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Breast Cancer Symptoms:
Signals You Should Know |
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Breast
Cancer
Symptoms...
Hello,
I'm
Jo Ann.
Any
family
who
has
had
their
door
darkened
by the
presence
of breast
cancer
knows
the
fears
and
challenges
that
bombard
everyone
involved.
That's
why
we've
created
this
special
page
to share
valuable
information
about
breast
cancer
symptoms
so you
can
know
what
to look
for
and
take
a proactive
role
in breast
cancer
treatment
to stop
it early.
Please
support
our
site
by clicking
on our
sponsors
to the
left
or top-right
of this
page.
Thank
you.
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Steps
To
Identify
Breast
Cancer
Symptoms
-
Evidence
You
Should
Seek
A
Professional
Diagnosis
If
you
believe
you
have
breast
cancer,
then
you
should
seek
treatment
of
course,
but
there
are
those
who
might
believe
they
are
imagining
things
and
need
more
proof.
This
is
perfectly
fine,
and
there
are
a
number
of
ways
to
get
that
proof.
We
will
start
with
the
self
examination
procedures. |
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A
self examination
is fairly
simple.
What are
you are
looking
for are
lumps
of course,
and they
can appear
in both
the breast
and the
shoulder.
These
aren't
sure signs
of cancer,
but they
do need
to be
taken
into account
as possible
breast
cancer
symptoms.
Remember,
this is
your life
and you
need to
make sure
you protect
it as
best you
can.
The
next thing
that you
should
look for
is a change
in the
shape
of your
breast.
In addition
to that
the nipple
might
look strange,
or you
might
be producing
a blood-like
excretion.
This is
a definite
sign that
you need
to see
a physician
immediately
and seek
possible
breast
cancer
treatment.
When
you believe
you might
have breast
cancer
you should
seek the
counsel
of a physician
of course,
but if
you don't
want to
just yet,
there
are a
few things
you can
do to
diagnose
yourself.
The most
obvious
is to
check
the internet.
The world
wide web
is a treasure
trove
of information,
and there
are even
websites
dedicated
solely
to helping
people
diagnose
themselves.
One
of the
most amazing
features
on a medical
website
is the
symptom
checker.
It won't
tell you
precisely
what's
wrong
with you,
but if
you give
it your
symptoms
it will
be able
to take
these,
process
them,
and tell
you whether
or not
they are
breast
cancer
symptoms.
Just remember
that this
is not
an actual
diagnosis.
It could
give you
a number
of other
conditions
that those
symptoms
might
be associated
with,
so make
sure you
investigate
every
possibility
before
you convince
yourself
that it
is cancer.
You
could
also speak
with a
friend
who has
suffered
from cancer.
Describe
your symptoms
and let
her advise
you. If
they believe
you have
breast
cancer,
then it
is definitely
time to
consult
a physician.
A simple
examination
will suffice
at first,
and the
doctor
may determine
that a
pap test
is the
best course
of action.
The
most important
thing
to remember
is that
a breast
cancer
diagnosis
is not
the end
of the
world.
There
is such
a thing
as breast
cancer
treatment,
and your
breast
cancer
symptoms
can be
alleviated.
It will
by no
means
be an
easy journey,
and it
will be
quite
long,
but in
the end
you will
be glad
that you
took the
time to
have your
symptoms
diagnosed,
no matter
what the
outcome
might
be.
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Five
Simple
Steps
To
Find
Breast
Cancer
Symptoms
For
women
in
general,
here
are
five
detailed
steps
used
in
checking
for
any
breast
cancer
symptoms
or
signs
of
breast
cancer.
It
is
very
important
to
vigilently
check
yourself
for
breast
cancer
symptoms
on
a
regular
basis.
These
days,
breast
cancer
treatments
are
readily
available,
and
their
effectiveness
is
greatly
increased
by
early
detection.
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1:
Start
by looking
at your
breasts
in the
mirror
with
your
shoulders
level
and
your
arms
at your
hips.
You
should
check
your
breasts
and
see
that
these
are
in their
usual
size,
shape,
and
color.
Also,
you
have
to verify
that
your
breasts
are
shaped
evenly
without
any
swelling
or visible
distortion.
