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Skin Cancer (Malignant melanoma)

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:15:00 +0700

by Dr Dan Rutherford, GP

What types of skin cancer are there?

There are two main types of skin cancer; malignant melanoma (cancer in moles), and the non-melanoma group (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma).

Each year approximately 1 in every 10,000 people in the UK will develop a new case of malignant melanoma. It accounts for about 1500 deaths annually in the UK.

Sun radiation is a contributing factor in 90 per cent of all cases of skin cancer.

People of all ages can get skin cancer, but it is rarely seen in children. People who are exposed to large quantities of sun radiation can develop skin cancer as early as 20-30 years of age, but the disease is much more common in elderly people.

Symptoms and treatment depend on what type of cancer it is. The female to male ratio is 2:1, and it is most commonly seen (50 per cent) on the lower leg.

What is malignant melanoma?

Malignant melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in the skin's 'pigmentation system', ie the skin layer that becomes tanned in the summer.

Melanomas usually start in moles or in areas of normal-looking skin. In rare cases the tumour may begin in the eyes, the respiratory passage, the intestine, or the brain.

Malignant melanoma is a very dangerous type of cancer, and the patient's chances of survival often depend on early discovery and treatment.

What causes skin cancer?

Skin cancer is caused by exposure to sunlight, particularly the ultraviolet (UV) rays, and 80 per cent of cases are therefore preventable.

The risk of developing skin cancer is increased following episodes of sunburn, although the there may be a delay of many years before the cancer appears.

A small number of cases are caused by hereditary conditions, but they are also triggered by exposure to sun rays. Sun beds can also cause skin cancer.

What are the symptoms of skin cancer? 1. The colour of the tumours vary from brown or black to blue or orange.
2. The tumours are characterised by having ragged edges and uneven colours.
3. Off-shots, sores, crusts, and reddening may be seen in the area surrounding the mole.
4. The tumour may resemble a 'blood blister' under a nail.
5. The mole may itch.
6. Moles can be found anywhere on the body, but are typically located on the back, the shoulders, or the back of the legs.

What are the warning signs?
a. An existing mole changes in colour or shape, or begins to bleed or ooze. Sores that heal very slowly may appear on the mole.
b. Moles that have become unusually large.
c. 'Blood blisters' especially under toenails, that are not the result of a blow.
d. The appearance of a new irregular mole (it is quite normal for people to develop new moles from time to time until they reach their 40s. There is no need to worry unless the colour of the new mole is uneven, or its edges are ragged). If you are in any doubt, ask your GP to check.
e. Any unusual sore, lump or blemish lasting more than a few weeks.
f. Areas of skin that become scaly, itchy, tender or red, or areas that ooze, bleed or become crusty.

What can be done to prevent skin cancer?

a. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun, especially the midday sun (from 11am to 2pm).
b. Move into the shadow and have a 'siesta' instead.
c. Clothing and sun hats can protect the skin from the harmful rays. It is especially important to cover the skin from 11am to 2pm.
d. Children must be protected from sunburn.
e. Consult your doctor if you have sores that will not heal or unusual changes in a mole.

How is skin cancer diagnosed?

Skin cancer can be difficult to recognise, so a biopsy is usually performed. The tissue is then examined under a microscope.
* Some GPs can perform the biopsy in the surgery but it is usually performed by a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon.
* The doctor will also look for signs indicating that the cancer has spread to the surrounding tissue or lymph nodes.
* Skin cancer requires hospital treatment.

Future prospects
It is important that the cancer be detected as early as possible. The patient's chances of being cured largely depend on how early the treatment is started. If the disease is not treated, it will cause death.

How is skin cancer treated?
* Surgery is the standard treatment for mole cancer. The extent of the procedure is determined by the thickness of the tumour, ie how deeply it has invaded the skin.
_rm_ * It is necessary to remove not only the tumour, but also some of the normal skin around it, and the fatty tissue beneath it.
If there are signs that the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, these will also be removed, if it is technically possible.
* Medical treatment is used in cases where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, and surgery is not possible. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be used. These treatments are carried out by specialists in a hospital.

