“Symptoms of Breast Cancer” plus 4 more |
- Symptoms of Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Treatment Options
- Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer Women Should Expect to See
- Breast Cancer Walk - Increasing Awareness of Breast Cancer
- Unraveling the Pink Ribbon - The Most Aggressive Form of Breast Cancer
| Posted: 04 Dec 2009 03:39 PM PST It is important that women are aware of how their breasts feel normally, so they will notice any breast cancer symptoms at an early stage, when treatment often has a better outcome. Men, too, should be on the alert for any changes in their breast tissue. Breast cancer can be present for years without causing any symptoms. The first sign that something is wrong for most women is when they find a lump in the breast or the nearby armpit. The breast cancer symptoms could be any of the following -
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| Breast Cancer Treatment Options Posted: 04 Dec 2009 02:53 PM PST With improvements in breast cancer treatments and breast cancer detection survival rates are continuing to improve. In the past, treatment options would have been restricted to a very few but excellent research in recent years has led to advancements in the number of treatments available and improvements in existing treatment methods. The various options available for breast cancer sufferers include: • surgery, which can be mastectomy, lumpectomy and lymph node dissection,
Surgical practices have improved in recent times and it's often possible to be far more precise nowadays when performing surgery, enabling a surgeon to get direct to the source of the disease, and causing far less damage to the surrounding area. Sometimes a lumpectomy can be performed which removes the cancerous lump without removing the entire breast. This would usually only be performed if the lump is very small and the surgeons don't think the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes. If there is some concern about the size or spread of the cancer then a mastectomy may be performed. This removes the entire affected breast. Some women may request that both breasts are removed even though one is completely healthy. The removal of the healthy breast is known as a prophylactic mastectomy. Usually in cases of invasive breast cancer a second procedure is carried out at the same time as the mastectomy or lumpectomy and this is known as lymph node dissection. This involves extending the breast incision to the armpit area, or in the case of a lumpectomy making a small incision, and removing part or all of the lymph nodes to establish whether cancer has invaded these. This will help the surgeon and oncologist decide on the best treatment plan Radiation therapy is usually carried out a little while after surgery when the patient's skin has recovered. During therapy high levels of radiation are sent directly to the cancer cells. Radiation also targets cells that may have been left behind during surgery, this is often referred to as "mopping up" stray cancer cells. Radiation therapy is similar to having an xray taken although there can be some side effects due to the high levels of radiation being given. Soreness of the skin and "sunburn" can happen. Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to treat the disease. Because it is administered through the blood stream is very effective as it acts on the rapidly dividing cancer cells. Unfortunately the chemicals don't differentiate between sick and healthy cells so the doses need to be very exact and there are unpleasant side effects such as nausea, hair loss, mouth and skin ulcers. No discussion of breast cancer treatment can afford not to mention that there are a number of alternative therapies available such as yoga and acupuncture. It's impossible to say whether these treatments are effective as there isn't enough research available however they are often found to ease the discomfort associated with the conventional treatments so may be worth considering in conjunction with your treatment plan. Always discuss this with your surgeon or oncologist before embarking on any alternative therapy. Every breast cancer patient is different and so every breast cancer treatment plan will differ slightly from the next. The most suitable treatment plan for each individual will be arrived at after consultation between your breast cancer team and yourself. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer Women Should Expect to See Posted: 04 Dec 2009 09:48 AM PST Breast cancer survival rate tends to be very high if the symptoms are detected early. The first symptom most women see of this cancer is a lump in the breast. This lump feels unusual to other breast tissue and it is usually the first warning sign. It has been noted that considerable amount of women, over 70% only discover that they have breast cancer after they detect the lump. A mammography is then conducted by a trained physician to confirm whether it is cancerous or not. The mammography is strictly an early warning test and early detection of the symptoms of breast cancer will aide in treatment and recovery. Another sign of disease is Paget's disease of the breast. This presents itself in the form of eczema like redness and flaking around the breast nipples. Intensified symptoms of Paget's are ache around the breast, tingling, itching, increased feeling and burning. Weight loss is another symptom. Inexplicable loss of weight is usually a symptom of ill health and a visit to the physician can detect the reasons behind it. Still another symptom is pain in other parts of the body. If the cancer metastasizes, it can spread to other parts of the body such as the bone, kidney, liver and other parts. For instance, one may experience pain in the joints which is actually a sign of breast cancer. Other symptoms include the inversion of the nipples, changes in the size of the breast and unprompted discharges from one of the breast nipples. If you notice any of the above symptoms of breast cancer, it is recommended you consult your physician as soon as possible. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Breast Cancer Walk - Increasing Awareness of Breast Cancer Posted: 04 Dec 2009 08:21 AM PST Breast cancer has a relatively high rate of affecting at least 12% of women in America. In fact, according to published statistics, every adult woman can actually develop this type of cancer at some point. Not enough women, however, are taking the risk of this cancer seriously. Therefore a breast cancer walk is an ideal way to promote awareness of this insidious disease that affects the lives of numerous women in the United States today. Risk Factors A breast cancer walk increases awareness of the risk factors of cancer of the breast. Among these are: a family history of this type of cancer, early onset of menarche or late menopause as well as a personal history of abnormalities of the breast or a breast disease which was diagnosed as benign. Even a high fat diet can contribute to its development. Genetics have long been associated as a possible contributing factor to the disease. After lung cancer, cancer of the breast is the second most common cause of cancer among women. Therefore it's beneficial for women to be aware of the causes of this disease, the symptoms and how it can be treated. Management is an important part of cancer awareness. Breast Cancer Walk The breast cancer walk is considered one of the most important awareness programs for this cancer. This 3 day walk is a benefit program that aims to raise funds. This is an important walk that benefits victims of cancer of the breast. Both men and women participate in this 3 day walk that covers 60 miles and involves millions of Americans all over the country. It's an ideal opportunity for participants to further understand this dangerous disease and help spread the word among their family, friends and associates. By being a participant in this walk, you can meet plenty of like minded people from all walks of life. You can share your experience and learn how others have coped with the disease. There are countless people along the route who offer food and drinks to all the participants and safety nets make the experience fulfilling and safe for everyone involved. Medical volunteers are on standby to ensure that that anyone who needs medical attention during the walk will get it promptly. Breast cancer walk is a great idea to spread the awareness of cancer of the breast. It's also lots of fun involving physical activity that everyone can join in. You'll be doing your bit for a good cause. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Unraveling the Pink Ribbon - The Most Aggressive Form of Breast Cancer Posted: 04 Dec 2009 06:43 AM PST It doesn't come wrapped in a little pink ribbon. It doesn't come with a cute "breast cancer awareness" pen, stuffed animal, umbrella or any other marketable items. It comes with a grizzly 2-inch open sore beneath a purplish-red breast swollen to twice its normal size. This is the "silent killer" that, according to information from the and National Cancer Institute, accounts for one to five percent of all U.S. breast cancer cases and kills about 60 percent of patients within five years. Victims of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) are far from having a "cute" experience. The Past
The nests clog breast tissue vessels, causing the breast to heat and swell. Garber was soon given news that she had approximately six more months to live. Immediately starting the rigorous plan of chemotherapy, a mastectomy in January 2003 and radiation therapy, she maintained optimistic, despite the grim outlook. "She didn't believe it," Gamble said. "She kept saying 'I've never been sick a day in my life, so how could this be happening to me?'" Before her first mastectomy, Garber was treated with Adriamycin-Cytoxan, a form of chemotherapy that shrank her tumor by half its original size. Shortly after her surgery, the open sores reappeared over Garber's mastectomy scars and spread to her left breast. When the open sores kept reappearing, Garber was diagnosed as stage IV, meaning the cancer had moved to other organs. Misdiagnosis is very common when it comes to IBC, according to information from IBCRF. Many victims are misdiagnosed with mastitis, a breast infection, and are prescribed antibiotics. "It was spreading so fast, it was unbelievable," Gamble said. "Time is of the essence with IBC." Also of the essence is ability to correctly define the cancer, according to IBCRF. Clinical IBC diagnosis is based on abnormal redness of the skin, skin swelling and an orange skin color. While such characteristics can be helpful in identifying the cancer, scientists are still researching what causes it, including having other types of breast cancer throughout family history, according to the NCI. Between the clinical and gene-related characteristics, IBC is very broadly defined. The Present
