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Obesity can wreck a person’s health for many reasons. But for women, too much weight tacks on an additional danger: Studies have linked obesity and breast cancer in a variety of ways.

Doctors aren’t sure why this link exists and are trying to figure out what ties weight gain to breast cancer. But they are more and more convinced the link is there, and they are urging women to watch their weight and increase their exercise to help stave off what is the most common cancer among females, nonmelanoma skin cancer aside.

“There are a lot of factors we need to figure out,” said Dr. Jennifer A. Ligibel, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. “There are a lot of things we don’t know.”

An estimated 182,500 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2008, according to the American Cancer Society, and about 40,480 women will die from the disease this year. Currently, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

Studies have found that, in general, obesity is linked to cancer. The higher a person’s body-mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height), the more likely she or he will develop cancer, according to recent research by scientists at the University of Manchester in England. Other studies have found similar links to increased body fat.

Still other studies have found that women with breast cancer are more likely to live shorter lives and suffer a recurrence of their cancer if they are overweight.

For example, in a recent study conducted at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, more than two-thirds of women with stage III locally advanced breast cancer were either overweight or obese. The study also found that a greater proportion of obese patients were likely to be diagnosed with a rare and more deadly form of breast cancer, known as inflammatory breast cancer.

Scientists vary in their opinions on why this link exists, and what it means.

Some believe that obesity may make tumors harder to detect, so a woman’s breast cancer will be further developed before it is discovered.

“It could be because there’s more breast tissue, a lump would be less evident,” Ligibel said.

Researchers also believe that the systemic effects of obesity might do something to spur cancer on. For example, obesity or overweight can lead to fluctuations in hormone levels in the body.

“When women are heavier, their estrogen levels are higher,” Ligibel said. “That could be a pathway through which weight affects breast cancer. Other studies have shown that when insulin levels are high, there’s more chance a cancer will come back.”

Another link to obesity was found in a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that showed that obese women are more likely to skip screenings for breast and cervical cancer. Without those screenings, women are less likely to catch breast cancer at a more treatable stage.

Debbie Saslow, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society, said it’s not completely clear what role obesity plays in breast cancer risk.

“For obesity, which is independent of breast size, I would think two factors would come into play,” Saslow said. “One, a positive, is that the breasts may be fattier, which would make a mammogram easier to read. The second, a negative, is indirect: Obese women are less likely to go to a doctor.”

Menopause appears to be a critical time, Ligibel said. Obesity creates a greater risk for breast cancer post-menopause, while pre-menopausal women actually have a reduced risk.

“Gaining weight around the time of menopause is a risk factor in developing breast cancer,” Ligibel said.

The increased risk of developing breast cancer and dying of it after menopause is believed due to increased levels of estrogen in obese women, said Colleen Doyle, director of nutrition and physical activity with the American Cancer Society.

There is good news. Studies have shown that exercise — 30 minutes to 60 minutes a day of moderate-to-high intensity physical activity — decreases breast cancer risk, Doyle said.

“Physical activity reduces breast cancer risk both directly, by decreasing circulating estrogens, and also indirectly, by helping with weight control,” she said. “Women are so concerned about breast cancer risk. Communicating that there are key things you can do to reduce risk — watch your weight and be more active — are valuable messages.”

Ligibel agreed, noting that exercise might be valuable enough to counteract the strain on the body caused by obesity.

“You might not need to lose weight if you exercise,” Ligibel said. “Exercise could affect the hormone levels and help keep cancer from occurring or recurring.”

By HealthDay

Breast cancer survivors who suffer from hot flashes can reduce these attacks significantly with hypnosis, a new study finds.

Hot flashes are a problem for many women who survive breast cancer. Not only do they cause discomfort, but they interrupt sleep, cause anxiety and affect a woman’s quality of life.

“This is a very encouraging study of hypnosis as a treatment for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors,” said Dr. Ted Gansler, director of Medical Content at the American Cancer Society, who was not involved in the study. “This is an important topic because of the high prevalence of these symptoms in breast cancer survivors, and because few other treatment options are both safe and effective for this population,” he added.

There have been some other studies of hypnosis and cancer that indicate that the treatment is useful, but currently underutilized, Gansler noted.

