Myth: People who are at high risk of breast cancer cannot do anything about it.

This is not true. There are many ways in which to reduce but not eliminate the risk of a high risk individual. These would include changing ones lifestyle by exercising regularly, not smoking, not consuming or minimizing the intake of alcohol, by taking medication and also in extreme cases by undergoing surgery.

Myth: Breast cancer can be caused by antiperspirants.

This has no truth whatsoever. There is no direct connection between the active ingredient in the antiperspirant and the occurrence of breast cancer. It is believed by some that the use of antiperspirants block the body's toxins from being released with perspiration as antiperspirants causes the individual not to perspire. These trapped toxins then, it is believed, are deposited in the lymph nodes which are located below the arms and thereby causes breast cancer. Perspiration is made up of 99.9% of potassium, water, magnesium and sodium and no toxins whatsoever.

Myth: Breast cancer is caused by stress.

This is not so. Research shows no evidence that stressed or anxious people are more likely to get cancer when compared to people who are of a more relaxed disposition.

Myth: Consuming foods high in fat causes breast cancer.

This is not so as several in-dept studies have been unable to find a connection between high risk of breast cancer and consuming high fat content food. However, research is still being done to shed light on this issue. However it is always healthier if we can avoid high fat containing foods, thereby regulating our weight, as being overweight is another risk factor for breast cancer, as when an individual is overweight the extra fat causes an increased production of the hormone estrogen.

Myth: The best way to diagnose breast cancer is by monthly breast self examination.

This is not so. The use of mammography is the best and most reliable method of diagnosing breast cancer. Breast cancer diagnosis by mammography can be detected earlier than by self examination as the smaller size of the cancer that would be detected by mammography cannot be detected by self examination of the breast. Early detection would mean that it has a better chance of being cured.

Myth: Only older women are affected by breast cancer.

It is a fact that as a woman's age increases the risks of getting breast cancer too increase but breast cancer is not confined to older women only, a woman of any age can get the disease. From birth until the age of 39 < 0.5 % of women are at risk, that is, every one woman in 231. 4% are at risk in the 40 - 59 age groups, that is, one woman in 25. About 7% are at risk in the 60 - 79 age groups, that is, one woman in 15. The risk of getting breast cancer when considering the entire lifetime (that is if you live to about 90 years of age) of an individual is 14.3%, that is, one in 7.

Myth: An individual will probably get breast cancer if her mother or grandmother had it.

If an individual's mother or grandmother has had breast cancer does not necessarily mean that they will end up with it even though they are in a higher risk group. Most women who end up getting breast cancer do not have a family history of it. It is recommended that you have a mammogram done if your mother, sister, grandmother or daughter had or has breast cancer.

Myth: Breast cancer is caused by the birth control pill.

This is not true. Contraceptive pills have small quantities of the hormones progesterone and estrogen which is often linked with increased risk of breast cancer. Despite the presence of these two hormones and the prolonged use for a period of 10 years and more it does not cause breast cancer. Birth control pills have some benefits too. They are, they decrease the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer, they relieve pelvic inflammatory disease, menstrual disorders and they improve the bone mineral density.

Myth: Only women get breast cancer - Men do not get the disease.

This is not true. Though the percentage is smaller men do get breast cancer, therefore, it is important for men too to exam themselves monthly and report any changes noticed to their doctor immediately. In 2004, it was estimated that around 1450 men with breast cancer and that 470 will eventually die from it.

Myth: Lawn chemicals, pesticides and dry cleaning services cause breast cancer.

A few small studies have shown this as a possibility but larger studies on this subject have indicated otherwise.

Myth: You are likely to get breast cancer if you have a risk factor.

This is not so. Even if you have a breast cancer gene abnormality, which is one of the stronger risk factors, it does not mean you will end up with cancer. 40% to 80% of women with an inherited genetic abnormality, that is, BRCA1 or BRCA2 may sometime in their life develop breast cancer. 20% to 60% will not develop it. The presence of all other risk factors poses very little threat.

Myth: If you have a lump in your breast you will get breast cancer.

This is not so as it is found that eight out of ten lumps are not malignant or cancerous. If you discover any abnormalities or even a persistent lump in your breast it is best you consult your physician at once as early detection would result in better treatment and recovery.

Myth: Breast cancer will end up in death.

This is not so. 80% of the breast cancer diagnosed women show no spread of the cancer cells beyond the breast or to nearby lymph nodes. Also 80% of these women continue to live for a further five years and some even longer.

Myth: Younger women run a higher risk of breast cancer than older women.

