Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Numerous cancer researches have been done to understand the disease better. In women, breast cancer is the second most common cancer next to lung cancer. There are millions of affected women in the world and 200,000 more will be diagnosed with the disease in 2007. Current statistics show that breast cancer claims the life of 1 woman every 13 minutes. It would be really beneficial if there is higher awareness on breast cancer. Knowing about the disease, its causes, symptoms, treatment and management, will greatly help patients and families of these patients understand the disease better.

One of the most effective breast cancer awareness programs is the breast cancer walk. In the United States, there is the Breast Cancer 3-Day benefit. A fund raising program participated by men and women who want to make a difference in the lives of these breast cancer victims. The program involves 3 days or 60 miles of walking and participated by millions of people from all over the nation. It is a chance for the participants to learn about cancer and at the same time help in promoting awareness.

Although it may seem a lot of work, the breast cancer walk is actually fun. Since a breast cancer walk is not a race, participants can actually walk leisurely. It's the perfect chance to meet people from all walks of life and share experiences. The route is filled with safety and support nets with people standing by to offer food and drinks. There are medical volunteers on stand by for emergency medical attention. At the end of each day, participants get to rest, shower, and eat a scrumptious dinner. Comfortable sleeping bags and tents are supplied for a good night's rest. All these friendly accommodations can make the Breast Cancer Walk a truly unique experience.

If you want to participate but feel like you are not ready for such physical activity, you should not worry. There are training manuals provided that will put you in perfect shape to walk in no time at all. Training walks will even be organized in your area to practice long-distance walking. Since the Breast Cancer 3-day Series are held in different cities like Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Michigan and Philadelphia, you can practice at the city nearest you.

It's a good idea to join in on the Breast Cancer Walk. Not only is it great exercise, but it's also fun and it's for a great cause.

Since a breast cancer walk is mostly a fund raising program to support breast cancer research, education, treatment and screening, you will be asked to raise a certain amount for the cause. You would be surprised to know that most participants exceed this amount because of the amazing generosity of friends, co-workers and families. Even people you do not know will eagerly support you in your cause.

Proceeds of the breast cancer walk will be distributed to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure movement, which has already generated $1 billion to date for fighting breast cancer, and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, a public charity that is considered to one of the largest independent charitable institutions in the United States.

The woman who had suffered breasts cancer had the risk of the suicide 37% higher compared with the woman who had not suffered breasts cancer, and the increase in this risk of continuing to take place at least till 25 years after the diagnosis, according to the report in the National Journal of the Cancer Institute.

The research beforehand researched concerning the risk of the suicide in the women who had suffered breasts cancer, but most did not research the long-term risk and not a single involved the woman in the United States (the USA), according to Dr. Catherine Schairer and his colleagues, from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland.

Their research involved one of the analyst's data from 723. 810 women who had suffered breasts cancer that was diagnosed suffered cancer between 1953 and 2001 and were included in the list of the inhabitants who suffered cancer in the USA and Scandinavia. In the further research until 2002, around 836 women among them carried out the suicide.

Compared with the public's population, the woman with breasts cancer had in general the suicide as big as 4,1 per 100 thousand women each year.

After 25 years or more, the woman who had been diagnosed suffered breasts cancer still had the risk of the suicide higher 35% were compared by the woman without breasts cancer. The risk of the suicide also increasingly big with the increase in the cancer stage, according to the researcher.

“Although the accumulation of the small suicide opportunity, results of the research suggested that the long-term maintenance program ought to for the woman who had suffered breasts cancer involve sides that cared and understood psychology,” the research concluded.

Complementary medicine integrates non-Western treatment methods into mainstream medical practice. Examples include light exercise, guided imagery, massage, yoga, reiki, tai chi, acupuncture, music therapy, and art therapy.

In the oncology area, these modalities can help to reduce side effects and thereby enhance a person's physical and/or emotional tolerance to treatment. People thus feel better during what might otherwise be a very difficult period of cancer treatment.

