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Radiation therapy remains one of the most common tools for breast cancer treatment, but it has been refined considerably over the years.

Radiation is performed two different ways: both internal and external.

Radiation treatments that are external are done using a highly focused, high energy beam of light utilized to annihilate cancer cells and their surrounding tissue. The beam of light can not be seen with your eyes but it can pass through your skin because it is semi-transparent. Cancer cells are composed differently, therefore they react differently to treatments.

Healthy cells that are located within the path of the radiation are affected by it. As cancer cells actively divide and grow in abnormal ways the way they function is easily interrupted. They could potentially absorb a greater percentage of radiation than healthy cells do. The energy works to kill the cancer cells. The beam also aids in destroying the blood vessels generated by the cancer to feed itself. These vessels are located around the tumor.

Internal radiation therapy, sometimes called brachytherapy, is more akin to chemotherapy. But rather than using drugs per se to affect a chemical change, a small amount of radioactive material is implanted. That material ejects radiation that targets cancer cells, killing them from the inside.

Internal radiation therapy isn’t as common as external. But just like with any other treatment method when and how it is utilized is something that is determined after you meet with a specialist.

Radiation therapy is typically used prior to or in addition to another treatment. After an individual has a modified mastectomy the oncologist usually recommends that they also receive a course of radiation treatment lasting anywhere from six to eight weeks.

The goal of radiation therapy is to ensure that any cancerous cells that could not be removed by the surgeon are destroyed by radiation. It is a treatment that is less intense because utilizing radiation to completely kill cancer would require longer and higher doses.

Similarly, radiation treatments may accompany chemotherapy. Since each case is unique, the patient and oncologist will determine what’s best for each person. In other cases, it may be used solely to relieve symptoms without any expectation of cure.

Despite the high energy in the beam, radiation treatments themselves are painless. There are often uncomfortable side effects, however.

Radiation treatments often cause fatigue, especially during the later treatment stages. Often times the treatments are given for five days at a time over a period of multiple weeks, and often times are used twice per day. In those cases the fatigue might outlive the treatment length.

Problematic skin is a fairly common side effect. Because radiation is absorbed by some of the breast tissue an individual might experience redness, soreness, and itching. They might notice decreased sensation on and about the breast, under the arm and even nearby areas. Radiation doesn’t cause hair loss unless it is applied directly to the head, which typically isn’t the case during breast cancer treatment.

In cases that are more severe the immune system might be compromised, especially if radiation is being applied to an individual’s lymph nodes. Lymph nodes and the vessels that connect to them and run through the body are a vital part of the immune system and radiation can potentially work to decrease their level of effectiveness.

Fortunately, side effects are usually short lived. Except in the most extreme cases, organs, lymph nodes and other body components are not destroyed or irreparably harmed by radiation treatment. Though function may be temporarily suppressed, the body generally bounces back.

In the unfortunate event where a full mastectomy is required to treat breast cancer, reconstruction is often a much welcomed option. With modern technology, techniques, and materials that are available it is possible to restore the breasts appearance to its original form with hardly any visible scarring. When this procedure is carried out it is done so by plastic surgeons specializing in restoration. It has now become a commonplace following a full mastectomy.

There are a variety of approaches and each case is unique. Consultation with a physician is required in order to select the one that is right for you.

Breast implants are one option that is typically chosen. Today implants are typically saline filled bags encased in silicone. They are placed in front of the chest wall muscles under the skin that covers the breast area.

In the past silicon filled implants were more commonly used than they are today. Then a concern arose regarding the possibility of silicon leaking into the body thus causing immune system malfunction. The FDA has recently announced that after years of careful observation and study there is little basis for worry thus making silicon breast implants legal again. Some individuals prefer them because they behave differently within the body.

In many instances reconstruction is done simultaneously with the mastectomy. In other cases physicians recommend that you wait for a period of time to allow the body to heal prior to performing any further surgery. Each case is different and can only be decided based upon its own circumstances.

Usually, two-staged delayed reconstruction is performed if the skin and chest wall tissues are flat. In this instance an implant, called a tissue expander that functions much like a balloon under the tissue, is placed underneath the muscle. A surgeon then injects saline in stages over a specific period of time. In some cases the expander itself eventually becomes the implant. In other instances the expander is removed during a later procedure and replaced with a permanent implant.

