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Chemo Increases Ovarian Cancer Survival

Abdominal Chemo Increases Ovarian Cancer Survival Rate


A large clinical test shows that giving chemotherapy directly into the stomach, as well as into a vein, can improve survival of women with advanced ovarian cancer by about sixteen months. The results of the study, which pop up in this week’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, prompted the National Cancer Institute to issue a statement supporting doctors to employ this plan of attack for appropriate patients. 

Why is this new treatment reigmine so important? Ovarian cancer is the fourth greatest reason of cancer demises in women, affecting more than 22,000 women and killing more than 25,000 in 2015. Although this disease is super treatable when saw ahead of time, virtually all cases are not noticed until they have dispersed beyond the ovaries. Because so many ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed at a later stage, it is crucial to find ways to better treatments for further progressed disease. 


What is already known about ovarian cancer? virtually all women with advanced ovarian cancer get chemotherapy after surgery to get rid of the tumor. That chemotherapy is usually given into a vein and moves through the bloodstream to reach tumor cells in the stomach. Doctors have also experimented with rendering the chemotherapy straight into the abdomen through a catheter, a system called intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy. Eight clinical trials of this approach have been done, and most showed a gain to IP chemotherapy. But this technique is not widely wore, according to the study’s author, Deborah Armstrong, MD. 

“There has been a prejudice against IP therapy in ovarian cancer because it’s an old idea, it requires skill and experience for the surgery and for the chemotherapy, and it’s additional complicated than IV chemotherapy,” said Armstrong, who is a medical oncologist and associate professor at the John Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore. 

How this study was done: Women with stage III ovarian cancer were randomly assigned to get either standard chemotherapy in a vein (210 women), or a combination of chemotherapy in a vein and IP chemotherapy (205 women). The women had already had surgery that successfully removed all or most of the tumor; none had tumors remaining that were larger than 1 cm in diameter. All the women were treated with the same drugs, cisplatin and paclitaxel. Six cycles of chemotherapy were planned for both groups. 


What was found? Women who had IP chemo operated long without their cancer coming back and lived longest overall. Women who had traditional chemotherapy in a vein survived about 4 years after treatment, while those who got chemotherapy in the stomach as well as a vein stomach an median of nearly 5.

#Diabetics Exercising with #Diabetic or other health limitations #Diabetes


NO MATTER YOUR WEIGHT




            TO GET the maximum benefits from stretching to minimize the loss of flexibility caused by aging and accelerated by diabetes, include stretching exercises into your new, healthier lifestyle a minimum of two or three days per week. This will also help you maximize your strength gains from any concurrent resistance exercises you may be doing.

 Exercising with diabetic or other health limitations 

            Is your health your main excuse for not being more physically active? Whether your biggest health complaint is high blood pressure, loss of feeling in your feet, or arthritic knees, it’s time to change your way of thinking. There is mounting evidence that older individuals with chronic health problems respond just as well to exercise training as their younger counterparts, yet many older people still choose not to be physically active. While it’s true that 85 percent of people over the age of sixty-five have a health problem that they may view as a deterrent to exercise, diabetes should definitely not be among them, and neither should almost all of the others.

            Although most everyone can exercise safely and effectively, diabetes does bring additional risks, as discussed in the preceding step. However, you can still exercise to your potential—as long as you respect your limitations. To stay safe and get the most out of your activities, follow the exercise guidelines published by the ADA. The remainder of this section will address how you can overcome other common health concerns, allowing you to be as physically active as possible.


            Cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, you may also have cardiovascular disease. Remember that about a third of all people with diabetes are not even aware of having it; sadly, many of them first learn of their condition while in the hospital after suffering their first heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event. Does having heart disease mean that exercise is not for you? Absolutely not. Resistance training is now recommended for everyone, even people with known cardiovascular disease who have had a heart attack or stroke.


