The statistics are staggering; one in eight women in the United States has either had or will have breast cancer during her lifetime. The National Breast Cancer Foundation predicts that over two-hundred thousand women and nearly two-thousand men will be diagnosed this year alone. And while it continues its reign as the second leading cause of death in women, it also continues to be highly responsive to early treatment.

In fact, early detection and treatment can significantly increase a patient's chance for recovery; the survival rate reaches nearly 95% for those who are treated quickly and proactively. But in order to increase your chance for detection - and subsequently receive this imperative treatment - every woman must be familiar with the symptoms.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with fifty percent of cases being diagnosed well into a woman's fifties. Subsequently, doctors and researchers recommend a lifetime of screenings that can help identify the early stages. Of course, in combination with medical screenings should be a comprehensive routine of breast self-examination to check for any abnormalities. In line with this self awareness should be a thorough knowledge of symptoms so that women can recognize the signs and be checked and treated early.

If early cancer is detected by the discovery of a lump in the breast, this is usually far in advance of any symptoms. This is why it is so important to conduct self-examination and be examined by a doctor during your routine gynecological exam. But cancer that continues to go unnoticed will often eventually begin to produce symptoms.

Aside from the finding of a lump in the breast, under the armpit, or above the collarbone, some of the more common symptoms include: nipple discharge, change in the shape of the breast, nipple inversion that did not exist previously, and redness, rash, or textural changes in the skin of the breast. Keep in mind, that all of these symptoms can also be attributed to a number of other disorders; it is absolutely imperative to check all breast changes or abnormalities with your doctor.

Breast cancer symptoms vary from woman to woman. Not every woman experiences every symptom. And when symptoms are experienced, the level and frequency with which they are experienced vary significantly depending on the cancer and the woman. Ultimately, it is most important that women know their own bodies and listen to the messages their bodies are sending them. Never let a doctor brush you aside with a promise that nothing is wrong if you feel differently. No one knows your body better than you do.

A diagnosis of breast cancer can sometimes feel like the end of the world. But the truth is, that in this day and age of continued medical and technological advancement, the odds of beating it are actually quite good if you are educated and involved in protecting your own health. Learn to recognize breast cancer symptoms and be an advocate for your own body.

Breast cancer continues to affect millions of people worldwide - plunging newly diagnosed sufferers and their families into the bewildering world of treatment plans and statistics on a daily basis.

This year alone, over one-million people worldwide will be unwillingly inducted into this club of warriors. And strong in numbers, these sufferers and their families will continue to affect change in the landscape of awareness and treatment; part of the way in which they raise awareness is through the wearing of merchandise, including the breast cancer bracelet.

The breast cancer bracelet can attribute its beginnings to the awareness campaign, where the pink ribbon first became the symbol in the united fight. The Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation - which began in the early 1980s as a way to funnel comprehensive information to victims and raise money for research - began using the pink ribbon in the early years of its Race for the Cure, the annual run/walk fundraising event that is the signature event of this foundation.

The early beginnings of the pink ribbon were brought to the forefront as Self magazine planned their second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue in the early 1990s. In this effort, the magazine partnered with Estee Lauder to create the looped pink ribbon we have now come to recognize; over a million of which were distributed at makeup counters around the country to coincide with the distribution of the magazine. The ribbon included instructions on self examination and information on how to petition Washington to increase funds for research. The color pink was chosen because of its strong association with femininity.

With the growing popularity of the pink ribbon, came the further development of other pink items to signify awareness. The items have since come fast and furious - from t-shirts and pins, to umbrellas and mugs. The breast cancer bracelet, especially, has achieved enormous popularity as the message of awareness is encapsulated in a beautifully designed - and very wearable - bracelet.

The bracelet is just like any other bracelet that you would think nothing of buying and wearing; but you have the added benefit of knowing that in wearing the bracelet you are promoting awareness and, in so doing, are part of a community that is saving lives.