Vagina Cancer

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:06:00 +0700

Reviewed By: Susan Vogt Temple, RN, MSN, AOCN
Reviewed By: Bradley J. Monk, MD Assistant Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, HAO Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

To help you understand what is happening when you have cancer, it helps to understand how your body works normally. Our bodies consist of tiny building blocks called cells. Normal cells grow and multiply when the body needs them, and die out when the body does not need them.
Cancer is made up of abnormal cells that grow whether your body needs them or not. In most cancers, the abnormal cells grow so they form a lump called a tumor.
Vaginal cancer is when cancer forms in your vagina. The vagina, also called the birth canal, is a hollow, tube-like passageway between the bottom part of the uterus and the outside of the body.
Most vaginal cancers begin in the lining of the vagina, called the epithelium. These are called vaginal squamous cell carcinomas. This type of vaginal cancer develops over many years. It develops from precancerous changes, called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).
These are other, very rare types of vaginal cancer.
1. Adenocarcinomas, which develop in the mucosal layer of the vagina
2. Malignant melanomas, which affect the lower or outer portion of the vagina
3. Sarcomas, which develop deep in the wall of the vagina
4. Other cancers, such as lymphoma, which may spread to the vagina.

Anatomy of the Vagina
The vagina is a 3- to 4-inch-long tube that connects the lower end of the uterus, called the cervix, to the outside of your body. When you have your period, blood passes out of your body through your vagina. Another name for the vagina is the birth canal because it is the tube through which a baby passes during birth. A thin cell layer called the epithelium lines the walls of the vagina. This layer is made up of squamous epithelial cells. This is where most cancers of the vagina begin to develop.

Women health risks

Wed, 30 May 2007 13:28:00 +0700

From MayoClinic.com

Do you worry excessively about developing breast or ovarian cancer? Your anxiety may be misplaced. Although these cancers can cut your life short, your risk of having either one is far lower than is your risk of having � and dying of � cardiovascular disease.
That's not to say you should forgo regular mammograms or ignore symptoms that may suggest ovarian cancer, particularly if you have a high-risk family history. But it does mean you might benefit from a realistic appraisal of your true health risks � if only to put your mind at ease. Better still, understanding your top health risks is the first step toward reducing them.
To that end, the leading causes of death for women in the United States are listed below, in order of prevalence. Of course, every woman is unique, so you should always discuss your personal risk profile and preventive plan with your own doctor. These figures serve as a frame of reference for that discussion.

No. 1 � Heart disease
Heart disease is responsible for more deaths in women than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease is the most significant health concern for women in the United States today, causing nearly 350,000 deaths each year.
But doesn't heart disease affect mostly men? No � and that's a dangerous myth. In reality, more women than men die of heart disease in the United States each year.
The good news is that heart disease is one of the most preventable health conditions. You have the power to reduce some of your risks:

* Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke and limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
* Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products.
* Exercise regularly.
* Control other health conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
If you're at increased risk of heart disease, your doctor also may suggest a daily low dose of aspirin.

No. 2 � Cancer
It's easy to believe cancer is a major threat to women's health, but the kinds of cancer women are dying of might surprise you. According to the American Cancer Society, the most common cause of cancer death in U.S. women is lung cancer. It's estimated that more than 70,000 women in the United States die of lung cancer each year, with the majority of these deaths linked to cigarette smoking. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women, responsible for about 40,000 deaths each year._rm_
The third-leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States is colorectal cancer. Like heart disease, colorectal cancer is often mistakenly thought of as a man's disease, but equal numbers of men and women die of colorectal cancer each year.
Many cancer deaths are related to nutrition and other controllable lifestyle factors. Do all you can to reduce your risk:

* Don't smoke or chew tobacco.
* Exercise regularly.
* Eat a healthy diet.
* Avoid excessive sun exposure.
* Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
* Have regular preventive health screenings.
* Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor.

No. 3 � Stroke
Nearly 160,000 people in the United States die of stroke each year, and almost two-thirds of them are women. Stroke not only is women's No. 3 killer, but also is one of the leading causes of disability in America.
Smoking and uncontrolled high blood pressure are important risk factors for stroke. Although stroke is highly preventable, certain risk factors � such as family history, age, sex and race � can't be controlled. Even if you're at increased risk of stroke, you can still take steps to prevent it:

* Don't smoke.
* Control your blood pressure.
* Lower your cholesterol.
* Limit saturated fats.
* Exercise regularly.

No. 4 � Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is an overall term for a group of chronic lung conditions, including bronchitis and emphysema. The main cause of COPD is smoking, and it's strongly associated with lung cancer, the No. 1 cause of cancer death in women.
About 65,000 women in the United States die of COPD each year. The quality of life for a person with COPD diminishes as the disease progresses. As shortness of breath and activity limitations increase, you may eventually require oxygen use or even mechanical respiratory assistance to breathe.
How do you reduce your risk of dying of COPD? This one's easy: Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.

