Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lifetime; incredibly, it is estimated that just over a million people throughout the world – women and men alike – will be diagnosed during this year alone. Just as incredibly, in this same year, nearly 43,000 people will die in the United States. The statistics are sobering; not just for their sheer volume but because it does not have to claim as many victims as it does. In many cases, it can be beaten. But fighting the battle means early detection and comprehensive treatment.

Breast cancer – the most common cancer among women – continues to be diagnosed on a daily basis as more and more people learn to read the signs and symptoms of this disease and seek early medical intervention. During this early intervention, doctors will work with each patient to determine the best possible treatment – as determined by the type and stage of the cancer as well as the overall physical health of the patient.

Technological advancements in treatment continue to bring new and exciting options to the table; but when you are suddenly thrust into the position of having to make a decision about treatment, the choices can seem overwhelming.

One choice is surgery, wherein the cancerous growth is removed from the breast – also know as a lumpectomy. In more severe cases – or as a preventative measure – a partial or total mastectomy, or removal of part, or all, of the breast, may be performed.

But aside from surgery, there are also many other choices including, chemotherapy – a frequent course of intravenous drugs used to stop the growth of the cancer; radiation – using pinpoint radiation therapy to kill cancer cells; and hormonal therapy to stop the growth of cancer cells. In many cases, however, breast cancer treatment utilizes a combination of many different therapies in order to achieve the greatest possibility for success.

In some cases, patients also choose to incorporate holistic therapies into their treatment. Such therapies may include diet, exercise, therapeutic massage, and acupuncture.

Early treatment is the key to ongoing health and survival – increasing a patient’s chance of recovery and five year survival rate by nearly 95%. With such dramatic statistics at hand, it’s no wonder that doctors aggressively promote any and all methods of early detection including self-examination, routine gynecological exams, mammograms, and breast ultrasound.

The most important thing to remember is that new treatments continue to be aggressively researched. And what has resulted are new and less invasive treatment options for patients. If breast cancer has affected you or someone in your life, it is important to stay educated on research findings.

The battle continues to be waged by women on a daily basis. As more and more women are incorporating self-examination and routine gynecological exams into their lives, the access to early breast cancer treatment grows exponentially. And as those who have been affected can attest, early diagnosis and treatment saves lives.

Riley Hendersen
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/waging-a-battle-with-breast-cancer-treatment-121886.html

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The statistics are staggering; one in eight women in the United States has either had or will have breast cancer during her lifetime. The National Breast Cancer Foundation predicts that over two-hundred thousand women and nearly two-thousand men will be diagnosed this year alone. And while it continues its reign as the second leading cause of death in women, it also continues to be highly responsive to early treatment.

In fact, early detection and treatment can significantly increase a patient’s chance for recovery; the survival rate reaches nearly 95% for those who are treated quickly and proactively. But in order to increase your chance for detection – and subsequently receive this imperative treatment – every woman must be familiar with the symptoms.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with fifty percent of cases being diagnosed well into a woman’s fifties. Subsequently, doctors and researchers recommend a lifetime of screenings that can help identify the early stages. Of course, in combination with medical screenings should be a comprehensive routine of breast self-examination to check for any abnormalities. In line with this self awareness should be a thorough knowledge of symptoms so that women can recognize the signs and be checked and treated early.

If early cancer is detected by the discovery of a lump in the breast, this is usually far in advance of any symptoms. This is why it is so important to conduct self-examination and be examined by a doctor during your routine gynecological exam. But cancer that continues to go unnoticed will often eventually begin to produce symptoms.

Aside from the finding of a lump in the breast, under the armpit, or above the collarbone, some of the more common symptoms include: nipple discharge, change in the shape of the breast, nipple inversion that did not exist previously, and redness, rash, or textural changes in the skin of the breast. Keep in mind, that all of these symptoms can also be attributed to a number of other disorders; it is absolutely imperative to check all breast changes or abnormalities with your doctor.

Breast cancer symptoms vary from woman to woman. Not every woman experiences every symptom. And when symptoms are experienced, the level and frequency with which they are experienced vary significantly depending on the cancer and the woman. Ultimately, it is most important that women know their own bodies and listen to the messages their bodies are sending them. Never let a doctor brush you aside with a promise that nothing is wrong if you feel differently. No one knows your body better than you do.

A diagnosis of breast cancer can sometimes feel like the end of the world. But the truth is, that in this day and age of continued medical and technological advancement, the odds of beating it are actually quite good if you are educated and involved in protecting your own health. Learn to recognize breast cancer symptoms and be an advocate for your own body.

Riley Hendersen
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/increasing-your-chance-of-survival-by-recognizing-breast-cancer-symptoms-123138.html

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It is known that in women, the ovaries produce eggs that travel through the fallopian tubes into the uterus where the fertilized egg implants and develops into a fetus.

The ovaries have 3 types of tissue. Germ cells, produce eggs that are formed on the inside of the ovary, stromal cells have the role to produce most of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, and epithelial cells cover the ovary.

