Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer among women. The number of cases worldwide has significantly increased since the 1970s, a phenomenon partly blamed on the way that we eat and the pollution that exists in the water, air, and food. The other big factor in cancer is the thoughts that we have. Toxins and chemical pollution cause acid and free radicals in our body and so do negative thoughts. It is these acids and free radicals that change your body’s pH and that depletes the oxygen in your cells allowing cancer to form freely and to multiple. To protect yourself against cancer, you need to know the signs of breast cancer so you can take action against it right away and to learn good nutritional habits.

Due to the high incidence of breast cancer among older women, screening is now recommended in many countries. Recommended screening methods include breast self-examination and mammogram. This test has been estimated to reduce breast cancer-related mortality by 20-30%. Routine and annual mammography of women older than age 40 or 50 is recommended.

Mammograms do not detect all possible cancer tissue. They can detect micro calcification of calcium, which might indicate the presents of cancer. Calcium can deposit in tissue and this is caused by an acid body. To stay in solution, calcium must have enough sodium in the surrounding liquid. In an alkaline body, there is plenty of sodium to keep calcium in solution, but in an acid body, calcium will precipate out and form crystals.

Early signs and symptoms of breast cancer are usually not painful. This may be the reason why most women don’t know they have breast cancer until after several breast cancer signs and symptoms start to appear. You should see your health care provider, if you notice the following:

· Lump in the armpit or above the collarbone that does not go away in two weeks or so. Although most breast lumps are not cancerous, it always best to check them out

· Breast discharge is a common problem and is rarely a symptom of cancer, but if it is from only one breast or if it is bloody, then check with your doctor

· Nipple inversion is a common in normal nipples, but nipple inversion that has developed recently can be of concern

· Changes in the breast skin including redness, changes in texture, and puckering. These changes are usually caused by skin diseases but occasionally can be associated with breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a condition where you lack oxygen in your cells and when you have an acid body. To prevent cancer from forming, you need to learn how to make your body more alkaline. In my new nutrition course, I concentrate on how you can make your body more alkaline. An alkaline body not only stops cancer but also stops and prevents most diseases from forming in your body.

Don’t wait until you have symptoms of breast cancer or any other disease before you start improving your health habits. Start now learning what good nutrition is and how you can be free from illness.

Breast cancer incidence is much higher in industrialised Western countries, whether in Europe or North America, than in developing countries. North American women have the highest incidence of breast cancer in the world. Among women in the U.S., breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second-most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer). Women in the U.S. have a 1 in 8 (12.5%) lifetime chance of developing invasive breast cancer and a 1 in 35 (3%) chance of breast cancer causing their death. In 2007, breast cancer was expected to cause 40,910 deaths in the U.S. (7% of cancer deaths; almost 2% of all deaths)

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. While the majority of new breast cancers are diagnosed as a result of an abnormality seen on a mammogram, a lump or change in consistency of the breast tissue can also be a warning sign of the disease. Heightened awareness of breast cancer risk in the past decades has led to an increase in the number of women undergoing mammography for screening, leading to detection of cancers in earlier stages and a resultant improvement in survival rates.

Breast cancer is the number one disease that women in the United States fear the most, and for compelling reasons. It is the leading cause of death among women between 40 and 55 years of age and is the second overall cause of death among women (exceeded only by lung cancer). Unfortunately, it is also on the rise worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society, this year about 175,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and about 43,300 deaths from breast cancer will occur among women in the USA.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women in North America and Europe. Close to 200,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States in 2001. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women behind lung cancer. The lifetime risk of any particular woman getting breast cancer is about 1 in 8 although the lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower at 1 in 28. Men are also at risk for development of breast cancer, although this risk is much lower than it is for women.

Breast cancer is more easily treated and often curable if it is found early. Monthly breast self-examinations should begin at age 20. Recommended screening methods include breast self-examination and mammography.

The most serious cancers are metastatic cancers. Metastasis means that the cancer has spread from the place where it started into other tissues distant from the original tumor site. The most common place for breast cancer to metastasize is into the lymph nodes under the arm or above the collarbone on the same side as the cancer. Other common sites of breast cancer metastasis are the brain, the bones, and the liver.

Death rates from breast cancer have been gradually declining and continue to decline. These decreases are likely due both to increased awareness and screening and improved treatment methods.

Most women are unsure what to look for when doing a self-examination, so they opt to not do it at all and wait for their annual visit to their gynecologist, putting their complete blind faith in his or her decision. Self exams may not be as conclusive as a mammogram or ultrasound, but it can give most women a head start on a course of action to take.

Do you know what to look for?

It pays to know the early signs of breast cancer or what to look for. Clinical studies have shown that early detection has a tremendous impact on survival rate among women diagnosed with the disease.

Two leading health agencies in the US, the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, have outlined a number of warning signs that one can look for upon performing a breast self-exam:

1.) A noticeable change in how the breast looks; its size and shape.2.) A thickening of underlying tissue or the presence of a lump in areas surrounding the breast or in the underarms.3.) Feeling of discomfort, like a warm sensation around the breast region.4.) A rash on the breast, especially on the nipple.5.) A sunken nipple or nipple turned inward.6.) Pain on the nipple or tenderness when touched.7.) Change in the size and shape of the nipple.8.) Watery discharge or blood coming out of the nipple.9.) Swelling or dimpling of the skin; irritation or redness.