No. 5 � Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disease that goes beyond simple forgetfulness. What may start as slight memory loss and confusion eventually leads to irreversible mental impairment.
More women than men have Alzheimer's. In fact, approximately 45,000 women die of Alzheimer's disease each year � more than twice the number of men. One reason more women may be affected is that women generally live longer, and the risk of Alzheimer's increases with age.
Current treatments focus on stabilizing the signs and symptoms, improving well-being and easing caregiver burden.

No. 6 � Diabetes
Diabetes, a group of diseases that affect the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose), is a serious health condition that affects about 18 million Americans, 5 million of whom are unaware that they have the disease. Many people learn they have diabetes only when they develop one of its life-threatening complications. Advanced diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure and severe nerve damage. People with diabetes are also two to four times more likely to die of heart disease and experience stroke.
The most common type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes, generally developing after age 40, can often be prevented. Follow these steps to reduce your risk:

* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Eat a healthy diet.
* Exercise regularly.
* Get your fasting blood sugar level checked periodically.

No. 7 � Accidents
Each year, more than 38,000 women die from accidents (unintentional injuries). Although the statistics on accidental death are unclear, these trends may surprise you:

a. Motor vehicle accidents. Traffic-related accidents were responsible for more than a third of all accidental deaths for women in 2003. You can reduce your chances of a fatal crash by routinely using your seat belt, keeping your speed within limits and not driving while sleepy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

b. Falls. About 8,300 women in the United States die from falls each year. Women of any age can fall, but the risk increases as you get older. The majority of falls occur in the home, so common-sense safety measures, such as avoiding throw rugs and installing handrails, can reduce the risk substantially. Regular eye exams help, too, as does routine exercise, which maintains your strength and mobility and may improve your balance.

No. 8 � Pneumonia and influenza
Pneumonia and influenza combined are the eighth-leading cause of death for women in the United States today. Together they take the lives of more than 36,000 women each year.
When associated with other chronic health conditions, pneumonia and influenza can be life-threatening. People with COPD, asthma, heart disease, diabetes and conditions that suppress the immune system are at high risk. Because both pneumonia and influenza affect the lungs, smoking increases the danger of these two diseases.
The risk of both pneumonia and influenza can be reduced by immunizations. A yearly flu shot can be 70 percent to 90 percent effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults. The pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk of getting pneumonia by more than half. Stay healthy � get those shots.

Putting health risks into perspective
This ranking of health risks applies to the entire population of adult women in the United States � all ages included. But for specific age groups, the leading cause of death can shift. For instance, it's true that during the course of your entire lifetime, heart disease is your No. 1 health threat. However, in your 20s, your risk of dying from an accident is your top health threat. Likewise, from ages 35 to 64, your greatest risk is cancer.
Whenever you read about health risks, think about the cited numbers in real terms. For example, the 2003 total of nearly 350,000 heart disease deaths in women in the United States seems enormous. But if you consider the total number of women in the United States that year � more than 149 million � the number represents just a small fraction of the female population as a whole.
The bottom line? Be concerned about health risks, but don't panic. Do whatever you can to lead a healthy lifestyle � including eating healthy foods, staying physically active, getting regular checkups and paying attention to your environment. Such measures can reduce your risk factors for these conditions and help you lead a long and healthy life.
content by:

MayoClinic.com Last Updated: February 09, 2007 �1998-2007 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Healthy Food During Pregnancy

Tue, 29 May 2007 11:03:00 +0700

One of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby is to eat healthy during pregnancy. The food you eat is your baby's only source of nutrition.

Your body's main source of energy comes from the essential carbohydrates in grains. You should choose at least nine servings of grains per day.

Review the following list of grain servings:
1 cup cold cereal
� cup cooked cereal, pasta or rice
1 slice bread
� English muffin
� small bagel
6 crackers Foods enriched with whole grains provide you with fiber, iron, B vitamins, various minerals and protein.

Ways of including whole grains in your diet include:
a. Trading sugary cereal and white bread for whole-grain cereals
b. Brown rice instead of white rice
c. Whole-wheat pasta Read food labels to be sure whole grains are listed first in the ingredients (whole-wheat flour, not simply wheat flour).

