“Turmeric Protects Against Hormone Induced Breast Cancer” plus 2 more |
- Turmeric Protects Against Hormone Induced Breast Cancer
- All You Want to Know About Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer - Progesterone Protects Against It
| Turmeric Protects Against Hormone Induced Breast Cancer Posted: 03 Sep 2009 07:34 PM PDT A whole raft of scientific studies carried out over the past few decades has shown conclusively that turmeric's principal antioxidant phytonutrient, curcumin, has powerful cancer fighting properties. This new research is yet a further endorsement of this spice's fantastic disease fighting capabilities. Curcumin Curcumin is found in turmeric, ginger and a number of other spices. It is a widely acknowledged to be one of the most important cancer fighting, food-based compounds as it has also been shown to help prevent a number of cancer types as well as neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Researches at The Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center and the College Of Veterinary Medicine in the USA have discovered another string to this wonderful spice's medicinal bow. In a recent paper published in the journal Menopause the scientists describe how curcumin blocks the carcinogenic effects of hormone replacement therapy in post menopausal women. The culprits Most hormone replacement preparations prescribed for post menopausal problems include a combination of estrogens and progestin hormones. It is the latter synthetic progesterones that increase the risk of breast cancer in those who have such bad menopausal symptoms that they cannot do without hormone replacement therapies. Progestins increase the risk of breast cancer by stimulating the blood supply to developing cancer cells. They do this by enhancing the production of a growth factor that is responsible for the formation of new blood vessels. By blocking the production of the progestin-stimulated growth factor, curcumin attenuates the blood supply to breast cancer cells without which they cannot survive. Anti-obesity activity of curcumin Coincidentally another recent bit of scientific work indicates that curcumin's ability to inhibit the growth of blood vessels may also make it a useful in the fight against obesity! In a similar fashion to its cancer-fighting effects it does so by inhibiting the blood supply to new fat cells. By inhibiting the formation of fat cells curcumin slows down the rate at which the body stores fat. More importantly it makes it easier for individuals to lose weight as, once a fat cell has formed, the body can't get rid of it. It is important to note that curcumin taken on its own is not well utilized by the body - i.e. it has a low bioavailability. This is because enzymes in the intestines and liver break it down before it has had a chance to do its good work. Spicy synergism with curcumin Fortunately other spices contain compounds (like black pepper's piperine) that increase the bioavailability (and thus efficacy) of curcumin by several thousand per cent. Therefore taking a capsule of curcumin on its own is unlikely to be of much benefit in terms of the prevention or treatment of disease. It is far better to follow the culinary wisdom of thousands of years and use a wide variety of spices with curcumin-containing turmeric as phytonutrients in plant foods tend to have synergistic effects with one another.  |
| All You Want to Know About Breast Cancer Posted: 03 Sep 2009 07:46 AM PDT The particular part of the breast where a cancer originates categorizes that type of breast cancer *Ductal Carcinoma: The beginnings of this type of cancer is in the cells which line the ducts of the breast, the ducts that supply milk to the nipple; just underneath the nipple and the areola. If the cancer is in situ, that is, it is contained and not invasive out it is called Ductal Carcinoma IN Situ (DCIS). Treatment of such a type of cancer is largely successful and can be typically removed by a lumpectomy. In case the margins of the tumor are devoid of cancer, radiation might be a form of follow-up treatment. If it has become invasive - spread into nearby tissue a mastectomy may be required coupled with chemotherapy. *Lobular Carcinoma: This variety of breast cancer, as it is named, starts at the lobes (glands) that are located under the ducts far more deeper inside the breasts. These lobes produce milk. If the cancer has not spread and is contained, then it is called Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS). Depending on whether the cancer is contained or has spread, either lumpectomy perhaps followed by radiation or mastectomy followed by chemotherapy may be the line of treatment. The next common type of breast cancer are those that have invaded adjacent tissue. They include: *Invasive (Infiltrating) Cancer of the Breast : These are the cancers that have the potential to spread out from the site of the original tumor and infiltrate into the whole of the breast or even into other parts of the body. Invasive breast cancer come in several different types and subtypes. *Inflammatory Breast Cancer: A very rare kind of breast cancer but a very aggressive kind. Instead of the typical form of other breast cancers that appear in the form of lumps, this variety takes the form or sheets or nests. It can appear under the skin or in the skin. Unlike the above mentioned two types of cancers, this kind is first treated with chemotherapy followed by surgery. If the cancer id detected early, then the prognosis is good and the rate of survival is gradually increasing. *Paget's Disease: This type of breast cancer was discovered by Sir James Paget and is so named after him. He was the one who noticed the relationship between the physiological changes of the nipple and the underlying cancer. Typically, the cancer has the appearance of a skin rash or an eczema on the nipple or there is a hardening of the nipple. There may be accompanying itchiness. This itchiness and the dislodging of scabs when scratched are the symptoms of the breast cancer festering under the skin. |
