Apart from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in women and it affects approximately one out of every eight women in some point or the other in their life.
Interestingly enough, breast cancer also strikes men, but the rate of occurrence is extremely low.
The symptoms of breast cancer may include formation of a lump or congealing in the breast; a transparent, yellowish or bloody secretion of pus from the nipple, and, in extremely unusual cases, pain in the breast.
Breast lumps that are carcinogenic are solid and never shrivel or get bigger along with the menstruation cycle.
Although majority of the breast lumps are not carcinogenic, it is advisable that whenever you notice any abnormality in your breast, you should immediately visit your physician for a check-up.
A number of the main risk factors involved in development of breast cancer may include age, alcohol consumption, smoking, family history, exposure to radiation, obesity and post-menopausal stage in women.
However, in the case of women who do not smoke, exposure to estrogen, the female hormone, during the course of their life is the most important risk factor for developing this condition.
According to rough estimates, estrogen stimulates about 75 per cent of the entire breast cancers.
This type of breast cancer is known as estrogen-dependent. A woman's exposure to estrogen during her course of life is utmost provided her menstruation commenced at a tender age.
If she gives birth very later into her life or never has babies, her menopause starts at a later stage; and if she makes use of estrogen replacement therapy.
Typically, breast cancer is categorized in accordance with a multi-stage system that gauges the size of the tumor, the extent to which the lymph-node is involved as well as the presence or absence of metastases to more organs like the lungs, bones and the liver.
Surgery is the primary treatment for breast cancer and it may vary from lumpectomy, wherein the lump is removed along with some adjacent tissues, through further wide-ranging operations to the fundamental mastectomy, wherein the breast, portions of the muscles in the chest as well as the lymph-nodes in the armpit are eliminated.
Following a surgery, the patient may also undergo radiation therapy, chemotherapy and a variety of other treatments.
Hormonal therapy including the drug tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is amongst the most effective treatments for breast cancer.
It is worth mentioning here that estrogen interacts with gene p53, an anti-cancer gene which is basically a 'molecular patrolman' that prevents all flawed cells from reproducing.
Nevertheless, estrogen is capable of encouraging cell growth to such an extent in the breast that it virtually becomes impossible for gene p53 to keep up with the flawed cells.
In such conditions, the cell growth can be restricted by removing estrogen and this helps gene p53 to accomplish its task. However, gene p53 is not the only gene that controls the cancer cells.
One more gene called gene p21 acts to prevent the normal cells being transformed into cancerous cells much before they are able to set off the distress signal for gene p53 to act.
At the same time, it is fortunate that isoflavones obtained from kudzu as well as soy trigger gene p21.
There are a number of herbs as well as formulas, which help to counterbalance the side effects of undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy and, at the same time, offer additional health benefits.
It is advisable that you should all the times use herbal remedies as a part of your total therapeutic program for treating breast cancer.
Taking the capsule form of the herb astragalus in dosage of 500 mg to 1,000 mg thrice every day helps in putting off the spread of cancers that are receptive to gene p53.
However, this herb should not be used if you are suffering from a fever or have any skin infection.
Take the herb cat's claw in tincture form according to the instructions on the product label with half a cup (125 ml) of water and one teaspoon of lemon juice.
Cat's claw is a very powerful stimulant for the immune system. Nevertheless, avoid using this herb if you are already taking insulin for treating diabetes.
In addition, cat's claw should not be used during pregnancy, by nursing mothers and children below the age of six years.
In you have breast cancer and are undergoing hormonal therapy, you would benefit by taking garlic in the form of enteric-coated tablets and in dosage of 900 mg every day.
These tablets prevent the proliferation of cancer cells activated by estrogen, thereby harmonizing the use of tamoxifen (Nolvadex).
In addition, garlic is known to neutralize the adverse effects of lactobacillus and bifidus cultures that are taken in the form of digestive aids.
It is important to consult a physician before you start using garlic regularly provided you are already taking any anti-coagulant medicine, such as warfarin (Coumadin).
Also talk to your physician/ surgeon regarding the use of garlic prior to undergoing any operation.
