Woman's world... From Child to Old... Care & Compassion

Natural Beauty Tips for Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 4 Dec 2012 00:25:00 -0800

Rich Olive

Massage is very useful as it increases blood circulation and result in tightening of skin. Use olive oil to massage your skin daily. Remember to massage in anticlockwise

Ample Apple

Cut apple’s thin slices and rub it on affected area, wash with warm water after 10 min. It helps in controlling oily shine.

Healthy Haldi

Make a paste using Haldi (Turmeric) with a little raw milk and lemon juice. Apply it on the skin, it will help in removing a tan.

Sweet Honey

Prepare mixture of honey, lemon and vegetable oil. Apply this paste on dry skin and wash after 10-15 min. This mixture is a good moisturizer for dry skin.

Fruit Lunch

Make it a habit to add lots of fruits as part of your meals. Take fruits without adding any salt and sugar to it. Eat wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including dark green vegetables and feel the difference in your skin.

Ideal Drink

Make a habit of drinking 2 glass of water early in the morning. Drinking water early in the morning will bless you with shiny and healthy skin.

Wake Up Call

Make paste of honey and ginger and apply this paste on face every morning before brushing teeth. This will prevent wrinkles to a greater extent.

Utterly Buttery

Buttermilk is another proven recipe to fade the sun tan. Wash you face with Buttermilk regularly for a few days and you would notice the difference. Being a natural astringent, it tones the skin and is ideal for oily to combination skin.

Morning Buzz

Try to take food that contains more calories (as compare to night) in morning and noon. This way you might eat less in the evening. It gives more time and chance for burning the calories during day and noon.

Moisturizing

Applying moisturizer after a warm face wash or a warm shower is the best remedies for skin. Moisturizing helps to restore the oils that our skin has and helps to keep the skin hydrated.

Greedy Grapes

Add 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal to the juice of a grapefruit. Mix to thick paste. Spread on face and leave on 15 minutes, remove with luke warm water. Get healthy and smooth skin quickly.

Bridal Mehndi Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 2 Dec 2012 03:42:00 -0800

Arabic Mehndi Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 2 Dec 2012 03:22:00 -0800

Cancer Prevention Tips/Food

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:52:00 -0700

1. Avoid Smoking and Exposure to Smoke

Smoking is the most significant cancer risk factor that we can reduce. It is responsible for not only lung cancer, but many other types of cancer. One of the best ways to prevent cancer is to quit smoking or never start. As soon as you quit, and it's never too late, your body reaps the benefits of being tobacco-free.

Avoiding secondhand smoke is also a way to prevent cancer. Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled from a smoker or a lit cigarette, pipe or cigar. This smoke contains more than 60 known carcinogens". These carcinogens interrupt normal cell development. This interference is what ignites cancer development.

2. Practice Sun Safety and Recognize When Skin Changes Occur

Did you know that over one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year? Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer among men and women, and it accounts for about half of all cancer diagnoses. The good news is that skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer.

The first step in preventing skin cancer is to avoid UV ray exposure. We can do this by wearing sunscreen, avoiding mid-day sun, wearing protective clothing when outdoors, and by staying away from tanning beds.

3. Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

A well-balanced diet is advantageous for many reasons. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables greatly reduces your risk of developing cancer and many other conditions.

Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which help repair our damaged cells. Green, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables are your best bet to help prevent cancer. Studies also show that dark fruits, like blueberries and grapes, may also have anti-cancer properties.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower appear to pack a powerful punch at preventing cancer, according to numerous studies. Other cruciferous vegetables include bok choy, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage.

4. Limit Red Meat and Animal Fat

Numerous studies show that a diet high in animal fat increases the risk for several types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Red meat contains much more fat than poultry and fish, so reducing the amount of red meat in your diet may help to prevent cancer. A diet high in fat also is major cause of obesity, which is a risk factor for many types of cancer.

5. Limit Your Alcohol Intake

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol regularly increases your risk factor for many types of cancer. Studies suggest that men who consume 2 alcoholic drinks per day and women who have 1 alcoholic drink per day significantly increase their risk factors for certain types of cancer.

6. Exercise for Cancer Prevention

Did you know that when you are exercise, you are reducing your risk for many types of cancer? The American Cancer Society recommends exercising 30 or minutes, at least 5 days a week for cancer prevention. Exercising doesn't have to mean going to the gym to lift weights. There are plenty of ways to get exercise into your day. Check out these 10 ways to prevent cancer through exercise for great gym alternatives.

7. Know Your Personal and Family Medical History

Knowing your family history of cancer is important to properly assess your risk factor for certain types of cancer. We know that cancers like breast, colon, ovarian, and possibly other types can be hereditary.

If you know that a certain type of cancer runs in your family, let your doctor know. Together, you can determine a proper screening plan and assess your true risk. Genetic testing and counseling is available and may be recommended based on your family's medical history.

8. Know What You're Being Exposed to in Your Work Environment

Chemicals in the workplace may increase your risk of developing many types of cancer, including kidney cancer and bladder cancer. If you are exposed to fumes, dust, chemicals, etc. in the workplace, you have a legal right to know what you are being exposed to. Gasoline, diesel exhaust, arsenic, beryllium, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas, and chloromethyl ethers are all carcinogens and can be found in some work environments. Talk to your employer about limiting exposure.

9. Practice Safe Sex

You may wonder what sex has to do with cancer. Unsafe sex can result in the infection of the human papillomairus (HPV), a known cause for cervical cancer and a risk factor for many other types of cancer. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that is spread through sexual, skin-to-skin contact. A vaccine, Gardasil, to prevent HPV was approved by the FDA in 2006 and protects against four strains of HPV that are associated with cervical cancer and other types.HIV/AIDS is also associated with some types of cancers.

10. Get Screened for Cancer Regularly

Cancer screening tests can be useful not only in detecting cancer, but also helping prevent it. Screening tests like the colonoscopy and Pap smear can detect abnormal cellular changes before they turn cancerous. The key to their effectiveness, however, is that they are done regularly.

Other cancer screening tests are available and may be useful for early detection, but not necessarily cancer prevention. Prostate cancer screening through digital rectal exams and PSA tests can help detect prostate cancer early. Mammograms and other imaging tools are also recommended to detect breast cancer in women.

Here is an overview of ten important cancer fighting foods to include in your diet on a regular basis:

1. Garlic – Garlic contains a number of compounds that can protect against cancer, especially that of the skin, colon, and lungs.

2. Dark Leafy Greens – Dark greens are rich sources of antioxidants called carotenoids. These scavenge dangerous free radicals from the body before they can promote cancer growth.

3. Grapes – Grapes (and red wine) contain the chemical resveratrol, which is a very potent antioxidant that can prevent cell damage before it begins.

4. Green Tea – The flavonoids in green tea have been shown to slow or prevent the development of several types of cancer including colon, liver, breast, and prostate.

5. Tomatoes – The compound lycopene, (which is most easily absorbed from cooked tomatoes) has been shown to prevent prostate cancer, as well as cancer of the breast, lung, and stomach.

6. Blueberries – Of all the berries, blueberries are the richest in cancer fighting compounds. They are beneficial in the prevention of all types of cancer.

7. Flaxseeds – Flax contains lignans, which can have an antioxidant effect and block or suppress cancerous changes. The omega-3 fatty acids can also help protect against colon cancer.

8. Mushrooms – Many mushrooms contain compounds that can help the body fight cancer and build the immune system as well.

9. Cruciferous Vegetables – Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts contain strong antioxidants that may help decrease cancer risk.

10. Whole Grains – Whole grains contain a variety of anti-cancer compounds including antioxidants, fiber, and phytoestrogens. These can help decrease the risk of developing most types of cancer.

Vulvar Cancer prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:40:00 -0700

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Although risk factors often influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and talking about them with your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health care choices.

The following factors may raise a woman’s risk of developing vulvar cancer:

Age. The majority of women diagnosed with vulvar cancer are older than 50. However, a significant percentage (15%) of women younger than 40 develop vulvar cancer. Generally, vulvar cancer in younger women is associated with HPV infection (see below) and smoking. Vulvar cancer in older women is most often associated with lichen sclerosus (a rare skin condition; see below) or changes in certain genes.

HPV infection. Research indicates that infection with this virus is a risk factor for vulvar cancer. HPV is most commonly passed from person to person during sexual activity. There are different types, or strains, of HPV, and some strains are more strongly associated with certain types of cancers. HPV may be responsible for about one-third to two-thirds of vulvar cancers. Many types of cancer caused by HPV are associated with precancerous conditions (changes in cells that may, but do not always, become cancer) that develop before the cancer. Learn more about HPV and cancer.

Smoking. Smoking may increase a woman’s risk of developing vulvar cancer if she has HPV.

Immune system deficiency. Women with lowered immune systems have a higher risk of developing vulvar cancer. A lowered immune system can be caused by immune suppression from corticosteroid medications, organ transplantation, treatment for other types of cancer, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a woman has a lowered immune system, her body is more likely to develop infections, including HPV.

Lichen sclerosus. This condition affects the vulvar skin, making it thin and itchy. About 4% of women with lichen sclerosus develop vulvar cancer.

Precancerous conditions. Precancerous conditions of the vulva, cervix, or vagina, or melanoma elsewhere on the body, can increase a woman’s risk of developing vulvar cancer.

Prevention and Early Detection

All women should have an annual gynecologic examination. During this exam, the doctor will take a family medical history and perform a general physical examination of the pelvis, during which the doctor will feel a woman’s uterus, vagina, cervix, and other reproductive organs to check for any unusual changes. Regular pelvic examinations can help detect cancer or precancerous conditions at an early stage:

In addition, research has shown that certain factors can help prevent vulvar cancer.

Delaying first sexual intercourse until the late teens or older
Avoiding sexual intercourse with multiple partners
Avoiding sexual intercourse with someone who has had many partners
Practicing safe sex, including condom use (although condoms cannot fully protect against HPV)
Having regular gynecologic examinations to find and treat precancerous conditions
Not starting to smoke
Quitting smoking, if a smoker

In 2008, the vaccine used to prevent cervical cancer for girls and women between ages 9 and 26 was also approved to prevent vulvar cancer. There are different types, or strains, of HPV, and some strains are more strongly associated with certain types of cancers. The vaccine protects against certain strains of the virus. The vaccine does not protect people who are already infected with HPV. Learn more about the HPV vaccine. Talk with your doctor for more information about the HPV vaccine.

Vaginal Cancer Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:36:00 -0700

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and talking about them with your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health care choices.

The following factors may raise a woman's risk of developing vaginal cancer:

Age. Squamous cell carcinoma most often occurs in women between 50 and 70 years old; approximately half of women with vaginal cancer are older than 60.

Human papillomavirus (HPV). Research indicates that infection with this virus is a risk factor for vaginal cancer. HPV is most commonly passed from person to person during sexual activity. There are different types, or strains, of HPV, and some strains are more strongly associated with certain types of cancers. Many types of cancer caused by HPV are associated with precancerous conditions that develop before the cancer. HPV vaccines protect against certain strains of the virus. Learn more about HPV and cancer.

Smoking. Smoking may increase a woman’s risk of developing vaginal cancer.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES). Women whose mothers took this drug during their pregnancy between the late 1940s and 1971 have an increased risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma. The average age of diagnosis is 19. Because most women of mothers who took DES are now between 40 and 70, the number of cases has declined. However, the long-term risks of DES exposure are not known.

Cervical cancer. Women who have had cervical cancer or cervical precancerous conditions have an increased risk of vaginal cancer.

Previous radiation therapy. Women who have had radiation therapy in the vaginal area have an increased risk of vaginal cancer.

Hysterectomy. Women who have had a hysterectomy (removal of part or all of the uterus) have an increased risk of vaginal cancer.

Pessary use. Long-term vaginal irritation from using a pessary (a device used to keep a sagging uterus in place) can increase a woman’s risk of vaginal cancer.

Prevention and Early Detection

In addition, research has shown that certain factors can help prevent vaginal cancer:

Delaying first sexual intercourse until the late teens or older
Avoiding sexual intercourse with multiple partners
Avoiding sexual intercourse with someone who has had many partners
Practicing safe sex, including condom use (although condoms cannot fully protect against HPV)
Having regular Pap tests (see Diagnosis) to find and treat precancerous conditions
Not starting to smoke
Quitting smoking, if a smoker

Gardasil, a vaccine used to prevent cervical cancer for girls and women between ages 9 and 26, is also approved to prevent vaginal cancer. Gardasil helps prevent infection from the four most common strains (types) of HPV. The vaccine does not protect people who are already infected with HPV. Learn more about the HPV vaccine.

