Breast Cancer: Do You Know How To Test For It?

Breast cancer is a condition which is becoming more common, which experts say could be attributed to the fact that women don’t catch it early enough to treat it effectively. There are a number of things to be aware of in order to catch breast cancer as early as possible, from screening tests and knowing who to go to when you get tested.

Get a mammogram when you are younger, rather than when you are older

If you’re over 40, it’s time to start getting regular mammograms According to the American Cancer Society, women should get annual mammograms from the age of 40 as this is the best way to spot breast cancer early – an early detection offers the best chance of curing the disease.

Choose the right man for the job!

You can get a mammography at any hospital, but getting the right diagnosis after the test is incredibly useful in increasing your chance of detection when needed. Be sure to choose a doctor who is experienced in reading mammography and has worked with a number of patients previously, as their experience provides them with an added advantage of identifying any problems in your reports. This is where an inexperienced physician may fail.

Pick digital over conventional

A digital mammography is far more accurate when it comes to detecting any problems in women with dense breast tissue This is especially the case when found in women below the age of 40. Furthermore, digital scans do a better job of detecting cancers when compared to the traditional film mammography. – so always choose digital!

Schedule the date for your test carefully

Many women are put off by the idea of getting a mammography because they think it will be painful – but it’s important to remember that this test shouldn’t be painful in any way . In order to reduce the risk of pain, try to schedule your test after your period so that the breast tissue is less sensitive. During the test, if you do experience pain and discomfort, be sure to tell the technician about it so that they can help you feel more comfortable. If the test has really gone really badly, you could try taking medication available at a pharmacy to help relieve some of the pain and inflammation. If you’re worried about the level of pain you’re experiencing during your test, speak to your GP or technician about your worries and they will be able to find a way to make the test less uncomfortable for you.

Don’t let the fear of cancer stop you

Everyone getting a test regarding their health is scared by the result; that much is expected and perfectly natural. But a large number of women fear what the results may be so much that they don’t get tested at all – this is not a reason to avoid testing. If your test is abnormal in any way, you may be called to repeat the test but this doesn’t automatically mean that you have cancer. There are a number of reasons why  your test results may have been out of the ordinary, so there’s no reason to worry – your technician will discuss the results with you and explain what they mean. But not all abnormalities mean you have cancer.If you have any worries about your risk of breast cancer and think you may have symptoms, speak to your GP as soon as possible.

Categories: Breast, breast cancer, breast tissue, cancer, mammography, Test, tests, Women

The Facts That Everyone Ought to Know About Breast Cancer

Most people think they know all there is to know about breast cancer. It is one of the best publicized health concerns, as it is one that affects the wellness and wellbeing of millions of women around the world. Yet there are actually a large number of misconceptions about breast cancer.

 

One of the biggest myths is that this disease only affects women over the age of 40. This is entirely false, and in fact believing this myth can be dangerous as it causes younger women to become complacent about checking their breasts, as they feel they are not at risk. Breast cancer can actually affect anyone at any age. It is most common in post-menopausal women, but around 20 percent of breast cancer cases occur in women who are under the age of 40. Regular breast examination is, therefore, essential for women of all ages, and women who are older should also attend their regular mammographic screening.

 

If you do find a lump when checking your own breasts, try not to panic. Most of the growths that women find turn out to be non-cancerous, but of course it is vital to go to your doctor and make sure that this is the case for you.

 

Another commonly held myth is that men can’t get breast cancer. This is entirely untrue, as men can develop breast cancer. Around 1,600 men in the US alone will develop breast cancer this year. Although women do develop breast cancer at a much higher rate, men are at increased risk of mortality from the disease as they do not have the same awareness of the disease (and there is a stigma around it for men, too). The symptoms and treatment are the same in men or women, however, so it is important that men are ‘breast aware’ too.

Categories: Breast, breast cancer, cancer, develop, develop breast, Facts, nbsp, Women

The Sexy Six: How Does Sex Benefit Your Overall Health?

