Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of cancer.

A medical oncologist is a doctor
Specializing in the study and treatment of cancer. However, a medical oncologist for breast cancer should first consult with a pathologist about the exact biological nature of the tumor being treated.

An oncologist deals with the diagnosis, therapy such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, constant follow-up with breast cancer patient, and the screening of the relatives of the patient. Having diagnosed with breast cancer, a patient is informed with the 3 specialty areas in the treatment of breast cancer, which are as follows: medical oncology, surgical oncology and radiation oncology.

There are different methods in the diagnosis for breast cancer. The medical oncologist for breast cancer may do a biopsy on the patient (may be incision or excision), x-rays or several blood tests. If a patient is diagnosed to have breast cancer, the treatment for the tumor that the medical oncologist would apply varies depending on the stage of the breast cancer.

Chemotherapy may be done before or after surgery. Chemotherapy involves several kinds of drugs and these drugs are given to patients with primary breast cancer; breast cancer believed to have not yet spread outside the breast or to the lymph nodes. This hormone therapy interferes with the hormones in the body that stimulates cancer growth. Hormone therapy can be done to patients with primary breast cancer or also to patients with tumor that has already spread to other organs in the body.

The treatment that the medical oncologist for breast cancer applies to patients, like chemotherapy, has certain side effects like loss of hair. These doctors are expert in their field and so they also are dealing with the treatment of the side effects and problems encountered by the patient with breast cancer.

All about Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Breast cancer is considered as a killer disease and it is known to be the top cause of cancer death among women. According to American cancer society, about 1.3 million new breast cancer cases are diagnosed on an annually basis which includes 465,000 deaths. In order to successfully tackle this devastating disease, we must encourage innovative scientists to study cancer at its most basic level. In other words, breast cancer research work should be conducted at its molecular level. Also, besides the governments, private organizations should provide flexible funding to scientists who will be conducting breast cancer research work. Proper funding of breast cancer research projects; can not only lead to better prevention strategies but it can also help towards earlier diagnostic techniques and new anticancer drugs and treatments.

A world renowned cancer researcher, named Lothar Hirneise has come to an understanding that cancer exist with stress. He is of the opinion that when the mind is under constant stress, the body then produces high levels of stress hormone called Cortisol. The immune system gets suppressed with high levels of Cortisol in the body. Also, a stressed mind will release out Adrenaline to an extent of depletion. People suffering from cancer are found to be having almost no adrenaline in their cells. In fact, cells of cancer patients are often overloaded with insulin and plenty of sugar. Another leading German cancer researcher by the name of ‘Ryke-Geerd Hammer has gone through twenty thousand cancer patients and found a direct relationship between psycho-emotional conflict and cancer patients. This occurs between 1 to 3 years, prior to cancer diagnosis and cancer forming within the body. Cancer patients, who have experienced a psycho – emotional conflict shock, in the form of loss of a loved one etc, few years prior to their cancer urine, has experienced emotional pain and stress within themselves. Such a state of mind can have an adverse effect on the immune system of the person’s body.

Recently, researchers who are working towards breast cancer research project, have developed and successfully tested a breast cancer vaccine which is likely to treat women with treatment – resistant HER2 – positive breast cancer and thus be able to prevent cancer re – occurrence. Breast cancer researchers look forward to use HER2 DNA vaccines for cancer – free women, in order to prevent initial development of such tumors. At present, therapies such as trastuzumab and lapatimib are used towards treating breast cancer patients. However, it was lately noticed that a huge group of patients develop a resistance towards trastuzumab and lapatimib. HER2 receptors are known to promote a particularly aggressive type of tumor that affects about thirty percent of breast cancer patients.

The new breast cancer vaccine is produced by the body’s own cells. It delivers a cancer fighting gene into cells, which then produce immune system proteins and also tumor – destroying cells. According to the lead researcher Wei – Zen Wei, a professor of immunology and microbiology at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, the vaccine is made by using so – called naked DNA from genes that produces the HER2 receptor. The process involved in the making of the vaccine, is called as electroporation. The genes moved towards the cells, which then produced HER2 receptors that led to activation of antibodies and immune cells called Killer T cells.

Interventional radiologist Dr. Grubbs (Sarasota Interventional Radiology Clinic) uses sophisticated, state-of-the-art X-ray and other imaging devices to guide tiny catheters and other small instruments through the body to diagnose and treat disease without surgery. Dr. Grubbs and others have advanced procedures that once required more invasive surgery.

In some cases, new interventional radiology procedures can be used to deliver cancer-fighting therapy directly to the site of the tumor.

Using his expertise in reading X-rays, ultrasound and other imaging technology, Dr. Grubbs (Sarasota Interventional Radiology Clinic) is able to guide small instruments such as catheters - tubes that measure just a few millimeters in diameter - through blood vessels and veins to treat disease percutaneously (through the skin) in a manner much less invasive, and much less costly, than traditional surgeries.

The Benefits of Interventional Radiology
It is one thing to say a treatment will improve the quality of your life. It is another to know the stories of those who have experienced it first-hand. While the advantages of Interventional Radiology vary from treatment to treatment, these affect everyone:

You’re backing home sooner because most procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis or require only a short hospital stay. Because the procedure is minimally invasive there is less pain post-procedure. You can resume your everyday activities sooner because recovery times are often significantly reduced. The procedures are sometimes less expensive than surgery or other alternatives.

Interventional Radiologist Dr. Gerald Grubbs
A native of Tennessee Dr. Grubbs (Sarasota Interventional Radiology Clinic) attended college and medical school there before going on to complete his residency at the University of Tennessee in Diagnostic Radiology.

Excited at how the new field of interventional radiology was revolutionizing minimally invasive surgery – and by the benefits it held for patients – the doctor took a Fellowship in Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology at the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute at the Baptist Hospital of Miami. In 1993, after completing his Fellowship, Dr. Grubbs received his Board Certification in Interventional Radiology from the American Board of Radiology.

