Breast cancer

breast cancer risk and lifestyle-related factors

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 11:10:00 -0700

Having children

Women who have had no children or who had their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher breast cancer risk. Having many pregnancies and becoming pregnant at a young age reduce breast cancer risk. Pregnancy reduces a woman's total number of lifetime menstrual cycles, which may be the reason for this effect.

Birth control

Recent oral contraceptive use: Studies have found that
women using oral contraceptives (birth control pills) have a slightly greater risk of breast cancer than women who have never used them. This risk seems to go back to normal over time once the pills are stopped. Women who stopped using oral contraceptives more than 10 years ago do not appear to have any increased breast cancer risk. When thinking about using oral contraceptives, women should discuss their other risk factors for breast cancer with their health care team.
Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA; Depo-Provera®) is an injectable form of
progesterone that is given once every 3 months as birth control. A few studies have looked at the effect of DMPA on breast cancer risk. Women currently using DMPA seem to have an increase in risk, but the risk doesn’t seem to be increased if this drug was used more than 5 years ago.

Hormone therapy after menopause

Hormone therapy with estrogen (often combined with progesterone) has been used for many years to help relieve symptoms of menopause and to help prevent osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). Earlier studies suggested it might have other health benefits as well, but these benefits have not been found in more recent, better designed studies. This treatment goes by many names, such as post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). There are 2 main types of hormone therapy. For women who still have a uterus (womb),
doctors generally prescribe both estrogen and progesterone (known as combined hormone
therapy or HT). Progesterone is needed because estrogen alone can increase the risk of cancer of the uterus. For women who no longer have a uterus (those who've had a hysterectomy), estrogen alone can be prescribed. This is commonly known as estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) or just estrogen therapy (ET).

Combined hormone therapy: Using combined hormone therapy after menopause
increases the risk of getting breast cancer. It may also increase the chances of dying from
breast cancer. This increase in risk can be seen with as little as 2 years of use. Combined
HT also increases the likelihood that the cancer may be found at a more advanced stage.
The increased risk from combined hormone therapy appears to apply only to current and
recent users. A woman's breast cancer risk seems to return to that of the general population within 5 years of stopping combined treatment.
The word bioidentical is sometimes used to describe versions of estrogen and progesterone with the same chemical structure as those found naturally in people. The use of these hormones has been marketed as a safe way to treat the symptoms of menopause.
It is important to realize that although there are few studies comparing “bioidentical" or “natural” hormones to synthetic versions of hormones, there is no evidence that they are safer or more effective. The use of these bioidentical hormones should be assumed to have the same health risks as any other type of hormone therapy.

Estrogen therapy (ET): The use of estrogen alone after menopause does not appear to increase the risk of developing breast cancer. In fact, some research has suggested that women who have previously had their uterus removed and who take estrogen actually have a lower risk of breast cancer. Women taking estrogen seem to have more problems with strokes and other blood clots, though. Also, when used long term (for more than 10 years), ET has been found to increase the risk of ovarian cancer in some studies.

Breastfeeding

Some studies suggest that breastfeeding may slightly lower breast cancer risk, especially if breastfeeding is continued for 1½ to 2 years. But this has been a difficult area to study, especially in countries such as the United States, where breastfeeding for this long is uncommon.
One explanation for this possible effect may be that breastfeeding reduces a woman's total number of lifetime menstrual cycles (similar to starting menstrual periods at a later age or going through early menopause).

Alcohol

The use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Compared with non-drinkers, women who consume 1 alcoholic drink a day have a very small increase in risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who don’t drink alcohol. Excessive alcohol use is also known to increase the risk of developing several other types of cancer.

Being overweight or obese

Being overweight or obese after menopause increases breast cancer risk. Before menopause your ovaries produce most of your estrogen, and fat tissue produces a small amount of estrogen. After menopause (when the ovaries stop making estrogen), most of a woman's estrogen comes from fat tissue. Having more fat tissue after menopause can increase your chance of getting breast cancer by raising estrogen levels. Also, women who are overweight tend to have higher blood insulin levels. Higher insulin levels have also been linked to some cancers, including breast cancer.

Physical activity

Evidence is growing that physical activity in the form of exercise reduces breast cancer risk. The main question is how much exercise is needed. In one study from the Women's Health Initiative, as little as 1.25 to 2.5 hours per week of brisk walking reduced a woman's risk by 18%. Walking 10 hours a week reduced the risk a little more.

American cancer society

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 18:15:00 -0700

A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease, such as cancer.
Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, exposing skin to strong
sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. Smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx (voice box), bladder, kidney, and several other organs.

But risk factors don't tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get the disease. Most women who have one or more breast cancer risk factors never develop the disease, while many women with breast cancer have no apparent risk factors (other than being a woman and growing older). Even when a woman with risk factors develops breast cancer, it is hard to know just how much these factors might have contributed.

There are different kinds of risk factors. Some factors, like a person's age or race, can't be changed. Others are linked to cancer-causing factors in the environment. Still others are related personal behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, and diet. Some factors influence risk more than others, and your risk for breast cancer can change over time, due to factors such as aging or lifestyle.

Risk factors you cannot change

Gender

Simply being a woman is the main risk factor for developing breast cancer. Men can
develop breast cancer, but this disease is about 100 times more common among women than men. This is likely because men have less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, which can promote breast cancer cell growth.

Aging

Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. About 1 out of 8
invasive breast cancers are found in women younger than 45, while about 2 of 3 invasive breast cancers are found in women age 55 or older.

Genetic risk factors

About 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary, resulting directly from gene defects (called mutations) inherited from a parent. See the section, "Do we know what causes breast cancer?" for more information about genes and DNA.

Family history of breast cancer

Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease. Having one first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer approximately doubles a woman's risk. Having 2 first-degree relatives increases her risk about 3-fold.
The exact risk is not known, but women with a family history of breast cancer in a father or brother also have an increased risk of breast cancer. Altogether, less than 15% of women with breast cancer have a family member with this disease. This means that most (over 85%) women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of this disease.

Personal history of breast cancer

A woman with cancer in one breast has a 3- to 4-fold increased risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from a recurrence (return) of the first cancer.

Race and ethnicity

Overall, white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than are African-American women, but African-American women are more likely to die of this cancer.
However, in women under 45 years of age, breast cancer is more common in African-American women. Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.

Dense breast tissue

Breasts are made up of fatty tissue, fibrous tissue, and glandular tissue. Someone is said to have dense breast tissue (as seen on a mammogram) when they have more glandular and fibrous tissue and less fatty tissue. Women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer than women with less dense breasts. Unfortunately, dense breast tissue can also make mammograms less accurate.

