional Oriental medicine practitioners may involve Tai Chi, Qigong, meridian therapy, moxibustion, cupping, and ear acupuncture, among others.

If you’re searching for a better way to relax and to relieve stress and anxiety, then natural health therapies like massage may serve your needs. Though there are over 80 types of massage modalities, most licensed massage therapists are trained in sports massage, Swedish massage, and deep tissue therapy. However, a growing number of massage practitioners have gained advanced training in therapeutic modalities like craniosacral therapy, myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, infant and prenatal massage, and chair massage, among others. In addition to its natural health attributes in promoting overall wellbeing, massage therapy is also helpful in relieving aches and pains associated with musculoskeletal conditions, like fibromyalgia.

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Naturopathy or homeopathy are also natural health medicines that may be helpful in treating common and chronic health problems. For example, an experienced homeopathic practitioner may treat patients with homeopathic remedies that are derived from animal, mineral, plant and synthetic substances. Other common, natural healing treatments facilitated by both homeopathic and naturopathic practitioners include flower remedies (i.e., Bach flower remedies) and energy healing therapies.

Chiropractic is also a form of natural health care that is used by patients everywhere. This complementary medicine is practiced by licensed chiropractors, who gently manipulate the spinal column to remove “blockages” and to restore health.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding educational programs in the healing arts, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massotherapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore natural health programs near you.

Natural Health Options Today

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New rules banning trans fats take effect – HEALTHLIFESOURCE.COM

Last Updated on Sunday, 1 August 2010 08:00 Written by Natural Health Team Friday, 2 October 2009 12:53

CBC.ca New rules banning trans fats take effect Vancouver Sun … from restaurants and delis to schools and arenas, making BC the first province in Canada to do so, the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport announced. … BC bans trans fats in restaurant foods CTV British Columbia BC cuts trans fat from restaurant food CBC.ca Province of British Columbia: BC Tackles Trans Fat In Food Service … TMCnet News1130 all 12 news articles