Another method of breast reconstruction is a tissue flap procedure. These procedures use skin from the stomach, the thighs, or other areas as part of the entire process.

TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap) is one of the most common types, which uses tissue from the lower abdominal wall. A pedicle flap leaves the tissue attached to the original blood supply and stretches the tissue up the breast area. A free flap procedure removes the tissue entirely, along with muscles, fat, and blood vessels and reattaches them to blood vessels under the chest.

Another, almost equally common procedure takes tissue from the upper back. A flap is moved in front of the chest wall in effort to create a pocket. A breast implant is then inserted into the pocket. Additionally, other procedures are available such as gluteal muscle tissue.

In each case, nipple and/or areola reconstruction may or may not be part of the total surgery. It may be done later or not at all. Rarely is the nipple from the original breast used as a replacement out of concern that it may regenerate the cancer.

Reconstructive surgery does have risks.

There can be the usual surgical complications, such as infection or scarring, such as capsular contracture in which scar tissue forms around the implant. Breast implants may not last a lifetime, depending on individual circumstances, such as age. Replacing them may require an additional surgery later in life. The final result may or may not be what the patient was expecting. Only a full consultation with a physician can provide a realistic assessment of likely outcomes.

In general about 1 in every 12 women will contract breast cancer at some age, the odds of contracting it later in life being greater. Thanks to modern medicine many breast cancers can be treated successfully without impacting the life in a major way. However, the success of one’s treatment depends critically on early detection. The earlier breast cancer is detected the better off you are. One simple way to increase your odds of early diction is performing a breast self examination on a regular basis.

The goal of breast self examination is to detect changes which might signal a condition worth investigating more closely, either with a professional clinical exam, mammogram or other diagnostic aid. Those changes might indicate an abnormality. But to judge what’s abnormal, it’s essential to know what constitutes normal. That varies from individual to individual, though there are commonalities.

The first element to a proper self-exam is to know what your own breasts feel and look like in general. Every aspect of the body changes in subtle ways on a regular basis. During the menstrual cycle those changes may be exaggerated. Breasts can become enlarged or more sensitive. Start your self-exam a few days after your period every month so it becomes a habit. For post-menopausal women, choose the same day every month to perform the exam.

Stand directly in front of a mirror naked and inspect your breasts visually. Look for any changes in the size of just one breast. Typical menstrual cycles and other changes that are hormone related will typically affect both breasts simultaneously. Look for any changes in size or color of your areola (darker skin around nipple) or nipple. Take note of any wrinkling, or “orange peel” appearance that is not related to cold temperature. Most areola are round, look for any lack in symmetry.

Squeeze a nipple gently and note any fluid that comes out. Some lactation is normal in some women. But yellowish, pus-like fluid is a reason to call your physician for a closer look. It may be a simple infection or it could be an early sign of a developing tumor. Repeat the procedure for the other nipple.

Continue to observe the breast looking for tumors. Make sure and feel the entire surface of the breasts with your arms lowered. Don’t just observe the surface from the breastbone to the side, but also up toward the armpit as well. Press the breasts firmly with the finger pas and move the hand slowly trying to feel for any thickening or lumps in the breast.

Not all lumps are cancerous, in actuality most of them aren’t. A lump could be a simple cyst- which is a fluid filled tissue sac. Often the can be moved slightly and are round. These are benign, but you might want to have them removed regardless. Some will fade away spontaneously over time.

Cancerous lumps tend to be harder and less regular in shape. They are frequently attached to breast tissue. Not all hard lumps are cancerous either, so don’t be unduly alarmed. Many are just what are called fibroadenomas, a benign clump of cells. Professional tests are required in order to know for sure.

Be particularly aware of any lumps which change in size. Cancer is a malignant, uncontrolled growth of cells in tissue. As such, cancer tumors don’t remain static but increase in size and, later, may spread to other parts of the body.

Continue the tactile exam by raising the arms overhead and applying pressure all the way from the breastbone up to the armpit again. Repeat for the other side and breast.

