Health Guidance

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, it may have been suggested you have a single mastectomy in the other breast or a double mastectomy, but is this the best approach? I was diagnosed more than a decade ago with infiltrating intraductal breast cancer and I turned down all conventional treatment including chemotherapy, radiation and surgery and chose an alternative route. No single or double mastectomy either. And I’m still in excellent health today.

The trend is alarming as more and more women are removing healthy breasts because they are panicked, are in fear of breast cancer returning or migrating to the other breast.

I’ll discuss a recent study showing why mastectomy is not saving lives in a moment. However, what is alarming to me is that there is still breast tissue left in the chest wall and by removing healthy breasts there is still tissue that could already contain cancer cells or be available to them.

There is very little evidence that proves that women live longer or survival rates increase by removing their breasts after a diagnosis of breast cancer. A recent study of statistics published in a national medical journal read by doctors found that 5000 women in one state, between 1995 and 2005, who had cancer in one of their breasts, chose to have the other breast removed. These women already had breast cancer. They were not women who tested positive for the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene mutation type of breast cancer, where prophylactic removal is more common. Continue reading ‘Breast Cancer – Do You Really Need a Mastectomy? – From a Nurse Survivor’ »

When you think of the month of October, the first thing that probably comes to mind is goblins, ghosts, and ghouls. Decorations and Haunted houses. People wearing scary masks and costumes. However for some people October is not about wearing scary masks and costumes. It is the month to wear a special pink ribbon. Did you know that October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Instead of thinking about what you are going to wear as your Halloween costume this month, commit to wearing that special pink ribbon or bracelet. Support and bring awareness to a cause for those are living with the disease, those who are in remission, and those were unfortunate enough to have lost their battle.

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women. It is estimated that nearly 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women this year. Over 40,000 of these women will die from this disease this year. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women preceded by lung cancer. Breast cancer does not discriminate. Men can also get the disease although this is less often. There are over 2 million survivors of the disease living in the U.S today. But far too many have lost the battle.

Breast cancer can strike anyone at anytime and now more than ever awareness is needed. This month you will most likely witness supporters all over the country marching to support the cause. Thousands of women, children, and men will be joining breast cancer walks and proudly wearing their pink ribbons. Join them and donate to support the cause. You may also notice that many major corporations have added the pink ribbon to their labels. So if you see an item whether it be food or clothing that has a pink ribbon on the box or the tag, chances are if you purchase the item a portion of the proceeds will go to support the cause. Continue reading ‘October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Support the Cause Today’ »

There are many methods that are used to fight against cancer and one of the most commonly used method is radiation treatment. The idea is that by focusing energy in the form of x-rays, gamma rays or protons, the cancer is either destroyed or slowed down. This obviously very dangerous and not very effective. But is radiation treatment for breast cancer really the best way?

Nobody in their right mind would like to get radiated, cut or poisoned with drugs, but in the fight against cancer these are the main methods. The treatments that are used to treat cancer, do more harm then good for the body and a lot of people, do not die because of the cancer itself, but because of the treatment. Continue reading ‘Radiation Treatment For Breast Cancer – Is it Your Best Choice?’ »

For the past 25 years, October has been designated National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You’ll find races to run that raise funds for research. Stores will be selling everything from mixmasters to iPods in pink. In fact, pink ribbons will be virtually everywhere. What does this focus on early detection and recovery mean to you?

If you are over 40, have regular screening mammograms and perform monthly breast self-exams. And see your physician for an annual breast exam and consultation about risk factors and additional diagnostic steps to take, such as MRI. With early detection, most breast cancers now can be successfully treated. There are between 2 and 3 million American women living today who have survived breast cancer and are thriving. Yet, as many survivors have learned, the process of coping with any serious illness can take its toll – emotionally and physically. These 7 tips will help you manage your recovery so you can move forward with your life:

1. Accept your changing emotions as normal and give yourself permission to express them. After a brush with cancer, it’s normal to experience many different feelings, such as anger, fear, anxiety, depression or stress. Talk openly with those you trust and acknowledge these feelings to yourself. Only then can you begin to cope with them. Continue reading ‘National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Sandwiched Boomers’ »