The following year, Dr. Grubbs moved to the Sun coast and joined Naples Radiologists, P.A. doing Diagnostic as well as Vascular and Interventional Radiology. In 2006 he opened his own practice, Sarasota Interventional Radiology. Here he brings his skills in imaging, his procedural expertise, his experience in research and his clinical practice to offer minimally invasive diagnostics and treatments for patients whose conditions would have once required open surgery.

Cancer Diagnosis?
You received a diagnosis of cancer. Because of our own experiences with this dreaded disease, my wife, Nancy, and I have some suggestions to share with you. Nancy, my wife and my hero, and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary this September 25. It has only been over the last 10 years that I have come to appreciate and admire her heroic qualities brought to fruition through tremendous personal adversity. To accomplish this it is imperative that the doctors and hospital chosen possess unique skills and procedural methods to make the cancer victim's survival possible.

Many know me as the author of the "Managing My Fibromyalgia" Website and Forum in which I describe my life dealing with the effects of what is now termed fibromyalgia, for more than 30 years. My life has been challenging and I find myself now permanently disabled due to this chronic pain and fatigue disorder. What I have had to face with my illness pales in comparison to what Nancy has dealt with successfully over the past 10 years.

Nancy was diagnosed with the dreaded big "C" in 1999. It was both colon and pancreatic cancers. She was initially devastated. This was something she feared since 1973 when she found out she had a condition called familial polypus’s. Until that point, Nancy thought her rectal bleeding was due to hemorrhoids as her doctors had told her since she was in her teens. She had thousands of polyps in her colon, too many to be removed.

[Familial polypus’s or familial adenomatous polypus’s [FAP) is a premalignant disease. This means that a person with FAP, if left untreated, will invariably develop cancer. Individuals with this disorder grow hundreds of polyps throughout their large intestines. The polyps, also called adenomas, commonly develop just after puberty. Approximately half of all FAP patients will have polyps by age 14. Ninety percent will have detectable polyps by age 25. Usually by age 35-40, one or more of these polyps will become cancerous.]*

[FAP is a rare disease. One in 8,000 people in the United States have FAP. However, it may be very common in affected families. FAP is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. [Our son Gregg inherited this abnormal gene and had his colon removed by the time he was 22]. FAP can also develop in someone with no family history of the disorder, due to a new genetic mutation in that individual. It is thought that approximately one percent of all colorectal cancers in the United States can be attributed to FAP.]*

Nancy had surgery back in 1973 to remove her colon. The doctors created what they term a "J-pouch" out of her intestine to replace her colon and to restore normal bowl function. Any new polyps that developed, while in a precancerous state, required removal and testing.

This treatment worked for many years. Since moving to Virginia, however, she became uncomfortable with the doctors she met. Nancy became remiss on going for her checkup appointments, even after my protests that she not neglects her follow-ups. This is what undoubtedly led to her developing colon and pancreatic cancer in 1999.

Nancy's initial reaction to her diagnosis was immediate devastation. It lasted until she met her new doctors at the Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Hospital in New York City. She saw the doctors at Sloane after getting the recommendations of family and friend based on their experience with the hospital.

After talking to the doctors and meeting other patients with the same condition, her feelings of devastation became one of hope and steadfastness in the face of cancer, an attitude she has strongly maintained until the present.

Since 1999, Nancy was treated and had surgery and several related procedures for colon, pancreatic, and lung cancer. Through it all, she is now cancer free.

The past two years, polyps where found developing in Nancy's stomach. They were removed, tested, and found to be showing mild dysplasia. After several consultations and much consideration on Nancy's part, to prevent any cancer of her stomach developing to threaten her life, she opted for a total mastectomy [surgical removal of the stomach and the connecting of her intestine directly to her esophagus] on Oct 7, 2008. This radical surgery would extend her life and assure that the polyps in her stomach would not turn to cancer. From Oct 7, 2008 till when she returned home December 9, 2008, she spent a total of 8.5 weeks in the hospital with only a couple of short stays at her sister's home in New Jersey. There were complications due to leaks in her new digestive tract, slow healing, abscesses filled with fluid in her torso and related infections. In fact, Nancy returned home to Virginia with two drains still in place.

The doctors in New York City gave us the name of a surgeon in Winter Park Florida. Dr. Timothy Childers was going to follow up on her case. We moved from Virginia to Chuluota Florida to live at my sister's home on December 13, 2008. We gave up our apartment in Lorton, Virginia due to financial reasons; going to stay at my sister's home in Florida would give us extra hands to help in Nancy's recovery.

Within several days of seeing Dr. Childers for the first time and before having her drain apparatus removed, Nancy ended up once again in the hospital [Florida Hospital Orlando South] for another week. She had developed fever and it was determined to be an on going infection from a previously undetected abscess filling with fluid. She finally left the hospital on December 27, 2008.

It is now January 6, 2009 and we are thanking God that Nancy is making slow but steady progress [some days better with occasional set backs] in achieving some sort of normalcy. She will never be able to eat the same way as before, but many times a day in much smaller portions and will probably need supplements to reach the goal of 2000 calories a day.

This last surgery turned out to be the hardest on Nancy that I have witnessed. It took a toll on her emotions and determination, but I know in my heart that her steadfast resolve to live will make the difference again and she will continue to be cancer free.

Nancy's surviving cancer has come at a financial cost. Even with her good insurance coverage from her employer, we have been financially devastated over these past 10 years. We gave up our home in Stafford Virginia in 2005, used up my entire 401k plan from my once employer, over extended my credit on my main credit card to pay medical bills and are at a point of considering declaring bankruptcy [although it goes against everything I believe in]. We now realize we may never get to travel during our retirement as we had planned, nor have a place of our own nor live our remaining years together without tremendous financial stress and pressure.