Fruits and vegetables provide you with Vitamin C and fiber as well as many other vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C also promotes healthy gums and other tissues for both you and your baby.

Other important nutrients during pregnancy are Vitamin A, iron and folic acid. You should choose three or more servings of fruit and four or more servings of vegetables per day. Servings include:
a. 1 medium-sized piece of fruit
b. � cup fresh, frozen or canned fruit
c. � cup dried fruit
d. 1 cup raw, leafy vegetables
e. � cup cooked or other raw vegetables
f. � cup fruit or vegetable juice
g. 1 small baked potato If you are tired of canned and fresh fruit, try dried fruits. There are several different fruits available such as apricots, cherries, strawberries, blueberries. Blueberries and strawberries are packed with antioxidants.
I just love the dry pineapples! Protein is extra important for your baby's growth especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Choose at least three servings of protein-rich foods a day.
These foods include choices in the meat, poultry, fish, eggs and beans category. A serving includes:
� 3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry or fish
� � cup cooked dried beans
� 1 egg
� 1/3 cup nuts
� 2 tablespoons peanut butter And don't forget the dairy products that helps build your baby's bones and teeth as well as keeps your bones and teeth healthy.

Calcium-fortified soy milk is a good choice during pregnancy. Choose three or more servings a day. Servings include:
� 1 cup skim milk
� 1 cup yogurt
� 1 � ounces natural cheese (about the size of six dice)
� 2 ounces processed cheese
� Calcium-fortified orange juice
� Some bottled waters contain a little calcium per bottle Indulge in fats, oils and sweets only once in a while during pregnancy. Keep an eye on portion size.

_rm_ Your doctor will probably also prescribe a daily vitamin. Even women who eat a healthy diet daily may miss out on some nutrients. A daily vitamin can help fill in the gaps. There are also special supplements your doctor may recommend if you have any kind of a chronic health problem. Source: Mayo Clinic Written by: Connie Limon. Visit us at http://www.babiesandtoddlers1.com About Babies and Toddlers

Pregnant women advised to avoid all alcohol

Tue, 29 May 2007 06:26:00 +0700

Women should not drink any alcohol at all during pregnancy, according to new government advice.
The advice, which is also aimed at women trying to conceive, replaces the current advice that says a couple of glasses of wine a week is okay.
The change in policy came about after concerns that there is no safe amount of alcohol that mothers-to-be can drink, and that even small amounts would only minimise the risk rather than take away from it.
However, the Health Department said it did not want to alarm those who had followed the previous guidance.
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Fiona Adshead said, "We have strengthened our advice to help ensure that no one underestimates the risk to the developing foetus of drinking above the recommended safe levels.
"Our advice is simple: Avoid alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive. This advice could also be included on alcohol packaging or labels."
She said that many women stop drinking alcohol when they are pregnant but 9 per cent still drink more than the recommended levels.
Jane Brewin, chief executive of the baby charity Tommy's, said, "There is no proven safe level of alcohol to drink during pregnancy because any amount can pass through the placenta to the baby."
The Government is due to announce next week that, following a voluntary agreement with the drinks industry, all bottles and cans should bear the message, "Avoid alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive".
Foetal alcohol syndrome affects one in 1000 babies and causes low birth weight, behavioural difficulties, flattened features, heart and kidney abnormalities, deafness and brain damage.
And one in a hundred babies are affected by a milder form known as Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, which can lead to attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity and poor concentration.

Help prevent weight gain

Tue, 29 May 2007 06:21:00 +0700

POSTMENOPAUSAL women who take calcium and vitamin D supplements may gain less weight than those who do not, although the overall effect is small, according to a report in the May 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The benefit is greater in those who had not previously been getting the daily recommended amount of calcium.

"Because weight loss or prevention of weight gain is likely to have significant health benefits for middle-aged women, early to middle menopause may be a critical period of life in which to slow the trajectory of weight gain," the authors note as background information in the article.

Some evidence suggests that calcium and vitamin D may play a role in effective weight management. These nutrients may stimulate the breakdown of fat cells and suppress the development of new ones.

Dr. Bette Caan of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, and colleagues studied 36,282 postmenopausal women age 50 to 79 who were enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative clinical trial. The women were randomly assigned to receive a dose of 1,000 milligrams of calcium plus 400 international units of vitamin D (18,176 women) or placebo (18,106 women) daily. They were weighed each year for approximately seven years.