The report was published in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

For the study, researchers led by Gary Elkins, a professor of psychology at Baylor University, randomly assigned 60 breast cancer survivors who suffered from hot flashes to five weekly sessions of either hypnosis or no treatment.

During each session of hypnosis, women were given mental imagery and suggestions for relaxation and coolness. They were also told to disassociate themselves from hot flashes. In addition, they were taught to use positive suggestions and imagery during self-hypnosis.

Women who underwent hypnosis had an average 68 percent decrease in the frequency and severity of hot flashes, the researchers found. In addition, these women said they experienced less anxiety and depression. They also had significant improvements in sleep and their ability to perform daily activities, compared with women who received no treatment.

“Women are interested in alternatives to traditional hormone therapy and pharmacologic interventions, and this study demonstrates the feasibility and potential effectiveness of hypnosis as an alternative treatment,” the researchers concluded.

But since the control group received no treatment, it’s difficult to say whether some or even all of the improvement represents a “placebo effect,” Gansler noted. “However, the researchers reasonably suggest that the improvement is so substantial that it is unlikely to be due entirely to a placebo effect,” he said.

Nancy E. Avis, a professor in the department of social sciences and health policy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and author of an accompanying journal editorial, agreed that hot flashes are a symptom of cancer treatment that needs to be paid attention to.

“We don’t have good interventions for hot flashes,” Avis said. “We know that hormone therapy treats hot flashes, but women who have had breast cancer don’t want to take hormone therapy,” she said.

Many mind-body approaches are promising, Avis said. “The hypnosis study has impressive results, but we need more research,” she said. “Based on these small studies, we are not ready to say they work.”

Avis believes alternative approaches such as hypnosis are appealing to a lot of women. Many other approaches such as meditation and yoga are available at cancer centers, she noted.

“There is no reason to think they are not safe,” Avis said. “The advice is — try it — there is no harm in trying. As long as you do it with somebody who knows what they’re doing, there are no downsides,” she said.
By Steven Reinberg (HealthDay News)

BOSTON — Eleven thousand women under age 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer each year — a small but significant percentage of the overall cancer population. One doctor is reaching out to help young patients deal with the cancer.

Cynthia Shelton is enjoying a rare moment of relaxation. The 35-year-old single mom works full-time and is in the Army Reserves. Two years ago, she also found out she had breast cancer. “I had just got divorced a couple of months before I found out, so it was a bad year all around,” Shelton said.

Suddenly, questions like would she date again and could she — or should she — have more children became more complicated. “I was afraid that breast cancer would run genetically in a female,” Shelton explained.

Breast Cancer Specialist Ann Partridge, M.D., from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, helps young women like Shelton cope with their diagnosis. “Younger women, in general, have a harder time finding one another to discuss the issues related to their breast cancer and treatment,” Dr. Partridge said.

Those issues include premature menopause, emotional issues, such as dating with one breast or scars, and preserving fertility. Options include freezing eggs, freezing ovarian tissue, and in-vitro fertilization. Dr. Partridge continued, “The only technique that has been actually shown to work is the IVF prior to chemotherapy.” But there is good news. “To date, there is no evidence that having a pregnancy after a diagnosis of breast cancer increases the risk that a breast cancer would return.”

Dr. Partridge’s passion comes from the experience of her friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 30. “She was initially told, ‘Oh, you have nothing to worry about, you’re too young to get breast cancer.’” She urges young women to never tolerate such a response if they notice lumps or a skin change.

Dr. Partridge works closely with the Young Survival Coalition, a network of young breast cancer survivors. The non-profit group advocates for more studies about young women and breast cancer, educates young women about detecting cancer, and brings together survivors to talk about some of their unique issues.

By: Ivanhoe Newswire

Watching what you eat and getting regular exercise are important to your health. And this advice is especially important if you’re a cancer survivor according to a new report.

If you’re a cancer survivor, living a healthy lifestyle should be a top priority.

“Our message to cancer survivors, absolutely, is eating well, being active is really important to get you through cancer treatment and certainly as you look forward to that life beyond cancer,” Colleen Doyle of the American Cancer Society said.

The American Cancer Society’s new report finds that a healthy lifestyle will help patients feel better during treatment, and could reduce their risk of cancer coming back.