You want to make sure you perform the procedure again, this time while lying down with the arms lowered and then raised overhead. This is again for the observation of any changes, especially tissues that have become hard. The procedure can be repeated in the shower in effort to reduce friction on the skin, but sometimes it is difficult to find changes or lumps when water is splashing on your skin, you might want to use baby oil instead.

Women age 20 and over should be performing breast self-exams on a regular basis, and women over 40 should get a mammogram annually.

Breast cancer remains a serious condition, affecting one in twelve women sometime in their lifetime. But, fortunately, it is no longer typically life threatening or permanently scarring.

Breast cancer, like all cancers, were once very mysterious. While much remains unknown and an area of active research, the disease itself is fairly well understood. The underlying causes are still uncertain in some cases, but the manner in which it spreads and acts is much better known today.

The risks of breast cancer- who gets breast cancer, the negatives and positives of different treatments, the survivability rates and more are much better quantified.

Though many claims regarding diet are overblown the true effects diet has on cancer are becoming clearer. Though many questions remain it has been determined that low estrogen producing diets and lifestyles are positive. Low fat diets also contribute to that, and so does regular exercise.

Early detection and diagnosis has reached a point in technological advancement where it only takes a clump of 50 cancer cells to be identified as a cancerous tumor. Chemical tests for early detection are becoming cheaper and much more sophisticated. Treatments now range from the more traditional such as lumpectomy or mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation to even more advanced hormone treatments.

Even with all of the innovation that has occurred self-examination is one of the best practices. It is in the control of the individual an d makes it possible to determine anything that needs further investigation by more advanced methods. Mammograms are a relatively low cost, low risk, and a low discomfort method of tumor detections.

Recovery is quicker and fewer recurrences are seen, thanks to more precise diagnosis and treatment. Computer aided analysis in the form of digital mammography makes reviewing test results much more accurate than in years past.

Where, tragically, a woman or man has contracted breast cancer and requires surgery, improved reconstructive techniques have lessened the harm. The FDA has recently taken silicon implants off the forbidden list. Implantation and plastic surgery in general have become less onerous. Patients are now often out of the hospital the same day as the surgery.

It is now common for almost 100% of the individuals who receive early diagnosis and treatment (If cancer in still in stage 0 or stage I) to survive longer than five years. Most never have any recurrence at all and aren’t bothered by their breast cancer for the duration of their lives.

This disease used to be terminal, and though it is still a serious condition it is now less of a threat. Individuals that contract it can still typically enjoy a cancer free life after treatment.

Cancer is a deadly disease that requires intensive medical treatment. It can be a painful and harrowing experience for the patient as well as his/her family where one requires proper medication as well as emotional and psychological support so as to bear the pain with fortitude. Many a times it is seen that without proper guidance and counseling, the patient tends to loose interest in his/her life and develops a negative attitude about where life turn bleak. In such crucial moments, it is extremely important for both the family and friends of the patient to provide love and care to the patient. This helps in developing the self respect in the patient and zest for life.

Cancer can be found in people of any religion, ethnicity and sex irrespective of age and it is essential to get proper treatment and counseling so as to enhance the recovery procedure. Well, in order to provide a helping hand for cancer patients, there are numerous cancer support organizations and forums that are working for the benefit of cancer patients that provide valuable information, workshops and exchange one another experience about the cancer and how they overcame the disease with the help of proper medication and diet. These are the self help groups that try to emotional and psychological support to the patients as their motivation acts as a silver lining in the dark and gloom life of cancer patients who have lost all hope to live life.

Apart from workshops, there are numerous online cancer support groups that share personal stories and experiences of patients that survived due to medication and support from family and friends. These forums act as inspiration for all those who suffer from deadly disease and guide them about proper medication, hospitals, diet, lifestyle and numerous other things so as to enhance the recovery program. Usually, these cancer support groups solve the anxieties and worries of the patients by providing confidence to the patient while guiding to the road of recovery. These cancer forums provide placebo effect while treating the patients psychologically and distressing them and providing them psychological comfort. These cancer groups provide awareness about the disease and try to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from cancer. Apart from providing psychological relief, these cancer support groups also have a team of doctors that try to solve the queries of the patients while treating them with the cure of cancer.