You don’t need a sexual health expert to tell you that sex feels good and puts you in an amazing mood, but did you know that sex also benefits your wellness in a number of not-so-obvious ways? Scientists have found that, during lovemaking, your body products a cascade of hormones and other biological changes that can lower your risk of cancer, boost your immunity, ease your pain and even offset the symptoms of menopause – taking care of your wellbeing has never been so much fun!

 

1. Lowers chronic pain: While having a headache is a go-to excuse for not getting down in the bedroom department, having sex may make that headache disappear. When your clitoris and vaginal walls are stimulated, your body triggers the release of natural painkillers like endorphins and corticosteroids. According to Barry Komisaruk, PhD, a Rutgers University psychology professor and co-author of The Science of Orgasm, this relieves headache pain and muscle soreness from before orgasm to up to two days later. In fact, he reports that self-stimulation through the front wall of your vagina increases your pain tolerance and pain detection thresholds by up to 50%.

 

2. Lessens breast cancer risk: As arousal and orgasm raises your “happiness” hormone level, you have more oxytocin and DHEA in your body, which may help keep breast cancer at bay. Research has demonstrated that having sex more than once a month makes you less likely to develop breast cancer than women who are less sexually active. Another study from Greek researchers showed that men were significantly less likely to develop breast cancer if they had at least seven orgasms a month in their 50s.

 

3. Exercises your heart: For a mild-to-moderate cardio workout you’ll actually enjoy, get busy between the sheets! The more vigorous you are, the more you benefit your heart. However, the cardio health benefits also somewhat depend on the positions you try. As being on top requires more effort, it’s more cardiac-friendly. Plus, at the peak moment of orgasm, your heart rate may hit 110 beats per minute, which is comparable to what walking quickly or jogging might achieve.

 

4. Protects your partner’s prostate: Scientists surmise that the reason why Catholic priests have an elevated chance of dying of prostate cancer is that they aren’t getting any. A 2003 study, this time undertaken on middle-aged Australian men, found that having at least four ejaculations a week gives your partner a one-third lower chance of developing prostate cancer than those who have fewer. Irwin Goldstein, MD, head of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital, explains, ‘”When you drain the pipes, as it were, you have less clogging.’

 

5. Reduces stress: In 2005, researchers showed that men and women who had sex in the two weeks before a stressful day had an easier time while doing public speaking and some verbal arithmetic. Having sex beforehand prevented their systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood-pressure reading) from increasing as much as those who had no sexual relations or had other forms of sex, including non-coital interactions or masturbation. Having sex also caused the participants’ blood pressure to drop back to its normal level at a faster rate. The researchers put forth the theory that having sex requires more complex brain activity, or it stimulates a number of important nerves not triggered during other kinds of sexual activity.

 

6. Amps up your immune system: According to research from Wilkes University, college students who engaged in sex once or twice a week had 30% higher levels of infection-fighting antibodies than did their abstinent classmates. This is not the only study that shows sex bolsters your immune system; in 2004, German scientists produced similar results.

Categories: blood pressure, Breast, breast cancer, cancer, develop breast, immunity, nbsp, orgasm, Pain, Pain Relief, prostate cancer, stress reduction

Breastfeeding Basics: 5 Tips to Getting Your Baby Started

Breastfeeding is the most natural way for a mother to bond with her newborn baby. Because breastfeeding is a natural bonding method, it doesn’t take long for both mother and baby to develop a daily feeding routine.

 

If you are a new mother and this is your first time breastfeeding, then prepare for the many benefits both you and your baby will experience. One of the benefits is health.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH), breast milk carries the nutrients and antibodies that protects your baby’s body. Breast milk also reduces your baby’s risk of asthma, respiratory infections, Type 2 diabetes, ear infections and diarrhea, all common illnesses experienced by formula-fed babies.

 

As for mothers, the OWH has found that breastfeeding reduces a woman’s risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and postpartum depression.

 

How to breastfeed

 

1. Get into a comfortable position. If there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s stress out while your feeding your baby. So, relax; sit back or lie back. Find the position that best works for you. In whatever position is comfortable for you, it’s important that your back is supported. Place a breast feeding pillow or cushions near you to help you and your baby feel comfortable.

