Breast cancer chemotherapy is a systemic form of breast cancer treatment. Chemotherapy adverts to the use of drugs to destroy or slow the growth of rapidly multiplying cancer cells. In breast cancer chemotherapy drugs are given directly into a vein or by mouth. When the drugs get in the bloodstream, they travel to all parts of the body to reach cancer cells that probably have spread beyond the breast.

Breast cancer chemotherapy includes a combination of drugs. There are quite a few breast cancer chemotherapy drugs. In most cases, breast cancer chemotherapy use a combination of two or more medicines to treat early-stage incursive breast cancer to kill any cancer cells that probably left behind after surgery as well as to reduce the risk of the cancer return. In advanced-stage breast cancer chemotherapy use a combination of drugs to damage the cancer cells as much as possible.

Breast cancer chemotherapy is given in cycles of treatment and followed by recovery period. Breast cancer chemotherapy treatment usually lasts several months to one year – depends on the type of drugs used. Breast cancer chemotherapy given after a mastectomy or lumpectomy – two adjuvant treatments that considered can help with reducing the chance of breast cancer reoccurrence.

As any other cancer treatment, breast cancer chemotherapy gives reactions or side effects. There are a number of common side effects most people can expect, but every person responds differently to breast cancer chemotherapy, so do not worry if your reactions are not the same from someone else’s. Most reactions expected for breast cancer chemotherapy are abdominal pain, back pain, chest pain, anemia, dehydration, diarrhea, anxiety, bleeding and bruising problems, breathing problems, heart problems, hearing problems, vision problems, swallowing problems, coughing, weakness, dizziness, headaches, dry mouth and skin, endometriosis, sweating, fainting, hair loss, fatigue, fertility Issues, fever, heartburn, hypertension or hypotension, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, osteoporosis, skin discoloration or skin sensitivity, urine discoloration, vaginal discharge and dryness, weight changes and more others.

Among the reactions, most women are usually get anxiety of the changes of menstrual cycles and infertile issues. It is true that some women may have less frequent menstrual cycles than they had before breast cancer chemotherapy, others may have more frequent periods. Some women may experience shorter menstrual cycles with heavier bleeding, some others may experience intermittent cycles with very high flow. Although menstrual periods are likely to be unbalanced after the breast cancer chemotherapy, you should always be aware of unusual bleeding – particularly when it is a heavy bleeding and followed by with dizziness.

Infertility is another issue after a breast cancer chemotherapy treatment is complete. Actually pregnancies after breast cancer chemotherapy are common, but you need to plan it well with your gynecologist. Discuss your plan to your oncologist about your plans to get pregnant. In most cases, pregnancy won’t influence the coming back of cancer, but there are pregnancy should be considered with carefulness.

Although is really tiring and painful, breast cancer chemotherapy treatments have proved helpful. Today there has been a number of life-saving treatment approaches against breast cancer in which bringing new hopes. In the recent years there are a lot of treatment options to fight cancer. You can choose among surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and/or chemotherapy — all are overwhelming.

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Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Tennis Bracelet

Hope Courage Strength Breast Cancer Bracelet

Breast Cancer Bracelet

Breast cancer awareness charm bracelet is a beautiful way to show your support for breast cancer awareness. This shows your unity and spirit when it comes to fight against breast cancer.

In any case, you are right in your thoughts that the majority of the breast cancer bracelets are pink, but they are not simply an unusual shadow of pink.

While breast cancer bracelets catch numerous shapes, they are combined in the objectives of respecting those who have fight the disease and encouraging awareness.

This will give you an opportunity to tell them about the special significant of it and why you support such an important cause.

You may want to check out my other article on prostate cancer symptoms

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Walk by Sven Ullmann

Numerous cancer researches have been done to understand the disease better. In women, breast cancer is the second most common cancer next to lung cancer. Current statistics show that breast cancer claims the life of 1 woman every 13 minutes. It would be really beneficial if there is higher awareness on breast cancer.

One of the most effective breast cancer awareness programs is the breast cancer walk. In the United States, there is the Breast Cancer 3-Day benefit. A fund raising program participated by men and women who want to make a difference in the lives of these breast cancer victims.