A number of factors can affect breast density, such as age, menopausal status, the use of drugs (such as menopausal hormone therapy), pregnancy, and genetics.

American cancer society

Breast cancer: Do we know the causes ?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 17:38:00 -0700

Many risk factors can increase your chance of developing breast cancer, but it is not yet

known exactly how some of these risk factors cause cells to become cancerous.

Hormones seem to play a role in many cases of breast cancer, but just how this happens is not fully understood.

DNA is the chemical in each of our cells that makes up our genes—the instructions for how our cells function. We usually look like our parents because they are the source of our DNA. But DNA affects more than how we look.

Some genes contain instructions for controlling when our cells grow, divide, and die.

Genes that speed up cell division are called oncogenes. Others that slow down cell division, or cause cells to die at the right time, are called tumor suppressor genes. Certain changes (mutations) in DNA that “turn on” oncogenes or “turn off” tumor suppressor genes can cause normal breast cells to become cancerous.

Inherited gene mutations

Certain inherited DNA changes can increase the risk for developing cancer and are responsible for the cancers that run in some families. For example, the BRCA genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are tumor suppressor genes. Mutations in these genes can be inherited from parents. When they are mutated, they no longer suppress abnormal growth, and cancer is more likely to develop.

Women have already begun to benefit from advances in understanding the genetic basis of breast cancer. Genetic testing can identify some women who have inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 tumor suppressor genes (or less commonly in other genes such as PTEN or TP53). These women can then take steps to reduce their risk of developing breast cancers and to monitor changes in their breasts carefully to find cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage.

Acquired gene mutations

Most DNA mutations related to breast cancer occur in single breast cells during a woman's life rather than having been inherited. These acquired mutations of oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes may result from other factors, like radiation or cancer causing chemicals. But so far, the causes of most acquired mutations that could lead to breast cancer are still unknown. Most breast cancers have several acquired gene mutations.

Tests to spot acquired gene changes may help doctors more accurately predict the outlook for some women with breast cancer. For example, tests can identify women whose breast cancer cells have too many copies of the HER2 oncogene. These cancers tend to be more aggressive. At the same time, drugs have been developed that specifically target these cancers.

Can breast cancer be prevented?

There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things all women can do that might reduce their risk and help increase the odds that if cancer does occur, it is found at an early, more treatable stage.

Lowering your risk

You can lower your risk of breast cancer by changing those risk factors that can be changed (see the post, "What are the risk factors for breast cancer?").

Body weight, physical activity, and diet have all been linked to breast cancer, so these might be areas where you can take action.

Both increased body weight and weight gain as an adult are linked with a higher risk of breast cancer after menopause.

Alcohol also increases risk of breast cancer. Even low levels of alcohol intake have been linked with an increase in risk.

Many studies have shown that moderate to vigorous physical activity is linked with lower breast cancer risk.

A diet that is rich in vegetables, fruit, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products has also been linked with a lower risk of breast cancer in some studies. But it is not clear if specific vegetables, fruits, or other foods can lower risk. Most studies have not found that lowering fat intake has much of an effect on breast cancer risk.

At this time, the best advice about diet and activity to possibly reduce the risk of breast cancer is to:

Get regular, intentional physical activity.
Reduce your lifetime weight gain by limiting your calories and getting regular physical activity.
Avoid or limit your alcohol intake.

Women who choose to breastfeed for at least several months may also get an added benefit of reducing their breast cancer risk.

Not using hormone therapy after menopause can help you avoid raising your risk.

It’s not clear at this time if environmental chemicals that have estrogen-like properties (like those found in some plastic bottles or certain cosmetics and personal care products) increase breast cancer risk. If there is an increased risk, it is likely to be very small. Still, women who are concerned may choose to avoid products that contain these substances when possible.

Finding breast cancer early

Other than lifestyle changes, the most important action a woman can take is to follow the American Cancer Society's guidelines for early detection.
Early detection will not prevent breast cancer, but it can help find it when the likelihood of successful treatment is greatest.

For women who are or may be at increased risk

If you are a woman at increased risk for breast cancer (for example, because you have a strong family history of breast cancer, a known genetic mutation of a BRCA gene, or you have had DCIS, LCIS, or biopsies that have shown pre-cancerous changes), there may be some things you can do to reduce your chances of developing breast cancer. Before deciding which, if any, of these may be right for you, talk with your doctor to understand your risk and how much any of these approaches might lower this risk.

Genetic testing for BRCA gene mutations

Many women may have relatives with breast cancer, but in most cases this is not the result of BRCA gene mutations. Genetic testing for these mutations can be expensive and

the results are often not clear cut. Testing can have a wide range of consequences that need to be considered. It should only be done when there is a reasonable suspicion that a mutation may be present.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that only women with a strong family history be evaluated for genetic testing for BRCA mutations. This group represents only about 2% of adult women in the United States.

The USPSTF recommends that women who are not of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish heritage should be referred for genetic evaluation if they have any of the following:

2 first-degree relatives (mother, sisters, daughters) with breast cancer, one of whom was diagnosed when they were younger than 50
3 or more first- or second-degree relatives (includes grandmothers, aunts) diagnosed with breast cancer

Both breast and ovarian cancer among first- and second-degree relatives
A first-degree relative diagnosed with cancer in both breasts
2 or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer
A male relative with breast cancer

Women of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish heritage should be referred for genetic evaluation if they have:

A first-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer
2 second-degree relatives on the same side of the family with breast or ovarian cancer

American cancer society

Breast Cancer Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 17:36:00 -0700

American Cancer Society (ACS)
Phone:	1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345)
Web Address:	http://www.cancer.org

The American Cancer Society (ACS) conducts educational programs and offers many services to people with cancer and their families. Staff at the toll-free number have information about services and activities in local areas and can provide referrals to local ACS divisions.

National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO)
Phone:	(212) 889-0606
E-mail:	NABCOinfo@aol.com
Web Address:	http://www.nabco.org/

Founded in 1986, the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO) is the leading nonprofit information and education resource on breast cancer. It is a network of nearly 400 member organizations and agencies in the United States that provides education to the public, as well as information, resources, and referrals to medical professionals and their organizations. All NABCO services are offered free of charge. NABCO also works on the community, state, and federal levels for regulatory change and legislation to benefit those with cancer, survivors, and those at risk.

National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC)
1101 17th Street, NW
Suite 1300
Washington, DC 20036
Phone:	1-800-622-2838 (202) 296-7477
Fax:	(202) 265-6854
Web Address:	http://www.natlbcc.org

The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) is a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to fighting breast cancer.