 

2. Getting your baby into position. Put your baby’s hands at his side. Tilt your baby’s head back (if he’s not already lying on a breast-feeding pillow). You can do this by cradling his head with your hand or holding him by his shoulders with your palm and having your thumb and index finger behind his ears.

 

3. Preparing to latch. Bring your baby to your breast. With his lips on your nipple, your baby should respond by opening his mouth. His chin and bottom lip should touch your breast. Guide his bottom lip away from the base of your nipple so that he can draw in as much of your breast as possible.

 

4. Latching on. When your nipple lands in the back of your baby’s mouth, your baby will work his tongue under your breast to activate the milk ducts. Once the milk begins to flow, keep your breast as still as possible.

 

5. Baby knows when to stop. When your baby’s jaws start slowing down and eventually stop moving, that’s a sure sign that he has had enough milk. When he’s done, lift your breast and your baby should let go, if he has not done so already.

 

When first learning how to breastfeed, you may have to make adjustments during the process to make sure that your baby has latched on correctly and is getting the amount of milk he needs.

 

If you need more help in breastfeeding, feel free to ask for help. Contact your doctor’s office or a midwife center in your area.

 

Mother of four, writer Melanie Fleury has breastfed all her children for various amounts of time. She found that, for her, the key to breastfeeding was to get into a comfortable position before latching her baby on. A good breast feeding pillow was often the key to getting that proper positioning.

 

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motheringtouch/5204672889/

Categories: Baby, Breast, Breast Feeding, breast milk, Breastfeeding, comfortable position, feeding pillow, latching on, milk, nbsp

How to Find the Right Exercises to Give You a Better Bust

It is a common myth that you cannot lose weight, improve your fitness and have a better bust. People think that any kind of exercise will automatically reduce your breast size, and that this is simply the price you have to pay for improving your wellness and wellbeing.

 

In addition to this is the fact that breasts do tend to decline with age. The good news is that there are some very effective moves that you can try that will actually help to improve or maintain the size and ‘perkiness’ of your chest.

 

Many women don’t think to tone the pectoral muscles, as they are somewhat hidden from view, and this can contribute to breast sagging and lead to weakness in the upper body.

 

An incline chest fly is one of the best ways to help build some good strong pectoral muscles. To do this, you need to grasp a dumbbell in each hand and sit on an incline bench. Raise your arms up so that they are straight above your chest, and your palms are facing each other (but make sure the weights are not touching). Then, slowly move your arms down until they are nearly parallel with the floor, and then push your arms back up. Be sure to maintain a slight bend in the elbow throughout the exercise.

 

A chest press is also a useful way to help improve the shape of your chest. For this one, you need to grasp the dumbbells and lean back on the incline bench again. Hold each one and make sure that your elbows are bent and your forearms are perpendicular to the floor, Push the dumbbells up in the air, straight above your chest. Make sure that you have someone on hand to ‘spot’ you in case things get too heavy.

Categories: arms, Breast, chest, exercise, improve, incline, incline bench, nbsp, pectoral muscles

What is the Difference Between a Mastectomy and Lumpectomy?

Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer can not only be devastating, emotionally, it can also lead to a variety of other physical health concerns. Being in control of what is going to happen to your body following a diagnosis of breast cancer is vital for your emotional wellness and wellbeing, and so it is important to read up on your treatment and understand as much as you possibly can.

 

When a tumour is diagnosed, doctors will generally decide that it has to be removed. What doctors have to decide, however, is whether to remove the entire breast, or just a small amount of tissue. When a tumour and small amount of surrounding tissue is removed, this is known as a lumpectomy. When the entire breast is removed, this is known as a mastectomy.

 

Research has shown that with stage one or two breast cancer, the outcomes for lumpectomy and mastectomy surgery (plus radiation) are the same, so the choice may well be up to you.

 

When a lumpectomy is performed, the surgeon only removes the tumour plus a margin of surrounding tissue. The aim is to create something called ‘clean margins’ – meaning that when tested, the tissue around the removed area shows up as being clear of cancer. If this does not occur, further surgery will then be required to remove more tissue or to do a mastectomy.

