Breast Cancer Survival Rate - Stage 4 Breast Cancer

The breast cancer survival rate for Stage 4 breast cancer is much lower than for breast cancer detected at earlier stages.

Stage 4 breast cancer, or developed breast cancer, has metastasized to other tissue including bone tissue, lung tissue, or the liver. When breast cancer has overwhelmed the body's natural defenses and spread this far by the time the cancer is first diagnosed, the 5-year survival rate drops to 16%-20% in the United States (American Cancer Society).

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Up to 5% of white women in the U.S., and up to 9% of black women have developed breast cancer spread to distant tissue at the time of first analysis (Seer). This unlikeness is ordinarily attributed to poverty and lack of condition insurance.

In general, women who have developed breast cancer at the time of analysis live approximately 18 months after analysis (median survival rate). Those who are still alive five years after their analysis of developed breast cancer can live an supplementary 3.5 years (median survival rate) according to the American Cancer Society.

Since this is the most deadly type of breast cancer, it is prominent to work intimately with all the condition care providers. New treatments are being developed all the time, and second, or even third opinions may give the outpatient more information about newly discovered flourishing solutions.

Early detection is clearly the most prominent factor in breast cancer survival rates. Breast cancer detected at Stage 1 while it is still localized to the breast has a survival rate of 98%-100%, while metastasized breast cancer first detected at Stage 4 drops down to 16%-20%.

Early detection procedures must contain monthly self-examinations done at the same time each month. From age 20-40, wholesome women should have clinical breast exams performed by their condition care providers every three years. After age 40, the breast exams should be annually and should contain a mammogram or similar procedure.

North American white women have the top rates of breast cancer in the world, but the 5-year survival rate for all stages (Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, and Stage 4) combined is 88% for the U.S. A up-to-date study found European countries have lower 5-year breast cancer survival rates, with England at 77.8% and Ireland at 76.2% (Lancet Oncology).

The unlikeness in these survival rates is ordinarily attributed to life-saving early detection.

Breast Cancer Survival Rate - Stage 4 Breast Cancer

The Alarming Facts colse to Chlorine and Breast Cancer

The most alarming statistics nearby breast cancer are arrival out. "Every 13 minutes an additional one woman dies from the environmental, dietary and metabolic acids that cause breast cancer, an acidic health of the breast tissue that has more than tripled in incidence over the past 50 years," states Dr. Robert O. Young, Director of the pH Miracle Living Center, in San Diego County, California.

Chlorine is a recognized pesticide. It has been added to our drinking water supplies, as a disinfectant, since the late 1800's. When chlorine combines with organic compounds in the water (sediment) or our bodies, organochlorines are formed. Agreeing to Wikipedia, organochlorines contain chloroform, dichloromethane, dichloroethene, and trichlorotheane. Other organochlorines contain haloacetic acids and trihalmethanes.

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Scientific studies have associated the accumulation of chlorine compounds in breast tissue to cancer. Organochlorines react with metabolic acids in human tissue and are being recognized more and more as a causative agent to cancer. In Hartford, Connecticut, as study there four "women with breast cancer have 50 to 50 percent higher levels of organochlorines (chlorination by-products) in their breast tissue than women without breast cancer."

It's no wonder. Chloroform, dichloromethane, dichloroethene and trichloroethane are useful as solvents in dry cleaning and degreasing. Many pesticides used in the agriculture sector are also organochlorides. These contain Ddt, Dicofol, Heptachlor, Endosulfan, Chlordane, Mirex and Pentachlorophenol. These organochloramines mimic these poisons in your body.

Organochloramines can pose serious health threats to humans and can be found in many unexpected places. Up to 2/3 of our harmful exposure to chlorine happens while showering, using hot tubs and swimming pools. The skin is the largest organ of the body and has even been dubbed the third kidney. Every time we shower or bathe, chlorine is absorbed through the pores of our skin and breathed in through our lungs. The steam that is inhaled while showering or swimming can contain up to 50 times more chlorine that by drinking tap water. The chlorine gas, given off by hot water in the shower or hot tub is extremely toxic and it is breathed in, where it goes directly into the blood stream. From there, who knows where it will end up and accumulate. More and more evidence is suggesting that it is ending up in breast tissue.

An article published by Greenpeace in 1993 outlines the health risks associated with chlorine. The article is called, "Chlorine, Human Health, and the Environment: The Breast Cancer Warning." You can look it up on the internet quite easily.

With such compelling evidence, it is important that every woman eye the facts and make challenging choices for her health. I, for one, see no use for chlorine, once the water comes out of my tap, so I have a engine attached to my faucet that eliminates, chlorine and its by-products and other contaminants, in increasing to adding ionic minerals manufacture the water alkaline, added more dissolved oxygen and negative ions and make the water bundles into smaller clusters. I get alkaline, super-oxygenated, antioxidant, microclustered water that promotes more vital energy, more efficient hydration, efficient detoxification and vibrant health.

I see no speculate to become any of the one in seven women that have the probability of developing cancerous acidic breasts over their lifetime. Breast cancer is one of the most important health issues facing women today. It is the second important cause of acidic cancer deaths in women and is the most coarse acid cancer among women. Agreeing to the World health Organization, more than 1.2 million women will be diagnosed with cancerous breasts this year, worldwide. Alkaline, ionized water along with a wholesome diet allows me to enjoy the benefits that make life worth living...joyful health.

The Alarming Facts colse to Chlorine and Breast Cancer

Nelson Activities: Top 10 Reasons to Visit Nelson, New Zealand

New Zealand has no shortage of attractions, and visitors often have problem deciding which sites to see and which to skip as they tour the country on itsybitsy timetables. Recently, though more and more visitors are manufacture Nelson a feature on their itineraries and the most recent edition of the Rough Guide tour guidebook calls it an "essential stop". So what makes Nelson such a can't-miss destination? Here are ten reasons for visiting:

1. Sun

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With an yearly mean of over 2400 sunshine hours, Nelson is the sunniest region in New Zealand. Even in the coldest months of winter, the sun shines and snow is rare. There's no better way to guarantee a good vacation that to know that the weather will cooperate.

2. Rugby

New Zealand will be hosting the much-anticipated Rugby World Cup in 2011, and Nelson will be the venue of two games next September. And where better to watch the game than in the birthplace of New Zealand rugby? That's right, the first rugby game in the country was played in Nelson in 1870.

3. Art

Maybe it's the pleasant sunshine, or the intelligent scenery, or the laid-back culture, but the Nelson region is home to a big people of artists-over 350 working artists live here. Often considered to be New Zealand's art capital, the Nelson area is full of galleries and studios for art-lovers to visit. Meet with the artists and pick up a memorable souvenir.

4. Museums

For a look into the history and culture that defines Nelson, visit some of the areas museums. The Nelson Provincial Museum illuminates the cultural inheritance and natural history of the Nelson Tasman area. For a more modern look at the local culture, the World of Wearable Art is the area's most beloved museum, and displays wearable art and superior cars. And in keeping with Nelson's artistic interests, the Suter Art Gallery showcases what is maybe the best variety of fine art on the South Island.

5. Architecture

Downtown Nelson has retained much of the Victorian architecture that was built in the town's early days and much of the area (including all of South Street) is considered to have inheritance value. Some famed structure include: Nelson Cathedral, Amber House and Nelson Central School.

6. Festivals

Nelson hosts a estimate of festivals throughout the year, promising that there will always be something for visitors to do. The subject of the festivals ranges from music (such as the Nelson School of Music Winter Music Festival and the yearly Jazz Festival) to film (such as the Suter International Film Festival) to gastronomy (like the Taste Nelson festival) to more definite hobbies, like the Nelson Kite Festival.