At the beginning of the study, 39.63 per cent of the women met current recommended daily intake of 1,200 milligrams of calcium, 53.94 per cent reported taking any calcium supplements and 28.95 per cent reported taking supplements of 500 milligrams of calcium or more. At the end of the study, women who took the supplements weighed an average of 0.28 pounds less than those who did not.

Among women who were getting less than the recommended amount of calcium daily before the study, those who took the supplements weighed an average of 0.42 pounds less than those who did not. After three years, when compared to women taking placebo, these women had a lower risk of gaining weight in both small amounts (2.2 to 6.6 pounds) and moderate amounts (more than 6.6 pounds) and had a higher likelihood of maintaining a stable weight (within 2.2 pounds of starting weight) or losing weight (more than 2.2 pounds).

"Prevention of weight gain is an important public health goal, and caloric restriction and daily physical activity should still be considered the basic tenets of weight management," the authors conclude.

"Further research should be undertaken to address the effect of calcium supplementation combined with caloric restriction and physical activity on weight gain prevention."

Birth Control

Fri, 11 May 2007 13:40:00 +0700

Women today have a wide variety of birth control methods to choose from. From condoms to the contraceptive pill, from IUDs to diaphragms, every woman can find a type of birth control that they feel comfortable with. Yet, all this choice can make it difficult to decide just which form of contraception is the right one for you. By reading up on the tried and tested kinds of birth control, as well as newer contraceptives, you can get a better idea of what would be most suitable for you.

Because there are so many different methods of birth control, contracpetives are typically sorted into various categories. Contraceptive types include barrier methods, hormonal birth control, long-term contraceptives, and natural birth control. Although some contraceptive methods are inadequate, the majority of birth control options are effective. However, it is important to note that no form of contraception provides 100% protection against pregnancy. The only fool-proof way not to get pregnant is to abstain from sex completely.
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Barrier methods of birth control work to prevent pregnancy by stopping sperm from coming into contact with an egg. Contraceptives that fall into this category include female condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, the contraceptive sponge, and male condoms. Associated with few birth control side effects, these contraceptives are non-hormonal. Additionally, the male and female condoms are the only forms of birth control that offer any type of protection against STDs.

Hormonal contraceptives help prevent a pregnancy by using synthetic forms of naturally occurring hormones to prevent your body from ovulating. In some cases, the hormones may also work to thin the lining of the uterus and to thicken cervical mucus. Unfortunately, hormones can also produce some unpleasant side effects including decreased libido, causing some women to be turned off of these very effective birth control methods. Depo-Provera (the "birth control shot"), birth control pills, the birth control patch, the birth control ring, Implanon as well as some IUDs, such as the Mirena, are examples of hormonal contraceptives.

Forms of long-term birth control include tubal ligations, IUDs, and, for men, vasectomies. Both tubal ligations and vasectomies are meant as permanent birth control methods, although they can be reversed. Once an IUD is inserted by your health care professional, it can stay in place for anywhere from five to seven years.

Many women prefer to use natural, hormone free birth control. Known as Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM), this type of contraception relies upon periodic abstinence when a woman is fertile. FAM can involve charting your basal body temperature and/or menstrual cycle; noting the changes in your cervical mucus; and using the rhythm method or it's newest incarnation, the standard days method. Breastfeeding is also a very effective type of natural birth control known as the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM).

Treatment Options For Breast Cancer

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 14:43:00 +0700

Although surgery is the most effective (and hence, the most widely used) breast cancer treatment method, there are several other ways of dealing with the disease, some are more powerful than the others. These include radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, each of them with their own assets and downsides.

Most of them however are used in combination with surgery for best effects, either prior to it, in order to reduce the size of the tumor or after the operation, in order to remove any remaining cancerous cells. For a better understanding of these alternative treatment methods for breast cancer, we�ll take a closer look at each, explaining how they work and in what cases they might prove useful.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses powerful gamma rays (x-rays) which target the specific area that needs to be treated with high precision. Usually, radiation therapy is performed after surgery, to destroy any cancer cells that have not been removed or the ones that formed up where the tumor was removed. Although it can�t be used as, a treatment on its own, radiation therapy is one of the most accepted post-surgery methods of breast conserving therapy (BCT) and has a high chance of stopping the cancer from recurring.