According to official figures, only between 5-10% of breast cancer is caused by genetic influences. But even though the percentage is relatively low, the numbers are high enough to warrant many women and men seeking regular checkups. Yes, men get breast cancer, too. Only about 0.7% as often as women, but it does occur, killing about 12,000 men per year.

Being female alone increases one’s odds of contracting breast cancer relative to men by 133:1. A leading theory indicates that the most likely cause of this is due to the higher percentage of estrogen and progesterone in females. These hormones play a role in cell growth and reproduction, and seem to have an effect with the growth occurs uncontrollably- for instance, breast cancer.

One genetic factor that may not seem genetic at first blush is the increased risk that comes with aging. Growing older, at what rate and in what way, is heavily influenced by genetics. Genetics determines the kind of physiology we have and that in turn plays a prominent role in aging, as researchers in the field are finding out.

About 17% of invasive breast cancers occur in women in their 40s. But, a whopping 78% of those who contract the disease are in their 50s or older. That shouldn’t be surprising by now. It’s commonplace to observe that cancers are more likely the older one gets. Take care not to turn the statement around, though. It’s not correct to say that 78% of women 50 or older get breast cancer. In fact, the number is about 1 in 12 or only 8%.

One huge genetic risk factor doesn’t come from normal genes, rather comes from genetic mutations. The most common gene mutations are labeled BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes usually assist in manufacturing proteins that assist in the prevention of abnormally growing cells. Mutations or change in them that alter that ability cause an increase in the odds of breast cancer development. According to some studies, having these particular gene mutations raises an individual’s odds of developing breast cancer to 80%.

Typically those mutations are inherited and not produced by an individual’s environment, diet or any other factors that could be controlled. Women whose mother’s have had breast cancer are at a greater risk for developing the condition themselves. Obviously women do not inherit genes from siblings, but having a sibling that has contracted the disease does increase one’s risk.

Another gene mutation that may play a role is the ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutation), involving a gene which plays a role in repairing DNA strands. Breast cancer risk is doubled when yet another, the CHEK-2 gene, mutates. Mutations in a gene called the p53 increase the odds, since it works to suppress tumor growth. Fortunately, these are all fairly low likelihood occurrences.

Until gene therapy becomes more advanced, there’s nothing a woman or man can do to alter the genetic endowment they’ve received. But knowing the risk factors can provide information that is helpful in prompting diagnosis. Knowing you have a family history that contains an individual with Cowden Syndrome, for example, provides incentive to seek early and frequent checkups.

A natural by product of red wine has been discovered to increase life expectancy. It is called Resveratol, and comes from the skin of red grapes. It may now be possible to age gracefully. And all without the reliance on harsh chemical treatments or surgery. The French have enjoyed the fruits of resveratrol for decades, by enjoying the company of red wine.

Resveratrol supplements are hastily been manufactured by several pharmaceutical companies. Currently resveratrol studies have only been performed on mice, flies and worms. Worms where shown to have an iincreased life span by 60%, flies by 30% and fish by about 60%.

Dr Rafael de Cabo, from the National Institute of Aging at Harvard Medical School, US said that after six months, resveratrol essentially prevented most of the negative effects of a high calorie diet in mice. In essence the mice who where over eating actually did not damage their life expectancy. They actually increased it.

Other studies have also shown resveratrol to be useful in the battle against cancer and diabetes. It is promising to think that accelerated aging, diabetes and cancer could one day be treated with this natural compound.

When you look at the research in more detail, reservatrol may actually treat a common burden to society. All the mice in the study where fed highly saturated fats. In essence they were obese. It did not damage their life expectancy at all.

Another study by the University of Rochester revealed that the natural antioxidant resveratrol can help destroy pancreatic cancer cells from reaching the cell’s core energy sources called mitochondria. As the cancer has nothing to feed on, it therefore cannot grow.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding new wonder supplements and their claims. Most of them have just alluded to slightly promoting their cause. Resveratrol really hit the headlines after statistics revealed that a large percentage of France’s occupants eat a highly saturated fat and high calorie diet, yet the instance of heart disease is lower than that of America’s.

