Danielle Summers asked:




The best way to deal with breast cancer, both before being diagnosed and after, is to be completely knowledgeable about it. Educating yourself about its symptoms, signs and causes can help you detect it early and also avoid it. With every one woman in eight being at the risk of getting this cancer, it is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

To understand this type of cancer, it is important that you understand its signs and symptoms so you can detect it at an early stage and prevent any further harm.

Signs & Symptoms

The first subjective sign or first symptom of breast cancer is a lump that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue. As per the Merck Manual, more than almost 80 percent of cancer cases are detected by a women when she feels a lump through a breast self examination. The American Cancer Society states that the first medical sign of breast cancer is detected by the physician when he discovers it through a mammogram. Another indication of this cancer is the detection of lumps in the lymph nodes located in the armpits, as the first area it starts spreading to is the lymph nodes there.

There are other signs or symptoms as well, like:

o Change in the size of the breast,
o Change of the shape,
o The skin of the breast starts dimpling,
o There is nipple inversion,
o Spontaneous single nipple discharge,
o Pain in the breast (mastodynia) is not a reliable symptom, but can also be indicative of other breast problems.

When the cancer cells spread to the dermal lymphatics, that is, the small lymph vessels present in the skin of the breast, it can resemble skin inflammation and thus is known as Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). The symptoms of this kind include pain, warmth, swelling, redness throughout the breast and an orange peel texture to the skin, which is referred to as peau d’orange.

Paget’s disease of the Breast

Another complex symptom of this cancer is the Paget’s disease of the breast. In this syndrome the skin presents changes as eczematoid skin changes. It shows redness and mild flaking of the skin of the nipple. It is said that as Paget’s advances, the symptoms may change to redness, itching, tingling, burning, increased sensitivity and pain. Around half of the women diagnosed with Paget’s syndrome have also had a lump in the breast.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Sometimes the cancer presents itself as metastatic disease, which means the cancer that has spread from its original organ, the breast. The symptoms of this type depend upon the location of the metastasis. Common sites where metastasis occurs is the bone, lung, liver and the brain. Unexplained weight loss can be a sign of an occurrence of cancer, as can fever and chills. Pain in the joints can be manifestations of this cancer. Jaundice and neurological symptoms, too, could point towards this. These symptoms are non-specific; that means they could be the symptoms of any other illness.

Many times the symptoms of a breast disorder do not turn out to represent breast cancer. There are benign breast diseases, like mastitis and fibrodenoma, which can be the causes of the symptoms, though any symptom should be considered seriously at all times by both patients and doctors.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be an unsettling experience. Useful resources to deal with this time are books. You could consider Secrets of Cancer Survivors by Elizabeth Gould. For more information, please click here: http://www.secretsofcancersurvivors.com

Michael Russell asked:




One of the issues that every breast cancer survivor must deal with is the possibility of the cancer coming back. We call this a recurrence and even though rates of breast cancer recurrence are lower and survival rates much higher, there is still that chance that the breast cancer will come back after the initial occurrence and treatment. There are three ways in which breast cancer can recur.

The first type of recurrence is called a local recurrence. when cancer recurs locally, it will come back in the original breast area. This is because of a failure of the original treatment. Even when there is a mastectomy, a local recurrence can happen because it is impossible remove all the breast tissue, skin and fat from the area. If even one cancer cell remains after the initial treatment, a local recurrence can happen.

The second type of recurrence is regional in nature. By regional we mean that the cancer has come back outside of the original breast and lymph node area. This is considered to be more serious than a local recurrence, but not as serious as a distant recurrence. The areas in which regional spread of the disease occur include the chest muscles (pectoral), the lymph nodes surrounding the neck area, the internal breast lymph nodes in the breast bone and rib areas and in the lymph nodes above the collarbone. This type of recurrence is rare.

The third and most serious type of recurrence is called a distant recurrence. This is also referred to as a metastasis. The areas where distant spread can occur are most likely to occur are bone (25%), liver, brain, bone marrow, lungs or other organs. Sometimes this is referred to as metastatic disease or Stage IV breast cancer. The survival rate becomes much lower once metastasis occurs, with a life expectancy of 18 months on the average after discovering it.

