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DESCRIPTION
Cancer of the breast is the most common cancer among women (along with skin cancer), and is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. Every year, about 180,000 people are diagnosed as having breast cancer. 43,000 of those with breast cancer die each year. Only lung cancer kills more women under the age of 54 than breast cancer, but if breast cancer is detected early, the five-year-plus survival rate is about 95 percent. According to the American Cancer Society estimates for the year 2003, about 267,000 women were diagnosed as having breast cancer, and about 39,800 deaths occurred from the disease. Lifetime risk of developing breast cancer for American women is that 1 in 9 women will get breast cancer before she is 85 years old. Breast cancer is rare before age 30, and the peak ages are from 45 to 65. The incidence increases after menopause. Surveys suggest that it is the health problem most feared by women, but if breast cancer is detected early the 5-year-and-beyond survival rate is very high - about 95 percent.
The human breast is a gland that contains milk ducts, lobes, fatty tissue, and a network of lymphatic vessels. Cancerous tumors can arise in virtually any part of the breast, and are most often detected when a woman feels a lump.
FINDING A LUMP: Just because you may find a lump in your breast, does not necessarily mean that you have breast cancer. Eight out of ten lumps are benign, or not cancerous. If you discover a persistent lump in your breast or any changes in breast tissue, it is very important that you see your health care provider immediately. Many times fear keeps women from aggressive health care. Sometimes women stay away from medical care because they fear what they might find. Take charge of your own health by monthly self-exams, regular visits to your health care provider, and regularly scheduled mammograms.
The diagram to the right illustrates some common non-cancerous breast anomalies. Although these may feel like lumps to the touch, they should not be cause for concern. However, only your health care provider can diagnose these conditions and suggest treatment. The bottom line is, if you detect something out of the ordinary during your monthly breast self-exam, see your health care provider immediately. Early detection always is the best form of prevention.
CANCEROUS LUMPS: In general, cancerous lumps are malignant growths of breast tissue that are firm, never go away, and are usually (though not always) pain-free. The vast majority of breast lumps are not cancerous (benign cysts or fibroid masses), but there is no way to tell without a professional's examination. A lump that seems to be growing or does not move when pushed may be cancerous, or may simply be caused by normal fibrocystic changes during the menstrual cycle. A biopsy is required to identify the lump. Breast cancer cam cause a yellow, bloody, or clear discharge from the nipple. Breast cancer spreads to nearby lymph glands, lungs, pleura, bone (especially the skull), pelvis and liver.
Many people think of breast cancer as a single entity, but there are actually different types of the disease. Some of the types of breast cancer include the following:
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma, malignant cytosarcoma phylliodes, medullary carcinoma, and tubular carcinoma. These and sever other relatively uncommon types of breast cancer tend to be less aggressive than the other forms.
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This is a condition that most health care providers consider to be breast cancer at its earliest stage. DCIS is a cancer contained within the milk ducts. The rate of this type of cancer has increased dramatically over the last 25 years. Fortunately, the survival rate for DCIS is nearly 100 percent.
- Infiltrating ductal carcinoma. This is a cancer that arises in the lining of the milk ducts and infiltrates (invades) the surrounding breast tissue. Approximately 80 percent of all cases of breast cancer are infiltrating ductal carcinomas.
- Inflammatory carcinoma. In this type of cancer, a tumor arises in the lining of the milk ducts and, as it grows, it plugs the lymphatic and blood vessels. The skin thickens and turns red, and the breast becomes extremely tender and looks infected. This type of cancer spreads very quickly due to the rich blood and lymph vessel supply associated with the inflammatory reaction.
- Intraductal carcinoma in situ. This is a localized type of cancer in which cancerous cells grow within the ducts. This type of cancer may not invade other tissues.
- Lobular carcinoma. A less common form of breast cancer that arises in the lobes. It accounts for about 9 percent of breast cancers. Lobular carcinomas usually occur in both breasts simultaneously.
- Paget's disease of the nipple. This form of cancer occurs when cells from an underlying cancerous tumor migrate to the nipple. The symptoms are itching, redness, and soreness of the nipple. Paget's disease always signals the presence of primary ductal carcinoma elsewhere in the breast tissue.
Men can also get breast cancer, but they account for fewer than 1 percent of breast cancer cases. However, while it occurs less frequently, breast cancer in men is usually diagnosed at a later time than women, and therefore at a more serious stage because neither health care providers nor their patients tend to suspect it. Every year in the United States about 1,500 men are diagnosed with breast cancer - and 400 die from it. Cure rates are, in general, the same for men as they are for women.
It is important to detect breast cancer in its earliest and most curable stage. Making healthy changes in diet and lifestyle, examining your breasts regularly, and having regular mammograms can increase your chances of avoiding or, if need be, overcoming, breast cancer.
MoonDragon's ObGyn Procedures: Breast Self-Examination
FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
No symptoms in early stages, but pre-symptom stages may be detected by a mammogram.
Swelling or lump in the breast.
Vague discomfort at the breast without true pain.
Retraction of the nipple.
Distorted breast contour.
Dimpled or pitted skin in the breast.
Enlarged nodes under the arm (late stages).
Bloody, yellow, or clear discharge from the nipple (rare).
CAUSES
There is probably no single answer as to what causes breast cancer, and it is reported that as many as 60 percent of breast cancers develop without any known risk factors. Researchers believe, however, that the female sex hormone estrogen is the most likely culprit in many cases of breast cancer. Estrogen promotes cellular growth in the tissues of the breasts and reproductive organs, and cancer is a disorder of unrestrained cellular growth.
Some risk factors that have been identified for breast cancer include a family history of the disease, beginning the menstrual cycle before age 9, onset of menopause after age 55, having a first child after age 40 and having no or few children. One thing all of these risk factors have in common is that they result in the breasts being exposed to more estrogen for longer periods.
Currently, research does not point clearly to environmental factors (such as exposure to pesticides and other pollutants) as a possible factor in the development of breast cancer. However, research on the effects of pesticides is ongoing, and there are many health care professionals that advise avoiding these substances as much as possible, as their effects may mimic those of estrogen in the body.
Others believe environmental factors may be involved in the development of breast cancer, among them exposure to such hazards as radiation and pesticides and the use of breast implants. Although the use of silicone/polyurethane implants - silicone-filled implants coated with polyurethane - has been banned since 1992 because of concerns about their safety, an estimated 200,000 American women still have these implants in their bodies. Polyurethane releases a human carcinogen known as toluene diisocyanate, or TDA, which was banned for use in hair dye long before the controversy over breast implants arose. Silicone has been shown to cause malignant tumors in test animals. Further, even if there were no potential danger from the implants themselves, breast implants can make it harder to detect breast cancer in the earlier stages because they may hide some breast tissue, interfering with the ability to take and interpret mammograms properly.
RISK INCREASES WITH
Controlling risk factors is the best way to prevent breast cancer. Although some risk factors cannot be avoided (being female, having a family history of the disease, time of onset of menstruation and menopause), there are some actions people can take, including attaining and maintain a healthy weight, eating a low fat diet, reducing alcohol intake and breast feeding for longer than 12 months.
Early menstruation before the age of 9; late menopause after the age of 55; first pregnancy conceived late during their fertile years, after the age of 30 to 40, depending upon medical resources.
Women who have not had children or who have had few children or their first child after the age of 40 years of age.
