Terramed Alliance News Younger Breast Cancer Patients Have Greater Chance Of Recurrence, Especially After Certain Treatments

Previous studies have shown that younger breast cancer patients consistently have poorer outcomes than patients who develop the disease later in life, which can translate into lower rates of overall survival. While the reason for this is not known, it is suggested that breast cancer in younger patients is more biologically aggressive.

Researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston sought to determine which form of breast cancer treatment – breast-conserving therapy, mastectomy alone or mastectomy with adjuvant radiation – better benefits younger women with either Stage I or Stage II breast cancer.

A total of 652 young women with breast cancer from 1973 to 2006 were studied, with 197 of the patients having received breast-conserving therapy, 237 having received a mastectomy and 234 having received mastectomy with adjuvant radiation. The study authors confirmed that younger breast cancer patients do have relatively high locoregional recurrence rates, but that patients with Stage II disease achieved the best locoregional control rates with mastectomy plus adjuvant radiation therapy. Patients with Stage I disease had similar outcomes with breast-conserving therapy and mastectomy, but adding chemotherapy to either treatment was beneficial.

“Locoregional recurrence after optimal breast cancer treatment in young women remains a significant problem,” Beth Beadle, M.D., Ph.D., a resident at M. D. Anderson and lead author of the study, said. “Our study hopefully will help radiation oncologists plan therapies for younger breast cancer patients, who have inferior outcomes compared to older patients, and generate new interest in prospective studies to evaluate the best treatment strategies for these young women.” American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (2009). Younger Breast Cancer Patients Have Greater Chance Of Recurrence, Especially After Certain Treatments. ScienceDaily.

Terramed Alliance is a non-profit charity organization dedicated to research, education and advocacy of breast cancer. One of the vision of Terramed Alliance is to provide this community and Internet users with a charity based research and education entity. Advocacy of breast cancer through education is vital to the reduction of this disease.  For any requests and enquiries, please contact at us: cancer@terramedalliance.us www.terramedalliance.us

Tags: Breast, Cancer, Treatments
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Breast Cancer, Effective Treatments That Cure

Breast cancer, one of the most feared diseases that most women are terrified of. From all the media attention it receives today one would think that progress is being made in finding a cure, but unfortunately the opposite is true as the breast cancer rates are still climbing.

The main reason why it’s still increasing is that we don’t have prevention when all the causes of breast cancer are now well known.  Also the reason why we don’t have a cure for it is because the treatments today are very profitable even though they are not very effective.

Today’s treatments focus on the cancer growths which does not actually do anything to help the patient regain the level of health they need to keep the cancer from coming back again. It is much more important to focus on the prime reason why the cancer first grew, that is, what caused it to grow in the first place and address those facts.

The well known slogan which tells woman that early detection will lead to a cure is a myth! Early detection is beneficial only to the breast cancer industry through their statistics. If they can detect breast cancer early, the meter that measures the 5 year survival cycle starts running earlier and the earlier it is detected, the better the chance of passing that critical 5 years period. Also early detection slogans helps recruit woman into the breast cancer industry.

The causes of breast cancer have been well known for many years and there is a cure for the disease. It is very simple, remove all the known factors that have caused it and with the amazing self healing powers of the human body, which we all have, it will remove the cancer naturally and permanently and without any side effects.

What our medical system is doing is looking for complex answers to a simple problem. Breast cancer does not need aggressive toxic treatments that can damage the body. To cure breast cancer one only needs to respect the laws of Mother Nature by living as we are supposed to and especially eating the foods we have been designed to eat and they are freshly grown fruit and vegetables.

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Herbal and Alternative Treatments for Breast Cancer

Herbal remedies have been around for for thousands of years. Now, women with breast cancer facing chemotherapy and radiation are supplementing this traditional medicine with herbal remedies and alternative treatments. They are not abandoning the usual breast cancer treatment; they are using herbal remedies and alternative treatments to curb the side effects.