7. Wine

The Marlborough region is a big name in the international wine world, gaining fame for its Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir varietals. Take advantage of the many Nelson vineyards by taking a winery tour. You can get a behind the scenes look at the wine-making process, meet the people complicated and, of course, taste some of the wines.

8. Geography

Located at the top of the South Island, Nelson is the geographic centre of New Zealand. It's thorough then, that the region represents so many different kinds of superior New Zealand scenery. There are urban centres in Nelson and Richmond, rolling green fields around Mapua, Motueka and Moutere, dramatic coastline along Abel Tasman National Park, yellow sands of aptly named Golden Bay and alpine lakes around Nelson Lakes. Nowhere else offers such a diversity of scenery in such a small area.

9. Great Walks and National Parks

Nelson is the jumping off point to three different national parks: Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park and Nelson Lakes National Park. The parks supply adventure and ecotourism options for visitors to the area. Two of New Zealand's Great Walks, the Abel Tasman Track and the Heaphy Track, are also accessible straight through Nelson.

10. Outdoor Activities

There are plentifulness of things to do in Nelson, and the cultural activities are just a small part of what attracts visitors to the region. With the great weather and a variety of natural scenery, a estimate of outdoor activities are available. Try fishing, sailing and sea kayaking on the water, mountain biking, tramping and rock climbing on land and, if you're as a matter of fact adventurous, try sky-diving over gorgeous Tasman Bay.

The Nelson area is a exquisite setting for any estimate of activities and experiences. With the guarantee of sunshine and a suitable location in the centre of the country, Nelson is an ideal destination for those travelling within New Zealand.

Nelson Activities: Top 10 Reasons to Visit Nelson, New Zealand

Preventing Breast Cancer Recurrence

Approximately 10% of women receiving radiation therapy and lumpectomy for the treatment of breast cancer are likely to get a recurrence in about 12 years. There is no inherent formula to entirely eradicate the probability of breast cancer recurrence. Though, there are some things that you can do to sell out the risk of return of the disease.

Lifestyle Changes

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According to a study conducted by University of California, spellbinding about 1550 women who earlier underwent a treatment, women with maximum plasma carotenoid ratio had lower chances for a recurrence by about 40%.

You can get high plasma carotenoid attention from eating vegetables and fruits. Beta-carotene is present in carrots, cantaloupe, kale, and spinach etc., lycopene is present in apricots, pink grapefruits, and tomatoes etc., and lutien is present in broccoli, collards and leafy vegetables. All the desired nutrients are present in vegetables and fruits, so spellbinding more of them reduces the risks of cancer recurrence.

Overweight women have higher chances of a reappearance, so if you are overweight, you should try to sell out your weight, and consume less fats. Also, you should practice more. You can go on morning or evening walks to increase your corporeal activity.

If you consume alcohol or tobacco, quit these habits now, as they highly improve the risks of breast cancer recurrence.

Treatments

Some women take hormone therapy after their menopause. This enhances the risk of recurrence. Avoid any hormone therapy along with transvaginal, tropical, and oral medications. If you are required to get estrogen replacements, make sure you also take progesterone supplements, as it reduces the hazards that estrogen has over breasts.

You can take tamoxifen, which is an Serm (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator). It is given to both male and female breast cancer patients for suppressing estrogen and preventing the return of breast cancer. Tamoxifen should not be taken with juice of grapefruit. Also, pregnant women should not take this drug. Some common side effects of tamoxifen are menopause symptoms, like vaginal dryness, irregular menstrual cycle, headache, fatigue etc.

You can endure precautionary surgical operation to decrease the chances of a recurrence. Undergoing bilateral mastectomy can sell out the chances of breast cancer recurrence by as much as 90%. It is the surgical dismissal of one or both breasts, and it greatly helps sell out the chances of return of breast cancer. Preventive mastectomy is of two types: subcutaneous mastectomy and total mastectomy. In subcutaneous mastectomy, the breast tissue is removed, but the nipple is left, whereas in total mastectomy, breast tissue is removed along with the nipple. According to American Cancer Society, dismissal of the ovaries decreases risk of breast cancer recurrence by 50%.

Generally, a woman who had cancer in one breast has more chances of developing cancer in the opposite breast. Arresting is very prominent when it comes to breast cancer. It is a deadly disease, and has high chances of recurrence. It is good to effect a healthy living style to be safe from the return of breast cancer.

Preventing Breast Cancer Recurrence

Breast Cancer in Pets

As with humans, favorite household pets can also form cancer in the breast tissue - known in animals as mammary cancer. In fact, cancer is the No. 1 natural cause of death in older pets.

But with a little know-how, animal owners can help catch tumors before they become deadly.

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"It's a fairly coarse cancer, especially in unspayed female dogs and cats," said Gerald Post, a veterinary oncologist at the Veterinary Oncology and Hematology town in Norwalk, Conn. "It's leading for owners to spay female animals before the animal first goes into heat, because each following heat cycle increases the risk of developing the cancer."

Pets with mammary cancer supervene basically a similar type of treatment and rescue as humans with breast cancer. However, pet tumors are often not discovered until later, when the cancer has reached a more developed stage.

About half the mammary tumors that dogs form are noncancerous, which is similar to the ratio of nonmalignant tumors women find in their breasts. In cats, however, 90 percent of mammary tumors are cancerous. Vets say that these types of tumors intimately supervene the model of more aggressive forms of human breast cancer.

Early Warning Signs for Owners

And cancer in a pet, in some cases, may provide owners with an "early warning system" of sorts.

"The age-adjusted rate of cancer is easily higher in dogs and cats than in people," said Greg Ogilvie, director of the California Veterinary Specialist's Angel Care Cancer Center. "Pets have genetic factors, but they also live in a more polluted environment, and they have passive smoke exposure."

Part of the problem may be the toxins that find their way into the air, water, and human households, where pets also live. Because humans and animals share the same environment, some animal cancer experts say that our pets may provide a good indicator of the risks of cancer nearby us.

Breast Cancer in Pets

Breast Cancer - The Most base Disease of Women - How to Deal With Breast Cancer

Women Cure Your Breast Cancer

According to the American Cancer community and the American medical relationship breast cancer is the most common disease found in women and is the second most major cause of death for them. Normally, the disease is not invasive until they reach their twenties. Every particular year millions of women are diagnosed with breast cancer. As women get older, cancer screening visits increase and is the most common guess for office visits to their doctors. The biggest procedure women effect up when they visit their doctors is a mammogram. A mammogram is used to check the breast to decree if any cancer is present.

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The first quiz, women regularly have is what breast cancer is. Breast cancer is described as abnormal cells that have mutated and they are no longer normal.

The next quiz, asked is why so many women get breast cancer. There are many causes of this dreaded disease. In some women, it appears to form if their menstrual cycle begins too soon. The midpoint age for women to start their menstrual cycle is around twelve year of age. However, for those that begin earlier, evidence has indicated that for many, this group runs the risk of getting breast cancer sometime in their life even before they reach thirty.

If a woman has menopause after fifty, this can be the cause of a woman's principles to make hormones in her body convert too late.

Too much saturated fat in the diet can cause breast cancer. A diet together with monounsaturated fats like canola oil and olive oil does not appear to induce or increase the opportunity of breast cancer.

Many types of breast cancers are genetic in nature. If the house has a history of breast cancer, it is likely to be passed on to later generations. Women that have a history of a female house member who had breast cancer also have and increased probability of acquiring it.

Women who take estrogen exchange therapy can also be cursed with this disease. This is mostly true if the therapy has been extended up to ten years. It is determined that breast cancer is a grievous disease that should never be ignored. Women should program quarterly check-ups with their physician especially when they have reached their twenties.