It was seen that many types of tumors can start growing in the ovaries, and some are benign, situation in which they can be successfully treated by removing the part of the ovary that contains the tumor, or one ovary. Other types of ovarian tumors are malignant, they can spread to other parts of the body, and need a more complex treatment.

Usually, the ovarian tumors are named according to the kind of cells from where the tumor started from, and whether they are or not cancerous. We can mention 3 main types of ovarian tumors: germ cell tumors, stromal tumors, and epithelial tumors.

Usually, epithelial ovarian tumors are benign, they don’t spread and do not cause a serious illness. Among the types of benign epithelial tumors, we can mention serous adenomas, mucinous adenomas, and Brenner tumors.

There are some epithelial ovarian tumors that do not appear clearly under the microscope to be cancerous. These are called tumors of low malignant potential, and it is known that they differ from typical ovarian cancers because they do not grow into the supporting tissue of the ovary. These tumors grow slowly, and are less dangerous than most ovarian cancers.

Cancerous epithelial tumors, also called carcinomas represent 85% to 90% of the ovarian cancers. The epithelial ovarian carcinomas can be classified because of some features that can be seen under the microscope into serous, mucinous, endometrioid, and clear cell types. The most common type is the serous. There also are undifferentiated epithelial ovarian carcinomas, which tend to grow and spread more quickly and do not look like any of these 4 subtypes. Epithelial ovarian carcinomas are classified by cell type and are given a grade on a scale of 1, 2, or 3. Epithelial ovarian carcinomas that are given grade 1 look like a normal tissue and tend to have a better prognosis. Grade 3 epithelial ovarian carcinomas look less like a normal tissue, and tend to have a worse prognosis.

Also called extra-ovarian, the primary peritoneal carcinoma is a cancer closely related to epithelial ovarian cancer. It develops in cells from the peritoneum but it is difficult to tell exactly where the cancer first started because it tends to spread along the surfaces of the pelvis and abdomen.

The symptoms provoked by this cancer are similar to those of ovarian cancer. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or bloating, indigestion, and a change in bowel habits.

The treatment consists in surgery, which will remove as much of the cancer as possible, and after that chemotherapy follows.

The germ cell tumors represent about 5% of ovarian cancers, have several subtypes, and usually are benign, although some can be life-threatening. Some of the most usual germ cell tumors are teratoma, endodermal sinus tumor, dysgerminoma and choriocarcinoma.

Teratoma has two forms: a benign form called mature teratoma, and a cancerous form called immature teratoma. The mature teratoma, also called a dermoid cyst usually affects women of reproductive age and is the most common ovarian germ cell tumor. These tumors also contain a variety of other benign tissues that may resemble adult respiratory passages, bone, nervous tissue, teeth, and other tissues. Surgical intervention is needed, in order to remove the cyst.

Immature teratomas resemble embryonic or fetal tissues such as connective tissue, respiratory passages, and brain, are rare cancers, and appear usually in girls younger than 18. If the tumor has not spread beyond the ovary and is not very immature, surgical removal of the ovary is needed, but if it had spread beyond the ovary or it looks very immature, surgical removal of the ovary and chemotherapy is needed.

Dysgerminoma is the most common ovarian cancer of germ cells, affects women in their teens and twenties, is considered malignant, but usually, does not grow or spread very quickly. If the tumor is limited to the ovary, the ovary must be surgically removed, and when the tumor has spread further, chemotherapy is needed in addition to surgery.

Endodermal sinus tumor and choriocarcinoma tend to grow and spread rapidly but are very sensitive to chemotherapy, they are very rare and affect girls and young women.

Stromal tumors usually appear in women over age 50, but can occur in young girls as well. Some of these tumors produce female hormones, or, more rarely male hormones, can cause vaginal bleeding to start again after menopause, or can cause menstrual periods and breast development in young girls. Thecomas and fibromas are benign stromal tumors, and granulosa cell tumors, granulosatheca tumors, and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors are some types of malignant stromal tumors.

It is known that as a result of ovulation, there can appear cysts, which are called functional cysts and are completely normal. In about 1 to 3 months, these cysts shrink, and if you have this type of cysts, it is good to do a check after 1-3 months to see if the cyst became smaller. In some cases, it is possible that the doctor will prescribe birth control pills, to stop ovulation and in this way the forming of the cysts will stop.

As ways of treating the benign cysts, we can mention : observation, medications or surgical removal.

The fallopian tube cancer is extremely rare, shows symptoms similar to those that appear in women with ovarian cancer, and there can also appear more pelvic pain. In what concerns the treatment and outlook, it is similar to that for ovarian cancer.