Although it may seem a lot of work, the breast cancer walk is actually fun. Since a breast cancer walk is not a race, participants can actually walk leisurely.

Training walks will even be organized in your area to practice long-distance walking.

It’s a good idea to join in on the Breast Cancer Walk.

Since a breast cancer walk is mostly a fund raising program to support breast cancer research, education, treatment and screening, you will be asked to raise a certain amount for the cause.

Let’s Walk For Breast Cancer – The Avon Breast Cancer Walk

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Walk by Mike Herman

Now more than ever women and men are taking part in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk fundraising campaign. This walk has been specifically set up to raise money to help in the fight against breast cancer.

Those people who participate in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk, which is really a 2 day walk, will often raise at least $1,800 each and the event which first took place in 2003 and took place in 8 cities in the USA.

But in 2005 this changed where millions and millions of dollars was raised in donations as more women became aware of the event and took part (instead of it being a few hundred it became thousands taking part).

Each year the walk is spread over 2 days (usually Saturday and Sunday) and the decision on how far a participant actually walks is up them.

However, many of those taking part in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk often choose to walk the 26.2 miles or 42.16 km and they will spread this out over the two days (say 13.1 miles each day).

Those people who register to take part in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk are assigned a member of staff from the Campaigns team and they will teach you all about fund raising but also offer essential advice on the training (physical) that they will need to carry out prior to the event.

They will answer any questions that a participant may have regarding the fund raising aspects and provide them with both a fund raising and physical training plan prior to their taking part.

Along with this anyone who participates in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk will receive a handbook containing information on both the fund raising and physical training aspects and a personal webpage which they can use in their effort to raise funds for the campaign.

The participants will also find that they will be served lunch while carrying out the Avon Breast Cancer Walk.

You may want to check out my other article on cervical cancer symptoms

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Foundation by Elizabeth Radisson

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation story is both inspiring and sad at the same time. The foundation has been making a difference in the lives of women with breast cancer for over 20 years. The mission of the foundation is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease for women.

Susan G. Komen went through an agonizing experience with breast cancer, and as a result, her sister Nancy promised to do everything she could to help other women with breast cancer. In 1982, Nancy Brinkman founded the Susan G. Komen Foundation in memory of her sister Susan who had died from breast cancer.

Nancy Brinkman thought that one person could make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. The Susan G. Komen Foundation was birthed out of that and now helps breast cancer patients around the world.

Breast Cancer Foundation

Don’t miss your mammogram this year. Several national organizations will have a list of the facilities that participate in National Mammography Day.

To find a place near you, call:

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)

American Cancer Society
1-800-ACS-2345

National Cancer Institute
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
1-800-221-2141

You may want to check out my other article on cervical cancer symptoms

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Joanna Steele-Perkins

Now pink has become more and more popular with men too and many men look as good as women in pink. There are many events organized this month in aid of Cancer Research and many of them involve people wearing pink, either a pink bra for The Moon Walk or simply a pink ribbon.

Pink is not just pink.

Imagine the brightest fuchsia pink and the palest baby pink! Depending on your hair colour, skin tone and even your eye colour, the shade of pink most suited to you may vary.

Let us start with a soft powdery pink.

Sometimes colours are difficult to imagine and finding the right shade of pink may be challenging, but a colour analysis with a colour consultant will quickly put you on the right track. Wear your pink with pride.

Does Breast Cancer Awareness Saves Lives?

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Riley Hendersen

It takes either personal experience, or a special dedication to a vision of a better future for girls and women, in order to make a deep, ongoing commitment to breast cancer awareness.

About 30% of patients are women under 40.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women in the United States, behind lung cancer. The five-year survival rate is 90%. For breast cancer detected early, having not spread to the lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate is 98%. Awareness could help save tens of thousands of lives each year by helping women get diagnosed earlier through regular screening.

The death rate dropped significantly from 1989 to 2003, a decline mostly due to the increasing role of mammography in detecting early-stage tumors, as well as improvements in therapy.

You raise your own awareness when you:

* Talk with doctors, nurses, advocates, and survivors.

* Read books and articles and visit websites.

* Participate in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month events in October, as well as year-round awareness events such as those sponsored by Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

* Do monthly self-exams.

* Have regular mammograms starting at age 40.