There may be a link between obesity and an increased risk of developing breast cancer, especially for women over 50 years of age. However, this is a complex issue. The risk appears to vary depending on whether a woman has been obese since childhood, or if she gained the excess weight during adulthood. A study reported in the journal Cancer found that women who gained more than 22 pounds since their teenage years doubled their chances of getting breast cancer. The increased risk posed by obesity may also be linked to estrogen. Obese women tend to have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies than thin women. A study conducted in Mexico found that eating lots of carbohydrates raises the risk of getting breast cancer. There are conflicting reports as to whether eating a high-fat diet is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. However, many health care providers believe that it is among the highest risk factors. If a woman eats a diet high in fat and low in fiber, her body produces more estrogen.
Although it is possible for a woman to get breast cancer at any age, the disease is most common in women over 40, especially post-menopausal women.
Women who are taking oral birth control containing estrogen or women using hormone replacement therapy using estrogen supplementation for menopausal symptoms.
One thing all of these risk factors have in common is that they result in the breasts being exposed to more estrogen for longer periods.
Family history of breast cancer (especially mother or sister). Heredity is a factor in breast cancer. There are certain types of the disease that clearly run in families. Researchers estimate that only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers occur in women with a clearly defined genetic preposition for the disease. Hereditary cancers usually develop before the age of 50.
A Danish study of more than 100,000 women found that each 2.2 pound (1 kilogram) rise in birth weight was associated with an increase in breast cancer risk of some 9 percent. Another study showed that 10 pound babies had triple the incidence of breast cancer later in life than their peers who weighed in at between 5.5 and 7.7 pounds. Researchers theorize that faster growth in the womb might somehow "program" breast cells to multiply faster and raise the odds of having them turn cancerous.
Previous benign tumors of the breast (fibrocystic disease).
Previous breast cancer in one breast.
Radiation exposure.
Patients with endometrial or ovarian cancer.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Monthly self-examination of breasts for signs of cancer.
It is important to detect breast cancer in its earliest and most curable stage. Making healthy changes in diet and lifestyle, examining your breasts regularly (self exam and professional exam), and having regular mammograms can increase your chances of avoiding or, if need be, overcoming breast cancer. BREAST CANCER SELF-EXAMINATION TEST
It is essential that women examine their own breasts every month past age 20, preferably during the first week after menstruation. Do not examine the breasts during the menstrual period. Before the period, a woman's breasts may swell and become tender or lumpy. This usually decreases after the period. The breasts also become larger and firmer during pregnancy, in preparation for breast feeding. You should become familiar with the look and feel of the breasts so that any changes can be detected, such as enlargement of a lump. A woman who is accustomed to the way her breasts feels is better able to notice subtle changes. Any changes in your breast should be reported to your health care provider, and a professional should recheck you if you have any doubt concerning your examination. Since men also can get breast cancer, they can benefit from self-examination as well.
The breast self-exam should follow the recommended procedure consisting of these three steps:
1. While standing and looking in front of a mirror, press the hands together and raise them over the head and look at the shape of the breasts. Place your hands on the hips and look for any dimpling, irritation, changes in the nipples and nipples that seem to be out of position, changes in the size of each breast or thickening or red scaling on the breasts and nipples. Look to see if one breast looks different from the other, swelling in a portion of a breast, nipple pain, an inward curve of the nipple, a discharge from the nipple (other than breast milk).
2. Raise one arm above the head and firmly explore the breast with the opposite hand using a circular motion. Gradually work from the outer edge inward toward the nipple. Take your time when examining the area between the nipple and the armpit, and feel the armpit as well. You have lymph nodes in the armpit; they move freely and feel soft, and are not painful to the touch. Look for lumps that are hard and do not move (mobile). Cancers are often attached to underlying muscle or the skin. After fully examining one breast, repeat this step on other side.
3. Lie down on the back and repeat step 2. Lumps may be more easily detected in this position. Also squeeze each nipple gently to check for blood or any watery yellow or pink discharge.
For more detailed instructions with graphics:
In addition to monthly self-examination, the American Cancer Society recommends:
Obtain professional examinations by their health care provider regularly between the ages of 20 and 35 every one to three years. After the age of 40, the exam should be performed every year.
Obtain a baseline mammogram between ages 35 to 40. Have mammograms every 1 to 2 years to age 49 and annually after age 50 along with their annual exam by their health care provider.
Eat a well balanced diet that is low in fat. (Studies are inconclusive about high-fat and breast cancer risks in humans.)
If you are pregnant, consider breast-feeding your baby. Women who have breast-fed have a lower incidence of breast cancer.
A drug, such as tamoxifen, may be prescribed for women at high risk for breast cancer.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Breast cancer is curable if diagnosed and treated early. The 10-year survival rate is related to the clinical stage of the disease at diagnosis.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Spread to vital organs if not treated early. The most dangerous complication of breast cancer is the possibility that it my spread to other parts of the body. Other complications include problems associated with mastectomy surgery and side effects of chemotherapy.
Adverse reactions to anti cancer drugs and radiation.
Post surgical complications (wound infection, limited shoulder motion).
TREATMENT
GENERAL MEASURES
Diagnostic tests will include a physical exam, biopsy, and mammogram. Following the initial diagnosis, ultrasound, bone scan, chest x-ray, liver scan are often performed.
The decision for treatment is very complex, and often confusing. Be sure all options are explained and that the risks and benefits of each are thoroughly understood. It is important for you to be an informed and participating member of your health care team.
Surgery (mastectomy) to remove the lump, or breast, lymph glands, and lymphatic channels and muscles under the breast may be one treatment option.
Other treatment options included radiation therapy, hormonal or chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant (still experimental).
Additional information available from:
American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Road.
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: (800) ACS-2345
Web site: www.cancer.org
National Cancer Institute Cancer Information Service
Telephone: (800) 4-CANCER
Web site: www.cancer.gov
Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization Hotline
Telephone: (800) 221-2131
Cancer Treatments Centers of America
Telephone: (800) 515-9605
Website: www.cancercenter.com
MEDICATION
For minor discomfort during treatment, you may use non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin.
Other drugs that may be prescribed:
- Pain relievers.
- Anti-cancer drugs, such as fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, chlorambucil, vincristine, doxorubicin or melphalan.
- Hormones (male and female).
- Cortisone drugs.
ACTIVITY
If surgery is performed, resume your normal activities gradually.
Exercise for rehabilitation following surgery will depend on how much tissue has been removed and your general physical condition.
DIET
No special diet. Maintain good nutrition (See below under Holistic Recommendations & Nutritional Supplements).
This program below is recommended for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer as well as for women who want to increase their odds of avoiding breast cancer.
DIET, HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS & NUTRIENTS
BREAST CANCER SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTS
Supplements for help with breast cancer, a life-threatening tumor that begins in the breast.
Astragalus Root, Nature's Way, 470 mg, 180 VCaps
Astragalus root is considered to have a normalizing effect on the body's functions. Astragalus is an important herb in Chinese medicine and is commonly included in Chinese cuisine.Breast Support Wellness Oil, Breast Herbs, Nature's Inventory, 2 fl. oz.