            Diabetic people in supervised cardiac-rehabilitation exercise programs engage in various forms of exercise, and you may choose to join such a program if you know you have cardiovascular disease; you may also prefer to exercise on your own. It’s important to know that you’re more likely to experience angina (chest pain) due to reduced blood flow to your heart muscle (ischemia) during an aerobic activity like treadmill walking than during weight training. Studies have shown that lifting a heavy weight ten to twelve times may increase your blood pressure more than aerobic work, but it doesn’t raise your heart rate as much. Ironically the higher blood pressures reached during resistance training ensure that your heart muscle gets more blood than it would during aerobic activities. If you know that you have some coronary artery blockage from plaque buildup, moderate weight training may actually be a safer activity for you than most high-intensity aerobic ones.


            If you prefer aerobic activities or if you do both types, use pain as your guide. In general, if reaching a certain heart rate (in number of beats per minute, or bpm) causes you to develop chest pain during exercise, always exercise at an intensity that keeps your rate at least 10 bpm below that pain threshold. For example, if slow jogging causes you to feel angina at a heart rate of 140 bpm, then lower your exercise intensity by walking briskly instead, to keep your heart rate at 130 bpm or below at all times. In addition, be aware that a heart attack may have symptoms other than pain localized in your chest, such as pain that radiates down one arm or shoulder or your neck or that feels like bad heartburn. If you experience any unusual pain or other symptoms during or following exercise, get checked out by your doctor as soon as possible. Diabetes can also potentially cause you to experience silent ischemia, a reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle through the coronary blood vessels that is painless and symptom-free. If you experience a sudden, unexplained change in your ability to exercise, without any other symptoms, immediately stop exercising and consult with your physician as soon as you can to rule out silent ischemia.

Breast Cancer Problem Faced By Women



There was a time when Breast Cancer was termed to be as a dreaded disease. But things have changed now. If detected earlier, this could be easily treated. Removal of your breast during the treatment of breast cancer can be one of the painful things you would have to go through. It may not be the same case for all patients. With the increasing knowledge about the cures and treatment breast cancer can be treated very easily. 

Breast cancer occurs when cell in our breasts known as tumor grow out of control causing damage to the nearby tissues and spreads throughout. These tumors which are cancerous are known as malignant tumors and cause lot of damage to your body. As it takes lot of time for a tumor to grow, it may not be easy to detect the tumor during self exam. But these can be detected with mammograms.

Breast cancers best treatment – early detection. Once, cancer is detected it becomes easier for the doctors and yourself to fight it out. By the age of 20 all women should start doing Breast Self Examination (BSE) it is one of most easiest and earliest ways of detecting cancer. These check ups should be done few days after your periods. You should do this check up at least once a month. A clinical breast exam should be done at least once a year.


Some of the signs to look for, while doing BSE

-A lump found in and around the nipple or underarm

-Change in size or shape

-Nipple discharge or nipple turning inward

-Redness of skin or warmth

-Formation of dimple or change in skin texture

Some of the causes of having breast cancer

Gender: Being a woman is one of the common reasons for suffering from breast cancer. Event though men suffer from this disease too, just being a woman puts you in lot of danger. 

Age: As you grow older your chances of having breast cancer increases. 

Family history: If somebody in the family has suffered from breast cancer your chances of having breast cancer increases.

Being overweight or obese: If you are an overweight women your chances of breast cancer increases after menopause.

Lack of exercise: Being lethargic and lack of any physical activity leads you towards increasing weight and chances of breast cancer

Alcohol: Drinking alcohol becomes very risky as it increases your chances of breast cancer

Methods to Prevent Breast Cancer

-Turn into a vegetarian

-Have plenty of organic food and vegetables 

-Avoid red meat and any processed foods

-Avoid alcohol and colas

-You can have something sweet by having Stevia, an herb which is a substitute to any other toxic artificial sweetener

-Having whole grains is very good such as Oatmeal, Kamut and Psyllium, which are a good source of fiber and enters directly into your bloodstream


-Your diet must include wheat, bran and Cabbage as they are very nutritious food which helps to prevent breast cancer

-Garlic, Ginger, carrots, celery, cilantro, parsley and parsnip has some of the highest cancer fighting nutrients. Include them in your daily diet.


Solution To Breast Cancer

 Breast Cancer A Solution 


How long should a patient take tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer?

Patients with advanced breast cancer may take tamoxifen for varying lengths of time, depending on their response to this treatment and other factors. When used as adjuvant therapy for early stage breast cancer, tamoxifen is generally prescribed for 5 years. However, the ideal length of treatment with tamoxifen is not known.

