Good
evening and welcome to January’s Treasured Health Gems segment.
Tonight our discussion will be about breast cancer. I would venture to say that most of our listeners
have some direct contact with this subject.
This is a
most serious discussion. I am still gathering information and want this
conversation, if you will, to include many modalities. Since most people go to
a medical doctor for diagnosis and treatment, I will definitely include the
western paradigm. I will also include the
benefits of eastern medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal remedies, teas,
formulas, , nutritional suggestions, considerations for those taking
chemotherapy and radiation, and most
importantly I will share preventative measures. And, because I believe all
disease has a spiritual correlate, I will definitely discuss spiritual ideas
and philosophies. This is a work in progress and will be presented in 2 or 3 segments.
My website, www.treasureyourhealthinstitute.com
, will carry what we discussed tonight and will continue to be updated with
more information. I thank you ahead of time for your patience.
A diagnosis
of cancer is often a person’s worse nightmare. For some reason, I didn’t
experience it that way, but then, mine wasn’t breast cancer. It was a rare placental
cancer that was quick to spread and had no cure. So I didn’t get to accept or refuse
chemotherapy or radiation because neither was offered. And, yet, here I am…
Unfortunately,
that isn’t the story for tens of thousands who die yearly from complications
from breast cancer. On a very personal front, to date, four of my closest
sister-friends succumbed to breast cancer in the last five years.
In
December, my precious Mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer. She has
been blessed to have caught it in a very early stage, and is recuperating from
surgery. Yet, she is not out of the woods according to her doctors. (We know
differently.) More information around her lab work is slowly coming in and the
doctor is still deliberating on her treatments, which will include radiation.
Yes, you can imagine the diagnosis felt like bricks were raining on us.
Yes, this
is a tremendously serious disease and highly personal disease. Women of all
ages and men, too, will be diagnosed with breast cancer, with varying risk
factors. Interestingly, one can have all the risk factors and not get breast
cancer. While others can have none of the risk factors and get breast cancer.
What is
breast cancer?
We need to
understand the anatomy of the breast to understand breast cancer. When the
breast is in a normal state, it has milk-producing glands and ducts supported
by connective tissue that is made of fat and fibrous material. The breasts also
have nerves, blood vessels and channels that travel to the lymph nodes. There
is a lot of activity that moves along the mammary line. The breasts sit under
the skin but atop the chest muscles.
The development
of breast cancer generally begins with a small lump formation developing in the
breast tissue. That lump is usually confined. However, when cells begin to
multiply out of control, a tumor develops in the breast tissue. A tumor that
originates in the milk glands is called a ductal tumor. Lobular carcinoma is
the name assigned to the mutation of cells developing in the glands. Tumors do
not always confine themselves within the breast and can invade the chest
cavity. It would still be regarded as breast cancer. The rate of growth is
dependent on the type and, I believe, it would also depend on the state of
health of the person carrying the disease. Some are very aggressive and some
are not. An aggressive type of breast cancer is one that originates from HRT,
hormone replacement therapy. It’s important to know that all breast lumps are
not malignant. Some lumps
are cysts, as some breasts are cystic. An acupuncturist, like myself, would
consider that condition to be due to an overabundance of phlegm in the body’s
system.
Whatever
the case, it’s important to know that for certain and expert opinions should be
actively sought AS SOON AS YOU FEEL A LUMP! Unfortunately, too many women,
especially women of color, wait until the cancer has established itself and
aggressive treatment may or may not work. Breast
cancer is considered a disease that strikes older women and while, it is true
that two-thirds of the women who develop breast cancer are over 50, young women
are affected. I have a friend whose daughter passed before age 25. So,
statistics don’t mean anything to you if 1 out of 8 women get the disease and
you’re the one who gets it!
The following information to its end was
taken directly from WebMD online.
Breast cancer statistics:
“The American Cancer Society's most recent
estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for 2009:
- about 192,370 new
cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women (There are 103,350 new cases of lung
cancer yearly.)
