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The Pill: Helpful or Harmful?

February 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Whenever one decides to raise a family, the decision regarding how many kids to have will always be a factor. And with the recent population boom, couples nowadays are becoming more and more aware of the need for family planning. There are a lot of methods of family planning available in the market, one of which is the birth control pill.

History of the birth control pill
The development of the birth control pill was put in motion by lifelong women’s rights advocate Margaret Sanger. Sanger’s advocacy was fueled by observing her mom exhaust herself to death by giving birth to 11 children. She became a nurse and later on funded the research to come up with a better contraceptive. The first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)approved oral contraceptive pill was introduced to the public and launched for sale in the United States in the 1960s. The brand name of the first contraceptive pill was Enovid and it was invented by Frank Colton. He was inducted to the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame for this specific invention. Later on, Carl Djerassi, an Austrian chemist, invented the modern birth control pill.

Benefits of using birth control pills:
Birth control pills, when used as instructed, are an effective way to minimize accidental pregnancies.
Pills also help improve excess hair and acne as androgen and testosterone are suppressed. Abnormally high levels of androgen can cause darkening of facial and body hair.
Heavy and irregular menstrual bleeding patterns are also improved.
Menstrual cramps and pre-menstrual pain are significantly reduced when using oral contraceptive pills.
Pills are used to treat endometriosis by regulating hormone production that may help develop the disease further.
Pills help reduce the risk of ovarian cyst formation as it prevents ovulation. Ovarian cysts often form during ovulation period.
Pills protect women against uterine cancer.
Pills lower the risk of having Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID is a bacterial infection in the Fallopian tube and the Uterus that can cause extreme pain and eventually, if left untreated, infertility. Pills thinken the cervical mucous lining, thereby protecting the cervix from being affected by any bacterial infection.
The contraceptive function is reversible.

Risks and side effects of using birth control pills:
Birth control pill users may encounter mild, physical side effects such as: nausea, headaches, hand weight gain.
Increased risk of breast cancer has been noted with birth control pill users.
Increased risk of stroke and heart attack for pill users who smoke.
Pill users experience unusual mood changes, including depression.

A decision to be made
Choosing to use the pill is a decision only you can make for yourself. Weigh the benefits and risks carefully before choosing to settle into this kind of birth control method. Better yet, consult a trusted medical health professional or go to your nearest sexual health clinic to have all the risk and benefits discussed thoroughly, and to have all your other questions and worries answered and cleared out. After all, this is your body that will suffer the consequences of making rash decisions if you decide in haste.

Filed Under: Awareness, Brakes on Cancer, Cause, Information, Survival Tagged With: , , ,

Alcohol and Cancer: Understanding the Connection

February 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Research has shown that risks for cancer increase among men who have two alcoholic drinks a day and women who have one alcoholic drink per day. While everyone has been widely aware of the fact that smoking cigarettes greatly increase your risk of contracting cancer, there has been very little publicity of the fact that alcohol can act as a similar carcinogen.

By its very nature and design, the consumption of alcohol damages cells in your body. This damage can easily promote cell division, stimulate enzymes which cause the activation of other carcinogens and destroy certain nutrients that act as natural preventatives to cancer.

Most of the research indicates that a strong link exists between alcohol and cancers of the esophagus, pharynx and mouth. There is a suggested, those less strongly proven, link between cancers of the liver, breast and colon.

According to the American Cancer Society, oral cancers are six times more common in alcohol users than in non alcohol users.

Obviously, all of this evidence points to the conclusion that you should avoid alcohol so you can lower your chances of contracting these types of cancer.

For most people the question then comes down to a simple decision: are the benefits of drinking alcohol larger than the potential deficits of cancer? As long as the mythology continues that there is no cure for cancer, the question should be fairly simple to answer. Very few people would happily enjoy a few nights out with friends drinking for months or years of painful cancer.

Put plainly, our bodies are designed to heal themselves. Our immune system was created to keep our bodies healthy. However, like any other worker, our immune system cannot do its work if we don’t give it the necessary tools.

One of the effects of alcohol, which isn’t one of the reasons most folks drink it, is that it reduces the ability of your immune system to do its job. So, people who regularly drink alcohol are regularly inhibiting the ability of their immune system to do its job.

Our cells are constantly dividing and there are a large number of ways the cell can become malignant. In reality, we probably develop malignant cells on a daily basis. However, once they become known to our immune system as a threat, they are destroyed.

It’s only when our immune system somehow misses the indications that a cell is becoming a problem that we term it cancer.