What Breast Cancer Is:

t is to your advantage to know just what breast cancer is so you will know how to fight it. Knowing what breast cancer is will make coping with it, and perhaps curing it, much easier. Breast cancer is a group of cells in the breast that have become abnormal for assorted reasons. Researchers guess that some forms of bacteria get into general cells and cause mutations. When this happens, the mutated cells then strike other general cells and cause them to become mutated. Some cells wind up getting destroyed in the process.

When many cells are altered in this way, cancer develops. Often a small estimate of these mutated cells wind up being cancerous. This is why cancer often starts in a small section of the breast then outwardly spreads.

If the cancer is not controlled or stopped, it can spread even beyond the breast and end up in other parts of the body. At that time it becomes imperative to speedily find a cure.

Scientists know what breast cancer is. Researchers know that since cancer is a group of abnormal cells, they apply their study toward looking chemicals that can destroy the mutated cells, or alter them so they can fix themselves and become general again.

By looking what causes mutated cells to manifest may supply clues to the guess for their development in the body and find ways to indubitably reverse the process. This can help to avoid it in the future, especially for those who have already had it. Those who have never had it can take the indispensable steps to keep it from ever happening.

The Four Stages Of Breast Cancer:

In order to cope with breast cancer, you need to seek the distinct stages so you can be best deal with it from the beginning.

Breast cancer often occurs in stages. Many types of cancers spread at a slow rate while others spread more rapidly. There are cancers that grow predictable and there are types that spread randomly. The types of cancers that spread randomly are created by estrogen in the body. The stage that it is in will depend mainly on the size of the tumor and if the cancer has spread or not.

Stage 0:

Stage 0 is described as noninvasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ. While this stage of development the cells are abnormal in the lining of the lobule (a small section of a lobe) and have not become cancerous yet.

Stage 1:

In stage 1, the tumor has become cancerous and has grown to an inch in diameter, but has not spread beyond the breast.

Stage 2:

With stage 2 one of three things has happened:(1) The cancerous tumor has grown to less than one inch in diameter and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm

(2) The cancerous tumor has grown to be about one and two inches, but has not yet reached the lymph nodes, but is headed in that direction

(3) The cancerous tumor is larger than 2 inches in diameter and has not moved.

Stage 3:

The cancerous tumor has grown to more than two inches across, and has reached and penetrated the lymph nodes under the arm. In some cases this type of cancer has been known to spread to the lymph nodes adjacent to the breastbone, or other tissue near the breast.

Stage 4:

This is referred to as metastatic cancer. The cancer has spread beyond the breast, lymph nodes, and to other parts of the body.

Despite all misconceptions, breast cancer is risky but it can be cured if discovered in time.

Powerful Antioxidants:

In case you didn't know, foreign bodies, (molecules known as free radicals), strike your body every particular day. They are known as free radicals because they are roaming freely about. However, the first atom they find they will become attached to it. Once they become attached to the atom, the cell destroys what is there, or replaces the cell. When the exchange has been completed, the once wholesome cell now becomes a bad cell. Then the bad cell converts wholesome cell into bad ones. Given time, these groups of cells become mutated and cancerous. To reverse this process, you need a enough supply of antioxidants such as fruits, vegetables, and other important foods. The three most powerful antioxidants are beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Beta-carotene is what gives many fruits their appearance. It also stimulates the release of natural killer cells, which hunt down and destroy cancer cells before they can do any damage. It only takes about 15 to 30 milligrams a day to stop these free radicals and destroy them. You can find beta-carotene in cantaloupes, sweet potatoes, spinach, and bok choy (a Chinese cabbage with long white stalks and narrow green leaves. Latin name Brassica chinensis).

Vitamin C is the next most powerful antioxidant. According to scientific studies at the University of California, those who took at least 66 milligrams of vitamin C every day, found their bodies to be free from any foreign antibodies.

Vitamin E is the most versatile antioxidant. Vitamin E not only blocks free radicals, and also stops cancer by stimulating the immune system. When the immune principles is engaged, it goes about its job of destroying bad cells in the body. The best way to derive vitamin E is by eating wheat germ. Other foods that include vitamin E are whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

Breast Cancer rehabilitation Options:

There are many breast cancer rehabilitation options available. According to many doctors and nutritionists, the best recipe is aimed at the food you eat. study studies show foods that have medical properties are the best to consume, in order to get rid of breast cancer.

What would these foods be? Nutritionist say that by eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, you greatly sacrifice developing breast cancer. If you already have breast cancer, eating these kinds of foods gives you an perfect opportunity of having the cancer going away.

How do these foods cause such healing? The same nutritionists speak about determined compounds in foods that indubitably help fight and forestall cancer at the cellular level.

Phytonutrients, (substances that are found in plant food) have the ability to stop cancer. One good example of this type of plant food is broccoli. Broccoli contains phytonutrients called isothiocyanates. In lab tests, this chemical indubitably destroys cancer tissue.

You will find phytonutrients in many other types of foods such as soybeans, tofu, tempeh, and soy milk. As for soy milk, this is indubitably good for you if you are lactose intolerant, because it contains a soy goods called genistein that stops the increase of tumors in tissue.

For centuries it has been known that a perfect healer for many illnesses is garlic. It has a lot of phytonutrients and allyl sulfides. Allyl sulfides have been known to destroy cancer-causing substances in the body.

The main point here is to eat the proper foods so you can compose a strong immune principles and have a wholesome body at the same time.

Breast Cancer - The Most base Disease of Women - How to Deal With Breast Cancer

A Tribute - A mum Reflects on the One Year Anniversary of Losing Her Daughter to Breast Cancer

Gloria Glickman from Clifton, New Jersey remembers the day in 2000 when her 28-year-old daughter, Jennifer called her on the telephone to tell her she felt a lump in her left breast.

You'Ll Be Fine

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Gloria's first reaction was to tell her not to worry about it, that she was sure it was fine, but to still be sure to get it checked by a doctor. Her daughter took her mother's advice. But like most citizen waiting for results of a biopsy, she worried.

When she called her mom about her anxiety, Gloria recalls reminding her daughter that she herself had once had a cyst and it turned out to be nothing, so she reassured her daughter that all things would be okay.

Mom, It'S Malignant

One week later, Gloria was at home with her husband, Don and heard the words from her daughter that a mother never imagines she'll hear in her lifetime. Her athletic, healthy, beautiful, full of vigor daughter, Jennifer calling to say, "Mom it's malignant. I have breast cancer."

Disbelief

Jennifer was athletic and ate well and was in very good shape. This was more of a genetic predisposition to breast cancer than anyone else. The only speculate she even went in to have a mammogram was because of the lump she felt in her left breast. She otherwise wouldn't have given it a second thought. Even with a house history, she never concept it would sway her. Jennifer's grandmother on her father's side had breast cancer, as well as any aunts.

But she still saw breast cancer as something far removed from her own life. She was healthy. She never once imagined it would attack her, especially not in her twenties. She was too young. She was too active. She was too fit. She took good care of herself and took pride in eating right and exercising regularly.

Gloria could barely hold the telephone in her hand. She remembers wanting to run as far away as she could from what the voice on the other end of the telephone, but her body was icy in time. Her heart seemed to stop.

Courage

Gloria held her breathe and fought back the tears while listening to her daughter's courageous words:

"Mom, I want you to be brave because I'm going to fight this." Gloria could hardly believe how calm her daughter was at this moment. Their roles were suddenly reversed. Instead of a mother contribution solace to a child, it was the other way around. Jennifer was comforting her mother. Jennifer reminded her mother that she was a fighter and she wouldn't allow anyone turn her optimistic outlook on life. She intended to live a long and happy life.