You may want to check out my other article on cervical cancer symptoms

How to Spot Early Signs of Breast Cancer

Executive summary about Signs of Breast Cancer by Christiene Bowden

Mammography and self exams have saved so many lives and it can save even more, provided women perform their monthly self exams and schedule their annual mammograms.

It pays to know the early signs of breast cancer or what to look for.

Two leading health agencies in the US, the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, have outlined a number of warning signs that one can look for upon performing a breast self-exam:

1.) A noticeable change in how the breast looks; its size and shape.

2.) A thickening of underlying tissue or the presence of a lump in areas surrounding the breast or in the underarms.

3.) Feeling of discomfort, like a warm sensation around the breast region.

4.) A rash on the breast, especially on the nipple.

5.) A sunken nipple or nipple turned inward.

6.) Pain on the nipple or tenderness when touched.

7.) Change in the size and shape of the nipple.

8.) Watery discharge or blood coming out of the nipple.

9.) Swelling or dimpling of the skin; irritation or redness.

Pain is not a conclusive gauge that there is breast cancer; in fact, pain is more likely a symptom of a breast disease that is benign rather than malignant.

Kelly Henderson discovered a lump on her breast through self-examination, so did Joyce Schmidt of Dallas, Texas. A breast self-exam can make it happen.

First Signs of Breast Cancer Progression

Executive summary about Signs of Breast Cancer by Trevor Price

In the U.S., over 90 percent of breast cancer diagnoses happen during the early breast cancer stages.

Other disease characteristics, like hormone receptors and lymph nodes, can aid in prognosing results and help doctors and patients choose the right treatment.

The Early Stages of Breast Cancer

Earlier breast cancer stages are called TNM stages 1, 2 and 3a. The survival rate for patients diagnosed this early have a 5-year success rate of over 75%.

Lymph Node Indicators

Lymph nodes are an effective way to predict the effects of breast cancer.

Commonly, patients with earlier stage breast cancer are classified into either those presenting negative nodes, 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes, 4 to 9 positive nodes, or 10 and more nodes.

Tumor Size

If a patient exhibits negative lymph nodes and a tumor that is smaller than 1cm, the prognosis is often very good.

The Grade of Tumor

As the grade of the tumor increases, so does the potential relapse rate.

Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors

Estrogen and progesterone receptors within the tumor is also used to prognosticate breast cancer during the earlier stages. Generally, those patients with a receptor-positive form of breast cancer tend to have a better prognosis and survival rate than those who don’t.

Age of the Patient

Generally, patients who are older (50 and up) have a better prognosis than patients under the age of 35.

You may want to check out my other article on Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Stages by Moses Wright

Where the disease has not metastasized, the five-year survival rate for women suffering from breast cancer is about 86%.

As with most cancers, breast cancer, develops in stages. T, N, M and 0-IV are common ways to categorize the different stages. T depicts tumor size, N signifies a spread to lymph nodes and M describes distant metastasis.

Stage 0 indicates that the cancer is in its earliest stage. Stage 1 means that the tumors are less than 2cm long and the cancerous cells have not spread. A tumor that is 2-5cm in diameter is classified as Stage II, and a tumor larger than 5cm is considered Stage III. When a tumor has attached to the chest wall and spread to the lymph nodes it is considered to be Stage IV.

When treatment is given to patients who are at Stage 0 or 1, the survival rates are almost 100%. The survival rate for those with Stage II cancer is between 81%-92%. At Stage III the rate lowers to 67%, and then drops substantially to 20% at Stage IV.

The chemical analysis undertaken during this test allows cancer to be detected with 86% reliability, and cancer clumps with as little as 50 cells can found. Treatment given in the early stages is highly effective, and new methods like this allow cancer to be diagnosed at the earliest possible stage.

Treatments are also improving, with hormone therapy, targeted radiation and molecule specific drugs now readily available.

Breast cancer is no longer the death sentence it used to be.

Identifying Breast Cancer Stages For a Proper Treatment

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Stages by MC Ezzia

Cancer stages are established on the size of the tumor, whether the cancer is invasive or non-invasive, whether lymph nodes are involved, and whether the cancer has extended outside the breast.

