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.

A woman’s risk of breast cancer is higher mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer. The risk can actually be lower if you have a short menstrual life, large family or first child before age 18 years. Men have a lower risk of developing breast cancer (approximately 1.08 per 100,000 men per year), but this risk appears to be rising. Other risks include being overweight, using hormone replacement therapy, taking birth control pills, drinking alcohol, not having children or having your first child after age 35 or having dense breasts. Alcohol appears to increase the risk of breast cancer, though meaningful increases are limited to higher alcohol intake levels. Breast cancer constitutes about 7.3% of all cancers. Symptoms of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in size or shape of the breast or discharge from a nipple. Most breast lumps are benign , that is, they are not cancer. Benign breast tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast and they are not life threatening.

Treatment of breast cancer include Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, and Immune Therapy. Certain foods, vitamins, or minerals may interfere with cancer treatment. Drink plenty of fluids but avoid drinks during meals because they may cause a bloated feeling. Proteins: May provide protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Meats, beans, nuts, and seeds provide these benefits. Some seeds, like almonds, are good sources of vitamin E. Dairy products: Milk and cheese provide calcium, protein, and vitamin B12. Grains: Breads, pasta, rice, and cereals provide carbohydrates and B vitamins. Carbohydrates are an important source of energy. Eat cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, bok choy, and brussel sprouts – which contain plant phytochemicals that lower blood estrogen levels by increasing the estrogen detoxification capacity of the liver. Try cool foods. Warm foods may worsen nausea. Do not eat or drink until vomiting is under control.

Breast Cancer Treatrment and Diet Tips

1.Eat a diet lower in fat, ideally no more than 18% of your daily caloric intake.

2. Use “good” fats — monounsaturated and omega-3 fats – from olive oil, flax seed oil, almond oil and canola oil, as well as fats from deep-sea fish.

3. Eat cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, bok choy, and brussel sprouts.

4. Eat a diet high in fiber, with plant-based sources of protein.

5. Soy, aim for 1 to 2 servings of soy products per day.

6. Tea (black or green), aim for 3 to 5 servings per day.

7. Nitrates and nitrites, avoid cured meats when possible.

8. Carbohydrates are an important source of energy.

Breast cancer detection is crucial in finding and treating breast cancer. Many people simply react to the symptoms of breast cancer, which at that point is often too late.

Therefore it can make a life changing difference (literally) to be taught effective breast cancer detection techniques so that you stand the best possible chance of fighting the cancer from day one.

After all, most cancers can be cured when they are dealt with early enough.

One way is breast cancer screening. Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread.

It is easier to treat the cancer patient when found in time. Early detection of breast cancer means that you can find breast cancer and start treating it before it has time to grow and spread.

The cure is very promising when finding breast cancer in its early stages. If you don’t get early screening for breast cancer and get the pain or symptoms of breast cancer then the cancer may have started to grow larger and even could have spread out beyond the breast. This is why early detection is so important in finding breast cancer at its earliest stage.

When breast cancer is found during early exams it is most likely to be in the breast and smaller in size, not having the time to grow larger and spread out beyond the breast. If it is found later on then it may have had the time to get larger and spread beyond the breast.

This can be prevented if you decide to get early detection for breast cancer. Early detection can find the cancer before it can grow larger in size causing more problems. The size of breast cancer that is detected and how much it has spread is how a doctor will determine the outlook for a patient.

Breast cancer detection can save many lives every year. If you go to get early screening and can get other people you know to get screened for breast cancer then you can help to save lives. Getting your loved ones and friends to get early screening may also help to save their lives.

Breast cancer that is detected early and treated at that time is more likely to be removed with success. It can improve your chances of being cured when found early. So it is important to get to your doctor when your reach a certain age to start getting early detection for breast cancer and understanding the many other ways you can practice breast cancer detection through professional advice.

Janet Lane-Claypon orchestrated the first scientific study of breast cancer during the mid-1920s. Eighty years later, we still lack a full understanding of what exactly causes breast cancer. We do know that all cancers are caused by some kind of damage to the DNA. Exposure to radiation, estrogen hormones, diet, and geography are all elements that could contribute to the mutation of DNA, leading to several kinds of cancer. Our inability to find a cure results from our inability to determine the root cause of breast cancer. The risks of breast cancer increase as women age. Women who are fortunate enough to live to be ninety have a one in seven chance of getting breast cancer. Family history is another important factor. Women whose mothers, grandmothers, and aunts suffered from breast cancer are more likely to experience breast cancer as well.

