Doctor HealthHealth Tips

DiaGenic ASA (OSL: DIAG) and Applied Biosystems Inc. (NYSE: ABI) today announced the launch of BCtect(TM), a blood-based test for early detection of breast cancer. The test searches for a unique gene expression signature identified by DiaGenic using a custom TaqMan(R) Array manufactured for DiaGenic by Applied Biosystems. India was chosen as the first country for the introduction of BCtect(TM) after successful completion of a large study in the country.

The DiaGenic BCtect(TM) test addresses a significant medical need in India, where breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. The lack of a coordinated national screening program means that breast cancer is typically detected at a late stage, resulting in high mortality rates compared to Western countries. Last year alone, nearly 100,000 women in the country died from the disease. Breast cancer is also on the rise, with an estimated 250,000 new cases expected in India by 2015. A key problem has been the detection of only 10% of cases at an early stage, which lags far behind Western countries where detection rates reach as high as 65%.
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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)

Breast cancer is one of the most feared diseases which nobody wants to be diagnosed with. From all the media attention it receives today a person would think that progress is being made in finding a cure, but unfortunately the opposite is true, as the breast cancer rates are still climbing.

The main reason why it is still increasing is that we don’t have prevention, despite all the causes of breast cancer being well known. Also the reason why we don’t have a cure for breast cancer is because all our current treatments are very good at generating profits for the companies that are involved and in control of the industry.

The well known slogan telling woman that early detection will lead to a cure, is a myth! Early detection is beneficial only to the breast cancer industry through their statistics. If they can detect breast cancer early then the meter that measures the 5 year survival cycle starts running earlier. The patient then has a better chance of passing the critical 5 year period and therefore deemed a ’survivor’, regardless of the patients health after 5 years. Also early detection slogans helps recruit woman into the breast cancer industry.

The causes of breast cancer have been well known for many years. There is a cure for the disease and it is very simple. Remove all the known factors that have caused it to begin with, then with the amazing self healing powers of the human body (which we all have) it will remove the cancer naturally and permanently.

What our medical system is doing is looking for complex answers to a simple problem. Breast cancer does not need aggressive toxic treatments that damage the body. To cure breast cancer a person only needs to respect the laws of Mother Nature by living as we are supposed to and especially eating the foods we have been designed to eat, these being freshly grown fruit and vegetables.

The breast cancer industry will continue to research cures for the disease, but they will never succeed. Cancer is similar to scurvy which is simply a vitamin C deficiency and the only way to cure scurvy is naturally. Breast cancer is exactly the same, it is a disease of a weak immune system and there are only natural ways to strengthen it. And this is why the breast cancer industry hasn’t made any progress in finding a cure, despite looking for nearly 40 years. A drug to cure breast cancer does not exist.
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Breast cancer statistics show that over 1. 2 million persons will be diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide this year, according to the World Health Organization. For breast cancer and prevention, it has long been known that regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the likelihood of having breast cancer. What has not been known or studied has been the effect of regular physical activity on the breast cancer survival rates or likelihood of death in women that already have breast cancer. That is, until now.

The breast cancer statistics and findings as reported by the American Medical Associations Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in May 2005 were astounding! Certain participants in the study of women with Stage I, II or III breast cancer achieved a 50% reduction in the death rate from breast cancer.

Here are these breast cancer statistics: the journal reported that in the study 2, 987 female registered nurses had been diagnosed with breast cancer during the years 1984-1998. What the study found was that the women who had physical activity equivalent to walking at a steady pace of 2. 0-2. 9 miles per hour for 3-5 hours a week had a death rate of only 50% of the death rate of women who had physical activity equivalent to walking less than one hour a week. The conclusion of the breast cancer statistics in the study was that physical activity after breast cancer has been diagnosed may reduce the risk of death from breast cancer. The study found that there was little evidence of any relation between increased physical activity and increased benefit.

It’s time to dust off those walking shoes!