When you use Breast Support Wellness Oil, Breast Herbs, in conjunction with your monthly breast exam, the oil will help to support and drain the lymphatic system.Burdock Root, Nature's Way, 540 mg, 100 Caps
Burdock is a natural blood purifier and detoxifier. It is favored for helping the body maintain healthy skin. It nourishes the urinary and respiratory systems, and also nutritionally supports joints and other skeletal tissues. It is reported to promote glandular and hormone balance, as well as remove accumulations and deposits around the joints. This supplement is organically grown by Trout Lake Farm, Washington, and certified organically processed in accordance with Oregon Tilth standards and the California Organic Foods Act of 1990.Cellular Therapy Support, TheraVeda Vijay, 100 VCaps
TheraVedas Cellular Support was created to support the quality of life for cancer patients, especially during cancer therapy treatments.CoQ10, Vegetarian Coenzyme, NOW Foods, 30 mg, 60 VCaps
A coenzyme for several key steps in the production of energy within each cell, and an antioxidant important in its clinical effects. It is these two properties make CoQ10 one of the best supplements available today.Colostrum, 480 mg, 120 Caps
Colostrum known for its powerful healing factors offers optimal health. Colostrum research proves a wide spectrum of immunoglobulins, antibodies, and accessory immune factors.Dandelion Tea, NOW Foods Organic, 30 Tea Bags
Dandelion Tea has a long history of use. Dandelion tea is warm and soothing and may even bring back a little bit of the child in you! This is 100% Organic. NOW Foods organic Dandelion tea is acts as a blood cleanser and gentle diuretic.DMG Supplement, N,N-Dimethyl-Glycine, NOW Foods, 125 mg, 100 Caps
NOW Foods' DMG Supplement is a methylated amino acid found in all cells. DMG is an antioxidant and methyl donor that has a number of beneficial effects. It has shown to have potential in increasing immune response to the flu and salmonella.Echinacea, Astragalus & Reishi Immune Support Supplement, Nature's Way, 400 mg, 100 Caps
Echinacea purpurea supports the immune system, while Astragalus and Reishi are two of the most important traditional Chinese medicinal herb tonics. This formula is an immune support supplement that helps support your immune system naturally.Fish Oil / Fisol, EPA DHA, Enteric Coated, Nature's Way, 500 mg, 90 Softgels
Scientific research confirms the important role of Omega-3 essential fatty acids in maintaining healthy blood triglyceride levels, as well as supporting the heart, skin and joints. Fish Oil contains an abundance of two-key Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids, EPA and DHA. Fisol, enteric coated, fish oil supplement delivers 30% EPA and 20% DHA. The unique coating withstands stomach acid so Fisol dissolves in the small intestine and maximizes the body's absorption of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids.Flax Protein / Fiber / Lignan Cold Milled Powder Plus Omega 3, Certified Organic, Nature's Way, 16 oz.
With 6 g Fiber/300 mg Lignan/5 g Protein (including 18 amino acids) per serving, Nature's Way EFAGold is one of nature's richest sources of protein, fiber & essential fatty acids.Garlic Oil Tincture, Alcohol Free, Nature's Way, 1 fl. oz.
Garlic oil is often used to soothe the ear and as an antibiotic but most often used as a food and herb and also to lower serum cholesterol and blood pressure and to improve circulation as well as possibly inhibiting the growth of ulcer causing bacteria.Germanium Ionic Mineral Supplement, Fully Absorbable, 50 +/- ppm, 16 fl. oz.
WaterOz Ionic Germanium is a pure liquid Germanium supplement. Germanium raises the level of activity of various organs (facilitates oxygen uptake) and helps to expel harmful pollutants and arrest germ activity. Germanium serves as an electrical semiconductor, helping correct distortions in the electrical fields of the body.Ginkgold, Ginkgo Biloba Extract, Vegetarian, Standardized, Nature's Way, 60 mg, 150 Tabs
Ginkgold improves mental sharpness, concentration, memory and cognitive activity. It also supports healthy circulation to the brain as well as the extremities. And, it maintains healthy blood vessel tone and reduces blood viscosity.Maitake Mushroom Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
The unique chemicals in raw, cooked, and dried Maitake mushrooms may help boost immunity, fend off infections and fight cancer.Resveratrol Synergistic Formula, 37.5 mg, 60 Caps
Japanese knotweed is a potent source of Resveratrol and has been used for the heart, liver and blood vessels. Nature's Way Resveratrol Supplement is a comprehensive blend of antioxidants made with Japanese Knotweed. Resveratrol is found in red wine and protects cells against lipid peroxidation and free radicals.Selenium, 100% Natural, 200 mcg, 100 Caps
Selenium is an essential component of glutathione, the body's most potent natural antioxidant system. It is a popular choice in many antioxidant regimens.Selenium Ionic Mineral Supplement, Fully Absorbable, 50 +/- ppm, 16 fl. oz.
WaterOz Ionic Selenium is pure liquid Selenium supplement. Selenium promotes normal body growth, enhances fertility, encourages tissue elasticity and is a potent antioxidant.Selenium Supplements & Products
Selenium is a powerful free radical scavenger.
Selenium Supplements, Yeast Free, NOW Foods, 200 mcg, 180 Caps
Selenium is an essential trace mineral in the human body. NOW Foods Selenium Supplement is an important part of antioxidant enzymes that protect cells against the effects of free radicals that are produced during normal oxygen metabolism.Super Lignan, Herbal Estrogen Supplement, Nature's Way, 60 VCaps
EFAGold (TM) Super Lignan is an ideal herbal estrogen supplement for supporting breast health during the menopausal phases of life helping alleviate breast tenderness and pain associated with the menstrual cycle.Vitamin C 1000 with Bioflavonoids, Nature's Way, 100% Natural, 1000 mg, 250 VCaps
Nature's Way Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids provides antioxidant protection for many of the body's important enzyme systems.
Herbal Remedies: Breast Cancer Information
Herbal Remedies: Breast Cancer Supplements & Products
HERBS
Astragalus root and Echinacea enhance immune function. These herbs are best used in a rotating fashion, for no more than 7 to 10 days in a row. Caution: Do not use Astragalus in the presence of a fever.
Herbal Remedies: Astragalus Immunity Herbal Tea, 20 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Astragalus Root Powder (Astragalus Membranaceus), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Astragalus Extract (Standardized 0.5% Astragalosides), Nature's Way, 60 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Astragalus Root Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Astragalus Root, Nature's Way, 470 mg, 180 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Astragalus Root Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Echinacea, Astragalus & Reishi, Immune Support Supplement, Nature's Way, 400 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Echinacea Immune Support Tea, Yogi Tea, Certified Organic, 16 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Echinacea Tincture, Orange Flavor, Alcohol Free, 100% Organic, 1 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Echinacea Root Complex, Nature's Way, 180 Caps
Herbal Remedies: 5 Echinacea Supplement, Vegetarian, Herbal Remedies USA, 1,000 mg, 60 Liquid VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Echinacea Extract, Standardized, Nature's Way, 340 mg, 60 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Echinacea Supplements & Products
Burdock root, Dandelion root, Milk Thistle, and Red Clover all protect the liver and aid in cleansing the bloodstream.
