The “War on Cancer” started in 1971 and since then billions and billions of dollars have been spent to fight against cancer. So you would expect that with so much money and resources that are spent each year, cancer would become less dangerous and less frequent. but this is not the case and each year the rate of cancer deaths increases. Could it be that chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer is not the best solution?
All the drugs, that are produced and sold to treat cancer are referred as chemotherapy. These drugs have to go through years and years of testing and millions of dollars are spent for it. Each dug or cure has to go through this process and this means most natural treatments and alternative treatments simple will not be accepted.
Another problem that exists is that, you can not patent something that comes from nature, like you can with drugs. When you can not patent something, then you also can not make money of it. That is why natural cures and pushed aside, they simple do not make money to big corporations and drug companies.
A average person, who has breast cancer or any other type of cancer, has to take these extremely dangerous, expensive and ineffective drugs. Money is the main factor, not the health and well-being of patients. For ordinary people it is really hard to understand how this can happen, but it does.
That is why it is essential for every person, to do her own research and look for various alternative ways to cure cancer. Expecting the doctors to solve all problems and expecting them to know everything, is not the way to go. If there is something that you can do, to treat breast cancer, then do it and there are a lot of things that you can do.
Breast cancer is the most critical cancer risk facing women in America now. By means of the pink ribbon as their symbol numerous organizations both in the United States and out of the country are battling to inform both women and men concerning this disease as well as promote research and development both for treatment of breast cancer and at some point the comprehensive eradication of the disease.
The pink ribbon deemed world wide to be an international symbol for breast cancer. The pink ribbon is ever-present, or seeming to be present far and wide at once, and be ubiquitous. No one company or organization or foundation has the rights to this worldwide symbol. But, individual pink ribbon designers could hold all rights reserved on their copyright, such as Avon has its own, as does Estee Lauder.
In the early 1970s the song Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree was released, based on this song a wife of a hostage in Iran, Penney Laingen, was the first who employed the ribbon as an awareness symbol. She attached yellow ribbons around the trees, to exemplify the aspiration of her husband coming home. Her friends and family members followed the style because of loyalty. Seeing that all Americans were able to perceive this message, the “ribbon became a medium”.
The pink ribbon for breast cancer has been the symbol for awareness of it and support for well over a decade. The derivations of the pink ribbon for breast cancer date back to the early 1990’s, when ribbons were fast becoming well-liked means to encourage awareness of different causes.
Breast cancer is an exceptionally personal disease as the breasts are a physically powerful organ of femininity and what makes a woman a woman. Selecting such a color that is a bright, healthy symbol of women was perceived as a positive and outstanding method to raise awareness of breast cancer as well as support funding of research to battle this disease.
This is not your normal type of breast cancer. What is the norm – you ask? It is self examination looking for lumps or a hard tissue mass, MRI exam, mammogram, etc. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a change in the breast tissue that does create a lump or hard tissue mass. Instead it is a redness, or possible swelling, maybe a warm feeling the breast area, or it could be an infection.
Bottom line: it is some sort of change in the breast that is not normal. Check it out – immediately! If you call your Doctor and ask about about IBC, he may not know what it is. Look for a medical professional that does about IBC. As I said it is not your normal breast cancer type. Regardless of what some doctors may say IBC is not caused by an infection, it is caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph nodes. IBC is only about 1% to 3% of all breast cancers that have been detected in the U.S.
What are the symptoms? They are definitely different than what you might expect. There are no lumps and won’t probably show up on a mammogram. It appears that African-American and younger women have a higher incidence. IBC is aggressive in its growth. In fact, when it is first noticed it could already be at Stage III. By the time it is diagnosed it could be late State III or even Stage IV and may have already metastasized to other parts of the body.
So what are the signs…
Anything unusual with the breasts One breast larger than the other Soreness in one breast Redness, rough texture like an orange peel Inverted nipple Thickened areas A warm feeling which would indicate infection Any pain with breast manipulation or otherwise
If a doctor may be slow to diagnose, find another doctor. You cannot delay any diagnosis, days are important.