Ginseng has been used by the Chinese for centuries. They believe that it stimulates the immune system and energies the patient. There are more than 30 active compounds in the ginseng root. Many of the compounds are believed to have anti-tumor properties. In a Chinese study it was found that women who took ginseng before their diagnosis had a higher survival rate than the women who took ginseng after their diagnosis. Women have reported that they have a higher quality of life and suffer less depression while using ginseng.

There is a mushroom, the Maitake that helps in boosting the immune system. Here again, in the East this has been used widely. Lab studies have been done using liquid Maitake extract. Many researchers believe that the mushrooms contain beta-glucans which helps to enhance the immune system. They still don’t know why, but they are working on it.

Mistletoe extract has been used in Europe to treat cancer patients for over 80 years. It has been shown to kill cancer cells and boost the immune system. There have been very few studies done here on mistletoe, but some research is under way and will be out at the end of this year. Researchers are studying the safety, the effects on the immune system and its toxicity.

Acupuncture is especially helpful for nausea and post surgical pain. Many studies done by research oncologists have shown that acupuncture was better for women with breast cancer than the medication taken to fight nausea. It also helps in loss of appetite, fatigue and sleep disorders. The AAMA recommends women with breast cancer should get acupuncture during their chemotherapy treatments but only after you have spoken to your primary doctor.

All doctors and researchers stress that diet and exercise play a key role in treating cancer. Stick to a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and grains. The National Cancer Institute recommends at least 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. Phytochemicals are found in fruits and vegetables and they prevent cancers in a number of ways. Research shows that they help in detoxification of carcinogens, DNA repair, boosting of the immune system and maintenance of cellular control mechanisms. Obesity plays a role in getting cancer. Change your diet, eat healthy and go for a walk or ride a bike. This is a suggestion we should all take to heart.

Tags: Alternative, Breast, Cancer, Treatments
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Effects And Benefits Of Alternative Cancer Treatments For Breast Cancer

There is no doubt that breast cancer is a frightening diagnosis for any woman or man. From the moment those two words are uttered, feelings of uncertainty and fear begin to mount. Uncertainty about the future and whether there’s a way to better the chances of survival collide with feelings of life without one or both breasts. Concern about surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy treatment, as well as whether or not survival is possible at all, is what usually swirls through the mind of any person moments after hearing those two dreaded words.

But there is a silver lining around this dark cloud of bad news. The good news is that tremendous advances in cancer detection and traditional as well as alternative cancer treatments have taken place over the past few decades. As a result, the prognosis for surviving breast cancer, and even avoiding radical surgery, has never been better.

Following the advice and course of treatment recommended by your doctor is of utmost importance. But interestingly, many men and women diagnosed with breast cancer report that their symptoms have been improved, and in some cases reversed, by pursuing one of the many medically-approved alternative breast cancer treatments available today.

Of course, no “one-size-fits-all” alternative cancer treatment exists so finding the right one requires the advice of a physician who is trained in alternative cancer therapies. These physicians take a holistic approach to treating breast cancer. Simply stated, they’ll decide on one or more alternative breast cancer treatments depending on the specific type of breast cancer and the stage of the disease.

Perhaps the most essential alternative cancer treatment involves making specific dietary changes in order to boost the body’s ability to combat malnutrition. Malnutrition is a common consequence of breast cancer, responsible for up to 40% of all cancer-related deaths. Proper nutrition also helps people suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment by reducing nausea and hair loss, boosting the immune system, and combating the symptoms of organ toxicity.

Only a trained physician who understands the role of proper nutrition in alternative breast cancer treatments can make specific dietary recommendations. However, the general guidelines below typically form the basis of any beneficial physician-approved nutritional plan.

Medical and nutritional research now proves that Zinc is an essential ingredient for anyone seeking alternative cancer treatments. Zinc supports the immune system by increasing antibody production and providing essential nutrition to the macrophage, a critical cell that plays a pivotal role in the immune system.