We look to God for comfort with thanksgiving.
After nearly 40 years of marriage, I love and cherish my hero wife even more than before. Based on Nancy's experience with her cancer and my own experience with prostate cancer, that was treated successfully this past year, there are several things that are important if one is to successfully fight the cancer battle:

1. Early detection through regular examinations and testing is essential.
2. Know your risks [family history, etc].
3. Learn everything you can about your particular cancer.
4. Always obtain a second or third opinion.
5. If you do not feel comfortable with a doctor, move on to another; if you do not have any confidence in your cancer doctor, find a new one.
6. Research cancer doctors and cancer hospitals.
7. Ask friends and professionals for their recommendations on same.
8. When declared cancer free, do not become complacent. Continue regular examinations and tests to detect any reoccurrence early.

Scottsdale, AZ-based New Hope Medical Center, an alternative cancer treatment
Center, offers patients suffering from chronic diseases a place to go in order to receive alternative cancer treatment care. Each plan is tailored to a single person, making those who choose alternative cancer treatment care a unique way to fight their cancer or other chronic disease.

Prostate cancer forms in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. This type of cancer affects 1 in 6 men and is the most common non-skin cancer in America. The rate for a prostate cancer diagnosis increases as a man ages. In fact, most men with prostate cancer are over 65 years old. In 2008, there were a total of over 186,000 new cases of prostate cancer, and about 29,000 prostate cancer-related deaths.

Prostate cancer may not show any symptoms, but those who do have symptoms involve urinary problems. A man with prostate cancer may have difficulty passing urine, experience pain or burning during urination or even see blood in the urine. A doctor can diagnose prostate cancer by either performing a rectal exam or testing the blood for a prostate-specific antigen.

At the New Hope Medical Center, the team of doctors works hard to ensure each patient who chooses an alternative cancer treatment is given the utmost care in hopes of suppressing the disease and improving overall wellbeing.
1. Try to stop the tumor from growing.
2. Reach the stage where the tumor completely disappears.
3. Keep the patient in remission with no recurrences of cancer.

New Hope Medical Center believes boosting the immune system through noninvasive therapy is a key way to eliminate cancer and other chronic illnesses. The doctors at this alternative cancer treatment center also stress body detoxification along with the proper nutrition. The beautiful facilities of New Hope Medical Center and honest, caring, and compassionate staff welcome any cancer or chronic illness sufferer who is looking for an alternative treatment and method of care.

Several cancer sufferers have provided testimonials praising New Hope Medical Center, the founder, Dr. Fredda Branyon, and the experienced, highly-qualified staff members. New Hope Medical Center has helped several cancer patients in their quest to conquer this disease through the use of alternative cancer treatments. Along with proper nutrition and immune system building, other alternative cancer treatment options may include physical therapies, homeopathic medicine, botanical or herbal therapies, systemic enzyme therapy, hormone therapy, acupuncture and stress management, as well as chiropractic medicine.

Men suffering from prostate cancer have other ways to fight cancer besides the conventional chemotherapy or radiation. Contacting the doctors at New Hope Medical Center is a positive first step towards fighting cancer, whether it is prostate cancer or another form of cancer.

Breast Cancer Risks
Despite progress of medical science, breast cancer continues its destructive effects in all social class, poor and rich, black and white. It is estimated that breast cancer will affects one woman in eight will develop cancer during their lifetime.

Avoid Hormone therapy for menopause symptoms - menopause itself is not a disease, it is a natural hormonal change in your body that often occurs after age 45; but some hormonal treatment against the symptoms of menopause can have serious effects on your health. Long-term use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may lead to breast cancer. According to WHO (world Health Organization), MHT is a risk factor for breast cancer especially when taken for more than 5 years. In addition, Studies show that hormone therapy can also increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Practice Prolonged Breastfeeding - it can sound old fashion, but studies have showed that prolonged breastfeeding reduces considerably the risk of developing breast cancer. Breastfeeding provides many benefits in the physical and mental development of the infant. By breastfeeding you increase the chance of your infant to be healthy, and decrease your risk of developing breast cancer. It’s not archaic to breastfeed; if times have changed, the causes leading to breast cancer remain the same, reduce your risk of breast cancer by breastfeeding your child.

Avoid contraceptive containing estrogen - as far as possible, use birth control (contraceptive) medications that do not contain synthetic estrogen hormones. In some women, estrogen tends to block the ovarian activity, and involves in the development of breast cancer or cancer of the uterus.

Treat Obesity – obesity (being overweight) increase the risk of breast cancer. Being overweight, especially after menopause, is associated with carcinogenesis of the normal cells of the breast. This risk is higher among women with high levels of estrogen (hormone). It is estimated that the fight against obesity could prevent more than 10,000 new cases of breast cancer per year. Therefore, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

Practice regular physical exercise - physical inactivity may be relaxing, but its consequence is disease. Practicing 30 minutes of physical activity for at least 5 days a week can reduce 30% to 40% breast cancer risk. In addition, exercise fight against the signs of aging. Not only exercise can prevent formation of new cancer cells, but it can also kill cancer cells in their genesis. Whether you are a breast cancer victim, at risk or feel concerned, exercise is beneficial for you.

Avoid alcohol and tobacco use - The risk of breast cancer is higher with consumption of alcohol and tobacco. Even moderate consumption of alcohol and second hand smoking can increase the risk of breast cancer 20% to 30%. In addition to breast cancer, tobacco is the number one cause of oral and lung cancer.

