Seven Secrets About Breast Cancer

Secret # 1 The money spent on breast cancer research does not guarantee that few women will have breast cancer.
Secret # 2 You need to fight breast cancer before you reach age 50, and you can't rely on mammograms.
Secret # 3 There is a risk of developing breast cancer, even if you do not have it with your family.
Secret # 4 Most of the money spent on research is not spent on prevention to reduce the number of women suffering from the devastating effects of future breast cancer.
Secret # 5 Most women do not recognize the breast and are afraid of breast cancer.
Secret # 6 Women are not given much advice on how to protect their breasts against breast cancer.
Secret # 7 Most women do not evaluate how important their breasts are and do as much as possible to take care and protect.

The above “secret” is not generally known to most women and may be surprising. This article will shed light on these facts and allow you to decide for yourself how women approach their breast health.

Secret # 1 The costs associated with breast cancer research do not guarantee that women will not have breast cancer.

Pink Ribbon and Breast Cancer Awarenss Month was introduced in the United States in 1985 and in the United Kingdom in 1993. The PinkRibbon Foundation is run by an Estee Lauder group company [known for cosmetics and skincare].

Since then, the pink ribbon symbol has become synonymous with breast cancer, and has raised billions of pounds over the last 15 years. The breast cancer awareness month is held every October, and the fundraising for that month is amazing. All breast cancer charities compete for who can come up with the most innovative “pink” funding. They run a pink party and sell pink products to collect money. Many companies will participate and conduct special promotions for priority charities during October. “Pink” is a big company.

So, since all this money was collected in October and through events such as charity running and walking throughout the year, will it affect the incidence of breast cancer in the UK and around the world? Will they come down? Are few women suffering from the devastating effects of breast cancer?

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

In the UK, from 1993 to 2004, the incidence of breast cancer increased by 18.5%, or 1% annually. One in nine women will be ill during their lifetime, and by 2010, one in seven is currently predicted. In 2005, 45,500 women were diagnosed, equivalent to 125 daily. More than 1 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year worldwide. Breast cancer incidence is also projected to be highest in developing countries where women do not have access to the highest quality care and may be treated as exiles in certain societies.

Breast cancer survival increased. Every year, more than 12,300 women and 70 men die from breast cancer. Since its peak in the late 1980s, breast cancer mortality has declined by a third. Breast cancer drugs have helped women save lives, but like other drugs, they can cause long-term side effects. In addition, the cost of these drugs places a heavy burden on NHS. As the incidence of breast cancer continues to increase, according to Professor Karolshikola, reported in a daily email on 08/09/09, “The next generation of drugs will extend patient survival, but current NHS cancer Budget Within 4 years. [This refers to all anticancer drugs at a cost of £ 50 billion].

People around the world are collecting billions of people under the name of breast cancer, but is it true that many women actually have this devastating disease every year?

Secret # 2 You need to resist breast cancer before you reach 50, and you can't rely on mammograms.

British women are offered mammogram breast screening every 3 years from age 50 years. This is because breast cancer is still common in women over the age of 50, but the breast tissue of young women is more dense and therefore it is difficult for mammograms to pick up potential breast lump.

However, this may give a message to young women that they do not need to check their breasts. Based on my experience during my breast health story, very few young women check their breasts. The main reason for this is that no one shows them the way, they don't know what to do, they think they only need to worry if breast cancer is in the family [see Secret # 3 ] They are afraid that they may find something.

For young women, breast cancer cells can grow more rapidly than older women, so breast cancer in young women is usually much more aggressive, so it is more important to check the breast from the mid-20s. If mothers are taught to check their breasts from their mid-20s, they are not afraid. It is only part of the general system for taking care of yourself. They will also be confident in what to do. Breast self-examination can be easily performed if the method is demonstrated. There are also devices on the market that can be done with confidence and accuracy.

Breast cancer is the largest killer of women aged 35 to 54 years. In other words, it makes sense for women of this age group to do everything they can to protect their breasts.

I also don't think you should rely on mammograms. Women are screened only every 3 years, and mammograms are usually detectable only after breast tumors have grown for 8 years. By the time the tumor reaches 10 years, it can be too late. Another thing to remember is that only the part of the breast that the mammogram can put into the “clamp” can be screened. For example, you cannot examine your armpit or chest.

Finally, there are growing concerns about the safety of mammograms. The following is an excerpt from an article written by Peter Leando PhD.

`` There has been a long debate over whether the risks associated with radiation exposure from mammography are justified by the benefits gained ... new evidence and clinical practice for the specific types of radiation used Firm evidence about the beneficial benefits of mammography screening has caused a serious re-evaluation of mammography justification.

Radiation from routine mammography cannot be directly compared with other types of x-rays, such as chest x-rays.

Results of a screening test comparing chest X-ray and mammography, 1 / 1,000 rad [radiation absorbed dose] of chest X-ray with four routine radiological exposures taken on both chests of mammography, exposure was about 1,000 Will be doubled. [This refers to the United States with 4-way screening. In the UK, usually only 2-way screening is offered.]