Foods that are high in Zinc include:

• Oysters
• Red meat
• Poultry
• Beans
• Nuts
• Whole grains
• Zinc-fortified breakfast cereals
• Dairy products

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Alternative Treatments For Breast Cancer

It is shocking to live with breast cancer statistics rising to 1 in 8 women developing some form of breast cancer in their lifetime. Women 50 and older are at the greatest risk. Breast cancer is usually detected with mammograms or self breast exams. About 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. While the survival rate is increasing, it is important to note the increase in occurrence over the last 50 years. Let’s examine what causes breast cancer so we can prevent and deal with breast cancer naturally.

Causes of Breast Cancer

Everyone’s cancer is caused by something different, and so pinpointing the cause of breast cancer usually isn’t high on the list of priorities once a woman is diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease. But, in general cancer is caused by free radicals, or deformed cells, that attach themselves to your good cells.

Breast cancer specifically has been linked to too much estrogen found in the body. There are several reasons why women have too much estrogen. The birth control pill increases the amount of estrogen in the female body. Hormone replacement therapy also has been shown to cause breast cancer because of its tampering with hormone levels.

High levels of preservatives, herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals used to treat food contribute to breast cancer. And estrogens found in dairy and meat can be overwhelming to the body.

Holistic Treatment of Breast Cancer

Plant estrogens like soy are a great way to combat breast cancer. These plant estrogens give the female body everything it needs without the harmful effects. Women with breast cancer should increase their intake of soy foods. When possible they should try to reduce the amount of dairy in their diet and replace it with soy.

Eating whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and fruit also give the immune system a boost and enable the body to wage its own war against cancer. Vitamin and mineral supplements help to fill in the gaps of nutrition you may miss from your diet. Antioxidants counteract the free radicals floating around your body, bind with them, and the body flushes them right out so they can do no harm.

Mental and spiritual well being is also important in a holistic approach to fighting breast cancer. Meditation, stress reduction, improved outlook, and positivity all help improve your mental well being. And as many of us realize, you are what you think about. So change your focus, look for the beauty in life, and take care of yourself, inside and out.

Tags: Alternative, Breast, Cancer, Treatments
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Breast Cancer Causes – Treatments

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lives. Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. No one knows why some women get breast cancer, but there are a number of risk factor

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the cells of the breast in men and women. Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer (10.4% of all cancer incidence, both sexes counted) and the fifth most common cause of cancer death.

Breast Cancer Causes

In breast cancer, some of the cells in your breast begin growing abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and may spread (metastasize) through your breast, to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body

Women who start their periods early (early puberty) or have a late menopause have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.

Women who are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or have recently taken it, have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Detailed information about HRT.

Although the precise causes of breast cancer are unclear, we know what the main risk factors are. Still, most women considered at high risk for breast cancer do not get it, while many who do have no known risk factors.

Breast Cancer symptoms

Breast lumps in general

The first symptom of breast cancer for many women is a lump in their breast. But 9 out of 10 breast lumps (90%) are benign. That means they are not cancers. Most benign breast lumps are not cancers.

A lump or a thickening in the breast or in the armpit: Some lumps or swelling in the breast tissue may be due to hormonal changes. But if a lump or thickening persists, whether it is in the breast or in the armpit area, it may be a cause for concern.

Fluid (not milk) leaking from the nipple: Between ages 41 – 58, there may be a small bit of non-bloody leakage from the nipples of both breasts. This leakage is usually due to hormonal changes and is not worrisome.

Treatments of Breast Cancer

Surgery

Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), mastectomy, and lymph node dissection, and what to expect from each.

Building Long-Term Health

Why it’s so important to stick to your treatment plan, take the full course of medications, and continue with regular tests and doctors’ visits to keep yourself healthy into the future.

