Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Breast Cancer Marathon Houston

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is the most advanced stage (stage 4) of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Marathon Houston Cancer cells have extended past the breast and axillary lymph nodes to other regions of the body where they keep on developing and multiplying. The disease has the possibility to extend to almost any area of the body. The most usual part breast cancer extends to is the bone, followed by the lung and liver. Treatment of MBC in general concentrates on lessening symptoms and extending a woman's life span.


 


In 10% of diagnoses, the cancer has already extended to distant areas in the body. A principal diagnosis of Stage 4 breast cancer might point to a fast development of the disease or that the cancer was present but not identified in the breast for some time.


 


The majority women accept a mixture of treatments.

For women with stage 1, 2, or 3, the major objective is to treat the cancer and put off it from coming back. For women with stage 4 cancer, the objective is to recover symptoms and assist them survive longer. In a good number case, the later couldn't be treated.

 


Even though patients with stage 4 breast cancer might live for years, it is typically life-threatening in the future. Various factors affect this.


 


Here are a number of the customary treatments:


 


- Chemotherapy, or treatment with cancer drugs, is frequently the major treatment. It could decelerate the development of the cancer. Chemotherapy is frequently utilized in conjunction with hormone therapy or immunotherapy.


 


- Hormone therapy could be the solution for women with hormone receptor-positive cancers. These are cancers that require hormones to develop.


 


- Biological therapy is a new method. In roughly 25% of women with breast cancer, an excess of a protein known as HER2 makes the cancer broaden speedily.


 


- Clinical trials are open to several women with stage 4 cancer. A clinical trial might let you get into to cutting-edge treatments.


 


- Surgery and radiation are employed in a number of cases. These treatments aren't employed to treat the cancer. But they might assist treat pain and other symptoms in organs where the cancer has extend.


 


- Other drugs might assist treat a number of the side effects of breast cancer treatment as well, like nausea, fatigue, and also infections.


 

Monday, August 16, 2010

Etiology of Breast Cancer

Epidemiological risk factors for a disease could give significant clues as to the etiology, or cause, of a disease.


The etiology of human breast cancer remains largely unknown. Risk factors associated with the disease could be classified into three extensive determinants: family history factors, hormonal and reproductive factors, and environmental factors. A current epidemiologic analysis concluded that 73% of breast cancers are attributable to environmental factors. Over 78% of cases happen in postmenopausal women. Late onset is consistent with the long latency periods usually related with chemical carcinogenesis in humans.


Studies of migrant populations and geographic variations in incidence of breast cancer recommend that lifestyle and environmental effects are involved in the etiology of the disease. Its rates in Asian and Mediterranean countries are considerably lower than in North America, yet, in some generations, its rate in female offspring of Asian immigrants to the United States approaches the American rate.


Current studies point out that its rate in Japan is increasing, coincident with the westernization of the Japanese lifestyle.

In general, the incidence of breast cancer in American Indian and Alaskan Native women has been lower than in most of the other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Migration of these Native American families has caused an upsurge in the rates.

An elevated occurrence of breast cancer has been noted in the U.S. northeast, particularly the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania area, which is amongst the most heavily polluted areas on the continent in terms of industrial and vehicular emissions. An increased risk of breast cancer was reported for postmenopausal women as well who lived for more than 10 years near an industrial facility in Long Island, New York.


While the association of numerous risk factors, like family history and reproductive patterns, with breast cancer has been well established for several years, work in the past 10-15 years has added considerably to our comprehension of disease etiology too.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Breast Reduction

With all the emphasis in western society on large breasts, it seems almost counter intuitive that anyone would want to have their breasts made smaller. But in fact, breasts that are too large can cause health problems and sometimes psychological problems as well.


Breasts that are too large are heavy, and finding a supportive bra that fits can be nearly impossible. And when someone with very large breasts finds a bra that fits reasonably well, the straps will dig painfully into the shoulders. Posture can suffer, and the person with large breasts can have chronic back problems from it.


For this reason, many times breast reduction is considered a health issue rather than one of vanity. But this means that health insurance will usually cover all or part of the costs associated with breast reduction surgery.


The surgery of breast reduction is much more complicated than breast augmentation surgery.

A skilled surgeon will take aesthetics as well as health into account. Once excess tissue and skin is surgically removed, then the surgeon must craft smaller breasts for the patient, re-positioning the nipple to look as natural as possible after the surgery.

While scars for breast augmentation are relatively easy to hide - some incision scars are under the arm, in the fold of skin under the breasts, or even in the belly button - it is hard to hide the scars from breast reduction surgery. Often it's a matter of whether the individual who has surgery has the type of skin that hides scars well.


In reality, for most patients who have breast reduction surgery, the relief from pain (and the rude stares they're often subject to) far outweighs the presence of scars.

Once they have recovered from surgery, they are able to find clothing to fit much more easily. Often confidence improves, posture improves, and overall happiness improves after the surgery.