 

Following a lumpectomy, patients are almost always given several weeks of radiation therapy, in order to kill any remaining cells. There may also be chemotherapy after the surgery, which is known as adjuvant chemotherapy. Sometimes chemo is given before surgery (neoadjuvant chemo) in order to reduce the size of the tumour before going in for a surgical removal.

 

Both lumpectomy and mastectomy surgery has some risks, and your doctor will be able to advise you on issues such as pain medication and surgical dressings.

Categories: Breast, breast cancer, entire breast, lumpectomy, mastectomy, mastectomy nbsp, mastectomy surgery, nbsp, surrounding tissue

Breast Cancer Could be Caused by The Male Sex Hormones

New research has shown that male sex hormones could be responsible for some cases of cancer-female/">breast cancer. Scientists in the United States say that they have now designed drugs that will block male sex hormones or androgens, in order to help fight cancer-female/">breast cancer. A team at the University of Colorado discovered that a lot of breast cancers have androgen receptors on the surface of them, and that male hormones such as testosterone help to fuel the growth of tumors.

Drugs that block these androgen receptors could offer a whole new way to fight the disease, improving wellness and wellbeing of cancer sufferers all over the world. Clinical trials are now planned in order to test this theory.

The team has found that as much as three quarters of cases of cancer-female/">breast cancer have these androgen receptor, and therefore might benefit from this type of therapy. The research for this is still at an early stage, but it does look promising, as this type of treatment is already used to tackle prostate cancer.

It is already known that some types of breast cancers’ growth is fueled by the female sex hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone, and Tamoxifen is a widely-used cancer-female/">breast cancer medication, which blocks the oestrogen receptors and stops them from fueling the growth of tumors.

Scientists are now interested to see how this principle could work when blocking androgens from encouraging proteins to attach to the surface of cancer-female/">breast cancer. If this proved to be a success, the armourery against cancer-female/">breast cancer could be quite significant, improving the survival rates for the disease and improving the long term outcome for those who contract the disease. For example, patients who have a relapse whilst on Tamoxifen may have androgen receptors rather than female sex hormone receptors, and so would benefit from a slightly different type of treatment.

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Breast Cancer Could be Caused by The Male Sex Hormones

Categories: androgen receptors, androgens, Breast, breast cancer, breast cancers, cancer, female sex, hormones, male, male sex, sex hormones

Breast Cancer Drug Hailed as ‘Biggest Boost since Herceptin’

Doctors have praised Perjeta as the ‘biggest boost since Herceptin’ in cancer-female/">breast cancer wellness, as the drug has been shown to cut your chance of dying by a third within three years of starting treatment. A fifth of patients are suitable for the established drug, which works in combination with Herceptin. If cancer-female/">breast cancer affects your wellbeing, and there’s a particularly high level of a protein called HER2 in your cancer cells, you are eligible for Perjeta.

According to Dr David Miles, a consultant oncologist at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre near Watford, ‘Perjeta has been shown to extend survival and control cancer for longer than the current standard of care – showing a magnitude of benefit that has not been seen since the launch of Herceptin more than ten years ago. This marks a significant step forward in the treatment of this aggressive, difficult-to-treat disease.’

Perjeta is manufactured by Roche, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has just given the company permission to market the drug across Europe. A year’s supply of the drug costs £31,135, and so the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), which rations expensive treatments, is still deliberating whether Perjeta should be made available as standard in the English and Welsh NHS. At present, however, women in England will be able to apply for it through the Cancer Drugs Fund.

A trial found that using Perjeta with Herceptin and chemotherapy cut the chance of dying within three years by 34%, compared to using Herceptin and chemotherapy alone. The Cleopatra study also found that the average time that tumours were stalled rose from 12.4 to 18.5 months with the use of the drug. However, the drug can have unpleasant side effects when used with Herceptin and chemotherapy, as two-thirds who have received the treatment also suffered from diarrhoea.