How Often Should I Take Tamoxifen?


Two studies have confirmed the benefit of taking adjuvant tamoxifen daily for 5 years. These studies compared 5 years of treatment with tamoxifen with 10 years of treatment. When taken for 5 years, the drug reduces the risk of recurrence of the original breast cancer and also reduces the risk of developing a second primary cancer in the other breast. Taking tamoxifen for longer than 5 years is not more effective than 5 years of therapy.

What is Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is an oral selective estrogen receptor modulator which is used in breast cancer treatment, and is currently the world’s largest selling breast cancer treatment. It is used for the treatment of early and advanced breast cancer in pre- and post-menopausal women. It is also approved by the FDA for the reduction of the incidence of breast cancer in women at high risk of developing the disease. It has been further approved for the reduction of contralateral (in the opposite breast) breast cancer.

Tamoxifen and Cancer

Tamoxifen is used to reduce the risk of breast cancer for women who:

1. are at high risk of breast cancer but have no personal history of the disease

2. have non-invasive, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, or DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ)

3. have hormone-receptor-positive invasive breast cancer at any stage.


Tamoxifen is sometimes used to treat gynecomastia in men. Tamoxifen is also used by bodybuilders in a steroid cycle to try and prevent or reduce drug-induced gynecomastia caused by steroids that are used in the same cycle.

Tamoxifen is also used to treat infertility in women with anovulatory disorders. A dose of 10-40 mg per day is administered in days 3-7 of a woman’s cycle.



Anchor 2 Health

#Diabetics: Getting #Pregnant when you have #T1D and Type 2 #Diabetes. #diabetic



There is no reason that you can not get pregnant and have a healthy baby because you are diabetic.  But there are precautions and preparations that should be taken to provide a healthy pregnancy for both you and your unborn baby.

Before you try to become pregnant, you should have a discussion with your doctor to let him or her know your plans.  They will review your medical history and give you advice on the best way to proceed or if you should wait.

The reason you would be asked to wait is if your Hemoglobin A1C test results were high.  Even though a reading of less than seven is considered good diabetic control it is better to have a lower number (around six) for the best chance at a healthy start.  The reason it is so important to have good blood glucose control before you get pregnant is because of a reduction in the chance of your baby being born with birth defects.

The first six weeks of pregnancy are when the baby's internal organs are just starting to form.  If they are exposed to high blood sugar levels during this time it is highly likely the baby will be born with birth defects or other complications.


But once you have the go ahead from the doctor to try and conceive you will still need strict control over your diabetes.  Your insulin requirements while you are pregnant are going to increase as the placenta releases a hormone that can block insulin production.  If you follow the diet provided by your doctor and remain healthy during your pregnancy your insulin requirements will most likely return to normal once the baby is born.


Mothers who have diabetes will still have regular pregnancies and can breast feed once their babies are born.

#Diabetics: Who's Your Reason? insulin diabetes T1D A1C


Every 21 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes. 

Every 21 seconds, there is a new reason to walk. Who's your reason? The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has launched a new theme designed to bring the reality of the diabetes epidemic into perspective. 


The "Every 21 Seconds" message will be the main theme at America's Walk for Diabetes events across the country. Every 21 seconds, a white and red bandana will be handed out to participants, accompanied by the sounding of a horn or drum, which signifies another person who is diagnosed with diabetes in this country. At the conclusion of the event, the vast array of bandanas will create a strong visual representation of the devastation of diabetes in America. 


America's Walk for Diabetes is ADA's signature walking event to raise funds for diabetes research, education and advocacy. This premier event brings together friends, family members and co-workers across the country for up to a six-mile walk. 

Nearly 21 million children and adults nationwide suffer from diabetes and another 41 million are at risk for the condition. The ADA works to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by the disease. 

Diabetes is the fifth-leading cause of death by disease in the United States. If present trends continue, one in three Americans, and one in two minorities, born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. 


A commitment to providing diabetes awareness, education and solutions for people living with diabetes.

Solution To Breast Cancer

Tamoxifen A Solution To Breast Cancer?


How long should a patient take tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer?