As with all treatments involving x-rays, there are some downsides to radiation therapy. First, in order to wipe out the cancerous cells that might have formed (or remained) in the area where the tumor was removed from, the x-rays will eventually damage some of the healthy tissue too. Although the process is highly precise, the rays cannot make a difference between cancerous and normal cells, so they �burn� them together.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the administration of drugs that kill the cancer cells or stop them from growing. Most chemotherapy medications are given through an intravenous line, although some are administered in pill form. Chemotherapy is a harsh regime, which often makes people feel more ill than the illness they are suffering from; however, it has been proved very effective.

Chemotherapy is a great treatment method to use both prior and after surgery. With the help of this method, you can virtually contract the cancerous tumor before the actual surgery, making it easier and less complex to remove. In addition, chemotherapy is used in the same sense as radiation therapy after the surgical intervention, to stop the diseased cells to recur.

Chemotherapy is administered usually in cycles where each cycle consists of a period of intensive treatment that lasts for a few days or weeks followed by a week of recovery. Most patients with breast cancer have two to four cycles of chemotherapy to start with before tests are performed to see what effects it has had on the cancer.
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Chemotherapy is different to radiation as it can treat the whole body with the potential of finding other tumor cells that have migrated from the breast and surrounding area. Many people are familiar with chemotherapy�s side effects although the side effects do depend upon drugs to treat the patient.

The most common side effects are loss of hair, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting and low blood cell count making the patient more susceptible to infections, feeling sick or tired. Many notice that they bleed more than usual, especially from gums, sores and small scrapes etc.

There are three different chemotherapy strategies are used in breast cancer:

Adjuvant chemotherapy � this is given to patients who have undergone curative treatment for breast cancer such as radiation or surgery. In order to decrease the possibility of the breast cancer recurrence, this treatment is given.

Pre-surgical chemotherapy � this is given to shrink a large tumor and/or to kill any stray cancerous cells. This will also increase the chance that the surgery will kill the cancer completely.

Regular chemotherapy � this is given routinely to people who have breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast or the surrounding local area.

Hormonal therapy may also be given, as many breast cancers such as those that have ample estrogens or progesterone receptors are sensitive to changes in hormones.

Tamoxifen Breast Cancer Treatment
Those women who are genetically at high risk of developing breast cancer may benefit from tamoxifen as it has previously been seen to decrease the incidence of the disease occurring. Raloxifene, which is used to treat osteoporosis, is now being studied for treating breast cancer.

In some breast cancer cases, a woman�s natural hormones are suppressed with drugs whereas other patients find benefits by adding hormones. Tamoxifen for instance is currently the most commonly prescribed effective hormone treatment. It can be used for treating breast cancer and in the prevention of breast cancer. Tamoxifen has few side effects and can considerably improve the life span of those women who have advanced cases of breast cancer.

Fulvestrant Breast Cancer Treatment
A further treatment, Fulvestrant has recently been approved in the USA. It is planned to be used for treating hormone receptor positive metastastic breast cancer in women who have been through the menopause. It is given following antiestrogen therapy.

Monoclonal Breast Cancer Treatment
Another treatment known as monoclonal is antibodies that are antagonistic against the proteins, which are in or around cancer cells. They recognise an invader such as a cancer cell and attack it. This antibody therapy is currently being investigated holds out a lot of hope for breast cancer sufferers.

Excessive alcohol intake and obesity following menopause can increase the risk of developing breast cancer although this increase is slight. Those physically active women have a lower risk.

Preventative or Prophylactic Mastectomies
More and more women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer are having preventative or prophylactic mastectomies to avoid them developing breast cancer.

The main risk factors for women to develop breast are age, sex and genetics. Women can do nothing about some risks so preventing death caused due to breast cancer is recommended with regular screening.

Women should undertake regular screening including self-examination, mammography and clinical breast examinations.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. That\'s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

Nishanth Reddy is an author and publisher of many health related websites. To learn more about Breast cancer symptoms, causes, stages and different treatment options available to cure Breast cancer, visit his website at Breast Cancer Treatment

Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com

Exercise

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:29:00 +0700

Exercise to Improve Your Body and Your Brain
Exercise is a critical component of good health, especially as you age. Exercise will help you:

a. Sleep better
b. Lose weight, gain weight, or maintain weight, depending on your needs
c. Improve your resistance to fight infections
d. Lower your risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes
e. Help your brain work better, making you smarter.
Key points to remember when exercising:

Listen to your body. If exercise worsens symptoms, modify your program or, if need be, stop. As your energy and health improve, you will be able to tolerate larger amounts of the aerobic exercise, which will lead to weight loss.