Fatigue is a common symptom during cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It can stem from the underlying illness, insomnia/sleep deprivation, anxiety, and/or the cancer treatment itself. Helping people manage and reduce fatigue is an important component in enhancing their overall well-being. After all, oncologists strive to treat the whole person and not just the disease.

The mechanism of fatigue in radiation therapy is not known. Often, it is not purely radiation treatment induced, but rather, is due to one or more of the factors outlined above.

In people with breast and prostate cancer, the National Cancer Institute undertook a randomized controlled study of cancer related fatigue in 38 individuals. 27 were women with breast cancer and 11 were men with prostate cancer. All received at least 30 radiation treatments, five days a week for six weeks.

Baseline tests to assess fatigue, strength, and cardiovascular heath were performed before the people received radiation therapy. The study compared a half the people in the group who followed an exercise program to the half who were randomized to receive radiation therapy without exercise therapy.

The program consisted of moderate, home-based use of resistance bands and walking. Of the participants in the trial, the average age was 60. Half the people received chemotherapy and 84% endured surgery. Participants were enthusiastic and 95% of them completed the prescribed exercise course

The exercise group was required to take walks daily and to try to increase the number of steps taken each day. They wore pedometers and kept a diary. In addition, they were assigned to complete 11 resistance band exercises daily, performing one set of eight to 15 repetitions daily and gradually increasing to three to four sets. Results revealed an 82% increase in the number of steps walked daily and the use of resistance bands an average of 3 1/2 days per week for 20 minutes at a moderate intensity level.

Those who exercised maintained their stamina during radiation therapy and improved their aerobic capacity. Also, they were able to walk faster and further in only four weeks and they experienced less cancer related fatigue than the control group. In fact, the control subjects demonstrated a decline in their baseline muscle strength.

The mechanism by which exercise alleviates fatigue is not clear. Although this study is small and more clinical trials will be helpful, the results suggest that when exercise is non-burdensome, safe and feasible, it serves as an inexpensive, valuable tool in improving the quality of life of cancer survivors.

For more information about radiation therapy, visit www.ASTRO.org , the website of The American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Suzanne Somers used misteloe extracts to treat herself for breast cancer. According to her press releases and interviews, she used it along with various other forms of conventional care and natural cancer treatment. Suzanne has been very pleased with the outcome she obtained from the way her breast cancer was treated with a combination of conventional and natural cancer therapies. What is mistletoe, and how is it used?

Mistletoe is the leafy, flowering vine that is used for Christmas decorations. Perhaps its' most famous role in American society is the custom of kissing whoever stands beneath the mistletoe. Mistletoe blooms in winter. It appears to thrive in adverse situations such as cold weather. The variety of mistletoe most often utilized as homeopathic medication is the European mistletoe known as viscum album. Mistletoe vines grow on various trees, including pine, oak, and fruit trees. Some practitioners believe that viscum derived from vines grown on certain species of host trees imparts unique properties to the final medicinal preparation. Viscum preparations made from certain species of host trees are therefore utilized to treat specific types of cancers. The most commonly used variants are viscum mali from apple trees which is used for cancer in female patients, viscum quercus from the oak tree for cancers in men, and viscum pini from the pine tree which is given a mixed use, but is most famous for breast cancer.

Mistletoe extract is most often administered only by qualified physicians because it is potentially poisonous. The leaves and the berries of mistletoe are known to be poisonous. Since it is produced from extracts of the entire plant, an experienced medical practitioner is required to safely administer mistletoe extracts. The production of a type of mistletoe extract known as Iscador begins with the grinding of the entire mistletoe plant, which is then soaked in water. The mistletoe water extract is then fermented, and finally filtered to produce the final product. Scientific research indicated that Iscador may have at least two major mechanisms of action. A portion of the Iscador material seems to improve immune function. In particular, there is evidence that Natural Killer Cells, which are immune system cells thought to fight cancer, are increased in activity following the administration of Iscador. Another interesting potential effect of Iscador is to enhance the activity of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, also implicated in natural anti-cancer activity by the immune system. Another portion of Iscador extract may directly change the way cancer cells function. Evidence from scientific studies suggest that Iscador may modify the internal metabolism of malignant cells in beneficial ways, including interfering with the growth of cancer cells. This may eventually prove to be Iscador's most important activity. However, more research is needed to elaborate on this possibility.

