Information About Cancer 2.0

What Every Woman Should Know About Breast Cancer

Why do women fear breast cancer more than any other disease? Because each year thousands of women develop breast cancer in our society and as scary as it sounds the percentage of breast cancer continues to rise. This type of cancer is very common in our society. Nevertheless, with the help of medical technologies breast cancer is now 90% curable when diagnosed early.

We do not know what causes breast cancer, although we do know that certain risk factors may put you at higher risk of developing it. A person’s age, genetic factors, personal health history and diet all contribute to breast cancer risk.

Before I go any further, we need to start at square one. We may know what breast cancer is, but do we really know the entire factors (details) behind the disease? Let us ask ourselves, “What is breast cancer?”

Breast cancer is when the cells in a woman’s body begin to grow and reproduce out of control, which creates a collection of tissue called a tumor. However, just because you have a tumor in the breast does not mean it has to be cancerous.
If the cells that are growing out of control are normal cells, the tumor is not cancerous. However, if the cells that are growing out of control are abnormal and does not function like the body’s normal cells, the tumor is cancerous.
Cancers are named after the part of the body from which they originate. Breast cancer originates in the breast tissue. Like other cancers, breast cancer can infect and grow into the tissue surrounding the breast. It can also pass through to other parts of the body and form new tumors. This course of action is called metastasis.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, after nonmelanoma skin cancer. Over the past 50 years, the number of women diagnosed with the disease has increased each year.
Today, approximately one in almost every eight women (13.4%) will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. It is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 35 to 54.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005, approximately 211,240 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and approximately 40,410 will die. Although these numbers may sound frightening, research tells us that the death rate could decrease by 30% if all women age 50 and older who need a mammogram had one.

Only 5-10% of breast cancers occur in women with a clearly defined genetic predisposition for the disease. The majority of breast cancer is not related to their family history. The risk for developing breast cancer increases as a woman ages.

Below I listed the warning signs of breast cancer. It is important to understand what the disease is and to know the symptoms, so you can get medical attention if necessary.

Look for:

• Lump or thickening in, near the breast, or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle.

• A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a seed.

• A change in the size, shape or contour of the breast.

• A bloodstained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple.

• A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed).

• Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.

• An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.

• A marble-like hardened area under the skin.
These changes may be found when performing monthly breast self-exams. By performing breast self-exams, you can become familiar with the normal monthly changes in your breasts. All doctors stress the importance of breast examinations. The problem is that most women do not know how to give a breast examination to them and instead wait until they see their doctor. By then it could be too late. This is why it is important to learn how to give you a breast examination.

Breast self-examination should be performed at the same time each month, three to five days after your menstrual period ends. If you have stopped menstruating, perform the exam on the same day of the month. To perform a breast self-exam, follow the steps described below.

In the mirror:

1. Stand undressed from the waist up in front of a large mirror in a well-lit room. Look at your breasts. Do not be alarmed if they do not look equal in size or shape. Most women’s breasts are not. With your arms relaxed by your sides, look for any changes in size, shape or position, or any changes to the skin of the breasts. Look for any skin puckering, dimpling, sores or discoloration. Inspect your nipples and look for any sores, peeling or change in the direction of the nipples.

2. Next, place your hands on your hips and press down firmly to tighten the chest muscles beneath your breasts. Turn from side to side so you can inspect the outer part of your breasts.

3. Then bend forward toward the mirror. Roll your shoulders and elbows forward to tighten your chest muscles. Your breasts will fall forward. Look for any changes in the shape or contour of your breasts.

4. Now, clasp your hands behind your head and press your hands forward. Again, turn from side to side to inspect your breasts’ outer portions. Remember to inspect the border underneath your breasts. You may need to lift your breasts with your hand to see this area.

5. Check your nipples for discharge (fluid). Place your thumb and forefinger on the tissue surrounding the nipple and pull outward toward the end of the nipple. Look for any discharge. Repeat on your other breast.
In the shower
6. Now, it is time to feel for changes in the breast. It is helpful to have your hands slippery with soap and water. Check for any lumps or thickening in your underarm area. Place your left hand on your hip and reach with your right hand to feel in the left armpit. Repeat on the other side.

7. Check both sides for lumps or thickenings above and below your collarbone.

8. With hands soapy, raise one arm behind your head to spread out the breast tissue. Use the flat part of your fingers from the other hand to press gently into the breast. Follow an up-and-down pattern along the breast, moving from bra line to collarbone. Continue the pattern until you have covered the entire breast. Repeat on the other side.

Lying down

9. Next, lie down and place a small pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head. Place your left hand on the upper portion of your right breast with fingers together and flat. Body lotion may help to make this part of the exam easier.