Doctors categorized breast cancer into four number stages. ‘Staging’ allows for a variety of reasons, like the size of the tumour, whether cancer cells have extended into the close lymph glands (lymph nodes), whether the cancer cells contain receptors for hormones or other proteins, and whether the tumour has extended to any other organ of the body. The word tumour denotes either a breast lump or the part of cancer cells brought into being on a scan or mammogram.

Once the surgery is finished, your doctor could settle on the stages of your cancer. There are five fundamental stages, 0 through IV, and a number of sub-stages. Lower numbers point to earlier stages of cancer, while higher numbers reveal a late-stage cancer. Doctors assess a woman’s breast cancer partly by settling on how big the tumor is and how far it’s extended. This is called staging.

Identifying the stages of your cancer assists your doctor make a decision on a proper treatment plan. The stages assist forecast as well how well you may do, whether the cancer will reappear (recurrence), for example.

The breast cancer stages aren’t the simply reason doctors regard as when settling on treatment.

You may want to check out my other guide on ovarian cancer symptoms

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Ribbon by Simon Oldmann

Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon

These days almost every worthy cause finds itself a proper ribbon, without getting into the debate about the use of ribbons and how people use them, there are not many ribbons that I know of that are more important than the breast cancer ribbon.

So why is it important to use the pink ribbon and join the fight against breast cancer? First of all it shows the most important thing a person can show, it shows that you care, its shows that you are willing to give a little of your time or energy to try and educate more people, to warn some others and to maybe, just by doing this very small action contribute to saving a life. This is not a joke, sometimes awareness is all that separates the ill from the healthy and the dead from the living, we are at an age where people are learning of new dangers every day, and with all these upcoming potential dangers of terrorism and natural disasters breast cancer has been here long enough and has cause so much pain and suffering that it certainly deserves to be treated as something we should all remember, even on a daily basis.

Every October is the international breast cancer awareness month, this is the time to try and do the most to increase the public awareness of this disease, and educate woman about the ways they can fight breast cancer, this month is also dedicated to raising money for the many different organizations and foundations that are working all year round on helping victims of breast cancer, some of these patients have no money and no funds they can use to try and treat the cancer, and these organizations help them get the support that they need.

So all you got to do is just place one of these pink ribbons on your shirt of jacket, and show the solidarity you have with the breast cancer patients, the victims and the family and friends of those who have been effected by this terrible disease. Remember that you do not have to limit yourself only to the month of October, and that it is enough for only one person to ask you about this ribbon – once a year to make a huge difference, think about hundreds, if not thousands of people like you doing the same thing every day, and each one of these people is approached by an uneducated person, how many lives can be speared.

Breast Cancer Ribbons-showing Your Support

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Ribbon by Samantha Kay

The pink ribbons show everyone that you care about and are interested in finding a cure for breast cancer. Whether you just wear a pink ribbon or you are more socially active in the issue depends upon your own personal experiences with breast cancer.

One of the more popular one, particularly for women, is the breast cancer ribbon.

For those of us that have lost someone close to us it is harder because we know that early detection might have saved them.

The pink ribbon is considered to be an international symbol for breast cancer-regardless of country, the pink ribbon serves a universal meaning.

Pink Ribbon Day is always on the fourth Monday of October. It marks the culmination of breast cancer activities during the month of October. It is recognized as breast cancer’s national day in support of awareness and research, and generates a range of activities with an education and fundraising focus. Pink Ribbon Day raises funds for research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

You can help increase your communities breast cancer awareness and support breast cancer research at the same time by proudly wearing your ribbon. Each and every one of us can make a different in the fight against breast cancer. Just pick one up and show your support!

You may want to check out my other guide on Colon Cancer Symptoms

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Treatment by Darren Dunner

Breast cancer has become a more common disease among women in modern times. Statistics reveal that the average breast cancer risk is 14%.

Typical breast cancer symptoms are the formation of lumps, swelling or skin changes in the breast. Regular self-examination of the breast and an annual mammogram would help in early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Breast cancer treatment depends on several factors, like the size and stage of the tumor, as well as the lymph node and hormone receptor status. Breast cancer is classified as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC).

Normal breast cancer surgery, called lumpectomy, is done where only the tumor in the breast is removed.