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
NCI Publications Office
6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC8322
Suite 3036A
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
Phone:	1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
Web Address:	http://www.cancer.gov

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a government agency that provides up-to-date information about cancer and its prevention, detection, treatment, and supportive care to people with cancer and their families. NCI information is also available to doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. NCI provides the latest information about clinical trials. The Cancer Information Service, a service of NCI, has trained staff members available to answer questions and send free publications. Spanish-speaking staff are also available.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength
212 West Van Buren Street
Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60607-3903
Phone:	1-800-221-2141 (English) 1-800-986-9505 (Spanish)
Fax:	(312) 986-8338
Web Address:	http://www.networkofstrength.org

The Breast Cancer Network of Strength, formerly Y-ME, is committed to providing support to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer. Network of Strength was founded by two breast cancer patients in 1978, when they realized that their needs for information and support could best be met by women who had experienced breast cancer. Since the beginning, Network of Strength has served women with breast cancer and their families and friends through their national hotline, open-door groups, early detection workshops, and local chapters. The YourShoes 247 Support Center provides interpreters in 150 languages. SOURCE: National Cancer Institute.

Breast Cancer Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0700

There are two major goals of breast cancer treatment:

1) To rid the body of the cancer as completely as possible.
2) To prevent cancer from returning.

How Is the Type of Breast Cancer Treatment Determined?

The type of breast cancer treatment recommended for you will depend on the size of your tumor, the extent of disease in your lymph nodes and/or throughout your body (the stage), and the presence of the HER2 oncogene and endocrine receptors (estrogen and progesterone receptors). Age, menstrual status, underlying health issues, and personal preferences play a role in this decision making process as well.

What Are the Types of Breast Cancer Treatment?

Breast cancer treatments are local or systemic.

Local treatments are used to remove or destroy the disease within the breast and surrounding regions, such as lymph nodes. These include:

Surgery

either mastectomy or lumpectomy -- also called breast-conserving therapy. There are different types of mastectomies and lumpectomies.

Radiation therapy

Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells all over the body and include:

Chemotherapy

uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Side effects can include nausea, hair loss, early menopause, hot flashes, fatigue, and temporarily lowered blood counts.

Hormone therapy

(endocrine therapy) such as tamoxifen in premenopausal and postmenopausal women and the aromatase inhibitors Arimidex, Aromasin, andFemara in postmenopausal women. Hormone therapy uses drugs to prevent hormones, especially estrogen, from promoting the growth of breast cancer cells that may remain after breast cancer surgery. Side effects can include hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Biological Therapy

such as Herceptin, Perjeta, or Tykerb, which work by using the body's immune system to destroy cancer cells. These drugs target breast cancer cells that have high levels of a protein called HER2.

Systemic therapy may be given after local treatment (adjuvant therapy) or before (neoadjuvant therapy). Adjuvant therapy is used after local treatments to kill any cancer cells that may remain in the body, but are undetectable.

You may have just one form of breast cancer treatment or a combination of treatments, depending on your needs.

Tips to Remember When Choosing Breast Cancer Treatment

Although there are some typical breast cancer treatment regimens, women do have choices.

Be sure to discuss with your doctor all the risks and benefits of each treatment option and how they relate to your own lifestyle.

Consider joining a support group to help you address the emotional issues surrounding your diagnosis and decide on a treatment

Ask your doctor about participating in a clinical trial.

Source: webmd

Top Cancer-Fighting Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:09:00 -0700

Fighting Cancer by the Plateful

No single food can reduce your risk of cancer, but the right combination of foods may help make a difference. At mealtimes, strike a balance of at least two-thirds plant-based foods and no more than one-third animal protein. This "New American Plate" is an important cancer fighting tool, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Check out better and worse choices for your plate.

Fighting Cancer With Color

Fruits and vegetables are rich in cancer-fighting nutrients -- and the more color, the more nutrients they contain. These foods can help lower your risk in a second way, too, when they help you reach and maintain a healthy body weight. Carrying extra pounds increases the risk for multiple cancers, including colon, esophagus, and kidney cancers. Aim for at least five servings a day, prepared in a healthy way.

The Cancer-Fighting Breakfast

Folate is an important B vitamin that may help protect against cancers of the colon, rectum, and breast. You can find it in abundance on the breakfast table. Fortified breakfast cereals and whole wheat products are good sources of folate. So are orange juice, melons, and strawberries

More Folate-Rich Foods

Other good sources of folate are asparagus and eggs. You can also find it in chicken liver, beans, sunflower seeds, and leafy green vegetables like spinach or romaine lettuce. According to the American Cancer Society, the best way to get folate is not from a pill, but by eating enough fruits, vegetables, and enriched grain products.

Pass Up the Deli Counter

An occasional Reuben sandwich or hot dog at the ballpark probably isn't going to hurt you. But cutting back on processed meats like bologna, ham, and hot dogs may help lower your risk of colorectal and stomach cancers. Also, eating meats that have been preserved by smoking or with salt raises your exposure to agents that can potentially cause cancer.

Cancer-Fighting Tomatoes

Whether it's the lycopene -- the pigment that gives tomatoes their red color -- or something else isn't clear. But some studies have linked eating tomatoes to reduced risk of several types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Studies also suggest that processed tomato products such as juice, sauce, or paste increase the cancer-fighting potential.

Tea's Anticancer Potential

Even though the evidence is still spotty, tea, especially green tea, may be a strong cancer fighter. In laboratory studies, green tea has slowed or prevented the development of cancer in colon, liver, breast, and prostate cells. It also had a similar effect in lung tissue and skin. And in some longer term studies, tea was associated with lower risks for bladder, stomach, and pancreatic cancers.

Grapes and Cancer

Grapes and grape juice, especially purple and red grapes, contain resveratrol. Resveratrol has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In laboratory studies, it has prevented the kind of damage that can trigger the cancer process in cells. There is not enough evidence to say that eating grapes or drinking grape juice or wine can prevent or treat cancer.

Limit Alcohol to Lower Cancer Risk

Cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, liver, and breast are all linked with drinking alcohol. Alcohol may also raise the risk for cancer of the colon and rectum. The American Cancer Society says that even the suggested daily limit of two drinks for men and one for women elevates the risk. Women at higher risk for breast cancer may want to talk with a doctor about what amount of alcohol, if any, is safe based on their personal risk

Water and Other Fluids Can Protect

Water not only quenches your thirst, but it may protect you against bladder cancer. The lower risk comes from water diluting concentrations of potential cancer-causing agents in the bladder. Also, drinking more fluids causes you to urinate more frequently. That lessens the amount of time those agents stay in contact with the bladder lining.