Life Goes On

That life included being engaged to be married just three months after her diagnosis. This meant she was faced with not only telling her mother, but telling her fiance about the news. How do you tell your prospective husband that you may die. That question, that life -- that time to come flashed before Gloria's eyes as she hung up the phone. Her hands shook uncontrollably and shared the news with her husband, Don who knew from the look on her face that something was terribly wrong. Her husband was supportive and told her, "We'll get through this together."

Next, Gloria called her own mother, who was in her seventies to say, "Mom I just got a call from Jen and we have to be strong and sustain her." Gloria's mom, Ann Tausk, a Holocaust survivor was used to surviving the worst in life without letting it sway her spirit. This time, she didn't know if she had it in her to fight. Her own mother told Gloria she didn't know if she could deal with it.

Meanwhile, Jennifer was faced with telling her fiance. Upon being told, he reaffirmed his soon-to-be wife and was very supportive and offered to take care of her. Gloria concept he could have ran and said he didn't want anyone to do with her, but he stayed by her daughter's side.

Decisions

Back at the hospital, the doctors wanted to remove lymph nodes to find out if the breast cancer had spread.

They were relieved to learn the cancer was just contained in her one breast. After faithful consideration, Jennifer then decided to have a mastectomy and have the breast removed. She also reduced the other breast, so it would not be that drastically noticeable. Jennifer wanted to remove the cancerous breast and had the most aggressive chemotherapy to get it out of her body.

She was told she would lose her hair, but she desperately wanted the disease out of her body. Jennifer had a full head of long, curly hair down to the middle of her back. She knew chemotherapy would mean sacrificing a part of her external looks at a time when she wanted to look her best -- her wedding day.

Gloria remembers asking her daughter when she would take her wedding photos knowing she would lose her hair. Jennifer didn't care. She said she'd make a turban since she would be completely bald. Jennifer did just that. Even though she was completely bald on her wedding day, she was a radiant, beautiful bride.

So beautiful that she was featured in the January 2001 issue of Mamm Magazine, Women Cancer and Community. The title of the narrative was fitting. It was called, "Bald is Beautiful" and it featured many women

In Her Own Words

In the magazine, Jennifer was quoted saying, "On March 30, 2000 at age twenty-eight, I was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma. My fiance and I had been planning our wedding for nearly a year. citizen were traveling from all over the country and as far away as Australia and I was going to be in the middle of chemotherapy. My hair started to fall out a month before the wedding. After trying wig after wig, I gave up. I was afraid that without hair, I'd be an ugly bride. But I looked and felt beautiful. With the love of the citizen colse to me and the force I had inside, we went through with the wedding."

Jennifer was in the middle of her chemotherapy, and took a few weeks break from it so she wouldn't feel nauseas while the wedding.

She got married and ended her chemotherapy two months following the wedding. And then she prolonged doing what she had to following doctor's orders. She was on tamoxofin, her hair grew back and she kept it short. Yet, her hair wasn't the only thing that would be short.

Her new marriage did not survive. Relatives and friends noticed Jennifer was nervous and unhappy. They didn't know if it was the cancer or the marriage. Jennifer seemed irritable. Everybody assumed she wasn't happy because of the illness.

Five Years Later

In 2005, when she passed her five year milestone of being "clean"...it was called Ned...No Evidence of Disease...a common term within the cancer community, Gloria received someone else call that made her heart skip a beat. Jennifer called to say, "I just reached my five year milestone And my marriage isn't working. I'm getting divorced"

She was married five years and had been cancer-free for five years. Jennifer told her mom that she needed to move on. Since she had begun therapy at this time, she realized that she was unhappy in the marriage. Jennifer felt she would live someone else fifty years and she wanted them to be happy and healthy. She went through marriage counseling, but had the courage to leave a marriage that wasn't right for her despite all things else she had gone through.

Gloria, her husband Don, and the family, together with her step-siblings Howard and Jennifer all supported her in her decision. Her daughter also decided to turn jobs. She switched careers and went from computer graphics for someone else engineering firm to work in marketing for an engineering firm instead. She said she would rather be alone than not be happy within the marriage. Gloria wasn't a stranger to divorce since she had been divorced from Jennifer's father when Jennifer was four- years- old.

Soon after her divorce, Jennifer met Greg Hoffmann who was to be her second husband. Jennifer also decided to get active in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. She met her time to come husband through participating in this foundation, and he would come to be the love of her life. They fell in love and Jennifer was happier than she had ever been.

The Cancer Returns

Two years later, in 2007, Gloria received someone else dreaded call. Gloria was in the South Pacific with her husband and she hadn't spoken to her daughter for three weeks because they had been vacationing on a freighter. Jennifer said she wanted to wait to tell Gloria the newest news until she got home, but couldn't. The breast cancer was back but this time in the liver and ovaries. Gloria wanted to die. Jennifer told her not to worry, they were going to zap it and get rid of it. Gloria got off the phone and felt paralyzed. She remembers sobbing. Again.

Back To Living

That same year, Jennifer was planning to climb Mt. Whitney in California to put up a banner flag for cancer and she did it in in the middle of radiation treatments. Her new job was going well. She never missed a day of work. She got promoted and was flourishing professionally. Greg was as courageous as Jennifer. His sense of humor helped. Jennifer felt supported, happy, in love and that she could conquer the world.

Jennifer started writing a blog in December of 2007 called, http://www.laceupyourgloves.blogspot.com where she gave a day by day narrative of her experience. So many citizen wrote on it when she passed away in 2009. Jennifer came up with the name for the blog because that was her motto: "Time to lace up my gloves and keep fighting" when she got diagnosed.

Again, Jennifer surprised her mother by announcing that in April 2008 she and Greg planned to go to Sante Fe and marry in a Chapel there. Just the two of them. Gloria supported her decision, even though she would have loved to have been there.

Jennifer had Mri's every three months. In November 2008, she would learn that the breast cancer had gone to her brain. She had to have radiation. Jennifer told her mother they would zap it. Gloria couldn't believe the news once again. Jennifer had the radiation and went for someone else Mri in the starting of 2009 and she was told they got most of the cancer by zapping it with the radiation.

Gloria remembers going from New Jersey to Phoenix, Arizona to see her daughter in February 2009. She just wanted to hug her daughter and be with her in person. Gloria saw that her daughter was fine on the surface, but also knew that Jennifer was good at hiding any weakness. At this time, Jennifer only confided in her husband and didn't want her mom to worry, so she put up a brave front while her visit. Gloria saw a vibrant daughter and returned to New Jersey feeling good about her daughter's condition and future.

Shock

Two months later, on the evening of Friday, April 10, 2009, Gloria would get a call from Greg saying that it was urgent that she and Don come to Phoenix because Jennifer was in the hospital. Gloria, and her husband, Don dropped all things and flew to Phoenix, as did Jennifer's siblings, Howard and Jennifer and their vital others.

There were no flights going west that same night due to the lateness of the hour and Gloria was so frustrated that she couldn't teleport herself there. When Gloria arrived at the hospital, she saw her daughter hooked up to a lot of machines and on painkiller drugs. Jennifer asked her mom why she was there and that she was going to be okay and didn't know why her mother had traveled there.

Jennifer's oncologist told Jennifer and her husband Greg that there was not much they could do. Jennifer's response was that she wasn't ready to slip on the banana peel just yet, and she would be alright. Jennifer didn't want to hear anyone negative.

The physician spoke to Jennifer in front of the whole family. The doctors wanted to do a spinal tap to see if there was cancer there, but it was risky and against odds. They tried it, but they didn't find what they were finding for. They wanted to do it again, but then Greg, Gloria and Don made the decision that there was nothing to be gained to do it again.

Gloria believed in her daughter and that she would live a long time. Gloria never said goodbye. Instead, she told her daughter, "I am so blessed to be your mother. You have shown so much courage and inspired so many people. Thank God I have a daughter like you."