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer may include bone pain, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, weight loss (possible indication of liver metastases, neurological pain or weakness and headaches.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, you should be aware of the symptoms of metastatic spread. These symptoms can include bone pain (bone), weight loss (liver), loss of appetite (liver), headaches (brain), neurological pain or weakness (brain/spine) and shortness of breath (lungs). However, keep in mind that having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you should panic. A good rule of thumb is the “three week rule”. If you have a pain or other symptom that lasts more than three week, see your doctor. If you have an unrelenting pain or constant pain, see a doctor. Cancer pain does not go away compared other types of pain which will come and go. Like back pain caused by muscle spasms and/or non-cancer related disc problem.

If you suspect you have a recurrence of breast cancer, see your doctor. They will schedule some diagnostic tests like a CAT scan, bone scan, or MRI to try to find the root of your symptoms. Usually surgery is not a treatment option, but there are many other treatments, like radiation and/or chemotherapy that could possibly put a recurring cancer back into remission. There are amazing advances in treatment being made all the time.

octwoneini asked:


My best friends brother just had a tumor taken out of his brain. He is only 15 and I just found out that it’s cancer. Please tell me what this will mean. What will the radiation and chemo therepy be like, what will it do to him? How long will he have to go through this? Will he have brain damage or will he be able to function and be normal again?
What are things I can do for him and his family? What are things he’ll possibly need or want?
Any help and ideas would be very appreciated. Thanks

Facebook Dating

Alfred Jones asked:




The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you’ll find that the subject of IBC is certainly no exception.

Ladies have been told and frequently reminded by advertisements, Doctors, Women’s Magazines and so on, that they should regularly check their breasts for a lump or lumps.
If anything is found they should immediately seek medical advice. This is still true, see your doctor as soon as possible.

There is another kind of breast cancer, it is called Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), it is an accelerated type of breast cancer, and it usually does not show on a mammogram or ultrasound.
It is a rare form of breast cancer, but it accounts for approximately 1% to 3% of all breast cancers.

It is a breast cancer that many ladies have never heard of, but it can be so serious that everyone should learn about it and what signs or symptoms to look for in its early stage of development.

Inflammatory breast cancer causes the breast to appear swollen and inflamed. This inflammation occurs, not because of an infection, but because the cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast, this blocks the lymph flow, which usually causes a red inflamed condition of the breast.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and IBC experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to IBC.

Some ladies have IBC even when they are seeing their doctor regularly, and they may remain undiagnosed for quite some time, which can be very unfortunate. The symptoms are very often similar to mastitis, a breast infection and doctors frequently fail to recognise that it is IBC, and will often prescribe antibiotics, if it has not cleared or showing signs of clearing within a week of taking the antibiotics, it is time to take further action, by seeing a specialist.

It appears that IBC can happen at a reasonably young age, in fact some ladies had the first symptoms during pregnancy or lactation. It is important to be aware of this disease, as younger ladies are thought to be at a lower risk for breast cancer, remember that IBC is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, and ignorance can result in metastases.

Typical Symptoms Of IBC

Swelling, quite sudden, as large as a cup in a few days. Itching. Pink, Red, or dark colored area sometimes with a texture similar to orange skin. Ridges and thickened area of the skin. Looks like bruising, but does not go away. Nipple retraction, or inverted. Discharge from the nipple.
Breast is warmer than usual when touched. Pain in the breast. Color or a change in texture of the areola. One breast larger than the other. Rash. Swollen lymph nodes under the armpit. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Because IBC progresses rapidly, it is so important that ladies seek medical advice as soon as possible, don’t ignore things in the hope that it will go away. Time is of the essence with this disease.

More information is available through the search engines, and I will add a link in the box below, where you can see a short video, or you can email me through my websites, and I will send you the video by email, so you can see the seriousness of this disease yourself. Tell all the ladies you know, because in this case knowledge is king.

Now you can understand why there ought to be more interest in IBC. When people start looking for more information about IBC, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.

Jaime San asked:




Have ever been found patient suffering breast cancer as result of stress suffered. Really stress and there is no cause other. He is not at all has genetic disparity or folks suffering breast cancer. Condition of patient cancer the stays at stadium 2, mean possibility recovers or its(the a spark of life spread still enough lengths. But stress continuous experienced by makes it living on only until year second.