Herbal Remedies: Burdock Root Powder (Arctium Lappa), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Burdock Root, Nature's Way, 540 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Burdock Supplement Tincture, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Burdock Root Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Dandelion Tea, NOW Foods, Organic, 30 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Dandelion Root, Vegetarian, Nature's Way, 540 mg, 180 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Dandelion Root Powder (Taraxacum Officinale), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Organic Roasted Dandelion Root Tea, Kosher, Traditional Medicinals, 16 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Dandelion Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Milk Thistle Root Powder (Silybum Marianum), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Thisilyn Milk Thistle Extract, Vegetarian, Nature's Way, 175 mg, 100 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Milk Thistle Extract, Standardized, Nature's Way, 175 mg, 60 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Milk Thistle Seed Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Milk Thistle Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Herb, Nature's Way, 500 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Herb Powder (Trifolium Pratense), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Tea, Caffeine Free, Alvita, 30 Bags
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Supplements & Products
Drink herbal teas such as Bilberry, Burdock root, Ginger, Green Tea, Peppermint, and Red Clover instead of regular tea.
Herbal Remedies: Bilberry Extract Tincture, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Bilberry Extract Tincture, Herbal Remedies USA, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Bilberry Leaf Powder (Vaccinium Myrtillus), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Bilberry Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Burdock Root Powder (Arctium Lappa), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Burdock Root, Nature's Way, 540 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Burdock Supplement Tincture, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Burdock Root Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Tea, Organic Digestive Aid, Yogi Tea, 16 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Tea, 20 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Root Powder (Zingiber Officinale), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Crystallized Ginger slices, NOW Foods, 12 oz.
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Root, Nature's Way, 550 mg, 180 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Root Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: EGCg Green Tea Extract, Vegetarian Formula, NOW Foods, 400 mg, 90 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Green Tea Extract Tincture, Herbal Remedies USA, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Green Tea Supplements, Teas, & Products
Herbal Remedies: Heather's Tummy Tea, Organic Peppermint, Heather's Tummy Care, 36 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Peppermint Stomach Soother Tea, Yogi Tea, Caffeine Free, Certified Organic, 16 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Peppermint Tea, Caffeine Free, NOW Foods, 30 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Pepogest Peppermint Oil, Enteric Coated, Nature's Way, 0.2 ml, 60 Softgels
Herbal Remedies: Peppermint Leaf Powder (Mentha X Piperita), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Peppermint Leaves, Nature's Way, 400 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Peppermint, Mint, Menthol Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Herb, Nature's Way, 500 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Herb Powder (Trifolium Pratense), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Tea, Alvita, 30 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Supplements & Products
Black Cohosh, Chasteberry, Red Clover, and Turmeric are herbs that are high in phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are forms of estrogen that are much weaker than the body's estrogens, but are capable of blocking the stronger, more damaging estrogens (they can fit into the same receptors in breast cells that estrogens can, thus preventing the estrogen's ability to dock there). Phytoestrogens also expand the length of the menstrual cycle, possibly lowering the lifetime exposure to estrogen.
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover & Black Cohosh, NOW Foods, 225 mg / 40 mg, 60 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Black Cohosh Extract, Standardized, Nature's Way, 40 mg, 60 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Black Cohosh Extract, Standardized, Nature's Way, 40 mg, 120 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Black Cohosh Root, Nature's Way, 540 mg, 180 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Black Cohosh Powder (Cimicifuga Racemosa), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Black Cohosh Supplement Tincture, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Black Cohosh Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Vitex Fruit (Chaste Tree), 400 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Chaste Tree Berry Powder (Vitex Agnus Castus), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Chaste Tree Berry Supplement Tincture, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Femaprin Vitex Extract, Pharmaceutical Grade, Nature's Way, 425 mg, 60 Caps
Herbal Remedies: ProgestaCare Plus, Life-Flo, With Phytoestrogens, 4 oz.
Herbal Remedies: Chaste Tree Berry / Vitex Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Herb, Nature's Way, 500 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Herb Powder (Trifolium Pratense), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Tea, Alvita, 30 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Red Clover Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Extract (Curcuma Longa), Standardized to 95% Curcuminoids, Nature's Way, 500 mg, 120 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Curcumin, NOW Foods, 665 mg, 60 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Powder (Curcuma Longa), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Root Powder, Certified Organic, Banyan Botanicals, 1/2 lb.
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Extract, Source Naturals, 50 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Supplements & Products
Chaste Tree Berry (also known as Vitex), Ginseng, and Soy extracts may inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
Herbal Remedies: Vitex Fruit (Chaste Tree), 400 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Chaste Tree Berry Powder (Vitex Agnus Castus), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Chaste Tree Berry Supplement Tincture, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Femaprin Vitex Extract, Pharmaceutical Grade, Nature's Way, 425 mg, 60 Caps
Herbal Remedies: ProgestaCare Plus, Life-Flo, With Phytoestrogens, 4 oz.
Herbal Remedies: Chaste Tree Berry / Vitex Supplements & Products
Herbal Remedies: Ginseng Information
Herbal Remedies: Ginseng Supplements & Ginseng Products
Herbal Remedies: Soy Protein, Unflavored, NOW Foods, 1 lb.
Herbal Remedies: EstroSoy Plus Black Cohosh Supplement, Nature's Way, 355 mg, 60 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Soy Isoflavones With Digestive Enzymes, NON-GMO, SoyLife, 500 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: EstroSoy, Fermented Soy Extract, Nature's Way, 335 mg, 60 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Soy Supplements & Products
Curcumin (the yellow pigment found in Turmeric) is the chief ingredient of Curry. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and protects against inflammatory calcium loss from our bones.
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Extract (Curcuma Longa), Standarized to 95% Curcuminoids, Nature's Way, 500 mg, 120 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Curcumin, NOW Foods, 665 mg, 60 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Powder (Curcuma Longa), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Root Powder, Certified Organic, Banyan Botanicals, 1/2 lb.
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Extract, Source Naturals, 50 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Turmeric Supplements & Products
Rosemary extract is a powerful antioxidant that helps to remove estrogens and may inhibit breast cancer development.
Herbal Remedies: Rosemary Leaf Tincture, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Rosemary Leaves, Nature's Way, 400 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Rosemary Supplements & Products
Lycopene may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Herbal Remedies: Lycopene Super Antioxidant Supplement, Nature's Way, 5 mg, 60 Softgels
Herbal Remedies: Lycopene, Double Strength, NOW Foods, 20 mg, 50 Softgels
Herbal Remedies: Lycopene Supplements & Products
Sulphoraphane, from broccoli sprout extract, has been shown to stimulate the body's production of detoxification enzymes that help eliminate xenoestrogens. It is also a powerful antioxidant.
Herbal Remedies: Cruciferous Vegetable Blend (Protectamins), Nature's Way, 60 Caps
Green Tea extract, which contains catechins and flavonoids, may be protective against estrogen-dominant breast cancer.
Herbal Remedies: EGCg Green Tea Extract, Vegetarian Formula, NOW Foods, 400 mg, 90 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Green Tea Extract Tincture, Herbal Remedies USA, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Green Tea Supplements, Teas, & Products
Garlic is known to be a cancer-preventing nutrient.
Herbal Remedies: Garlic Oil Tincture, Alcohol Free, Nature's Way, 1 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Garlic Bulb Cloves, Garlic Supplement, Nature's Way, 580 mg, 100 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Odorless Garlic Supplement, NOW Foods, 50 mg, 250 SoftGels
Herbal Remedies: Garlic Supplement, Kwai, Triple Concentrated, 180 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Every Day Garlic Supplement, Kwai, 30 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Garlic Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Aged Garlic Extract, Cardiovascular Formula 100, Wakunaga Kyolic Supplements, 300 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Kyolic Liquid Aged Garlic Extract, Cardiovascular, Vegetarian, Wakunaga Kyolic, 4 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract, One-A-Day, Vegetarian, 1000 mg, Wakunaga Kyolic, 30 Caps
Herbal Remedies: Aged Garlic Extract, Cholesterol Formula 104, Wakunaga Kyolic, 200 Caps
Ginkgo Biloba enhances circulation and brain function.
