Are You In High Risk Of Getting Breast Cancer?

No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one woman gets breast cancer and another does not.

Doctors do know that bumping, bruising, or touching the breast does not cause breast cancer. And breast cancer is not contagious. No one can "catch" this disease from another person.

However, research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease. Studies have found the following risk factors for breast cancer:

1. The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older.

2. A woman who has had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting this disease in her other breast.

3. A woman's risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, especially at a young age (before age 40).

4. The older a woman is when she has her first child, the greater her chance of breast cancer. Women who began menstruation (had their first menstrual period) at an early age (before age 12), went through menopause late (after age 55), or never had children also are at an increased risk.

5. Breast cancer occurs more often in white women than Latina, Asian, or African American women.

6. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest (including breasts) before age 30 are at an increased risk of breast cancer. This includes women treated with radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Studies show that the younger a woman was when she received radiation treatment, the higher her risk of breast cancer later in life.

7. Older women who have mostly dense not fatty) tissue on a mammogram(x-ray of the breast) are at increased risk of breast cancer.

8. After menopause, women who are obese have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Being obese means that the woman has an abnormally high proportion of body fat. Because the body makes some of its estrogen (a hormone) in fatty tissue, obese women are more likely than thin women to have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies. High levels of estrogen may be the reason that obese women have an increased risk of breast cancer. Also, some studies show that gaining weight after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer.

9. Women who are physically inactive throughout life appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer. Being physically active may help to reduce risk by preventing weight gain and obesity.

It is helpful to be aware of risk factors. But it's also important to keep in mind that most of the women who have these risk factors do not get breast cancer.

A woman who thinks she may be at risk of breast cancer should discuss this concern with her health care provider. The health care provider may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.

What You Need To Know About Brain Cancer

 Malignant brain tumors occur in about 4.5 people per 100,000 population, they may occur at any age but brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in patients younger than age 35. In adults, incidence is generally highest between ages 40 to 60.
There are two main types of brain cancer. Primary brain cancer starts in the brain. Metastatic brain cancer starts somewhere else in the body and moves to the brain. The most common tumor types in adults are gliomas and meningiomas. In children, incidence is generally highest before age 1 and again between ages 2 and 12. The most common types of brain tumour in children are astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas and brain stem gliomas.

CAUSES OF BRAIN CANCER
What causes brain cancer is not exactly known but there has recently been a great deal of speculation on the role of cell phone radiation in the development of brain cancer. In fact, while studies generally have shown no link between cell phones and brain cancer, there is some conflicting scientific evidence that may be worth additional study, according to the FDA.

More accepted risk factors for brain cancer include; exposure to vinyl chloride and individuals with risk factors such as having a job in an oil refinery, as a chemist, embalmer, or rubber industry worker show higher rates of brain cancer. Other risk factors such as smoking, radiation exposure, and viral infection (HIV) have been suggested but not proven to cause brain cancer. Patients with a history of melanoma, lung, breast, colon, or kidney cancer are at risk for secondary brain cancer.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BRAIN CANCER
Onset of symptoms is usually insidious and brain tumors are often misdiagnosed. Brain Cancers cause central nervous system changes by invading and destroying tissues and by secondary effects such as pressure on the brain. Symptoms vary but in general, brain cancer symptoms include: Abnormal pulse and breathing rates, deep, dull headaches that recur often and persist without relief for long periods of time, difficulty walking or speaking, dizziness, eyesight problems including double vision, seizures, vomiting and at the late stages of the disorder dramatic changes in blood pressure may occur. Although headaches are often a symptom of brain cancer, it is important to remember that most headaches are due to less serious conditions such as migraine or tension, not cancer.

DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN CANCERS
In most cases a definitive diagnosis is made by a tissue biopsy. Other diagnostic tools include; patient history, a neurologic assessment, skull x-rays, a brain scan, CT scan, MRI, a lumbar puncture and cerebral angiography. Meningiomas, arising from the covering around the brain or spinal cord, account for about 20% of brain cancers and are generally more benign.