Her daughter told her the past five years had been her best ever. She said she had such a wonderful, blessed life. Gloria said, "I love you, Jen." and Jennifer replied, "I love you too, Mom."

That was the last conversation they had.

Strength

The day before, Don called Gloria's sisters to tell them to tell Jennifer's grandmother that Jennifer was in the hospital and the diagnosis was not good. Gloria asked her sisters and her mother to come to Phoenix to see Jennifer. At 82-years-old, Gloria's mother arrived and told Jennifer, "We're survivors in our family. You have to be strong."

Four days later, Greg in consultation with Gloria and Don agreed that allowing Jennifer her dignity was famous at this time and they made the decision to stop aggressive rehabilitation and replacement Jennifer to a hospice.

Once they brought her to hospice, Jennifer was in a coma. Even though she wasn't conscious, Gloria felt her daughter knew she was there sleeping by her side 24/7 every night. Gloria whispered to her that it was okay to let go.

The last day, the hospice nurse said she could tell by Jennifer's labored breathing that it would be 24-hours before she would pass away. Jennifer had her entire house there. Jennifer's house and Jennifer's husband's house were there when she passed away.

Greg stood by the bed and Jennifer tightened his hand, kicked her foot and then she was gone. Gloria feels so blessed that her daughter allowed her to be in the room for her last breath. Her love of her life was there. April 21, 2009 next week is the one year anniversary of her passing.

Jennifer'S Legacy

Today, Gloria continues to keep her daughter's memory alive. Jennifer's husband, Greg is a crusader for cancer and started the Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona, which raises money for The Banner Desert healing town and mobile On-Site Mammography, a mobile way for women to get their mammograms.

The On-Site mobile Mammography is funded by The Jennifer Hoffmann Memorial, the charity set up by Jennifer's parents, husband, friends and house specifically for women who can not afford mammograms.

On April 10, 2009, they had a screening and 45 women who signed up were given free mammograms. These are women who do not have healing insurance.

Jennifer wanted to be cremated and have her ashes scattered at the Grand Canyon because she loved going there to hike with her husband, who followed her wishes. He did so alone.

Her husband, Greg Hoffmann is going there on Wednesday, April 21, to commemorate Jennifer's passing.
He plans to continue Jennifer's fight for a cure.

Greg is now on the board of the Foundation. Each November, his team, Thrivr, walks in the Three Day Walk for Susan G. Komen Walk for Cancer, as do other members of Jennifer's family.

Jennifer'S Spirit

Despite her diagnosis, Jennifer went on with her life. A life that meant divorce, marriage, work, family, friends. She prolonged to live. The message she gives is that illness does not have to prevent man from living as if they would live forever.

After Jennifer passed away, Gloria received so many letters telling her what an inspiration Jennifer was to them while this time.

Jennifer's friend is a photographer named Jill Stafford in California has made an exhibit with Jennifer's sayings from her blog and she gifted the photograph with the saying to Gloria. The saying reads:

"...and then we go on with the business of living either or not the scenery has changed. We have no option in what we are dealt, but we have a option in how we deal with it."

That saying keeps Gloria going. It also keeps Jennifer's husband going. He wrote the following tribute.

In memory of Jen...

On April 21, 2009, the world lost one of the good ones to breast cancer. My wife, Jen Hoffmann, after a 9-year battle with the beast, elegantly unlaced her gloves and did what all of us should aspire to do -- she left the world a best place.

Much more than just a survivor, I called her my "thriver." in fact and figuratively, she climbed mountains, and while doing so, she inspired thousands, courageously fighting a disease that just wouldn't let go, reminding us all what a high-priced gift it is just to be alive. Never a woman dying of cancer, she was all the time a woman living with cancer -- and oh how she lived.

She was a five-time participant in the Arizona Breast Cancer 3-Day, and the team she founded, Team Thrivr, will once again hit the pavement in November 2009, thought about more than ever to raise money to find the cure.

We'll walk with heavy hearts, and we'll walk with the sweetest memories of a life well-lived. We'll walk, because Everybody deserves a lifetime -- and because far too often, not Everybody gets one.
Godspeed, beautiful girl. Thrive on.

--Greg Hoffmann

Gloria Glickman and Greg Hoffmann want to keep her daughter's spirit, courage and message alive. They encourage women to get quarterly mammograms. All women are at risk of breast cancer with advancing age, regardless of their age.

But like her young daughter, Jennifer -- if your house does have a history of breast cancer in the family, she wants you to make sure you agenda an appointment and if you don't have condition insurance, she wants you to know there is man you can contact.

The mobile Mammography Screening was set up in honor of her daughter, Jennifer to help others who may not be able to afford early detection. Gloria Gickman continues to this day to raise awareness about breast cancer in her daughter's honor, which is exactly what Jennifer would want.

A Tribute - A mum Reflects on the One Year Anniversary of Losing Her Daughter to Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer and Reiki

The American Cancer society estimates that in 2006, about 212,900 women in the U.S. Will learn they have invasive breast cancer. American women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing this type of cancer at some point in their lives, and approximately 2 million have already been treated for the disease. Thankfully, death rates from breast cancer have dropped dramatically. Early detection as well as advances in chemotherapy and other treatments mean that each year yields more and more breast cancer survivors.[i]

As with any cancer, customary treatments for breast cancer can cause their own array of health challenges. Nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and low blood cell counts often corollary chemotherapy and radiation. In a up-to-date study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Michael Hassett of Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer institute found that 16 % of breast cancer patients under age 64 required a hospital visit to administrate chemotherapy side effects.[ii] Chemotherapy targets all rapidly growing cells, including white blood cells (known as neutrophils), which keep the immune system. Neutropenia, meaning white blood cell counts have dropped below normal levels, lowers immune response to invaders like bacteria, viruses and fungi.[iii] Consequently, the most base and serious guess for the post-chemo hospital visits was high fever from infections. Anemia-resulting from low red blood cell count-poses supplementary struggles in the form of greatest fatigue.

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Anti-nausea drugs, blood transfusions and lab-made white blood cell "boosters" now form part of a growing arsenal of coping strategies.[iv] But for women who feel conflicted about taking drugs in the first place, these solutions can seem too toxic or even add supplementary complaints. The neurtophil enhancers, for example, cause temporary bone pain as the marrow rapidly produces more cells. Leigh Leming, 54, a breast cancer survivor whose cancer later returned and metasticized, decided that this time she wanted to try something different. Unable to eat due to nausea, she now follows the guidance of an Ayurvedic chef. She drinks a shot of ginger, lemon juice, and honey before each meal. "It's the only thing that keeps my food down," Leming explains. She also takes wheat grass juice to build up her blood counts, because 2 ounces of wheat grass juice include nutrients equivalent to 4 pounds of organic produce: "The incompatibility in my energy levels is amazing!"

A inpatient at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Leming noticed fliers contribution Reiki sessions there. Reiki (pronounced "Ray-key") is an ancient medical energy law rediscovered in the late nineteenth century by a Japanese monk named Dr. Mikao Usui. The "Rei" stands for "universal," and the "ki" refers to "life force energy" similar to "Chi" in Chinese medical or "prana" in yoga. Thus, Reiki means "universal life force energy," which works on all levels-physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. By influencing all these levels, Reiki is believed gently but dramatically to amplify people's innate abilities to heal themselves. One can perform Reiki with hands on or above the body, and even across great distances. Most citizen observation it as heat, tingling or a feeling of deep love and support.