Uterine/Endometrial Cancer prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:32:00 -0700

Unlike breast and ovarian cancers, which can run in some families, there is little evidence that this is the case for uterine cancer. There is no known way to prevent the disease, but several known factors increase your risk of developing uterine cancer:

Age: You are at higher risk if you are post-menopausal and are over age 50.
Obesity: Estrogen and progesterone are stored in the fat tissues of your body. Women who are obese have higher estrogen levels. Women who are 50 pounds above ideal body weight have a 10-fold higher chance of getting uterine cancer. Women 30 pounds above ideal body weight have a three-fold increased chance. Women who weigh more than 200 pounds have a seven-fold higher chance of getting uterine cancer than women weighing less than 125 pounds.
Irregular menstrual periods: Obese women may not ovulate regularly during the reproductive years. This can upset the delicate balance between estrogen that encourages the development of cancer and the progestogen that protects against cancer.
Hypertension: High blood pressure has been associated with uterine cancer, but not as strongly as some of the risk factors mentioned earlier. The relationship between hypertension and uterine cancer may be due to the fact that many women with hypertension are also obese, which is a very strong risk factor for uterine cancer.
Diabetes: Women with diabetes have twice the risk of uterine cancer as women who do not have diabetes. As is the case with hypertension, however, many women with diabetes are also obese. It is not entirely clear how much of the increased risk in women with diabetes is due to the diabetic condition as opposed to being overweight.
Estrogen replacement therapy: Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has been prescribed after menopause for a variety of reasons, including prevention of hot flashes and relieving other menopausal symptoms, as well as preventing osteoporosis (a bone-thinning disease associated with estrogen depletion after menopause). However, recent major studies indicate that the health risks of using ERT, with or without progestin, clearly outweigh any health benefits, including the prevention of osteoporosis. ERT is typically prescribed only to women who no longer have a uterus because of its known risk of stimulating growth of the uterine lining — a risk factor for uterine cancer; the addition of progestin to the hormone therapy — a combination known as hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, prevents this risk for women who have not had their uterus removed.

Use birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin, if you need birth control. Protection from combined hormonal pills lasts for 10 or more years after you stop taking the medicine if the medicine is taken for 1 year or longer.³

Use progestin along with estrogen if you decide to try hormone therapy for symptoms of menopause. Taking progestin with estrogen will not increase your risk for endometrial cancer, but it has other risks you may want to consider. For more information, see the topics Menopause and Perimenopause and Osteoporosis.

Stay at a healthy body weight. Overweight women are more likely to have high levels of estrogen in their bodies, because some estrogen is produced in the body's fat cells. For more information on controlling your weight, see the topicWeight Management.

Breast-feed if you are able. This decreases ovulation and estrogen activity.

Recognize and get treatment for abnormal or unexpected bleeding. (Endometrial hyperplasia, which may develop into endometrial cancer, is one cause of abnormal bleeding.) Heavy menstrual periods, bleeding between periods, andbleeding after menopause are symptoms of hyperplasia.

Exercise regularly. Physical activity may reduce unhealthy weight and may reduce estrogen levels.

Eat a diet that is low in animal fats and high in fruits and vegetables.

Source : webmd.com

Ovarian Cancer Prevention/Protection

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:23:00 -0700

There's no sure way to prevent ovarian cancer. But you may be able to reduce your risk of ovarian cancer if you:

Consider taking birth control pills. Ask your doctor whether birth control pills may be right for you. Women who use oral contraceptives may have a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. But oral contraceptives do have risks, so discuss whether the benefits outweigh those risks based on your situation.
Discuss your risk factors with your doctor. If you have a family history of breast and ovarian cancers, bring this up with your doctor. Your doctor can determine what this may mean for your own risk of cancer. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a genetic counselor who can help you decide whether genetic testing may be right for you. If you're found to have a gene mutation that increases your risk of ovarian cancer, you may consider surgery to remove your ovaries to prevent cancer.

Dietary Factors

First, consider your diet. Some studies suggest an association with a Western diet high in fat, refined sugar and red meat. Other reports suggest an increased risk with obesity. Although published studies are not all in agreement, flavonoids, which are antioxidant compounds found in plants, fruits, vegetables and tea, may be protective. Finally, Omega-3 fish oils have also been shown to lower risk. On balance, the data suggest that what you eat may affect your risk. However, while avoiding a fast-food high fat and high refined sugar Western diet may be prudent, the details of an ideal diet remain unclear.

Pregnancy and "The Pill"

Pregnancy and oral contraception have been proven to reduce risk in multiple epidemiologic studies. Basically, the more years your ovaries are in a dormant non-ovulatory state, due to pregnancies or because of oral contraception, the lower the risk. The exact mechanism of prevention is unknown. It is felt to be related to either less trauma to the ovaries or a direct hormonal effect from progesterone (a hormone).

Vitamin A

Fenretidine, a synthetic type of Vitamin A, may protect women against both breast and ovarian cancer. Although the scientific studies are not all in agreement, the evidence is from multiple types of experimental studies including animal data, epidemiologic data and clinical trials. A large international randomized clinical trial is currently under way.

Pain Relievers

Acetominophen and ibuprofen, common pain relief products, have both been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer; not so with aspirin use. The way they do this is not clear, but may be due to reducing ovulation or a biochemical effect on something called the COX-2 cyclooxygenase pathway.

Breast Cancer Prevention Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:10:00 -0700

1. Maintain a healthy body weight (BMI less than 25) throughout your life. Weight gain in midlife, independent of BMI, has been shown to significantly increase breast cancer risk. Additionally, and elevated BMI has been conclusively shown to increase the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer.

2. Minimize or avoid alcohol. Alcohol use is the most well established dietary risk factor for breast cancer. The Harvard Nurses' Health study, along with several others, has shown consuming more than one alcoholic beverage a day can increase breast cancer risk by as much as 20-25 percent.

3. Consume as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Eat seven or more servings daily. The superstars for breast cancer protection include all cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower) ; dark leafy greens (collards, kale, spinach) ; carrots and tomatoes. The superstar fruits include citrus, berries and cherries. Note: it is best to eat cruciferous vegetables raw or lightly cooked, as some of the phytochemicals believed to offer protection against breast cancer are destroyed by heat.

4. Exercise regularly the rest of your life. Many studies have shown that regular exercise provides powerful protection against breast cancer. Aim for 30 minutes or more of moderate aerobic activity (brisk walking) five or more days a week. Consistency and duration, not intensity, are key!

5. Do your fats right! The type of fat in your diet can affect your breast cancer risk. Minimize consumption of omega-6 fats (sunflower, safflower, corn and cottonseed oils), saturated fats and trans fats. Maximize your intake of omega-3 fats, especially from oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and herring). Consume monounsaturated oils (canola, olive oil, nuts/seeds, avocados) as your primary fat source, as these foods have potential anticancer properties. Specifically, canola oil is a good source of omega-3 fats; extra virgin olive oil is a potent source of antioxidant polyphenols, including squalene; and nuts and seeds provide you with the cancer protective mineral, selenium.

6. Do your carbs right! Minimize consumption of the high glycemic index, "Great White Hazards" - white flour, white rice, white potatoes, sugar and products containing them. These foods trigger hormonal changes that promote cellular growth in breast tissue. Replace these "wrong" carbs with whole grains and beans/legumes. Beans/legumes because of their high fiber and lignan content are especially special.

7. Consume whole food soy products regularly, such as tofu, tempeh, edamame, roasted soy nuts, soy milk and miso. Only consume organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) soy. Epidemiologic studies have shown a positive association between soy consumption and reduced breast cancer risk.

8. Minimize exposure to pharmacologic estrogens and xeno-estrogens. Do not take prescription estrogens unless medically indicated. Lifetime exposure to estrogen plays a fundamental role in the development of breast cancer. Also avoid estrogen-like compounds found in environmental pollutants, such as pesticides and industrial chemicals. Buy organic produce if you can afford it; otherwise, thoroughly wash all non-organic produce. Minimize exposure to residual hormones found in non-organic dairy products, meat and poultry.

9. Take your supplements daily. A multivitamin, 500-1,000 mg of vitamin C in divided doses, 200-400 IUs of vitamin E as mixed tocopherols, and pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Also take 200 mcg of the mineral selenium or eat one to two Brazil nuts as an alternative. If you have a chronic medical condition or take prescription drugs, consult your physician first.

10. Maintain a positive mental outlook. Engage in self-nurturing behaviors regularly. Develop rich, warm and mutually beneficial relationships with family and friends. Get adequate sleep (7-8 hours per night). The mind-body associations with breast cancer are significant.

Source : about.com

Vulvar Cancer Symptoms, Causes, Tests/screening/Diagnosis and Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:06:00 -0700

Vulvar Cancer Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer may include:

Itching that doesn't go away
Pain and tenderness
Bleeding that isn't from menstruation
Skin changes, such as color changes or thickening
A lump, wart-like bumps or an open sore (ulcer)

When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or gynecologist if you experience any vulvar signs or symptoms that worry you, such as:

Abnormal bleeding
Burning
Itching
Pain

More->

Vaginal discharge or bleeding that is not normal for you. The bleeding may be abnormal because of how heavy it is, or when it happens, such as bleeding after you have gone through menopause; bleeding between periods; or any other bleeding that is longer or heavier than is normal for you.
A change in bathroom habits, such as having blood in the stool or urine; going to the bathroom more often than usual; or feeling constipated.
Pain in your pelvis, the area below your stomach and in between your hip bones, especially when you pass urine or have sex.

Many women who have vulvar cancer have signs and symptoms. They may include—

Itching, burning, or bleeding on the vulva that does not go away.
Changes in the color of the skin of the vulva, so that it looks redder or whiter than is normal for you.
Skin changes in the vulva, including what looks like a rash or warts.
Sores, lumps, or ulcers on the vulva that do not go away.
Pain in your pelvis, especially when you urinate or have sex.

It is important for you to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. If you have vaginal bleeding that is not normal for you, see a doctor right away. Also see a doctor if you have any of the other symptoms for two weeks or longer and they are not normal for you. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your doctor.

Causes of vulvar cancer

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with and alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign, dangerous cancer that spreads is malignant.

More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur: 1. a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion. 2. that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.

If the patient with malignant cancer receives no treatment, it can grow and spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). As soon as the cancer gets into the lymphatic system it can more effectively reach other parts of the body, including vital organs.

Experts do not know exactly why the runaway growth of cancer cells starts. We do know, however, that certain risk factors increase the probability of developing the disease. These include:

Human papilloma virus (HPV) - women infected with HPV have a higher risk of developing vulval cancer.
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) - this is a general term for a precancerous state in which certain cells within the vulvar epithelium have a range of low-grade carcinoma. Women with VIN have a significantly higher risk of developing vulval cancer.
Sexually transmitted infections - women with antibodies to the herpes simplex virus type 2 have been linked to a higher increase of vulval cancer.
Systemic lupus erythematosus- one study showed a three-fold increase in vulval cancer risk.
Smoking- studies have revealed an association between regular smoking and vulval cancer, ranging from a three-fold to six-fold increase. If the regular smoker also has HPV infection, the risk is much higher still.
Kidney transplant - women who have had a kidney transplant have a much higher risk of developing vulval cancer. Doctors believe it is due to the immunosuppressant drugs (to stop organ rejection by the body) the patient has to take for life.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- People with HIV/AIDS are more susceptible to HPV infection.
Psoriasis - women with psoriasis have a significantly higher risk of developing vulval cancer.

Stages of vulvar cancer

If a biopsy confirms the presence of vulval cancer, the doctor will stage it with the help of imaging (CT or MRI). Staging guidelines used in the UK:

Stage 0 - known as carcinoma in situ; the cancer only exists on the surface of the skin.
Stage 1 - the cancer is limited to the vulva or perineum and is up to 2cm in size.
Stage 2 - same as 1, but the tumor is at least 2cm in size.
Stage 3 - the cancer has reached nearby tissue, such as the anus or vagina. It may also have reached the lymph nodes.
Stage 4 - the cancer has reached lymph nodes on both sides (of the groin). It may also have reached the urethra (where urine comes out of), the bowel or the bladder.

Diagnosing vulvar cancer
Tests and procedures used to diagnose vulvar cancer include:

Examining your vulva. Your doctor may conduct a physical exam of your vulva to look for abnormalities.
Using a special lens to examine your vulva. During a colposcopy exam, your doctor uses a device that works like a magnifying glass to closely inspect your vulva for abnormal areas.
Removing a sample of tissue for testing (biopsy). To determine whether an area of suspicious skin on your vulva is cancer, your doctor may recommend removing a sample of skin for testing. During a biopsy procedure, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic and a scalpel or other special cutting tool is used to remove all or part of the suspicious area. Depending on how much skin is removed, you may need stitches.

Determining the extent of the cancer
Once your diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor works to determine the size and extent (stage) of your cancer. Staging tests can include:

Examining your pelvic area for cancer spread. Your doctor may do a more thorough examination of your pelvis for signs that the cancer has spread.
Imaging tests. Images of your chest or abdomen may show whether the cancer has spread to those areas. Imaging tests may include X-ray, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatments for vulvar cancer

Treatment options for vulvar cancer depend on the type and stage of your cancer, your overall health and your preferences.