As a woman gets older the risk of her getting breast cancer is also higher as age is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. It is therefore important for a woman starting from the age of about forty to self examine her breasts monthly for any lumps or irregularities; get regular mammograms and a clinical breast examination done yearly in order to detect an early development of cancer. Women in the age group 20 - 40 should also carry out monthly self breast examination and clinical breast examinations every three years or so.

Breast cancer is very hard to detect in its early stages. Breast self-exams and regular clinical breast exams are still our best weapons against this type of disease. We can gain a better understanding of breast cancer if we just take the time to study its causes and find out what are the factors that increase our chances of getting it. Read on for more useful information about breast cancer, which affects the lives of thousands of women each year.

. Gender - you are more at risk if you are a woman - especially if you've already had cancer in one breast. Women have a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of getting breast cancer. Although cases of breast cancer in men have steadily increased over the years, they only make up 1% of all breast cancer cases.

. Family history - if you're mother, sister, or another female member of your family has had breast cancer, this also increases your risk. Research has shown that hereditary cases of breast cancer are due to mutations of genes identified as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Further studies however, are still underway regarding these developments. Have yourself evaluated if one or some female members of your family have a history with breast cancer.

. Age - women are more vulnerable to breast cancer as they get older. 77% of women with breast cancer are over the age of 50, women below 30 only make up 0.3%. (American Cancer Society). It is advised that women as young as 20 years old should have a clinical breast exam every three years and should do so once every year after hitting age 40.

. Other risk factors for women - several other factors have to do with female hormones. According to studies, long-term hormone replacement therapy can increase your risk. It is also advised that women should have children before age 30 (starting to breastfeed at a younger age reportedly helps reduce your chances of getting breast cancer). Excessive alcohol intake and being overweight are also linked to an increased risk. Women who have experienced menstruation early (before age 12) and those who experience menopause later than the expected age also have the higher probability of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Tamoxifen is a drug prescribed for women who are already at high risk. This reduces the risk of cancer by 50% if taken for five years. Some side effects may be experienced (hot flashes and vaginal discharge), although they are not serious. In rare cases however, life - threatening side effects (stroke, blood clots, uterine cancer) may occur. For this reason, Tamoxifen is not widely used.

There are several risk factors to consider when it comes to breast cancer. And even if you think you have very few of the characteristics that could put you at risk, don't take things for granted. You should still give careful attention to your health. Have yourself examined by your physician regularly, adopt a healthy lifestyle and be sensitive to the changes in your body. Taking preventive measures is still your best defense against serious illnesses.

Breast cancer is one of the most common life-threatening diseases among women. The risk of acquiring breast cancer increases with age. It is hard to detect the early symptoms of breast cancer, which is why it is important for women to have regular mammogram screenings as well as learn how to properly perform breast self-exams. Here are some other facts you need to know about breast cancer.

. Breast Cancer In Men - although more common among women, men can get breast cancer too. Cases among males tend to be even more fatal because the symptoms are usually ignored. Breast cancer in men makes up only 1% of all breast cancer cases right now, but this risk is a growing one. If you know of a male family member or friend who suspects that he has breast cancer, advise them to check with their doctor as soon as possible.

. Do injuries to the breast cause cancer? Injuries may cause blood to build up under the affected skin area, which might end up feeling like a lump. But these usually heal over time and are not known to cause breast cancer.

. Can I still have mammograms after having breast implants? - Yes. There is nothing wrong with having mammograms even if you have breast implants. In fact, it is recommended that you still continue with your regular check - ups. You should however, notify your doctor or your medical technician first that you have breast implants. This will allow them to use special techniques suited to your condition.

. Is pain in the breast always a sure sign that I might have breast cancer? - No. Several other things may cause pain in the breast. The pain might be related to your monthly period, or birth control pills if you've been taking any. Hormone replacement therapy and even weight gain could cause your breasts to feel an aching sensation. Or perhaps it could be something as simple as wearing the wrong bra size. Take note on how long or how frequently you experience the pain. Try to find out what causes the pain or what makes it go away. If you still feel that something is not right, check with your doctor.

. What about lumps? - Not all lumps are cancerous. Most of these growths are benign and can be taken out with surgery. But it is very important for you to immediately see your physician if you discover any odd growths on your breasts.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women and some of the most important risk factors of breast cancer (such as having a family history of the disease) are out of your control. There is something you can do about it though -- and that is to keep yourself educated and to be sensitive to the changes in your body as you get older. Breast cancer is something that you can fight. Keep yourself informed on breast cancer prevention and follow the guidelines. These are very simple measures that just might save your life.

We believed that things in life were predestined and we would accept the fate of our life when some tragic incidents happened upon us. But once we were able to reconcile with our love and pain, therefore we would able to create wisdom to face any predicament with less anxiety and depression. The solution is simple - 5-Steps to Breast cancer free!