If
you
see
any
of the
following
changes
then
you
should
immediately
seek
a doctor's
attention
as these
may
already
be breast
cancer
symptoms:
dimpling,
puckering,
or bulging
of the
skin,
or a
nipple
that
has
changed
its
position
or being
inverted,
which
means
it has
been
pushed
inwards
instead
of sticking
out,
or there
is redness,
soreness,
rash
or swelling,.
Step
2:
This
time,
raise
your
arms
and
look
for
the
same
changes.
Step
3:
While
looking
at the
mirror,
check
for
any
signs
of fluid
discharging
from
one
or both
of the
nipples.
This
discharge
could
either
be watery,
milk-like,
yellowish
fluid
or even
blood-tinged.
Again,
these
may
be breast
cancer
symptoms
that
may
warrant
breast
cancer
treatment.
Step
4:
Next,
while
lying
down,
feel
your
breasts
using
your
right
hand
to feel
your
left
breast
and
then
your
left
hand
to feel
your
right
breast.
Using
a firm
yet
smooth
touch
with
the
surfaces
of the
first
few
fingers
of your
hand,
keeping
the
fingers
flat
and
together.
Begin
with
a circular
motion
about
one
inch
(two
centimeters)
in diameter.
The
examination
should
cover
the
entire
breast
from
top
to bottom,
side
to side,
from
your
collar
bone
to the
top
of your
abdomen,
and
from
your
armpit
to your
cleavage.
Be sure
to follow
a pattern
that
would
cover
the
entire
breast
area.
You
can
choose
to start
at the
nipples
and
with
circular
motions
radiate
outward
to the
edges
of your
breasts.
You
can
also
do upward
and
downward
motions
with
your
fingers
in connected
rows
as if
mowing
a lawn.
Make
sure
you
cover
the
entire
breast
area,
including
all
the
tissue
from
the
front
to the
back
of your
breasts.
Step
5:
This
time,
feel
your
breasts
while
you
are
standing
or sitting.
Most
women
find
it more
effective
to feel
their
breasts
when
wet
and
slippery,
so this
can
be done
while
you
are
in the
shower.
Cover
the
entire
breast
area
as mentioned
in Step
4.
Performing
a self
exam
is recommended
at least
once
a month,
just
after
your
period,
and
especially
for
women
over
40.
These
five
relatively
quick
and
easy
steps
will
help
you
detect
potential
breast
cancer
symptoms,
and
again,
early
detection
is key
in overcoming
breast
cancer.
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Breast
Cancer Symptoms And Risk Factors
Virtually
everyone today has someone
they know that has been diagnosed
with breast cancer. Anyone
diagnosed with breast cancer
often has difficult decisions
to make that could include
the
removal of a breast in order
to prevent the spread of cancerous
tissue. This coupled with
the discomfort from radiotherapy,
chemotherapy and the potential
side effects that breast cancer
treatment comes with needs
one to have a good support
system of friends and relatives
to make sure they pull through.
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There
is good news though. Whether one has
been diagnosed with the disease or
not, the greatest weapon against breast
cancer is to understand the causes,
symptoms and breast cancer treatment
alternatives available. It is this
knowledge that places one in better
stead to fight a winning battle against
breast cancer; this is because contrary
to a lot of the data that dominates
public debate, being diagnosed with
breast cancer is not a death sentence
and thousands of women each year successfully
fight and defeat the disease.
Risk
Factors
Strictly
speaking, there is really no cause
of breast cancer. However, a number
of conditions can increase the possibility
of breast cancer. These conditions
are what are sometimes referred to
as risk factors. Among these, it is
important to note that there are those
that can be controlled and there are
those that cannot be controlled. Listed
below are some of the more widely
known risk factors.
Age:
The older one gets the higher their
chances of getting breast cancer.
Research studies and breast cancer
statistics have repeatedly demonstrated
that breast cancer is most prevalent
among women above 40. Nowadays though,
breast cancer cases are being identified
at much younger ages than before.
Previous
history of breast cancer: As mentioned
at the beginning of this article,
one can be treated for breast cancer
and live the rest of their lives without
it. However, breast cancer can recur
after treatment. If one had breast
cancer earlier on in life, their chances
of getting breast cancer is higher
each year.
Family
history: This is probably one of the
main causes of breast cancer. A history
of breast cancer in one's family makes
one more predisposed to a positive
diagnosis.
Estrogen:
Higher than normal estrogen levels
over extended periods of time can
lead to breast cancer.