Surgery to remove vulvar cancer
Operations used to treat vulvar cancer include:

Removing the cancer and a margin of healthy tissue (excision). This procedure, which may also be called a wide local excision or radical excision, involves cutting out the cancer and at least 3/4 inch (2 centimeters) of the normal tissue all the way around it. Cutting out what doctors refer to as a margin of normal-looking tissue helps ensure that all of the cancerous cells have been removed.
Removing a portion of the vulva (partial vulvectomy). During a partial vulvectomy, a portion of the vulva is removed, along with its underlying tissues.
Removing the entire vulva (radical vulvectomy). Radical vulvectomy involves removal of the entire vulva, including the clitoris and underlying tissues.
Extensive surgery for advanced cancer. If cancer has spread beyond the vulva and involves nearby organs, your doctor may recommend removing all of the vulva and the involved organs in a procedure called pelvic exenteration. Depending on where your cancer has spread, your surgeon may remove the lower colon, rectum, bladder, cervix, uterus, vagina, ovaries and nearby lymph nodes. If your bladder, rectum or colon is removed, your doctor will create an artificial opening in your body (stoma) for your waste to be removed in a bag (ostomy).
Reconstructive surgery. Treatment of vulvar cancer often involves removal of some skin from your vulva. The wound or area left behind can usually be closed without grafting skin from another area of your body. However, depending on how widespread the cancer is and how much tissue your doctor needs to remove, your doctor may perform reconstructive surgery — grafting skin from another part of your body to cover this area.

Surgery to remove the entire vulva carries a risk of complications, such as infection and problems with healing around the incision. In addition, with part or all of the vulvar padding gone, it can be uncomfortable to sit for long periods. Your genital area may feel numb, and it may be difficult to achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse.

Surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes
Vulvar cancer often spreads to the lymph nodes in the groin, so your doctor may remove these lymph nodes at the time you undergo surgery to remove the cancer. Depending on your situation, your doctor may remove only a few lymph nodes or many lymph nodes.

Removing lymph nodes can cause fluid retention and leg swelling, a condition called lymphedema. If you develop this complication, your doctor may give you compression devices or support stockings to help ease the symptoms. You'll also be advised to avoid scratches and other injuries to your legs because you're more susceptible to infection.

Doctors are studying a technique that may allow surgeons to remove fewer lymph nodes. Called sentinel lymph node biopsy, this procedure involves identifying the lymph node where the cancer is most likely to spread first. The surgeon then removes that lymph node for testing. If cancer cells aren't found in that lymph node, then it's unlikely that cancer cells have spread to other lymph nodes.

Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy for vulvar cancer is usually administered by a machine that moves around your body and directs radiation to precise points on your skin (external beam radiation).

Radiation therapy is sometimes used to shrink large vulvar cancers in order to make it more likely that surgery will be successful. Radiation is sometimes combined with chemotherapy, which can make cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation therapy.

If cancer cells are discovered in your lymph nodes, your doctor may recommend radiation to the area around your lymph nodes to kill any cancer cells that might remain after surgery.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs are typically administered through a vein in your arm or by mouth.

For women with advanced vulvar cancer that has spread to other areas of the body, chemotherapy may be an option. Sometimes chemotherapy is combined with radiation therapy to shrink large vulvar cancers in order to make it more likely that surgery will be successful.

Follow-up tests after treatment
After completing vulvar cancer treatment, your doctor may recommend periodic follow-up exams to look for a cancer recurrence. Even after successful treatment, vulvar cancer can return. Your doctor will determine the schedule of follow-up exams that's right for you, but doctors generally recommend exams twice each year for the first five years after vulvar cancer treatment.

Source : http://www.mayoclinic.com

Vaginal Cancer Symptoms, Tests/Screening/Diagnosis, Stages and Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:52:00 -0700

Vaginal Cancer Symptoms

Vaginal cancer is a rare type of cancer that forms in the vaginal tissue of women. In the early stages, vaginal cancer does not usually cause any noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses, vaginal cancer symptoms begin to appear. These symptoms are not exclusive to vaginal cancer; in fact, they are also symptoms of other, less serious conditions.

Vaginal Cancer Symptoms

Vaginal cancer is a gynecologic cancer that affects about 2000 women in the United States each year. Its rarity and the vagueness of its symptoms can make it difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis delays are not uncommon in some women with vaginal cancer. A small number of women do not experience any symptoms prior to diagnosis; a routine Pap smear leads to the detection.

Vaginal cancer symptoms include:

Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding: In reference to vaginal cancer, abnormal vaginal bleeding presents itself after sexual intercourse and/or in women who have completed menopause. It is the most common symptom of vaginal cancer and is often one of the first symptoms experienced. Postmenopausal and post-coital bleeding are vague symptoms that are also commonly present in many other gynecologic diseases and conditions.

Vaginal Discharge: Although vaginal discharge is common in many women and often not a concern, abnormal or unusual vaginal discharge -- with or without a blood-tinge or odor -- can be symptoms of vaginal cancer. This is incredibly rare, and much more likely to be due to something much less worrisome, but it should be evaluated by your doctor.

Changes in Urination: If you find that you may be urinating more frequently, it is important to determine the cause of it. This may be related to an increase in fluid intake, the consumption of caffeinated beverages, or presence of a urinary tract infection, but this can also be caused by more serious conditions. Changes in urination can also include pain during urination and blood in the urine. Though the presence of blood may not always be able to be detected by the naked eye, some women may notice pink tinges/streaks in their panties or when wiping with toilet tissue.

Pelvic Pain: Pelvic pain generally occurs when vaginal cancer has begun to spread. Pelvic pain can be described as pain or pressure felt anywhere in the abdomen below the navel. It may be intermittent or constant. Many women describe pelvic pain as a dull ache that may include sharp pains.

Vaginal Mass: A vaginal mass that can be felt either by you or your physician can be a symptom of vaginal cancer. There can be several causes of vaginal masses, including vaginal cysts. A biopsy may be necessary to determine if the mass is cancerous or not.

Changes in Bowel Movements: Changes in bowel function can indicate many conditions, including vaginal cancer. As vaginal cancer progresses, women may experience chronic constipation, black/tarry stools, and a feeling as if the bowels have not been completely emptied after having a bowel movement.

Screening healthy women for vaginal cancer
Vaginal cancer is sometimes found during a routine pelvic exam before signs and symptoms become evident. During a pelvic exam, your doctor carefully inspects the outer exposed part of your vagina, and then inserts two fingers of one hand into your vagina and simultaneously presses the other hand on your abdomen to feel your uterus and ovaries. He or she also inserts a device called a speculum into your vagina. The speculum widens your vagina so that your doctor can check your vagina and cervix for abnormalities.

Your doctor may also do a Pap test. Pap tests are usually used to screen for cervical cancer, but sometimes vaginal cancer cells can be detected on a Pap test. Pap tests and pelvic exams are generally recommended every two to three years. How often you undergo these screenings depends on your risk factors for cancer and whether you've had abnormal Pap tests in the past. Talk to your doctor about how often you should have these health screenings.

Tests to diagnose vaginal cancer
Your doctor may conduct a pelvic exam and Pap test to check for abnormalities that may indicate vaginal cancer. Based on those findings, your doctor may conduct other procedures to determine whether you have vaginal cancer, such as:

Inspecting the vagina with a microscope. Colposcopy is an examination of your vagina with a special lighted microscope called a colposcope. Colposcopy allows your doctor to magnify the surface of your vagina to see any areas of abnormal cells.
Removing a sample of vaginal tissue for testing. Biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of suspicious tissue to test for cancer cells. Your doctor may take a biopsy of tissue during a colposcopy exam. Your doctor sends the tissue sample to a laboratory for testing.

Staging
Once your doctor diagnoses vaginal cancer, steps will be taken to determine the extent of the cancer — a process called staging. The stage of your cancer helps your doctor decide what treatments are appropriate for you. In order to determine the stage of your cancer, your doctor may use:

Imaging tests. Your doctor may order imaging tests to determine whether cancer has spread. Imaging tests may include X-rays, computerized tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET).
Tiny cameras to see inside your body. Procedures that use tiny cameras to see inside your body may help your doctor determine if cancer has spread to certain areas. Cameras help your doctor see inside your bladder (cystoscopy) and your rectum (proctoscopy).

Once your doctor determines the extent of your cancer, it is assigned a stage. The stages of vaginal cancer are:

Stage I. Cancer is limited to the vaginal wall.
Stage II. Cancer has spread to tissue next to your vagina.
Stage III. Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or into the pelvis or both.
Stage IVA. Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and has also spread to your bladder, rectum or pelvis.
Stage IVB. Cancer has spread to areas away from your vagina, such as your lungs.

Treatment options by stage and type of vaginal cancer

The type of treatment your cancer care team will recommend depends on the type of vaginal cancer you have and how far the cancer has spread. This section summarizes the choices available according to the stage of your cancer.

Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN)

Many cases of low-grade VAIN (VAIN 1) will go away on their own, so some doctors will choose to watch them closely without starting treatment. This means getting repeat Pap tests -- often with colposcopy if needed. If the area of VAIN doesn't go away or gets worse, treatment is started. VAIN 2 is not likely to go away on its own, so treatment is usually started right away.

VAIN is treated using topical therapy (like 5-FU or imiquimod) or laser treatment. Less often, surgery is used to remove the lesion. Surgery may be chosen if other treatments fail or if the doctor wants to be sure that the area isn't invasive cancer. Surgery may involve a wide local excision, removing the abnormal area and a rim of surrounding normal tissue. A partial vaginectomy (removal of part of the vagina) is rarely needed to treat VAIN.

Stage 0 (VAIN 3 or CIS)

The usual treatment options are laser vaporization, removing the affected areas with surgery, and intracavitary radiation.

Topical chemotherapy with 5-FU cream is also an option, but this requires treatment at least weekly for 10 weeks. This treatment can severely irritate the vagina and vulva. Topical immunotherapy with imiquimod may also be used.

If the cancer comes back again after these treatments, surgery (partial vaginectomy) may be needed. The surgeon would remove the entire tumor and enough surrounding normal tissue to ensure that it doesn't come back.

Stage I

Squamous cell cancers: Radiation therapy is used for most stage I vaginal cancers. If the cancer is less than 5 mm thick (about 3/16 inch), intracavitary radiation is used. Interstitial radiation is an option for some tumors, but it is not often used. Intracavitary radiation may be combined with external beam radiation for larger tumors.

Removing part or the entire vagina is an option for some cancers (partial or radical vaginectomy). Reconstructive surgery to create a new vagina after treatment of the cancer is an option if a large portion of the vagina has been removed.

If the cancer is in the upper vagina, it may be treated by a radical hysterectomy, bilateral radical pelvic lymph node removal, and radical or partial vaginectomy.

Following a radical partial or complete vaginectomy, postoperative radiation (external beam) may be used to treat tiny deposits of cancer cells that have spread to lymph nodes in the pelvis.

Adenocarcinomas: For cancers in the upper part of the vagina, the treatment is surgery: a radical hysterectomy, partial or radical vaginectomy, and removal of pelvic lymph nodes. This can be followed by reconstructive surgery if needed or desired. Radiation therapy may be given as well.

For cancers lower down in the vagina, one choice is to give both either interstitial or intracavitary radiation therapy and external radiation beam therapy. The lymph nodes in the groin and/or pelvis are treated with external beam radiation therapy.

Stage II

The usual treatment is radiation, using a combination of brachytherapy and external beam radiation.

Radical surgery (radical vaginectomy or pelvic exenteration) is an option for some patients with stage II vaginal squamous cell cancer if it is small and in the upper vagina. It is also used to treat women who have already had radiation therapy for cervical cancer and who would not be able to tolerate additional radiation without severe damage to normal tissues.

Chemotherapy with radiation may also be used to treat stage II disease.

Giving chemotherapy to shrink the cancer before radical surgery has shown promising results.

Stage III or IVA

The usual treatment is radiation therapy, often with both brachytherapy and external beam radiation. Curative surgery is generally not attempted. Chemotherapy may be combined with radiation to help it work better.

Stage IVB

Since the cancer has spread to distant sites, it cannot be cured. Patients often receive radiation therapy to the vagina and pelvis to improve symptoms and reduce bleeding. . Chemotherapy may also be given, but it has not been shown to help patients live longer. Because there is no accepted treatment for this stage, often the best option is to enroll in a clinical trial.

Recurrent squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma of the vagina

If a cancer comes back after treatment it is called recurrent. If the cancer comes back in the same area as it was in the first place, it is called a local recurrence. If it comes back in another area (like the liver or lungs), it is called a distant recurrence.

A local recurrence of a stage I or stage II vaginal cancer may be treated with radical surgery (such as pelvic exenteration). If the cancer was originally treated with surgery, radiation therapy is an option. Surgery is the usual choice when the cancer has come back after radiation therapy.

Higher-stage cancers are difficult to treat when they recur. They usually cannot be cured by currently available treatments. Care focuses mostly on relieving symptoms, although participation in a clinical trial of new treatments may be helpful.

For a distant recurrence, the goal of treatment is to help the woman feel better. Surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy may be used. Again, a clinical trial is a good option.