In persons having invasive breast cancer, surgery and radiation might be supplemented by an axillary lymph node dissection. Further hormonal therapy or chemotherapy – or both – might be needed in a few breast cancer patients. Radiation therapy reduces the risk of recurrence significantly.

If the breast cancer is hormone-receptor-positive, then hormonal therapy is a primary method of breast cancer treatment. Hormonal therapy stops the hormone known as estrogen to stimulate breast cancer cell growth. In recent times, aromatase inhibitors are preferred to tamoxifen, particularly for breast cancer treatment of post-menopausal women who have hormone-receptive-positive breast cancer.

Alternative Breast Cancer Treatments

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Treatment by Gary Leonard

A wide variety of alternative breast cancer treatments exist today.  While “alternative” treatments are defined as practices that replace traditional treatments, most breast cancer patients use them in combination with conventional medicine.

Generally, alternative treatments are not acknowledged by the medical community as standard medical practices and therefore, many patients do not inform their doctors when using these therapies.  Examples of alternative treatments include acupuncture, massage, megavitamins, herbal supplements, nutrition, and magnetic therapy, to name a few.

Massage involves manual manipulation of muscles and soft tissue.

Megavitamin treatments usually involve very high doses of vitamins A, C and E.  A healthy diet, one that offers lots of fruits and vegetables, eliminates the need for vitamin supplements.

Good nutrition is always important, but for anyone fighting breast cancer, or any cancer, it’s crucial.  Though there are many, one alternative nutrition treatment is the macrobiotic diet. Cancer experts often recommend that patients avoid dietary supplements altogether.

These are just a few of the many alternative breast cancer treatments available.  While it’s important to keep an open mind about new treatment options, it’s more important to approach alternative treatments with caution.  Ultimately, the decision for any treatment is up to the patient.  Remember, knowledge is power.

You may want to check out my other guide on Lung Cancer Symptoms

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Symptoms by Alexis Blaise Kenne

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast cancer symptoms can be experienced by men as well as women but breast cancer is very rare in men compared to women. More than 1 in 10 women are likely to suffer from breast cancer symptoms, and be diagnosed with breast cancer, in a lifetime. Breast cancer symptoms are often subtle, and self discovery can be elusive. Some breast masses can be felt during a breast exam.

Lump may form in the breast, chest or under the arm if the cancer is in the breast or near the chest wall. Generally, breast cancer is a much more aggressive disease in younger women. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer, which includes the breast being warm, red, and swollen. The inflammation occurs because the cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast.

Breast cancer is a common disease. Each year, approximately 200,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer, and one in nine American women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer occurs much more commonly in women and fewer than 1 in 100 of breast cancers occur in men. Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast. The breast tissue covers an area larger than just the breast.

Women had limited knowledge of their relative risk of developing breast cancer, of associated risk factors and of the diversity of potential breast cancer-related symptoms. Older women were particularly poor at identifying symptoms of breast cancer, risk factors associated with breast cancer and their personal risk of developing the disease. Women are very conscious about their breast care.

Breast Cancer Symptoms – How to Detect Before it is Too Late

Executive Summary about Breast Cancer Symptoms by Bertil Hjert

This disease can be cured if detected early. In certain severe and final stages of breast cancer, women are advised to go for a breast removal surgery or masectomy. Fortunately, this disease can be treated successfully if detected early.

- The warning sings

Usually, breast cancer does not carry any pain.

Common symptoms :

a) Change in breast and nipple feel

You may suddenly experience tenderness of nipple or even a lump or thickening near       the breast or underarm area without any specific reason.

b) Change in the appearance of breast or nipple

This means that there is a change in the shape or the size of the breast or a nipple. The      nipple may appear scaly, read, swollen, turn slightly inward or contain ridges or pitting   similar to the skin of an orange.

c) Nipple discharge

Sometimes, you may also experience nipple discharge.

d) Pain

You may sometimes feel pain in the nipple.

e) Swelling

Women with breast cancer can even observe swelling or mass inside the arm pit.

f) Lump

A lump near the arm pit or breast is a clear indication of breast cancer.

g) Rash

You would find a rash on a nipple or the surrounding area.

Just inspect your breasts for any lumps or swelling, changes in contour of each breast, dimpling of skin or changes in the nipples.