There is no dispute about the fact that doing anything which will inhibit our immune system increases our chances for becoming ill. It’s significantly odd, then, that we all continue going about our lives while continually doing things that inhibit our immune systems.

In the end, we all need to evaluate the actions we take and the decisions we make with an eye towards the potential rewards versus the potential risks. Alcohol diminishes the immune system and a diminished immune system greatly elevates our chances of developing cancer. Next time you start to drink alcohol, stop and ask your immune system if it really wants to get drunk.

Filed Under: Awareness, Brakes on Cancer, Cause, Information, Survival Tagged With: , , , ,

Colon cleansing is preventative health care

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Colon cleansing is preventative health care, rather than a treatment for a disease. It is critical because it helps to detoxify your body of all the unnecessary and unwanted toxins that build up in your body. It is also regarded as a safe and alternative method to treat many of our symptoms and problems. Colon cleansing is a procedure of cleansing the body, resulting in the release of toxins, poisons, carcinogens and free radicals. Natural colon cleansers are also available and if you think you don’t have much time and money for clinic sessions, you can do colon cleansing at home.

Colon cleansing is the first step on the road to recovery. Detoxification is necessary to rid our body of toxins that accumulate as a result of an unhealthy diet, environmental pollution and chemicals, and a constant use of antibiotics. Cleansing your body with an effective, all natural colon treatment is a good way to approach parasites cleansing, weight gain, IBS, severe gas and bloating, etc. Cleansing, also called detoxification, is our body’s normal process of elimination, a function that occurs daily through our colon, liver, kidney, lungs, lymph and skin. Cleansing reactions are part of cleansing and are not the same as “side effects” normally associated with medication.

Naturally, the colon in your digestive system is responsible for holding wastes. Natural colon cleansing involves a cleansing diet, which consists of some efficient herbs that are known for killing certain harmful parasites and worms. Body detox is one of the effective way to keep us
healthy, help our digestion system and put all the toxins out of the body. Natural colon cleansing involves taking a balanced diet and additionally,
a few herbal supplements that help kill the harmful bacteria and in removing excess of toxins.

Natural colon cleansing is a great way to help restore health to this vital organ of your digestive system. Natural herbal colon cleansers makes the process of colon detox very smooth and thus helps us to maintain our body in a much more effective way. More often than not, natural colon cleansing means following a colon cleansing diet along with taking some colon cleansing supplements which may include herbs which are known to kill parasites and worms, contain digestive enzymes, contain probiotics
(beneficial bacteria), contain herbs that stimulates liver, gallbladder and intestines, also psyllium husk or seeds, Cascara Sagrada, or flax seeds, or
slippery elm, and others.

Cancer of the colon and rectum (colorectal cancer) is a malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Cancer affecting the colon and/or rectum is diagnosed in more than 140,000 Americans each year. Cancer of the colon and rectum is the third most common cause of cancer death in women (after lung and breast cancers) and the third most common cause of cancer death in men (after lung and prostate cancers). This is probably one of the reason as to why one can find literally find thousands of magazines and journals which gives a detailed analysis on the dangers of deadly toxins that can inturn lead to the building up of parasites and ultimately leads on to colon cancer.

Colon cleansing herbs are of paramount importance to the health of the body as they can eliminate the many toxins in the body system which the body cannot normally expel. Colon cleansing herbs are available in two different forms — namely, a pre-made formula or just as single herbs. Colon cleansing herbs are simply mixtures of herbs that have been found to help expedite the removal of waste from a person’s body in an efficient way.

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Five Questions Cancer Patients May Not Know To Ask Their Oncologist

January 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

An estimated 20 billion people alive today have faced a cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, advances in cancer care and treatment have dramatically improved survival rates and overall quality of life. That improvement is largely due to patients who are taking an active role in their cancer treatment. The next step is to find out how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and properly care for your entire body.

“Many patients focus on questions about their cancer treatment, so they often don’t think about other facets of their disease,” said Dr. G. David Roodman, Director of Myeloma Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Director of Bone Biology Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “One important consideration that is often overlooked is the impact of cancer on the bone, which may lead to fractures and can be debilitating.”

When faced with cancer, it is important to remember that no question is inappropriate. Here are five questions cancer patients may not know to ask their oncologist:

Will cancer and its treatment affect other parts of my body?