Avoid Trans fat foods - Eat less fatty foods is important to be in good health. Many clinical studies have shown that Tran’s fatty acids in the blood increase 50% the risk of breast cancer in women. Tran’s fatty acids are used in the food industry such as industrial rolls and biscuits, pastries, chips, pizza. The most common of trans fatty foods include French fries (8 grams in 1 medium piece), doughnuts (5 grams in 1), pound cake (4.5 grams in 1 slice), candy bar (40 grams in 1 bar), margarine (3 grams in 1 tablespoon), potato chips (43 grams in 1 bag), cookies (30 grams in 3), etc. Reduce these foods in your diet and increase your intake of omega-3, soybean products, fruits and cruciferous vegetables.

If breast cancer is raging, researchers do not remain idly. Currently, there are support centers and medications aiming at eradicate the disease. Would you like to know more about breast cancer? Are you a victim of breast cancer and needs support? Visit the America’s top recognized and respected breast cancer centers and physicians; click ofbreastcancer.com, or click on the link in the resource box below.

Breast cancer stages are based on whether the cancer is invasive or non-invasive, whether the lymph nodes have been affected, whether the cancer cells have already spread beyond the breast, and the size of the tumor.

The purpose of identifying the stage in breast cancer is to organize the different factors and features of the cancer. In organizing the factors involved, the prognosis or the most likely outcome of the disease will be identified. The doctor can also provide the patient with the best treatment guide for the disease.

Stage 0. In this stage, the breast cancer is non-invasive. It just simply means that there is no sign of non-cancerous abnormal cells or cancerous cells getting out of the part of the breast where they started. These cells have not yet invaded other neighboring normal tissues in the breast.

Stage 1.
In this stage, the breast cancer is said to be invasive. The cancer cells are already breaking out of the part of the breast where they started and they have already invaded neighboring normal tissues. But in Stage 1, the lymph nodes are not affected or involved and the tumor measures up to 2 centimeters.

Stage 2.
Stage 2 is described as invasive breast cancer and is subdivided into two categories: Stage 2A and Stage 2B. In Stage 2A, there is no tumor in the breast but a 2 centimeters or less tumor can be found scattered in the axillaries lymph nodes, which is the lymph node found under the arm. Another case of Stage 2A is that, the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not more than 5 centimeters and has not spread in the axillaries lymph nodes. In stage 2B, the tumor is also larger than 2 centimeters but not more than 5 and has already spread to the axillaries lymph nodes or if the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters, the tumor has not yet spread the axillaries lymph nodes.

Stage 3.
Stage 3 is described as one of the invasive breast cancer stages and is subdivided into 3 categories: Stage 3A, Stage 3B and Stage 3C. In Stage 3A, there is no tumor in the breast but it is found in the axillaries lymph nodes or the lymph nodes near the breast bone. In Stage 3B, the tumor may be of any size and found in the lymph nodes under the arm or near the breastbone, chest wall and/or skin of the breast, clustered together or sticking to other structures. In Stage 3C, there can still be no sign of cancer in the breast. The tumor may be of any size and found to be spread to the chest wall, lymph nodes above or below the collarbone, lymph nodes under the arm or breastbone.

Stage 4.
Stage 4 is described as one of the invasive breast cancer stages in which the cancer has already spread to other organs of the body; usually the brain, lungs, liver or bone.

Importance of Knowing Breast Cancer Stages
Determining the breast cancer stages is important since it enables the patient and doctor to identify the treatment necessary for one’s condition. Also, it is essential in assessing the risk of the given condition and what lifestyle changes the patient can do to improve their health.

Identifying a Breast Cancer's Stage
When talking about breast cancer stages, it is aimed at describing the extent of the cancer in the body. So, if you ask how a breast cancer is staged, doctors often start to classify whether it is invasive or non-invasive. Other factors considered are the tumor size, number of nymph modes involved, and what other parts of the body it has managed to affect.

Determining a cancer's stage is helpful during prognosis and deciding on a treatment option. To determine the stage, a few standard procedures are done by the doctor on a patient. They undergo physical exam and biopsy to acquire the data needed by the doctor for the diagnosis.

If needed, further tests are also conducted such as imaging tests that include x-ray, bone scans, mammograms for the breasts, CT scans, positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging.

What Are the Breast Cancer Stages?
Take note of the features and extent of the cancer in each of the stages:

Breast Cancer Stage 0
This stage renders the case of breast cancer to be non-invasive. At this point of the breast cancer, cancer or non-cancerous cells cannot be detected yet. The abnormal cells are still at the stage wherein they try to spread out within the specific part of the breast where the cells are rooted.

Breast Cancer Stage I
Once the breast cancer enters this stage, it is now categorized as an invasive type of breast cancer. Meaning, the cancer cells have now worked their way towards the neighboring tissues. Stage I breast cancer also exhibit the following characteristics:
• The cancerous tumor has reached the size of 2 centimeters.
• No lymph modes are affected.

Breast Cancer Stage II
For this particular stage of breast cancer, it is also known as an invasive type of cancer and is broken down into two more categories:

1) Stage IIA
Even in this particular stage, the conditions can be different:
• A tumor does not exist in the breast but cancerous cells are detected in the lymph nodes.
• A tumor could exist but measures less than 2 centimeters;
• The tumor has expanded beyond 2 centimeters but less than 5 centimeters without reaching the lymph nodes.

2) Stage IIB
This invasive level of the cancer is recognized as either one of the following:
• The tumor exceeds 2 centimeters in size but less than 5 centimeters, while also reaching the lymph nodes.
• The tumor is more than 5 centimeters in size but has not yet reached the axillaries lymph nodes.

Breast Cancer Stage III
1) Stage IIIA
In this stage, the tumor could either be detected or not. Aside from the axillaries lymph nodes, cancer can also stick to other structures outside of the lymph nodes and become clumped together.

2) Stage IIIB
In this stage, the tumor can grow in size and affect other areas of the body outside of the actual breast, whether the chest wall or skin of the breast. This is the stage wherein inflammatory breast cancer takes place.