Melanoma

Surgery is the main treatment for vaginal melanoma. Because vaginal melanoma is very rare, it hasn't been well studied. Doctors are still not certain about how much tissue needs to be removed to give the best chance of cure. One choice is to remove the cancer and a margin of the normal tissue around it. This is how a melanoma on the skin of an arm or leg would be treated. Another option is to remove the entire vagina and some tissue from nearby organs. Some (or all) of the lymph nodes that drain the area of the tumor are also removed and checked for cancer spread.

There are a few drugs that can be helpful in treating metastatic melanoma, but this disease rarely responds well to chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may also be used for melanoma that has spread. It is most often used for spread to the brain or spinal cord. A good option for women with metastatic vaginal melanoma is to receive treatment as a part of a clinical trial. For more information on melanoma, see our document called Melanoma Skin Cancer, which discusses the biology and treatment of melanoma and the role of lymph node surgery and treatment of advanced disease.

Source : http://www.cancer.org, http://cancer.about.com

Uterine cancer Symptoms, Tests/screening/Diagnosis and Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:41:00 -0700

Symptoms

The most common symptom of uterine cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding. It may start as a watery, blood-streaked flow that gradually contains more blood. After menopause, any vaginal bleeding is abnormal.

These are common symptoms of uterine cancer:

Abnormal vaginal bleeding, spotting, or discharge
Pain or difficulty when emptying the bladder
Pain during sex
Pain in the pelvic area

These symptoms may be caused by uterine cancer or by other health problems. Women with these symptoms should tell their doctor so that any problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Diagnosis

If you have symptoms that suggest uterine cancer, your doctor will try to find out what's causing the problems.

You may have a physical exam and blood tests. Also, you may have one or more of the following tests:

Pelvic exam: Your doctor can check your uterus, vagina, and nearby tissues for any lumps or changes in shape or size.
Ultrasound: An ultrasound device uses sound waves that can't be heard by humans. The sound waves make a pattern of echoes as they bounce off organs inside the pelvis. The echoes create a picture of your uterus and nearby tissues. The picture can show a uterine tumor. For a better view of the uterus, the device may be inserted into the vagina (transvaginal ultrasound).
Biopsy: The removal of tissue to look for cancer cells is a biopsy. A thin tube is inserted through the vagina into your uterus. Your doctor uses gentle scraping and suction to remove samples of tissue. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells. In most cases, a biopsy is the only sure way to tell whether cancer is present.

Uterine cancer Treatment

Most women with uterine cancer are treated with surgery. Some have radiation therapy. A smaller number of women may be treated with hormone therapy or chemotherapy. Another treatment option for women with uterine cancer is to take part in treatment studies (clinical trials). Such studies are designed to improve uterine cancer treatment. (See Treatment Studies for more information.) The following sections describe types of uterine cancer treatment.

Uterine cancer surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy) and the fallopian tubes and ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) is the treatment recommended for most women with uterine cancer. Lymph nodes near the tumor may also be removed during surgery to see if they contain cancer. If cancer cells have reached the lymph nodes, it may mean that the disease has spread to other parts of the body. If cancer cells have not spread beyond the endometrium, the disease can usually be cured with surgery alone.

In radiation for uterine cancer (also called radiotherapy), high-energy rays are used to kill cancer cells. The rays may come from a small container of radioactive material, called an implant, which is placed directly into or near the tumor site (internal radiation). It may also come from a large machine outside the body (external radiation). Some patients with uterine cancer need both internal and external radiation therapy. Like surgery, radiation therapy is a local therapy. It affects cancer cells only in the treated area.

Radiation therapy may be used in addition to surgery to treat women with certain stages of uterine cancer. Radiation may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain in the area. Also, for a small number of women who cannot have surgery, radiation treatment is sometimes used instead.

In internal radiation therapy, tiny tubes containing a radioactive substance are inserted through the vagina and left in place for a few days. The patient is hospitalized during this treatment. Patients may not be able to have visitors or may have visitors only for a short period of time while the implant is in place. Once the implant is removed, there is no radioactivity in the body. External radiation therapy is usually given on an outpatient basis in a hospital or clinic 5 days a week for several weeks. This schedule helps protect healthy cells and tissue by spreading out the total dose of radiation.

Hormone therapy for uterine cancer treatment is the use of drugs, such as progesterone, that prevent cancer cells from getting or using the hormones they may need to grow. Hormone treatment is a systemic therapy. The drugs, which are usually taken by mouth, enter the bloodstream, travel through the body, and control cancer cells outside the uterus. Women who are unable to have surgery are sometimes treated with hormone therapy. Also, this form of treatment is often recommended for women who have metastatic or recurrent endometrial cancer.

Uterine cancer chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Anticancer drugs may be taken by mouth or given by injection into a blood vessel or a muscle. Like hormone therapy, chemotherapy is a systemic therapy; it can kill cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is being evaluated in treatment studies for patients with uterine cancer that has spread.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms, Tests/Screening/Diagnosis and Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:31:00 -0700

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, especially, in the early stages. This is partly due to the fact that these two small, almond shaped organs are deep within the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the uterus. These are some of the potential signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:

Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:

Fatigue
Upset stomach or heartburn
Back pain
Pain during sex
Constipation or menstrual changes

If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, see your physician.

Persistence of Symptoms

When the symptoms are persistent, when they do not resolve with normal interventions (like diet change, exercise, laxatives, rest) it is imperative for a woman to see her doctor. Persistence of symptoms is key. Because these signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer have been described as vague or silent, only around 19% of ovarian cancer is found in the early stages. Symptoms typically occur in advanced stages when tumor growth creates pressure on the bladder and rectum, and fluid begins to form.

A rectovaginal pelvic examination is when the doctor simultaneously inserts one finger in the rectum and one in the vagina.
It is helpful to take a mild laxative or enema before the pelvic exam.
Have a comprehensive family history taken by a physician knowledgeable in the risks associated with ovarian cancer. 5% to 10% of ovarian cancer has a familial link.

Every woman should undergo a regular rectal and vaginal pelvic examination. If an irregularity of the ovary is found, alternatives to evaluation include transvaginal sonography and/or tumor markers. The most common tumor marker is a blood test called the CA-125.

Diagnosing ovarian cancer
Tests and procedures used to diagnose ovarian cancer include:

Pelvic examination. During a pelvic exam, your doctor carefully inspects the outer exposed part of your genitals (vulva), and then inserts two fingers of one hand into your vagina and simultaneously presses the other hand on your abdomen to feel your uterus and ovaries. He or she also inserts a device called a speculum into your vagina. The speculum opens your vagina so that your doctor can visually check your vagina and cervix for abnormalities.
Ultrasound. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. An ultrasound helps your doctor investigate the size, shape and configuration of your ovaries. To create a picture of your ovaries, your doctor may insert an ultrasound probe into your vagina. This procedure is called transvaginal ultrasound. Ultrasound imaging can create pictures of the structures near your ovaries, such as your uterus.
Surgery to remove samples of tissue for testing. If other tests suggest you may have ovarian cancer, your doctor may recommend surgery to confirm the diagnosis. During surgery, a gynecologic oncologist makes an incision in your abdomen and explores your abdominal cavity to determine whether cancer is present. The surgeon may collect samples of abdominal fluid and remove an ovary for examination by a pathologist. If cancer is discovered, the surgeon may immediately begin surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible. In some cases, the surgeon may make several small incisions in your abdomen and insert special surgical tools and a tiny camera, so the procedure won't require a larger incision.
CA 125 blood test. CA 125 is a protein found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells and some healthy tissue. Many women with ovarian cancer have abnormally high levels of CA 125 in their blood. However, a number of noncancerous conditions also cause elevated CA 125 levels, and many women with early-stage ovarian cancer have normal CA 125 levels. For this reason, a CA 125 test isn't usually used to diagnose or to screen for ovarian cancer, but it may be used to monitor how your treatment is progressing.

Staging ovarian cancer
Doctors use the results of your surgery in order to determine the extent — or stage — of your cancer. Your doctor may also use information from imaging tests, such as computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), to determine whether cancer has spread within the abdomen. Your cancer's stage helps determine your prognosis and your treatment options. Stages of ovarian cancer include:

Stage I. Ovarian cancer is confined to one or both ovaries.
Stage II. Ovarian cancer has spread to other locations in the pelvis, such as the uterus or fallopian tubes.
Stage III. Ovarian cancer has spread beyond the pelvis or to the lymph nodes within the abdomen.
Stage IV. Ovarian cancer has spread to organs beyond the abdomen, such as the liver or the lungs.

Treatment

The treatment of ovarian cancer is based on the stage of the disease which is a reflection of the extent or spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. Staging is performed by the surgeon (gynecologic oncologist) when the ovarian cancer is removed. During the surgical procedure the surgeon will obtain small pieces of tissue (biopsies) from various sites in the abdominal cavity. During this procedure, depending on the stage (extent) of the disease, the surgeon will either remove just the ovary and fallopian tube or will remove both ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. In addition, the surgeon will attempt to remove as much of the cancer as possible. Ovarian cancer is staged as follows:Stage I cancer is confined to one or both ovaries. The cancer is Stage II if either one or both of the ovaries is involved and has spread to the uterus and/or the fallopian tubes or other sites in the pelvis. The cancer is Stage III cancer if one or both of the ovaries is involved and has spread to lymph nodes or other sites outside of the pelvis but is still within the abdominal cavity, such as the surface of the intestine or liver. The cancer is Stage IV cancer if one or both ovaries is involved and has spread outside the abdomen or has spread to the inside of the liver.
Treatment Options
There are basically three forms of treatment of ovarian cancer. The primary one is surgery at which time the cancer is removed from the ovary and from as many other sites as is possible. Chemotherapy is the second important modality. This form of treatment uses drugs to kill the cancer cells. The other modality is radiation treatment, which is used in only certain instances. It utilizes high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Surgical treatment of ovarian cancer is best performed by a gynecologic oncologist who has been specially trained in the diagnosis and management of gynecologic malignancy. The treatment of ovarian cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the histologic cell type, and the patient's age and overall condition. The histologic cell type and the extent of disease based on the biopsies performed by the gynecologic oncologist during surgery (staging) are determined by the pathologist who analyzes tissues with a microscope.
Treatment of Ovarian Epithelial Cancer
Stage I

Generally women with Stage I ovarian cancer have a total abdominal hysterectomy, removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes, omentectomy, biopsy of lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen. Young women whose disease is confined to one ovary are often treated by a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the affected ovary and fallopian tube) without a hysterectomy and removal of the opposite ovary being performed. Omentectomy and the other parts of the staging procedure are performed. Depending on the pathologist's interpretation of the tissue removed, there may be no further treatment if the cancer is low grade, or if the tumor is high grade the patient may receive combination chemotherapy.

Stage II

Treatment is almost always hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy as well as debulking of as much of the tumor as possible and sampling of lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen that are suspected of harboring cancer. After the surgical procedure, treatment may be one of the following: 1) combination chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy or 2) combination chemotherapy.

Stage III

Treatment is the same as for Stage II ovarian cancer. Following the surgical procedure, the patient may either receive combination chemotherapy possibly followed by additional surgery to find and remove any remaining cancer.

Stage IV

Treatment will probably be surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible followed by combination chemotherapy

Gynecology Cancer Symptoms and Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:20:00 -0700

Gynecologic cancer Symptoms

Below are 10 symptoms of cervical and other gynecologic cancers that every woman should watch for. “Alert your doctor if these symptoms appear, especially if you’ve already gone through menopause,” Bevers said.

1. Swollen leg. Does one leg look or feel swollen for no reason? This may be a sign of cervical cancer. Typically, though, a swollen leg isn’t a sign of cancer unless there’s also pain, discharge or other cervical cancer symptoms.

2. Abnormal vaginal bleeding. More than 90% of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer experience irregular bleeding. Women who’ve already undergone menopause should have any bleeding — including spotting — evaluated. Women who haven’t gone through menopause should see a doctor about bleeding between periods, heavy bleeding or bleeding during sex.

3. Unexplained weight loss. Women who suddenly lose more than 10 pounds without changing diet or exercise habits should see their doctor.

4. Vaginal discharge colored with blood. Bloody, dark or smelly discharge usually signals infection. But sometimes, it’s a sign of cervical or endometrial cancer.

5. Constantly needing bathroom breaks. Constantly need to use the bathroom or feel continuous bladder pressure? This may be a sign of cancer. “Take note especially if you also feel full, have abdominal pain and experience bloating,” Bevers said.

6. Loss of appetite or constant feeling full. Never hungry anymore? Or constantly full? These appetite changes may be symptoms of ovarian cancer.

7. Pain in the pelvis or abdominal area. Ongoing abdominal pain or discomfort — including gas, indigestion, pressure, bloating and cramps — can signal ovarian cancer. And, constant pelvic pain or pressure can be a sign of endometrial cancer.

8. Belly bloat. Women often feel bloated after eating or drinking a lot, especially during their menstrual cycles. But a woman may have ovarian cancer if she continues feeling bloated for more than two weeks or after her period ends.

9. Constant fatigue. A little rest should typically cure fatigue. But women should see a doctor if fatigue constantly interferes with work or leisure activities.

10. Persistent indigestion or nausea. Feeling queasy for an extended period of time? Occasionally, persistent indigestion or nausea can signal gynecologic cancers, so play it safe and see a doctor.