Leming's friends at St. Luke's Wellness town explained that they receive Reiki sessions prior to chemotherapy in order to offset some of their post-chemo reactions. Other patients noticed dramatic revision in pain levels following Reiki treatments. After experiencing some of this pain relief herself-"I precisely forget to take my pain pills after a Reiki session"-Leming gathered a group of patients and survivors to learn how to treat themselves with Reiki. Having received an attunement (opening of the body's natural energy paths) from a Reiki scholar Teacher, they can now feel Reiki flowing through their own hands. Although her pain returns, Leming reports a greater sense of calmness and peace when dealing with pain, as well as other cancer stressors like finances and family relationships.

No formal U.S. Studies have proven Reiki's effectiveness in treating cancer; however, The Canadian Breast Cancer investigate Initiative recently awarded a ,000 grant to Dr. Ahlam Mansour of the College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Mansour will study "the effects of Reiki on the level of anxiety, corporeal problems, spiritual well-being, and faultless blood counts in patients undergoing their introductory Ac (chemotherapy)."[v] The June 1997 issue of Cancer stoppage control shared introductory results from a controlled study at the Cross Cancer institute in Edmonton, Canada. Twenty volunteers with chronic pain, including pain from cancer, received Reiki treatments from a certified Reiki Level 2 practitioner. Study supervisors used both a optical analog scale (Vas) and a Likert scale to portion pain before and after Reiki. The study found that receiving Reiki greatly improved pain levels.[vi]

Across the United States, hospitals and hospices have begun to value Reiki. In 1997, Nancy Samson, Rn, Bs, began coordinating a volunteer Reiki program in the radiation oncology ward at Dartmouth Hitchcock medical town in New Hampshire. Today, the town hosts Reiki Certification Classes and advertises 50% reimbursement of class cost for Dhmc employees. [vii] The esteemed California Pacific medical Center's health and medical Clinic offers Reiki, along with acupressure, nutritional therapy and yoga. [viii] Hospices increasingly offer Reiki to patients as a means of easing pain and reducing anxiety about the unknown.

Arizona hosts one of the longest relationships between Reiki and customary cancer treatment. Sally Soderlund, Rn (Support Services Coordinator for Oncology) directs the Tucson medical town (Tmc) Reiki Clinic. The Reiki program at Tmc began over 11 years ago in the Cancer Care Unit. It has since branched out to other areas of the hospital as well. Reiki practitioners at Tmc usually impart Reiki as "healing energy" and work together in two someone teams. They emphasize the relaxing and medical qualities of Reiki, rather than delving into metaphysics. Although some patients report spiritual experiences during Reiki sessions, volunteers account for that Reiki is a medical system, not a religion. The Tmc clinic's success continues due to inpatient requests for repeat sessions as well as nurse reports of improved inpatient mood and medical rate.[ix]

The American Cancer society regards Reiki as a "safe" complementary cancer therapy. Their website acknowledges patients' subjective reports of Reiki's quality to speed medical and growth their sense of well-being. Like massage, Reiki induces relaxation, lowers heart rate and reduces stress levels. Studies indicate that citizen heal better if they can remain in a low stress state. Because massage precisely manipulates tissue, though, the American Cancer society recommends avoiding areas near tumors until investigate shows if tissue manipulation can spread cancer cells to other parts of the body.[x] Unlike massage, Reiki involves a light touch or no touch at all: there is no tissue manipulation. Recipients remain clothed while energy flows above and into their body. For citizen with multiple tumor sites, Reiki offers a chance to tap into the medical power of relaxation without any contraindications.

[i] American Cancer Society: Caner Reference Information. Cancer.org/docroot/Cri/content/Cri_2_2_1X_How_many_people_get_breast_cancer_5.asp?sitearea=

[ii] About health and Fitness: breastcancer.about.com/

[iii] "How Cancer Can Put You at Risk of Serious Infection." Healthmonitor: July-August 2006, p. S3.

[iv] "Take Care of Yourself." Healthmonitor: July-August 2006, p. S4.

[v] Source: Office of Communications, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, usask.ca/communications/ocn/Apr24/news8.html.

[vi] Source: Olson K, Hanson J, 1997. "Using Reiki to administrate pain: a introductory report." Cancer stoppage control 1997, June, Vol.1(2): pages 108-13.

[vii] Dartmouth-Hitchcock medical Center: Classes and Events. dhmc.org/dhmc/webpage.cfm?site_id=2&morg_id=0&org_id=1&sec_id=3&gsec_id=3&item_id=3

[viii] Cpmc institute for health and Healing. Cpmc.org/services/ihh/professionals/overview.html

[ix] Rand, William Lee. "Reiki in Hospitals." Reiki News Articles: The International town for Reiki Training. Reiki.org/reikinews/reiki_in_hospitals.html

[x] American Cancer Society. "Reiki" and "Massage." cancer.org/docroot/eto/content/eto_5_3x_massage.asp?sitearea=eto

Breast Cancer and Reiki

Speed Flying - The New Alternative to Base Jumping

Ten years ago most people would have drawn a blank at the mention of Base jumping, a fringe ultimate sport that involves throwing one's self from cliffs and structure with a parachute. Today, even those in their Golden Years are familiar with the sport, and might even be familiar with some of the technical terminology. But Base jumping will forever remain primarily a novelty performance due to its high risk and microscopic accessibility. For those individuals with the desire to share in such an intense performance more than vicariously through the rare few willing to risk their lives, there is a new sport on the verge of exploding. It's called Speed Flying and although far safer than Base jumping, the adrenaline factor is only one notch less.

Speed Flying is in its infancy now, but like many adventure sports before it, is quickly gaining traction as a familiar sport to the masses. This traction is construction in a form beyond the typical flood of online videos however; mainstream individuals are easily participating in it. Most likely you are wondering what exactly this hot new sport is, and maybe even how you might get involved. Read on to be enlightened.

California Sky Diving

The sport is simple: a participant hikes up a mountain with a small and light fabric wing packed on their back, inflates and launches from a favorable patch of clear ground, then screams down the mountain at breakneck speeds, slaloming through natural terrain features on the way down. The concept of this whether excites you or scares you, or both. For those that find themselves immediately drifting toward the scared side of the spectrum, it should be noted that the concept of this performance is more frightening than easily doing it. Like with anything else, knowledge replaces mystery, which is the root of most fear. Let's dispel some of the difficulty of Speed Flying.

A combination of skydiving, paragliding and Base jumping, it would seem Speed Flying should be more hazardous than any one of these other sports. But the beauty is that it shares the most spellbinding aspects of each activity, but not the high risk elements. For example, it shares with Base jumping the intense anticipation of standing at the edge of a cliff or mountain establishment to jump, but does not share the high risk aspect of depending upon a perfect parachute opening to survive. In tasteless with paragliding is a high performance wing that creates a true pilot out of its operator, but with a much more rigid airfoil that nearly eliminates the risk of collapse connected with a paragliding wing. Like skydiving, it is potential to make multiple flights in a day, but at one-fifth the cost (thus reducing the risk to one's financial well-being).

It might seem like a sport of this nature would take weeks or months to learn, but in reality an personel can go from zero sense to proficient in a few days time, without needing to take any "leaps of faith". First flights are on a large wing from a bunny hill, gaining only a few feet of altitude for less than 10 seconds. Within an hour, a trainee can be flying from 200 feet, and by the end of the day, flights from over 500 feet are possible. All the while, wing size will be gradually stepped down from Sedan to Coupe. Over the following days, the safe transition to sports car will be the goal. At this point in the training, a trainee will have a good feel for what type of flying they enjoy, and can focus their learning objectives toward that end. Some individuals will want to rip down the mountain as fast as possible, while others will prefer "boozy cruisy" flights at speeds much faster than a paraglider, but not so fast that the landscape cannot be enjoyed. There is something for everybody.

As is all the time the case with any new endeavor, taking the first step is the hardest. In this instance, that step is production a quick phone call or sending a short email to a local Speed Flying school. Be ready though, taking this initiative will very likely corollary in adding an element of excitement to your life that will have you quickly shifting your priorities. Get ready for the ride of your life.