| Breast Cancer - Progesterone Protects Against It Posted: 03 Sep 2009 05:46 AM PDT "Your mammogram looks suspicious for breast cancer." These are indeed some of the most terrifying and upsetting words a woman can hear coming from the lips of her physician. Breast cancer elicits many fears including those relating to surgery, loss of body image and the loss of her sexuality. It is only by doing some thorough research on the subject that she will be able to make the best decision about her care. Introduction to Breast Cancer
I will be the first to point a finger to myself. In the past decades, there has been a heightened awareness of the risk of getting breast cancer so many more women are getting mammograms. However, breast cancers are the leading causes of death in women from the ages of 45 - 55. Research about the causes of breast cancer has yielded new information that genetic and/or hormonal factors are the main risk for this disease. They have different stages in order to ascertain just how far the cancer has spread. These are the different stages of breast cancer: * Stage 0 - carcinoma in situ which means it is only in one spot o Lobular carcinoma in situ. This means that abnormal cells have been found in the lining of one of the lobules. LCIS usually does not become an invasive cancer. However, it may be common to have LCIS in both breasts. o Ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS. This means that abnormal cells have been found in one of the duct linings. This is also known as intraductal carcinoma. If not treated, this type of breast cancer can become invasive. * Stage I - early stage of breast cancer that is invasive. The tumor is only about " across. This means that cancer cells have stayed within the breast. * Stage II - The tumor is only about " but has spread to underarm lymph nodes. The tumor measures " to 2", and may have spread to underarm lymph nodes. The tumor is larger than 2" and may have spread to underarm lymph nodes. * Stage III is advanced cancer that has been localized. It is divided into Stage IIIA, IIIB and IIIC. * Stage IV is known as distant metastatic cancer. This means that it has spread to other body parts. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? Common symptoms of this type of cancer include the following: * A change in how the nipple or breast feels
Usually early breast cancer does not cause any pain. However, a woman should see her physician if she has any of the above symptoms that do not go away. These symptoms most often are not due to cancer. How is breast cancer diagnosed? There are a variety of ways in which this disease may be diagnosed. They are as follows:
With such advances in diagnosis, screening and treatment, the death rate for this type of cancer has decreased by approximately 20% over the last ten years. Research is ongoing to develop more effective methods of screening as well as treatment programs. Progesterone to Treat Breast Cancer Hormone receptors are just like the antennae or ears on a cell. Estrogen is what tells the breast cancer cells to begin growing. When the estrogen attaches to the receptors, then the cells begin growing. After the cancer is taken out, the cancer cells are then tested to see if the hormone receptors are present. If either progesterone or estrogen is present, then it is possible to be treated using hormonal therapy. The more progesterone or estrogen that is present on those cells, it is more likely that hormonal therapy will be successful against this particular type of cancer. If high levels of progesterone and estrogen receptors are present, there is a greater likelihood that this hormonal therapy will be successful. Another name for this type of hormonal therapy is known as "anti-estrogen therapy". The goal of this type of therapy is to starve the cancer cells of the hormone that they live on which is estrogen. How do the hormones work? Progesterone as well as estrogen travel through the bloodstream and find their receptor sites on both the cancer as well as the healthy cells. Many beast cancers are dependent upon hormones. This means that the progesterone and the estrogen stimulate their growth by switching on hormone receptors in the cancerous cells. When these hormones are not present, the cancer cells will wither and will usually end up dying.
The progesterone receptors (PR) can also be involved in switching on the growth of breast cancer cells.
This article has attempted to discuss the sign and symptoms of breast cancer, what tests may be involved and how hormonal therapy may be able to reduce some types of this dreaded disease. |
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