Alcohol:
Alcohol raises the probability of
breast cancer people.
Enzymes:
This is among the most recently discovered
risk factors. The Institute of Cancer
Research found that the enzyme lysyl
oxidase (LOX) is one of the factors
that cause breast cancer. It stiffens
collagen (the main component of breast
tissue) and this marks the beginning
of cancerous tumor formation.
Prevention
and treatment: Preventing breast cancer
involves proactively assessing oneself
relative to the risk factors and determining
whether one falls in a high-risk category.
For those that one can control such
as alcohol intake, a change in lifestyle
would be required. For those that
one cannot control, the best response
would be to pay greater attention
to self-checks as well as increase
the number of doctor-led breast cancer
checkups each year. Regarding breast
cancer treatment, there are a number
of options:
Surgery:
This is the removal of the cancerous
tissue. Decisions on surgery depend
on the stage that the cancer is at.
Surgery can be lumpectomy, where only
the lump is removed, or mastectomy,
which is the removal of the entire
breast tissue.
Chemotherapy:
The use of medicine to destroy the
cancerous cells.
Radiotherapy:
Employing radiation to destroy cancerous
cells. It is often used to destroy
any remaining cancer cells after surgery.
Hormonal
Therapy lowers the level of estrogen
in the body and thus stops estrogen
from feeding the cancer's growth.
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Alternative
Treatments And
Breast Cancer Symptoms
When
women learn they have breast
cancer, many of them slide
down into a feeling of helplessness
and a general feeling of a
loss of control. They are
usually flooded with doctors'
advice and a host of treatment
options and a pervading feeling
that they are no longer in
control of their lives. In
recent decades, more and more
women are turning to alternative
treatments as recourse from
the traditional breast cancer
treatments. |
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Studies
have shown that alternative therapies
can actually be effective. Specifically,
it can become an avenue for alleviating
the patient's pain and making the
traditional breast cancer treatments
more effective. For women who have
breast cancer and even those who don't
have it yet, careful consideration
of the different alternative therapies
may prove very helpful in maintaining
a balance in their lives.
Green
Tea Extract
Tea leaves contain catechins, a part
of the flavonoid class, which are
anti-oxidants. EGCG is one of the
catechins found in tea and is a powerful
anti-oxidant. These anti-oxidants
have been found to slow down the aging
process and prevent illnesses, including
cancer. The EGCG and polyphenols in
green tea have been found to be even
more effective in cancer prevention.
Several studies revealed that
the intake of green tea has highlighted
the performance of chemotherapy drugs
in that it appears in higher concentration
with the cancer cells when combined
with taking green tea extract. It
was found out that cancer cells become
less resistant to the chemotherapy
drug when combined with green tea.
Studies also revealed that the
regular regimen of taking green tea
greatly reduced the growth and spread
of the cancer cells and it proves
that, by itself, it can be an effective
alternative breast cancer treatment.
Eating
The Right Diet
Another natural alternative treatment
is watching your diet carefully. You
have to make sure that your diet is
filled with foods that are rich in
anti-oxidants. This means that you
have to increase your intake of fruits
and vegetables, especially those considered
"power foods" such as blueberries,
pomegranates, and tomatoes. What is
also important is to increase the
fiber content in your diet by eating
fiber-rich food like whole wheat bread
and oatmeal, on top of the fruits
and vegetables that are mostly rich
in fiber.
Vitamins
and Herbs
There are a lot of vitamins and herbs
that can be used, collectively or
individually, as an alternative breast
cancer treatment. These include the
ginger root which helps prevent nausea,
calcium D-glucarate, which has been
found to reduce the incidence of breast
cancer, and melatonin, a pineal hormone
that, aside from helping promote restful
sleep, also has powerful anti-oxidant
features that thwart the growth and
spread of cancer cells. Another
powerful herb is the St. John's Wort,
which also has anti-oxidant properties,
while at the same time promoting good
sleep and relieving stress, and also
treating depression.
Other Alternative Treatments
A major contributor to the proliferation
of cancer is stress. There are treatments
that primarily give relief to major
stress factors, and these include
acupuncture, yoga, meditation and
hypnosis. All these techniques are
related to stress reduction which
triggers a lot of different cancer
illnesses. In looking for an effective
breast cancer treatment, it always
pays to evaluate your options on alternative
therapies.
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