The Mighty Bean

Beans are so good for you, it's no surprise they may help fight cancer, too. They contain several potent phytochemicals that may protect the body's cells against damage that can lead to cancer. In the lab these substances slowed tumor growth and prevented tumors from releasing substances that damage nearby cells.

The Cabbage Family vs. Cancer

Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and kale. These members of the cabbage family make an excellent stir fry and can really liven up a salad. But most importantly, components in these vegetables may help your body defend against cancers such as colon, breast, lung, and cervix.

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

Dark green leafy vegetables such as mustard greens, lettuce, kale, chicory, spinach, and chard have an abundance of fiber, folate, and carotenoids. These nutrients may help protect against cancer of the mouth, larynx, pancreas, lung, skin, and stomach.

Protection From an Exotic Spice

Curcumin is the main ingredient in the Indian spice turmeric and a potential cancer fighter. Lab studies show it can suppress the transformation, proliferation, and invasion of cancerous cells for a wide array of cancers.

Cooking Methods Matter

How you cook meat can make a difference in how big a cancer risk it poses. Frying, grilling, and broiling meats at very high temperatures causes chemicals to form that may increase cancer risk. Other cooking methods such as stewing, braising, or steaming appear to produce fewer of those chemicals. And when you do stew the meat, remember to add plenty of healthy, protective vegetables.

A Berry Medley With a Punch

Strawberries and raspberries have a phytochemical called ellagic acid. This powerful antioxidant may actually fight cancer in several ways at once, including deactivating certain cancer causing substances and slowing the growth of cancer cells.

Blueberries for Health

The potent antioxidants in blueberries may have wide value in supporting our health, starting with cancer. Antioxidants fight cancer by ridding the body of free radicals before they can do their damage to cells. Try topping oatmeal, cold cereal, yogurt, even salad with blueberries to boost your intake of these healthful berries.

Pass on the Sugar

Sugar may not cause cancer directly. But it may displace other nutrient-rich foods that help protect against cancer. And it increases calorie counts, which contributes to overweight and obesity. Excess weight can be a cancer risk. Fruit offers a sweet alternative in a vitamin-rich package.

Don't Rely on Supplements

Vitamins may help protect against cancer. But that's when you get them naturally from food. Both the American Cancer Society and the American Institute for Cancer Research emphasize that getting cancer-fighting nutrients from foods like nuts, fruits, and green leafy vegetables is vastly superior to getting them from supplements. Eating a healthy diet is best.

Source: webmd

Are Fears That Deodorant Causes Breast Cancer Unfounded?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:28:00 -0700

Study Shows Suspect Chemical Found in Breast Tissue of Women Who Don’t Use Underarm Products

Jan. 12, 2012 -- Have you ever gotten one of those scary chain emails telling you that your deodorant may cause breast cancer? If so, you are not alone. These show up in many people's in-boxes from time to time.

It has to do with certain underarm products that contain preservatives called parabens. These chemicals can act like the hormone estrogen in the body. Estrogen is known to fuel certain breast cancers. Many breast cancers develop in the part of the breast closest to the armpit, where antiperspirants and other underarm products are used.

Now a new study shows that yes, there is evidence of parabens in 99% of breast tissue samples taken from women with breast cancer, but many of these women did not use any underarm products. Most major brands of deodorants and antiperspirants no longer contain parabens.

So where are all the parabens coming from? Parabens such as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, is opropylparaben, and is obutylparaben are also found in makeup, moisturizers, and hair care and shaving products.

The new study included 40 women with breast cancer who chose to have a mastectomy. Researchers looked at four samples of breast tissue from each woman. The tissue samples came from several locations within the breast, including the armpit region.

Fully 99% of the tissue samples had evidence of at least one paraben, and 60% showed evidence of five. Paraben levels did not seem to play a role in the cancer’s location or whether or not the cancer was fueled by estrogen.

The findings appear in Journal of Applied Toxicology.

Should You Try Paraben-Free Personal Care Products?

The new study does not prove that personal care products cause breast cancer. But “the fact that parabens were present in so many of the breast tissue samples does justify further investigation,” said Philippa Darbre, PhD, of University of Reading in the U.K., in a news release.

“Although the environmental exposure to parabens as a cause of breast cancer is a possibility, there is no conclusive data thus far to state this as fact,” says Katherine B. Lee, MD, in an email. She is a breast specialist at the Cleveland Clinic Breast Center in Ohio. “The study suggests that if there is a relationship between parabens and breast cancer, it may be a complex one.”

Don’t be scared of your cosmetics, she says. "Further studies need to be performed to determine if there is a relationship between parabens and breast cancer, but if one is concerned, there are natural products without parabens that could be used.”

Marisa Weiss, MD, does not believe in taking chances with breast health. Weiss, the president and founder of Breastcancer.org and director of Breast Radiation Oncology and Breast Health Outreach at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pa., is a breast cancer survivor.

“There are parabens in many personal products that can be taken into the body in different ways and can stay in you,” she says. “Our tissues can be storage lockers for chemical such as parabens.”

“Better safe than sorry,” she says. “Avoid products that contain hormonally active ingredients, including parabens.” Weiss practices what she preaches: “I use things that are good enough to eat.”

Is There a Link Between Parabens and Breast Cancer?

Not so fast, critics of the new study say.

Linda Loretz, PhD, is the director of Safety and Regulatory Toxicology for the Personal Care Products Council, a Washington D.C.-based trade group representing the global cosmetic and personal care products industry. She reviewed the new findings for WebMD. “The paraben levels don’t correlate with tumor location, estrogen, or any attribute of breast cancer, so it is hard to find any real meaning in these findings,” she says.

“This study underscores the folly of trying to blame a specific consumer product for not only exposure to certain chemicals, but for exposure to those chemicals being responsible for causing a specific disease,” says Jeff Stier. He is a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C.

The research actually undermines any link between breast cancer and deodorants, he says.

Dana Mirick, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, agrees. Mirick and colleagues published a study in 2002 looking at antiperspirant use and breast cancer risk. “The present study, in which measurable levels of parabens were found in the breast tissue of women regardless of their use of underarm products, seems to be in agreement with our previous results, namely that use of underarm products does not appear to be a significant contributor to the risk of developing breast cancer,” Mirick says in an email.

Sharima Rasanayagam, PhD, is not so sure. She is the director of science for the Breast Cancer Fund, a San Francisco, Calif.-based advocacy group that focuses on environmental links to breast cancer. “This study provides another piece in the puzzle around parabens and their potential link to breast cancer,” she says.