3) Stage IIIC
In some cases, sign of breast cancer might not be detectable yet. However, the tumor could already be spreading towards the breast skin, chest wall, and below your collarbone.

Breast Cancer Stage IV
In this level, the cancerous cells have managed to spread to various organs of the body. Therefore, the cancer is no longer restricted on the breast and lymph nodes, which signifies the initial diagnosis of breast cancer. The reason why diagnosis is done only during this stage is because cancerous cells were not detected while still within the breast.

Recognizing breast cancer stages does more than just identifying treatment options, but also enables doctors and patients to understand the developmental pattern of the disease.

Breast Cancer can be treated effectively if it is detected early enough. Some 95 percent of breast cancers are discovered by the patient herself when she notices a lump. In all too many cases the discovery is made by chance and the lump may be quite large. The good news, though, is that most cities have a breast cancer treatment center.

The cure rate for breast cancer could be greatly improved if all women made a routine of monthly self-examination and then consulted a physician immediately if they found the least indication of a thickening or lump. Most such lumps are benign, but it is most important that the ones that are malignant be identified without delay. Nearly every city has a breast cancer treatment center that would provide patients of services for full diagnosis and various options of the treatment of their breast cancer.

Cancer of the breast is a leading cause of death in American women. One woman in 8 will develop this condition. The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute recommend that every woman follow a prescribed method of self-examination just after the menstrual period, continuing every month after the menopause.

The procedure consists of carefully looking at and feeling the breasts, and takes only a few minutes. Currently, the American Cancer Society recommends scheduling mammography—X-ray examination that detects breast cancers too small to feel (less than 1cm)—every 2 years for women between 40 and 49 years old and yearly thereafter.

A breast cancer treatment center would provide patients for information or facts about handling breast cancer. They have support programs and services that would help patients and also their family in managing and coping with their cancer experience. Treatment opportunities like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy with corresponding medicine therapies, including healthy nutrition for patients as well as mind, body and spirit development.

Cancer Treatment Centers: Taking Care of Your Mind, Body and Spirit!
If you or any one of your loved ones is diagnosed with cancer, there is a number of cancer treatment centers located all over the country. These cancer treatment centers offer a whole range of treatments, both traditional and holistic, to help treat not only cancer but also the body, mind and spirit too. A number of cancer treatment centers conduct research on an ongoing basis, and patients can take part if they qualify in a series of clinical trials.

There are new cancer treatments that are developed continually, and once research has advanced to where trying it on humans is warranted, clinical trials are conducted. Great results are being seen with new cancer treatments; in comparison to the past when some types of cancer were considered as a death sentence are currently being treated successfully and hence patients can enjoy living cancer free due to this continual research.

Today cancer treatment centers are easily accessible to everyone located in many metropolitan areas. A number of them are affiliated with large university based hospitals, and provide the latest technology available to treat different types of cancers. These types of facilities are also research based and offer several new treatment alternatives to participants in a range of ongoing studies.

If for any reason one of these major cancer treatment centers are not within a reasonable distance, or not accessible due to other limitations, one can receive treatment through local oncologists and cancer treatment centers. These also have good facilities, and can provide the cancer patient with professional care and support. Cancer treatment centers vary in the types of services they offer, for instance it can be traditional or alternative treatment based, and the corresponding fees may also differ.

Those seeking other upscale private facilities that offer gourmet organic meals, natural herbal spa treatments, and additional pampering services to the cancer patient can also be found along with deluxe room accommodations. Such type of non-traditional cancer therapies help the patient recuperate and enjoy living again.

Cancer treatment centers are no more just sterile hospital environments that offer stale food, and stiff sheets. Comfort is of utmost important for all cancer patients, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Cancer patients who are in search of a cancer treatment center can look up online for different alternatives, where a range of cancer treatments are discussed, plus other considerations such as diet and nutrition, and spiritual health.

Cancer treatment centers all share the same goal, to offer the best care possible, to provide continual support to cancer patients and their families, and turn what can be a distressing situation into a more optimistic experience.

The most frightening words imaginable for any woman are those when she is told that she has breast cancer. The morbid thoughts run through her head and the fear is overwhelming. Now she must endure medical treatments and examinations for several months as begins her battle against this disease.

Cancer is defined by four different stages and metastatic breast cancer is defined as stage 4 and it means that the cancer has spread beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes to other part of the body. Another way to explain this is that the cancer cells have migrated and are now growing outside of the original tumor.

Women who have stage IV breast cancer usually receive chemotherapy and or hormonal therapy to destroy cancer cells and control the disease. They may have surgery or radiation therapy to control the cancer in the breast. Radiation may also be useful to control tumors in other parts of the body. The symptoms of metastatic breast cancer varies depend on where the cancer is and how large it is.

The most common places for breast cancer to spread are within the breast or to the nearby chest wall or to the liver, lungs, or bones. Common symptoms include a lump in your breast or on your chest wall, bone pain, or shortness of breath. It may be necessary to have continuous laboratory tests and x-rays to determine whether or not the cancer has spread.

Work with your doctors to plan your medical treatments and to be a partner in your health care. Your doctors will consider where the cancer is located and what type of cancer treatments you had in the past. Your wishes and quality of life are also important factors.

Treatment choices may include surgery, medicines like chemotherapy or hormone therapy, and radiation. Sometimes a mix of these treatments is used and there can be side effects. Your doctor can tell you what problems to expect and can help you find ways to manage and live with them during the treatment phase.

There may come a time with metastatic breast cancer when you make a decision that quality of life is more important than quantity. If the medical treatments are not working and the effects of them are more devastating than the actual disease, you may have a choice to make.