In consequence, stress cannot be paltered. Handling to stress must be done soon possibly, both for the preventing and also therapy for cancer patient. Other risk factor is menstruating at the age of early ( age 11 years downwards). Scientific scanning shows case number of breast cancer would be higher at man who is experiencing menstruates at age 11 years downwards is compared to them experiencing it is at the age of 13 years. Whereas menopause that is overdue and also has not married or have not borne also is risk factor. Consumption of Alcohol, smoking and consumption of drug containing estrogen hormone on a long term is a number of risk factors also. Other factor is descendant. Someone that his family contracted breasts cancer, hence she has the same risk. Gene mutation BRCA1 and BRCA2 has tightly bearing with breast cancer risk, ovary or both 50-85 % percent. Because of that, suggested if there is member of family hit by breast cancer hence member of other family must do inspection with mammography.

Woman with standard risk can do mammography at the age of 40 years upward. But woman with primary risk, especially with mutation BRCA1 and BRCA2, mammography better be started at the age of 25 years. Or at the age of 5 year is more young from member of family is young having breast cancer history. For example, if the sister suffers cancer at the age of 26 year, hence its ( the sister ) ? brother with mutation BRCA1 or BRCA2 is suggested to starts inspection of mammography at the age of 21 years.

There was no method that was certain to ward off or cure cancer.

There is none that prevented absolutely. But life pattern healthy and avoids stress is one of medium to pursue spreading of cancer cell and lengthens hope age life. Many vegetable consumptions and ascorbic acid, eliminates stress, avoids cigarette and doesn’t too fat. A number of researches show consumption of fruits and vegetable can reduce breast cancer risk. The reason is, food from rich plant with antioxidant nutrient preventing damage of cells which able to cause cancer. Labors to consume very a few 5 portion of fruits or vegetable per day. Other research shows single unsaturated fat like olive can protect us from breast cancer, while saturated fat as there is in flesh and butter can increases risk. This told by David J. Hunter, MD., Director Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention in Boston.

The experts who observed the habit eating the patient and the healthy woman of breasts cancer also found the woman that
Mengonsumsi steak well done (very ripe) was risky 4 times were higher was affected by this illness was compared that more liked
Steak the medium, like that according to a research in 1998 that was contained in Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The research
In 1997 that was published the medical English journal, The Lancet also found consumption of the soybean that often contained
The compound phytoestrogen will reduce the risk of breasts cancer.

So whose spells out members breast cancer is anything end? Many ways which able to be done to live it up more length. One other important therapies, forgets that you are a breast cancer patient because increasingly you thought of it hence increasingly distress weight felt and increasingly light physical of you. So why must immerse in sorrow when still many other gladness ? joys is awaited your involvement.

Robin Zhao asked:




And a few types of cancer, such as thyroid cancer similar to the natural history of breast cancer usually is very long, breast cancer cells, the doubling time for an average of 90 days, from the beginning of a malignant cell, after 30 times doubled, to reach the tumor Lcm diameter of the sphere, which will take seven to eight years. The cause of breast cancer has not yet completely clear, the best way to reduce mortality is early detection and early treatment. In tumor metastasis, surgery and radiotherapy alone can cure the vast majority of cases. Once transferred, the only cure is also positive for a small number of patients, so the natural law understanding of breast cancer. Help choose the best breast cancer treatment programme.

Breast cancer directly to the expansion around, the lymphatic and blood flow. The lymph nodes should be to prevent cancer cells from the primary tumor Yat, the first barrier, if cancer cells through the lymph node barrier is usually recidivism supraclavicular lymph nodes and then penetrated into the blood vein. In addition to the transfer axillary lymph node cancer, also involving the parasternal lymph nodes, for more than the second and third and fourth intercostal, in the first half of breast cancer in the area and areola more so, from here then repeat lymph node cancer. Breast cancer cells may also directly cause vascular invasive metastasis. Side by intercostal thoracic vein into the ipsilateral unknown vein into the pulmonary circulation. Breast deep tissue, breast and chest wall into the vein axillary vein into the subclavian vein and unknown vein, lung metastasis is an important way, the flow of qi intercostal vein and the vein-odd vein, the superior vena cava last Rufei, Ki Venous system through intervertebral vein, vertebral venous plexus, after the group connected with the vertebral vein, vertebral venous system and the vena cava blood flow in intra-abdominal pressure can change the flow of each other, so that some patients in the absence of a superior vena cava ( Such as the lungs) transfer before a skull, spine, Pengu, such as the transfer.