Herbal Remedies: Ultra Ginkgo Plus Rhodiola & Eleuthero, Endurance Formula, 10 ml vials, 30 Vials
Herbal Remedies: Ginkgo Leaf Powder (Ginkgo Biloba), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Ginkgold Ginkgo Biloba Extract, Nature's Way, Vegetarian, Standardized, 60 mg, 150 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Ginkgold MAX, Ginkgo Biloba Extract, Vegetarian, Nature's Way, 120 mg, 60 Tabs
Herbal Remedies: Ginkgo Biloba Supplements & Products
Licorice root aids in maintaining proper organ function. Caution: If overused, licorice can elevate blood pressure. Do not use this herb on a daily basis for more than 7 to 10 days in a row. Avoid it completely if you have high blood pressure.
Herbal Remedies: Licorice Root Powder (Glycyrrhiza Glabra), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Egyptian Licorice Tea, Certified Organic, Yogi Tea, 16 Tea Bags
Herbal Remedies: Licorice Extract Tincture, Herbal Remedies USA, 2 fl. oz.
Herbal Remedies: DGL (De-Glycyrrhizinated Licorice) Extract, NOW Foods, 400 mg, 100 Lozenges
Herbal Remedies: Licorice Root Supplements & Products
Silymarin, and antioxidant extract of Milk Thistle, has shown promise for fighting breast cancer. It also protects the liver.
Herbal Remedies: Silymarin, NOW Foods, Vegetarian, 150 mg, 60 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Silymarin Milk Thistle Extract, NOW Foods, With Artichoke & Dandelion Extract, 300 mg, 50 VCaps
Herbal Remedies: Milk Thistle Root Powder (Silybum Marianum), 4 oz. Bulk
Herbal Remedies: Silymarin / Milk Thistle Supplements & Products
Calcium D-Gluconate is a botanical extract found in grapefruit, apples, oranges, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Scientists are discovering that it appears to protect against cancer and other diseases via a different mechanism than antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Carotenoids, and Folic Acid. These vitamin antioxidants work by neutralizing toxic free radical damage in the body. There are however, other mechanisms by which the human body can detoxify itself. Glucuronidation is a detoxification process that occurs when toxins or carcinogens are combined with water-soluble substances, thus making them more easily removed from the body. D-Glucarate has been shown to support this process by inhibiting an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase.
HOLISTIC RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS
HOLISTIC DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
Eat a high fiber diet based on fresh fruits and vegetables, plus grains, legumes, raw nuts (except peanuts) and seeds, and soured products such as low fat yogurt. Very important are the cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower, and yellow/orange vegetables, such as carrots, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, and yams. Eat vegetables raw or lightly steamed. For grains, use unpolished brown rice, millet, oats, and wheat. Eat whole grains only. If at possible, consume only organically grown foods. Pesticides and other chemicals have been linked to breast cancer (they may mimic the effect of estrogen in the body).
Include soy foods in your diet. Diets high in fiber and soy foods are associated with a lowered risk of breast cancer. Some good sources of soy include fresh soybeans, tempeh, soymilk, soy nuts, tofu, and soy powder. Limit your intake of soy products, which contain enzyme inhibitors. It is not necessary to eliminate soy foods completely, however. Moderation is important.
Include in your diet fresh apples, cherries, grapes, plums, and all types of berries.
Eat onions and fresh garlic, or take a garlic supplement form. Garlic powder or garlic salt sprinkled on your food does not count.
Make sure your diet provides adequate amounts of essential fatty acids (EFAs), Omega-3 EFAs (found in fish and flaxseed) and Omega-9 fatty acids (found in Olive Oil) lower cancer risk. Eating salmon weekly and tuna 3 times a week will provide a good amount of fatty acids. Processed fish oil supplements are also a good idea, but avoid cod liver oil, as its levels of vitamin A and D are too high. Fish oil has been reported to possibly slow tumor growth. Flaxseed oil can be sprinkled onto food.
Make a daily juice using a combination of fresh organic broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, kale, dark leafy greens, and an apple. These are high in phytochemicals such as indole-3-carbinol (I-3C) and help to combat breast cancer. The phytochemical I-3C has been shown to detoxify xenoestrogens via the liver and to even reverse abnormal Pap smears.
Limit your intake of fatty, charred, or grilled foods, which have been liked with a higher risk of cancer.
Drink quality spring or steam-distilled water only, never tap water. Also drink fresh homemade vegetable and fruit juices. Drink fruit juices in the morning, vegetable juices in the afternoon.
Do not eat meat or other animal products. Many animals are treated with hormones to hasten growth and these foods could contain residues of estrogenic hormones that were given to the animals. Meat also contains saturated fat and well-done meat has been linked to a higher risk for breast cancer in some studies. However, if you feel you must eat these products, select organic, hormone-free products. Avoid all dairy products except for unsweetened low-fat yogurt. This form of yogurt is an acceptable source of protein and it also contains active acidophilus-bifidus cultures to keep your intestinal tract healthy.
Do not consume any alcohol, caffeine, junk foods, processed refined foods, saturated fats, salt, sugar, or white flour. Studies have shown that women who ate the most carbohydrates overall (62 percent or more of their total caloric intake) were more than twice as likely to have breast cancer as those eating fewer carbohydrates. And, not all carbohydrates are necessarily bad. The greatest risk comes from sucrose (table sugar) and fructose (found in most non-diet soft drinks). Obviously, avoiding refined sugars and soft drinks will have a beneficial effect.
Take extra fiber daily. Fiber keeps toxic wastes from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Psyllium husks are a recommended source. The colon must be kept clean and the bowels must move daily for healing. See Colon Cleansing, Colon Cleansing Enema, and Enemas for more information. Note: Always take supplemental fiber separately from other supplements and medications.
Herbal Remedies: Fiber Supplements & Products
Do not take supplements containing iron. Iron may be used by tumors to promote their growth.
A study done by the American Health Foundation found that consuming wheat bran can reduce blood estrogen levels.
People with breast cancer have been found to have lower than normal levels of vitamin E and the mineral selenium, two important antioxidants that work together to neutralize free radicals. Research has shown that people with cancer of the lung, bladder, breast, colon, and skin all have levels of vitamin A that are lower than normal.
Herbal Remedies: Breast Cancer! Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way, By Susun S. Weed, Christiane Northrup
Presents safe and effective herbs and home remedies that can prevent breast cancer from starting, or that can be used by cancer patients to complement orthodox treatments.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Being physically fit appears to help protect against breast cancer.
Evidence is strong for a link between breast cancer and lifestyle. As few as 3 alcoholic drinks a week increases the potential for breast cancer by 50 percent. All women are urged to cut their total fat intake to 20 percent of total calories. Saturated fats should account for no more than 5 percent of calories.
A study reported in the journal Cancer showed that women who gained more than 22 pounds since their teenage years doubled their chances of getting breast cancer.
