Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women globally. The increase in its occurrence is attributed to our modern lifestyles. We eat “bad foods”, we move less, we are exposed to polution and radiation, and the list goes on.

Risk Factors

The following are some of this cancer risk factors:

• being obese or overweight
• being at the post menopause age. Its important to note that breast cancer can occur to women from the age of 20 and tends to be more aggressive to younger women
• taking excessive alcohol
• a parent, sibling or child with breast cancer
• high estrogen levels
• not breastfeeding and delaying having children
• early menstruation
• late menopause
• bad diet habits
• taking oral contraceptives

Symptoms of Cancer

It is important to note that in the early stages of the cancer, one may not have any symptoms at all. This makes it important for everyone to self-examine their breasts or go for mammography whenever necessary.

Later on the following symptoms can be noticed:

• a lump in the breast or under the arm
• breast discharge
• change in the nipple position
• any changes in the breast skin

Prevention and Treatment

Chances of surviving breast cancer cancer increase with early diagnosis. Get into the habit of examining your breasts at least every month. The estimation is that women go for an annual mammogram when they are over the age of 40.

The best prevetion strategy is an overall healthy lifestyle adoption. Following a healthy diet and a regular exercise programme. Its always useful to take a multi-vitamin and mainly organic animal products.

If you take alcohol (which I hope you don't), supplement with folic acid or a multi-vitamin that has folic acid. Remember to use the hormonal diet as your recovery diet as well. Flaxseed oil/flour is still the best food source for hormonal treatment. Keep your weight at a healthy level.

A number of treatment options are available after diagnosis. A patient may go for a surgery and chemotherapy, radiotheraphy or hormone therapy. These treatment may have extremely uncomfortable side effects.

Surgery can be done by the removal of the lump with some tissue or the entire breast. Elimination of cancer cells may be done by radiation therapy after the surgery. The chemotherapy can also be done both before and after the removal of the tumour.