Several of the most common types of cancer (e.g., breast, lung, prostate, kidney) can spread from the original tumor site to invade the bone, a process known as bone metastasis. Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, can also progress to the bone. It is important that you visit your oncologist to conduct a full medical examination to determine if your cancer has metastasized and learn how you can take action to protect your bones.

Should I be concerned about other medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, and their impact on cancer?

Preexisting medical conditions put you at higher risk for developing complications throughout your cancer treatment. It is important you speak with the doctor who has been overseeing your condition as well as your oncologist to determine the most appropriate treatment option.

Do I still need to see my other health care professionals (primary care physician, gynecologist, dentist) since I am under the care of my oncologist?

It is extremely important that you visit your other health care providers to ensure you are not neglecting other potential health problems. It is crucial to talk about your cancer diagnosis and treatment with your other doctors, as they make up your overall health care team.

How can I maintain intimacy with my partner after my cancer diagnosis?

While some people experience little or no change in their sexual desire and energy level, others find that their sexual interest declines due to the physical and emotional stress of having cancer and undergoing treatment. Just as it is important to speak with your doctor about the side effects of treatment, you must speak with your partner about your feelings and concerns so the two of you can work through it together and find ways to attend to this important part of your life.

Are there certain foods or drinks I should be sure to include in my diet as a result of my cancer or the treatments I am receiving?

In order to maintain the best possible health, cancer patients need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. Talk to your doctor about creating a customized exercise and diet plan-and stick to it.

Filed Under: Awareness, Brakes on Cancer, Information, Problems, Survival Tagged With: , ,

Moderate Drinking Can Still Lead To Breast Cancer

January 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

While most people avoid alcohol due to its intoxicating effects, which usually causes a lot of accidents and untoward incidents, and the high risk of a number of diseases, including liver cirrhosis, infection of the pancreas, among others, its positive effects and health benefits are also gaining popularity especially when it is taken in moderation.
Moderate drinking means one to two glasses of wine daily. From improving heart health to lowering cholesterol, moderate consumption of red wine can help you stay healthy. The antioxidants in red wines have been shown to provide certain protection against heart disease as they act like warriors, preventing the oxidation process whereby reactive particles known as “free radicals” cause damage to healthy cells. Alcohol has been shown to help your heart in several ways: by raising your HDL (high-density lipoproteins) or “good” cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and preventing the formation of blood clots.
However, there’s a new twist of fate to alcohol drinkers, especially among party girls, as recent studies show some link between alcohol and breast cancer in women. Having one to two drinks a day, once considered as moderate drinking, is now being linked to the higher risks of breast cancer in women. The said increase in risk of breast cancer among women who regularly consume alcohol has risen by 10 percent. Make that three or more drinks a day, and the risk triples to 30 percent.
According to Dr. Yan Li, lead researcher at Kaiser Permanente, they were able to compile and analyze data on the drinking habits of 70,033 women of various races and backgrounds. Their study was focused on determining whether the type of alcohol or just the amount a woman drinks impacts her breast cancer risk. “It makes no difference if a woman drinks wine, beer or liquor. It’s the alcohol itself and the quantity consumed that is critical,” Dr. Li said. In fact, drinking three or more drinks a day may translate into an extra 5 percent of all women developing breast cancer as a result of heavy drinking.
In 2000, a Danish study had found that red wine drinkers had half the risk of dying from heart disease as non-alcohol drinkers. However, some researchers are not convinced and recommends further studies regarding health benefits of red wine. The American Heart Association requires for more research until they do consider drinking wine or any other alcohol for its benefits.

Though the cause of increased risk for breast cancer by heavy use of alcohol remains a mystery, Dr. Li and her colleagues believe that further study may support the evidence that alcohol could alter the pathway of female hormones and produce more hormone sensitive breast cancer.
According to Heather Spencer Feigelson, spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society, “the risk of drinking one glass of red wine a day is very low. It’s an individual choice.” With further studies still needed to prove whether the heart-health benefits outweigh the newly shown risk of breast cancer, the decision is up to the women if they still want their glass of red wine as long as they analyze their own risk of heart disease and breast cancer. “Each woman has to analyze her own risk factors to determine what alcohol will do to them,” said Dr. Li

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Increasing Accuracy and Patient Comfort With Digital Mammography

January 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

There’s encouraging news for women. Not only is it becoming easier to catch and treat breast cancer in its earliest stages, but new technologies are making the process of diagnosing the disease more comfortable for the patient-and more accurate as well.

