Do Breast Cancer Treatment Work At All?

Which treatments are used is determined by which stage the cancer is in as well as where it is located and how big the tumor is found to be. Treatments for breast cancer are: chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and lymphatic tissue removal.
The Beginning Stage
If a woman has very small blockages in her mammary glands called “lobular carcinoma”, usually nothing is done except to watch her very carefully. Some women who have lobular carcinoma choose to have both of their breasts removed because the chances of getting breast cancer in the other breast are very hight. In the case of ductal carcinoma, women can often have only a lumpectomy - the lump is removed without having to remove the breast. She will then be treated with radiation therapy. Again, some women also choose to have both of their breasts removed as a preventative.
Stages II through IV
Most women will try all treatments before choosing breast removal if there are any other options. A mastectomy is performed when the cancer is too far progressed, or it is spreading to the lymph nodes.
A woman can and often does choose to try chemotherapy for a while before surgery. If the tumor shrinks, she may only have to have the lump removed rather than have a mastectomy.
Regardless of whether or not a full mastectomy is performed, radiation and chemotherapies are usually indicated. Hormone therapies are an added measure. All of these make a woman’s chance for survival much higher.
If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and in many cases where it has not, a mastectomy is usually performed along with the removal of the lymph nodes in the axillary area.
The 4th Stage of Breast Cancer
In the case of stage IV breast cancer, the disease is considered inoperable. Treatments include radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. These do not save her life but often help her to live for a while longer. Women may choose to have no therapy in this stage and opt instead for supportive care. This is meant to help control pain and support a better quality of life while she is dying.
Reoccurrences of cancer do happen sometimes. If a woman is prepared and catches on very quickly, there is still a chance she will survive. If the cancer was “hiding” in the lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body, it is probably in its last stages. Supportive care is usually the best way to treat this stage of cancer.
While women are the majority when it comes to having breast cancer, a small percentage of men have been known to get it as well. The treatment is much the same for them.

Author:

Gerardo Hunnell

How to Cancer Proof Your Life

It's no secret that fruit, vegetables, herbs and supplements can provide your body with powerful protection against cancer. But some are better than others. Read on to discover those you SHOULD eat. Some may surprise you.The Cancer Council of Australia says around 11 percent of cancers are directly attributable to low consumption of fruit and vegetables. Researchers are finding that people who consume a large range of fruit and vegetables have a much lower chance of developing cancer than those who restrict the diet of these important foods.These foods are all powerful antioxidants that help your body fight against cancer causing and tissue damaging free radicals. Vegetables and fruit are rich sources of antioxidants and according to Dr Linda Calabresi, editor of Medical Observer there is considerable evidence that a diet high in vegetables and fruit is associated with reduced cancer risk.What has not been shown is whether you can achieve the same result by taking supplements of the antioxidants. It would appear that the reduced risk requires the antioxidants be consumed as they would naturally occur.In food.Dr Simir Samman of the Human Nutrition Unit at the University of Sydney cautions against taking supplements in place of vegetables. An example is synthetic beta-carotene, which was associated with a number of health problems, including a higher risk of lung cancer.According to Dr Samman, "When you eat a carrot, you're eating hundreds of different substances, not just beta-carotene." The other advantage of that whole carrot is absorption. Small amounts of cancer fighting vitamins and minerals are released throughout the day and the interaction of different chemicals from other foods eaten boosts digestion further. Take a megadose of a single vitamin and your body struggles to absorb it efficiently, swiftly expelling what it doesn't need.However, presuming you are following a diet rich in fruit and vegetables you may wish to supplement your diet with antioxidant substances including vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and beta carotene, says Dr Calabresi.Here are some important cancer fighters.CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES.Cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, are believed to contain compounds that block the production of cancer causing carcinogens. These vegetables, particularly broccoli, contain health enhancing phytochemicals that protect your body from cancer, heart disease and premature aging, according to Dr Andrew Weil, author of "8 Weeks to Optimum Health."A University of Leicester study has found that a molecule found in cruciferous vegetables, called 13C, made breast cancer tumours more vulnerable to chemotherapy drugs. Studies at the John Hopkins Medical Centre have shown that broccoli sprouts have at least 30 times the antioxidant concentration of mature broccoli. That means you'd have to eat 15 cups of broccoli to get the same cancer- fighting power of half a cup of broccoli sprouts. MAGNESIUM.To reduce your risk of colon cancer, eat ample amounts of foods that contain the highest concentrations of magnesium. These include green leafy vegetables, avocados, nuts and seeds and whole grains.A study from the University of Minnesota involving more than 35 000 women over the age of 61, found the risk of colon cancer was significantly lower among women who had magnesium intakes of more than 365 mg per day. TOMATOES.Tomatoes contain the powerful nutritional antioxidant lycopene. A diet rich in tomatoes is linked to a reduced risk of cancers, including cancer of the mouth, stomach, colon and rectum. Studies indicate that women with high lycopene levels are five times less likely to develop pre-cancerous signs of cervical cancer than women with low levels.Harvard University research has found eating five to seven tomatoes or tomato based products a week, reduces the risk of prostate cancer 21 percent to 34 percent.While present in fresh tomatoes, lycopene is in much higher concentrations in cooked tomato products such as paste and sauce. Here's an added bonus. Avocado, a truly nutrient dense food, has been associated with increased absorption of lycopene. A 2004 research study at Iowa and Ohio State Universities, found that subjects who ate avocado absorbed more than 4.5 times more lycopene than those who didn't eat avocado.Both tomatoes and avocado are important foods in the Mediterranean diet which tends to support heart health and prevent cancer. ALIUMS.These include garlic, leaks and onions. Studies show they can slow or stop the growth of cancer cells or make them easier for the body to excrete.BLUEBERRIES.Researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Centre have ranked blueberries number one in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruit and vegetables. They are associated with numerous health benefits including protection against cancer, heart disease and brain damage from strokes.
About The Author-- Graeme Lanham is a freelance writer and health/fitness researcher. His new book "Your Life Fitness" includes current research studies on fitness and anti-aging.