It helps to hire a personal trainer who can guide you through the specifics of a good exercise program. If you do use a personal trainer please be aware that many don\'t understand the nutritional principles discussed on this site, and it is useful to ask them to read the nutrition plan to understand the healthy direction you are taking.

Be consistent. You need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to experience any weight loss benefits. Major studies have shown that 60 minutes a day is actually best. Ideally, the exercise should be continuous, but it could be split up into two 30-minute sections.

Start with walking if you are overweight. Most heavy people start with walking and that is an excellent choice, as it is low-risk and inexpensive. The major problem with walking, however, is that many people become fit relatively rapidly but don't increase the intensity of the workouts as they become more fit. Once you become comfortable with a routine, it is important to increase the intensity in order to continue benefiting.

Increase your intensity regularly. Ideally you should exercise at an intensity that makes it somewhat difficult to talk to the person next to you. This prevents you from having to measure your pulse or use a heart-rate monitor. If you can comfortably talk to the person next to you, you aren\'t working hard enough to produce the benefits you need to lose weight. However, if you are using so much oxygen with your exercise that there is not enough left over to allow you to carry on a conversation at all, then you are exercising too hard and need to cut back a bit.

Try race-walking. When outdoors, it is sometimes difficult to walk fast enough to get to the necessary level of exertion. Try race walking -- Racewalk.com has an excellent section on teaching you how to do this. However, if you use a treadmill indoors you can easily increase the incline to improve the intensity of the walking.

Try running. If you feel ambitious you can advance to running, which is my personal favorite -- I have been a runner since 1968. It is one of the most efficient and inexpensive ways to stay healthy: the only equipment required is a good pair of shoes. If you do decide to run, please recognize that most shoes will not last more than six months. If you use them longer than six months you will increase your risk of injury.
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One of the downsides of running is that you must depend on the weather to cooperate. You can always use a treadmill, of course, but that adds the expense of a health club or the equipment for your home. If you are elevating your program to this level and will invest in equipment, I believe that an elliptical machine is, for reasons explained below, far superior to the treadmill in providing an optimal aerobic exercise experience.

Try an elliptical machine. Elliptical machines are generally less expensive and far quieter than treadmills and provide a complete lower body workout by rotating the use of the different muscle groups on your legs. However, you will have to be sure to use the elliptical that can incline throughout various levels. Some models have a fixed based and handles that allow you to exercise your arms, but I believe it is more helpful to exercise the different leg muscles as they are much larger than your arm muscles. The model I use is the Precor 546.

The Precor 546 is a commercial piece of equipment that will last you a lifetime as it is designed to stand up to the rigors of a busy health club. I travel all over the world and when I go into a fitness center that doesn't have the Precor brand elliptical I am saddened because I have never found an elliptical machine that was better than the Precor 546.

The 546 model does not have the levers so you can use your arms. This is a good thing as the most powerful muscles in your body are in your legs. Unlike the models that allow you to use your arms, the 546 gives you a wide range of incline choices that allow you to fully workout all the different muscles in your legs. The model with the arms has a fixed base and will not allow as complete a workout of your legs. You can save your arm workouts for resistance weight training and I believe you will have a far better more comprehensive training effect.

It is my impression that the Precor 546 is the single best piece of fitness equipment available anywhere in the world today. That is why I have owned a Precor machine for a number of years. This model features a unique ramp that changes the stride motion and allows you to train the different muscle groups. I normally suggest adjusting the resistance setting and frequency of steps per minute so one is just short of not having enough breath to carry on a conversation. This is the aerobic threshold that will produce cardiovascular benefits.

You may think the price of the machine is a bit high but when you compare it to a treadmill is it right in the ballpark and in my estimation is a far better exercise for you. It has about 90% less noise than most treadmills so you can easily watch TV or watch videos while you workout (my favorite). This is close to impossible with many treadmills.

Also the convenience of having one of these in your home is difficult to put a price on. But if you even value your time at $10 per hour and you wind up saving two hours of travel time per week by not having to go to your health club, you will cover the cost of the machine in a few years. Many of you reading this may earn far more than $10 an hour and save more than two hours per week in commuting time so your payback time will be well under one year.