Tests on your cancer cells

Your breast cancer cells can be tested to see if they have hormone receptors’ or biological therapy receptors. There are oestrogen receptors and progesterone receptors.

Tags: Breast, Cancer, Causes, Treatments
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Breast Cancer Treatments

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lives. Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. No one knows why some women get breast cancer, but there are a number of risk factor

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the cells of the breast in men and women. Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer (10.4% of all cancer incidence, both sexes counted) and the fifth most common cause of cancer death.

Breast Cancer Causes

In breast cancer, some of the cells in your breast begin growing abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and may spread (metastasize) through your breast, to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body

Women who start their periods early (early puberty) or have a late menopause have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.

Women who are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or have recently taken it, have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Detailed information about HRT.

Although the precise causes of breast cancer are unclear, we know what the main risk factors are. Still, most women considered at high risk for breast cancer do not get it, while many who do have no known risk factors.

Breast Cancer symptoms

Breast lumps in general

The first symptom of breast cancer for many women is a lump in their breast. But 9 out of 10 breast lumps (90%) are benign. That means they are not cancers. Most benign breast lumps are not cancers.

A lump or a thickening in the breast or in the armpit: Some lumps or swelling in the breast tissue may be due to hormonal changes. But if a lump or thickening persists, whether it is in the breast or in the armpit area, it may be a cause for concern.

Fluid (not milk) leaking from the nipple: Between ages 41 – 58, there may be a small bit of non-bloody leakage from the nipples of both breasts. This leakage is usually due to hormonal changes and is not worrisome.

Treatments of Breast Cancer

Surgery

Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), mastectomy, and lymph node dissection, and what to expect from each.

Building Long-Term Health

Why it’s so important to stick to your treatment plan, take the full course of medications, and continue with regular tests and doctors’ visits to keep yourself healthy into the future.

Tests on your cancer cells

Tags: Breast, Cancer, Treatments
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Alternative Breast Cancer Treatments

A wide variety of alternative breast cancer treatments exist today.  While “alternative” treatments are defined as practices that replace traditional treatments, most breast cancer patients use them in combination with conventional medicine.  Generally, alternative treatments are not acknowledged by the medical community as standard medical practices and therefore, many patients do not inform their doctors when using these therapies.  Examples of alternative treatments include acupuncture, massage, megavitamins, herbal supplements, nutrition, and magnetic therapy, to name a few.

Practiced for thousands of years, acupuncture involves the stimulation of specific points on the body using a hair-thin needle, or other method, to restore the body’s internal balance and energy flow.  Acupuncture may be used for pain relief and to control side effects from chemotherapy.

Massage involves manual manipulation of muscles and soft tissue.  It is believed that massage enhances the function of those muscles and tissues involved, while promoting relaxation.  It is often used together with other therapies.  Available scientific evidence does not support claims that massage slows or reverses the growth or spread of cancer.

Megavitamin treatments usually involve very high doses of vitamins A, C and E.  While the body requires these and other vitamins for optimal health, too much of a single vitamin may be harmful and even interfere with other treatments.  A healthy diet, one that offers lots of fruits and vegetables, eliminates the need for vitamin supplements.  More is not always better.

Good nutrition is always important, but for anyone fighting breast cancer, or any cancer, it’s crucial.  Though there are many, one alternative nutrition treatment is the macrobiotic diet. This diet is strictly vegetarian and includes whole grains, vegetables, beans, seaweed and soups. This diet is promoted for both cancer prevention and treatment, though there is no proof that is has any affect on either.  In general, a healthy diet—one that includes fruits, vegetables and protein—provides the reserves of nutrients needed to maintain a strong immune system and cope with the adverse side of effects of treatments.

Herbal supplements are plant extracts and have long been used for a variety of health purposes.  While they may be labeled as “natural,” it doesn’t mean that they are safe or even good for the body.  The fact is that herbal supplements can act like a drug and may be harmful when taken in large amounts.  There are few regulations in place to control the quality and safety of these products.  In 2007, the FDA did initiate new regulations to help improve this, but many are not effective until 2010.  Cancer experts often recommend that patients avoid dietary supplements altogether.