Locate some vitamin supplements like immune booster products, vitamin B17, apricot seeds (kernels), antioxidants, parasite and detox cleansing programs.
Cancer can be the result of a weak immune system or an immune system that is not doing its job correctly. Supplementation with vitamins, herbs and minerals that are targeted towards correcting the body’s immune function is very important.
Vitamin B17 and apricot seeds, according to some information, target the cancer cells directly. Books have been written about vitamin B17 or laetrile. One is “The Death of Cancer”, by Dr. Harold Manner.
Another alternative holistic natural treatment that is FDA approved is hypothermia combined with low radiating dose. All methods of treatment need to be considered especially the natural way. Chemo and radiation treatment are very destructive to the body’s immune system.
Be aggressive in your research, check all forums, blogs, etc. Ask questions not only online but of the medical professionals that you have access to for any suggestions they may have on your options for treatment.
Breast cancer is the presence of malignant cancer cells in the breast area of a patient. It is ranked as the second cause of death in females suffering from cancer. There are several treatments available such as surgery; radiation therapy, and systemic therapy.
Surgery
In certain stages of breast cancer, undergoing surgery and removing the lump may be enough to stop the spread of cancer. The process might include taking a larger chunk of the mammary gland, making sure that the affected area and a substantial margin is surgically removed. If the tissue removed is believed not to eliminate all the cancer cells, a follow-up surgery may be required.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a process where high powered X-rays or gamma rays are used to accurately pinpoint the cancer cells. This method is very effective in eliminating cancer cells that threaten to recur in the body of the patient.
This option is taken usually only after surgery is performed. Radiation therapy is administered to eliminate the chance of the cancer cells to come back again.
Administering this form of treatment usually is done over a long period of five to seven weeks, five days a week for about 15 minutes per session. Radiation therapy cannot be a one-time thing because by proceeding with the treatment, normal healthy cells are also damaged during the process. Unlike cancer cells, healthy cells can repair themselves, and by limiting the dosage taken by the body per session, it allows the body to heal the damaged cells.
Some side-effects that come from radiation therapy are: fatigue due to the body’s repairing of the cells; reddening of the skin; muscle stiffness; mild swelling; tenderness in the treated area; long term shrinking of the irradiated breast.
Systemic Therapy
There are three types of systemic therapy: chemotherapy; hormonal treatment; and immune treatment.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can be administered before and after the surgery. It is used to shrink the size of the tumor and also to stop it from recurring again.
Hormonal Treatment
Patients that are positive for estrogen receptor tumors are advised to receive hormonal treatment after going through chemotherapy.
Immune Treatment
Usually immune treatment are only administered to patients who have metastasized diseases, but lately studies have shown that patients in the early stages of breast cancer will have significant benefits by getting this treatment.
Over the past decade there has been advancements in many of the treatments available for Breast Cancer. Through constant research we have come a long way from the limited treatment options available in the past. The top treatment choices available today are surgery, radiation, hormonal treatment (anti-estrogen based) and chemotherapy. These 4 regimins are often used in conjunction with each other or adjuvantly. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are offered a choice of treatments from this wide array it can be very confusing. We all know we want what is best for us but sometimes with the many options available how can one be sure?
We will try to provide you with an overview of the treatments available and how they relate to the stage of cancer you might have. Use this information to educate yourself so when it comes time for you and your doctor to make a decision you will know the facts on hand.
There are 3 General Types of Treatment Categories Available Today:
Local Treatment (Regional Treatment) – this type of treatment is localized to the breast and local lymphatics only or adjacent lymphatics to where the tumor was located.
Systemic Treatments – treat the whole body and are usually reserved for the prevention of spread (metastases) or directy to target spread that has occured.
Alternative Therapy – these are considered holistic therapy and can be helpful but have never been proven to cure. We will pay close attention to Local and Systemic treatments as the choices available to cure breast cancer.