The common route of administration is by injection of the viscum just under the skin. As each day of therapy progresses, a more concentrated version is administered. After the first few daily doses, a red swelling often appears at the injection site. A short-term fever also is commonly seen with the daily injections. Many doctors theorize that this fever may play a positive role in the beneficial action of Iscador. After reaching the highest concentration of Iscador, the injections are often continued for a week or longer, depending upon the clinical situation as judged by the treating physician. The side effects of Iscador therapy can include low-grade fever, and redness and irritation at the injection sites.

What results have been observed in patients treated with Iscador? Reports of results are primarily anecdotal. In other words, they are the observations of physicians and others but are not part of a scientifically controlled medical trial or study. The observations suggest that Iscador is indeed a promising therapy. The website www.aacancer.com has related articles and scientific information on mistletoe and breast cancer generally. Mistletoe is probably the most promising of all the ancient natural cancer remedies. Because of the research being done on the medicinal value of this plant in Europe, it seems likely to soon become a part of the conventional armamentarium against breast cancer.

Most people believe that breast cancer only affects women; this is because most men are not aware that they are also at risk of getting the disease. Given this, men need to be aware of the symptoms and the ways they can handle the disease. Below is a discussion of some important information that men should know about breast cancer in men.

Symptoms

Some of the most obvious symptoms of breast cancer among men are breast lumps, swelling, dimpling around the breast area, nipple retraction, redness, scaling and nipple discharge. Given that men have less breast tissue than women do, these symptoms are more obvious in men and are more dangerous because the cancer can easily invade nearby tissues. However, most men ignore these symptoms.

Risk factors

One of the identified risk factors of developing the disease is advanced age. Men in their 60s are the most susceptible to the disease. Family history is also one risk factor that has been identified. Other risk factors include radiation exposure and a history of liver disease because liver diseases reduce androgen levels and raises estrogen levels in men, which make them susceptible to the disease. In this regard, men who have received estrogen treatments are also highly susceptible to the disease. Other factors include genetic mutations such as having Kleinfelter?s syndrome.

Treatment and survival rates

Breast cancer in men is diagnosed in the same way as women are diagnosed. With regard to treatment, there are a number of treatments available to men who have the disease. These include surgery (modified mastectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. Studies have also shown that the survival rates of men with breast cancer are similar to the survival rates among women.

Breast cancer also affects men and it is important that men be equipped with the right information about this disease. Having access to information can help men prevent, detect and seek treatment for male breast cancer, which is as deadly as breast cancer in women.

As the awareness of breast cancer increases, so does the availability of information on the disease to the general public. There has been much research done on the disease, which includes the statistics on its prevalence and survival rates. Below is an enumeration of these statistics.

Recent figures

Breast cancer has been proven to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today. It is also the most common form of cancer among women. This trend is expected to continue. Studies conducted by the World Health Organization estimate that for 2006, there will be 1.2 million women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Studies have also shown that a woman?s chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime is about 1 out of 7 or 13.4 percent. However, breast cancer is not restricted to women. Studies also estimate that thousands of men will be diagnosed with the disease.

With regard to death rates, it is estimated that the chance that breast cancer will be the cause for a woman?s death is about 1 in 33, or 3 percent. In recent years, the incidence of breast cancer death has declined. Doctors attribute these declines to early detection and new treatments.

Figures also show that the chance of having the disease increases with age. By the age of 30, the chance of having the disease is 1 out of 2,212. For women over the age of 80, the chance increases to 1 out of 8. However, the survival rates are less for younger women because they tend to have more aggressive forms of cancer. It has also been proven that white, Hawaiian and African-American women have the highest incidence of breast cancer as opposed to their Asian counterparts who have some of the lowest incidence rates.

Studies also show that early detection increases the survival rate by as much as 96 percent, especially for those women who detect breast cancer in its first stage. However, the survival rates for patients who have had the disease decreases after five years.