“Remember, having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer,” Bevers said. “But if they last two weeks or longer, see your doctor. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

For additional tips on women’s health, visitwww.mdanderson.org/focused. 01/05/12

If your doctor says that you have a gynecologic cancer, ask to be referred to a gynecologic oncologist—a doctor who has been trained to treat cancers of a woman's reproductive system. This doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan.

Types of Treatment

There are several ways to treat gynecologic cancer. The treatment depends on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. People with cancer often get more than one kind of treatment.

Surgery: Doctors remove cancer tissue in an operation.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may cause side effects, but these often get better or go away when treatment is over. Chemotherapy drugs may be given in several forms, including pills or through an IV (intravenous) injection.
Radiation: Radiation uses high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to try to kill the cancer cells and stop them from spreading. The rays are aimed at the part of the body where the cancer is.

Different treatments may be provided by different doctors on your medical team.

Gynecologic oncologists are doctors who have been trained to treat cancers of a woman's reproductive system.
Surgeons are doctors who perform operations.
Medical oncologists are doctors who are experts in cancer and treat cancers with medicines.
Radiation oncologists are doctors who treat cancers with radiation.

Fallopian Tube Cancer Symptoms, Diagnosis/Tests, Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:43:00 -0700

The symptoms of fallopian tube cancer are very vague, and are typical of many other gynecologic conditions. It is a very rare cancer, so in most cases, the symptoms are related to other less serious conditions, not fallopian tube cancer. The most common symptoms of fallopian tube cancer are:

Vaginal Discharge: Vaginal discharge that is white, clear, or tinged with pink can be a symptom of fallopian tube cancer. However, it is much more likely to be caused by something far less severe. If you are experiencing this type of vaginal discharge, you can expect your doctor to swab your vagina and perform a microscopic examination of the sample. Depending on when your last Pap smear was done, your doctor may want you to have one as well.

Pelvic Pain: Pelvic pain is a non-specific symptom and can be related to something as minor as PMS to more severe conditions, like cancer. Again, because fallopian tube cancer is rare and pelvic pain is common with many other conditions, this symptom does not raise flags for the disease. If you are experiencing pelvic pain, your doctor will want to know when it occurs, what may trigger it, and what you are taking to relieve it. Pelvic pain that is persistent and lasts for two weeks definitely needs to be evaluated by your doctor.

Pelvic Mass: A pelvic mass that can be felt during a pelvic exam is an important symptom, but is often related to benign conditions, like ovarian cysts. If a pelvic mass is discovered during an exam, your doctor will want to follow up with other tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan to gather more information about the mass.

Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding: Abnormal vaginal bleeding can occur with fallopian tube cancer. Vaginal bleeding is considered abnormal when it occurs between periods, after sex or douching, or if you have very heavy periods. Any type of vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women is abnormal.

Pelvic pain, discharge, and a pelvic mass are the most common symptoms present when women are diagnosed with fallopian tube cancer. Rarely do these symptoms present all together, however.

Post-Menopausal Women and Fallopian Tube Cancer Symptoms

Menopausal status can play a role in how symptoms are managed and in the diagnostic process of fallopian tube cancer. Post-menopausal women who are experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding warrant a thorough and timely evaluation.

While vaginal bleeding in a post-menopausal woman does not immediately indicate fallopian tube cancer, it does signal that something is wrong and needs to be evaluated. It could be a simple side effect of hormone replacement therapy, or it could be something more serious, like cancer.

If you are post-menopausal and are experiencing vaginal bleeding, it is important to report it to your doctor.

Who Develops Fallopian Tube Cancer?

The disease is rare, and we don't have a lot of definitive information about its causes and risk factors. Women who have inherited a mutated BRCA gene are at an elevated risk of developing fallopian tube cancer.

We do know that fallopian tube cancer is most commonly seen in Caucasian women who are between 50 to 60 years of age. Don't let the statistics fool you, though. The disease can strike minority women as well as those younger and older than the 50-60 year age bracket - just less commonly.

Source: http://cancer.about.com

Fallopian Tube Cancer Diagnosis

Because fallopian tube cancer is so rare, and its symptoms can resemble other problems, it can be difficult to diagnose. Additionally, in some cases, women don't learn they have fallopian tube cancer until a tube has been removed surgically during an operation to treat another illness or problem.

However, there are several tests that may be performed in order to make a definite diagnosis of the condition. First your doctor will start by asking about any symptoms you may be experiencing, as well as reviewing your medical history and conducting a thorough physical exam. Other tests that may be performed include:

Pelvic Exam — This test involves feeling the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum to find any abnormality in their shape or size.
CA125 Test — This is a blood test that checks levels of a blood protein known as CA125, which is a tumor marker for gynecological diseases such as fallopian tube cancer. An estimated 85 percent of women with gynecological disease have increased levels of CA125.

However, it is important to note that increased levels of CA125 may not necessarily mean that a woman has cancer, since CA125 levels also may be increased during pregnancy, menstruation, in the presence of other non-cancerous gynecologic diseases or cancers affecting other parts of the body.
Computed tomography (CT) Scan — This imaging test takes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are created by a computer, which is linked to an X-ray machine. A special dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly.
Ultrasound — An ultrasound of the pelvis may be performed. This test involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs and systems within the body. These waves, which cannot be heard by humans, create a pattern of echoes called a sonogram. Healthy tissues, fluid-filled cysts, and tumors look different on this picture.

Source :http://www.ucsfhealth.org

Treatment for Fallopian Tube Cancer

Surgery

Surgery is the removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue during an operation. A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer using surgery. The stage of the tumor determines the type of surgery used. Early stage fallopian tube cancer, when the tumor is limited to the fallopian tubes, is treated by surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries (called a salpingo-oophorectomy). If the cancer has spread, the surgeon may remove the uterus (called a hysterectomy) and other structures in the pelvis, including nearby lymph nodes, to evaluate them for the presence of cancer cells. Learn more about cancer surgery.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, usually by stopping the cancer cells’ ability to grow and divide. Systemic chemotherapy is delivered through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication. A chemotherapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time. A patient may receive one drug at a time or combinations of different drugs at the same time.

Chemotherapy is usually given after surgery for fallopian tube cancer. The most common types of chemotherapy to treat fallopian tube cancer are paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin (Paraplat, Paraplatin).

The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual and the dose used, but they can include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These side effects usually go away once treatment is finished.

Learn more about chemotherapy and preparing for treatment. The medications used to treat cancer are continually being evaluated. Talking with your doctor is often the best way to learn about the medications prescribed for you, their purpose, and their potential side effects or interactions with other medications. Learn more about your prescriptions by using searchable drug databases.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to kill cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. When radiation treatment is given using implants, it is called internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy.

Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to shrink the size of the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. A radiation therapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time.

Side effects from radiation therapy may include fatigue, mild skin reactions, upset stomach, and loose bowel movements. Sometimes, doctors advise their patients not to have sexual intercourse during radiation therapy. Women may resume normal sexual activity within a few weeks after treatment if they feel ready. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished. Learn more about radiation therapy.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to normal cells, usually leading to fewer side effects than other cancer medications.

Recent studies show that not all tumors have the same targets. To find the most effective treatment, your doctor may run tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor. As a result, doctors can better match each patient with the most effective treatment whenever possible. In addition, many research studies are taking place now to find out more about specific molecular targets and new treatments directed at them. Learn more about targeted treatments.

In a 2010 study, adding the targeted therapy drug bevacizumab (Avastin) to chemotherapy and keeping patients on the drug after chemotherapy ends increased the amount of time it takes for advanced fallopian tube cancer and other cancers of a woman’s reproductive system to grow and spread.

Recurrent fallopian tube cancer

Once your treatment is complete and there is a remission (absence of cancer symptoms; also called “no evidence of disease” or NED), talk with your doctor about the possibility of the cancer returning. Many survivors feel worried or anxious that the cancer will come back. Learn more about coping with this fear.

If the cancer does return after the original treatment, it is called recurrent cancer. It may come back in the same place (called a local recurrence), nearby (regional recurrence), or in another place (distant recurrence).

When this occurs, a cycle of testing will begin again to learn as much as possible about the recurrence. After testing is done, you and your doctor will talk about your treatment options. Often the treatment plan will include the therapies described above (such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy) but may be used in a different combination or given at a different pace. Your doctor may also suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat this type of recurrent cancer.

People with recurrent cancer often experience emotions such as disbelief or fear. Patients are encouraged to talk with their health care team about these feelings and ask about support services to help them cope. Learn more about dealing with cancer recurrence.

Metastatic fallopian tube cancer

If cancer has spread to another location in the body, it is called metastatic cancer.

Patients with this diagnosis are encouraged to talk with doctors who are experienced in treating this stage of cancer, because there can be different opinions about the best treatment plan. Learn more about seeking asecond opinion before starting treatment, so you are comfortable with the treatment plan chosen. This discussion may include clinical trials.

In addition to treatment to slow, stop, or eliminate the cancer (also called disease-directed treatment), an important part of cancer care is relieving a person’s symptoms and side effects. It includes supporting the patient with his or her physical, emotional, and social needs, an approach called palliative or supportive care. People often receive disease-directed therapy and treatment to ease symptoms at the same time.

Source : http://www.cancer.net

Breast cancer Tests and Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:14:00 -0700

Breast Self-Exam

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.

Here's what you should look for:

Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling

If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention:

Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

Step 3: While you're at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.

Tests For Breast Cancer

Whether you’ve never had breast cancer and want to increase your odds of early detection, you’ve recently been diagnosed, or you are in the midst of treatment and follow-up, you know that breast cancer and medical tests go hand in hand.

Most breast-cancer-related tests fall into one or more of the following categories:

Screening tests: Screening tests (such as yearly mammograms) are given routinely to people who appear to be healthy and are not suspected of having breast cancer. Their purpose is to find breast cancer early, before any symptoms can develop and the cancer usually is easier to treat.
Diagnostic tests: Diagnostic tests (such as biopsy) are given to people who are suspected of having breast cancer, either because of symptoms they may be experiencing or a screening test result. These tests are used to determine whether or not breast cancer is present and, if so, whether or not it has traveled outside the breast. Diagnostic tests also are used to gather more information about the cancer to guide decisions about treatment.
Monitoring tests: Once breast cancer is diagnosed, many tests are used during and after treatment to monitor how well therapies are working. Monitoring tests also may be used to check for any signs of recurrence.

On the following pages, you can read more about the many tests you may have at different points in the process of screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The tests are covered in alphabetical order.

Biopsy
Blood Cell Counts
Blood Chemistries
Blood Marker Tests
Bone Scans
Breast MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Breast Physical Exam
Breast Self-Exam (BSE)
CT (CAT) Scans
Chest X-Rays
Digital Tomosynthesis
Dual Inform ISH Test
Ductal Lavage
FISH Test (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization)
IHC Tests (ImmunoHistoChemistry)
Mammograms
Molecular Breast Imaging
Oncotype DX
PET Scans
SPoT-Light HER2 CISH
Thermography
Ultrasound

Treatments For Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of breast cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic therapy, and radiation. People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment.

Surgery. An operation where doctors cut out and remove cancer tissue.
Chemotherapy. Using special medicines, or drugs to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given through an intravenous (IV) tube, or, sometimes, both.
Hormonal therapy. Some cancers need certain hormones to grow. Hormonal treatment is used to block cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
Biological therapy. This treatment works with your body's immune system to help it fight cancer or to control side effects from other cancer treatments. Side effects are how your body reacts to drugs or other treatments. Biological therapy is different from chemotherapy, which attacks cancer cells directly.
Radiation. The use of high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer cells. The rays are aimed at the part of the body where the cancer is located.

It is common for doctors from different specialties to work together in treating breast cancer. Surgeons are doctors that perform operations. Medical oncologists are doctors that treat cancers with medicines. Radiation oncologists are doctors that treat cancers with radiation.

Breast Cancer Symptoms and Types

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:54:00 -0700

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast that is warm to the touch:

A breast that always feel warm, sometimes hot to the touch is a symptom of inflammatory breast cancer, a dangerous and rare type od the disease.

Flat or inverted nipple:

A nipple that is flat or inverted is also a symptom of breast cancer. This does not include having an inverted nipple since birth.

A breast that is often itchy:

If you have itchy breasts or nipples, talk to your doctor. These are both symptoms of breast cancer.

The skin around the breast is dimpled or looks like an orange peel:

Breast and surrounding skin can take on a dimpled appearance, looking like an orange peel. Many women are too embarassed to show a doctor, thinking it is cellulite or from being overweight. This is not the case.

Swollen or breast that does not change with menstrual cycle or size increase:

It's normal for a woman's breast to become swollen and tender during a normal menstrual cycle, but when it's constant, it need to be evaluated by a doctor. Women also need to be aware of a sudden breast size increase.

Breast that is red or blotchy:

A breast that is red or blotchy, even having a rash-like appearance should be evaluated by a doctor. It is a symptom of inflammatory breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of cancer that is often undected by a mammogram and self breast exam.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out, Mishori says.

"Unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not," she says. It could, of course, turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid.

Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to "rule out the possibilities, one by one," Mishori says.

Bloating

Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point toovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.

If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.

Breast Changes

Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined, Linden says. "If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated," she says.

Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. "If it's outgoing normally and turns in," she says, that's not a good sign. "If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal." It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.

If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.

Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding

''Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding," Daly says. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer.

Think about what's normal for you, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "If a woman never spots [between periods] and she spots, it's abnormal for her. For someone else, it might not be."

"Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic cancer," Saslow says. "At least three-quarters who get it have some abnormal bleeding as an early sign."

Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.

Skin Changes

Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation, Daly says.

If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too, she says. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.

Difficulty Swallowing

If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes.

But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus, says Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.

Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.

Blood in the Wrong Place

If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid, says Mishori. "It could be colon cancer."

Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer.

Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating, Mishori says. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer, she says.

Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, Mishori says, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.

Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression

Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup, says Lichtenfeld. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.

Indigestion

Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.

It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.

Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.

Mouth Changes

Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.

Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.

Pain

As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.

Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.

Changes in the Lymph Nodes

If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome, Linden says.

"If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor," she says. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement.

If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.

Fever

If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society.

Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool.

Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.

Fatigue

Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.

Persistent Cough

Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored, Mishori says.

You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.

Types OF Breast Cancer

Invasive Breast Cancer

Invasive breast cancers have spread beyond the milk ducts and milk-making glands to other breast tissue. This link will take you to a web site that explains invasive breast cancer.

Related Web Site: Paget’s Disease of the Nipple

Read about Paget’s disease of the nipple, a rare form of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Recurrence

Breast cancer recurrence (return) is possible after treatment, and it doesn’t always come back to the breast. This detailed article is all about breast cancer recurrence.

Breast Cancer in Young Women

Breast cancer is generally seen in women after menopause. But it can strike much earlier. Learn about breast cancer in young women.

Breast Cancer in Pregnancy

Breast cancer in pregnancy is very rare. But it can happen. Learn how breast cancer in pregnancy is handled.

Male Breast Cancer

The vast majority of breast cancer patients are women. But every year, about 1,700 U.S. men get breast cancer. This article has the facts on male breast cancer.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type of breast cancer in which the breast appears swollen and inflamed. It doesn’t always involve a lump. Learn more about inflammatory breast cancer.

Women's And Cancers(Cancers that are only for women)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:31:00 -0700

Just being a woman puts you at risk for cancer. There are many cancers that affect only women.

1.Breast Cancer

2.Fallopian Tube Cancer

Fallopian tube cancer is a cancer that affects the fallopian tubes of the female reproductive system. It is a rare cancer, with only 1500-2000 known cases. It is estimated that about 300 women in the United States will be diagnosed with fallopian tube cancer this year.

3.Gynecologic Cancer

4.Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the 7th most diagnosed cancer among women.

5.Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer is the most common type of gynecologic cancer. It originates in the uterus (womb) in the female reprorductive system.

6.Vaginal Cancer

Vaginal cancer is a diease that affects the cells on the lining of the vaginal walls.

7.Vulvar Cancer

Vulvar cancer is a disease affecting the fatty, outer layers of the vagina. It is considered highly treatable when detected early.

Problems During MENOPAUSE, Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:04:00 -0700

Menopause is the period ending the female reproduction phase. Menopause starts with the end of menstruation. Over time, the ovaries gradually lose the ability to produce estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. As the production of estrogen decreases, ovulation and menstruation occur less often, and eventually stops. Menstruation may stop earlier in life because of an illness or hysterectomy. It these cases we speak about induced menopause.

Perimenopause is the period of gradual changes that lead to menopause. Some woman my experience perimenopause as early as 35. The perimenopause can take a few months or even years. During perimenopause the production of estrogen slows down and estrogen levels fluctuate. This causes problems similar to puberty, but more intense.
Postmenopause is the period after menopause.

Problems during and after menopause

During and after menopause the women may experience health problems. Like puberty and pregnancy, menopause is influenced by physical and psychological problems caused by hormonal changes. Osteoporosis which results in brittle bones can be accelerated by low levels of estrogens. These low levels of estrogen can also lead to heart problems. Other problems which women may experience are the development of Alzheimer's disease. The chances of developing Alzheimer's disease doubles every 5 years beyond 65. During menopause the typical menopause symptoms may be experienced such as night sweats, vaginal dryness, anxiety and hot flushes.

Menopause - when?

The average age of the natural menopause is 51 years, but can occur much earlier or later. Menopause occurring before the age of 45 is called early menopause and before the age of 40 is premature menopause.

Generally, women having an early or premature menopause are advised to take HRT until approximately the average age of the menopause, for both symptom control and bone protective effect.

Late menopause may also occur but by the age of 54, 80% of women will have stopped having periods.

Menopause Lower Sex Drive in all Women

No. In fact, some postmenopausal women report an increase in sex drive. This may be due to decreased anxiety associated with a fear of pregnancy. In addition, many postmenopausal women often have fewer child-rearing responsibilities, allowing them to relax and enjoy intimacy with their partners.

What Can I Do to Treat Vaginal Dryness During Menopause?

During and after menopause, vaginal dryness can be treated with water-soluble lubricants such as Astroglide or K-Y Jelly.

Do not use non-water soluble lubricants such as Vaseline, because they can weaken latex (the material used to make condoms, which should continue to be used until your doctor verifies you are no longer ovulating and to prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases). Non-water soluble lubricants can also provide a medium for bacterial growth, particularly in a person whose immune system has been weakened by chemotherapy.

Vaginal moisturizers like Replens and Luvena can also be used on a more regular basis to maintain moisture in the vagina. You can also talk to your doctor about vaginal estrogen therapy.

How Can I Improve My Sex Drive During and After Menopause?

Currently, there are not any good drugs to treat sexual problems in women facing menopause. Estrogen replacement may work, but research has yielded conflicting results regarding its effectiveness. Estrogen can, however, make intercourse less painful by treating vaginal dryness.

Doctors are also studying whether a combination of estrogen and male hormones called androgens may be helpful in increasing sex drive in women.

Although sexual problems can be difficult to discuss, talk to your doctor; there are options to consider, such as counseling. Your doctor may refer you and your partner to a health professional who specializes in sexual dysfunction. The therapist may advise sexual counseling on an individual basis, with your partner or in a support group. This type of counseling can be very successful, even when it is done on a short-term basis.

How Can I Increase Intimacy With My Partner During Menopause?

During menopause, if your sex drive has declined but you don't think you need counseling, you should still take time for intimacy with your partner. Love and affection can be expressed without sexual intercourse. Enjoy your time together by taking walks, eating dinner by candlelight, or giving each other back rubs.

To improve your physical intimacy, you may want to try the following approaches:

Educate yourself about your anatomy, sexual function, and the normal changes associated with aging, as well as sexual behaviors and responses. This may help you overcome your anxieties about sexual function and performance.
Enhance stimulation through the use of erotic materials (videos or books),masturbation, and changes to sexual routines.
Use distraction techniques to increase relaxation and eliminate anxiety. These can include erotic or non-erotic fantasies; exercises with intercourse; and music, videos, or television.
Practice non-coital behaviors (physically stimulating activity that does not include intercourse), such as sensual massage. These activities can be used to promote comfort and increase communication between you and your partner.
Minimize any pain you may be experiencing by using sexual positions that allow you to control the depth of penetration. You may also want to take a warm bath before intercourse to help you relax, and use vaginal lubricants to help reduce pain caused by friction.
Communicate with your partner about what is comfortable and what isn't.

Do I Still Have to Worry About Sexually Transmitted Diseases?

Yes. Menopause and postmenopause do not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It's important to remember that your risk of contracting STDs is a possibility at any point in your life during which you are sexually active, and this risk does not go down with age or with changes in your reproductive system.

Left untreated, some STDs can lead to serious illnesses, while others, like AIDS, cannot be cured and may be fatal.

How Can I Protect Myself From STDs?

Here are some basic steps that you can take to help protect yourself from STDs:

Not having sex is the only sure way to prevent STDs.
Use a latex condom every time you have sex. (If you use a lubricant, make sure it is water-based (not Vaseline.)
Limit your number of sexual partners. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to catch an STD.
Practice monogamy. This means having sex with only one person. That person must also have sex with only you to reduce your risk.
Choose your sex partners with care. Don't have sex with someone whom you suspect may have an STD.
Get checked for STDs. Don't risk giving the infection to someone else.
Ask a potential sex partner to be checked for STDs. Signs and symptoms of STDs may not be visible.
If you have more than one sex partner, always use a condom.
Don't use alcohol or drugs before you have sex. You may be less likely to practice safe sex if you are drunk or high.
Know the signs and symptoms of STDs.

How to overcome Menopause and Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:57:00 -0700

ELIMINATE MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS THROUGH MOTHER NATURE’S WAY

For some women, it is good news because finally they are rid the burden of the monthly period and childbearing is a thing of the past. The third type is “cold turkey” menopause which is the effect of having been taken off menopausal hormone therapy after you are diagnosed with breast cancer. It is normal and common. This development also happens to a number of female vertebrate species. Menopause is a condition where a woman stops ovulating; therefore stopping the onset of her menstruation.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE:

It makes sleeping very uncomfortable because of heavy night sweats that you can barely understand why you have them, having a hard time to focus yourself on things you usually do, daily routinely activities become harder to finish than usual, unexplainable weight loss or weight gain, unpretty bloating sensations and gaseous pass, severe uncontrollable mood swings, unclear reasons of sudden burst of crying, diminishing self-esteem. Treatment for menopause:

Medical studies on these symptoms reveal that their common denominator is hormonal. For some women, these symptoms will go away overtime even without treatment while others will seek immediate medical treatment.

HOW TO CONQUER MENOPAUSE:

Go over all the symptoms of menopause and try to understand and learn to manage them to your advantage. Just follow the easy guidelines you are about to read. Since it can take from 12-24 months for a book to go from research to the shelves, many medical facts and research are already out of date. Here we show you how you will learn to overcome all these hardships of menopause. You will discover what you must do to stop annoying hot flashes and night sweats and the 35 common symptoms of menopause and how you can manage them. Websites, too, were unreliable because none among them were updated in the new breakthroughs in the period of 6-9 months. You have lived a great life and still continue to live that life with meaning. No hassles, no tricks. No need to travel numerous trips to the doctor’s clinic or take medicines that may only worsen the feeling. However, simple remedies suggested are:taking Vitamins E and calcium supplement, eating soy products, drinking black cohosh and Korean ginseng (both herbs) and acupuncture. You should take control of your life as you have all these years Get back into the driver seat and step on the gas This is your life to live and it is your life to enjoy Don’t be left out.

Appreciable physiological modifications take place in a woman’s body when nearing peri menopause. It’s not uncommon for women to achieve from ten to 15 pounds while dealing with peri menopause. As women make adaptations during these transformation years menopause weight gain is just one of many many modifications she shall be facing.

Menopause weight gain is brought on by fluctuating estrogen levels which ends up in a hormonal imbalance. This hormonal imbalance is what causes the entire various menopausal symptoms. This is a natural process for women, even several famous celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Susan Summers have talked about how menopause has affected their lives.

Medical research have found a typical thread between increased menopause weight gain and a change in hormones. As the body’s hormonal construction changes insulin resistance and stress can increase. The flexibility to burn energy and metabolic capability considerably have an effect on the levels at which the body can burn calories.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin hormone is the main factor in regulating the body’s metabolism, it regulates glucose absorption. If it is lowered from doing this job during menopausal years then insulin resistance can happen and the body will turn more energy consumed into fat. Normally the body will break down meals and provide vitamins to cells but with insulin resistance they can be turned into fats instead. So it’s possible to both gain weight and at the identical time get fewer vitamins than usual even by sustaining the identical diet if hormone levels inhibit insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is even worse for ladies who strictly adhere to a low-fats, high-carbohydrate diet. All of the while advocates of the type of food regimen plan labor under the idea that the avoidance of fats will spare them from weight gain. Nevertheless, the body’s resistance to insulin turns carbohydrates straight into fat, thus negating the effectiveness of this kind of food plan plan.

A lifelong practice of eating high carbohydrate meals low in fat together with different processed and refined breads and pastas can add to a rising insulin resistance of the body. This kind of life long consuming pattern can result in insulin being blocked and particularly as soon as additional stress and hormonal modifications from premenopause sinks in then the body’s insulin resistance now even further inhibited may not be able to sustain with the metabolism essential to preserve from gaining excess weight

Rising Stress Levels

Many consuming problems and conditions will be attributed to stress. Specialists have referred to such experience referred to as the ‘famine effect’ which will be signaled by the body on account of an elevated degree of stress. Because the body misinterprets stress the ‘famine effect’ phenomenon may occur, the body can misinterpret stress as a signal that there shall be a prolonged shortage of food and can slow down its metabolism. Because the metabolism slows down ingested energy are stored as fats and weight can easily be gained at this time.

Menopause mixed with stress can in effect double the problem of sustaining an ideal weight. And it isn’t unusual for many menopausal women to also experience stress. In conclusion the danger of gaining unwanted weight will increase with pre menopause.