Achieving the goals are simply are simply if you put your faith on this 5-Steps to Breast cancer free.

1. Start a healthy diet - start your meals by including cancer-fighting vegetables such as broccoli, salads, coleslaws & flax seeds. This doesn't imply that you should be a Vegan and you could still able to eat poultry or red meats moderately. With all due respect, avoid eating fast foods - especially fried & barbecued foods. Drink water frequently as it is able to cleanse toxins away from our body. Green tea is also a suitable and pleasant drink as well.

2. Start a healthy lifestyle - Workout in gym or in our house is a must in keeping your body fit and healthy. If you do not like strenuous exercises, you could practice Qigong or Taichi. Statistics have proven that these two type of Chinese meditations increase the probability of curing breast cancer. Having adequate sleep is necessary for health and survival. A fresh and sharp mind are needed to shape positive attitude towards good health.

3. Socialize more - having leisure with family and friends is essential of improving interpersonal relationship. You will feel better when you console problems with your closest family or friends. Control yourself from bad influences such as smoking and excessive alcohols.

4. Learn to communicate with your personal Dr. or psychiatrist - Educate yourself with medical terms and information in order to understand your ailment. Don't be shy to ask questions during consultation with your doctor. If you have severe depression and anxiety, seek treatment from psychiatrist. For your information, being healthy comprises healthy body, mind and soul.

5. Write & Blog - Start a habit of writing journals today. Writing is a best way to express your thoughts and emotions. By writing journals, you will review past incidents easier in order to set further achievable goals. There are a lot of blog hostings available via internet. Blogging is a good way to write journals as it is the best communication tool of sharing your updates to the whole world. It is also reflects the importance of life that we should live our life to the fullest.

Keep track with this basic steps that will lead you a better tomorrow! Bear you mind about this basic steps that will change your destiny - Knowing that you can change your perception will allow you a sense of empowerment, which increases your sense of responsibility for your perception.

This is my second "go round" with cancer and chemoptherapy, this time I'm much more educated in helping myself deal with side effects and would like to pass my remedies on to others.

Chemotherapy affects the stomach in a very devastating manner from the top to the bottom and though the prescribed Katrill was a life saver, it doesn't do it "all". Here are a few home remedies your oncologist will not tell you about...he's busy with the chemical aspect of treating the disease and not much into home remedies....I am!

1. Ginger
Ginger has long been known as an anti-nausea agent....I used fresh ginger, sliced it up thinly and put it in the freezer. I would put a few slices from the freezer into a cup of hot water and sip it as tea. I was surprised to read that they have a clinical trial going on using ginger in capsule form to treat nausea in chemo patients...worked for me!

2. Aloe
Aloe is another soothing agent to the stomach and intestinal tract and aloe water is tasteless and can be found in any supermarket in the produce department. It's inexpensive and helpful...I personally know a man that cured himself of bleeding ulcers with aloe juice, his doctor was amazed.

3. White food
Now for eating....I read many years ago that eating "white food" was a good idea as most white food doesn't have a strong smell or strong taste....I can't say that it worked for me but it could work for you. I'm a believer in organic food and foods made from scratch....we have enough chemicals racing around our body, we don't need more. You might want to check out the "Budwig Diet" on the internet.

4. Baldness
Your oncologist will tell you if you will lose your hair....for me it was somewhat of a blessing, not having to shave my legs, no blow drying etc. Cut your hair very short and once it starts falling out, shave it! The American Cancer Society will give you wigs free of cost....I prefer my baldness as I live in Florida and I also have a nicely shaped head. My eyebrow are very sparse and rather than pencil them in, I use eye shadow that I apply with a brush....it's more natural looking.

5. Attitude
Should you experience depression...fight it, talk to yourself, convince yourself that depression will not help you and imagine yourself healthy again....and smile as you talk to yourself...I don't know why, but it works.

6. Acupuncture
I went to an acupuncturist during my first experience with cancer....it helped so much with the horrendous headaches and the nausea. I don't know why I didn't do it through this battle.

7. Water
Drinking water is of the utmost importance and I'm sure your doctor will tell you that, but he doesn't tell you to drink mineralized water which will put your body in an alkaline state...for more info on this subject you can e-mail me at donnaparra595@bellsouth.net

8. Exercise
DO NOT let yourself become a couch potato....even if you must force yourself to walk around the block, it will be helpful. Somedays you must force yourself to put one foot in front of the other....but do it. Exercise helps your body, but it also helps your mind. You will feel good about yourself and proud.