There has been much controversy regarding the safety of soy food and products for women that have survived breast cancer.  A recent study done by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that women in China who had breast cancer had an associated lower risk of death and breast cancer recurrence when they had a higher intake of soy food. Continue reading ‘How Can Soy Products Help With Breast Cancer?’ »

Did you know that 30%-50% of breast cancer could be prevented with a healthy diet and getting regular exercise? Sounds too simple to be true, I know. But the human body is amazing when it comes to taking care of itself. Good nutrition is important but you also need to avoid xenoestrogens which are toxic to your body. Follow these tips below and you’ll have healthy breasts and you’ll be taking a proactive role in preventing breast cancer.

1 – Focus on Good Nutrition

- Avoid simple carbohydrates and processed oils (hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oil).
- Choose fresh natural foods, not canned and processed foods.
- Choose organic, it’s been proven to have more vitamins and minerals.

Choose good healthy fats. Our body requires good fat to function properly. Too many people eat processed vegetable oil or partially and hydrogenated oil which are harmful to the body.
-Omega 3 essential fatty acids (from ocean fish) Continue reading ‘5 Tips For Ensuring Healthy Breasts and Preventing Breast Cancer’ »

Breast cancer today is affecting a number of women throughout the world. With this, it is very important for everyone to know the risks of acquiring breast cancer. The following are the risk factors that would make a woman get cancer.

First of all, the risk of getting cancer is increased with age. This means that as a woman ages, the chances of developing cancer is also increased. This is the reason that most women would get cancer around the age 60s and above.

The next risk factor is inheritance. The risk of getting breast cancer is increased if the patient has family members that also have breast cancer. The chance also increases if that family member had the cancer around 40s. At the same time, the genes that can make a woman be more susceptible to ovarian and breast cancer can also be passed to the patient from their family. Continue reading ‘Know the Risks of Getting Breast Cancer’ »

When someone you love is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be devastating. It shakes your whole life. You have no idea what to do, what to say, or how to help. You want to help but you honestly and truly have no idea what do. You are afraid of doing the wrong thing. Unfortunately, this inaction leaves breast cancer patients in a situation where her basic needs are not being covered. She is left in a place where she is uncomfortable to ask for help and is too tired to do it herself. Below are five things you can do to help someone you know fight breast cancer.

#1 Set Up a Visa Money Card

A Visa money card allows people to donate money to cover expenses. Believe it or not, gas money adds up fast. Doctor visits, fast food and a ton of other little things add up. For those who don’t know what else to do, adding funds to a Visa card really helps.

#2 Set Up a Volunteer Schedule

Often times, cleaning takes a back burner to chemotherapy and other doctor visits. Someone needs to step up and take charge of the people willing to volunteer. Whether people are willing to volunteer to clean, cook or babysit, a schedule needs to be made and the breast cancer patient should not be left in charge.

#3 Leave the Death Stories at the Door

No matter how many people you know that have died of cancer, keep it to yourself. While you may think this is helpful, this is not the time to share your story. We know you are trying to relate to what the breast cancer patient is going through but if you only knew how many death stories the breast cancer patient has to hear you would understand. Continue reading ‘5 Things You Can Do to Support Breast Cancer’ »

All women wish to avoid cancer, and breast cancer in particular because of extreme consequences that in modern treatment, usually involves radical surgery and chemotherapy.

Regrettably, breast cancer is all too common and one of the most serious causes of women’s fatalities through disease in Australia and the US. Contemporary methods of orthodox medicine are no guarantee of a permanent cure. In fact it is generally considered that a patient has a limited future following the most severe treatment. There has been no real success in curing by chemicals and radiation in spite of efforts in research to find an answer.

In contrast, the naturopathic approach is to encourage the natural powers of healing to do their best by reducing the negative factors that result in storage of toxins in the body. If left to accumulate, these in time can irritate the cells into abnormal behaviour and lead to cancer. In conjunction with improving elimination of toxins, we must provide the finest nutritional substances needed to restore balance and perfect health. This constituted the simple principle that can be applied to all diseases, including treatment of cancer. Continue reading ‘We Can Prevent Breast Cancer’ »

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

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

Breast Cancer Causes

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