10. Think of your breast as a face on a clock. Start at 12 o’clock and move toward 1 o’clock in small circular motions. Continue around the entire circle until you reach 12 o’clock again. Keep your fingers flat and in constant contact with your breast. When the circle is complete, move in one inch toward the nipple and complete another circle around the clock. Continue in this pattern until you have felt the entire breast. Make sure to feel the upper outer areas that extend into your armpit.

11. Place your fingers flat and directly on top of your nipple. Feel beneath the nipple for any changes. Gently press your nipple inward. It should move easily.
Repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 on your other breast.
Cancerous tumors are more likely to be found in certain parts of the breast over others. If you divide the breast into 4 sections, the approximate percentage of breast cancers found in each area are (in clockwise pattern):

• 41% upper, outer quadrant
• 14% upper, inner quadrant
• 5% lower, inner quadrant
• 6% lower, outer quadrant
• 34% in the area behind the nipple

Almost half occur in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, towards the armpit. Some physicians refer to this region as the “tail” of the breast and encourage women to examine it closely.

See your doctor if you discover any new breast changes, changes that continue after your menstrual cycle, or other changes that you are concerned about such as:

• An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.

• A lump or thickening in, near the breast, or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle.

• A change in the size, shape or contour of the breast.

• A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a seed.

• A marble-like area under the skin.

• A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed).

• Bloody or clear fluid discharge from the nipples.

• Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.

If you go to your doctor and your doctor finds cancer, you and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to eliminate the breast cancer, to reduce the chance of cancer returning in the breast, as well as to reduce the chance of the cancer traveling to a location outside of the breast. Treatment generally follows within a few weeks after the diagnosis.

The type of treatment recommended will depend on the size and location of the tumor in the breast, the results of lab tests done on the cancer cells and the stage or extent of the disease. Your doctor usually considers your age and general health as well as your feelings about the treatment options.

Breast cancer treatments are local or systemic.

• Local treatments are used to remove, destroy or control the cancer cells in a specific area, such as the breast. Surgery and radiation treatment are local treatments.

• Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells all over the body. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy such as tamoxifen, and biologic therapies like Herceptin, are systemic treatments. A patient may have just one form of treatment or a combination, depending on her needs.

Following local breast cancer treatment, the treatment team will determine the likelihood that the cancer will recur outside the breast. This team usually includes a medical oncologist, a specialist trained in using medicines to treat breast cancer. The medical oncologist, who works with the surgeon, may advise the use of tamoxifen or possibly chemotherapy. These treatments are used in addition to, but not in place of, local breast cancer treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy.

Remember get a mammogram. You should have a baseline mammogram at age 35 and a screening mammogram every year after age 40. Mammograms are an important part of your health history. If you go to another healthcare provider, or move, take the film (mammogram) with you.

Examine your breasts each month after age 20. You will become familiar with the contours and feel of your breasts and will be more alert to changes.

Have your breast examined by a healthcare provider at least once every three years after age 20, and every year after age 40. Clinical breast exams can detect lumps that may not be detected by mammogram. Never be afraid to ask questions. Contact your American Cancer Society that can answer your questions or lead you to the person that can answer your questions.

I have written many published articles. I have appeared three times on News 12 on the talk show New Jersey Women and has had articles written about her efforts to help people with epilepsy. I have contributed time in helping people with epilepsy and making society more aware of the disorder

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Get Tested and Avoid Lung Cancer

Smoking is BAD! Is there still a living soul that doesn’t know and understand this? There can’t be. The media won’t let such a thing happen. Just take a gander at all the anti-smoking commercials aired daily. If they don’t get the point across, nothing will. As we all know, smoking leads to lung cancer. It’s not exclusively for those with poor genetics or smokers over the age of 65. It can apply to anyone who lights up regularly. One measly cigarette will taint your lungs for a full month. Imagine what a pack a day will do to them. We’re talking some serious damage here. So, if you’re still on the fence about smoking, I think it’s time for a few recent articles on lung cancer.

A surprising finding is that if your parents smoked in the house during your childhood and adolescence, your risk of lung cancer is double as an adult even if you yourself don’t smoke. Parents, think again lighting up your next cigarette! This year, lung cancer will kill about 163,500 Americans and remains the number one cause of cancer deaths taking more lives than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

More than one billion people worldwide are smokers even though nine out of ten lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. By the year 2020 it’s estimated that as many as ten million people a year will die of smoking related diseases unless radical action is taken to curb the advance of the mega-bucks tobacco industry into Third World countries. About three quarters of those ten million deaths will be in developing nations.

I love to read. Not just novels and the Sunday paper. I mean I really like to read and learn about new things. It’s refreshing and I need to know what’s happening in the world today. If it’s not articles on lung cancer, its break-throughs regarding heart disease or prostate enlargement.

I learned a little bit about how diet affects lung cancer. An apple a day may keep lung cancer away. A Finnish study suggests that apples not only keep doctors away, but provide protection for the lungs as well. This study found that people who ate the most apples were 58 % less likely to develop lung cancer. Other studies suggest that lung cancer risk is lower among smokers and non smokers who ate at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits daily.