If you experience itching, redness, and soreness of the nipples, especially if your are not currently breastfeeding a baby, seek evaluation by your health care provider. These can be symptoms of Paget's disease.
If you are undergoing treatment for breast cancer and find yourself feeling depressed or frightened, try to keep in mind that when medications (especially chemotherapy drugs) are stopped, you will probably start to feel better and to look at things in a different light. Think about all the women, including many celebrities and public figures, who have had breast cancer, and have gone on to have fulfilling lives and careers. Thousands of women who have had breast cancer are living happy, normal lives.
CONSIDERATIONS
Mammograms can detect small tumors and breast abnormalities up to 2 years before they can be felt, when they are most treatable. A mammogram should be scheduled within the first 14 days of your menstrual cycle, when the breasts are less likely to be swollen. You should not use any antiperspirant, deodorant, or powder on the day of the test, as it can interfere with the reading.
Women, especially pre-menopausal women under age 40, who ate sport-caught fish had nearly double the risk of developing breast cancer than those who did not eat any sport-caught fish. Those women who ate Great Lakes-caught fish had a 74 percent greater risk. Carcinogens, which tend to concentrate in fish flesh, may be the cause. These carcinogens include halogenated hydrocarbons, such as PCBs, DDT, and PBDFs. Avoid all fish from polluted waters.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with equipment specifically designed for imaging the breast can be used to evaluate a suspected rupture of a silicone gel-filled breast implant. Even those these are no longer being used, except in clinical studies, many thousands of women still have them. Health care providers usually recommend removal of a rupture implant, regardless of whether it is silicone-filled or a new saline-filled type.
Thermographic imaging of the breasts detects the extra heat emitted by malignant tumors because they have more heat-generating blood vessels. When used in conjunction with mammography (above) there is a better than 95 percent detection rate.
A study showed that women who used aspirin at least 4 times a week for at least 3 months were almost 30 percent less likely to develop estrogen- or progesterone-related breast cancer than those who did not use aspirin. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in May 2004, the study was led by researcher Mary Beth Terry, Ph.D., and Alfred Neugut, M.D., Ph.D., of Columbia University. Researchers suspect aspirin works by interfering with estrogen production.
A new technique may cut down on unnecessary biopsies when dealing with implants, dense breast tissue, and high cancer risk patients. The alternative to the mammogram is the MRI, and this is used in most of the cases stated above because mammograms are more likely to miss cancer in these women. However, the MRI has a problem in that it "red flags" a lot of spots that turn out to be benign after the biopsy. A new version of MRI software, called CADstream, in conjunction with a dye injection, has shown promising results. In one study at the University of Washington School of Medicine, it missed no cancers and ruled out half of the "red flags" as benign, thus avoiding a biopsy in each case.
There has been a great rise in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in recent years. This consists of a combination of synthetic estrogen and progestin and was designed to help combat the symptoms of menopause (bone loss, night sweats, hot flashes, and so forth). A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association uncovered some serious problems with the use of this type of therapy. In fact, the study was ended after only five years (it had originally been scheduled to run 8.5 years) because women in the treatment group had a 26 percent increased risk of invasive breast cancer. The study also found that the women who took HRT were 29 percent more likely to have a heart attack and 41 percent more likely to have a stroke. The risk of getting gallbladder and liver disease was also higher, as was the risk of developing blood clots. There is enough clear evidence that the risks of HRT far outweigh any benefits. The millions of women who took or are taking HRT should consider using nutrients to detoxify their bodies of the cancer-causing estrogens and gradually weaning themselves off the therapy.
Post menopausal women who took the drug Letrozole experienced a reduction in breast cancer recurrence of 43 percent as opposed to 13 percent of women on the placebo. Letrozole is proposed as a drug to be used in conjunction with tamoxifen, which is the current post-cancer treatment. Tamoxifen blocks the production of estrogen, but becomes ineffective after 5 years or so. Letrozole, on the other hand, suppresses production of estrogen and is to be used after a period of Tamoxifen treatment. The study results were so persuasive that the study was stopped early, which is a normal protocol, so that all participants could benefit from treatment with Letrozole. Studies on a similar drug, Exemestane, showed similar results. Exemestane is sold under the brand name Aromasin.
The Bosom Buddies breast self-examination kit from Jason Natural Cosmetics includes a moisturizing cream, a "how to" breast self-exam chart, a breast self-examination recording booklet, and a bottle of breast comforting cream. The kit is available in health food stores and online.
The connection between exercise and cancer is a fairly new area of research. Some studies suggest that getting regular exercise in youth might give life-long protection against breast cancer. Even moderate physical activity as an adult may lower breast cancer risk. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association followed almost 75,000 women aged 50 to 79 as part of the Women's Health Initiative Cohort Study. The study found that women who engaged in the equivalent of 1.25 to 2.5 hours of brisk walking had an 18 percent lower risk of getting breast cancer as compared to inactive women over the 5-year study period. Women who engaged in up to 10 hours of similar exercise realized a small decrease in risk over and above the 1.25 to 2.5 hour group. Although not part of the study, outdoor exercise where you are getting some (but not too much) sun exposure also raises vitamin D levels. Low levels of Vitamin D have been associated with a greater risk of cancer.
Relaxation techniques such as writing, meditation, yoga, or massage therapy can aid in battling breast cancer.
There is a clear link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of breast cancer. A study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine has stated that consuming as few as 3 alcoholic drinks a week increases the potential for breast cancer by 50 percent. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily increase their risk to about 1.5 times that of women who drink no alcohol. The ACS recommends that you limit the amount you drink to 2 drinks, 2 times weekly.
Post-menopausal women who drink too much wine are at a higher risk for breast cancer, says a new study. Moderate drinkers have a much lower rate (12 percent) risk of developing the disease. The study, conducted at Lund University in Sweden, found that the break point was only 1.5 glasses of wine per day. Moderate drinkers averaged less than that consumption per day.
A new test from Genomic Health of Redwood City, California, could be helpful to patients who have early breast cancer and must make treatment decisions. The test looks at 21 different genes thought to play a role in developing cancerous cells, using them as predictors as to whether a tumor would return after initial treatment. The thrust of the test is to predict whether or not chemotherapy is necessary in individual cases. While it is a promising tool, many health care providers are skeptical about trusting such an experimental procedure without further studies to confirm its value. The test is being marketed under the name OncotypeDX.
There is great debate about whether or not fat intake has an effect on the risk of developing breast cancer. The National Woman's Health Network urges all women to cut their total fat intake to 20 percent of total calories. Saturated fats should account for no more than 5 percent of calories.
The largest women's health study ever done, the Women's Health Initiative Cohort Study, had 162,000 participants. Some findings taken from the study that were recently presented at an American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference indicated that taking birth control pills during reproductive years was not as harmful as was at one time thought. In fact, the study indicated a lower risk for heart attack, stoke, high blood pressure, and other related cardiovascular disease (CVD) problems. The overall risk reduction for CVD was 8 percent, and a bonus was a risk reduction of 7 percent regarding any type of cancer. Researchers believe the type of hormones, and when they are taken in life, seems to be what makes them helpful at one point and harmful at another.
Frequent exposure to medical x-rays has been linked to an increased risk for breast cancer.
Early or prolonged use of permanent dark hair dyes have been linked to breast cancer.