Surgery: surgery has been the number one treatment option available for breast cancer for well over the past century. Today unlike surgery in the past the surgeons can precisely target the area consisting of the tumor and surrounding tissue and remove only what is necessary and leaving a considerable amount of breast tissue in tact. These new methods have come a long way from the days of the radical mastecomy where patients where often left deformed for life. And even the newer techniques available for a mastecomy today are alot less drastic than they where say 30 years ago.
Today most surgery done for breast cancer is considered breast-conserving therapy or what is commonly called a lumpectomy. A lumpectomy is where only the tumor is removed and then once this has been done the patient will undergo a series of weeks of Radiation treatments to cleanse the surrounding tissue and prevent recurrance.
The mastectomy is still available as a treatment options and this is basically where all of the breast tissue is removed down to and sometimes including the chestwall muscles. Radiation is also performed to cleanse the affected area after a mastectomy in alot of cases.
Radiation Therapy: radiation therapy consists of the use of high powered X or gamma rays that precisely target the area that is being treated. These X or Gamma rays are very effective in destroying the cancer cells that might recur where the tumor was removed. The use of radiation therapy for breast cancer is usually given after surgery has been performed and the purpose of the radiation is to reduce the change that the cancer will recur. Radiation reduces the risk of recurrance of breast cancer consdirably.
Hormone Therapy: some breast cancers are hormone-receptor positive. This means that the cancer will grow and spread if the hormone estrogen is present. If this is found to be the case with your type of breast cancer then the us of anti-estrogen hormone therapy will probably be used to lower the levels of estrogen in your body which in turn will prevent the cancer cells from beign stimulated and growing or spreading to other parts of the body Tamoxifen has been used for years as a anti-estrogen hormone therapy drug with breast cancer. In 2005 clinical trials from all of the world provided information saying that aromatase inhibitors worked alot better than Tamoxifen in post menopausal woman with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. Now this was only in post-menopausal woman and Tamoxifen is still the drug of choice for pre- menopausal woman.
Chemotherapy: in some breast cancers the risk over spread (metastases) is greater than in others. Remember everybody is different and everybody’s cancer will be different. If involvment of the lymph nodes is found,tumor size is great enough, or a higher grade is found your oncologist might suggest chemotherapy alone with other treatments including surgery and radiation.
There is a common misconception that men cannot have breast cancer. Men often ignore the symptoms of cancer or mistake them for other illnesses. Factors such as social stigma and embarrassment contribute to the increasing denial among men of the possibility of getting cancer of the breast The development of male cancer ( of the breast) is largely similar to what women encounter. Males around the ages of sixty and seventy are more prone to the incidence of this type of cancer than any other age group.
Cancer Statistics
The latest American Cancer Society estimates for male breast cancer shows that in 2009 about 1,910 cases will be diagnosed with about 440 fatalities. Approximately one percent of the cancer cases, cancer of the breast cases, affect men. The lifetime risk for developing this type of cancer is at about one in a thousand. Recent studies also shows that the prognosis for this type of cancer for both men and women remains the same and the outlook is still hinged on what stage the cancer was diagnosed.
As in any other cancer, early detection and treatment is vital to an individual’s survival. Thus, men are encouraged to be more aware of the cancer’s signs and symptoms. Educating males in combating the social stigma brought about by cancer also assist in helping men against this type of cancer.
Detecting breast cancer in men
Knowledge and awareness on the signs and symptoms of cancer are very valuable in delivering the earliest possible detection and treatment for men with this cancer of the breast. Here are some of the symptoms associated with cancer of the breast.
Painless development of lump or thickening of the breast Scaling and redness of the nipple and surrounding area Indentation or retraction in the nipple area Bloody or clear nipple discharge Risk Factors
There are several factors that increase the risk of men getting cancer of the breast. Some of which like genetics and age are uncontrollable. However, some risk factors such as poor diet, alcohol consumption and smoking can be controlled, so it best to learn what we need to avoid. Below is a list of breast cancer risk factors in men.