TREATMENT OF BRAIN TUMORS
How to treat brain tumors depends on the age of the patient, the stage of the disease, the type and location of the tumor, and whether the cancer is a primary tumor or brain metastases. Brain cancer and brain tumors are somewhat unique because of the blood
brain barrier, which severely restricts the types of substances in the bloodstream that are allowed by the body into the brain and makes drug treatment extremely difficult. Because of this more and more research is being undertaken in delivering medication by means of nanoparticles, amongst the properties of nanoparticles that make them ideal candidates for recognizing and treating brain cancer, their ability to deliver a wide variety of payloads across the blood-brain barrier is perhaps the most important.

Brain cancers location and ability to spread quickly makes treatment with surgery or radiation like fighting an enemy hiding out among minefields and caves, and explains why the term brain cancer is all too often associated with the word inoperable.
Brain cancer survival statistics for the deadliest of tumors such as gliomas have not improved significantly over the past two decades and the clinical armamentarium is, to a large extent, still dependent on surgery and radiation therapy, treatments known to leave survivors with devastating cognitive deficits. Gamma knife surgery is a radiosurgery technique used to treat people with brain cancer and other neurological disorders

The most deadly form of brain cancer may be treatable with a vaccine that uses proteins. Unlike measles or mumps vaccines, which are meant to prevent disease, the brain cancer vaccine turns on the patient's own immune system so it will help kill the tumor. When the vaccine is injected, it stimulates the immune system to kill off brain cancer cells and prevent the regrowth of tumors that have already been treated.

PROGNOSIS
The chances of surviving for a person with a brain tumor: Prognosis greatly depends on all of the following: type of tumor extent of the disease size and location of the tumor presence or absence of metastasis the tumor's response to therapy, age, overall health, and medical history, tolerance of specific medications, procedures, or therapies. Metastatic brain cancer indicates advanced disease and has a poor prognosis. Unfortunately, the most common form of primary brain cancer, glioblastoma, is also the most aggressive and lethal but teratomas and other germ cell tumors although they have the capacity to grow very large may have a more favorable prognosis.

Your History of Cancer is Important

 Prevention is the best cure. Perhaps you have heard of that before and thought to yourself "if only all those sick people would have taken better care of themselves, they would not have to suffer from cancer now." If you are puffing on a cigarette or sun bathing as you think that, know that you are doing what people have done for centuries.

Humans, by nature, prefer to put off getting more education or creating healthier habits until they are already suffering the negative effects of their actions. Hospitals are now full of people who decided they were "immune" or that other things were "more important" than their health. The first matter you should take into concern is your family history with cancer.

Cancer springs from cell mutations so heredity is the biggest risk factor in your vulnerability. If you are unfamiliar with your family's medical history, it is time to take an interest and familiarize yourself with what unpleasant demons may be lurking in your genes. Awareness will allow you to prepare adequately and prevent possible tragedy later on. If your parents are still alive, they are the best source initially.

I recommend you do a web search for a pedigree chart you can print off and fill in the blanks. A good pedigree chart will allow you to trace your heritage back four or five generations, covering more than the last one hundred years of your family history. There will be spots to note full names, maiden names, wedding dates, birth dates, death dates, and some important places. Retracing your family history can bring immense satisfaction in addition to informing you of any possible health risks.

Other family members may be necessary to help you complete the chart. If there have been no cases of cancer in your family for the last four or five generations, you should feel confident that your heredity is not a risk factor in coming down with cancer. Some of the resources available for those who do not have family resources to tap in to are family history web sites. One of the most popular such sites is Ancestry dot com, which offers extensive access to all of the world's genealogical documents they can get a hold of.

The site is not free to use but is the most popular and definitely one of the most thorough. Some libraries offer free access to the site, so it may be worth a call to the libraries near your home. Do not forget the college libraries near you, they may have access that your local public library does not.

As you research your family's history, pay attention to any deaths due to "natural causes" because it may be that your ancestor suffered from some kind of cancer that was never detected. Hopefully there are enough diaries or journals as well as newspapers and census records to help you rebuild your family tree strong enough to see how much hereditary risk you may be running with cancer.