Taking extracts of green tea catechin in dosage of 240 mg thrice every day helps to block the estrogen receptors, thereby fortifying the action of the drug tamoxifen (Nolvadex).
You may also take kudzu in the form of tablets in dosage of 10 mg thrice every day, as it helps to stimulate gene p21.
Lentinan injection (intramuscular) should always be administered by a competent healthcare professional. Taking lentinan intramuscular injections helps in stimulating the natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in the immune system to combat cancer.
People with breast cancer would benefit if they take the herb milk thistle in the form of silymarin gel-caps in dosage of 120 mg to 320 mg once every day.
These gel-caps attache to the estrogen receptor sites present on the cancer cells.
However, people taking milk thistle should be aware of the fact that this herb result in mild diarrhea and if you suffer from this side effect, you should either lower the dosage of the remedy or discontinue it.
Mulberry mistletoe should strictly be used under the supervision of a medical professional. Using this herb counterbalances the side effects of undergoing chemotherapy by putting off the suppression of the immune system.
Taking quercetin tablets in dosage of 125 mg to 250 mg thrice every day between your meals helps to hasten the death of cancer cells while treating cancers that are multi-medication-resistant.
However, this herb should not be used in case you are already taking nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat) or cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral).
Taking red wine catechins resveratrol tablets in dosage of 125 mg to 250 mg thrice every day helps to put off cellular processes which result in the development as well as growth of cancer cells.
People with breast cancer would benefit if they take the tablet form of soy isoflavone concentrate in dosage of 3,000 mg every day. These tablets help in blocking estrogen from carcinogenic cells and, at the same time, stimulate gene p21.
Taking the capsule form of St. John's wort in dosage of 300 mg thrice every day puts off the cancer from spreading to the tissues located between the lungs and chest.
However, never use this herb in case you are taking any prescription anti-depressant drug or any other medicament that interacts with MAO (monoamine-oxidase) inhibitors.
Pregnant women should exercise caution while using this herb. St. John's wort has the potential to augment the risk of formation of sun blisters provided you are outdoors in the sun for a prolonged period.
Take turmeric curcumin tablets in dosage of 250 mg to 500 mg two times every day between your meals to help stimulate gene p53. In addition, these tablets also help to repress additional genes that also promote cancer.
You may take chaste tree in tincture, capsule or tablet form according to the instructions on the product label, as it may slow down the development of breast cancer cells.
Taking 2,000 mg of maitake-D thrice daily, before your meals stimulates the immune system and slows the growth of tumours.
Commonly used essential oils for breast cancer:
In addition to undergoing conventional therapies like surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and using herbs and supplements, people having breast cancer may do a few more things to facilitate their treatment as well as protecting their body from the side effects of some of the treatments.
For instance, it is important for people with breast cancer to stay away from allowing any fat build up in their body and this can be done successfully by taking the appropriate dietary fats in the right proportions as well as by undertaking exercises on a regular basis.
In other words, this denotes that people suffering from this health condition should avoid taking red meat, lard and butter, particularly if they are yet to get into their menopausal phase, because ingestion of the fats mentioned above has the potential to encourage development of cancer.
You may substitute these fats by eating foods containing omega-3 fatty acids - the type of fats that help to shield from cancer.
Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids and taking two or three servings of sardines, salmon, tuna or any other coldwater fish once every week, or having capsules containing fish oil may also provide you with the omega-s fatty acids you require.
Olive oil and other comparable monosaturated fats are also considered to be healthy fats, as they help to protect against cancer.
Women taking vegan diets or diets that are totally without any animal products ought to ingest plant oils every day.
Researches undertaken in the laboratories have hinted that beta-sitosterol, a constituent of nearly all the vegetable fats, helps to diminish the growth of breast cancers that are stimulated by estrogen.
At the same time, it is important to consume fresh vegetables and fruits that have high beta-carotene content.
Typically, women having breast cancer have a propensity to have very poor beta-carotene levels in their bloodstream, while physicians are yet to ascertain whether this phenomenon is a reason for developing the disease or a consequence of having breast cancer.