9. Grooming
Keeping yourself well-groomed can be an effort on some days, but it's a must! I found on the days I HAD to go out and groom myself with make-up etc....something magical happened and I'd feel better....the effort was great but well worth it......I try and do that everyday now. I mean beyond taking a shower and brushing my teeth.

10. Power of Prayer
I think one of the most important remedies is prayer....it has such power and has gotten me through some really rough times. I don't know how it works, IT WORKS.

Oops! Forgot something.....dealing with constipation. I hate the thickness of prune juice and read on the internet to combat that... put dried prunes in a cup, pour boiling water over them... drink the liquid while warm and then eat the prunes. One woman told me her nurse told her to add a bit of butter to it... I chose to pass on that one but the woman found it quite effective. Flaxseed is also quite effective and you can add them to your cereal or mix them in a salad or just eat a teaspoonful... of course, taking laxatives work but they are not a good idea unless it's an emergency as your body will come dependent of them.

Good luck to all you "warriors" and I hope that I've helped you in your battle... it's a tough battle but it can be won... keep positive... it's the attitude that will get you through this... fight on and beat it!

Yarrow's high azulen content (which gives it its powerful anti-inflammatory action) is even higher than German Chamomile! Azulen also gives Yarrow anti-infectious properties for treating infections.

Yarrow's astringent and regulating properties make it helpful for balancing oily skin, hair and scalp condtions.

Yarrow is useful for hair and skin care and stimulates "new" hair growth. Add to your favorite shampoo for promoting a healthy scalp and to strengthen the hair shaft. Effective treatment for split ends!

Properties in Yarrow make it useful for calming inflamed skin.

Blend Blue Yarrow with Basil to treat acne, or alone to relieve skin rashes and an assortment of skin irritations, including eczema, psoriasis and seborrhea.

REMEMBER TO DILUTE: Always dilute pure essential oils for skin application. The general guideline for an adult is 15 drops of pure essential oil in an ounce of the carrier of your choice like pure jojoba oil, or pure fresh water if using as an aromatic mist!

All the blue oils (Yarrow, Blue Tansy and Chamomile) help to relieve burns associated with radiation treatment for cancer.

RADIATION BURN TREATMENT Aromatic Mist: Fill a 2 oz atomizer colored glass bottle with pure, fresh water. Add 2-8 drops each of pure essential oil of Yarrow, Blue Tansy and German (True) Chamomile. Allow this mixture to synergize for a minimum of 2-3 hours. Shake and spray a very light mist across the radiation burn area. Allow the skin to dry thoroughly before covering. Repeat misting burn areas 3-4 times each day, or as needed for pain relief and to speed healing of skin cell tissue!

Experiment with using a minimal amount of pure essential oil to begin with, slowly adding more oil until you reach the exact dilution amount that's right for you!

OPTIONAL: Add 2-7 drops of pure Helichrysum oil to your atomizer misting bottle to enhance the basic radiation burn treatment formula.

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.

Women of all ethnic backgrounds are afflicted by breast cancer. Last year, over 212.000 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with breast cancer. Each year, over 40,000 American women die of complications related to the disease.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK - the disease is diagnosed in 42,000 women every year.

The chance of a woman developing breast cancer increases as she gets older. The risk factors include age, family history, early periods, late menopause, hormonal factors, not having children, drinking too much, obesity and inactivity.

The risk of breast cancer is especially high for women age 60 and older. It is rare in women younger than age 35.

Many large studies have documented the benefit of mammography in the early detection of breast cancer. On average, mammograms will detect 80% to 90% asymptomatic breast cancer.

Women should have positive lifestyle choices in order to decrease the risk factors of breast cancer. Every woman should pay attention to the following factors:

- Decrease daily fat intake, limit red meat and eat leaner meats.

- Increase fiber in the daily diet. Eat more whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits.

- Limit alcohol because there is evidence that women who have 2 or more drinks per day have a small increase in breast cancer risk.

- Be active. Include moderate amount of physical activity (for example taking a brisk, 30-minute walk) on most days of the week.

- Maintain the healthy body weight suggested by a health professional.

- Stop smoking. Although smoking does not cause breast cancer, other cancers may spread to the breast.

Feeling frustrated about your daily diet after you've been diagnosed with breast cancer?

Do you need to change your daily diet?

These are the common questions whether you want to stay healthy as breast cancer patients need more time and effort to be curbed. We still need food to survive but once we're eating the 'wrong' food in daily basis - it could worsen your body condition. It's important to educate yourself with the right information about proper food consumption to comfort our body well-beingness. It's a step closer to increase the probablilty of health-recovering - all this matters as long you're willing to make a change!

