Information and facts on Breast Cancer

 

According to the American Cancer Society 1 in 9 women will get breast cancer before she is 85.  Estrogen, obesity, having no children, menopause after age 55, menstruation before age 9, high fat diet, are risk factors in getting breast cancer. Cigarettes and alcohol both increase a woman's chances of getting breast cancer. Stress is also believed to play a role in breast cancer. Not many people know men can also get breast cancer, but they account for less than 1% of breast cancer cases. It is good to examine your breasts once a month, however do not examine them during your menstrual period.

MORE INFORMATION

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for women in the USA. Each year, over 180,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, one in nine women will get breast cancer before she has reached 85 years of age. The human breast is a gland that contains milk ducts, lobes, fatty tissue, and a network of lymphatic vessels. Cancerous tumors can arise in virtually any area of the breast, and are most often detected when a woman feels a lump. In general, cancerous lumps are firm, never go away, and are normally pain free. Most breast lumps are not cancerous but rather are cysts or fibroid masses, but there is no way to tell without a doctor's or examination. A lump that seems to be growing or does not move when pushed may be cancerous, or could simply be caused by normal fibrocystic changes during the female menstrual cycle. A biopsy is needed to identify the lump. Breast cancer may also cause a yellow, bloody, or clear discharge from the nipple.

People tend to think of breast cancer as a single entity, but there are actually different types of the disease. Some types of breast cancer include the following:

Adenoid cystic carcinoma -  malignant cytosarcoma phylliodes, medullary carcinoma, and tubular carcinoma. These and several other relatively uncommon types of breast cancer tend to be less aggressive than the other forms.

Infiltrating ductal carcinoma - this is a cancer that arises in the lining of the milk ducts and invades the surrounding breast tissue. Approximately 80% of all cases of breast cancer are infiltrating ductal carcinomas.

Inflammatory carcinoma -  in this type of cancer, a tumor arises in the lining of the milk ducts and, as it grows, it plugs the lymphatic and blood vessels. The skin thickens and turns red, and the breast becomes extremely tender and looks infected. This type of cancer spreads very quickly due to the rich blood and lymph vessel supply associated with the inflammatory reaction.

Intraductal carcinoma in situ - this is a localized type of cancer in which cancerous cells grow within the ducts. This type of cancer may not invade other tissues.

Lobular carcinoma - a less common form of breast cancer, lobular carcinoma-breast cancer that arises in the lobes- accounts for about 9% of breast cancers. Lobular carcinomas occasionally occur in both breasts simultaneously.

Paget's disease of the nipple - this form of cancer occurs when cells from an underlying cancerous tumor migrate to the nipple. The symptoms are itching, redness, and soreness of the nipple. Paget's disease always signals the presence of primary ductal carcinoma elsewhere in the breast tissue.

There is no one answer as to what causes breast cancer, but the female sex hormone estrogen is the a likely culprit in many cases. Estrogen promotes cellular growth in the tissues of the breasts and female reproductive organs, and cancer is a problem of uncontrolled cell growth. Also, some of the known risk factors for breast cancer include starting menstruation before the age of nine, menopause after age 55, or having the first child after age 40, and having no or few children. One thing all of these risk factors have in common is that they result in the breasts being exposed to more estrogen for longer periods. Obesity also raises a woman s risk of having breast cancer, and obese women tend to have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies than do thin women. Eating a high-fat diet has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, and when a woman eats a diet high in fat and low in fiber, then her body will produce more of the estrogen hormone.

Environmental factors may be involved as a cause of breast cancer, among them exposure to such things as pesticides and radiation, and the use of breast implants Although the use of silicone polyurethane implants, silicone filled implants coated with polyurethane has been banned since 1992 because of problems with their safety, over 200,000 American women still have these type implants in their body. Polyurethane releases a human carcinogen known as TDA or toluene diisocyanate, which was banned for use in hair dye long before the controversy over breast implants began. Silicone has been shown to cause malignant tumors in research animals. Moreover, even if there were no potential danger from the implants themselves, breast implants can make it more difficult to detect breast cancer in the earlier stages because they may hide breast tissue, interfering with the ability to take and interpret mammograms properly. Heredity is a factor in breast cancer as well; there are certain types of the disease that clearly run in families.

Although it is possible for a woman to get breast cancer at any age, the disease is most common in women over 40, especially postmenopausal women. Men also can get breast cancer, but they account for fewer than 1% of breast cancer cases. However, while it occurs less frequently, breast cancer in men usually is diagnosed at a later, and therefore more serious, stage because neither physicians nor their patients tend to suspect it.

It is important to detect breast cancer in its earliest and most curable stage. Making healthy changes in diet and lifestyle, examining your breasts regularly (see below) and having regular mammograms can increase your chances of avoiding or overcoming, breast cancer.

BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION

It is important to examine your breasts each month, at the same point in your menstrual cycle. Do not examine them during your menstrual period. Before the period, a woman's breasts may swell and become tender or lumpy. This usually decreases after the period. The breasts also become larger and firmer during pregnancy, in preparation for breastfeeding. Familiarize yourself with the normal feel of your breasts so that you can detect any changes such as enlargement of a lump. A women who is accustomed to the way her breasts feel is better able to notice subtle changes. Any changes in your breasts should be reported to your health care provider, and you should be rechecked by a professional if you have any doubt concerning your examination. Since men also can get breast cancer, they can benefit from self-examination as well. The following is the recommended procedure for breast self-examination

1. While standing and looking in the mirror, raise your hands over your head and press them together. Notice the shape of your breasts. Place your hands on your hips, apply pressure, and look for dimpling of the skin, nipples that seem to be out of position, one breast that looks different from the other, or red scaling or thickening of either the skin or nipples

2. Raise one arm above your head. With the other hand, firmly explore your breast Beginning at the outer edge, using a gentle circular motion, gradually work inward to the nipple. Take your time when examining the area between the nipple and the armpit, and feel the armpit as well. You have lymph nodes in the armpit; they move freely and feel soft, and are not painful to the touch Look for lumps that are hard and not mobile. Cancers are often attached to underlying muscle or the skin When you have finished examining one breast, repeat this on the other side

3. Lie down on your back and repeat step 2. Lumps may be more easily detected in this position. Also, squeeze each nipple gently to check for blood or a watery yellow or pink discharge.

4. In addition to monthly self-examination, the American Cancer Society recommends that women between the ages of 20 and 40 years old have their breasts examined by a physician every 1 to 3 years. After age 40, the exam should be performed each year.

Other Changes To Make

• drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or filtered water a day

• eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)

• nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good

• juice is good (make your own with a juice machine)

• do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods

• carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack

• a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)

• do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks

• do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...

• use stress relief like going for walks in the park (or the 10/90 rule - see Stress)

• brown rice is good to eat

• avoid red meat and animal fats

• reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others

• fast a few days a month

• get at least 8 hours of sleep 

• exercise light to moderate amounts

• avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet

• do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke

• do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal

• do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry

• do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or to administer to any physical ailments.
In all matters related to your health please contact a qualified, licensed Medical Consultant or Doctor.