The National Cancer Institute recommends mammography screenings every one to two years for women over 40 and annually for women over 50. In addition, women at high risk of developing breast cancer (for example, women with a strong family history of breast cancer or who test positive for the BRCA breast cancer gene) are encouraged to begin annual mammography screenings even earlier-sometimes as young as 25-and should consult a physician.

Benefits and risks

• Early detection of small breast cancers greatly improves a woman’s chances for successful treatment. If breast cancer is caught and treated while it is still confined to the breast ducts, the cure rate is close to 100 percent.

• Clinical studies in the U.S., Sweden and the Netherlands have suggested that deaths from breast cancer could be cut by between 36 and 44 percent if screening mammography were performed annually on all women in their 40s.

Digital mammography

One of the most recent advances in breast cancer screening is digital mammography. Digital mammography uses essentially the same system as conventional mammography, but is equipped with a digital receptor and a computer instead of a film cassette.

Digital mammography systems such as Siemens Medical Solutions’ MammomatRegistered trademark NovationDR enable faster and more accurate viewing of the dense tissue of the breast. Images are acquired digitally and displayed immediately on the system monitor.

According to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, digital mammography was significantly better than conventional mammography at screening women in any of the following categories:

• under age 50;

• any age with very dense or extremely dense breasts; or

• pre- or perimenopausal women of any age.

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Breast Cancer Risk: Simple Steps to Prevent Disease

January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If young women take certain simple steps when they are adolescents, they may reduce risk of breast cancer later in life. A research suggests that puberty could be a crucial time for development of breast cancer.

Regular exercise is believed to delay the beginning of a girl’s first menstrual period. That is when the body creates hormones that stimulate the majority of breast cancers. According to a study, just 4 hours of weekly exercise can postpone hormone surges for up to 12 months.

Four hours a week is not a large amount of activity for a girl. She can play dodge ball, play on the playground or ride her bike. Because exercise can lower hormone activity, it can reduce risk of breast cancer, even after a girl starts having periods.

One more way is cutting back on fat. Girl who cut her fat intake by only 6 percent lowered her estrogen and progesterone levels by at least 30 percent, according to a study. These theories are not really well tested and need more research.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, other than skin cancer. In the United States approximately 183,000 new cases are diagnosed and about 41,000 women die each year from cancer originating in the breast.

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Reduce Breast Cancer By 45%

January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A US study of 13,000 patients showed Tamoxifen reduced the rate of expected cancers from one in 130 to one in 236 – a cut of about 45%. The American researchers ended their trial early when they said the drug’s benefits became overwhelmingly obvious.

Other studies found that tamoxifen AND chemotherapy improved survival improved survival rates by about 40-50% compared to taking one treatment or the other.

Should women taking tamoxifen avoid pregnancy?

Yes. Tamoxifen may make premenopausal women more fertile, but doctors advise women on tamoxifen to avoid pregnancy because animal studies have suggested that the use of tamoxifen in pregnancy can cause fetal harm. Women who have questions about fertility, birth control, or pregnancy should discuss their concerns with their doctor.

Does tamoxifen cause a woman to begin menopause?

Tamoxifen does not cause a woman to begin menopause, although it can cause some symptoms that are similar to those that may occur during menopause. In most premenopausal women taking tamoxifen, the ovaries continue to act normally and produce estrogen in the same or slightly increased amounts.

Do the benefits of tamoxifen in treating breast cancer outweigh its risks?

The benefits of tamoxifen as a treatment for breast cancer are firmly established and far outweigh the potential risks. Patients who are concerned about the risks and benefits of tamoxifen or any other medications are encouraged to discuss these concerns with their doctor.

Tamoxifen ( ta-MOX-i-fen) is a medicine that blocks the effects of the estrogen hormone in the body. It is used to treat breast cancer in women or men. It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.

Tamoxifen also may be used to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women who have a high risk of developing breast cancer. Women at high risk for developing breast cancer are at least 35 years of age and have a combination of risk factors that make their chance of developing breast cancer 1.67% or more over the next 5 years. Your doctor will help to determine your risk of developing breast cancer.

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New Test For Breast Cancer Making Individualized Treatment Decisions A Reality

January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Widely hailed as the next frontier in medical advances, the promise of individualized medicine is becoming a reality thanks to progress in understanding the molecular basis of diseases such as breast cancer. Scientists can now develop treatments that are tailored to individual genetic profiles, as well as tests to predict how a patient will respond to existing therapies.