These figures tell us a number of things. One of these is that the key to surviving breast cancer is early detection. Another important thing is that women need to be aware of the risks that they face and that they should take preventive measures to mitigate the effects of this dreaded disease

Even with all the information about breast cancer awareness, self-exams and breast cancer statistics available, many women still choose to put off having a mammography and even doing self-exams. They give a variety of excuses including, “no time”, “no family history” or “lack of convenience” with having to travel to a hospital for a mammography. Fortunately hospitals are beginning to combat these excuses by incorporating a mobile mammography unit into the services that they offer to the community.

The mobile mammography has shown great success and community support in the areas that currently have the service. It was originally thought that it would be a service for the underserved such as those without transportation, insurance or low income families. However, it has become successful in other arenas as well, such as among working women or women with children that state that they don’t have the time to take off work or be away from their children to go get a mammography. Some businesses are even working with the hospitals to have the mobile mammography come to their organization as a health benefit program for their employees.

Contact your local hospital to see if they have a similar service. If they don’t, talk to them about the benefits. It is also important that you make time to go to the hospital to have a mammography and perform a monthly self-exam. Susan G. Komen for the Cure recommends that beginning by age 20, women should be doing a monthly breast self-examination. You can find information on how to do a monthly breast self-examination online. Early detection is imperative in the fight against breast cancer. Don’t make any more excuses: your health and your life are more important than any excuse you can make.

Regrettably, breast cancer is all too common, and contemporary medical treatments are well entrenched. Most cancer patients choose to accept the application of these techniques and there is comparatively low demand for alternative therapies. However there is growing interest in alternative methods of cancer prevention; and there is also a great deal of success being enjoyed by such treatments.

Some of the activities or techniques that are becoming increasingly relied upon, and which are essential elements of the practice of Yoga, include:

-Attention to nutrition
-The avoidance of ingestion of chemical and other environmental pollutants
-The need for regular exercise
-Adequate breathing and oxygenation of the blood
-Freedom from psychological stress, and
-The need for a vital positive interest in life

With respect to breast cancer in particular however, there are another two very important factors deserving of strict attention if women are to maximize their chances of avoiding the disease. They are:

Adequate Exercise of the Arms

Circling the arms from the shoulder, shrugging the shoulders and other exercises that specifically stimulate the muscles and circulation around the lymphatic glands under the arms. These Yoga exercises should be considered a daily discipline and take only a few minutes.

Avoidance of Suppressant Deodorants

Today, deodorants are considered an integral aspect of body hygiene, but unfortunately many of those in the contemporary market-place contain chemical perspiration suppressants. Such deodorants pose a threat, especially to women, in that the toxins that are naturally evacuated in perspiration may well settle in the nearest parts of the body, particularly where circulation is poor, viz. the breasts

Of course there are deodorants on the market that don’t contain the chemical suppressants of the more popular brands but it is really necessary, for women in particular, to check the product labels to be assured this is the case.

Be particularly careful to scrutinize those products that guarantee full protection from perspiration as these will usually contain the offending chemicals. .

Remember that underarm perspiration is Nature’s way of exuding toxins from the upper body and when the process is suppressed it is pretty obvious that there is going to be an adverse reaction.

Sally Janssen is one of the best known Yoga teachers in Australia, and is a former President of the International Yoga Teachers Association. In 1964 she founded the Triad Yoga School in Sydney, Australia, and remained its Principal until 1978. During that time it was the most eminent Yoga school in Australia. Sally now runs an informational website that deals with the very spirit of traditional Yoga.

Breast cancer affects mainly women with one out of nine women encountering the risk of developing breast cancer over her lifetime.

Treatment for breast cancer has advanced with various drugs and procedures being developed and put into clinical use. One of the more common forms of cancer therapy is to undergo chemotherapy treatment. This used to be a painful and fatigue inducing exercise where the patient has to undergo frequent trips to the hospital. However with the introduction of oral chemotherapy, patients can now undertake the medication from the comfort of their own homes. Known as capecitabine pills, patients are prescribed 12 hourly medications for 2 weeks in a row, with another weekly interval in between for the body to recover.