A limited study undertaken by scientists in Italy had discovered that when beta-carotene was given together with additional associated carotene compounds, it helped to extend the tumor-free phase in women who were already having breast cancer.
Consumption of three or even more servings of dark-green, orange or yellow vegetables as well as fresh citrus fruits every day is believed to be the safest as well as the most effectual way to sustain healthy beta-carotene levels.
Broccoli is a very important food for those suffering from breast cancer and, hence, they ought to eat it on a regular basis.
Among the entire vegetables belonging to the cruciferous (cabbage) family, broccoli seems to possess the maximum potency to combat cancer.
This vegetable encloses a compound called sulphoraphane that assists the body to start getting rid of cancerous toxic substances within just 10 days of including broccoli in your daily diet.
In addition, sulphoraphane is also effective in preventing estrogen from attaching to as well as promoting the development of breast cancer cells. It is important to note that this compound has the aptitude to endure micro waving as well as steaming.
In addition, it is important for women with breast cancer to stay away from charcoal-grilled foods as well as fried foods whenever possible.
Findings of several studies have hinted that eating fried foods every day has the potential to augment the chances of developing breast cancer during the course of a woman's life from one woman in nine women to two women in nine women.
Similarly, eating grilled meats every day has the potential to increase the rate of development of cancer to five women in nine women.
Also keep away from indulging in starches and sweets. Consumption of plenty of starchy foods or sweets at the same time makes the body discharge large amounts of the hormone insulin that appears to hasten the development of the cells of breast cancer.
In case you are having diabetes, you should try and manage your diet in such a way that you are able to sustain a healthy level of blood sugar and need the minimum amount of insulin to control your blood sugar.
If you are having breast cancer, it is essential for you to expose yourself to some sunlight every day. There is ample proof of the fact that vitamin D has the aptitude to facilitate in converting breast cancer cells into normal, healthy cells.
You do not need to take vitamin D supplements; but just need to expose yourself to sunlight for about 20 minutes every day so that your body is able to manufacture sufficient amount of vitamin D to combat cancer.
It is important that you should not use a sunscreen during these 20 minutes of exposure to sunlight, because using sunscreens actually prevent the type of ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, which activate the production of vitamin D naturally, from reaching your body.
In fact, the efficiency of vitamin D to combat cancer is subject to sufficient provisions of vitamin C, which is essential for activating vitamin D and can be obtained by taking a number of servings of fresh vegetables and fruits every day.
Therefore, it is important that you ensure that your daily diet comprises adequate fresh apples, grapes, cherries, plums and every type of berry.
Your daily diet should also include additional amount of fiber, which helps to prevent the toxic wastes from being taken up by the bloodstream again. In addition, women with breast cancer should consume garlic or onions.
Alternately, you may also take garlic supplements. However, it is important to consult your physician prior to taking garlic or garlic supplements.
Another effective way to combat breast cancer is to adopt relaxing techniques. For instance, you may relax by writing, doing yoga or meditation or undergoing massage therapy. All these will assist you in combating breast cancer better.
It may be noted that hormonal therapy makes use of medicines that work in a similar manner as estrogens in the body.
These medications bind to the cancer cells at the same sites like estrogen, but do not promote the growth of cancer cells as estrogen does. This action of the medications lessens the work burden of the gene p53 and gene p21.
The most extensively used medication following a cancer surgery is Tamoxifen (Nolvadex). Nevertheless, even as Tamoxifen helps to diminish the chances of breast cancer, this medication augments the risks of developing uterine cancer.
The hormone called melatonin increases the efficiency of the drug Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) by a 100 times.
When Tamoxifen is used individually or in combination with the herb astragalus, this medication also augments its efficacy and, at the same time, diminishes the side effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2), an element of the immune system that is occasionally used in treating breast cancer.
Findings of laboratory tests have shown that the minerals magnesium and selenium also lessen the frequency of new breast cancer cases when they are taken in combination with sufficient dietary supplies of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E.
In effect, vitamin E is particularly essential for selenium's anti-cancer exploits.
It is worth mentioning here that although vitamin E does not have any direct result on breast cancer, it has the aptitude to put off development of mammary dysplasia, a pre-carcinogenic state of breast cancer, to an advanced stage of the cancer.