- about 62,280 new
cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is the
non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer). The Dorland
Medical Dictionary’s definition of CIS as a neoplastic entitywheein the
tumor cells have not invaded the basement membrane but are still confined
to the epithelium of origin. Thus, it retains a non-invasive quality.
- about 40,170
women will die from breast cancer; whereas more than 70,000 women with
lung cancer are estimated to succumb from that disease.”
What are some of the signs of Breast cancer? These are the
signs that should send you immediately to your medical doctor for testing.
When breast cancer starts out, it is too small to feel
and does not cause signs and symptoms. As it grows, however, breast cancer
can
cause changes in how the breast looks or feels. Symptoms may include:
•
A new lump in the breast.
•
A lump that has changed.
•
A change in the size or shape
of
the breast.
•
Pain in the breast or nipple that does not go away.
•
Flaky, red, or swollen skin anywhere on the breast.
•
A nipple that is very tender orthat suddenly turns inward.
•
Blood or any other type of fluid coming from the nipple that is not milk when
nursing a baby.
If
you have any of these symptoms, talk to a health care professional.
They
may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only
way
to know is to see a healthcare professional.
What are some
of the risk factors?
For men
there are a number of risk factors and since it’s rare that there is discussion
around breast cancer and men, I thought it important to mention these risk
factors in detail. Men have breast tissue, non-functioning breast tissue,
meaning it does not produce milk. Still,
there is a chance that pathology can occur in the breasts as it can anywhere
else in the body. We will find that some
of the risk factors for men are risk factors for women as well. However,
because women have mammary glands, our risk factors will be unique to our sex,
too.
Aging is an important risk factor
according to the American Cancer Society, diagnosed at an average of 67 years
of age.
Inherited gene
mutation, the BRCA2 gene is another, which accounts for 1 in
10 breast cancer diagnosis in men. It is also common in women breast cancers as
well. ACA says that folks with this cell mutation usually have a strong family
history of breat cancer. The mutation of gene BRCA1 isn’t as common.
Klinefelter syndrome, a congenital condition can affect
1 in 1,000 men. This is a difficult syndrome results in the male child having
possible multiple X chromosomes along with a Y chromosome (not the usual 1X
with 1Y) and results in smaller testicles, inability to produce functioning
sperm cells, generally causing infertility. As well, their androgens levels are
lower while their estrogen levels are higher. This often causes them to develop
gynecomastia (a benign male breast growth). There’s not a lot of data about
this as a cause of breast cancer because there haven’t been enough studies. Still,
this is not a common cancer.
Liver disease
Men with
liver disease, like cirrhosis, have a greater chance of developing breast
cancer due to the role sex hormone metabolism plays in binding the proteins
that carry the hormones in the blood. Severe liver disease inhibits the
integrity of the liver to function properly. These men have lower levels of
androgens and higher levels of estrogen, which as we saw with Klinefelter syndrome
contributes to breast cancer.
Radiation exposure:
Men who
have received radiation for a chest based cancer have a greater chance of
developing breast cancer as well.
Alcohol
Since
excessive alcohol drinking affects the function of the liver and can result in
cirrhosis, it, too, is a risk factor for development of breast cancer.
Estrogen treatments:
Men taking
estrogen for sex change are at risk of developing breast cancer. Estrogen
treatment is also used for men being treated for prostate cancer. However, the
likelihood of developing breast cancer is said to be small.
Obesity
Conditions
affecting the testicles, such as having an undescended testicle, having mumps
as an adult, or having an orchiectomy could increase a man’s risk of developing
breast cancer.
Occupational hazards
Men who
work in hot environments long term, especially, could be at risk for breast
cancer due to the prolonged heat’s affect on testicles, which would affect
their hormone levels, as I already mentioned.
Gasoline
fumes also are a hazard.
Nutritional deficits:
A high fat,
low carb diet . High fat diet contributes to a lot of disease, serious diseases
like heart disease, breast, prostate and colon cancers, not to mention, okay,
let’s, kidney disease. So, give up all that chemicalized meat, eat kosher,
organic and occasional, but add lotsn lots and lots and lots of fruit, organic,
not with GMO’s which are another story. (I did a report on that a couple of
years ago and think I should update it for a future segment.) More on what we
can do for prevention in part 2.