“We know that parabens are estrogen mimickers, and so we continue to be concerned about our exposure to these chemicals through consumer products like cosmetics,” Rasanayagam says in an email.

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Source: webmd

BREAST CANCER... QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:19:00 -0700

Breast cancer ..Almost we hear daily news or researches or statistics about this disease .. And our role as a Breast Cancer blog to look and work to provide you the healing answers to your questions and how to prevent this disease
So this article is not intended for those who suffered the disease only, but for every woman in the world ...

Here is a collection of frequently asked questions about breast cancer and those answers ...

Is eating fatty food causes breast cancer?

Many studies can't prove the existence of a clear relationship between fat food and the risk factors which lead to breast cancer, However, studies ongoing to find out the truth about this matter,

However, it is best to avoid fats for many reasons, including to reduce the proportion of LDL cholesterol in the body and also to leave space to eat healthy food and to maintain your weight, increase in weight is one of the risk factors that cause breast cancer, where that fats increase the production of estrogen outside the ovaries.

Is breast cancer a fatal disease kills any patient?

Increase the number of women who get breast cancer significantly year after year, but the death rate resulting from this disease continues to drop as a result of the availability of better possibilities for treatment and early detection of tumors through breast self-examination and X-ray breast (mammogram).

Is likely to get any woman diagnosed with breast cancer if she have any factor of risk factors for the disease?

There are already many risk factors that make women more susceptible to breast cancer, However it is not necessary if the lady has one or more to get breast cancer.

There are some women have one or more of these factors did not become infected with infected disease and also the majority of women who have infected the disease did not have any of these factors.

But knowing these factors may help women in the interest of the health of her nipples by doing the periodically detection so that they can benefit from early detection of the tumor.

Breast cancer contagious?

Breast cancer is not contagious disease, it does not spread from person to another person body. Breast cancer is a disease of abnormal divisions of the body's cells.

If there are first-class relatives of the women suffered cancer, She will be inevitably to infection?

Although the incidence average of breast cancer increases if there is a family member suffering from breast cancer, such as mother, sister, daughter or close family member, but that the majority of women who have infected did not have history of infected , but the woman who was her mother or sister or grandmother should begin mammogram detection in a five years age younger of diagnosis of the relatives disease .

Is Mammogram (breast X-ray) cause the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body?

Mammogram (breast X-ray) is an X-ray picture of the breast. Radiation or pressure on the breast-ray machine can not cause the spread of cancer in the body and any every woman should follow the advises of radiology specialist and ask about anything regarding the machine.

Women who fifty years old are only susceptible to breast cancer?

Although the discovery of breast cancer was in the majority of women of the same age group, but there were cases of infection at the age younger than thirty years and the disease was in an advanced state, and this is due to several reasons, including the delay in diagnosis and failure to follow methods of early detection, such as breast self-examination, as well as women delay in reviewing the hospital for a long time even after the discovery of abnormal tumor in the breast.

Does discovery of an abnormal mass in the breast mean breast cancer?

If you find any mass or swelling or any change during breast self-examination, it is necessary to visit the specialist doctor imediatly, do not be upset, most of these clusters, or tumors are not cancerous, but only a doctor is the one who could see and identify it.

Sometimes women avoid medical care because they are afraid of what might they find. Take responsibility for your health through breast self-examination, regular visits to the doctor and do breast-ray regularly.

Breast cancer affects only women and not men?

Statistics proved in the United States of America that women are more at risk to infection than men, infection rate - a man : 135 women.

BREAST AWARENESS AND SELF EXAM

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:18:00 -0700

Beginning in their 20s, women should be told about the benefits and limitations of breast self-exam (BSE). Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any new breast changes to a health professional as soon as they are found. Finding a breast change does not necessarily mean there is a cancer.
A woman can notice changes by being aware of how her breasts normally look and feel and by feeling her breasts for changes (breast awareness), or by choosing to use a stepby- step approach (see below) and using a specific schedule to examine her breasts.
If you choose to do BSE, the information below is a step-by-step approach for the exam.

The best time for a woman to examine her breasts is when the breasts are not tender or swollen. Women who examine their breasts should have their technique reviewed during their periodic health exams by their health care professional.
Women with breast implants can do BSE, too. It may be helpful to have the surgeon help identify the edges of the implant so that you know what you are feeling. There is some thought that the implants push out the breast tissue and may actually make it easier to examine. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can also choose to examine their breasts regularly.
It is acceptable for women to choose not to do BSE or to do BSE once in a while. Women who choose not to do BSE should still be aware of the normal look and feel of their breasts and report any changes to their doctor right away.
How to examine your breasts·

Lie down and place your right arm behind your head. The exam is done while lying down, not standing up. This is because when lying down the breast tissue spreads evenly over the chest wall and is as thin as possible, making it much easier to feel all the breast tissue.

Use the finger pads of the 3 middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Use overlapping dime-sized circular motions of the finger pads to feel the breast tissue.

Use 3 different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue closest to the skin; medium pressure to feel a little deeper; and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. It is normal to feel a firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast, but you should tell your doctor if you feel anything else out of the ordinary. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse.Use each pressure level to feel the breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.

Move around the breast in an up and down pattern starting at an imaginary line drawn straight down your side from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the chest bone (sternum or breastbone). Be sure to check the entire breast area going down until you feel only ribs and up to the neck or collar bone (clavicle).

There is some evidence to suggest that the up-and-down pattern (sometimes called the vertical pattern) is the most effective pattern for covering the entire breast, without missing any breast tissue.
Repeat the exam on your left breast, putting your left arm behind your head and using the finger pads of your right hand to do the exam.

While standing in front of a mirror with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips, look at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour, or dimpling, or redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin. (The pressing down on the hips position contracts the chest wall muscles and enhances any breast changes.)
Examine each underarm while sitting up or standing and with your arm only slightly raised so you can easily feel in this area. Raising your arm straight up tightens the tissue in this area and makes it harder to examine.

This procedure for doing breast self exam is different from previous recommendations.
These changes represent an extensive review of the medical literature and input from an
expert advisory group. There is evidence that this position (lying down), the area felt,
pattern of coverage of the breast, and use of different amounts of pressure increase a
woman's ability to find abnormal areas.

TYPES OF BREAST CANCER

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 9 Jun 2013 03:12:00 -0700

There are several types of breast cancer, but some of them are quite rare. In some cases a
single breast tumor can be a combination of these types or be a mixture of invasive and in
situ cancer.