As a physical activity, walking can be done almost anytime by anyone anywhere. All that is needed is a good pair of walking shoes. Walking is fun and reduces stress. As for injuries, walking has the lowest injury rate of all the various kinds of exercise.

You can walk with a partner, friend, family member or dog, maybe even a neighbors dog. Or you can walk with your favorite headset and music. If you are walking outdoors with a headset, keep one ear open to hear the sounds around you.

As for basic walking tips:

· As you begin regular walking, take it easy. Standard advice is to check with your physician before starting any exercise program. If it has been years or decades since you walked regularly, perhaps you can begin with 5 minutes of walking and slowly increase your time and distance.

· Walking at a pace of 75-95 steps a minute will have you walking at a speed of about 2-3 miles per hour.

· Walk with your head up, looking out in front of you. Do not walk looking down right in front of you except to navigate any obstacles.

· Really take it easy the first 5 minutes of walking to warm up. Afterwards, gently stretch for 5-10 minutes while your muscles are warm.

· Practice good walking form. Your arms should swing naturally in the direction you are walking, not from side to side across your body. Your foot should strike the ground on your heel, then a rolling motion forward toward the ball of your foot, then pushing off with your toes.

And here are some basic walking shoes tips:

· Buy your walking shoes from a sporting shoes store with large selections. Doing so will give you plenty of choices. And buy your walking shoes later in the day when your feet will be larger.

· Buy cushioned, supportive walking shoes. To see if a shoe is supportive, do this test: take a shoe and turn it upside down. Holding each end of the shoe, try to fold it. If you find the shoe bends in the middle, then that shoe is not a supportive shoe. A supportive shoe should bend where your foot normally bends, near your toes.

· You should allow the width of your index finger between the end of your shoe and the end of your longest toe, or about one-half inch.

· Buy two pairs of walking shoes, one for home and one for the car or workplace. And if one pair gets wet, you can use the other pair that day.

Walking is the closest thing to the perfect exercise. In today’s fast-paced society, regular walking can be a welcomed break from the stress of the day. Maybe you will get to know your neighborhood or neighbors better. There may be walking trails you have never seen but wanted to.

Wherever and however you choose to walk, not only can the experience be fun, you will know you are being good to your body in a variety of ways. Besides the incredible breast cancer statistics and findings of the breast cancer study, walking helps with weight control and bone strength, elevates mood, helps build and maintain healthy muscles, joints and heart. With so many great health benefits, why not get started walking today!

By Olinda Rola

Chances are you know someone - a family member, colleague, or friend who has been affected by cancer. You’ll want to learn more about prevention especially if you have a history of cancer in your family. There are over two hundred different types of cancer and the most common one for women is breast cancer. The lifetime probability of a woman developing breast cancer is 1 in 9. The good news is that it is possible for women to protect themselves from breast cancer. When breast cancer is discovered and treated early, the chances for recovery are better.

Every woman should know their own breasts so that any changes are noticed soon and can be reported to a physician. Knowing your breasts includes having a mammogram every two years if you are between the ages of 50 and 69 and getting a clinical breast exam by a doctor or trained health professional at least every two years from the age of 40. Regardless of age, all women should do their own monthly breast self-examination a few days after her period. When doing breast self-examination, things to look for include: puckering of the skin, the appearance of what is sometimes called ‘orange peel skin’, any place in your breasts that feels lumpy or harder than the rest and bleeding from the nipples or crusting.

It is important to note that most breast problems are not breast cancer and most lumps are not cancerous. When a lump is not cancerous it is referred to as ‘benign’. A cancerous lump is called ‘malignant’.

While there are no cures yet, researchers have discovered that a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent cancer. Since cancer is a disease that starts in our cells, everything we eat and are exposed to can affect them. Choose to be a non-smoker and avoid second-hand smoke. In regards to diet, choose a variety of lower fat, high fiber foods. Studies have shown that intake of total fat, saturated fat and meat are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Maintain a healthy body weight and limit alcohol consumption. Protect yourself from the sun. At home and at work, follow health and safety instructions when using hazardous materials. The link between an active lifestyle and breast cancer prevention is as yet unclear but general health is improved when regular exercise is an integral part of a person’s lifestyle.