Is resveratrol the elixir of life? It remains to be seen, or exploited even, without more substantial research. At least it sounds promising so far. In an era where the boundaries of medical science are delving into unethical territories, such as the human genome, it’s refreshing to think that resveratrol, a compound found naturally in red grapes could provide many benefits to human existence.

Lifestyle and environmental risk factors for breast cancer are still an area of active research and many have been identified. Lucky for most people, all of these risks are controlled simply by making proper changes to optimize one’s health. Even men can get breast caner, though it occurs at 1/133 the rate of women.

Women who have had no children prior to age 30 are at a slightly higher risk. The cause of the increase is likely to be twofold: the number of menstrual periods experienced and the related factor of the amount of estrogen in the body. Hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, play a role in cell growth and cancer is a condition in which cells grow in abnormal shapes and numbers.

Having had multiple pregnancies prior to the age of thirty reduces an individual’s risk of contracting breast cancer. Pregnancy itself carries its own risks even in the modern medical settings offered today. Using this method to offset the risk of breast cancer is not recommended. But, if you intend to bear children, it should be comforting to know about this side benefit.

The risk of cancer from taking oral contraceptives has yet to be determined. Women who have stopped using birth control for more than ten years show no increased risk. Because most women who contract breast cancer don’t do so until their 50’s or later, it is hard to isolate the contribution.

Diet has been determined to be a more direct contributor. But since research is still ongoing no conclusive evidence exists to prove anything. What is known is that maintaining a healthy diet in general is a factor. Because of the ability of fat cells to store estrogen obesity definitely raises the risk of breast cancer. Fat cells are also responsible for producing a small amount of estrogen on their own even though most estrogen in the body is generated by the ovaries.

The exact contribution of an individual’s diet has yet to be determined. It was popular for a time period for people to claim that a high fiber diet acted almost as a preventative. The research, however, does not support that notion rather it has determined that a high fiber diet is healthy for many reasons. Even if diet cannot prevent the onset of breast cancer, having good health in general is extremely important and helpful when it comes to having to get any type of treatment and diet is a significant part of that effort.

In addition to diet, utilizing age and body type appropriate exercise methods will contribute to an individuals overall health. Simply spending an hour a day doing moderate activity is a major benefit. It keeps the muscles tone and the body in overall good shape. The amount of exercise needed to reduce the risk of breast cancer is unknown. One study was able to correlate a 1-2 hour brisk walk per week with an 18% lower risk.

Unbelievably, there are many factors that are commonly believed to increase the risk of breast cancer. These risks are not supported by contemporary research finings according to the American Cancer Society. Smoking is one of the risks. No link has been made between cigarette smoking and breast cancer. Lung cancer however, is a completely different story. In general, no environmental pollutants have been deemed to cause breast cancer.

Because these lifestyle choices are not healthy, the goal of maintaining good health and well-being should strongly weigh against them.

Consuming alcohol in moderation has been determined to be healthy. Using alcohol heavily has been correlated with an increased risk of contracting breast cancer. The risk increases by about 10% for every daily hard alcohol drink one consumes. Because it also damages the liver it is contributing to overall poor health. Drinking heavily therefore is an unsafe and unwise decision.

Maintain a good attitude and a good health program and your odds of breast cancer will be as low as you can make them.

No other sector of oncology is considered more controversial and complex than the relationship between cancer and one’s diet. Everyone wants to believe that there is some miracle diet which can dramatically affect the likelihood of cancer, or better yet, a diet that can actually cure cancer once it has been contracted. But as of right now, there is no conclusive evidence of the effect diet can have on cancer.

All reputable sources are in agreement that no diet can cure cancer. There also is no evidence strong enough to support the idea that any diet in particular can prevent an individual from contracting it. However, there have been many studies conduct that strongly suggest that the occurrence, recurrence, and even one’s survivability rate might be affected by the foods that they consume.

Though far from certain, many studies examined by researchers at Cornell University were able to correlate lower death rates - an increased five or ten year survivability, with certain dietary choices.