Basically, vegetables like garlic, broccoli and crucifiers are the main diets for cancer patients.

Garlic - though it has a strong pungent smell that makes people avoid eating it. But consuming garlic in a moderate amount will assist us to battle cancer. Some people prefer have it oudourless as in the form of tablets (supplements) but I strongly suggest that breast cancer patients eat raw garlics. Particullarly, in a chinese restaurant, garlics used as a complementary ingredients especially in stir-fried foods.

Broccoli - Everyone has an eclectic tasted in broccoli - but it has to be raw! If you do not like raw broccoli, you can try to simmer it in boiled water for few minutes. Broccoli is best when it is served with mayonaise or tar-tar sauce.

Crucifiers - such as salads and coleslaws. These are considered as low fat diet and it contains anti-carcinogenic glucosinolates and myrosinase enzymes. It has the ability to boost our ability to detoxify or cleanse harmful compounds and eventually protect us from cancer.

Tomatoes - it contain lycopene which is an antioxidant and it is easily absorbed by the body to inhibit tumour-producing cells once tomatoes are made into juice, paste and sauce. It is also believed that tomatoes are able to prevent us from stroke and heart diseases.

Other than these cancer-fighting vegetables, flax seeds that contain antioxidant compund such as lignan which supplies fibre. It has the great potential to fight cancer especially in the role of prevention of breast cancer. Mostly foods that contain flax seed are bread, cereal and bakery goods. The purpose of including flax seeds in your daily diet is to avoid constipation. A normal and regular excreation will actually detoxify harmful compounds including waste materials from our body.

As we know that having balanced and suitable diet alone is couldn't guarantee breast cancer patients to have full recovery. It must be complementary with healthy lifestyle - avoid smoking and consuming alcohols. Good practice of loving your body and soul boost positive thinking among breast cancer individuals to be more optimistic.

Someone I know is battling breast cancer and if it were up to me, I would not let anyone go through the same ordeal. She is a client, and a dear friend.

Every two minutes, a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer. The incidence has climbed from one in 20 in 1960 to one in seven women today. It's a terrifying disease that turns everything upside down. In the United Kingdom, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer and affects more than 300,000 women each year. In fact, England and Wales together have one of the highest mortality rates from breast cancer in the world. Until recently, the role of diet in breast cancer was not fully understood. Today, it's much clearer than ever that certain foods play a role in cancer formation or make a preexisting cancer worse. In fact, some scientists believe that one third of all cancers occur as a result of diet.

There is a direct link between obesity (especially if the fat is round the waist) and the risk of developing breast cancer. Some authorities suggest that being overweight only increases the risk of cancer for women who have been through menopause. Also, the amount of fat in the diet influences levels of the hormone oestrogen - a trigger for breast cancer. Red and fried meat may contribute to a rise in the incidence of breast cancer. Cut down your intake of pork, lamb, beef, sausages, hamburgers, meat pies, bacon, ham and processed canned meats. There is also consistent evidence that alcohol - even one drink a day - does lead to a small increase in risk although it's not known why.

If you would like to protect against breast cancer, consider soya, cereals, legumes and vegetables. These contain phytoestrogens, metabolically active compounds found in plants. These have a 'balancing' effect on oestrogens produced naturally in the body.

In this article we will look at the different types of breast surgery that you may be offered if you have breast cancer.

However before any operation takes place the surgeon will talk to you and discuss with you the most appropriate type of surgery for your particular case of breast cancer.

It should also be remembered that no surgery will take place prior to you consenting to it.

Where breast surgery is concerned the type of surgery that will be performed depends on the size of the cancer in your breast, whether it has spread to any other parts of your body and also personal preference.

However, if your cancer has already been diagnosed then your surgeon will talk to you about the type of surgery that you will need. Although there may be times when the surgeon can not make a decision on what type of surgery he carries out as they do not have a definite diagnosis on the type of cancer that you have. Therefore they may need to carry out a small operation to remove some of the lump in order to examine under a microscope before taking the rest out.

The types of breast surgery that you may have are as follows:

1. Mastectomy - Removal of the whole breast.
2. Lumpectomy or Wide Local Excision - Where only the lump is removed from the breast.*
3. Segmentectomy - This where just part of the breast is removed.*

*These second two options are also known as conservative surgery.

In some cases a patient who has had breast surgery for cancer may need to under go radiotherapy afterwards and this is particular true for those who have either a lumpectomy or Segmentectomy surgery. This lowers the risk of that patient having their cancer returning as it will hopefully kill off the rest of cancer cells if any left after the surgery has taken place. Whilst in other cases patients who have had a mastectomy may find that they are having radiotherapy to the lymph nodes above the collar bone to make sure that all cancerous cells have been removed. Normally the surgeon will discuss what kind of treatment you will have with the radiotherapist once the results from the surgery are back. Unfortunately not radiotherapy treatment can be planned until after the operation has been carried out.