This is considered a significant risk factor when extended over a 10-year screening period and a potential cumulative dose of 10 rad. Unfortunately, this is not a major risk posed by the specific types of radiation used in mammograms. Mammography X-rays use low-energy ionizing radiation that causes more biological damage than high-energy X-rays. Very low energy electrons can affect the density of ionized tracks through the tissue, causing complex damage to the DNA and causing carcinogenic changes.

The radiation used in mammography is almost five times more effective in causing cancer. “Therefore, women should start breast checks in their early twenties. Especially when young women are offered mammograms from a young age, 100% mammograms for young women who are more likely to be exposed to radiation in their lifetime. Mammograms are a far rarer disease and do not detect inflammatory breast cancer [IBC] without lump, but this is only detected by women who look for changes in the breast and report to a doctor Will be.

Secret # 3 Even if you do not do it with your family, you are at risk of developing breast cancer.

Of the hundreds of women I talked about breast health, the overwhelming majority received a false impression that breast cancer was primarily hereditary. They were surprised to hear that fewer than 10% of cases occurred in women with breast cancer in their families.

In fact, all women are at risk and must manage their own breast health to maximize the chances of prevention or early detection.

The other most common recognized risk factors are:

• Age-Breast cancer is more common in women over 50
• Early puberty-I'm worried that puberty may be getting younger
• Late pregnancy-many women later choose to have children
• Delayed menopause
• No children and no breastfeeding-as early as 18 ^Th A century when Italian doctors noticed that nuns had higher levels of breast cancer than the general population
• Overweight-this applies mainly to postmenopausal women
• Alcohol-overdose increases the risk of breast cancer

Cognitive risk factors account for about 50% of breast cancer cases. There is no clear reason for the rest.

An increasing number of scientists, commercial companies and individuals believe that the remaining 50% is due to the increased number of chemicals introduced in the last 50 years. They are used in our food, toiletries, the workplace, our clothes, furniture and in fact every aspect of our lives. Many of these chemicals are endocrine disrupting chemicals [EDCs], also known as hormone disruptors or estrogen mimetics. Simply put, they act like estrogens in our bodies and may be involved in changes in the delicate hormonal balance that controls events such as pregnancy, puberty, and menopause.

An interesting example of estrogen levels in British women was investigated in a collaborative study conducted between Oxford University, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Guy, and Department of Preventive Medicine, LA in the late 80s. California. They compared blood serum levels of hormones related to breast cancer between rural Chinese and British women. As a result, we found that British women exposed to toxic chemicals in their daily lives have higher levels of estradiol [estrogens] than women who live in rural China. See table].

On this subject, the online Guardian reported on 22 May 2007 & Beijing that blame pollutants for an increase in killer cancer.

The level of estradiol in British women is as follows: 35-44 years 36% 45-54 years 90% 55-64 years 171%

Secret # 4 Most of the money spent on research is not preventive so that fewer women can receive the debilitating effects of future breast cancer.

As we know, billions of pounds are collected every year around the world in the name of breast cancer, and most of this money is received by mainstream breast cancer charities. In my opinion, the areas that these funds should focus on are prevention, treatment and care. Perhaps these areas will be treated at least as important and will be expected to be allocated available funds accordingly.

First, take a look at the mainstream breast cancer charity in the country: Cancer Research UK [obviously dealing with all cancers], Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign, and Breast Cancer Care.

Cancer Research UK has done an enormous amount of research on breast cancer and their website has a lot of detailed and useful information about breast cancer. Their slogan is “Win ​​cancer together”. Charities provide funding schemes for scientists. Their research strategy is aimed at reducing cancer mortality, and more women than ever have survived breast cancer. Cancer Research UK is trying to prevent breast cancer in women known to be at high risk [about 10% of patients]. Doctors considered the use of other hormone blockers, such as tamoxifen and anastrozole [Arimidex], reducing the risk of breast cancer in women with a strong family history. This must be done very carefully. These women are healthy and treatment aimed at preventing breast cancer should not endanger the health in any other way.

Breakthrough breast cancer supports cutting-edge biological research programs to reach the vision of a future free of breast cancer. Breakthrough established in 1999 the Breaks Root Bee Robins Breast Cancer Research Center, the first dedicated breast cancer research center in the UK. Breakthrough is a UK cohort study of more than 100,000 women, primarily investigating the environment, behavior, hormones and genetic causes of breast cancer, and secondarily investigating the causes of other cancers and diseases Funding The Generations Study, which aims to be in the UK when you are 18 years of age or older upon entry.

However, looking at environmental factors as potential risk factors, it seems to be rejected because it is too difficult to study because of the vast amount of chemicals we are exposed to in our daily lives. For more information, see “Risk Factors” on the website.

As I mentioned, I am one of many who believe that certain chemicals that act like estrogens in our bodies are factors that contribute to an increase in breast cancer rates. In particular, because we know that excess estrogen is associated with breast cancer cell growth, we are disappointed that the breakthrough does not include this as a potential risk factor.