Taking care of ourselves is an ongoing commitment that requires self-discipline and knowledge. It is well worth the effort and you’ll feel much better for it.

Article Source: Health Guidance

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.”

Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Breast cancer mostly occurs in women over the age of 50, and the risk is especially high for women over age 60. Breast cancer is also found to occur more often in white women than African American or Asian women.

Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes. Within each lobe are many smaller lobules (milk producing glands). Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules and bulbs are all linked by thin tubes called ducts (milk passages that connect the lobules and the nipple). Fat surrounds the lobules and ducts. These ducts lead to the nipple in the center of a dark area of skin called the areola. There are no muscles in the breast, but muscles lie under each breast and cover the ribs.

Each breast also contains blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry colorless fluid called lymph, and lead to small bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest. Lymph nodes are also found in many other parts of the body.

Drug Fights Cancer And Tumors

Nov. 29 - When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it can be deadly. But now a new drug that seems to be able to stop advanced breast cancer from progressing and even reduces the size of tumors.

About 10 years ago, Karen Pike got the news. The mother of two had breast cancer.

Karen Pike, Breast cancer survivor: “I don’t have any history in my family, so at 37, it was pretty scary. Our kids are 5 and 7, and I just went numb.”

Karen’s faith - and family - helped her stay strong. She needed the strength when the cancer came back three more times.

Karen Pike: “I couldn’t have done any of this without my family. I know that I couldn’t.”

Karen has also relied on a team of doctors - and is now part of a clinical trial on a drug called sutent. In a study, the pill shrank tumors by one-third or more in 15 percent of patients - significant because they had very advanced disease and didn’t have any luck with other treatments.

Doctor George Sledge says Sutent could be used as a frontline treatment for breast cancer that has spread.

George Sledge, M.D., Oncologist: “This holds out so much promise that I think if you are a physician dealing with breast cancer research you can only be excited about this.”

Karen’s only been on the drug for a month, but the lump in her neck has already drastically gone down in size - keeping her optimistic for the future.

Karen Pike: “Seeing both of my kids graduate from college, get married, have children, live a long life and be healthy for the rest of my life.”

A simple dream she hopes will come true.

Sutent is an interesting drug. It has also shown promise in treating gastrointestinal and kidney tumors when other treatments start to fail. Right now, right now, it’s just under investigation but could become FDA approved for certain cancers in the next year.

Researchers say, this drug is part of an entirely new class of agents and is working through mechanisms that haven’t been used before.

By :ABC7

drugs only because of the fact they have not enough money for the prescription charges - campaigners warns.