It’s always prudent to add new data to the brain banks. This way you don’t wander through life like a naive, uninformed dolt. You prevent things before they occur, and you seek the newest medications upon the detection of a health affliction. With some health issues, it’s pretty cut and dry. One would think that common sense would overrule, but apparently it doesn’t. If it did, folks wouldn’t still be smoking like chimneys. Some individuals just need a scare before they can get on the smoke-free bandwagon. If current articles on lung cancer won’t do the trick, maybe respiratory problems will.

Make sure you get tested for lung cancer. In approximately 25% of people with lung cancer, there are no symptoms and the cancer is detected during screening or a routine physical examination. However, in three-quarters of lung cancer patients there are warning symptoms and signs that can alert the patient or their physician.

One of the most amusing things I’ve ever seen is a person smoking through the hole cut out of their throat. Now that’s bright! Obviously some people have a horrible time kicking the habit. However, there is irrefutable evidence linking smoking to serious health afflictions. Any articles on lung cancer, asthma and Bronchitis can inform you of this. We need to work toward a smoke-free environment, because all the rest of us are being assaulted by the second-hand stuff. That’s not right! Kick the habit before it kicks you off the primordial coil.

Erol Orderland writes about various aging-and-disease/ Aging and Disease from his home in the Netherlands. Erol has had a keen interest in health and disease after being diagnosed with high-blood-pressure-medicines.com High Blood Pressure.

Practical Spirituality—Cancer a New Lease on Life

There’s nothing worse then trying to exercise, eat right, watch your fat intake and control your blood pressure, only to be diagnosed with cancer. Cancer always seems to invade our lives suddenly, from out of the blue. In some people’s family there is a history of cancer. They partially expect it, but it is still a shock. For others, there is no history. There is no marker or rhyme or reason for them to be struck down with such an illness. How does one handle it when it happens?

Of course the first step is to wonder. What does this mean? Why is this happening to me? One begins to wonder about God and the universe, or if stress or negativity has caused it to happen. One begins to look at alternative medicine cures, while at the same time one is fighting off loving relatives who don’t actually respect one’s point of view and wants him to do anything, even get his head cut off, if necessary, to get rid of the cancer.

This is devastating. When I got diagnosed with prostate cancer, a form of cancer that was understood as something they had a lot of success getting rid of, all of these things happened to me. I don’t know if I rationalized it all, but I began to see my prostate cancer as something that broke me out of my complacency and the illusion that my life would last forever, and reminded me that I could go at any time.

It helped me see that my life was miserable at the time. My job was miserable. I was being pressed and oppressed on all sides in a situation that I felt that I couldn’t let go. I found that many people that I thought trusted me argued with me constantly, not honoring my right to make decisions on the type of treatment I was going to have. I found support from places where I never thought I would find it, and lack of support and callousness from other places.

From the whole experience I realized that life will not last forever. Life is very unpredictable. We can work to take care of ourselves as much as we like, but sometimes it is just the role of the dice. We like to think that we are in control and we are to a certain extent, but the truth is that we can go at any time.

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with cancer? What does it mean to you? Can you find some hope in this time of darkness. Can you find a pearl, or make a pearl, out of this major irritant? What is important to you in your life? These are questions that you can address now, and you find answers. The most important thing, I think, is to do just that. This can be done as one gets out of oneself and begins to notice, if one can, that the world is going on around him or her as if nothing is going on.

The trees and flowers are growing. The night skies are beautiful. Children are being born and people are dying. The whole world is going on all around you as if it doesn’t care that you may be dying. Upon observing this would it be difficult to deduce that you might go on just like the world after your body dies? The essence of you, that part of you that makes you who you are, perhaps, will go on after. Think on these things. All of the spiritual practices in the world tell us this.

If you believe that there is nothing and that you will just go into oblivion, that isn’t too bad either, because you won’t be around to experience anything. No matter what happens, therefor, everything will work out.

If you are cured things will work out. If you are not cured things will work out. It is therefor intelligent in the midst of this darkness, pain and suffering, to be happy. It is important not to mourn these days, but to enjoy them, because they may be the last days that you will partake of this life as the person you are, with the friends that you have. Celebrate the day, because whether you are dying now or cancer, or you are dying more slowly from natural causes, we are all in the state of physically dying as soon as the body stops regenerating itself sometimes around the age of forty.

Dr. John W. Gilmore is a D. Min. in Creation Spirituality. He is a writer, martial arts teacher, healer, and spiritual director. To find more writings like this visit this ezine, or our Practical Spirituality Journal at dswellness.com dswellness.com There you can explore the several books that Dr. John Gilmore has written that will strengthen you mind, body, and spirit by reminding you of who you really are. You can also partake of our free Stress Reduction 101 Course from this website.

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