In such cases, it is sufficient to take 600 international units (IU) of vitamin E every day in combination with selenium in the maximum dosage of 150 micrograms and about 1,000 mg of a magnesium supplementation.
Breast tissue is especially susceptible to harm from the carcinogens present in tobacco smoke at least at two specific points in the life of a woman - first during puberty and later when she is pregnant.
The breast cells divide vigorously during both these periods in a woman's life. In fact, exposure to second-hand smoke during these periods may augment the chances of developing breast cancer.
A number of surveys undertaken on women have detected that although almost 25 per cent of women rarely examine their breast by themselves or never do it ever, approximately 18 per cent of women check their breasts every day or even more frequently.
Paradoxically, even too much of self-examination of the breasts may get in the way of successful treatment, because physicians who are making analytical decisions depending on these examinations are inclined to mistakenly identify any growth in the breast as cancer.
In case you are very worried about the health of your breasts and examine them every day, it is advisable that you visit a physician for a complete check-up.
Women having breast cancer should never take iron supplementations or dietary supplements containing iron, because the tumours may utilize iron to promote their growth.
Use of folic acid does not have any consequences on women with breast cancer, who don't drink alcohol. However, it helps women who consume over 15 grams (the same as having two to three drinks) of alcohol daily in defending against breast cancer.
Physicians, who write in the Journal of the American Medical Association, have suggested that women who drink alcoholic beverages should take a folic acid in a measure no less than 300 micrograms every day to avoid developing breast cancer.
Women who have never had breast cancer, but undergo estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) are likely to have more chances of developing this form of cancer.
It is advisable that you should see your physician immediately and ask him/ her to check you breast and evaluate the condition provided you are experiencing redness, itching and tenderness of the nipples, particularly if you are currently not breast-feeding a baby.
You should be aware that such a condition may actually be the indications of Paget's disease, a type of breast cancer.
Certain things augment the chances of developing breast cancer, while others are associated with this health condition. For instance, exposing oneself to medical x-rays very often has been associated with an augmented risk of developing breast cancer.
Similarly using everlasting dark hair dyes quite early in life or for a prolonged period of time too has been associated with breast cancer development.
The diagnosis as well as breast cancer treatment itself gives rise to constant worries in the patients and this, in turn, makes the immune system further weak.
When a patient is enduring psychological stress, it reduces the aptitude of the natural killer (NK) cells as well as the T cells to combat infection during as well as following the cancer treatment.
This is the primary reason why stress management is very imperative for recuperation.
It is worth mentioning here that people having breast cancer may develop lymphedema, a type of engorgement of the tissues that may occur after cancer surgery.
While breast cancer is very common in women, this disease also affects men. Precisely speaking this disease strikes men just about 1 per cent of the number of women having breast cancer.
Since we do not suspect breast cancer as frequently in men by gauging the symptoms, this disease is more often detected in men at a very advanced stage.
The risk factors involved for developing breast cancer in men are family history, ailments wherein the body makes excessive estrogen, exposure to radiation as well as coming in contact with the tropical malady organism called Schistosoma.
In most cases, men and women having breast cancer undergo the same treatment, with the only exception being that in the case of men the disease may be stopped from spreading by removing the patient's testes through surgery.
Getting rid of the testes will help in doing away with the hormone that promotes the growth of cancerous cells.
It is advisable that men with breast cancer ought to talk to their physicians regarding the pertinence of using herbs or formulations that are generally recommended for women suffering from the same disease with a view to lessen the production of estrogen.
In fact, men as well as women having breast cancer and who have come in contact with the tropical malady schistosomiasis are likely to be benefitted from using agrimony.
It has been found that schistosomiasis has the potential to promote the development of breast tumors as well as benign calcified cysts that resemble cancers on mammograms.
Agrimony actually comprises compounds that break off the parasite's life cycle. In addition, it also invigorates the B cells, one of the various cells of the immune system that make antibodies to combat cancer as well as a variety of infections.
It is advisable that you take one cup (250 ml) of agrimony tea twice or thrice every day for a maximum period of three months.