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What Are The Available Breast Cancer Treatments

The terrible long wait is over and the bad news has been delivered-you have breast cancer. Now what, are you going to die? What happens next? There are literally dozens of questions and fears bouncing around in your head and you might be frozen with fear. Remember that you are not alone and that literally thousands of other women have already dealt with this terrible disease and survived to live many long and productive years.

The road to getting better is a long one that you must endure, but it is not one that you will travel alone. Your family, friends, and doctors will be there to help you and do not be afraid to reach out and ask for help. You are not weak or helpless, you are sick and people want to help but they just do not know how-so be ready to ask!

Work with your doctor to come up with the medical treatment that best fits your needs and that will help cure your type of breast cancer. Most breast cancers will be treated with surgery to remove the tumor and all, or part, of the breast tissue may be removed. Excluding the surgery, there are three primary treatments being used today as a breast cancer treatment and they include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiotherapy.

* Chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously or in tablet form. Chemotherapy given intravenously usually requires the patient to be at the doctor’s office for several hours as the medication is slowly administered. The treatment is on a schedule determined by the doctor and a rest period of a few weeks between sessions is usual. This allows your body to recover from any side effects of the treatment.

* Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays to destroy the cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to the healthy cells. Radiotherapy is often used after surgery but may occasionally be used before, or instead of surgery.

If part of the breast has been removed, radiotherapy is usually given to the remaining breast tissue, to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in that area. After a mastectomy, radiotherapy to the chest wall may be given if your doctor thinks there is a risk that any cancer cells have been left behind.

* There are many different types of hormonal therapy and they work in different ways. They are often given after surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer, to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back. Hormonal therapy is usually given after chemotherapy.

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Breast Cancer Treatments – How is Breast Cancer Treated?

Becoming diagnosed with cancer is one of the worst things you can find out. It is becoming incredibly more common today with people infected with all types of cancer. Among these, one of the more common type is breast cancer and it is rapidly becoming more prevalent. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, the next thing you should think about is to consult your doctors on what are the breast cancer treatments options that are available to you. This article will talk about some of the ways breast cancer is currently being treated.

Depending on what stage the cancer is in, surgery or a lumpectomy (removal of just the lump) might be necessary. Lumpectomy is used for a breast conservation surgery where they want to keep the breast. However, removal of the entire affected breast might even be necessary. Surgical removal of the entire breast is known as a mastectomy.

After surgery, radiation therapy is commonly prescribed. The radiation therapy is used to reduce the chances that the cancer relapse. The radiation therapy consists of gamma rays that target the tumor or where the tumor once was before the surgery. The radiation removes the traces of cancer cells left behind around the area where the surgery was performed. Unfortunately, the radiation also attacks the other normal cell in the body as well and can cause damages to the tissue around the tumor.

There are other ways, as an alternative and an addition in the breast cancer treatment mentioned above. Chemotherapy can be used before, after and even as an alternative to surgery – it all depends on the type of breast cancer and the stage that it is in. Hormonal treatment is often used after chemotherapy. Targeted therapy is also another way to treat breast cancer. With this type of treatment, monoclonal antibodies are used to battle an over abundance of HER2 protein in cancer cells slowing the growth of the cancer cells in the process. When used with chemotherapy, this can reduce the chances of cancer cells returning as well as improving the patient’s survival rate.

These are just a few of the many ways breast cancer is being treated. Incidentally, these are the most commonly used and sometimes the most reliable treatments of breast cancer. A lot of research is presently being conducted worldwide in the hope of discovering the cure for breast cancer and cancer in general. It’s only a matter of time before a new and better treatment or cure is discovered. In the meantime, it’s very important for you to be kept informed about breast cancer and the type of breast cancer treatments that are available to you.

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