Pain is not a conclusive gauge that there is breast cancer; in fact, pain is more likely a symptom of a breast disease that is benign rather than malignant. Do not take any chances though, it is best to consult your doctor when there is recurring pain or if pain accompanies any of the warning signs.

Kelly Henderson discovered a lump on her breast through self-examination, so did Joyce Schmidt of Dallas, Texas. Both have survived Breast Cancer and are now leading normal lives because they discovered the disease during its early stage.

Why wait for your doctor to say “it is too late”! Your life is not someone else’s responsibility – it’s your own. So take the first step today in making sure you do not become another victim of breast cancer. A breast self-exam can make it happen.

It’s your choice.

Infra Red Breast Thermography

Every woman’s breasts are different so it is important for each individual woman to be familiar with her breasts in order to recognize any peculiarities.

Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not have any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow screening recommendations. As a tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms including:

* lump or thickening in the breast or underarm * change in size or shape of the breast * nipple discharge or nipple turning inward * redness or scaling of the skin or nipple * ridges or pitting of the breast skin

If you experience these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have breast cancer, but you need to be examined by a doctor.

Breast cancer is very rare before age 20 and is rarely diagnosed in women younger than age 25. Past that age, the incidence rises steadily to reach a peak around the age of menopause. The rate of increase is lessened after menopause, but older women are still at increasing risk over time.

Although a specific cause for breast cancer has not been identified, there are risk factors that increase the likelihood that a woman will develop a breast cancer. These risks include:

* Maternal relative with breast cancer. * Women who start their menstruation early and/or go into early menopause, increasing the length of reproductive years, are at greater risk. * Obesity. Women who are overweight are at increased risk * Women who have never had children are at greater risk. * Women who had their first child over age 30 are at greater risk. * Previous breast cancer. * Previous endometrial cancer.

Aside from the genetic predisposition, the common factor in many of these risks is increased endogenous estrogen exposure over a long time.

It is recommended that women over 35 check their breasts monthly. However, it is also important that all women do regular breast checks. Your doctor can show you how to effectively check your breasts. Any lump, regardless of size, should be reported to your doctor. Many of these lumps are simply fatty lumps or cysts but it is far better to be safe than sorry.

Catching breast cancer early makes a big difference in the type of treatment needed as well as the overall prognosis.

Non-cancerous Breast Conditions
There are several factors that can cause these symptoms other than breast cancer. In addition to the normal changes that take place during a menstrual cycle or pregnancy, there are also other frequent non-cancerous breast conditions, such as:
FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES
Fibrocystic changes can make your breast feel granular or ropy. This breast condition is extremely frequent, affecting at least half of all women. Fibrocystic changes are not usually a sign of breast cancer and don’t increase the risk of developing breast cancer either. When the breast feels very lumpy, self-examining them can be quite difficult. However, being familiar with what is normal and what is a reason of concern can help you detect new lumps easier.
CYSTS
Cysts filled with fluid are also frequent in women between the ages of 35 and 50. Their size varies from tiny ones to the size of an egg. These cysts are usually not a sign of breast cancer either. Their size sometimes increases until the menstruation and they disappear completely afterwards. They are less common in women who no longer have a menstrual cycle.
FIBROADENOMAS
Fibroadenomas are benign tumors that are frequent in women during reproductive years. They are smooth and rubbery lumps with a clear shape and move under the skin when touched. Fibroadenomas are generally painless. They can change their size over time, becoming smaller or larger and sometimes disappearing completely. Though a physician can usually detect fibroadenomas through a clinical exam, a tissue sample may be necessary as well.

INFECTIONS
Mastitis or breast infections are also frequent in women who have just stopped breast-feeding, but can also develop in women who have not been breast-feeding. The breast skins can be reddened, lumpy and warm and the underarm lymph nodes may also swell. Some women also feel ill and get fever. Mastitis is not a sign of breast cancer either, but it does require treatment.
TRAUMa
Sometimes a blow or bruise to your breast can also cause a lump. However, this is not a sign of breast cancer and doesn’t increase the risk of getting the disease either.
CALCIUM DEPOSITS
Calcium deposits can develop anywhere in your breast and appear on a mammogram also. Most women have several calcium deposits of different sizes. These microcalcifications are often caused by cellular debris, secretion from cells, inflammation, prior radiation or trauma. They are not caused by calcium supplements. Most calcium deposits are not a sign of breast cancer. However, some of them are precancerous or even cancer. Your physician will probably recommend further testing if any of them appears suspicious.
If you discover a lump through breast self-examination and your haven’t gone through menopause yet, there is no need to panic. You can wait until the menstrual cycle ends to consult a doctor, as most lumps will disappear until then. However, if breast changes persist for longer than a month, go to a doctor and have a breast exam as soon as possible.