Symptoms

Regular breast examinations and mammograms are so important because the symptoms of breast cancer are completely painless and difficult to detect. Lumps on the breast, under the arm or above the collarbone that do not go away is one sign. Breast discharge, skin discolorations, and nipple inversion are also warning signs. Please review our guide to self-examinations below.

Treatment

Surgery remains the most popular form of treatment. Hormonal therapy is often used in tandem with surgery. The severity of a patient’s condition, whether it be high or low risk, designates the specific cycle of hormonal treatment.

Patients are subjected to X-rays or gamma rays that bombard the cancerous tumors with powerful radiation. This is done using a machine called a linear accelerator. This treatment is often used in conjunction with surgery. Sometimes radiation will be used after surgery to clean up any remaining cancerous material that was not removed by the surgery. Other times, the radiation is used as a precursor to surgery to prepare the area for invasive entry. Radiation treatment is performed for about fifteen minutes each day, for five days a week. This goes on for five to seven weeks. Because normal cells repair themselves much more quickly than cancerous cells, we can use radiation without the risk of permanently damaging normal tissue.

Chemotherapy is also performed before and after surgery. Here are some common types of chemotherapy:

Tamoxifen is used to block estrogen receptors, common in cells, in order to stop the transportation of estrogen between cells.

Aromatase inhibitors lowers the estrogen count in post-menopausal women.

GnRH-analogues can be useful during the early stages of breast cancer.

Ovarian ablation or suppression can be used to stop the ovaries from producing hormones in pre-menopausal women

Self inspection of the breasts should be a main priority for every woman. Breast cancer caught in the early stages of growth will give better odds for the patient to control the disease with the help of today`s modern medicines and technology.

Breast cancer is common among the female species and can be a death sentence if ignored. By neglecting yourself in this department with absent regular check ups then you can expect a painful road ahead – congested of heartache and pain for those close to you as well. Breast cancer is treatable, so now is the time to set a date in the diary for regular self breast examination.

One of the first signs or symptoms of breast cancer is a lump in the breast. You will find that most breast lumps discovered early are rated as 9 out of 10 as being benign. Breast lumpiness can be that of breast change which usually becomes more obvious just before the start of a period, particularly in women over the age of 35

Also cysts/sacs of fluid is not uncommon in the breast tissue causing a feel of lumpiness. Fibroadenoma is a collection of fibrous glandular tissue which is more notably known to occur in younger women

If you notice a change in the shape/size of the breast or a lump even thickening then always check this out with your doctor. Other signs to look out for is dimpling of the skin or nipple shape changing, for example, if the nipple turns in or sinks back into the breast. Blood-stained discharge from the nipple or an unusual blemish or rash around the surrounding area needs to be checked out.

A swelling or lump under your armpit can also be a sign. If you have found that you have any of the above symptoms then seek medical attention right away.

Do not worry at this stage because breast lumps as such do not necessarily mean cancer. However the above mentioned inverted nipple or blood stained discharge etc can mean another type of ailment, either way these will need attention

The doctor will examine the breast and if necessary will refer you to a specialist for further checks. If the results from a mammogram or ultra sound shows a cyst, then to have it removed may entail draining it through a fine needle. If the lump is solid then treatment will be with the use of a very fine needle where a sample of tissue will be taken and tested for cancer cells.

This is a disease you can fight but once it spreads, then the breast cancer becomes a battlefield leaving you fighting for survival. Early detection can stop this war.

In the last 10-15 years, major improvements in the diagnoses and treatment of breast cancer have been made. Doctors now know how to tailor the best treatment for an individual on a case by case basis, testing how cancer cells will react to different methods of treatment. Survival rates are continually improving with 90% of women surviving five years or more with early detection, where the cancer has been contained in the breast.

It is important to realize that even if you do not find a lump, there are other symptoms of breast cancer that should be monitored. These include changes to the color, shape, feel or size of the breast, nipples and breast skin. Unusual discharge or persistent unusual pain, not related to the monthly cycle, should also be a prompt for a visit to a doctor.

One misconception is that if you are diagnosed with breast cancer you will have to have a mastectomy. While this is true for many women, it is not always the case. With early detection, surgery may only be required to remove the cancer itself leaving the breast intact. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better a woman’s chances of survival.

For a free video demonstrating how to perform a breast self check and for more information on other self checks women can perform in the comfort and privacy of their own home, visit www.womans-health.us, a free women’s health resource.

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.