For a long time, people found that breast cancer may have been in attendance at the distant metastasis, despite the clinical was not attending to, this constitutes a conservative implementation of the theoretical basis for chemotherapy. According to today has been able to tumor size, lymph node involvement in the number and variety of other biological characteristics of a preliminary estimate of distant metastases minimal level of risk exists.

Michael Russell asked:




Sometimes a cancer is unusual, not in itself, but in the situation which it occurs. Breast cancer is most common in women over 50; there are several cases in women in their 40s. It is far rarer in women under 40, but it does occur. We tend to be particularly shocked when it occurs in a young woman. In this situation it is detected as a lump, since generally, breast cancer screening through mammography is not done in young women.

Very often, a young woman gets misdiagnosed. She detects a lump and she is told it is just lumpy breasts and it is followed for a while until doctors realize it’s something serious. Although this can be horrifying, in fact, it’s quite understandable, since the vast majority of lumps in women under 35 are totally benign and the risk of cancer is very low. The fact that cancer is not diagnosed immediately doesn’t mean that the young patient will die; since most breast cancers have been around 8 to 10 years, and whether it is diagnosed the minute you find it or six months later isn’t the critical factor. We’re so horrified when a young woman gets breast cancer that there’s a disappointing number of lawsuits against doctors failing to find breast cancer in this population, because they’re often misdiagnosed and because it’s such a gut-wrenching situation. However, in most cases the doctors are not negligent. Still, doctors should be taught that young women can develop breast cancer and that doctors should remain vigilant.

Many doctors believe that breast cancer in a young woman is more aggressive than in older ones. Two studies have recently shed some light on this theory. Both studies showed that the mortality from breast cancer was higher in women who had been pregnant in the past four years. Risk was assessed to be higher right after pregnancy and decreased with each year, going back to normal after four years. Since young women are more likely to have been recently pregnant, they will show more of this effect. This suggests that it may not be the woman’s age itself that affects aggressiveness but the changes in her immune system and hormones that go with pregnancy.

Breast cancer in young women is more likely to be hereditary. That makes sense – if you’ve inherited a gene mutation and you will only need one or two more mutations to get cancer, you’re one step closer and you’re likely to get there faster, whereas if you “acquire” breast cancer, you still need to get all the genetic mutations. That doesn’t work all the time. Like older women, the majority of younger women with breast cancer have no family history. Nevertheless, if you have breast cancer in your family you are more likely to get it at a younger age than if you don’t.

Overall, there is no evidence that breast cancer under 35 matched for prognostic features is any more aggressive than a cancer in an older woman. Younger women do, on the other hand, have a higher incidence of poor prognostic features. Still, a young woman and an older woman with the same tumors will have the same general prognosis.

Lily Rose asked:




I am 38 years old and was diagnosed with Breast Cancer 14 months ago: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, stage 2, one positive lymph node (sentinel lymph node), ER/PR+, HER-2 -, BRCA2+. I have completed chemotherapy, had three surgeries, radiation treatment and have been to hell and back. When I was diagnosed, I was told that I could expect a difficult year to come. That’s it – difficult. Not many details, and certainly no one informed me of potential side effects or complications. It has been a frustrating road, but I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel now, 14 months later.

I am no expert, nor am I a doctor. Just a cancer patient wanting to help others in my shoes….

I started chemotherapy about two and a half months after diagnosis (because I had surgery right away, a lumpectomy, then I had to pack up my house and move across country — a job transfer that came about just a couple of weeks before my diagnosis). I received AC (adriamycin & cytoxan), also known as “red death” first. I was warned about the usual side effects, such as nausea, hair loss, fatigue. When they told me I would be fatigued I though, “I have two kids under 3, I KNOW FATIGUE, no big deal.” I could not have been more wrong – fatigue from chemo is nothing like the fatigue of having two babies 18 months apart!

The first thing I learned around this time which I had never been told about: WEIGHT GAIN. I always thought/assumed chemo made people loose weight. After all, that’s what you see in the movies, right? I had a small hope that at least if I have to go through this hell, I’d finally take off those last remaining pounds of baby weight. I could not have been more wrong. I asked my doctor why I was gaining weight. I was told that is true that weight loss is associated with most cancers — OTHER than Breast Cancer! Great! Wham – I’m 30 pounds heavier with no clothes that fit me and a huge disgust for myself and my appearance. Do I really need to have body image issue on top of it all? No. Apparently the weight gain is from steroids that they pump into you with the chemo to help with side effects and chemo makes your body basically go into menopause – or “chemopause” as some call it – which involves a slow down of metabolism and, thus, weight gain!