The bracelet comes in a variety of styles and prices - everything from pearls and crystal to silver and gold. No matter what your style or taste in jewelry, there will surely be a bracelet that draws your attention and furthers the message of awareness. In today's online world especially, there is a growing number of websites dedicated to the sale of pink awareness merchandise.

This awareness encompasses many different things when it comes to the battle against breast cancer. Raising awareness means increasing people's understanding of research, prevention, detection, and treatment. But more importantly, raising awareness - through the wearing of insignia such as the bracelet - means alerting those who are affected to a larger community; a community of enormous support and infinite understanding.

Breast cancer strikes fear in the hearts of all women. Most of us have known someone–a friend, a family member, a co-worker, a neighbor–who has been treated for breast cancer or worse, has died from the disease. Historically, breast cancer was diagnosed after a woman sought medical attention for soreness or a palpable mass. Annual mammograms became the "gold standard" for breast cancer screening; the goal has become to find tumors before they can be felt.

However, mammography is a late test. It does not prevent cancer; it detects cancer. Women place unreasonably high hopes on the ability of the technology to reduce their risk of cancer. A recent study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, reported that women typically overestimate the risk reduction capability of a mammogram by more than 100-fold.(1)

Mammograms give a false sense of security about a clean bill of health. The sensitivity, or the number of women who have cancer and also have a positive mammogram, ranges from 54%–58% among women under age 40 to 81%–94% among women over 65. In women 40 to 65, the ability of a mammogram to identify a tumor depends on many variables: The size the lesion, hormone use, breast tissue density, the overall image quality and the interpretative skills of the radiologist.

Cancer is identified in only a small fraction of women (0.1%–0.5%, depending on age) who are screened. Studies have demonstrated that for each death prevented by screening, there are at least 200 false-positive results.(2) The number of follow-up procedures generated by cancer screening programs, such as repeat mammograms, ultrasounds and MRI, exponentially increases the cost of the disease. In the United States, biopsies that turn out to be benign cost the healthcare system more than $1 billion annually.(3)

Screening has another potentially harmful effect. Women are psychologically damaged by the stress of an abnormal mammogram that turns out to be a false alarm. A new survey developed by Brodersen and colleagues and released this month (7/07) measured six psychosocial dimensions: anxiety, behavioral impact, sense of dejection, impact on sleep, breast examination and sexuality. The survey showed that women who have an abnormal screening mammogram that is later confirmed to be a false-positive are negatively impacted in all six categories.

What else can be done?
Digital infrared imaging (digital IR), also called thermography, has been FDA-approved for breast health screenings since 1982. It is painless, non-invasive and uses no radiation. The scan detects and records thermal patterns on the skin not seen with any other tool.

Abnormal cells require large quantities of nutrients for rapid growth. Through a process called angiogenesis, new blood vessels are drawn in the direction of the atypical cell. Coupled with the release of cytokines and nitric oxide, additional blood flows into the area that increases heat in the tissues that can be detected by thermography.

Normal skin surface temperature is symmetrical and deviates less than 0.3C from side to side. New digital IR cameras can detect differences as small as 0.1C. Temperature variation of more than 1.0C suggests the presence of abnormal, possibly pre-cancerous, cells. These subtle changes can be detected seven to eight years before a mass becomes palpable or can be detected by mammography.

What is a thermogram procedure like?
After disrobing to the waist, approximately 15 minutes is needed to equilibrate to room temperature. An experienced technician performs three scans—front, left and right—with arms extended over the head. Both hands are then placed in cool water for exactly one minute. When the sympathetic nervous system is chilled, normal vessels constrict; abnormal vessels remain the same size or dilate. A second set of scans is taken for comparison. When the scans are completed, the exam is over.

Why isn’t everyone doing this test?
Why aren’t doctors routinely recommending this test? Why don’t they offer it in their office? An abnormal scan cannot be corrected with a drug. Conventional doctors are not trained to use vitamins, supplements and detoxification, essential tools for repairing damaged physiology. If a woman has a normal mammogram, the abnormal thermogram is dismissed by physicians as a false positive. This is a missed opportunity for true cancer prevention.