There are many reasons as to why a surgeon will recommend a particular kind of breast surgery, but they will try their utmost to follow a patient’s wishes. In some cases some women would like to keep their breast at all costs, whilst others may prefer to have a mastectomy (because they feel that once the breast is gone the cancer will be gone also) or it is because the do not wish to have radiotherapy. In fact a great deal of research has been carried out and has proved that there is no difference in the outcome whether a patient has a mastectomy or conservative surgery with radiotherapy instead. In fact it has been found that both forms of treatment work equally well in treating breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women; the first is lung cancer. There are many risks for breast cancer that can be reduced by making some changes in your diet and lifestyle.

*STOP SMOKING. Not only is smoking a risk factor for breast cancer (especially if smoking began at an early age), it is a primary cause for lung cancer. The nicotine and other poisonous chemicals in tobacco also greatly increase the risk of developing heart disease. Every time you light up, you hurt your lungs and heart. The longer you smoke, the worse the damage becomes.

*DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL. If you must drink, try to limit your intake to one glass a day. Alcoholic beverages contain calories but few nutrients and are harmful when consumed in excess. Women who have more than one drink per day develop cancer at a significantly higher rate than those who do not drink alcohol.

*EAT A HIGH-FIBER, LOW-FAT DIET. Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables every day. Eat a diet rich in complex carbohydrates (fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes). Whole grains and legumes are high in fiber and include whole grain breads, pasta, rice, and cereals. Whole grains are an excellent source of fiber. Fiber moves food through the digestive track quickly taking pre-cancerous toxins with it.

A diet low in fat reduces the risk of breast cancer and decreases the risk of obesity. Obesity plays a big part in breast cancer development. Fat tissue contains small amounts of estrogen and estrogen plays a major role in the development of breast cancer.

*EXERCISE. A regular physical fitness regimen, especially aerobic exercise (brisk walking), can reduce your risk for developing breast cancer. It is also a wonderful way to fight obesity and be healthier overall.

*AVOID HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY. Studies have proven there is a link between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and breast cancer. The estrogen and progesterone contained in HRT increase the risk factor. HRT’s can also cause mammograms to be less effective. If you are considering taking HRT, please consult with your physician to discuss the risks.

*BE AWARE OF YOUR FAMILY HISTORY. If you have a female member of your immediate family who has had or currently has breast cancer, it can increase your risk. Breast cancer can be genetic. However, just because someone in your family has breast cancer, does not mean you will have it. Make sure your physician knows your family history.

*DO A SELF-EXAM EVERY MONTH. Checking your breasts carefully every month does not help prevent breast cancer but it can help detect breast cancer early. The earlier it is found, the better the prognosis.

*HAVE A MAMMOGRAM REGULARLY. Like a self-exam, a mammogram will not prevent the development of breast cancer, but it can detect it early.

Breast Cancer in women is second only to lung cancer deaths and a woman in the United States has a 1 in 8 chance of having breast cancer in her lifetime. That's a startling 13 percent chance that any woman in the U.S. will get breast cancer during her life.

Breast Examination is vital to a woman's health and personal care. There are a number of things you should be aware of when doing a self-examination; obviously any lump or change in the shape of your breast is reason to have further testing performed. If the breast develops dimpling or the nipple area begins to invert itself, or lumps in the underarm area are also symptoms to have checked by your physician.

Most importantly, it is imperative you know that there really are no definite signs of breast cancer, so get tested regularly!

Having a mammogram is not the most comfortable test to have performed, but the opportunity to live a long and healthy life by getting early detection is worth the short-term discomfort. Recently, there have been new breast examination techniques made available whereby the mammogram procedure may be avoided. The age of medicine is always improving and progressing in our abilities to learn more with less personal invasion. This is even more of a reason not to make excuses not to be checked regularly.

As a woman ages her chances of contracting breast cancer increases dramatically. At age 30 the chances are 1 in 2212, and by age 40, the odds greatly increase to 1 in 235. By age 60, the odds are 1 in 23, so if nothing else prompts you to perform constant monthly self-examinations and yearly office exams with your doctor.

Breast cancer respects no one, and there is no assurance that if your family genealogy does not have a history of breast cancer, you won't contract breast cancer. Don't find reasons not to find out about your current health stats. The procedures are covered under wellness provisions in most insurance policies, so again, get tested regularly.