What you
eat is either eating you or nourishing you.
These are the risk factors for
developing breast cancer in women listed:
Risk
factors you cannot change
Gender: Being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer. While men
also get the disease, it is about 100 times more common in women than in men.
Age: The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets
older. About 2 out of 3 women with invasive breast cancer are 55 or older when
the cancer is found.
Genetic risk
factors: About 5% to 10% of
breast cancers are thought to be linked to inherited changes (mutations) in
certain genes. The most common gene changes are those of the BRCA1 and BRCA2
genes. Women with these gene changes have up to an 80% chance of getting breast
cancer during their lifetimes. Other gene changes may raise breast cancer risk,
too.
Family
history: Breast cancer risk is
higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease. The relatives
can be from either the mother's or father's side of the family. Having a
mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer about doubles a woman's risk.
(It's important to note that 70% to 80% of women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of this
disease.)
Personal
history of breast cancer: A woman with cancer in
one breast has a greater chance of getting a new cancer in the other breast or
in another part of the same breast. This is different from a return of the
first cancer (called recurrence).
Race: White women are slightly more likely to get breast cancer
than African-American women. But African American women are more likely to die
of breast cancer. At least part of the reason seems to be because
African-American women have faster growing tumors, but we don't know why this
is the case. Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women have a lower risk of
getting and dying from breast cancer.
Dense breast
tissue: Dense breast tissue
means there is more gland tissue and less fatty tissue. Women with denser
breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer. Dense breast tissue can also
make it harder for doctors to spot problems on mammograms.
Certain
benign (not cancer) breast problems: Women who have certain benign breast changes may have an
increased risk of breast cancer. Some of these are more closely linked to
breast cancer risk than others. For more details about these, see our document, Non-cancerous Breast Conditions.
Lobular
carcinoma in situ: Women with lobular
carcinoma in situ (LCIS) have a 7 to 11 times greater risk of developing cancer
in either breast.
Menstrual
periods: Women who began having
periods early (before age 12) or who went through the change of life (menopause)
after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. They have
had more menstrual periods and as a result have been exposed to more of the
hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Earlier
breast radiation: Women who have had
radiation treatment to the chest area (as treatment for another cancer) earlier
in life have a greatly increased risk of breast cancer. The risk varies with
the patient's age when they had radiation. The risk from chest radiation is
highest if the radiation were given during the teens, when the breasts were
still developing. Radiation treatment after age 40 does not seem to increase
breast cancer risk.
Treatment
with DES: In the past, some
pregnant women were given the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) because it was thought
to lower their chances of losing the baby (miscarriage). Recent studies have
shown that these women (and their daughters who were exposed to DES while in
the womb), have a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer. For more
information on DES see our document, DES Exposure: Questions and Answers.
Breast
cancer risk and lifestyle choices
Not having
children or having them later in life: Women who have not had children, or who had their first
child after age 30, have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. Being
pregnant many times and at an early age reduces breast cancer risk. Being
pregnant lowers a woman's total number of lifetime menstrual cycles, which may
be the reason for this effect.
Recent use
of birth control pills: Studies have found that
women who are using birth control pills have a slightly greater risk of breast
cancer than women who have never used them. This risk seems to go back to
normal over time once the pills are stopped. Women who stopped using the pill
more than 10 years ago do not seem to have any increased risk. It's a good idea
to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of birth control pills.
Using
post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT): Post-menopausal hormone therapy (also known as hormone
replacement therapy or HRT), has been used for many years to help relieve
symptoms of menopause and to help prevent thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).
There are 2
main types of PHT. For women who still have a womb (uterus), doctors most often
prescribe estrogen and progesterone (known as combined PHT). Estrogen alone can
increase the risk of cancer of the uterus, so progesterone is added to help
prevent this. For women who no longer have a uterus (those who've had a
hysterectomy), estrogen alone can be prescribed. This is known as estrogen
replacement therapy (ERT).