Well, I survived chemotherapy, thirty pounds heavier. Next step was more surgery. Since I had my initial surgery so quickly after diagnosis because I had to pack my home to move, I results of my genetic testing had not yet been received. The results ended up being positive; I carried the BRCA2 gene mutation. This meant I had a high risk of recurrence in the same breast AND in the other breast. I was also at a high risk for developing ovarian cancer. Thus my decision, after moving and after chemotherapy, to undergo a bilateral mastectomy and reduce my risk of recurrence by 95% – 99%. I also decided that I would eventually have an Oopherectomy to remove my ovaries & tubes. That decision was a no-brainer, since Ovarian cancer is known as the “silent killer” because it’s often not detected until it is late-stage. I had my two beautiful daughters and had my tubes tied after the second because I knew I didn’t want more than kids. So about five weeks after chemo ended, I underwent surgery. I chose to have the bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using fat/tissue from my abdomen (tram flap). My plastic surgeon had told me that if there was any chance I would be receiving radiation therapy, he would not give me implants, so I went with the tram flap option.

The second thing no one told me to expect: after the initial few weeks of recuperation, I would not look anywhere near normal. I thought I’d have the surgery, heal for a few weeks and then have a flatter belly and nice, new, perky boobs. Wrong! I had (still have, 6 months after surgery) new pouches of fat on my hips where the hip-to-hip incision was placed – I was told is was due to the skin being pulled down and reattached together. “Don’t worry”, my plastic surgeon says all the time, “I’ll fix anything that’s not perfect”. I believe him (mostly because I will MAKE him fix me)! Also, the boobs are not so perky and they kind of wrap around to my side a little – ew! Again, he says he’ll fix anything that’s not perfect. Ok, and I’ll hold him to that, but why the hell didn’t he, or his staff, tell me what to expect. Sure, I could have asked more questions, but I had no idea what to ask!

The decision whether or not to go through radiation therapy is a whole other story. Suffice it to say I did receive radiation therapy. It’s five days a week, which is the only difficult thing about it. What was difficult is what came after…

The third thing no one bothered to tell me: A lot of cancer patients, due to weakened immune systems, develop Shingles. Had I been told this, I would have sought medical attention right away when the sore spots in my armpit began to welt! I thought it was just my radiation wounds healing – so did my Oncologist. It got worse. I began getting what seemed to be bites down my arm to my elbow – they itched like MAD! I got on the computer one night at 3am and went back to bed around 5am convinced that I either had bed bugs or scabies! A week and a half later I saw my Radiation Oncologist for a follow up and she took one look and immediately told me I had Shingles. I was relieved it wasn’t scabies! I had no pain, just itching so I thought it wasn’t too bad. She started me on medicine and I started researching. I found out that Shingles is best treated when you start the medicine within 72 hours of the rash showing up – DAMN! See? Had someone somewhere along the road told me of the possibility of getting Shingles I’m convinced I would have sought treatment for them right away. Now I’ve had them for 6 weeks and it has been a horrible, horrible experience – they itch enough to drive you mad – really, truly, insane mad! That’s not even the worst of it – I woke up one morning after about a month of having this rash and my body hurt all over and I had swelling in my armpit the size of a tennis ball. I went to the ER and ended up confined in the hospital for a week with a bad Staph infection!

Just when I though the cancer “treatment” was over, more problems got piled on to my plate and the journey continued. I truly hope this information helps other cancer patients. One of the main lessons I have learned is to seek second opinion, and third and fourth. Especially when strange things start happening, like unexplained rashes and such. Not all doctors know everything. The saga continues … you can read more details about my saga and where I’m at now at the link below.

mdandersonorg asked:

Learn more at www.mdanderson.org Inflammatory Breast Cancer is a rare type of breast cancer. Unlike more common breast cancer types, Inflammatory Breast Cancer appears as a rash or infection instead of a lump in the breast. MD Anderson is home to a clinic for women with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), believed to be the first such clinic in the world. The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic accepts patients who are newly diagnosed or previously treated, and offers the most innovative treatments currently available. MD Anderson Cancer Center is currently conducting clinical trials and research in hopes of finding new treatment options for this rapid growing, and difficult to treat disease. For more information contact MD Anderson at 1-877-MDA-6789