Testing methods for breast cancer are increasing the likelihood of catching it early. Minimally invasive breast biopsies (MIBB) can be performed with virtually no recovery time. Ultrasounds and high-resolution ultrasounds offer a safer alternative to x-rays and can provide sharp digital pictures. Magnetic resonance imaging can create a 3-dimensional image and can be helpful in detecting ruptures in silicone breast implants.
A computerized mammogram scanner may increase the likelihood that a woman's cancer can be cured by calling a radiologist's attention to a suspicious area on a mammogram. The computer software analyzes the content of mammograms and highlights, or "red flags," suspicious areas on the images after the radiologist has done the initial evaluation. The device has been shown to improved a radiologist's detection rate from about 80 cancers our of 100 to 88 out of 100.
The use of digital x-rays is predicted to reduce the number of undetected breast cancers significantly.
A method of detecting if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, called sentinel node biopsy, allows health care providers to pinpoint the first lymph node into which a tumor drains (the sentinel node), and remove only the nodes most likely to contain cancer cells.
If you have a personal family history of breast cancer, you may want to consider genetic testing. Over half of women with certain genetic mutations develop breast cancer by the age of 70. Genetic testing can determine whether you have a genetic mutation, but it cannot predict whether you will develop breast cancer. Talk to your health care provider if you are considering genetic testing. It is expensive, insurance companies do not always cover it, and if you results are positive, insurance companies may choose to deny you coverage.
People with breast cancer have been found to have lower than normal levels of vitamin E and the mineral Selenium, two important antioxidants that work together to neutralize free radicals. Selenium has been shown in lab studies to kill tumors and protect healthy tissue. Research has also shown that people with cancer of the lung, bladder, breast, colon, and skin all have lower than normal levels of vitamin A.
It has been difficult to evaluate whether or not DHEA may prevent breast cancer because studies have yielded conflicting evidence on this point. A stronger, natural descendant of DHEA is 7-keto DHEA. Unlike DHEA itself, 7-keto DHEA is not converted into testosterone or estrogens in the body. It may be a safer alternative to DHEA in combating breast cancer.
Low levels of vitamin B-12 have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
Pro Fem progesterone cream is a natural progesterone cream that can be applied to the breast for direct absorption through the fat under the skin. Progesterone may help reduce the risk of breast cancer. Breast Health from NaturalMax is a supplement designed to act as defense against breast cancer. It contains a variety of herbal extracts, phytochemicals, and nutrients, including genistein, black currant blend, freeze-dried broccoli, gotu kola, indole-3-carbinol, saw palmetto, and lycopene (unable to locate this supplement online). Caution: Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not use these products.
BREAST CANCER TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Treatment for breast cancer may include surgery or radiation therapy, or both, to control the breast tumor. Hormone therapy may be added in the form of drugs such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex).
BIOPSY OPTIONS
Biopsies that are less invasive now can be done using a fine needle aspiration (removing cells from a breast lump) and stereotactic core biopsies (which uses a bigger needle that a computer guides to remove suspicious tissue seen on a mammogram).
Combining a MRI with automatic tissue excision and collection (ATEC) allows for a nonsurgical biopsy for many women, particularly those with high-density tissue that masks suspicious lumps when taking a mammogram. This is basically a vacuum-assisted biopsy, and where the suspicious lump is under about 2 cm (about 3/4 inch) it can be completely excised. Once the needle is removed, a simple Band-Aid is sufficient to cover the entry mark.
DRUG THERAPY
Raloxifen (Evista), a newer drug similar to tamoxifen, has been found in 2 clinical trials to be at least as effective in the prevention of breast cancer, without the increased risk of uterine cancer linked to tamoxifen. These findings are preliminary, however, because they were secondary findings in studies that were not focused on breast cancer prevention, and the studies were not run as long as the tamoxifen studies. The drug appears to also pose the same risk factors for blood clotting that tamoxifen does. The FDA has not yet approved the drug for the prevention of breast cancer; however, it has been approved for the prevention of osteoporosis in menopausal women.
Epirubicin (Ellence) is a chemotherapy drug that can be used to combat early-stage breast cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.
Capecitabine (Xeloda) is a drug approved for use in women with advanced breast cancer for which no acceptable alternative treatments are available. It was given accelerated approval, an early approval process applied to some drugs that are used to treat life-threatening conditions. This drug is specifically for patients whose tumors are resistant to other treatments. In studies, the drug measurably shrank some patients' tumors. Possible side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, painful inflammation of the mouth, and painful rash and swelling of the hands and feet.
Capecitabine (Xeloda), taken orally, and docetaxel (Taxotere), an intravenous drug, have been approved by the FDA to be used in combination to treat advanced cancer. This is to follow treatment with an anthracycline-containing therapy such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Health care providers limit anthracycline-containing treatments to life-threatening situations. The FDA approved the drug combination after a study of 511 cancer patients demonstrated improvements in overall response rates, lengths of time before the disease worsened, and survival rates. Capecitabine and docetaxel individually are associated with side effects including gastrointestinal symptoms, nausea, vomiting, and painful inflammation of the mouth. If side effects occur it may be necessary to reduce dosages or to interrupt or discontinue treatment. Dosages also may have to be modified for people with impaired kidney function. Drug interaction between capecitabine and coumarin-derivative anticoagulants (Coumadin) may cause serious bleeding and must be carefully monitored.
Health care providers once believed that extensive surgery could control the spread of breast cancer. However, they now believe that cancer cells may break away from the primary tumor during surgery and spread through the bloodstream, even in the earliest stages of the disease. These cells cannot be felt by examination or seen on x-rays or other imaging methods, and they produce no symptoms. Adjuvant therapy - the use of drug treatment after surgery - can be used to kill these hidden cells. Your health care provider can make recommendations as to whether or not adjuvant therapy is needed in your individual situation. Drugs approved by the FDA to improve the chances of successfully treating blood cancer include:
- Capecitabine (Xeloda).
- Docetaxel (Taxitere), which may be used if locally advanced or metastasized breast cancer has progressed despite treatment with other drugs.
- Paclitaxel (Taxol), which is used for both treatment of metastatic or advanced breast cancer and prevention of relapses and which a recent large study indicated was more beneficial when given once a week rather than once every 3 weeks (the previous standard treatment).
- Tamoxifen (Nolvadex).
- Trastuzumab (Herceptin), an immunotherapy regimen that can be used alone if other drugs have been unsuccessful, or as a first line treatment in combination with other drugs.
- Anastrozole (Arimidex) can be used in place of tamoxifen and it has fewer side effects. Anastrozole works by shutting down the hormone estrogen at the source.
In addition, cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin), with or without fluorouracil (Adrucil), may be used to treat breast cancer. Chemotherapy treatment is given in cycles, followed by recovery periods. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, treatments can last from 3 to 6 months.
Fentanyl (Actiq) is a drug that may be prescribed for people in severe pain. It is a narcotic drug that is more potent than morphine and comes in a flavored sugar lozenge form.
After surgery, analysis of the tumor is done to determine the type of cancer and to test for the presence of a substance called estrogen-receptor protein, to determine whether the cancer is estrogen-dependent. If the tumor is found to be estrogen-dependent, tamoxifen may be an alternative to conventional chemotherapy.
SURGICAL THERAPY
The John Hopkins Breast Center offers an outpatient mastectomy option for cancer patients. Here, the patients and their families are put through a trial run of the operation, from what the operation room looks like to how the wounds will appear after surgery.