Speed Flying - The New Alternative to Base Jumping

Activities For Your Smoky Mountain Vacation

The Smoky Mountains, in East Tennessee, attracts millions of visitors each year and it's no inexpressive as to why they come in droves. The Smoky Mountains contribute many reasons for travelers to visit. The scenery is spectacularly beautiful, the atmosphere is laid back, there are tons of natural and manufactured attractions and activities, and there is lodging galore.

Any visit to the Smoky Mountains, regardless of the season, must include sight seeing. The mountains contribute some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Snow-capped mountain peaks in the winter and the colorful foliage in the fall are sights to behold. Summer hiking allows visitors to view remote waterfalls and panoramic views. Hiking is not the only way to take in the views. There are plenty of sights that can be viewed from the relax of an automobile. Cades Cove is an 11 mile, one-way road that allows visitors to view wildlife such as deer, bears, foxes and more. Foothills Parkway winds along the top of Chilhowee Mountain, providing amazing views of the Smokies. Winterfest transforms Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg into a sea of lights where millions of Christmas lights and decorations line the streets and buildings.

California Sky Diving

The great thing about vacationing in the Smoky Mountains is that there are no deadlines, no manifestos, and no to-do lists. The atmosphere is laid back and peaceful. Visitors can move at their own pace, either fast or slow. Sit all day on the front porch sipping coffee or hike a mountain trail. Take a relaxing ride down a quiet stream on an inner tube or take a brisk bike ride straight through the woods. Attend an evening show in Pigeon Forge or turn in early, it's up to you. Life in the Smoky Mountains follows your lead.

There are plenty of entertainment venues in the Smokies. The streets of Gatlinburg are lined with stores, restaurants, museums, and other attractions. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Guinness World of Records Museum, Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum, and the 342-foot high Space Needle are just a few of the attractions in uptown Gatlinburg. Take a tram ride up the mountain and you can visit Ober Gatlinburg ski resort where you can snow ski, ice skate, and more. Take a zipline tour straight through the treetops at Gatlinburg Zipline Adventures.

Pigeon Forge is home to DollyWood and Splash Country, amusement parks owned by country music super star Dolly Parton. There are also activities such as go-carts, bungee jumping, petite golf, laser tag, indoor skydiving, arcades, and much more. Pigeon Forge is also illustrious for its shopping. It has some facility outlet malls as well as shopping centers and craft stores. Entertainment is plentiful with music, comedy, magic, and evening meal shows playing in theaters that line the streets of Pigeon Forge. Museums, restaurants, hotels and custom centers are also abundant.

There are lots of activities for nature lovers as well in the Smoky Mountains. Hiking trails saturate the Smokies and take you to some of the most favorite locales, like Mt. LeConte, Abrams Falls, and more. Fly fishing, tubing, swimming are favorite summer activities in many of the streams and rivers that rove straight through the mountains. Camping is also a favorite past time. Large campgrounds are numerous, as well as the smaller, off-the-beaten-path sites. The truly brave can hike deep into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and set up camp in the middle of the wilderness.

Lodging is always abundant in the Smoky Mountains. Bed and breakfast inns are always a favorite, as well as rental cabins. But there are plenty of hotels and resorts too. Chalets and condos are popular. There are even timeshares in the area. Those that like to rough it can find Rv parks and campgrounds.

With the number of activities, attractions, and beautiful locations, it is no wonder why the Smoky Mountains is one of the most favorite vacation spots in the Eastern United States. Come and check it out for yourself and you'll agree.

Activities For Your Smoky Mountain Vacation

The follow Of Breast Implants On Breast Cancer Detection And rehabilitation

While not commonly asked, one of the first questions a possible breast augmentation should ask is...does the breast implant interfere with being able to detect breast cancer? Since breast cancer in the United States affects one in 11 women while their lifetime, this is a fairly foremost question. As breast augmentation procedures continue to be on the rise, this foremost demand should be thoroughly addressed.

In a recently published analysis of this topic by Dr. Neal Handel of Santa Barbara, California in the December 2007 Supplement issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, he does exactly that. Using over 4,000 patients over a 23 year period, he assessed how for real mammography detected breast lesions. Women with breast implants presented more frequently with breast masses, invasive tumors, and axillary node spread. However, there was no important difference in stage of disease, tumor size, recurrence, or survival between the two groups. Despite the diminished sensitivity of mammograms to detect breast cancer in women with implants, nonaugmented women and augmented women are diagnosed at similar stages of disease and have similar prognoses. In women with breast implants, the use of conservation therapy (which practically always involves radiation) in breast cancer rehabilitation resulted in a high rate of implant contarctures and poor cosmetic outcomes as a result.

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In a companion study in the same Supplement, Dr. Dennis Deapen of Los Angeles, California evaluated literature over the past 20 years which examined breast cancer-related risks among breast implant patients. He found that women with breast implants do not caress delayed detection of breast cancer. He summarized that breast implants are not related with an increased risk of breast cancer incidence or death and these patients do not caress delayed detection or poorer survival after breast cancer treatments.

These two published studies should go far to alleviate any concerns in possible and existing breast implant patients about the detection and rehabilitation of breast cancer.

The follow Of Breast Implants On Breast Cancer Detection And rehabilitation

Breasts, Broccoli and Cancer

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the world today. More than 1.1 million women each year are diagnosed with breast cancer and over 200,000 of these women are Americans. These statistics are frightening especially in light of the fact that we are increasingly being told that genetics play such a major role in the amelioration of cancer. The succeed is that most women feel helpless. As if getting cancer is as likely to happen as getting the flu.

Fortunately, we are arrival to understand that influences other than genetics are far more foremost in the amelioration of cancer and can even override genetic 'tendencies'. In January of 2008, the National form of health announced that it would spend over 0 million over the subsequent five years into researching epigenetics. Epigenetic processes resolve how a gene will be expressed and therefore control growth and development.

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Epigenetic refers to the fact that it is the environment of the cell that determines which genes will be turned on and which genes will be turned off. Clearly, if all of the 30,000 to 35,000 genes in our cells were turned on simultaneously, we would not only be totally dysfunctional and unable to withhold life, but we would not even look human. So, it is not the genetic code that influences health and disease but rather the delicate coordination of these genes turning on and off. It is this symphonic interplay of gene expression, which results in the unique complexity of every individual. Even selfsame twins change differently over time when exposed to different environments.

What determines the environment of a cell? Diet and environmental conditions! Researchers have also come to understand that epigenetic changes can be passed on from generation to generation. So, what you eat and how you live can really work on how your grandchildren will fare when they are born. This 'inheritance' is far more foremost than any estimate of money or asset that one could or would leave. Let health be your legacy.

What in the world does this have to do with broccoli?

There are over 300 case controlled studies, which clearly demonstrate that eating vegetables protects against the amelioration of cancer, specifically vegetables that are in the genus of plants known as Brassica, and more specifically, broccoli. Other vegetables in this type comprise cabbage, watercress, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi and lesser known ones like Peruvian maca and mustards. As the estimate of servings eaten per month go up, the odds ratio of developing cancer drops significantly. For example, the odds ratio for breast cancer when five or more servings per week are eaten is 0.58, which is practically a 50% allowance in risk!

Although researchers at the University of California at Berkeley discovered that a aggregate in Brassica vegetables is a fine modulator of the immune theory resulting in potent anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activity, it is Dr. Jed Fahey who has been at the forefront in this explosive area of research.

Dr. Jed Fahey is a Faculty research connect in the department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology at the Johns Hopkins University School of medicine and a plant physiologist who manages the university's Brassica Chemoprotection Laboratory. Much of his work has been in the developing of cruciferous (Brassica) plants as chemoprotective agents.