Some people make the decision after talking to their family, friends and doctors to shift the focus of their treatments from attempting to cure the disease to staying comfortable and enjoying life. The care at this point is entirely focused on providing symptom relief as well as support for you and your family so that everyone can make the most of the time remaining.

The final choice for your care after you have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer if yours! And, you should make informed decision after talking to your doctors and family members. Medical advances in this area are moving forward every day and you never know when the cure will be found.

Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be enormously overwhelming and frightening for anyone. But when the diagnosis is that of metastatic breast cancer, the fear can be staggering. This type of cancer is defined as breast cancer that has spread from the breast - the original site of the cancer - to other parts of the body such as the bones, lungs, or liver. The treatment may be devastating to a newly diagnosed patient; but new advances in treatment can help manage symptoms and increase longevity.

When cancer cells break away from the originally affected site, and spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system, this is referred to as metastatic cancer. When the original cancer site - or primary site, as it is referred to by physicians - is the breast - and cancer cells spread from this location - this becomes known as metastatic breast cancer. The cancer that has moved from the breast and developed in other locations becomes known as the secondary cancer.

The treatment options for this cancer are the same as treating any other cancer. But treatment must be aggressive based on the stage of this particular disease. Because the definition of metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body, treatment must be speedy and assertive in order to stop the spread of the cells to any further locations in the body.

Treatment plans may include surgery wherein the cancerous growths are removed from the body; radiation during which affected cells are attacked with pinpoint x-ray technology; and chemotherapy which exposes the patient to a course of intravenous drug therapy designed to stop the growth of cancer cells. There are also experimental and holistic therapies that patients often try in conjunction with other therapies and under the guidance of their doctor. As the needs of each patient vary, so do the treatment plans.

The most common secondary locations are the lungs, brain, liver, and bones. Metastatic breast cancer is certainly not confined to these locations and not all may be affected; these are statistically the most frequently affected areas. However it is not defined as cancer that has spread to any places close to the breast such as skin, muscles underneath or around the breast, or bones nearby the primary cancer location.

While a frightening diagnosis, it does not have to mean a death sentence. Armed with the most up-to-date research and treatment options, patients can act as advocates for their own health, making educated decisions regarding the course of their treatment. As research continues concerning the newest and best ways to treat metastatic breast cancer, sufferers and their families will continue to see advances in medical treatment that will foster health and save lives.

Where the disease has not metastasized, the five-year survival rate for women suffering from breast cancer is about 86%. That percentage means that 86% of women who develop breast cancer live for at least five years after diagnosis. The good news is that depending on the stage it is discovered, the survival rate can be even higher than the overall average.

As with most cancers, breast cancer, develops in stages. T depicts tumor size, N signifies a spread to lymph nodes and M describes distant metastasis. When a primary tumor spreads to another area/s and forms more tumors, it has metastasized.

A tumor is noted as TX when it defies assessment. If one of the following forms is suspected - DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) or Paget's disease (where the nipple and/or areola is cancerous) - This is used.

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.

Today, due to medical advances, many breast cancers are diagnosed and treated during the early stages.

When treatment is given to patients who are at Stage 0 or 1, the survival rates are almost 100%. And yes, men can develop breast cancer, though at a far lower rate of 1/133 when compared to women. 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.

Despite being a serious condition, breast cancer is now rarely life threatening. Women who have advanced stages of cancer have been known to live for more than seven years. As technology and medicine advance, survival rates increase. Even later stage cancer survival rates are rising as medical and treatment methods improve.

A fairly new method of diagnosing cancer is the QM-MSP (quantitative multiplex methylation-specific PCR) method. Discovered in 2001, it uses fluid from the breast and tests the chemicals contained in the fluid. 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. Although the disease is still a matter of serious concern, the chances of survival are high and treatments are now less invasive.

Breast Cancer: What is an ''early Stage'' Breast Cancer
An “Early Stage” breast cancer is sometimes referred as Stage 1 breast cancer. In such cases, the affected region is less than 2–2.5 centimeters in diameter. However, cancer does not spread inside the tissue of the breast. In fact, among all the women detected for breast cancer in the U.S, 63% of them suffer from “Early Stage” Breast Cancer, as it is still localized to the tissue of the breast.

Today, Breast Cancer is considered to be one of the most deadly and emotional types of cancers occurring in women. However, it should be kept in mind that it is not only women, who are at a risk of having breast cancer. Men can also have such type of cancers, but most patients are female.

Early detection increases chances of survival
If the breast cancer is an early stage one and it is properly detected and treated, the survival rate of that patient increases to a large extent. The best trick to fight breast cancer is to catch it early on and generally women can detect it by finding a typical lump in any one of their breasts. Women should immediately check out in such cases but they should not worry, as all lumps are not cancers.

Early stage breast cancer cannot always be cured, even though cancerous cells are unable to reach the lymph nodes. Women, who catch early stage breast cancer, gets treated at that point and many of them are able to enjoy life in a normal lifestyle for more than ten years. It is highly recommended for every woman to check her breasts regularly to be on the safe side, so that possible cases of breast cancers can be detected early. With proper treatment, women can enjoy high survival rates.

Symptoms of Early Stage Cancer
An early stage breast cancer can be detected on the basis of various symptoms. Some of them are unexpected abnormal changes in the anatomy & the size of the breast, appearance of the skin of the breast becomes dimpled & puckered, sudden unexpected changes in the size and shape of the nipple like the changing position and nipple being inverted. Other symptoms include abnormal discharge from the nipple, development of rash in the nipple, continuous pain in the region of armpit & breast, thickening or formation of the lump in the armpit & breast and swelling of the collarbone region & armpit.

Treatment following the detection
Any of the above symptoms determine an early stage breast cancer and any woman having such symptoms should immediately contact her general physician. Doctors examine the patient properly and if necessary, can refer them to a breast clinic for more examinations and mammogram. Upon detection of a lump, the cancerous cells can be extracted with the help of a delicate needle. Every woman should know how to do self-examination of her beasts, so that she can know her breasts easier and recognize abnormal changes on them.

