Cancer, Cancer Treatment

Do you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women? Breast cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in American women. Most cases of breast cancer are diagnosed when a mammogram reveals a lump. A change in the texture of breast tissue can also be a warning sign of breast cancer.

Fortunately, due to public awareness, more women are having mammogram testing on a regular basis. This is enabling doctors to detect cancer while it is still in the early stages. This has resulted in an increase in the survival rate of breast cancer victims. However, breast cancer is still the major cause of death in women between the ages of 45 and 55.
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Nolvadex is given for breast cancer. The medicine is also given for preventing cancer, which has spread to other parts.

Once Nolvadex is prescribed, you should have to strictly follow the prescription. The drug could be taken with or without food. Never crush, chew or break the drug but only swallow the drug as it has to be slowly released into the body. Moreover, never stop the drug in the middle of a dosage as it can only lead to many complications.

If you have missed a dose, never take it and continue with the next dosages. Never go for a double dosage as it can only increase the risk of side effects.
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Arimidex is prescribed for treating hormone receptor positive disease (metastatic breast cancer) and early-stage breast cancer after surgery in postmenopausal women.

While taking Arimidex, follow the doctor’s direction. The prescribed normal dosage is one pill a day. It is also advised not to take larger doses of the drug and also not to take it for longer periods, unless the doctor has prescribed.

Before Arimidex is prescribed, discuss with your doctor about all your present and past health condition. You should not hide from your doctor if you have a history of stroke or heat diseases, liver diseases, blood problems and if menopause has not been completed.

The drug is only for menopause women and should not be taken by pregnant women and also by those who are breast-feeding as the drug is known to cause harm to the unborn and the newly born babe.
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WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7 — Digoxin, a drug used for many years to treat irregular heart rhythms and heart failure, may also be a cancer-fighting agent, researchers report.

Cancer cells need to create new blood vessels to survive. But many of these cells are oxygen-deprived and need to switch on genes that produce a protein called hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1), which help cells survive in low-oxygen conditions.

Digoxin reduces HIF-1, causing cancer cells to die, the scientists from Johns Hopkins University found.

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A mammogram is one of the safest ways that is used to check if there is any problem with the breast of a woman. It is actually an x-ray of the breasts, as it involves in using a special and very low dose x-ray machine taking pictures of both breasts. Effective Method of Preventing Cancer
Mammogram is an effective way of breast cancer prevention, as it is the most reliable procedure to detect early stages of breast cancer. However, there are some limitations of mammogram. Many cancers may not be detected by mammograms. Such breast cancers can be detected by breast self-exam. This article will guide you in getting ready for your mammogram. What You Should Watch Out For? Firstly, you should check the place where you are going to have your mammogram, so that you get to know about any special instructions, which you must follow before you arrive there. You should make the appointment for your mammogram for at least one week after the completion of your period. This is because your breast generally hurt less during this time. You should make sure that you tell your mammography facility, if you have ever got any type of breast implants. Things to Remember Before Visiting Mammogram Facility It is better that you wear a shirt preferably with shorts, skirt or pants. This helps you to undress from the waist up, thus leaving your pants, skirt or shorts on while you are getting your mammogram. It is highly advised that do not use any sort of deodorant, lotion, powder or lotion on your breasts or under your arms on the day you are having your mammogram. Using these things may result in shadows on your mammogram, as they contain small aluminium particles. You can use cornstarch in place of talcum powder or deodorant, as it does not interfere with the x-ray image. You should not use any sort skin lotions on your breasts, as it can make them slippery. Hence, it will result in a movement during the process and a blurred image may be produced. What Actually Happens During the Diagnosis Process? After reaching the clinic, you should undress up to your waist. Try wearing clothes that can be easily removed and has loose fittings. Do not wear a bra on the day. Do not forget to take a hairbrush, so that you can tidy up at the time of redressing. After undressing, you will be asked to put on the hospital gown, opening to the front. The technician will help you in positioning yourself in front of the mammogram machine while standing. While taking the mammogram, your technician will rest each of your breasts on a metal plate, arranging maximum of the breast tissue between the top compression plate and the bottom plate. Your breasts will then be imaged and compressed for various lateral and vertical images. It is recommended that women, especially those belonging to the upper age limit of 40 years or more, have a mammogram of their breasts done every year. This helps in early detection of breast cancer in ones breast and ensures proper treatment, which can even cure cancer. To Your Health!

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THURSDAY, Nov. 6 — Cancer-screening messages targeted to minorities that take a negative approach — emphasizing, for instance, that colon cancer is a bigger threat to blacks than whites — can actually make minorities less likely to be screened, a new study found.

“There have been some other studies that have hinted at the same thing,” said study lead author Robert Nicholson, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at St. Louis University School of Medicine.

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With October being the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many are trying to find ways to help raise money for further research into prevention and treatment methods for the deadly disease.

In that spirit, QVC, a popular shopping network in the United States, has decided to sell more than 100,000 pairs of shoes at half-price, the money being scheduled to be donated to breast cancer education and research.

Coming from approximately one hundred brands, the shoes will be sold during a program that is set to air Wednesday, October 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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The chances of surgically removed breast cancer relapsing is reduced by following surgery with radiation therapy. This therapy is important and should not be skipped if you dont want your cancer to reoccur. Once you are diagnosed with breast cancer, the next thing you want to do is start an immediate treatment for the cancer. You should ask your doctor for available treatment options and what is involved in each before taking it up. With proper treatment chances are your breast cancer can be treated. And that’s a very high probability because more and more women are now surviving breast cancer, than was the case in the past.
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Perhaps you’re curious as to what are probiotics? Inside your intestinal tract are trillions of microorganisms. These probiotics live inside your intestines and come with an astounding job. It would be an understatement to say that, these microscopic bacteria are the heroes of our bodies. These little heroes fight off the evil microorganisms.

In order to be classified as probiotics they must be able to destroy, damage, and basically turn the disease-causing pathogenic bacteria into harmless bacteria. It’s our job to understand their needs so that they can keep up with the constant bombarding of bad bacteria growing inside our body.

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By Karla Gale

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Freezing embryos before undergoing cancer treatment that may cause infertility is as successful for women with cancer as it is for women without cancer, new study findings indicate.

The investigators, who presented their findings this week at the 64th annual meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine in San Francisco, recommend this means preserving fertility for cancer patients, because the ovaries are severely compromised by chemotherapy and radiation.

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