In our age of breast enlargement and plastic surgery, breast cancer examinations at home may be more difficult to detect changes in the breast, so if you have breast implants, please have yourself check with your doctor on a regimented schedule. It's better to protect your investment for the long term if for no other reason. Hopefully you are not the assuming type, whereby you don't feel pain or observe any changes therefore all is well. Breast cancer does not necessarily show any symptoms, but the office tests rarely miss any stages of breast cancer. Should your doctor find any cancer, the earlier the better and with minimal physical changes in your appearance. Just be safe and not sorry for assuming all is okay.

Cancer, breast cancer and breast cancer symptom can be prevented and may be cured with out any magic bullet according to two time Nobel Prize winner DR. OTTO WARBURG.

In 1931, DR. OTTO WARBURG who won his first Nobel Prize for his work on the cause of Cancer, claims that cancer begins to thrive in your body due to a lack of oxygen respiration in cells. DR. WARBURG'S research proves that cancer is no longer mystical, but infact occurs when any cell is denied 60% of it's oxygen requirement needed to produce energy.

According to DR. WARBURG, cancer unlike other diseases, may have many other secondary causes, but there is just the one prime cause, which relates to the oxygen requirement for cellular respiration.

He continues to explain that all normal body cells meet their energy needs by aerobic cellular respiration, whereas cancerous cells can only meet their energy needs in great parts through the process of fermentation, or anaerobically.

Cellular respiration, being a normal every day process of your healthy working body is required by every cell in order to produce energy for your body to function effectively, or you may experience breast cancer or breast cancer symptom.

As the blood picks up oxygen from the lungs, this oxygen must be efficiently circulated throughout the body to distribute nutrients and to produce energy in the cells. Any obstruction due to the clumping of plaque, from free radicals oxidation of LDL cholesterol, toxins and carcinogens, or from unhealthy blood platelets activities, inhibits the needed oxygen requirement of 60% for optimum cellular respiration according to DR. WARBURG, thus creating the formation of malignant cells.

The rate of people affected by breast cancer in the United States fell 7 percent in 2003, a year after millions of women halted hormone replacement therapy, a study has revealed.

The decline was even more noticeable in older women who are more sensitive to estrogen, according to the analysis of National Cancer Institute data presented yesterday at a symposium in San Antonio. The decline in women between 50 and 69 years of age fell a remarkable 12 percent.

The research, conducted at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, discovered that 14,000 fewer women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 than in 2002, when an estimated 203,500 cases were reported. Researchers link the decline in cases to the mass halt on hormone replacement therapy after a study proved that the added estrogen increased the risk of developing breast cancer.

“Something went right in 2003, and it seems that it was the decrease in the use of hormone therapy,” said Peter Ravdin, a professor at M.D. Anderson and the study’s co-author. He went on to caution that researchers are not able to prove a direct cause- and-effect relationship at this time.

In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative study involving 16,608 women using hormone replacement therapy was ended abruptly after higher rates of breast cancer were noted. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among American women.

In September, a study was published claiming the drop in breast cancer in 2003 was linked directly to the decline in the use of Premarin, an estrogen replacement product made by Wyeth and once the most prescribed U.S. pharmaceutical product.

“Breast cancer is a complex disease and the causes are not known,” said Candace Steele on behalf of Wyeth, in an e- mailed statement. “It is simply inappropriate to make any speculative statements based on the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center analysis. Even the researchers state they cannot give the definitive cause. Clearly more studies are warranted.”

The rate of breast cancer diagnoses increased steadily at 1.7 percent annually from 1990 to 98, before decreasing slightly, 1 percent a year from 1998 to 2002, the study determined. By the end of 2003, the rate had dropped 7 percent when age adjustments were made.

“We’re seeing this turnaround in breast cancer diagnoses; the question is why,” commented Brenda Edwards, associate director of the surveillance research program at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. “There are many factors that could be out there, including screening rates.”

The diagnosis of breast cancer is overwhelming. After the initial phase of diagnosis comes the discussion of your breast cancer treatment type. This decision should involve more than just your physician.

Choosing the most appropriate breast cancer treatment type is a decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and healthcare team.

Ultimately, you and your physician must decide which breast cancer treatment type is right for you. While you need the input from friends and family the decision should be yours.

You should feel confident about the decision you make. Becoming educated to what is available will help your decision-making process.

Making a confident decision about your breast cancer treatment type involves more than one aspect. The good news is that when detected early, breast cancer treatment is often successful.

You should become familiar with the types of treatment available, the success rates, potential side effects, and why the treatment being recommended is best for your situation.

Breast Cancer Treatment Types

Take the time you need to sort out your treatment options. Your physician may suggest a variety of treatment options and may also suggest that you consider taking part in a breast cancer treatment trial.