The Breast Cancer Campaign is committed to overcoming breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand the incidence of breast cancer and leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and treatment. The charity supports 97 projects over £ 12.8 million in 41 locations in the UK. Over the past 13 years, the campaign has awarded 232 grants totaling over £ 23 million to universities, medical schools, educational hospitals and research institutions across the UK. The campaign breast cancer research gap analysis document was published by the open access journal Breast Cancer Research. The result of a two-and-a-half-year document entitled “Evaluation of current knowledge limitations in breast cancer research: gap analysis” Approximately 60 major UK breast cancer scientists were involved.

Through their website, they sell different types of products, and companies that own those brands donate some of the profits to the campaign. Includes lip gloss, perfume, toiletries, clothing and stationery. Some of us will say that many products contain harmful ingredients and don't actually contribute to the breast health of women who buy them! They mention prevention in their mission statement, but I was also disappointed that they had one of the leaflets that showed that only 1% of their budget received prevention.

Breast cancer care, as the name suggests, is primarily concerned with the care and treatment of women who experience breast cancer. Provide valuable information and support.

I commend all of these organizations that are dedicated to their work to help understand and treat breast cancer.

However, I still believe that certain chemical risk factors that affect our delicate hormonal balance should be taken seriously and all available research should be studied. It is important to note that only 50% of breast cancer cases can be classified as one of the recognized risk factors. What is the remaining 50%? What has changed in our world in the last 50 years? It is also interesting that other countries recognize the dangers of these chemicals and ban them. We also believe in adopting the “precautionary principle”. This means that if you are in doubt about the safety of public health, you should take action as soon as possible without waiting for it to be too late. Looking at the growing number of companies selling safer foods, cosmetics, and toiletries, it has proven to be an alternative to these potentially harmful chemicals.

This is why I am an active supporter of Breast Cancer UK, the only charity that focuses on primary prevention. We determine that breast cancer must be “preventable”. Illness is not unavoidable & # 39; Many studies are available on the relationship between endocrine disruptors and breast cancer. This is the time when this was taken into account when considering risk factors for breast cancer.

Secret # 5 Most women are unaware of breast cancer and are afraid of breast cancer.

In particular, during the breast cancer awareness month in October, there is a great focus on awareness of the breast, but most women are not aware of the breast. In fact, most women pay little attention to the breast and take care of it, except during breastfeeding. Our breasts represent our femininity-they make us feel sexy and nourish our children. But most women don't even know how their breasts feel, and they check themselves for anything unusual.

It is very important for women to manage their breast health by doing self-examinations every month to see if there are any changes. If you find a lump and go to a doctor right away, the lump can be benign [80% are]. In stage 1, women will survive more than 5 years with a probability of about 95%. In stage 1, the lump is less than 2 cm and does not spread anywhere in the lymph nodes or body. In stage 4, this survival rate drops to 1/10. The average size of a lump found by chance by a woman who does not regularly check the breast is about 3.6 cm.

I talked to hundreds of women through breast education work, but most women don't know what to do and don't check the breasts because they don't realize that all women are at risk I don't know about the four stages of breast cancer and the corresponding survival, so I'm not really thinking about the need to do anything to take care of the breast, or I'm afraid to find something.

According to research from the Breast Cancer Campaign, breast cancer is the most feared disease among women. Fear is usually due to a lack of knowledge. This is certainly here. If a woman understands everything detailed here, she will want to give her the best chance to survive if she gets sick. The current approach to women's breast health has clearly not been achieved, and we believe it is time to empower women to control themselves and to do the same to other women.

Secret # 6 Women are not given much advice on how to protect their breasts against breast cancer.

In the past, GP surgery operated a Well Woman Clinic that advised women to go and meet doctors and nurses and take care of themselves with practical information, such as showing how to check breasts. Currently, there are few surgeries offering these clinics. This is one of the reasons why I started a presentation about breast health. I can talk to women at work and other gatherings and give information to women to help get rid of their fears. You'll also learn how to check your breasts, how to wear a bra, how to avoid harmful chemicals in everyday life, and how to detoxify breast massage.

As we know, breast cancer is the most feared disease among women, understanding how it develops, risk factors, and most importantly how to prevent it Women will feel more controlled and positive about breast health.

Other events in October and that year focus on breast cancer rather than breast health. I am one of those who believe that the more you focus on the negative, the more you get. This is the time to change that focus.

I think it's definitely time for women to get their breast health in their hands, so I started a new campaign called “Healthy Breasts For Every Woman”. For more information, please visit www.healthybreastscampaign.co.uk

Secret # 7 Most women do not evaluate how important their breasts are and do everything they can to find and protect them.

As I mentioned before, most women think little about breasts. They may get up in the morning and wash in the shower. They then push them into a cage we call a bra [and most women wear a bra that doesn't fit properly] and forget the rest of the day. It is amazing that we live in a society that is obsessed with breasts, and women do little to protect this most precious part of the body. It's also amazing that women spend a lot of money caring for other parts of their body with creams and lotions and forget their breasts! I know that women want to have a deeper understanding of breast health and to actively control breast health by making them feel helpless when faced with breast cancer.