Yet Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of cancer-female/">Breast Cancer Campaign said the drug ‘should be made available to all women who will benefit from it as soon as possible. Perjeta has the potential to bring a significant, and precious, extension of life to around 2,000 women with advanced cancer-female/">breast cancer each year, by preventing the cancer from progressing for longer than we’ve seen with other treatment combinations.’

Dr Emma Pennery, clinical director of the charity cancer-female/">Breast Cancer Care, added, This drug, when combined with Herceptin and chemotherapy can provide a more effective, targeted treatment option to delay progression of this aggressive disease than Herceptin and chemotherapy alone, but with comparable side effects. The priority now must be that Perjeta is made widely accessible across the UK as soon as possible for patients with secondary cancer-female/">breast cancer whose lives could be extended from its use.’

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Breast Cancer Drug Hailed as ‘Biggest Boost since Herceptin’

Categories: Breast, cancer, Drug

Why Are Women’s Breasts Getting Bigger?

In Britain, women’s breasts are getting bigger. Now, if you take this fact at face value you might be tempted to think that it is good news for men around the country. But in reality, it’s actually very bad news for the health of women.

Recent research has revealed that across the world, the average woman is now wearing a 34-DD sized bra. To put it in perspective in 2010, the average woman was choosing as 32-B size bra. This means that the average breast size has grown by an incredible three times. This is a truly astonishing change that has happened in a very short space of time.

Unfortunately for fans of a larger bust, however, this increase in size is not limited to breasts. When we evaluate exactly how this increase has occurred the likelihood is that it is down to the overriding trend of weight gain. That means that any change in breast size is likely to be due to an overall body change.

Generally, when anyone puts on weight, that weight doesn’t just build up in one specific area, and if a woman sees a sudden increase in the chest, it’s because the other areas of her body are becoming larger as well. While an increase in the chest might be preferable to many women, this is not necessarily the case for the stomach, thighs or neck.

It’s often impossible for women to do right in the eyes of society. If they are slim they are often described as too skinny, while the second they start putting on any weight they are immediately labelled as fat.

Nevertheless, research suggests that women are putting on more and more weight. Sales of bras are higher in sizes double-D and E than ever before, and this joins data that heart disease and other weight-induced illnesses.

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Why Are Women’s Breasts Getting Bigger?

Categories: Breast, weight gain, Women

Breast Cancer Treatment and Post Menopause

Women treated for breast cancer after menopause with aromatase inhibitors have very high levels of sexual difficulties, including low interest, insufficient lubrication, and pain with intercourse. It is an important and underestimated problem.

The treatment of breast cancer has great impact on specific aspects of sexuality in postmenopausal women. Nearly three quarters of women with breast cancer have insufficient lubrication, more than half have pain with intercourse.  Majority of them say their sexual interest is low and most of them are dissatisfied with their sex life.   Although women taking tamoxifen for breast cancer also have low sexual interest and more pain with intercourse, they had significantly fewer difficulties than women taking aromatase inhibitors.

The drug, aromatase inhibitors stops production of estrogen in postmenopausal women and therefore makes less estrogen available to stimulate the growth of certain breast cancer cells. Many postmenopausal women with breast cancer are routinely treated for several years with these potentially life-saving drug, which can cause bone loss and fractures. Bone loss from aromatase inhibitors can be prevented long term with a safe and effective drug that prevents osteoporosis.

Aromatase inhibitors, which block formation of estrogen from other hormones in the body, may offer advantages in terms of preventing breast cancer recurrence and possibly in increasing survival, so they may be used more in the future. Unfortunately, effective treatment options for their sexual side effects are lacking, because too much estrogen may be absorbed from vaginal estrogen treatments.

Vasomotor symptoms are menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats. Adjuvant endocrine therapy describes the treatment of hormone receptor positive breast cancer with additional hormone drugs, after surgery and radiotherapy, in order to help stop the disease from coming back.

Women with sexual problems have concerns about their body image after breast cancer. Also, specific treatments for breast cancer are more likely to be associated with menopausal symptoms, which can contribute to sexual problems.

Breast Cancer Treatment and Post Menopause

Categories: Breast, cancer, Menopause