Best Types of Cancer Fighting Foods in Markets

Cancer fighting foods, generally speaking, can include anything that provides the body with the nutrition that it needs to stay as healthy as possible. By adhering to a diet that has been approved by a professional in the field of nutrition, men and women who are combating the disease should have more energy during their daily activities.
When it comes to specific foods, there are certainly a few that stand above the others when it comes to vitamin and mineral content. Leafy green vegetables are possibly the best foods that humans can eat. Kale, mustard greens, spinach, and even lettuce and cabbage are full of antioxidants. In fact, darker green vegetables have the healthiest components. Individuals who are not crazy about these kinds of vegetables might want to try cooking them up with a good sauce. The taste will be quite different.
Protein will also be crucial for energy. Meats that are grilled or even baked will be the best source in this regard. In fact, a couple of pieces of grilled chicken combined with some steamed vegetables can make a great meal. Though some spices will be necessary to give the meat some much-needed flavor, sodium-based spices should be avoided if at all possible. Salt itself should be used sparingly.
Nuts, though not often thought of as powerhouse foods, can be excellent. Walnuts and almonds are both solid choices, as they both contain non-saturated fats, which are what the body needs. Smoked almonds offer a slightly more robust flavor for those who are inclined to appreciate such things.
Citrus fruits, which are packed full of vitamin C, are also great to work into the diet each day. When someone is fighting cancer, some medical experts recommend oranges, grapefruits, and even lemons. Lemon juice can even be squeezed into a tall glass of ice water for some refreshing flavor. Oranges, on the other hand, go great with virtually any breakfast food. When supplemented with a glass of milk, individuals should get a nice start to the day.
Apples, as the saying goes, can keep the medical professionals at bay for quite some time. Men and women, along with their families, should check out some of the farmer's markets in their local area. If they find a location that provides only the freshest fruit, they can return to that market as needed.
Ultimately, cancer fighting foods can be found all over the culinary spectrum. By eating a range of healthy products and changing things up each day, people should get what they need going forward.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Three components of foods that prevent cancer

What the health are you concerned the most? If you're like most people, you answered 'Cancer'. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States (heart disease is the number one). Cancer is associated in the minds of people as a painful, protracted disease, which is devastating to your body and also a huge tribute to your loved ones and friends. Many people mistakenly believe that cancer is uncontrollable. Evidence proves wrong this view. The food that you eat can help to prevent cancer. Certain foods can improve the State of the current cancer patients.
Medical case study after case study give examples of patients who have successfully beat cancer, defying their forecasts, and eating the right foods was a large part of this success stories. For many years researchers that diet plays a role looked in the prevention of cancer. Today the world is a Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), the largest cancer research group in the United Kingdom, a vowel advocates of the idea of between 35 and 70 percent of the cancer of the unhealthy diet is connected. On the other hand, a healthy diet that is rich in superfoods such as blueberries, almonds and salmon can reduce your risk for many types of cancer.
Food share many of the same features, like for example a high amount of fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants with cancer-fighting. Secondary plant substances are naturally found in plants and are responsible for the color of blueberries and the smell of garlic. Fiber or Ruff package, is the indigestible portion of plants. Antioxidant is a molecular component of certain foodstuffs, the oxidation inhibits other molecules that can damage cells.
Here are some examples how foods with these three features can help to prevent cancer:
-Lycopene found in tomatoes is a phytochemischen. According to studies by the American Cancer Society, foods with a high concentration of lycopene can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, as well as other types of cancer. The link between lycopene and cancer is still investigating.
-Beeren are rich in phytochemicals which have been proven to assist in the prevention of cancer. The secondary plant substances in berries antioxidant trigger reactions. These antioxidant reactions act in order to neutralize the damage done to your body cells of cancer.
-Rotwein has called two polyphenols, catechins and resveratrol. Both these polyphenols protect against cancer slowed the growth of cancer cells.
-Broccoli is a super food, which inhibits progression of hormone-sensitive tumors. These include breast and ovarian cancer.
-Several costly studies have been carried out to determine whether garlic and garlic extracts may reduce the risk of cancer. Some of these studies support the idea that garlic and garlic extracts are effective in combating the various forms of cancer. Further study in this area is underway.
-Fiber-rich foods such as legumes (beans) were shown to reduce inflammation in the colon, which in turn is connected with the reduction of colon cancer.
More research is needed to better understand which foods can prevent cancer and how they operate. For now, it is important to know that the food you eat can influence whether you develop cancer. In particular inhibit food that rich can help in phytochemicals, fiber, and antioxidants the growth of many types of cancer.