The average age of male breast cancer diagnosis is sixty-seven and breast cancer commonly occurs in men between the ages of sixty and seventy. One in five men with breast cancer had a female relative who had breast cancer too. Those who have undergone prior radiation treatment on the chest area have a greater likelihood for breast cancer. About five to ten percent of male breast cancers are inherited. Genetic defects on the CHEK-2, p53 tumor suppressor, BRCA2 and BRCA1 genes increases a person’s cancer risk. These genes usually help prevent cancer by keeping cells from growing abnormally. Those who had a history of Klinefelter syndrome, a congenital abnormality wherein males had an extra X chromosome resulting to lower levels of male hormones and increased female hormones. Those who had taken estrogen-related drugs have a higher risk for breast cancer. Breast cancer cells are known to have estrogen receptors which improve the cancer’s ability to progress. Those who had liver diseases are also at risk as the body’s estrogen activity increases while the androgen activity reduces when a person is experiencing liver diseases, such as cirrhosis of the liver. Those who are obese may also be at risk for male breast cancer due to increased number of fat cells. Fat cells produce estrogen from androgen, thus increasing the estrogen concentration in the body. Excessive alcohol drinking also promotes breast cancer in men mainly due to the fact that alcohol consumption increases liver diseases and fat accumulation. Treatment options for cancer of the breast in men
There are a number of treatment methods available for men with cancer of the breast. These methods do not differ from those done for women. Cancer staging is done to determine the best breast cancer treatment option a patient needs. Here are some of the treatment options available.
Surgery – There are several surgical options used to remove breast cancer in men these include simple mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Simple mastectomy involves removal of all breast tissue including lobules, ducts, fatty tissue and skin including the nipple and areola.
In a modified radical mastectomy, the surgeon removes the entire breast and a portion of the underarm lymph nodes. The surgeon may also remove chest wall muscle if the cancer has spread to that area. The lymph nodes will be examined to check if the cancer has spread and additional treatment is necessary.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a procedure developed to locate sentinel nodes, lymph nodes receiving drainage from a breast tumor. Sentinel nodes are removed for biopsy to check for cancer development to the other lymph nodes. This procedure decreases the risk of complications as removal of a single node is necessary for examination.
Radiation Therapy – High energy x-rays are used to kill cancer cells during a radiation therapy. Administered by a radiation oncologist, the therapy is commonly done before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells. Radiation therapy is often painless but may result in tiredness in men who had undergone therapy and tenderness of the breast.
Chemotherapy Hormone Therapy Biological Therapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body after breast cancer surgery. The treatment is usually scheduled every two to three weeks after surgery for about three to six months.
Chemotherapy may be administered intravenously or in pill form. Most patients choose oral chemotherapy as this reduces the need to visit the clinic and can be done at home.
Some chemotherapies target the cancer itself reducing damage to healthy cells. Still, side affects like hair loss, fatigue, vomiting and loss of cognitive abilities may occur.
Estrogen receptor positive breast cancers rely on estrogen to induce the development of breast cancer cells. Hormone therapy is administered in order to prevent estrogen from bonding to sites in the body where cancer cells may have spread. The male hormone, androgen also helps in the growth of cancer cells. Thus, limiting both estrogen and androgen levels are essential in abating the spread of cancer cells.
In biological therapy, a biological response modifier is used to stimulate the body’s immune system to combat cancer. This helps in enhancing the body’s natural defense against specific diseases such as cancer. However, biological therapy is still in clinic trials.
You do not want any type of cancer to reach these stages. This is why Thit is extremely essential that you go and see a doctor as soon as possible, the moment you see any of these possible cancer symptoms given above manifesting themselves. Listen to your body “talk”, and follow the signs.
The ONE breast cancer your doctor won’t save you from! Most women have no idea how this type of cancer can go “undetected” and can kill them! IBC is a relatively “unknown” cancer of the breast that is getting a lot of attention.
On May 12, 2009, the ACLU and the Public Patent Foundation filed a suit on behalf of organizations and individuals representing over 150000 health professionals and women’s groups and individuals. The suit, against the US Patent Office and Myriad Genetics, seeks to invalidate breast cancer gene patents. For more information go to: www.aclu.org www.pubpat.org Video produced for the ACLU by Joel Engardio