Patients with advanced breast cancer may take tamoxifen for varying lengths of time, depending on their response to this treatment and other factors. When used as adjuvant therapy for early stage breast cancer, tamoxifen is generally prescribed for 5 years. However, the ideal length of treatment with tamoxifen is not known.

How Often Should I Take Tamoxifen?


Two studies have confirmed the benefit of taking adjuvant tamoxifen daily for 5 years. These studies compared 5 years of treatment with tamoxifen with 10 years of treatment. When taken for 5 years, the drug reduces the risk of recurrence of the original breast cancer and also reduces the risk of developing a second primary cancer in the other breast. Taking tamoxifen for longer than 5 years is not more effective than 5 years of therapy.

What is Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is an oral selective estrogen receptor modulator which is used in breast cancer treatment, and is currently the world’s largest selling breast cancer treatment. It is used for the treatment of early and advanced breast cancer in pre- and post-menopausal women. It is also approved by the FDA for the reduction of the incidence of breast cancer in women at high risk of developing the disease. It has been further approved for the reduction of contralateral (in the opposite breast) breast cancer.

Tamoxifen and Cancer


Tamoxifen is used to reduce the risk of breast cancer for women who:

1. are at high risk of breast cancer but have no personal history of the disease

2. have non-invasive, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, or DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ)

3. have hormone-receptor-positive invasive breast cancer at any stage.


Tamoxifen is sometimes used to treat gynecomastia in men. Tamoxifen is also used by bodybuilders in a steroid cycle to try and prevent or reduce drug-induced gynecomastia caused by steroids that are used in the same cycle.

Tamoxifen is also used to treat infertility in women with anovulatory disorders. A dose of 10-40 mg per day is administered in days 3-7 of a woman’s cycle.

Neglect makes Breast Cancer a Death Sentence!


A Death Sentence Caused By Neglect = Breast Cancer  





Brest Biopsy is a test performed to test abnormal growths and cells through the breast growth. A sample of cells is taken from the mammary glands and examined in the laboratory. If the cells show a cancerous tendency, it can be looked at prior to the next thing in management. Generally, the doctor would recommend a biopsy when abnormal lump or growth is reported inside chest of your woman. Not all such lumps could be cancerous. The structures might be benign. Alternatively, there could be other causal diseases which can be accountable for stones.

In 2015 2,500,000 million people died worldwide as a result of this cancer. Worldwide, more and more people are identified as having breast cancers than every other cancer apart from lung cancer which is the 5th most popular cancer overall. While these statistics are alarming, there are ways to keep yourself as safe as you can from this terrible disease.
Fortunately, there is a proven, very-low-cost method to relieve this sort of suffering. A recent large study of females with fibromyalgia, for example, thought it was effective in relieving this, anxiety and depression that always feature this issue — symptoms which can be very difficult to treat conventionally.
Paget's disease from the breast is yet another, somewhat complex, symptom.


 This syndrome, which means association of various clinically recognizable features, presents skin changes which can be synonymous with eczema, like redness and mild flaking of the nipple skin. The presence of a tingling sensation, of itching, increased sensitivity, burning, and pain are common characteristics associated with the coming of Paget?s syndrome. Another symptom may involve a discharge in the nipple. It has been found out that a great proportion of women clinically determined to have Paget’s also experienced a lump within the breast.
These are definitely tough questions for anybody to resolve, even more so for someone who is already over-involved with the severe emotional toll that cancer can unleash. 

Nonetheless, it is crucial that you answer these questions before you go for your cancer treatment .??Chemotherapy and fertility??Will chemotherapy make you infertile? The answer to this is determined by your ex age as well as the type of chemotherapy drugs that are used. 

The younger you’re, the higher your chances that the ovaries continue producing fertile eggs even with treatment. Certain chemotherapy drugs, specially those from band of alkylating agents, may cause relatively more damage to the ovaries than the others. Talk to your physician in regards to the kind of drugs that is to be used by your cancer treatment.

Breast Cancer care

by: Anchor2health
Battling Cancer is a tough time in anyone's life. Perhaps the toughest. That's why we've decided to write this article on how to care for yourself during radiation for Breast Cancer. 



It very important to properly care for yourself during radiation for breast cancer. Keep in mind that after radiation you could feel fatigued for up to six weeks. Sleep as much as you like during this time - one thing you really need is your rest.