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; also known as intraductal carcinoma) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts but have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast
tissue.
About 1 in 5 new breast cancer cases will be DCIS. Nearly all women diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer can be cured. A mammogram is often the best way to find DCIS early.
When DCIS is diagnosed, the pathologist (a doctor specializing in diagnosing disease from tissue samples) will look for areas of dead or dying cancer cells, called tumor necrosis, within the tissue sample. If necrosis is present, the tumor is likely to be more aggressive. The term comedocarcinoma is often used to describe DCIS with large areas of necrosis. The pathologist will also note how abnormal the cells appear, especially the part of cells where DNA is found (the nucleus). Lobular carcinoma in situ

This is not a true cancer or pre-cancer, and is discussed in the section “What are the risk
factors for breast cancer?”
Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma
This is the most common type of breast cancer. Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma
(IDC) starts in a milk duct of the breast, breaks through the wall of the duct, and grows into the fatty tissue of the breast. At this point, it may be able to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and bloodstream. About 8 of 10
invasive breast cancers are infiltrating ductal carcinomas.

Invasive (or infiltrating) lobular carcinoma

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) starts in the milk-producing glands (lobules). Like IDC,
it can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. About 1 invasive breast cancer in
10 is an ILC. Invasive lobular carcinoma may be harder to detect by a mammogram than
invasive ductal carcinoma.

Less common types of breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer:

This uncommon type of invasive breast cancer accountsfor about 1% to 3% of all breast cancers. Usually there is no single lump or tumor.Instead, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) makes the skin on the breast look red and feel warm. It also may give the breast skin a thick, pitted appearance that looks a lot like an orange peel. Doctors now know that these changes are not caused by inflammation or
infection, but by cancer cells blocking lymph vessels in the skin. The affected breast may
become larger or firmer, tender, or itchy.
In its early stages, inflammatory breast cancer is often mistaken for an infection in the
breast (called mastitis) and treated as an infection with antibiotics. If the symptoms are
caused by cancer, they will not improve, and a biopsy will find cancer cells. Because
there is no actual lump, it might not show up on a mammogram, which can make it even
harder to find it early. This type of breast cancer tends to have a higher chance of
spreading and a worse outlook (prognosis) than typical invasive ductal or lobular cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer:

This term is used to describe breast cancers (usually invasive ductal carcinomas) whose cells lack estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors, and do not have an excess of the HER2 protein on their surfaces. (See the section, "How is breast cancer diagnosed?" for more detail on these receptors.) Breast cancers with these characteristics tend to occur more often in younger women and in African-American women. Triple-negative breast cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly than most other types of breast cancer. Because the tumor cells lack these certain receptors, neither hormone therapy nor drugs that target HER2 are effective treatments (but chemotherapy can still be useful if needed).

Paget disease of the nipple:

This type of breast cancer starts in the breast ducts and spreads to the skin of the nipple and then to the areola, the dark circle around the nipple.
It is rare, accounting for only about 1% of all cases of breast cancer. The skin of the nipple and areola often appears crusted, scaly, and red, with areas of bleeding or oozing. The woman may notice burning or itching.
Paget disease is almost always associated with either ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or
infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
Treatment often requires mastectomy. If no lump can be felt in the breast tissue, and the biopsy shows DCIS but no invasive cancer, the outlook (prognosis) is excellent. If invasive cancer is present, the prognosis is not as good, and the cancer will need to be staged and treated like any other invasive cancer.

Phyllodes tumor:

This very rare breast tumor develops in the stroma (connective tissue)
of the breast, in contrast to carcinomas, which develop in the ducts or lobules. Other
names for these tumors include phylloides tumor and cystosarcoma phyllodes. These
tumors are usually benign but on rare occasions may be malignant.
Benign phyllodes tumors are treated by removing the tumor along with a margin of
normal breast tissue. A malignant phyllodes tumor is treated by removing it along with a
wider margin of normal tissue, or by mastectomy. Surgery is often all that is needed, but
these cancers might not respond as well to the other treatments used for more common
breast cancers. When a malignant phyllodes tumor has spread, it can be treated with the
chemotherapy given for soft-tissue sarcomas.

Angiosarcoma:

This form of cancer starts in cells that line blood vessels or lymph
vessels. It rarely occurs in the breasts. When it does, it usually develops as a complication
of previous radiation treatments. This is an extremely rare complication of breast
radiation therapy that can develop about 5 to 10 years after radiation. Angiosarcoma can
also occur in the arms of women who develop lymphedema as a result of lymph node
surgery or radiation therapy to treat breast cancer. (For information on lymphedema, see
the section, "How is breast cancer treated?") These cancers tend to grow and spread
quickly. Treatment is generally the same as for other sarcomas.

Special types of invasive breast carcinoma

There are some special types of breast cancer that are sub-types of invasive carcinoma.
These are often named after features seen when they are viewed under the microscope,
like the ways the cells are arranged.
Some of these may have a better prognosis than standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
These include:

Adenoid cystic (or adenocystic) carcinoma
Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma (this is a type of metaplastic carcinoma)
Medullary carcinoma
Mucinous (or colloid) carcinoma
Papillary carcinoma
Tubular carcinoma

Some sub-types have the same or maybe worse prognosis than standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma. These include:

Metaplastic carcinoma (most types, including spindle cell and squamous)
Micropapillary carcinoma
Mixed carcinoma (has features of both invasive ductal and lobular)
In general, all of these sub-types are still treated like standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

American cancer society

WHAT IS CANCER?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 16:13:00 -0700

The body is made up of trillions of living cells. Normal body cells grow, divide into new
cells, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells
divide faster to allow the person to grow. After the person becomes an adult, most cells
divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injuries.
Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are
many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal
cells.

Cancer cell growth is different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells
continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells. Cancer cells can also invade (grow into)
other tissues, something that normal cells cannot do. Growing out of control and invading
other tissues are what makes a cell a cancer cell.

Cells become cancer cells because of damage to DNA. DNA is in every cell and directs
all its actions. In a normal cell, when DNA gets damaged the cell either repairs the
damage or the cell dies. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired, but the cell
doesn’t die like it should. Instead, this cell goes on making new cells that the body does
not need. These new cells will all have the same damaged DNA as the first cell does.
People can inherit damaged DNA, but most DNA damage is caused by mistakes that
happen while the normal cell is reproducing or by something in our environment.
Sometimes the cause of the DNA damage is something obvious, like cigarette smoking.
But often no clear cause is found.

In most cases the cancer cells form a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, rarely form
tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and
circulate through other tissues where they grow.

Cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body, where they begin to grow and form
new tumors that replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis. It happens when
the cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph vessels of our body.