For more info about ovarian cyst symptoms or even about ovarian cysts treatment please review this page http://www.ovarian-cysts-center.com/

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/about-the-ovarian-cancer-and-its-types-130875.html

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For many years, the Acai berry (ah-sah-ee) has been a well-kept secret of the Amazon rainforest and it has only been on the market for about the last 5 years. The rainforests of the Amazon are thought to hold the key to treating many ailments and common diseases, and for thousands of years the indigenous peoples of the Amazon region have known about the many health-enhancing benefits of the Acai berry.

The Acai berry grows wild on top of many palm trees that are native to the rainforests of Brazil and the Amazon basin. Local farmers in the area harvest the fruit of the tree, and it is used to make a healthful fruit pulp. This fruit pulp is then quickly frozen in order to preserve its nutrient value.

The Acai berry itself is a deep purple color, and it is quite rich in a number of important nutrients, including many of the most valuable antioxidant vitamins.

ENERGY, HEART HEALTH: The Acai berry will give you a high energy boost. It is also thought to have a significant impact on heart health, and on the health of the cardiovascular system. In particular, the Acai berry contains a very high concentration of compounds known as anthocyanins. These compounds are the same ones thought to be responsible for giving red wine its widely reported health benefits. However the Acai berry has 10 to 30 times more anthocyanins then does red wine.

LOWERS CHOLESTEROL LEVELS: In addition to these anthocyanins, Acai berries are known to contain large amounts of protein and fiber, as well as both omega-6, which lowers cholesterol levels and omega-9 fatty acids, which lowers LDL cholesterol levels and maintains natural HDL cholesterol levels. These omega fatty acids have been studied for years as a way to protect the heart from damage, and reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, thereby providing possible protection from heart attacks, strokes and other common cardiovascular complications.

These anthocyanins are known to have significant health benefits, and they are the subjects of many studies. Many people are looking for ways to capture the many health benefits that have been associated with the consumption of red wine, but without the calories and other negative consequences of red wine consumption. The rich, delicious fruit of the acai berry may be able to provide these important health benefits.

ANTI-AGING: Perhaps the most important health benefit of the acai berry, however, is its strong impact on the aging process. As a matter of fact, the acai berry is generally acknowledged to be one of the top superfoods for anti-aging. The amino acids and vital trace minerals found in the Acai berry aid in proper muscle contraction and regeneration, thereby slowing damaging effects to the skin that cause signs of aging. The fatty acid found in the Acai berry is similar to that of olive oil and is high in monounsaturated oleic acid. This fatty acid combined with Omega 3 fish oils penetrates cell membranes and makes them suppler. This allows for hormones, neurotransmitters and Insulin Receptors to operate more efficiently, which greatly reduces inflammation, inflammation being one of the leading causes of Aging.

HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS, DESTROY CANCER CELLS: The antioxidant benefits of the acai berry, combined with the fatty acids it contains, make this one of the most important superfoods on the market. The Acai berry is thought to have an antioxidant content which is a full 10 times greater than that found in grapes, and twice as high as those found in blueberries. As a matter of fact, the acai berry is widely acknowledged to have the highest nutritional value of any fruit in the world, and this has earned it the acai berry the title of superfood. These antioxidants destroy cancer cells. A study done by the University of Florida and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in January of 2006 did research that showed that the antioxidants in the Acai berry triggered a self-destruct response in 86% of the cultured Leukemia cancer cells tested.

Additional information: For such a tiny fruit, the Acai berry seems to have a great many heart healthy benefits, and the secret that has been part of Amazon culture for thousands of years is slowly spreading to the rest of the world. The Acai berry is a rich source of antioxidant vitamins, protein, fiber and heart protecting fatty acids, and it has an important role to play in protecting our good health.

Acai berries can be purchased whole and eaten as part of a healthy diet, but they are most often encountered in juice form. Acai berry juice is widely available both in health food stores and from many Internet retailers. As with other kinds of juice, it is important to ensure that the Acai berry juice you buy is made with 100% pure juice, and that it contains no artificial ingredients or added sugar.

As the popularity of the Acai berry continues to grow, and as its value to good health continues to get out, it is likely that this little purple fruit will become more widely available. In coming years, Acai berries are likely to be available at traditional grocery stores and supermarkets in addition to health food stores and Internet retailers.

When choosing between products made with the Acai berry, it is important to choose only the highest quality products, and to look for products that have been frozen quickly after harvest. How the Acai berries are handled after harvest can have a significant impact on their health benefits, so it is important to buy your Acai berry juice from those who use the best manufacturing methods.

Petrea Dishman
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/acai-berry-superfood-provides-high-energy-reduces-the-signs-of-aging-anti-aging-lowers-cholesterol-kills-cancer-cells-and-greatly-increases-hea-74180.html

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http://www.empowereddoctor.com/story_1192.html

The notion that ovarian cancer is a “silent killer” without early warning signs has changed.

The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation has announced a national consensus on symptoms for ovarian cancer. Symptoms that women should consider as warning signs include: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and frequent or urgent urination. If women have these symptoms daily over the course of several weeks they should consult with a gynecologist about them, particularly if the symptoms are new or unusual.

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