Also, make sure after radiation that you wear a comfortable bra. Making sure your bra fits properly and doesn't rub in any way is all part of good care for yourself during radiation for breast cancer. If a part of your bra rubs place a soft cloth between the bra and your skin. 



Weight loss can be a problem after radiation treatment. In order to properly care for yourself during radiation for breast cancer make sure you eat a balanced diet. This will help you to avoid weight loss and keep your energy levels as high as possible.

Keep the skin fold area under your breast clean and talk to your doctor before using any powders, lotions, deodorants or perfumes. As part of your care for yourself during breast cancer radiation you need to make sure you are not using any products that might react with your skin at this time or do something to affect the radiation treatment in any way. Because of this it is best to avoid deodorants. Deodorants contain magnesium, and this can inhibit the effectiveness of the radiation treatment. To avoid reactions with the treated area, also avoid starching your clothes. 



As part of care for yourself during radiation for breast cancer bathe the treated area i

Powerful Natural Medicine in Your Spice Rack?


In Western culture, we typically look at our spice rack only as a means to flavor our meals. 

Elsewhere around the world, however, other cultures have known about the medicinal properties of these spices and have used them as such for thousands of years. “Let thy food be thy medicine, and let thy medicine be thy food.” Those are the famous words from Hippocrates, who figured this out and healed people with these spices thousands of years ago. Let’s take a look at the top 10 medicines already in your spice rack.


1. Turmeric
It is widely known that curcumin, the primary compound in Turmeric that provides therapeutic properties, has anti-inflammatory effects. However, Turmeric’s therapeutic properties don’t stop there. A study conducted at UCLA demonstrated that amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease could be cleared with curcumin. Further evidence of this is seen in the research indicating a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s in India, where 80% of the world’s Turmeric is consumed on a daily basis.

2. Cinnamon


Cinnamon is a warming spice made from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum. The research indicates that cinnamon has antioxidant, antimicrobial, cholesterol-lowering, anti-tumor, and immune-boosting effects. In vitro studies demonstrated that cinnamon can act as an insulin mimetic, which can boost insulin activity and stimulate glucose metabolism.

3. Clove
Clove is found in the majority of every anti-parasitic formula on the market and for a good reason. Clove can stun and release parasites of all kinds from the body. Parasites can wreak havoc on the body and tissues by depriving you of the nutrients found in the food you eat. Parasites can also influence chemicals in the brain that make you crave sweets/sugar, influencing your habits to get what they want to eat. Clove also has oral hygiene properties to keep bacteria from getting out of hand and is a great adjunct to your oral hygiene protocol.

4. Oregano
Although the oregano in your spice rack is the dried herb, oil of oregano is one of the most powerful antibiotics/antifungals available for athlete’s foot and other persistent chronic infections. A study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology revealed oil of oregano to be more effective than antifungal drugs in treating Candida albicans, a prominent fungal infection that impairs health and immunity.

5. Garlic
Garlic is one of the most powerful antibiotics found in nature. Garlic has been shown to be therapeutic with cardiovascular problems, cognitive impairments, blood quality, immunological health, and also inflammation. Research published by Cancer Prevention Research outlined the efficacy of garlic to minimize proliferation of esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. This makes garlic one of the most affordable cancer treatments available, as you can often find it for under a dollar in your produce section.

6. Cayenne


According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, cayenne pepper reduces the amount of substance P, a chemical that carries pain messages to the brain, providing pain relief properties. Cayenne is also effective as a cream to reduce itching and inflammation from psoriasis.

7. Olive Oil


Olive oil, a staple in the Mediterranean diet, has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Illnesses of the heart are lower in the Mediterranean region, and research indicates Olive Oil may be supporting cardiovascular health with its lipid and antioxidant profile. Instances of cancer are also lower in regions where Olive Oil is most consumed and produced.

8. Fennel Seeds
If you’ve ever been to an Indian food restaurant, you’ll notice there is often a little container of fennel seeds near the exit or on the table. The reason is due to Fennel Seed’s ability to work as both a breath freshener and also a digestive aid. Fennel seeds lower excess gas, bloating, and discomfort after eating heavy meals. Fennel seeds also contain nitrates that may be beneficial for the vascular system.