- Combined PHT: Use
of combined PHT increases the risk of getting breast cancer. It may also
increase the chances of dying from breast cancer. Breast cancer may also
be found at a more advanced stage. Five years after stopping PHT, the
breast cancer risk seems to drop back to normal.
- ERT: The
use of estrogen alone does not seem to increase the risk of developing breast
cancer very much, if at all. But when used long-term (for more than 10
years), some studies have found that ERT increases the risk of ovarian and
breast cancer.
At this time,
there seem to be few strong reasons to use PHT, other than for short-term relief
of menopausal symptoms. Because there are other factors to think about, you
should talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of using PHT. If a woman
and her doctor decide to try PHT for symptoms of menopause, it is usually best
to use it at the lowest dose that works for her and for as short a time as
possible.
Not
breast-feeding: Some studies have shown
that breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer risk, especially if the
breast-feeding lasts 1½ to 2 years. This could be because breast-feeding lowers
a woman's total number of menstrual periods, as does pregnancy
Alcohol: Use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of
getting breast cancer. Women who have one drink a day have a very small
increased risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk
of women who drink no alcohol. The American Cancer Society suggests limiting
the amount you drink to one drink a day.
Being
overweight or obese: Being overweight or
obese is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, especially for women after
change of life or if the weight gain took place during adulthood. Also, the
risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is around the waist. But the link
between weight and breast cancer risk is complex. And studies of fat in the
diet as it relates to breast cancer risk have often given conflicting results.
The American Cancer Society recommends you stay at a healthy weight throughout
your life and avoid gaining too much weight.
Lack of
exercise: Studies show that
exercise reduces breast cancer risk. The only question is how much exercise is
needed. One study found that as little as 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2½ hours of
brisk walking per week reduced the risk by 18%. Walking 10 hours a week reduced
the risk a little more. The American Cancer Society suggests that you exercise
for 45 to 60 minutes 5 or more days a week.
Uncertain
risk factors
High fat
diets: Studies of fat in the
diet have not clearly shown that this is a breast cancer risk factor. Most
studies found that breast cancer is less common in countries where the typical
diet is low in fat. On the other hand, many studies of women in the United States have not found breast
cancer risk to be linked to how much fat they ate. Researchers are still not
sure how to explain this difference. More research is needed to better
understand the effect of the types of fat eaten and body weight on breast
cancer risk.
The American
Cancer Society recommends eating a healthy diet that includes 5 or more
servings of vegetables and fruits each day, choosing whole grains over
processed (refined) grains, and limiting the amount of processed and red meats.
Antiperspirants
and bras: Internet e-mail rumors
have suggested that underarm antiperspirants can cause breast cancer. There is
very little evidence to support this idea. Also, there is no evidence to
support the idea that bras cause breast cancer.
Abortions: Several studies show that induced abortions do not increase
the risk of breast cancer. Also, there is no evidence to show a direct link
between miscarriages and breast cancer. For more detailed information, see our
document, Is Having an Abortion Linked to Breast Cancer?
Breast
implants: Silicone breast implants
can cause scar tissue to form in the breast. But studies have found that this
does not increase breast cancer risk. If you have breast implants, you might
need special x-ray pictures during mammograms.
Pollution: A lot of research is being done to learn how the environment
might affect breast cancer risk. At this time, research does not show a clear
link between breast cancer risk and environmental pollutants.
Tobacco
Smoke: Most studies have found no link between active
cigarette smoking and breast cancer. An issue that continues to be a focus of
research is whether secondhand smoke (smoke from another person's cigarette)
may increase the risk of breast cancer. But the evidence about secondhand smoke
and breast cancer risk in human studies is not clear. In any case, a possible
link to breast cancer is yet another reason to avoid being around secondhand
smoke.
Night Work: A few studies have suggested that women who work at night
(nurses on the night shift, for instance) have a higher risk of breast cancer.
This is a fairly recent finding, and more studies are being done to look at
this.
End of part 1
of Treasured Health Gems’ Breast Cancer Series…
