Cancer is a group of about 25 different types of disease conditions, with irregular cell growth as one of its main characteristic. Cancer cells multiply and grow out of control, forming masses, invading and interfering with the proper functioning of other cells, tissues and organs. There is the tendency for it to metastasise or spread throughout the body. All masses/lumps/cysts are not cancerous. The benign/noncancerous ones tend not to spread, grow out of control, infringe upon or invade other cells, tissues and organs. There are many factors that lead up to the development of cancers. Here are some of those contributing factors which also increase your risk for cancer:
? The biggest culprit is the diet that’s high in fat, low in fibre and lack their essential nutrients.
? Tobacco and alcohol use, misuse and/or abuse.
? Infections, radiation.
? A lack of physical exercise and obesity.
Approximately 80 – 90% of cancers are a result of our environment e.g. chlorine in our water supply, petroleum products e.g. plastics & other heavy metal pollutants such as mercury and lead in the soil, aluminium cookware, non-nutritive additives in our food, to name a few. These foreign substances have the ability to trigger gene mutations that initiate cancerous growths. If a gene is faulty it’s more vulnerable to malignant changes. Genetics accounts for approximately 5 – 10% of all cancers, whereas the other 90-95% are a result of our environment. Cancer can be detected before the so-called prevention screenings – even before it has had a chance to really get started and take hold. It’s important to know the warning signs of cancer. Here is a helpful reminder, which spells out the word CAUTION:
? The letter “C” in the word Caution – is a CHANGE in bowel habits…
? The letter “A” in the word Caution – is A single sore that’s not healing…
? The letter “U” in the word Caution – is any UNUSUAL bleeding e.g. bleeding after menopause…
? The letter “T” in the word Caution – is a THICKING, as in a lump/mass…
? The letter “I” in the word Caution – indicates problems of INDIGESTION…
? The letter “O” in the word Caution – an OBVIOUS change in character of a mole or wart…
? The letter “N” in the word Caution – a NAGGING COUGH as in a smoker’s cough…
These suspicious signs must always be monitored & investigated further to either confirm or dispel any suspicion. Here are some of the signs in the case of breast cancer. Normally one breast usually hang slightly lower than the other…
? It’s the breast that is hanging unusually lower than the other…
? Notice if one breast is unusually larger than the other…
? There is an inflammatory breast cancer where there is no lump, but the breast feels unusually warm/hot to the touch. It may also look red & inflamed…
? Notice any dimpling or puckering of the skin of the breast…
? The skin around the breast may have the appearance of the peel of an orange…
? Notice any change in the nipples e.g. a change in the direction of the nipple, which may point in the direction of the lump…
? Notice any unusual changes in the skin itself…
? Gently give the nipple a squeeze. Note any discharges that may be discoloured e.g. green, yellow, which may indicate infection. A brown or reddish brown discharge, which may also indicate an infection, or a bloody discharge which is a RED flag…
Screening for breast cancer includes a clinical breast examination by a knowledgeable practitioner, a mammogram and/or an ultrasound/sonogram. Here is some information you would need to know. There are two types of mammograms e.g. a screening mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram.
? The screening mammogram is a general screening.
? The diagnostic mammogram looks specifically at the identified lump for
a closer examination.
Mammograms use radiation exposing the breast tissue to radiation. For those women having to take a mammogram every year, consider the exposure you are subjected to, along with exposure to other sources e.g. the sun’s radiation on the skin and other medical procedures requiring X-rays and further exposure to additional radiation. Is that then too much exposure?
Ultrasounds/sonograms use sound waves to produce an image of the breast tissue. The two main differences between the mammogram and an ultrasound are:
? A mammogram only sees lumps – a solid mass. Mammograms do not recognise cysts as a fluid filled sack inside the breast e.g. like a balloon filled with water…
? An ultrasound sees lumps/solid masses and cysts as they are. This is important because the procedures are different. A lump can be surgically removed leaving scars. A cyst is aspirated, a procedure called a Fine Needle Aspiration. A fine needle is insert into the tissue & the water is drawn out. The fluid should be examined for broken down cancer cells.
When a lump is surgically removed it leaves a scar. A cancerous growth could hide underneath the scar tissue, which you or your doctor may not recognise. An ultrasound has an advantage with younger breast tissue because it recognises both lumps and cysts. In the younger breast, where the tissue is much more dense, a mammogram is not able to recognise a cancer in young dense breast tissue. X-ray images tend to have white backgrounds. Cancer often shows up as a white speck on especially dense breast tissue. It is difficult to recognise a white speck on a white background. If there is a malignant growth hiding somewhere beneath the scar it may go undetected. Aspirating a cyst leaves no scarring. The risk of a cancerous growth hiding beneath a scar is low. Knowing the circumstances of your condition helps you make better informed decisions – as to your condition and how you might be treated.
To contact Dr. Stan Horne:
1-264-582-7045
1-784-531-1150
Email: naturopathyplus@yahoo.co.uk