9. Thyme
Thyme is a fragrant herb, and the essential oils that give Thyme its aroma and flavor have been shown to increase healthy fats in cell membranes and cell structures, including the mind-supporting DHA, after consumption. Thyme is also one of the leading antifungal herbs, often being used to keep candida infections under control. The University of Michigan Health System shows Thyme being connected to treatments for lung infections, bacterial infections, lice, halitosis, and indigestion.

10. Ginger

Ginger is a very powerful and diversified medicine in your spice rack. Ginger offers support for digestion, metabolism, infections, flu, common cold, sinus issues, and blood quality. Ginger is also found in the majority of leading inflammation supplements, alongside Turmeric. Additionally, Ginger has been shown to have pain-relieving properties, anticancer properties, and is great for soothing nausea. Ginger completes our list of the Top 10 Medicines Already in Your Spice Rack.

How to Confirm a Yeast Infection

A Guide on How to Confirm a Yeast Infection 


The best way how to confirm a yeast infection is either you make an appointment with your doctor to perform a diagnosis or taking an over the counter test. Your doctor will perform a physical assessment and take a sample of your vaginal discharge. An over the counter test, on the other hand, works much like a home pregnancy kit test where the pH balance in your system is tested to confirm the presence of a yeast infection.

It is always a good idea to confirm that you have a yeast infection before finally deciding to treat it with over the counter medications. You may end up doing even more harm to your self if you treat a condition that you do not have. A yeast infection is a bothersome condition, to say the least. However, self medicating a suspected yeast infection may disrupt the normal pH balance of the vaginal area, causing the proliferation of microorganisms which may lead to actual infections. 



The trouble with resorting to over the counter yeast infection medications right away is that women are using them for the treatment of something they do not actually have. A woman who goes through certain signs and symptoms in and around her vaginal area may immediately think she is experiencing a yeast infection. But the truth is there are many other infections that also demonstrate the presenting signs and symptoms of a yeast infection. These may include bacterial vaginosis, Chlamydia and even gonorrhea.

However, there are three specific signs and symptoms of a yeast infection: discomfort, appearance and odor.  If you are experiencing the stated signs and symptoms, you are most likely suffering a yeast infection.

The most obvious symptom of a yeast infection is the discomfort in the affected area. This is certainly one of the revealing and most common symptoms of a yeast infection. The kind of discomfort is often described as an intense burning or itching sensation. 



Pain in urinating is experienced because of the irritated lining of the vaginal area. In severe cases the infected individual may experience extreme discomfort in the area that carrying out normal daily activities such as walking is impaired. Sexual intercourse too becomes painful for most affected women.

Another way which will help you consider the likelihood of a yeast infect ion is by taking note of the appearance of the affected area. Most individuals afflicted with a yeast infection describe in their private area – specifically, in the vaginal area – in terms of an unsightly white clump of material that resembles curdled milk. Redness and soreness is evident in the affected area. A discharge may or may not be present, depending on the case. Note that only about 20% of women afflicted the infection report the presence of a discharge in the vaginal area. The discharge may be clear to whitish or slightly yellowish, and may be anywhere from thin to thick consistency. 



Lastly, another sign that may help how to confirm a yeast infection is the distinct odor. The discharge may or may not be accompanied by a starchy odor, the kind that resembles bread or beer. Notice that yeast is used in bread making as a leavening agent, and in beer making for fermentation. That is because the infection basically is a fungal infection – commonly caused by Candida albicans, a form of yeast.

Breast Cancer: An Introduction


Breast cancer for beginners
by: Solar Bay


Introduction
Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen so has raised the modality of treatments and the success rates. Also scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proved that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than the later stage.

Myths
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary most of them are benign. Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases one’s risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say that mammography makes the breast cancer widespread but it’s not true. Similarly there are many other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the general mass for the proper detection and management of the tumor. 




Early detection
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to self-examine their breast. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer. 



Statistics
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer.

Cause
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetic and environmental. The environmental factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at late age.


Diagnosis
The findings that denote a cancer are single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis. 