Inflammatory breast cancer is the most violent type of breast cancer. It is not a new type of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is blocking the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) causes changes in the nipple and the surrounding areas. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast frequently looks swollen and red, or “inflamed.” IBC accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States. This type of breast cancer that can arise in women of any age. 1% to 5% of Inflammatory breast cancer cases in the United States are inflammatory breast cancer.

Inflammatory breast cancer is typically categorized as stage IIIB breast cancer because of the possible concern of the skin, chest wall, or lymph nodes along the breast bone in the chest wall. It also grows more rapidly and aggressively than the more common types of breast cancer. It tends to occur at younger ages. African-American women appear to be at higher risk of IBC than Caucasian women. Symptoms of Inflammatory breast cancer may comprise redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, frequently without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin.

The skin of the breast may also show pink, ruddy purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or seem pitted, like the skin of an orange, which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema in the breast. Other symptoms comprise heaviness, burning, aching; augment in breast size, tenderness, or a nipple that is inverted. These symptoms usually grow rapidly over a period of weeks or months. Swollen lymph nodes may also be present under the arm, beyond the collarbone, or in both places. The usual treatment for IBC starts with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is systemic treatment, which means that it affects cells throughout the body.

The use of chemotherapy is to manage or destroy cancer cells, including those that may have spread to other parts of the body. Aggressive chemotherapy is frequently followed by local regional treatment. Anti-estrogen and Herceptin therapy may also have a role. Other forms of targeted therapy, such as Averting, may be used. Supportive care is treatment given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer. It prevents or treats as early as possible the symptoms of the disease.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Symptoms and Treatment
A type of breast cancer that is rare and gets its name from the appearance of the skin on the breast is "inflammatory breast cancer."

Diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer is usually diagnosed at a younger age than those diagnosed with other forms of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is diagnosed in men only in very rare circumstances.

In the past, women diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer had grim survival statistics; however, new approaches in treatment offer greater chances for survival than ever before.

Symptoms
Of inflammatory breast cancer include:

* A breast that appears red, purple, pink or bruised
* A tender, firm and enlarged breast
* A warm feeling in the breast
* Itching of the breast
* Pain
* Ridged or dimpled skin texture, similar to an orange peel
* Thickened areas of skin
* Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm, above the collarbone or below the collarbone
* Flattening or retraction of the nipple
* Swollen or crusted skin on the nipple
* Change in color of the skin around the nipple

These same symptoms can also indicate a breast infection called "mastitis." Mastitis occurs most often in younger women who are breast-feeding. Mastitis causes a fever and is easily treated with antibiotics. Inflammatory breast cancer does not typically cause a fever, nor does it respond to antibiotics.

Another condition in which there can be redness, warmth and swelling of the breast is caused by a previous operation or radiation therapy that involved the outer breast or underarm. These cases are not inflammatory breast cancer either.
Inflammatory breast cancer progresses rapidly. If you notice any of the above symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer, mention them right away to your physician.

If you receive treatment for a breast infection (mastitis) and your symptoms last longer than a week after starting antibiotics, asks your physician to do imaging studies of the breast or to perform a breast biopsy. If the test shows no signs of cancer and your symptoms seem to worsen, talk to your physician about getting another biopsy or ask for a referral to a breast specialist.

Treatment for inflammatory breast cancer:
Inflammatory breast cancer was treated by surgery. The mortality rate was at 100 percent. Significant progress has been made in recent years, which has improved the prognosis for a woman with inflammatory breast cancer. Once almost always fatal, the disease now results in half of women diagnosed being alive in five years and one-third of women diagnosed surviving 10 or more years.

If you undergo extensive radiation therapy your options for reconstruction are limited.

Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

The AMC, a nonprofit research institute located in Lakewood, Colo., will continue as an independent foundation devoted to financial support for research in cancer causation, prevention and control at the University of Colorado.

The merger also is designed to help increase philanthropic community support for cancer research, according to Dr. Al Marcus, interim scientific director at AMC.

"Combining efforts with the university makes both organizations stronger," says Marcus. "Not only will this enhance our ability to share research approaches and resources, but it will increase grant funding and fundraising opportunities as well. The relocation will facilitate collaborations and provide access to the state-of-the-art facilities."

AMC was originally founded as the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society in 1904, a charitable hospital and research center that treated patients with tuberculosis. In the 1950s, when that disease was brought under control, the society changed its name to the American Medical Center and directed its sizable resources to the treatment and research of cancer.

Until 1989, AMC was a hospital as well as a research center, but then began focusing entirely on research and ways to control cancer, to help patients live longer and to prevent cancer before it starts.

Cancer Center in Pittsburgh Warns of Cell Phone Risks
The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don't find a link between cancer and cell phone use, and a public lack of worry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Herberman is basing his alarm on early unpublished data. He says it takes too long to get answers from science and he believes people should take action now especially when it comes to children.

"Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn't wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later," Herberman said.

No other major academic cancer research institutions have sounded such an alarm about cell phone use. But Herberman's advice is sure to raise concern among many cell phone users and especially parents.

In the memo he sent to about 3,000 faculty and staff Wednesday, he says children should use cell phones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing.

Adults should keep the phone away from the head and use the speakerphone or a wireless headset, he says. He even warns against using cell phones in public places like a bus because it exposes others to the phone's electromagnetic fields.

The issue that concerns some scientists though nowhere near a consensus is electromagnetic radiation, especially its possible effects on children. It is not a major topic in conferences of brain specialists.

A 2008 University of Utah analysis looked at nine studies including some Herberman cites with thousands of brain tumor patients and concludes "we found no overall increased risk of brain tumors among cellular phone users. The potential elevated risk of brain tumors after long-term cellular phone use awaits confirmation by future studies."