The Nurses Health Study which examined 1,982 women who had already developed breast cancer. These women were followed for an average of 13 years. Of those women 1200 had breast cancers that had not yet metastasized (spreading of a primary tumor to other areas of the body thus producing a secondary tumor of the same type). If an individual’s cancer has spread then typically their survival rates are known to be much lower.

Some of the women studied ate fish and poultry in higher quantities. These items contain protein and omega-3 fatty acids. These women had a much lower risk of death than women in the group who did not consume similar quantities. It was also determined that women who ate greater amounts of hydrogenated oils had a much higher rate of death.

Another study was carried out by the National Cancer Institute of more than 2,400 individuals. A subset, 975 women, who had contracted breast cancer consumed a low fat diet (33.3g per day) for five years. Another 1,462 consumed 51.3 g per day. The low fat group experienced a 42% reduction in recurrence.

The difficulty with all these studies is they are looking only at associations, not causation. It’s unclear from the data what is relevant. Do these dietary choices reflect only the fact that women who focus on maintaining a healthy diet are making healthier lifestyle choices overall? Or, are the foods themselves actually helpful or harmful, and to what degree?

As with many studies that involve fruits and vegetables the answer remains unclear. Aside from those foods which contain antioxidants, and effects deemed beneficial are not done so with confidence. In this case however, the evidence is strong. Foods high in antioxidants can and do aid in reducing the chances of contracting breast cancer.

Free radicals within one’s blood stream are ionized atoms that are capable of harming cells. Antioxidants assist in ridding the body of these atoms. They combine with the free radicals causing them to be rendered harmless.

Fat studies, however, are less clear. The leading theory states that since high estrogen levels are known to highly correlate with a greater risk of breast caner, and since fat efficiently stores estrogen, then reducing your fat intake lowers the risk.

Some individuals believe that eating fat will make you fat, this conclusion is flawed. Consuming fat doesn’t necessarily cause a higher body fat content. Rather, eating more calories than one expends can cause the body to store excess fat. This causes the body to have a higher body fat percentage. Fat also contains more calories per unit weight than other foods. The route is not direct.

The evidence is not conclusive, but experts do agree on one thing: maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet is an excellent decision. Whether these items lower the risk of contracting breast cancer or not for the 1 in 12 women who will contract it at some stage in their life, being in optimal health will aid in combating the disease before, during and after.

There are many private, non-profit, community-based Cancer support groups whose job is to carry on their mission by giving psychosocial and even education support to those affected by cancer and are taking cancer treatment. Their main aim is to empower them and to improve their quality of life. There is a lot of help and care given to patients of cancer. There are many simple ways by which friends, family, contemporaries, and neighbors can also offer to assist treasured ones in need. A cancer support group can be of various kinds giving whatever help required to an individual taking cancer treatment.

The society is also in need of organizations that can support the people who are looking after the patients. They are under great stress and are in dire need of help. These cancer support groups have come up to give a place for people who care for cancer treatment patients ,to contribute their stories, tensions, problems and even the achievements and celebrations. This also helps other caregivers, who attend these groups, a place to share resources, incidents, and get helpful tips.

A Cancer Support center is a good place to get precise and existing information. Some of them also have free programs to provide strategies which will help patients taking cancer treatment increase the belief in them and get a sense of hope and control. Extensive, multilingual health, public policy, legal, and support resources for cancer survivors, family members, and health professionals. Non-profit cancer support organization provides psycho-social support for individuals living with cancer. There is a lot of improvement in the life of these people with group therapy, meditation workshops etc.

Famous athlete Lance Armstrong Foundation is doing a lot of work for people living with cancer and taking cancer treatment. There are volunteers who will help you out with small chores if the caregiver is exhausted. They are like organized helpers and will do small things like delivering meals and other important daily jobs.

If seen in a matter-of-fact way cancer support groups provide you with practical ideas and better ways to cope up with your situation and how to accept things and be happy. As said by one of the survivors “Everyone is angry or fearful but I don’t know what I would do without these guys.” It is well known fact that physical healing is only part of the cancer treatment process, spiritual and mental support also very important part in the recovery of the person taking cancer treatment.