Today, some women with early-stage breast cancer and their physicians can make more informed treatment decisions with the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay. This service provides quantitative information about genes from a woman’s individual tumor to generate a Recurrence Score between zero and 100, indicating whether she is at high, intermediate or low risk for her cancer returning after treatment.

Oncotype DX is intended for patients with node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who are likely to be treated with hormonal therapy. Approximately half of the 230,000 patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States each year fall into this category, and are frequently offered treatment with chemotherapy, a widely used treatment with considerable side effects. Clinical studies show that chemotherapy improved patient survival rates in only 4 out of 100 patients, yet thousands of women continue to elect this costly and toxic treatment with only limited information about whether they might respond to it.

A recent study demonstrated that women with high Recurrence Scores are more likely to benefit from chemotherapy, whereas women with lower scores derive only minimal benefit. Further, only 25% of women fell into the high-risk group, compared to 50% in the low-risk group, indicating that this common treatment is not appropriate for every patient.

Elizabeth Sloan of New York City is one of the many breast cancer patients not likely to respond to chemotherapy. An active mother with two young boys, Elizabeth was considering having another child when she was diagnosed at just 40 years old. She wanted to avoid chemotherapy, with its disruptive, short-term side effects and potentially serious long-term implications, but also wanted to be absolutely certain that it wouldn’t help her.

Working with her doctor, Ruth Oratz, M.D., at NYU Medical Center, Elizabeth decided to have the Oncotype DX assay, and was delighted when her Recurrence Score turned out to be low-indicating that she may not benefit significantly from chemotherapy.

“No two women with breast cancer are exactly alike. Oncotype DX provides information that goes beyond standard measures, like age, tumor size and tumor grade, in determining the likelihood of disease recurrence,” says Dr. Oratz. “Oncotype DX gave Elizabeth and me added confidence and peace of mind in selecting the most fitting treatment for her.”

For Susan Bakken of Denver, Colorado, Oncotype DX provided a different kind of peace of mind. Susan’s Recurrence Score indicated that she was at high risk of cancer recurrence, and would likely benefit significantly from chemotherapy-to both her surprise and her doctor’s.

“Based on the other tests I had, my doctor said he wouldn’t have otherwise recommended chemotherapy. I was shocked to find out my result, but I was so glad I did because I believe this test basically saved my life,” explained Susan.

Elizabeth Sloan is also grateful for the information she gained from Oncotype DX. “Not all cancers are the same, so why treat everyone the same way with something so toxic?” she said. “It’s so remarkable that finally, doctors can distinguish one person’s cancer from another-I’m just so thankful.”

Oncotype DX is a simple test that can only be ordered by a physician. It is performed on a small amount of breast tumor tissue removed during a standard lumpectomy, mastectomy or biopsy, meaning no additional procedure is required.

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A 10-Year Drive To Put The Brakes On Breast Cancer

August 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Breast cancer is a highly treatable disease that now has a survival rate of 85 percent. Yet more than 212,000 women are still diagnosed with the condition each year.

Since early diagnosis is an important key to successful treatment, doctors say it’s important that all women over the age of 18 do a Breast Self-Exam (BSE) every month, two or three days after their menstrual cycle. In addition, women between 20 and 39 should have a clinical breast exam at least every three years and women 40 and older should have a mammogram every year.

For the past 10 years, BMW of North America has worked with The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation-the largest fund-raiser for breast cancer research in America-to help spread the message of early detection and to help ensure that breast cancer research continues. The groups’ Ultimate Drive program has raised millions to help fund the efforts.

The initiative, fully underwritten by BMW, consists of two fleets of specifically badged BMWs making a cross-country trek, stopping in communities along the way to hold daylong events. People will be invited to test-drive the cars-at no cost to the participants-to raise money for breast cancer research, education and screening treatment programs.

The car company donates $1 directly to the Komen Foundation for each mile driven, along with whatever other proceeds are received from the program. Upon completion of every drive, each participant adds his or her own name to the Signature Vehicle-this year, a BMW 3-Series.

This year’s goal is to raise over $1 million, bringing the program’s 10-year total up to over $10 million. To help celebrate the initiative’s 10th anniversary, the 240-stop cross-country trek has been expanded to include Alaska.

People can test-drive the cars to help fight breast cancer. They can also:
• Regularly conduct BSEs, have clinical exams and mammograms
• Stop smoking and stressing
• Get more exercise
• Cut or reduce their alcohol consumption
• Watch their diet. Try to eat plenty of olive oil, fruits, vegetables, grains, fresh fish and poultry.

Filed Under: Brakes on Cancer