It is also difficult to place a value on how good you feel and all the diseases that you will prevent by owning one of these machines as, in my opinion, there simply isn't a better piece of equipment to purchase to get you in good shape. How can you put a price on preventing a heart attack or fatal cancer? You may not realize it, but exercise has been clearly shown to reduce cancer rates. It probably does this by lowering insulin levels.

So not only will you reduce cancer and heart attacks but you will also reduce nearly every single chronic degenerative disease. So do yourself a favor and try out a Precor 546, if you like it as much as I think you will reward yourself by getting one for you and your family so you can enjoy all the benefits of finally being in shape.

Be cautious. If you are going to use exercise for weight loss, consider a weight bearing exercise. It has been my experience that non-weight bearing exercises like swimming and bicycling, are not as efficient or effective for weight loss. You will typically need to exercise four times as long in these activities to receive the same benefit of running or using the elliptical. Since most of us are seriously time pressured, these exercises become less valuable for most of us.

Swim, but only in fresh water. Swimming is one of the best exercises on the planet, working all the major muscles, but it poses the challenge of exposing you to the large amounts of chlorine that are in most swimming pools. However, you still have the option of swimming in the lake, river or ocean depending on the temperature of the water.

Try bicycling, but be aware of safety measures. If you decide to bicycle for health, study all bicycle safety measures and be aware of the high risk for serious injury compared with other exercise options. Always, of course, wear your helmet.

Stick with it! The fact that we need to exercise is not news to anyone. For those who don't exercise, its not a matter of understanding its benefits, but far more so, finding the motivation to start -- and stay -- on a program. The big breakthrough is that we now have techniques like EFT, a form of psychological acupressure, that can facilitate our ability to start and successfully stick with a long-term exercise program. You can go to my free EFT manual to learn how to use this incredible tool.

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Cholesterol Effect

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 11:25:00 +0700

We knew that Kevin would likely to develop high cholesterol at some time in his life. Most of his family had it and his diet just was not what a healthy eating plan should be. I have worked in the alternative healing field as a natural doctor for over 16 years when he came home and told me our family doctor had put him on lipitor. Neither of us was excited about what drugs could do to your body.
As a healer I have treated high cholesterol several times successfully. I want to reveal some of the natural things you can do to lower your cholesterol.

First let us talk about why you should not take western drugs. Did you know prescription drugs used for cholesterol cause problems like Rhabdomyolysis a muscle-destroying condition. The chances of kidney damage, muscle weakness and pain, memory loss, reduced sex-drive, insomnia, diarrhea, bloating, and the list goes on. Now it was time to help a family member someone I loved.

After many years of success with high cholesterol I knew diet and exercise alone would not be enough. Alternative healers know which herb binds to the bad cholesterol to usher gummy cholesterol substance out of the body, what nutritional supplement liquefies cholesterol like artery detergent.Some natural doctors know the single best kept Asian secret herb that holds superior cholesterol-lowering properties.

A few years ago I ran across a great resource guide for my clients that naturally helped them control their cholesterol without drugs. Since today most my clients come to me through the internet I often recommend the same information contained in this great book that anyone can download onto their computer. Now for a few tips to get you started.

A simple vitamin Niacin or vitamin B3 is effective in lowering cholesterol by reducing LDL cholesterol by ten to twenty percent and increasing HDL cholesterol by fifteen to thirty percent and significantly reducing lipoprotein A.

A herb that lowers cholesterol is artichoke leaf, which works by limiting the synthesis of cholesterol in the body. Artichokes are also known to contain cynarin that raise bile production in the liver and speeds the flow of bile from the gallbladder, which together raise the excretion of cholesterol. Orange juice and some salad dressings also contain cynarin.

Garlic is considered the ultimate herb that lowers cholesterol with amazing antioxidant properties. My favorite herb is Guggul comes from Indias Ayurvedic medicine valued for over two thousand years to control cholesterol through its active ingredient called guggusterone that helps in increasing the rate at which the liver takes up and breaks down LDL cholesterol from the blood. As a meat substitute soy products assists to reduce cholesterol. Eating 47 grams of soy possibly helps in reducing total cholesterol by up to nine percent and LDL cholesterol by 13 percent. In closing in this revealing article lets not forget hawthorn a herb rich in bioflavonoids helps stabilize collagen and reduces blood cholesterol.

Now back to my husband, I gave him the book and as he read it he grasped how simple the natural alternative to heart health and lowering his cholesterol really was. In just 60 days his bad cholesterol had dropped.