Despite the current status of breast thermography, it has been researched for over 30 years. More than 800 peer-reviewed studies on breast thermography exist in the index-medicus. The data base represents more than 250,000 women and the number of participants in many studies ranged from 37,000 to 118,000. Some of women who had a positive thermogram were followed for up to 12 years; 35 percent of those who had a positive thermogram went on to develop breast cancer.

What you can do
If an abnormality is identified on your thermogram, pro-active steps can be taken to heal the breast tissue and progress can be monitored non-invasively through serial scans. If you don’t have access to a physician who has digital IR equipment, you can take important steps toward breast health:
• Diet: Eat organically grown foods. Pesticides collect in fatty tissue, and the breast can become a reservoir for estrogenic chemicals. Eliminate all caffeine, chocolate, MSG, aspartame, and herbs that have estrogenic properties, especially soy. Studies found that soy supplements can increase breast cancer risk, especially in post-menopausal women.
• Exercise: Walking and arm swinging will get the lymphatics moving. Decongesting breast tissue will reduces the risk of cancer.
• Eliminate hormones: Discuss options with your physician to eliminate birth control pills and synthetic hormone replacement. The link between hormones and breast cancer has been confirmed.(5)
• Supplements: Many supplements have been shown to have a positive effect on breast tissue. Here are a few examples:
1. DIM (diindolylmethane) the phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables, has anticancer activity and also works to repair damaged DNA.
2. Tumeric (curcumin) kills cancer cells and has strong properties against angiogenesis
3. Drinking green tea or taking green tea extract capsules has been associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. All of these are available at your local health food store.

Women need to drive this industry and push conventional doctors to do their home work. The new cameras are digital and far superior than the cameras of 30 years ago. For women who are young, at high risk, have dense breasts or want to be more proactive about breast health, a breast digital scan is the way to go.

Of the various different types of cancer that people are now getting, breast cancer is one of the more treatable of them. But it is important that if a woman wants hers to be treated effectively it needs to be detected in the very early stages of growth. In fact because of the way it can be detected today breast cancer is considered to be one of the more favorable forms of cancer that can now be treated.

When it comes to detecting cancer of the breast in its early stages is by doing a breast examination or using a mammography as these are the more favored methods. In fact in studies carried out the smaller the breast cancer once it has been detected then there is a much higher chance the person with it will survive.

Certainly women are now being told it is extremely important that they carry out regular breast examinations on themselves as they will be more aware of any changes to their breasts. But also if there is a history of breast cancer in the family then having regular mammograms will help to ensure that detection of the disease can often be found during its much earlier stages of formation. In fact both examinations and mammograms are now used as the basis for detecting breast cancer in women today.

But a lot of women will be wondering just how often they should under go a breast examination or mammogram in order to help to see if they have this form of cancer or not. Certainly with breast examinations a woman could carry out this for herself each week and the best place to do this is when you are having a shower.

As for mammograms in the USA the ACS (American Cancer Society) recommend that women have their first mammogram when they reach the age of 40. This will then be used as a base reading and after this they will need to have a further mammogram test each year. However the ACS do suggest that with those women who are at a much higher risk of developing this form of cancer or suffer from any other type of breast problems. Then they should have their first mammogram at the age of 35.

A mammogram uses an x ray machine which is then able to detect cancer in a woman's or even sometimes in men's breasts. These machines are able to detect the cancer at its earliest stage when it is very small and would not be detected using the more traditional breast examination.

Today around 85 to 90% of all the breast cancer now be detected and treated have been found using the mammogram test. This in turn has helped to reduce the number of women dying from this form of cancer by up to 30% of those women over the age of 50 who are found to have it.

Although mammography does help to detect breast cancer in most women, there is a small percentage (10-15%) whose form of breast can not be detected using this method. Yet upon carrying out a physical examination it can so it is vital that all women learn the correct way of examining their own breasts for signs of breast cancer. Certainly it is best that a woman does carry out an examination of her own breasts on a monthly basis and if she feels that there may be a problem can as her doctor to then carry out a physical examination as well.