Options

Everybody can profit from a balanced weight loss plan; this is of course at all times the easiest way to keep away from excess weight gain. Avoiding fried meals or meals excessive in ldl cholesterol or carbohydrates and refined foods is a good idea. Eating more recent fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, pure grains, fish, low fat soy and dairy products could be an excellent start.

Further benefits could be gained by including physical fitness along with an excellent weight loss program, some gentle exercise that is friendly on the joints, not to heavy weights however some average weights which might be comfortable to your joints.

FemFlax is a premenopause symptom management supplement created from all natural plant based materials. The active ingredients in FemFlax have been clinically proven to cut back or utterly eliminate a few of the most irritating symptoms associated with menopause, specifically night sweats and hot flashes. Managing these symptoms successfully can go an extended way to relieve stress and menopause weight gain. You can use coupon code flax5 for 5% off your first order.

Lifestyle To Overcome Menopause Woe

Women constitute most important part in society. The societal responsibilities have made women grow stronger mentally. But there are problems that they suffer throughout life. Problems can be manifested into various forms associated with family, friends or even pertaining to individuals.

Throwing some light on their lifestyle reveals that problems associated with individual life takes toll on their performance in all other activities.

The pity on women is that all other components of society are dependent on women in one way or other. Some problems involving health can demand immediate attention by that individual.

The problem of menopause is one such demanding pain for them during their old age. Women undergo changes anatomically on attainment of menopause. This can also create metabolic imbalance throughout body producing certain unique effects on their body. There are severe impacts of menopause that can create panic in several women.

Menopause is usually characterized by series of changes that takes place within the body. The condition of menopause indicates lesser amount of hormone secretion. Necessary hormones such as progesterone level inside the body gets low by reduced secretion when a woman attains stage of menopause.

Also one can find this hormonal imbalance to produce lot of effects inside the body cells. The women are subjected to lot of problems associated with the body cells. One can carefully examine the body and find out that people with reduced estrogen hormone level can tend to develop heart diseases. The hormonal imbalance could cause reduced muscular performance.

The menstrual cycle termination can also produce effects like increased blood pressure. The blood pressure gets shoots up due to deposition of fat at specified locations. This can lead to deposition of fat even on the walls of blood vessels associated closely with heart creating several cardiovascular ailments.Also the body mass tends to increase more rapidly in post-menopause period. The body cells are put to lot of stress by severe sweating during nights. One can also visualize the body is put to frequent changing of attitude.

The overall mood of person keeps shifting on either extreme. Frequently women are put to severe headaches and decreased quality of hair due to weaker hair follicles. There are several ways by which effects of menopause can be nullified.

One can greatly minimize the effect of menopause by putting the body into lot of muscular activity. The muscular activity refers to putting the body muscles under constant motion. Regular exercising can lead to proper channeling of blood throughout the body.

The body cells can get improved blood circulation that tends to speed up metabolism at cellular level. The blood pressure level is to be monitored quite regularly. Dietary habits can be changed a lot to regulate optimum blood pressure. The women are advised by physicians to take lot of fruits that can supply suitable minerals and vitamins that are usually not present in normal diet.

Certain changes in lifestyle could be initiated to get away from menopause effects. Body should be maintained cool by resting body under fan or chill atmosphere. Thus women can overcome menopause woes with slight changes in daily life.

Tips/Methods To overcome White Discharge Problem

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:41:00 -0700

First off a clear discharge is perfectly normal to have and should not be worried about. On the other hand if you have a vaginal white discharge then you most likely have an infection.

Normal discharge helps to keep the vagina clean, lubricated, and free from germs. This healthy discharge is clear or maybe just a little cloudy and very light. Most of the time this occurs around your menstrual cycle.

A normal clear discharge may change in consistency and appearance for certain reasons. It's possible that you're pregnant, breastfeeding or maybe just ovulating. It is also possible that an upset in your vagina's ph level is causing this normal discharge to appear a little different. It is actually very easy to upset this with items such as perfume body sprays, douching or deodorant soaps.

Now a yeast infection or a bacterial infection will have a clearly white or definite color discharge with it. symptoms of a yeast infection in women can be different. You could have a light vaginal white discharge or it could be very heavy like cottage cheese. Bacterial infection symptoms will have a light yellow to dark yellow almost brown color.

The texture and intensity of the discharge are a good indication of the severity of the infection. A vaginal white discharge can become extremely heavy, thick or be hardly anything and really light. If it is thin and barely white, it is probably a mild infection and can be cleared up quickly. But if the discharge is thick, very white, and has a “cottage cheese” consistency then you may be dealing with a yeast overgrowth.

This type of heavy discharge can become so severe that it will start to be a vaginal white discharge with blue specks in it. This worst case takes on the appearance of a crumbled blue cheese and is no doubt yeast infection.

You need to treat this right away if you are having this type of symptoms of a yeast infection. Really the best way to tell if a man might have a yeast infection is through their semen, they will many times have no other symptoms White in color is normal and it should be thin but if it's thick and extremely white then there's a good chance that he in fact has a yeast infection. Even if they show no other symptoms it is always a good idea to treat your spouse at the same time you are treating yourself.

They may think they are perfectly fine and just carry the infection if nothing is done.

It can sometimes be difficult to determine the difference between a discharge of a yeast infection and that of a bacterial infection.

If there is any question about the type of vaginal discharge you are having, it does not hurt to examine it. A yeast infection will always produce a vaginal white discharge with a slightly yeasty smell or possibly no smell at all. Bacterial infections and others will produce a off white, yellowish to brownish color discharge with a bad odor. If it is thin and clear, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

You can reduce the intensity of your normal discharge by remembering to always wipe form front to back to prevent the spread of bacteria and to wear loose clothing with cotton underwear.

As far as decreasing your risk of infections goes doing that helps as well as changing out of wet bathing suits or wet clothes as soon as possible. Really anything to keep the moisture levels down as much as possible and showering after sweat inducing workout and intercourse.

Tips to Overcome Whitish

1. Visit your doctor specialist and consult content that you experience vaginal discharge complaints. Make sure the doctor has a special tool that can check your overall condition. By knowing the exact cause of vaginal discharge is, of course, the doctor will have to cope with the most effective discharge.

2. Keep the sex organs either by replacing your regular underwear at least twice a day. If you feel you are wearing underwear that is damp or dirty, you should replace it with a clean so that bacteria, fungi or viruses in the underwear does not infect the vagina.

3. Wash the vagina with a special cleaning is a way to overcome white womanhood is also quite effective, especially for the type of discharge has not been so severe. With a vaginal wash with anti-septic will prevent entry of bacteria and germs into the vagina which is the main cause of vaginal discharge.

4. When you’re coming months, you must be diligent to change pads. Do not use the pads to be too full because it will trigger the growth of bacteria that can infect the vagina. Diligent replace the pads can be a way to overcome white or at least minimize it effectively.

5. When the disease is found whitish with a fairly severe conditions, how to cope with the whiteness of course will be more serious, such as injecting sitostatica, penicillin, vaccinations, tetracycline, and so on.

6. How to cope with vaginal discharge can also be done surgically. Surgery is intended to remove a small portion of cervical tissue infected with bacteria, viruses or fungi that cause vaginal discharge.

7. Use a safety when you have sex. Or if you are planning a pregnancy, properly clean the vagina after intercourse, or should you consult a gynecologist about vaginal cleansing what you can use as a way to overcome vaginal discharge that you are not wrong in choosing a plan that can damage the pregnancy.

8. Consuming a traditional herb is also a way to overcome quite effectively discharge such as cooking water as much as one glass of betel leaves, two to three times a week.

Reasons for Menstrual Period late

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:25:00 -0700

Nothing strikes fear into the heart of any woman like a missed period, unless she is trying to get pregnant. Pregnancy is the first thing that we think of when our period is delayed. But is pregnancy the only reason for people to have a late period? Here are the 10 most common reasons that you missed your period:

Stress
Stress can affect many things in our lives, including our periods. Sometimes we're so stressed out that our body decreases the amount of a hormone (GnRH), which causes us to not ovulate or menstruate. Working with your doctor or midwife can help you figure out what you need to do to relax and get back on schedule. This can sometimes take a few months or more to work itself out.
Illness
A sudden, short illness or even a longer illness can cause your periods to be delayed. This is usually temporary. If you think this is the reason that your period is late, talk to your practitioner about when they expect your period to return.
Change in Schedules
Changing schedules can really throw off your body clock. This is particularly true if you go from days to nights at work or vice versa. If you frequently change shifts and notice a problems with regular cycles, then see if it is possible to be put on a more permanent shift or at least a shift that only varies after a lengthier time period.
Change in Medications
Perhaps you're trying a new medication and a delayed or absent period is the cause. Be sure to talk to your doctor or midwife about this side effect. It is very common with some methods of birth control. If you change medications, be sure to ask what effects this may have on your period. This is true, even if you don't think that there will be a big change.
Being Overweight
Carrying around too much weight can hormonally shift your cycles and even stop them. Most women will see a return to normal cycles and fertility with the loss of some weight, even if they are still considered overweight.
Being Underweight
If you do not have enough body fat you will not have regular periods, sometimes you can eve cause your periods to stop all together. This is called amenorrhea. Typically a weight gain will help you have your periods return. This is a frequent cause of a missed period in women who work out to an extreme or are professional athletes.
Miscalculation
The menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman. While we say that the average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, that is not true for everyone. Sometimes our period is believed to be late when in all actuality we have simply miscalculated. If you have irregular menstrual cycles, but know when you ovulate, look for your period about two weeks after you ovulate. That may help you keep an easier track of your periods.
Peri-Menopause
Peri-menopause is the period of time where you are transitioning from reproductive age to a non-reproductive age. Your periods may be lighter, heavier, more frequent or less frequent - but mostly just not normal. If you do not wish to get pregnant, be sure to continue to use birth control because you are likely to still be fertile at least some of the time.
Menopause
Menopause is when you have reached the point in your life where you will no longer ovulate or menstruate. Menopause can be a natural life event or may happen surgically through hysterectomy or through chemical such as various forms of chemotherapy.
Pregnancy
Finally! Yes, your missed period might be because you're pregnant! A simple pregnancy test can usually help you determine if you have missed your period because you are pregnant. The urine pregnancy tests and blood pregnancy tests look for the hormone hCG.

Best Food , Do and Don'ts During Periods

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:15:00 -0700

Causes Of Menstrual Cramps

The most common cause for menstrual cramps or primary dysmenorrhea is when the uterus, a muscle, contracts and the pain associated is caused by this muscle losing its supply of oxygen. The pain usually begins a couple of days before a women's cycle and can last for the first couple of days of their period. When this pain becomes to unbearable to handle on its own you can take over the counter pain relievers such as Ibuprofen, apply a heat compress, and avoid certain foods. Some women find comfort with oral contraceptives as well as maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet and regular exercise.

If you find yourself in a fetal position time after time with immense pain associated with menstrual cramps be sure to contact your gynecologist and make sure it is not a sign of a more serious health condition. But if you are like many of the women who battle with the annoying and agonizing pain that comes with your monthly visit and would like to aid the cramps with a natural approach then your in luck, with certain foods you can ease your menstrual cramps as well as help your over all diet.

BEST FOOD To EAT DURING PERIODS

BEANS

The high fiber content of beans and peas reduces the congestive symptoms of cramps by producing bulkier stools with higher water content. This rids the body of excess fluid and also normalizes digestion, reducing both constipation and diarrhea, according to Dr. Susan Lark, director of the PMS Self-Help Center in Los Altos, California, and author of "Dr. Susan Lark's Menstrual Cramps Self Help Book." Legumes are also a good source of B vitamins, which prevent cramps and menstrual fatigue. Although beans can create excess gas, this can be minimized by eating small amounts and increasing slowly, or by taking a digestive enzyme like Beano.

GREEN VEGETABLES

Green vegetables are high in calcium, magnesium and potassium, which relieve and prevent the spasms that lead to cramping pain. Lark also adds that these minerals can calm and relax emotions, reducing irritability. Dark green vegetables also contain high amounts of vitamin K, which is needed to coagulate blood and prevent excess bleeding.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

A group of hormone-like substances in the body called prostaglandins are involved in muscle contractions and menstrual pain. One way to shut down the prostaglandin effect is by consuming omega-3 fatty acids like those contained in salmon, walnuts and flaxseed. A 1995 study in the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that women whose diets are balanced in favor of omega-3s, rather than other fats, tend to have milder menstrual symptoms.

PINEAPPLE

A report from Dr. Phyllis Johnson, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, found that young women who consumed low amounts of manganese had an increased menstrual flow of up to 50 percent, leading Johnson to recommend that women with menstrual discomfort increase their manganese consumption. Fruits are high in manganese, but one of the richest manganese food sources is pineapple. Pineapple also contains high levels of bromelain, an enzyme thought to help relax muscles and therefore prevent menstrual cramping.