According to Charity Breast Cancer Care, 42% of breast cancer patients, which is almost a half, had financial problems as they were forced to pay prescriptions charges for their medicine.
Patients ill with cancer do not receive treatment with vital drugs only because of the fact they have not enough money for the prescription charges - campaigners warns.
According to Charity Breast Cancer Care, 42% of breast cancer patients, which is almost a half, had financial problems as they were forced to pay prescriptions charges for their medicine.
In England and Scotland 164 women participated in the survey and 15% of them declared they had not taken the drugs to hold the recurrence of the cancer simply because the cost of it was too high.
Breast Cancer Care has introduced a campaign - Prescription for Change - and is trying to influence on the Government to cancel prescription charges for cancer treatment. Those people who fulfil certain medical conditions (e.g. diabetes and those who suffer from some kinds of epilepsy) already receive free prescriptions.
The survey, conducted by the charity, discovered that the yearly cost of prescriptions for patients ill with breast cancer started from around “90 and finished in about hundreds of pounds! Obviously, the heaviest costs had patients who were forced to take a number of medicine for several years” e.g. those put on a treatment courses lasting up to 10 years.
The charity stated that the financial hardship could hit patients suffering from advanced or terminal phases of cancer, who might be forced to quit work and live on a lower earnings.
Breast Cancer Care’s chief executive, Christine Fogg, stated: “Thankfully more people with cancer are now surviving than ever before but many are now being treated long term which comes at a price. Prescription charges, on top of all the added costs that can come with cancer can place enormous strain on individuals and families. After 40 years it’s time for change. The Government must commit to an urgent review of the current list of exemptions. No-one should ever be forced to pay prescription charges for what may be life-saving treatment.””>Patients ill with cancer do not receive treatment with vital drugs only because of the fact they have not enough money for the prescription charges - campaigners warns.
According to Charity Breast Cancer Care, 42% of breast cancer patients, which is almost a half, had financial problems as they were forced to pay prescriptions charges for their medicine.
Patients ill with cancer do not receive treatment with vital drugs only because of the fact they have not enough money for the prescription charges - campaigners warns.
According to Charity Breast Cancer Care, 42% of breast cancer patients, which is almost a half, had financial problems as they were forced to pay prescriptions charges for their medicine.
In England and Scotland 164 women participated in the survey and 15% of them declared they had not taken the drugs to hold the recurrence of the cancer simply because the cost of it was too high.
Breast Cancer Care has introduced a campaign - Prescription for Change - and is trying to influence on the Government to cancel prescription charges for cancer treatment. Those people who fulfil certain medical conditions (e.g. diabetes and those who suffer from some kinds of epilepsy) already receive free prescriptions.
The survey, conducted by the charity, discovered that the yearly cost of prescriptions for patients ill with breast cancer started from around “90 and finished in about hundreds of pounds! Obviously, the heaviest costs had patients who were forced to take a number of medicine for several years” e.g. those put on a treatment courses lasting up to 10 years.
The charity stated that the financial hardship could hit patients suffering from advanced or terminal phases of cancer, who might be forced to quit work and live on a lower earnings.
Breast Cancer Care’s chief executive, Christine Fogg, stated: “Thankfully more people with cancer are now surviving than ever before but many are now being treated long term which comes at a price. Prescription charges, on top of all the added costs that can come with cancer can place enormous strain on individuals and families. After 40 years it’s time for change. The Government must commit to an urgent review of the current list of exemptions. No-one should ever be forced to pay prescription charges for what may be life-saving treatment.”

by PAUL DOUGLAS

In breast cancer, cancer cells in the breast tissue divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner. About 20% of breast cancers originate in the milk-producing glands, also called lobules. About 80% originate in the mammary ducts, the milk passages that connect the lobules and the nipple. Cancerous tumors in the breast usually grow very slowly. By the time one is large enough to be felt as a lump, it may have been growing for as long as ten years.

There are two kinds of breast cancer, invasive breast cancer and non-invasive carcinoma in situ.

Invasive breast cancer
Invasive breast cancer is the more serious of the two types. It occurs when abnormal cells from inside the lobules or ducts spread into the surrounding breast tissue. This enables the cancer to spread to the lymph nodes and, in advanced stages, to areas such as the liver, lungs, and bones.

A previous assumption was that breast cancer started as a very small tumor in the breast tissue and grew bigger. It eventually spread to nearby lymph nodes, and then to distant lymph nodes. Finally, it metastasized in other parts of the body. Now, doctors think that cancer cells can spread from the breast through the blood and lymphatic system at early stages of the disease, even though these spreading cancer cells do not always survive.

A phrase that you may hear from your doctor is the term ‘locally advanced’ breast cancer. This is usually refered to as cancer has not spread to another area in the body. However the following issues may have occurred:

• The cancer in the breast may be bigger than 5 centimetres across
• The cancer may have spread into the skin or muscle of the chest, or
• There may be cancer in the lymph nodes under the arm

Locally advanced breast cancer can be any of the above or all of these issues listed. Locally advanced could mean either stage II or stage III breast cancer.