Studies last year in France and Norway concluded the same thing.
"If there is a risk from these products and at this point we do not know that there is it is probably very small," the Food and Drug Administration says on an agency Web site.

Still, Herberman cites a "growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer."

"Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use," he wrote in his memo.

A driving force behind the memo was Devra Lee Davis, the director of the university's center for environmental oncology.

"The question is do you want to play Russian roulette with your brain," she said in an interview from her cell phone while using the hands-free speaker phone as recommended. "I don't know that cell phones are dangerous. Of concern are the still unknown effects of more than a decade of cell phone use, with some studies rising alarms, said Davis, a former health adviser in the Clinton Administration.

She said 20 different groups have endorsed the advice the Pittsburgh cancer institute gave, and authorities in England, France and India have cautioned children's use of cell phones.

Herberman and Davis point to a massive ongoing research project known as Interphone, involving scientists in 13 nations, mostly in Europe. Results already published in peer-reviewed journals from this project aren't so alarming, but Herberman is citing work not yet published.

The published research focuses on more than 5,000 cases of brain tumors. The National Research Council in the U.S., which isn't participating in the Interphone project, reported in January that the brain tumor research had "selection bias." That means it relied on people with cancer to remember how often they used cell phones. It is not considered the most accurate research approach.

The largest published study, which appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2006, tracked 420,000 Danish cell phone users, including thousands that had used the phones for more than 10 years. It found no increased risk of cancer among those using cell phones.

A French study based on Interphone research and published in 2007 concluded that regular cell phone users had "no significant increased risk" for three major types of nervous system tumors. It did note, however, that there was "the possibility of an increased risk among the heaviest users" for one type of brain tumor, but that needs to be verified in future research.

Earlier research also has found no connection.
Joshua E. Muscat of Penn State University, who has studied cancer and cell phones in other research projects partly funded by the cell phone industry, said there are at least a dozen studies that have found no cancer-cell phone link. He said a Swedish study cited by Herberman as support for his warning was biased and flawed.

"We certainly don't know of any mechanism by which radiofrequency exposure would cause a cancerous effect in cells. Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a type of radiation that is a form of electromagnetic radiation, according to the National Cancer Institute. Though studies are being done to see if there is a link between it and tumors of the brain and central nervous system, there is no definitive link between the two, the institute says on its Web site.

"By all means, if a person feels compelled that they should take precautions in reducing the amount of electromagnetic radio waves through their bodies, by all means they should do so," said Dan Catena, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society. "But at the same time, we have to remember there's no conclusive evidence that links cell phones to cancer, whether it's brain tumors or other forms of cancer."

Joe Farren, a spokesman for the CTIA-The Wireless Association, a trade group for the wireless industry, said the group believes there is a risk of misinforming the public if science isn't used as the ultimate guide on the issue.

"When you look at the overwhelming majority of studies that have been peer reviewed and published in scientific journals around the world, you'll find no relationship between wireless usage and adverse health affects," Farren said.

Frank Barnes, who chaired the January report from the National Research Council, said Wednesday that "the jury is out" on how hazardous long-term cell phone use might be.

Speaking from his cell phone, the professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder said he takes no special precautions in his own phone use. And he offered no specific advice to people worried about the matter.

If people use a cell phone instead of having a land line, "that may very well be reasonable for them," he said.

Susan Juffe, a 58-year-old Pittsburgh special education teacher, heard about Herberman's cell phone advice on the radio earlier in the day.

"Now, I'm worried. It's scary," she said.
She says she'll think twice about allowing her 10-year-old daughter Jayne to use the cell phone.

Sara Loughran, a 24-year-old doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh, sat in a bus stop Wednesday chatting on her cell phone with her mother. "I think if they gave me specific numbers and specific information and it was scary enough, I would be concerned," Loughran said, planning to call her mother again in a matter of minutes. "Without specific numbers, it's too vague to get me worked up."

Reproduction is one of the most essential parts of life. One of those things that can alter this is ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer attacks the reproductive organs of a female, specifically the ovaries. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women, so it is important for everyone to know more about ovarian cancer and the common ovarian cancer symptoms that come with developing this type of cancer.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer in its early stages may not produce any symptoms at all. However, as the cancer grows and spreads, it produces several different symptoms. Common ovarian cancer symptoms include pressure and paint located in the back, legs and pelvis. Other symptoms of this disease include a swollen or bloated abdomen, nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and fatigue or weakness.

There are some less common symptoms that can show signs of possible ovarian cancer. These symptoms are shortness of breath, frequent urination, and heavy virginal bleeding including heavy periods and bleeding after menopause. However most, if not all of these symptoms are incredibly non-specific so it is quite impossible to tell if you have ovarian cancer unless your doctor finds it.

Doctors have several methods for diagnosing ovarian cancer. In a physical exam, your doctor may press on your abdomen to feel for any signs of tumors or abnormal buildup of fluid. A doctor could also perform a pelvic exam. In this exam the doctor feels the ovaries and nearby organs for tumors or any misshapenness. Your doctor may also order a blood test. In the blood tests, it is checked for several types of substances, specifically CA-125. CA-125 is a substance that is often found on most cancerous ovarian cells. If there is an unusual high level of the CA-125, it is likely that it is ovarian cancer. Ultrasounds are also used to look for ovarian cancer tumors. Ultrasounds look at the organs inside the pelvis and can accurately map them out. Biopsies are also used to look for cancerous cells in tissue or fluid.

Being aware of the ovarian cancer symptoms, even though they are non-specific, is incredibly important and can even save your life. Arresting cancer early is incredibly important because it makes it easier to treat it and increases the survival rate. If you do have cancer, discuss with your doctor on the various treatment options available to you.