The risks of getting breast cancer has also been reduced by the introduction of tamoxifen in 1998. This drug has a reported 50% effectiveness but the side effects made it uncomfortable for many patients which includes hot flashes. Tamoxifen has since then been replaced by raloxifene, which has less side effects but delivered the same degree of effectiveness in reducing breast cancer risk.

Even though modern medicine has advanced breast cancer research and treatment options to a new level, our modern lifestyle has been linked to playing an important role in raising the risk levels as well. So in my opinion, modern medicine is only playing catch up.

We can take a proactive role by doing some of the following activities, if not all of them, to reduce your breast cancer risk as well as developing a great healthy lifestyle.

An elevated estrogen level has been linked to greatly increased risk of breast cancer. We can help rein in our estrogen levels thorough regular 30 minutes a day exercise, 5 times a week. This should help to keep our weight in control which is also another factor in maintaining healthy estrogen levels. Any gains over 70 pounds could possibly double our risk levels.

Stay away from foods high in polyunsaturated fats such as sunflower oils, switch over to olive oil, which is a tasty and healthy monounsaturated fat source. Fruits and vegetables that are high in carotenoids, which are known to have cancer reducing properties, have plenty of these on a daily basis especially carrots, tomatoes and watermelons.

Have a healthy lifestyle, stay away from alcohol and smoking, these are both high breast cancer risk factors which you have absolute control over, and you can avoid.

Two recent studies on HRT show what scientists have suspected for a while now. There's an obvious connection between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer.

The U.S. has the highest rate of breast cancer in the world. It affects 1 out of every 8 women. Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common for women. And it's the second most deadly, after lung cancer.

Research makes the HRT cancer link clear.

Millions of women have given up hormone replacement therapy, turning to alternative treatments for menopause symptoms instead. As a result, research shows breast cancer rates have gone down dramatically.

Scientists were shocked to see statistics drop by close to 12% in 2003. This was the largest decrease ever seen in a year. And rates are still going down – particularly for women over 50, who seem to be more sensitive to HRT.

Recently, Dr. Peter Ravdin of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston spoke at the 29th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. He said he's convinced the drop in cancer is related to the decrease in HRT use for menopause symptoms.

The author of the second study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Christina Clarke of the Northern California Cancer Center in Fremont, agrees wholeheartedly about the HRT cancer link. "Hormone therapy use dropped by 68% between 2001 and 2003, and shortly thereafter we saw breast cancer rates drop by 10% to 11%. This drop was sustained in 2004, which tells us the decline wasn't a fluke."

What are your options?

The best thing you can do is make lifestyle changes that will maximize your health and minimize your risk of breast cancer. That means, regular exercise, less stress and the healthiest diet possible. Healthy women simply have far fewer disturbing menopause symptoms.

You can begin with a nutritious diet rich in colorful vegetables and fruit, whole grains and fatty fish, such as salmon. Eliminate refined carbohydrates and sugars, saturated and trans-fats, coffee, alcohol, tobacco and carbonated sodas.

And definitely get out for a half-hour walk at least three to five days a week – preferably daily.

What else can you do?

To improve your odds of having a pleasant, easy, carefree menopause, get started on a high quality nutritional supplement program. Make sure you're getting all of the necessary vitamin and mineral requirements, plus essential omega 3 fish oil fatty acids.

Balanced, natural source omega 3 can make all the difference to your hormones.

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for the production and release of natural hormones. I've helped many women (including myself) to dramatically reduce hot flashes, mood swings and to eliminate other unpleasant symptoms – naturally.

And there are many other long-range fish oil health benefits. Besides greatly reducing menopause symptoms, my nutritional plan has also been proven to be a great anti-cancer, healthy heart program. So don't wait. The best time to begin is right now.

Copyright by Moss Greene. All rights reserved.

Moss Greene is the nutrition editor at BellaOnline.com and a journalist specializing in proven health alternatives. Over the past 33 years she's helped thousands of people get healthier.