Management
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is the treatment and second is the counseling. The treatment can further be divided into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects profile. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities.
Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, which are needed for the treatment to ward off the body of the cancerous growth.


Counseling
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients are to be taught that this is only another disease, which has treatment available, and persons can lead a normal life after that. 




Latest research
Latest research is being done on both the surgery and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best way of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being researched. 




#breastcancer #Cancer #Tumor #Dermatology #Pathology
Article by health writer Solar Bay of http://anchor2health.weebly.com
http://anchor2health.blogspot.com and http://solarbay.weebly.com

Yeast infection, reasons... mostly women

Yeast infection, reasons why it attacks mostly women 


A severely uncomfortable situation where it itch very bad, irritation is apparent, and redness in the area is highly noticeable. These are just a few of the possible symptoms associated with yeast infection. The unbearable itching caused by yeast infections is one of the reasons why people try are all over the place in finding a quick, inexpensive solution. From home made remedies to commercially available medicines, people will try almost anything. But what are the reasons why yeast infection attacks mostly women? Let's get the answer for that question a little later. First things first. 

Candida albicans, that's the culprit. This microorganism is always present in damp areas in our body. Initially, when everything's normal, Candida does not do anything to us. The normal balance between good and bad bacteria is usually maintained by our body. However, triggered by outside stimulus, this balance is destroyed leaving the organism Candida free to grow and populate. This overgrowth of microorganisms results to irritation and redness. Itchiness will of course be among the symptoms of the infection.  



Why is it more common to women? Even though men have the potential of becoming infected as well, there are several factors in women which increase the risks of being infected. According to some studies, it is estimated that 25% to 50% of women have in their bodies the microorganisms that caused the infection. However, due to the presence of other bacteria, the amount of Candida in specific areas remains tolerable to the body. It is when this balance of microorganisms becomes disrupted that causes the excessive growth of the Candida which is followed by an infection of the affected area. 

As the population of Candida grows, so do the infected areas.  Stopping the various symptoms associated with yeast infection means addressing the various symptoms, factors, and situations one by one. The cause of the excessive growth of the yeast in that area can be associated with drinking antibiotics. Antibiotics disrupt the presence of other microorganisms that control the population of Candida. This is why yogurt is a recommended application for people with yeast infections. The microorganisms present in yogurt help restore the balance between microorganisms.  



Women also have a greater risk of being diagnosed of having yeast infection is due to the estrogen level in women. This is the reason why women who take estrogen-containing birth control pills and those who are pregnant. Women at this stage or those who share the same objectives have very erratic hormonal balance which affects the population of Candida.

Other possible causes of yeast infections include detergents, fabric softeners, feminine and hygiene sprays, and forms of contraceptives like foams or jellies. Getting older might also trigger the growth of the bacteria especially if you are already undergoing menopause. In menopause, the estrogen levels drop which results to the thinning of the vaginal wall making it more susceptible to different kinds of organisms which could lead to various infections, including but not limited to yeast.  



Stress is also considered one of the factors that can worsen the situation. An increase in vaginal itching might result to a decrease in the membrane of the outer wall in the vagina which will eventually increase vaginal itching. 

Yeast infection attacks mostly women due to the already mentioned conditions. Knowing these conditions and situations may be a good thing to help prevent the infection to develop or spread.

Intro to Breast Cancer

Breast cancer for beginners
by: Solar Bay

Introduction 
Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen so has raised the modality of treatments and the success rates. Also scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proved that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than the later stage. 

Myths 
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary most of them are benign. Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases one’s risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say that mammography makes the breast cancer widespread but it’s not true. Similarly there are many other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the general mass for the proper detection and management of the tumor. 


Early detection 
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to self-examine their breast. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer. 

Statistics 
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer. 

Cause 
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetic and environmental. The environmental factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at late age. 


Diagnosis 
The findings that denote a cancer are single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis. 

Management 
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is the treatment and second is the counseling. The treatment can further be divided into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects profile. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities. 
Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, which are needed for the treatment to ward off the body of the cancerous growth. 


Counseling 
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients are to be taught that this is only another disease, which has treatment available, and persons can lead a normal life after that. 


Latest research 
Latest research is being done on both the surgery and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best way of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being researched.