“There is much more evidence that being overweight, as a cancer survivor, has some really bad effects,” Doyle said. “In particular for breast cancer survivors, breast cancer survivors who are overweight at diagnosis or have gained weight after diagnosis are more likely to have cancer occurrence and also are more likely to die of that cancer.”

The cancer society’s best advice:

“Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, eat a lot of whole grains, breads, cereals, pastas, cut back on high-fat meat, high-fat dairy products,” Doyle said. “Watch the amount of saturated fats you eat. These are the same type of things we tell anybody that is trying to improve their health and reduce their risk of chronic disease.”

Have you had breast cancer in the past, or are you undergoing treatments now? Then SoulCollage™ is a practice that you will find immensely helpful. Get in touch with the voices inside of you that have something to say about your cancer. Open yourself to the gifts they bring you. Free yourself from your fears.This is the story of my breast cancer journey, and how gluing magazine pictures onto mat board led me back to my spirit.In December of 2001, breast cancer was the furthest thing from my mind. I was busy. I had a loving husband, a nice home, three beautiful stepchildren, a good job. Then my perfect little world was suddenly turned inside out and upside down.A routine, suspicious mammogram. A phone call. Mammogram #2. A stereotactic core biopsy.My diagnosis: breast cancer, stage 2, infiltrating, ductal, HER2.All of the above happened within the fearful, anxious, unbelievable time span of 7 days. And my life has never been the same.The next nine months held a most strange quality of disbelief and exhaustion. It also held two surgeries, four chemotherapy treatments spaced three weeks apart, and 47 radiation treatments (spaced daily, over the course of 9 weeks).It’s been three years since my life was turned upside down and inside out…. Three years. My prognosis is very good. I hear this every three months depending on which doctor my appointment is with: breast surgeon, medical oncologist, or radiation oncologist.Three years have passed. I look good. I feel good. And yet nothing has been able to quiet the storms of fear that threaten to overwhelm me from time to time. The insidious fear that the breast cancer might return. The intimidating fear of another potentially deadly diagnosis.I have meditated and prayed about this. I have talked about it with my wonderful therapist and with other breast cancer survivors. I have tried guided imagery, journaling, and art journaling. These have all tempered the fear to some extent, but only for a very short while.Then I began practicing SoulCollage™ and my inner dynamics began to change.SoulCollage™ is a unique blend of spiritual practice and the fun of collage. Using our intuition and imagination, we create a deck of collaged cards where each card reflects a different aspect of who we are. The cards are then used to assist us to access our own deep wisdom and help us answer life’s questions.There are four suits in a SoulCollage™ deck: The Committee (the inner voices in our minds), The Community (the family and friends who love us), The Companions (animal totems who lend us their energies) and The Council (archetypes who symbolize major life themes for us).SoulCollage™ cards are made using magazine images, scissors, a glue stick, and 5″ x 8″ pieces of mat board.It turned out to be the best way for me to deal with the lingering fears that I was left with after my cancer treatments were over. I listened carefully inside of me to the voices that had something to say about my breasts, and my breast cancer, and I made three cards over the course of a few months.The “voices” I named and then worked with in the coming months were: I am the one who fears breast cancer returning, I am the one who survived breast cancer and walked away from it (both of these voices were Committee members), and I am the one who gave you the courage to survive breast cancer (an archetype from my Council).After making the cards, I journaled with them, asking each voice the following questions: Who are you? What do you have to give me? What do you want from me? How will I remember?The entire process of making these SoulCollage™ cards and then dialoguing with them led me deeper into my feelings about my diagnosis and all that I had been through on my journey since then. This led me to a very deep and powerful spiritual healing that is difficult to describe, yet very real in my life.Now, when my fears of another cancer diagnosis threaten to consume me, I simply look at my SoulCollage™ card that honors that voice inside of me and I acknowledge it. This voice, this fear will always be a part of me, but I do not have to allow it to control me. I am reminded of this because I also have the other two cards which speak to me of how I found the inner strength and courage to take the breast cancer journey.About the AuthorAnne Marie Bennett is a freelance writer and artist. She is a breast cancer survivor who loves sharing the gift of SoulCollage™ with others. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband Jeff and two highly cherished (and spoiled) feline companions named Sasha and Scooter.