While learning and evaluating all of this information can take some time, its better to take the time necessary. Sometimes you may even want to get a second opinion from another medical professional.

There are various treatment options available for different types and stages of breast cancer. These treatment types are based on four main techniques: surgery, quimiotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal treatment. The primary breast cancer treatment is determined by tumor factors and by patient preference.

Obviously the goal of treatment is to completely remove the cancer and prevent it from coming back. This may involve more than one type of treatment. The mainstay of breast cancer treatment is surgery, with possible chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

The aesthetic outcome of breast cancer treatment is an important factor in breast cancer. The visualization work for your breast cancer treatment should be tailored to you needs and the way you perceive the outcome.

Dealing with the physical aspects of breast cancer treatment is only one part of the healing processbut it is an important process that you should consider just as intently as the other portions of your treatment.

Every woman diagnosed with breast cancer wants complete recovery and the ability to return to a normal life. The path to total recovery may be filled with time consuming treatments and recovery processes.

There is no easy solution, but there are millions of breast cancer survivors who have returned to happy normal lives.

In recent years there has been an abundance of research investigating the benefits of green and black tea on preventing disease. And, the results have been divided. Depending on the health condition being evaluated, some studies have shown green tea to be more effective, while others have shown green and black tea to be equally effective.

Green tea differs from black in its processing. Both come from the Camellia sinensis plant, but black tea is fermented when processed. This fermentation changes some of the tea plant’s compounds, and effectively reduces some of the most important anti-oxidants, namely EGCG, one of the most important anti-oxidants you can consume. However, black tea does still contain many other important anti-oxidants.

When it comes to preventing many forms of disease, EGCG seems to be an important component, making green tea the drink of choice. In addition, the reason tea came into focus in the first place was the noticeably lower rates of disease in Asian countries, where tea is consumed in large quantities - most of it green tea.

One of the diseases that tea is reported to prevent is breast cancer. Several studies have shown that tea, green in particular, seems to significantly lower your chances of developing breast cancer. Some studies have even suggested that green tea could even be an effective treatment for breast cancer.

One study conducted on breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy noted that those participants who regularly consumed green tea during their chemotherapy treatments showed higher concentrations of the chemotherapy drugs in their cancer cells than those who did not consume green tea.

Other studies have indicated that green tea can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, possibly preventing the spread of the disease. And, additional studies have shown that green tea may prevent the recurrence of breast cancer in patients diagnosed at Stage I or II of the disease.

But, what about black tea? Why have similar results not been shown with the consumption of green tea? The theory is that it has to do with hormones.

Green tea is thought to reduce certain circulating sex-steroid hormones, such as estone and estradiol, and that black tea may increase the levels of these hormones. If the reduction in breast cancer risk is due to the lower level of these sex-steroid hormones, then it’s easy to see why green tea is more effective at preventing breast cancer than black tea.

One study in Singapore evaluated a cross section of 130 healthy post-menopausal Chinese women. Their tea consumption broke down like this:

• 84 were non or irregular tea drinkers – meaning they drank tea less than once a week.

• 27 were regular green tea drinkers – meaning they drank green tea weekly or daily

• 19 were regular black tea drinkers

The study concluded that, relative to the estrone levels in the non tea drinkers, the green tea drinkers showed a lower estrone level, and the black tea drinkers showed a higher estrone level. In fact, the green tea drinkers showed a 13% lower estrone level, and the black tea drinkers showed a 19% higher level of estrone than those who did not drink tea. A similar relationship was found between tea drinking habits and estradiol levels.

While this study alone cannot be considered conclusive, it does suggest that, if high levels of circulating sex steroids increase the risk of breast cancer, green tea is a much better preventative than black tea.

Most researchers agree that having high levels of circulating hormones like estrogen (which is made up of estradiol and estrone) after menopause does increase your risk of breast cancer. This is why women who take hormone supplements to help ease the symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of developing cancer over women who do not treat their menopausal symptoms with hormones like estrogen therapy.

So, if you’ve experienced menopause and you’re at an increased risk for breast cancer, talk to your doctor about tea drinking. Particularly if you drink large quantities of black tea, it might be wise to reduce this amount, and replace it with green tea.

It’s clear that we don’t fully understand the relationship between tea and breast cancer, and that much more research should be performed. However, we do have a pretty clear picture that green tea prevents many forms of cancer, breast cancer among them.

So, it’s probably a good idea to keep drinking your green tea. While it’s true that we don’t have all the answers, it does seem clear that green tea offers many health benefits and that drinking it is a healthy habit that all of us should get into.