No matter where a cancer may spread, it is always named for the place where it started.
For example, breast cancer that has spread to the liver is still called breast cancer, not
liver cancer. Likewise, prostate cancer that has spread to the bone is metastatic prostate
cancer, not bone cancer.

Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and
breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to
different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their
particular kind of cancer.

Not all tumors are cancerous. Tumors that aren’t cancer are called benign. Benign tumors
can cause problems – they can grow very large and press on healthy organs and tissues.
But they cannot grow into (invade) other tissues. Because they can’t invade, they also
can’t spread to other parts of the body (metastasize). These tumors are almost never life
threatening.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor
is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread
(metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women,
but men can get it, too.

American cancer society

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 16:12:00 -0700

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor
is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread
(metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women,
but men can get it, too.

The normal breast

To understand breast cancer, it helps to have some basic knowledge about the normal
structure of the breasts, shown in the diagram below.
The female breast is made up mainly of lobules (milk-producing glands), ducts (tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple), and stroma (fatty tissue and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules, blood vessels, and lymphatic
vessels).

Most breast cancers begin in the cells that line the ducts (ductal cancers). Some begin in the cells that line the lobules (lobular cancers), while a small number start in other tissues.

The lymph (lymphatic) system of the breast

The lymph system is important to understand because it is one way breast cancers can
spread. This system has several parts.

Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped collections of immune system cells (cells that are important in fighting infections) that are connected by lymphatic vessels.

Lymphatic vessels are like small veins, except that they carry a clear fluid called lymph (instead of blood) away from the breast. Lymph contains tissue fluid and waste products, as well as
immune system cells. Breast cancer cells can enter lymphatic vessels and begin to grow in lymph nodes.

Most lymphatic vessels in the breast connect to lymph nodes under the arm (axillary
nodes).

Some lymphatic vessels connect to lymph nodes inside the chest (internal mammary nodes) and those either above or below the collarbone (supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes).

If the cancer cells have spread to lymph nodes, there is a higher chance that the cells could have also gotten into the bloodstream and spread (metastasized) to other sites in the
body.

The more lymph nodes that have breast cancer, the more likely it is that the cancer may be found in other organs as well. Because of this, finding cancer in one or more lymph nodes often affects the treatment plan. Still, not all women with cancer cells in their lymph nodes develop metastases, and some women can have no cancer cells in their lymph nodes and later develop metastases.

American cancer society

Breast Cancer causes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 16:07:00 -0700

Currently, there are more than 180,000 new cases of breast cancer every year in the United States and 46,000 deaths, and it has been estimated that one of every eight American women living to age 95 years will develop breast carcinoma. Until 1983, breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths among females; despite an increase in the incidence of breast carcinoma, it is now second to lung cancer because of the larger increase in the number of women developing lung cancer.

Breast carcinoma is rare before 25 years of age and uncommon before 30 years; the incidence increases sharply after 40 years, with a mean and median age of 60 years. Statistically, the risk of breast cancer is increased in nulliparous women (nuns have a high incidence), in women who have early menarche and the late menopause, and in those who have their first pregnancy after age 30. Breast feeding appears to have protective effect for the mother. Evidence linking oral contraceptives to breast cancer is scant; a few studies suggest a very slightly increased incidence in women who use oral contraceptives.

A familial history (limited to first-degree relatives, i.e. mother, sister, daughter) of breast carcinoma increases the risk fivefold. The first-degree relatives of woman who develops bilateral breast cancer before menopause are at greatly increased risk. The increased risks resulting from atypical hyperplasia and family history are additive.

The etiology of breast carcinoma is unknown but is probably multifactorial. Genetic factors are suggested by the strong familial tendency. There is no inheritance pattern, suggested that the familial incidence is due either to the action of multiple genes or to similar environmental factors acting on members of the same family. Mutation of the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 is believed to cause breast cancer. Hormones are also widely believed to play a role in the etiology of breast cancer. Estrogen has been the most extensively studied hormone because of the epidemiological evidence that prolonged estrogen exposure (early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity, and delayed pregnancy) increases the risk of breast cancer. Viruses are also suspected of causing breast cancer (e.g., the Bittner milk factor is a virus that causes breast carcinoma in mice).

Carcinoma of the male breast is extremely rare. It presents with a painless breast mass. Histological features are identical to those of infiltrating ductal carcinomas in the female. In spite of the small bulk of the breast in men, the diagnosis of male breast carcinoma is usually delayed; 50% of patients have axillary lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis. As a result, male breast cancer has a worse overall prognosis than female breast cancer.

Nulliparous — a woman who has never borne a viable child.

Hyperplasia — abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in an organ or tissue, which increases in volume.

via:

medical explorer

also read:
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Breast Cancer – Be Aware and Beware

7 symptoms tells you that you should conduct breast cancer screening

I wish health for all women and for myself,

and I wish a speedy healing to all patients

ANGELINA JOLIE'S DOUBLE MASTECTOMY: Q&A

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 1 Jun 2013 18:03:00 -0700

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News

May 14, 2013 -- Actress and activist Angelina Jolie's recent decision to have a preventive double

mastectomy highlights the difficult choices facing women who find out they have a high risk for breast cancer because of their genes.

Although relatively rare, mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes raise the risk of breast cancer by as much as 80%, experts say. The mutations also raise the risk of ovarian cancer.

Jolie describes in a New York Times op-ed piece why she decided to go through with the surgery. At 37, the mother of six wants to stay healthy and active for her family -- and to reassure them that she is doing everything possible to avoid the disease that took her mother's life: cancer.

"I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy," Jolie writes. "But it is one that I am very happy I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."

WebMD asked breast surgeon Shelley Hwang, MD, chief of breast surgery and professor of surgery at Duke University Medical Center and Duke Cancer Institute, to fill us in on what else women need to know. Hwang did not treat Jolie.

Why do women undergo a preventive double mastectomy?

In Angelina Jolie's case, she had a mutation that puts her at very high risk for getting breast cancer at some point in her life. Right now the most effective prevention that we have for [this] BRCA mutation carrier is a prophylactic double mastectomy.

It is always a double mastectomy because both breasts are at risk and you don't know which breast is going to get breast cancer when women have a BRCA mutation.

How many women have the BRCA mutation?

Only about 5% of all breast cancers are in women who have this genetic mutation.

Is the breast cancer linked with this mutation more aggressive than others?

Yes, BRCA mutations are associated with a more aggressive breast cancer that is known as "triple

negative."

Do some experts think that performing a double mastectomy is too radical for those who test positive for BRCA mutations?

I think most breast cancer experts would agree that the choice is really the patient's to make, and I really want to emphasize, it is a choice.