The radiologist still did not know what it was, and sent Bryant back to her doctor. During a surgical appointment, Bryant was first told she had a 50/50 chance of having breast cancer. The next day, Bryant's husband searched the Internet for his wife's symptoms and came across the term "inflammatory breast cancer." Those three words were Bryant's diagnosis on May 14, 2001. "On Wednesday afternoon, a dear friend brought two of her powerful Christian friends to my office for healing prayer," Bryant said. "I left that room with a big smile, saying, 'I am going to be just fine!'" Bryant began the Adriamycin-Cytoxan chemotherapy on May 17, even heading back to work the following Monday with a positive outlook. "By the next chemo one week later, I was wearing my new wig," Bryant said. "I felt that if I saw myself with no hair, I would look sick and I refused to be sick." Her optimism was interrupted three weeks later, when her radiologist found two metastases on her vertebrae. Bryant was now stage IV. When she met with a Duke University Medical Center oncologist two weeks after her diagnosis, he gave the impression that he did not expect Bryant to live much longer. She refused to believe him. "He was not very encouraging and explained that this was a serious breast cancer," Bryant said. "I told [my husband] and myself then that I was going to prove them wrong." Bryant had surgery on Aug. 8, 2001 and completed all her radiation treatments on Jan. 28, 2002. She receives scans every six months and has remained stable so far. Garber's strength ended on July 31, 2003 when she lost her battle at 7:58 p.m. in West Florida Hospital, approximately four months before her 50th birthday. Average victims are diagnosed at age 56, according to IBCF. Other breast cancer victims are diagnosed, on average, around age 62. "She was fine and talkative and then one day she asked the nurse to take out her IV because it 'hurt,'" Gamble said. "I kept saying, 'but you need your IV; you're not eating,' and she would say, 'I'll get it put back in as soon as I start feeling better.'" Shortly after Garber had her IV taken out, she fell asleep and Gamble could not awaken her. Bryant has spent her recovery reaching out to such patients through the American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery program, where she volunteers. "I have met several IBC patients, and do everything I can to encourage them," Bryant said. "I like to give other patients hope." Gamble found hope on Oct. 25, 2006 while attending the opening of the new University of Texas M.D. Anderson Research Program for Inflammatory Breast Cancer, the first center in the world dedicated solely to the rare disease. Co-director Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli, associate professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology, said in the opening news release that the clinic's primary goal is to "finally understand why this disease is different, why it is so resistant to treatment, and ultimately to develop therapies that improve the well-being of women with this very rare form of breast cancer." "[The opening] was wonderful," Gamble said. "I've been getting mammograms for 16 years and no one has ever mentioned these symptoms to me." The Future I
Half of Paris' chemotherapy was completed on Nov. 20. She is planning to have surgery in January, depending on the diagnosis of a spot recently found on her lung. "If the spot is still there, they will biopsy it," Paris said. "If it's not scar tissue and turns out to be cancer, then probably more chemo before surgery." Working around chemotherapy appointments has been the only change in Paris' life since the diagnosis. She still spends time with her family and friends, sees her grandchildren and still has card night with her friends every Saturday. "I'm not putting my life on hold for this thing," Paris said. "If, by chance, it does go the wrong way, I don't want to have any regrets." Paris recently tested negative for the BRACA1/BRACA2 gene, which links to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, according to the NCI. She hopes her results can put her family at ease. A new gene was discovered in June, when scientists from The Cancer Institute at New York University Langone Medical Center identified eIF4G1 as overexposed in the majority of IBC cases, allowing the cancerous cells to more rapidly form the clusters responsible for spreading, according to IBCRF. The breakthrough could lead to new approaches, therapies and classes of drugs to target and treat IBC. "I hope this new test can shed some light on the whole IBC thing," Paris said. "If not to help me, but to help any one in the future who happens to be as unlucky as the rest of us who already have this stupid cancer." Although it is known by many as "silent," IBC is not invisible. But it is certainly not "cute." This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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