TEA

Tea is another source of manganese, according to Johnson, although women should avoid the caffeinated version, which can actually lead to greater menstrual discomfort. Ginger tea may be helpful in relieving nausea and bloating, and chamomile tea also contains properties that relieve muscle spasms and reduce the tension that can lead to anxiety and irritability.

WATER

Excessive fluid retention is one of the main causes of congestive symptoms seen with cramps, which are characterized by dull, aching pain. One of the very best ways to help decrease water retention, even though it may seem counterintuitive, is to increase water consumption--if a woman isn't drinking enough, her body may overcompensate by retaining extra water.

WHOLE GRAINS

A study by British doctors found that eating small amounts of carbohydrates every three hours and within one hour of going to bed combated PMS symptoms in 70 percent of women. Dr. Lark adds that whole grains are excellent sources of magnesium, which reduces neuromuscular tension. Whole grains also have B-complex vitamins and vitamin E to combat fatigue and depression.

YOGURT

Yogurt contains live and active cultures of bacteria that promote a healthy digestion. Yogurt is also a good source of calcium, and getting twice as much calcium as an average women consumes on a daily basis, 1,300 milligrams instead of 600, seems to alleviate menstrual discomfort, according to James G. Penland, Ph.D., a psychologist at the Department of Agriculture. However, since meat and dairy products contain arachidonic acids, which increase the production of cramp-causing prostaglandins, women may prefer to choose nondairy forms of calcium such as broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones and calcium-fortified foods like cereals and juices.

DON'T DRINK CAFFEINE

Cutting back on caffeine intake can help reduce bloating and calm an irritable stomach. "Caffeine can increase stomach acid and be rough on sensitive intestines. If you want a rich-tasting coffee substitute, try my traditional Indian chai," professional chef and healthy living expert Jennifer Iserloh says.

DON'T SKIP THE WATER

This one may not feel intuitive, but Rose explains that drinking more water will help your body release water retention and alleviate bloating. "Your body is retaining water because it's afraid of not getting enough. So, if you give it what it needs (more water) it will release the water it's holding onto."

DON'T FORGET YOUR VITAMINS

Thomas suggests adding vitamin-friendly foods to your diet, especially during your cycle. Vitamin E can help eliminate some PMS symptoms; you'll find it in avocado, hemp seeds and egg yolk. Vitamin B6 can help relieve bloating and boost your mood; find it in potatoes, bananas and oatmeal. Lastly, vitamin C and zinc support the health of a woman's eggs and reproductive system. Find vitamin C in grapefruits and lemons and zinc in pumpkin seeds and squashes.

DON'T EAT TOO MUCH SALT

Though salt is crucial to good health, bloating and water retention can occur if you overdo it. According to Iserloh, nutritionists recommend a diet with 2,300 milligrams/day, or roughly one teaspoon. "The best way to control salt intake is to avoid processed and fast foods, many of which contain three to four times the salt you should have in one meal."

Method for avoid Pain during Periods

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:01:00 -0700

Avoid period pains naturally

While the effects of menstrual cramps or period pains vary from women to women, for many they can be debilitating and cause considerable pain and discomfort for at least 24 hours.

The medical term is dysmenorrhea and your period pains are caused by the uterus contracting. In addition to severe stomach pain, some women may experience extreme tiredness, back ache, vomiting, diarrhoea and pain down the inside of the thighs. The good news is that there is much you can do to ease this pain and discomfort.

And this begins with some planning before your periods are due to start:

- Avoid salty foods and alcohol as these can increase bloating by retaining water, making the cramping pain worse.

- Drink lots of water – you may be surprised to know that this helps in avoiding bloating. Add lemon juice, a natural diuretic to decrease bloating.

- A healthy diet including lots of greens is a good way to avoid a sluggish feeling.

- Avoid dairy and caffeine as many find these increase period pains.

- Avoid soy products as these are likely to affect the hormones.

- Try to eat less before periods.

- You can help by taking supplements including cell salts, extra calcium, magnesium, zinc and potassium. Vitamin B complex helps to reduce muscle spasms. In addition herbal treatments such as evening primrose oil will reduce or even prevent cramps while an anti spasmodic herbal treatment such as herbal teas drunk from the start of your period a few times a day will be beneficial. Blanched ginger or lemon balm teas can also be drunk.

- Above all, avoid stress. Let those around you know that you are not feeling yourself so that you can relax in peace! This can be a tall order if you have young children.

Once the period starts and you feel any pain or discomfort, then here are some helpful ideas and some natural treatments too:

- Essential oils such as lavender in an oil burner or your bath or rubbed into the abdomen will help you to relax and in turn help ease the cramps.

- An old fashioned hot water bottle is very comforting for stomach cramps or the more modern heating pad can be used. Soak in a warm bath a couple of times during the day too.

- Warm a small amount of olive oil, cool and rub on stomach. Lie down for 15-20 minutes. An alternative is Clary Sage.

- A home remedy is to take a cotton wool pad that covers most of the abdomen, soak with Arrack and place on the painful spot for half an hour.

- Another home remedy using Arrack is to swallow a tablespoon of Cumin with a glass of Arrack.

- Once you feel cramps, eat a banana plus a tub of natural yoghurt daily.

- Acupuncture and Aromatherapy are two other treatments that might be helpful to you. Acupuncture is said to ease all gynaecological problems, helping to unblock energy channels in the reproductive system.

Interestingly, although exercise is often recommended for period pain, a recent study by Birmingham University researchers in the UK found no link with the amount of exercise participants did and the alleviation of period pain.

They carried out a questionnaire among 18 to 25 year olds to find out what age they started their period, how often these occurred, what contraception they used and whether they had children or any conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids. They were also asked what type of exercise they did and how often plus other general lifestyle questions.

You might like to find out more about this by going on to the sitehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8408651.stm. The general consensus amongst medical practitioners is that women should do exercise regardless but that drugs are available for those with period pain.

Well, we are trying to cut down on the use of drugs for every condition and ailment and go the more natural route! Unfortunately, all too often male doctors will try to put you onto hormonal birth control or prescription pain killers as the answer to severe period pains.

Gentle exercise such as walking, swimming or yoga is certainly not going to do any harm.

By trying out the various methods listed, you will be sure to find one that suits you and your particular menstrual problem…naturally!

Natural Period Pain Relief

Naturopathic medicine can provide immense period pain relief. The aim is to treat the pain and other symptoms, and bring back a state of balance naturally. If you do all of this, your general wellbeing will improve and you can lead a vital and active life.

Place a hot water bottle on your abdomen.
Avoid drinking cold water (straight from the fridge) for a week before and during your period.
Sip herb teas - chamomile, ginger, raspberry leaf and peppermint are good choices. Your naturopath will make up a more specific herbal formula in conjunction with your consultation, usually containing herbs to balance the hormonal cycle and antispasmodic herbs such as cramp bark to help relieve the cramping symptomatically.
Massage your abdomen - rub around your abdomen in a clockwise direction.
Castor oil packs can provide great relief from cramping, pain and back ache.
Magnesium in the form of magnesium phosphate if taken every one to two hours helps relieve cramping.
A warm bath may help - add some chamomile flowers (or a few teabags) and essential oils such as rosemary, juniper, geranium and lavender into the bath water.
Use pads instead of tampons.
Gently press your pressure points and increase the pressure gradually. Make sure you continue to breathe rhythmically.
- Spleen 6: this point is found in a hollow that is about three finger widths above the interior anklebone.
- Colon 4: found in the V between the thumb and first finger.
Take care with yoga postures. If they cause any discomfort or pain stop immediately. It is always best to speak to your yoga teacher if you are new to yoga.
- Bow - lie on your stomach and bend your knees. Grab ankles and pull legs up towards head. Release gently and rock back and forward.
- Lie on your back and bring your knees up to your chest. Hold for 10 seconds. Do both legs together and also one at a time.

You may find some of the above techniques more effective than others.

While the methods suggested above may help to relieve pain every month, naturopathic treatment offers gentle improvement every month so that eventually you should have no pain at all.

Methods/Food For Regular Periods

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:53:00 -0700

Remedies for Irregular Menstrual Periods

Irregular periods may be common in most women and are mostly due to the hormonal changes in the body. Most of the women experience a 28 day menstrual cycle on an average. However many have a cycle from anywhere between 21 days to 35 days. The cycle depends on the hormones and can become irregular causing continuous bleeding, a missed period or occurrence of two periods within one cycle.

Reasons - The reason for irregular menstrual periods is due to the hormones and the hormonal signals that get imbalanced. Usually the hormones estrogen and progesterone are required to produce a period and these are stored in the pituitary gland and the ovaries. To trigger menstrual periods, these parts send signals to each other but sometimes these signals get missed or crossed causing irregular menstrual periods. The reasons for creating the signals to mess up are as follows:

1. Pregnancy: This is usually the first thing to check for if you have missed a period. In pregnancy the body produces different levels of hormones which cause the period to end.

2. Diet: A poor diet of lack of nutrition can also be a reason for irregular menstrual periods. If the condition of bulimia or anorexia is present in a woman, she may have irregular periods or sometimes no periods at all.

3. Menarche: It can take a couple of years for a girl’s period to regularize after she has had her first period. This is a normal condition.

4. Stress: If a woman is stressed about some issue, it can reflect in her menstrual cycle causing it to be irregular. Anxiety, fatigue, worries and stress are causes of this condition.

5. Intense Exercises: Intense workouts and exercises can also disrupt the hormonal balance in a woman’s body resulting in irregular menstrual periods.

6. Birth Control Pills: Irregularity of periods is common in women who take birth control pills. The body has to adjust to the new levels of hormone being taken in the form of the pills.

7. Menopause: Irregular periods are often a sign of menopause which alters the levels of hormones in the body.

For many women, this irregularity is nothing serious and nothing to be worried about. Some home remedies can be followed to deal with these irregularities and help the periods to become regular.

Home Remedies: Some of the home remedies for irregular menstrual cycle are as under:

1. Carrot juice taken regularly will help treating a condition of irregular menses.

2. Include pumpkin seeds, drumsticks, papaya, bitter gourd and snake gourd in your diet.

3. Fennel seeds are also beneficial in this condition.

4. Grape juice can help in bringing the regularity back.

5. Dill is effective in stimulating the menstruation.

6. Asafetida is widely used for regularizing periods. It is an effective home remedy.

7. Take the ginger with honey every day.

8. Try to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages and alcohol.

9. You must avoid eating spicy and fried food. Also avoid chocolates and pineapples to overcome this problem.

10. Gynecure capsule is a useful herbal remedy for treating irregular menstruation.

Follow these above home remedies to prevent the condition of irregular periods. Take adequate rest and maintain a stress free life to improve your menstrual cycles. Maintaining healthy choices in diet is also very important to cure irregular menstrual periods.

Food That Make Your Menstrual Cycle Regular

Your first step in regulating your periods is figuring out what’s causing an irregular menstrual cycle. Once you determine the cause, you’ll be better able to find an effective treatment.

Omega-3 fatty acids – salmon, sardines, etc

The blood vessels in your ovaries are tiny, which makes them vulnerable to damage and poor circulation. Smoking, obesity, and high cholesterol can negatively affect your ovarian blood vessels, which blocks hormones and blood flow. Fish oils enhance blood circulation, reduce damage from free radicals, fight the effects of aging, and increase dopamine (which improves your mood!).

Dr Booth recommends adding a fish oil supplement to your diet, instead of eating a high fish diet (because of the mercury in some tuna, swordfish, mackerel, etc).

Non-white foods

Most natural foods are not white, so you can assume that if a food is white, it is probably processed to the point of being unhealthy! To make your menstrual cycle regular, avoid white flour, sugar, white potatoes, white bread, white pasta, and white rice. They disrupt your menstrual cycle by creating insulin surges that result in fat storage. This excess fat storage negatively affects ovulation and your periods – and can cause irregular periods.

Protein – cottage cheese, lean meats, nuts

“Finding sources of balanced protein can be a challenge for busy women, but it is a must for hormonal balance, writes Dr Booth in The Venus Week. The more you balance your hormones, the more regular your menstrual cycle will be. Plant proteins are especially good for enhancing fertility and hormonal balance: almonds, walnuts, peanuts, cheese, hard boiled eggs, soy chips, hummus, canned sardines, and edamame.

Vitamin D – perhaps take a supplement

This vitamin improves communication between your cells, which stabilizes your hormones. Vitamin D is also vital in cancer protection – especially breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancers. “Vitamin D is a little hard to come by in food,” writes Dr Booth. Eat vitamin D-fortified milk products, tuna, egg yolks, salmon, sardines, and (yuck) cod liver oil.

To increase your vitamin D and make your menstrual cycle regular, make sure you getting enough sunlight. Where you live and the color of your skin determines how much time you should spend in the sun, but my research tells me that the average North American should spend about 10 minutes in the sun about 2-3 times per week.

Dark chocolate!

“Chocolate contains flavenoids, which have estrogen-like activity and help improve circulation by reducing platelet clumping, writes Dr Booth in The Venus Week. Flavenoids also enhance microcirculation in the ovaries and endocrine glands, and increase dopamine (a “feel good” hormone).

Not just any old chocolate will do: eat dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa solids.