Most women with breast cancer have some type of surgery, depending on the stage of the breast cancer. Options for the surgical treatment of breast cancer have expanded greatly in the past couple of decades. Surgical treatment now emphasizes breast conservation - preserving the breast when possible. Some of the treatment options in breast surgery include:
- Lumpectomy, also known as segmented mastectomy or tylectomy. The tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue are removed. This is the least extensive type of breast cancer surgery. In most cases, a lumpectomy is followed by several weeks of radiation, which is an integral part of breast-conserving treatment.
- Quadrantectomy, also known as partial mastectomy. The quadrant of the breast in which the tumor was found is removed, including some skin and the lining of the chest muscle below the tumor.
- Simple mastectomy. The entire breast is removed and sample of the underarm lymph nodes is taken.
- Modified radical mastectomy, also known as total mastectomy. The entire breast and all underarm lymph nodes are removed. The lining over the chest muscles may also be removed.
- Radical mastectomy, also known as the Halsted radical mastectomy. The entire breast, all the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes, and the underlying chest muscle are removed. This procedure was once the standard in breast cancer surgery, but today, women with breast cancer rarely (fewer than 5 percent of women) undergo this type of breast cancer surgery because health care providers believe that a modified radical mastectomy is just as effective.
- Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. This type of surgery is done in a small percentage of women who are at particular high risk for breast cancer. In this procedure, both healthy breasts are removed to prevent breast cancer from forming. This is most often performed on women who have an inherited genetic defect that increases their risk of getting breast cancer to 85 percent by the age of 70. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found that this procedure may reduce the risk of developing the disease by almost 90 percent, and deaths due to breast cancer by over 80 percent.
No Single procedure can be recommended as ideal for all individuals. A woman and her health care provider must base their decision on the patient's medical status and her particular concerns. Her choice may be influenced by emotional considerations, finances, access to care, body image, and personal beliefs. Depending on the type of surgery that is done, there is the option of having breast reconstruction later.
After surgery, analysis of the tumor is done to determine the type of cancer and to test for the presence of a substance called estrogen-receptor protein, to determine whether the cancer is estrogen-dependent. If the tumor is found to be estrogen-dependent, an alternative to conventional chemotherapy may be the drug tamoxifen (Novadex). This drug blocks estrogen from binding with receptors on any developing breast cancer cells in the early stages, thus "starving" the cancer cells of the estrogen that promotes their growth. It can cause adverse side effects, however. In pre-menopausal women, hormonal treatment may be accomplished by removing the hormone-producing ovaries.
A technique called rotating delivery of excitation off resonance (RODEO) MRI-guided laser lumpectomy soon may be available to treat breast cancer without surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. The outpatient procedure uses magnetic resonance imaging with lasers that destroy early stage cancers.
A radical approach to breast cancer treatment involves a combination of high-dose chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Health care providers first extract and freeze a small amount of marrow, then administer extremely high doses of chemotherapy to eradicate the cancer cells. The marrow is then reinjected into the patient to replace the marrow destroyed by chemotherapy. This treatment was tested at Duke University on women with advanced breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes in the armpits. After 2 years, 72 percent of the treated women were free of cancer, compared with 38 percent of those who received standard chemotherapy treatment. This treatment is very expensive, however; it can cost more than $100,000, and many insurance companies are reluctant to pay for it because they consider it experimental. It is also extremely difficult physically for the woman who undergoes it. This is a risky procedure, and it is still widely experimental, although many women with late-stage breast cancer are hoping that it will be able to help them in their battle. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified some characteristics that may help health care providers and patients decide if a bone marrow transplant may be an option. The best candidates are:
- Those who begin the treatment before the cancer has metastasized past the chest wall and lymph nodes.
- Those who have never had chemotherapy in their lifetime.
- Those whose cancer is slowly metastasizing.
- Those who have metastasized tumors with estrogen-positive receptors and have been treated with tamoxifen.
- Those whose metastasized tumors are still small.
In any type of breast cancer surgery, some or all of the underarm lymph nodes may be removed. This is done to check for possible spread of the cancer. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, postoperative therapy may include radiation, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapy. Radiation is always required after a lumpectomy or quadrantectomy to ensure that no more cancer cells remain.
After surgery, women are usually advised to avoid moving or carrying heavy objects, to wear loose-fitting clothes and gloves, and to avoid overexposure to the sun. Some women whose lymph nodes are removed during breast cancer surgery have a problem with swelling of the arm, or lymphoedema, on that side due to an accumulation of lymphatic fluid. This is not unusual. It can develop just after surgery, or months or even years later, and can be brought on by an injury to (or overuse of) the arm or an infection. To reduce the risk of developing lymphedema, do not have any blood work, chemotherapy, or blood pressure work on the affected arm. Certain arm exercises are usually prescribed to keep the arm from becoming stiff and to assist in healing. If there is any unusual swelling, redness, or pain in the hand or arm, this should be evaluated by a health care provider.
When breast cancer is caught in the very early stages - when it has not invaded nearby tissues - the cure rate is near 100 percent with surgery alone. Tumors of 1 centimeter or less in size carry a particularly good prognosis - less than a 10 percent likelihood of recurrence within 10 years. In general, the risk of recurrence rises with increasing tumor size and lymph node involvement. The use of radiation treatment after surgery increases the survival rate by about 8.5 percent studies have shown, as well as reducing the chance of relapse.
A relatively new approach to breast cancer treatment involves a combination of high-dose chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Health care providers first extract and freeze a small amount of marrow, then administer extremely high doses of chemotherapy to eradicate the cancer cells. The marrow is then reinjected into the patient to replace the marrow destroyed by chemotherapy. This treatment was tested on women with advanced breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes in the arm pits. After 2 years, 72 percent of the treated women were free of cancer, compared with 38 percent of those who received standard chemotherapy treatment. This treatment is very expensive, however, it can cost more than $100,000, and many insurance companies are reluctant to pay for it because they consider it "experimental." It is also extremely difficult physically for the woman who undergoes it.
GENE THERAPY
With the discovery of 2 "breast cancer genes" (BRCA1 and BRCA2), gene therapy is receiving more attention. This research is still in its infancy and much more investigation in this area needs to be done.
POST-SURGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
A form of reconstructive surgery may be an option for women who have had a mastectomy. The procedure involves growing their own tissue from a sample of fat and blood vessel cells taken from the thigh or buttocks. Growth hormones are then added, actually causing the tissue to grow. This method, developed by ReproGenesis with the help from researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina, may be a better option for women who are considering breast reconstruction.
Once treatment has been completed and a woman is declared free of cancer, her health care provider will usually want to follow her progress for at least 5 years.
Even when treatment is initially successful, breast cancer can return in one out of three cases. New drugs, treatment regimens, and better diagnostic techniques have improved the outlook for many, and are responsible. according to the ACS, for a decline in breast cancer death rates.
Family support is necessary for the person with breast cancer. Depression, anxiety, and fear are not uncommon.
See Cancer for more information about cancer and tips for surviving cancer therapies.
NOTIFY YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF...
You or a family member discovers a lump or other change in the breast.
The following occur after treatment or surgery:
- Swelling in the arm.
- Fever.
- New, unexplained symptoms develop, such as nausea or vomiting. Therapies and drugs used in treatment may produce side effects.
MOONDRAGON'S BREAST CANCER LINKS & RESOURCES
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