Preventive mastectomy is one very excellent choice. But another choice women can consider when they know they carry a BRCA mutation is early detection. And that comes with more active screening.

What would that involve?

If a woman knows she has a BRCA mutation and does not want to have a mastectomy, a good alternative is to have a mammogram and a breast MRIevery year.

You can do both at once or choose to alternate. [For my patients] I choose to alternate, doing one test every 6 months.

It's not as effective because by definition you are picking up cancer as it develops. But it is effective at picking up cancer at a very early stage.

If a woman has a preventive double mastectomy, what are the benefits and risks?

In women at higher risk -- those with BRCA mutations -- preventive surgery can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 90%. If the [increased] risk is 80% as it is for many BRCA carriers, this can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 90%.

In other words, this can reduce the risk to that lower than the general population. The risks [of the mastectomy] are not that great. Most women having preventive mastectomies are younger patients, and many choose to get reconstruction. A lot of the risk has to do with the implants, like implant complications, or other risks [linked with surgery] such as infections or bleeding.

Who should consider BRCA testing?

The women who should absolutely consider it are those who themselves have had a triple-negative breast cancer, the kind associated with BRCA mutations, at an early age, under 45, people who have had both ovarian and breast cancer in family members, and people who have breast cancer in the family and are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

What is involved in testing for BRCA mutations?

It is a simple blood test, or they can swab the inside of your cheek. The best way to get this test is to go for counseling from a genetic counselor. Have them talk to you about the possibility of testing positive. Women really need to be counseled about what this means, what the results mean, what their risk is, and then to make the decision about whether to get the test.

If you only get tested for the three most common mutations, results take about 2 weeks. The more comprehensive test, where they do gene sequencing, can take a month.

What is the cost and who pays?

The cost is about $3,000. The cost of testing is covered by many insurance companies [if you are deemed high risk].

SOURCES: Shelley Hwang, MD, chief of breast surgery and professor of surgery, Duke Cancer Institute and Duke University Medical Center.National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet: "Preventive Mastectomy."New York Times: "My Medical Choice," May 14, 2013.cancer.gov.

©2013 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Breast Cancer – Be Aware and Beware

Carcinoma Of The Breast (Breast Cancer)
7 symptoms tells you that you should conduct breast cancer screening

I wish health for all women and for myself,

and I wish a speedy healing to all patients

7 symptoms of breast cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 1 Jun 2013 18:02:00 -0700

That breast cancer among the diseases that scientists did not put their hands on the main cause of him, Although breast cancer affects a woman among 8 women at least, and scientists agreed on early detection is a key factor for the cure of breast cancer.

We got to know the reasons by President campaign rosy eastern in Saudi Arabia, which is also head of the radiology department at King Fahd University news, "Dr. Fatima Al-Melhem," which identified more than seven reasons affecting women to make them more susceptible to breast cancer, stressing the need for early examination for the woman if applicable by one reason or more:

1 - Precocious puberty:
especially in hot countries which often girls are grow up at young age

2 - Menopause at a late age:
the first and second reason are linked to each other, which exposure women to the "estrogen" hormone, The higher duration, the more chance of infection.

3 - Aging.

4 - Obesity:
it is because of obesity related to an increase of the hormone estrogen, which makes it a direct relation infecting women with breast cancer.

5 - Food:
Whenever eating healthy and sound we were in the right direction towards the prevention of many diseases, it is important to stay away from meat and orientation to eat healthy vegetables and fruits.

6 - Genetics:
If there are first-class relatives of the women suffered cancer, She will be more susceptible to infection.

7 - Finally:
lack of exercise, and addiction to smoking, and alcohol.

also read:

Breast Cancer – Be Aware and Beware

Carcinoma Of The Breast (Breast Cancer)
Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy: Q&A

I wish health for all women and for myself,

and I wish a speedy healing to all patients

Breast Cancer – Be Aware and Beware

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 1 Jun 2013 17:48:00 -0700

With rapid industrialization and urbanization, the incidence of breast cancer is rising fast among Indian women. Proper awareness and proper treatment under proper guidance can help millions to reduce the brunt of this menace.Breast Cancer is the commonest cancer among urban women inIndia. As per National Cancer Registry, over 1 lakh women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. 60% of these diagnoses present at an advanced stage with less than 15% chance of survival. If these women have been diagnosed early, their survival chances can be more than 90%.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) places incidence of the disease at 30 to 33 per 100,000 women in urbanIndia. The number of new breast cancer cases inIndiais about 100,000 women each year and ICMR predicts there will be approximately 250,000 new cases of breast cancer inIndiaby 2015. It is reported that one in 22 women inIndiais likely to suffer from breast cancer during her lifetime, while the figure is definitely more inAmericawith one in eight being a victim of this deadly cancer.

The cure rate of breast cancer if detected early is 97 percent but, unfortunately, less than 10 percent of all the 100,000 new breast cancers diagnosed in India every year fall into this category. In India, breast cancer presents a decade earlier affecting younger women between 30 and 40 years. Unlike in the West where typically women after 50 years get early stage disease, breast cancer in Indian women occurs at a younger age and is usually presented and diagnosed at a later stage due to low awareness on breast screeningand self- examination.

There is no known single specific cause for the illness. Urbanization has bought its own share of grief with pollution in water, air, food etc. Pesticides in vegetables and other food items are known carcinogens which are creating havoc. In a W.H.O report it was stated the Indians consume pesticides 40 times higher than permissible levels in their food.

Causes like heredity, genetic mutations, environmental toxins, certain physical and chemical hazards, consumption of genetically modified food products, life style factors like stress, smoking, alcohol, eating junk food, obesity and lack of exercise are attributed to breast cancer.

Symptoms:
The main symptoms which one should look out for are a lump in the breast or armpit, discharge from the nipples, nipple or skin retraction, thickening, ulceration and redness of skin.

Diagnosis:

Proper clinical examination by a cancer specialist is the first step. MAMMOGRAPHY is the most reliable and cheapest diagnostic and screening tool for the breast cancer detection. One should get a mammogram done once every two years after 40 years of age. This should be done once a year after age 50. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and biopsy are done in the case of a suspicious or positive mammography screening to confirm the disease. Further tests to assess the disease spread - metastatic workup - are conducted once the cancer diagnosis is confirmed. Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations can help determine one's chance of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer, if there is strong family history.

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also read;
Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy: Q&A
Carcinoma Of The Breast (Breast Cancer)

7 symptoms tells you that you should conduct breast cancer screening

I wish health for all women and for myself,

and I wish a speedy healing to all patients