This information is becoming critically foremost and supremely relevant today. The Who announced last year that by 2010, cancer would come to be the foremost cause of death worldwide. The Multinational Brassica Genome scheme (Mbgp) and much of the research in this area can be found at http://www.brassica.info.

Researchers in Italy published in the June, 2005 issue of the Journal of cusine that when they mixed cauliflower juice with breast cancer cells, not only did the cancerous cells stop growing, but at higher doses they were really killed (they exploded), and not by the usual mechanism known as apoptosis. Furthermore, normal cells were not affected because, for some unknown reason, cauliflower has a preference for breast cancer cells over other mammalian cell lines. Even more fine is that this same succeed was seen in both estrogen-receptor Er (+) and Er (-) cells. There is an clear implication here that not only are these vegetables protective with regard to the amelioration of breast cancer, but they may even be useful in treating cancer once it has arisen.

Metabolism and Detoxification

It is not estrogen that is the problem in breast and other cancers, it is what the liver does with the estrogen...the metabolites. The cytochrome 1B1 enzymes in the liver are stimulated by cigarette smoke, charbroiling of flesh foods, the burning of different fuels as well as many other environmental toxins. These enzymes, in turn change estrogen into 4-Oh-estrone, (E1) a potent genotoxic (cancer producing) substance. On the other hand, 2-Oh-E1 is a "good" estrogen metabolite that is produced by the cytochrome 1A1 enzymes of the liver, stimulated by broccoli and its Brassica cousins.

One can really part the ratio of the 2-Oh E1 to the 16-alpha-Oh E1 in the urine over time (24 hours). If the ratio is low, the risk for breast cancer is increased, and if high, the risk is reduced. In fact, one pound of broccoli per day (approximately 500 gms) shifts the ratio significantly. For every 10 grams of broccoli consumed per day, there is an growth in the ratio of 0.8. Therefore, the recommended estimate to be consumed for different individuals can be calculated readily, once these results have been obtained. The windup drawn by a respected cancer journal is that broccoli is an productive and approved strategy to prevent breast cancer.

In expanding to the metabolism of estrogens, the Brassica plants stimulate clear enzymes in the liver to heighten detoxification, which is of indispensable import since we swim in a sea of carcinogenic toxins.

The liver utilizes two mechanisms to take off toxins, referred to as Phase I and Phase Ii detoxification. In Phase I, liver enzymes modify toxic substances in order to make them recognizable to Phase Ii enzymes. In Phase Ii, a different set of enzymes change these modified toxins into more water-soluble forms, which can then eliminated through the urine or the feces. The compounds in Brassica plants that make them bitter and give them a strong and sometimes disagreeable odor are really the active, anti-cancer components. They function as the defense theory of the plant, sort of like an 'immune system'. They are known as phytoalexins. These substances are really modified and used by the agriculture industry to form pesticides and fumigants.

Chemically, these compounds are known as glucosinolates, which are modified to come to be isothiocyanates (Itc), the active, anti-cancer compound. An enzyme known as myrosinase is released when these plants are injured which converts the glucosinolates into Itc, hence chewing is required to initiate these anti-cancer compounds. The normal gut flora (healthy bacteria) also produces myrosinase, however, most Americans have taken too many antibiotics and other toxic chemicals, both voluntarily and involuntarily resulting in very unhealthy and unbalanced gut flora. So, it is advisable that we all chew thoroughly, just in case.

These Itc compounds, after conversion from glucosinolates, greatly induce Phase Ii enzymes in the liver, which results in excretion of the carcinogens circulating throughout the body. Although these compounds from Brassica vegetables may modify the Phase I enzymes, they have a much greater succeed on Phase Ii, which is why they are so important. Environmental toxins, such as dioxin (extremely poisonous), have their succeed by inducing only Phase I enzymes, which initiate many carcinogens. Without the concomitant activation of Phase Ii enzymes, the results are often fatal.

These Brassica derived chemicals also stop the growth of cancer cells after the initiation phase (cancer cells begin), interfere with promoters that make cancer cells grow (such as estrogen), interfere with angiogenesis (blood vessel growth in tumors), initiate apoptosis (cell death) and block rapid growth of cells. This data is found throughout the scientific literature in both in-vitro and animal studies.

There are many perfect supplements containing flavonoids, quercitin, sulforaphanes and the other compounds derived from Brassica plants, but if one wishes to obtain these benefits in the most potent, efficacious and natural way, just eat them. A word of caution is in order. About 97% of these nutrients are lost with microwaving and 66% with boiling. Steaming is an approved way of preparation these vegetables for consumption, but raw, fresh and organic will give you what nature intended...a long and joyful life.

Breasts, Broccoli and Cancer

Seven Secrets About Breast Cancer

Secret #1 The Money Spent On investigate Into Breast Cancer Is Not Ensuring That Less Women Get Breast Cancer.
Secret #2 You Do Need To Act Against Getting Breast Cancer Before You Reach 50 And You Cannot Rely On Mammograms.
Secret #3 You Are At Risk Of Getting Breast Cancer Even If You Don't Have It In Your Family.
Secret #4 Most Of The Money Spent On investigate Is Not Going Into stoppage To Ensure That Less Women Suffer The Devastating Effects Of Breast Cancer In The Future.
Secret #5 Most Women Are Not Breast Aware And Are Afraid Of Breast Cancer.
Secret #6 Women Are Not Given Lots Of guidance On How They Can safe Their Breasts Against Breast Cancer.
Secret #7 Most Women Do Not Appreciate How leading Their Breasts Are And Do Not Do all They Can To Look After And safe Them.

The above "secrets" are things which are not ordinarily known by most women and may be surprising to you. In this article, I intend to shed light on these facts and allow women to make up their own minds how they approach their breast health.

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Secret #1 The Money Spent On investigate Into Breast Cancer Is Not Ensuring That Less Women Get Breast Cancer.

The Pink Ribbon and Breast Cancer Awarenss Month was introduced in the Us in 1985 and introduced to the Uk in 1993. The Pink Ribbon Foundation is fronted by the Estee Lauder group of clubs (known for cosmetics and skincare).

Since then the pink ribbon seal has come to be synonymous with breast cancer and while the past 15 years billions of pounds have been raised in its name. Every October the world celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month and fund raising while that month is phenomenal. All the breast cancer charities vie with each other to see who can come up with the most innovative "pink" fundraising. They run pink parties and sell pink products in order to raise money. Many clubs take part and do special promotions while October for their beloved charity. "Pink" is big business.

So with all this money being raised while October and also at other times while the year straight through events like charity runs and walks, is there an impact on the breast cancer rates in the Uk and colse to the world? Are they advent down? Are fewer women suffering from the devastating effects of breast cancer?

Unfortunately, the acknowledge is 'no'.

In the Uk, from 1993-2004, breast cancer incidence has increased 18.5%, that is 1% per year. 1 in 9 women will get the disease while their lifetime with current projections of 1 in 7 by 2010. 45,500 women were diagnosed in 2005, which equates to 125 women every day. Worldwide more than a million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. It is also projected that breast cancer rates will rise most in developing countries, where women do not have way to top quality care and where they can also be treated as outcasts in sure societies.

Breast cancer survival rates have improved. Every year more than 12,300 women and 70 men die from breast cancer. Since the peak in the late 1980s breast cancer death rates have fallen by a third. Breast cancer drugs have helped to save women's lives but, as with any drugs, can have long-term side affects. Also the cost of these drugs puts great strain on the Nhs. If breast cancer rates continue to growth as they have been doing, then, agreeing to Professor Karol Sikora as reported in the Daily Mail on 09/09/08, "the next generation of drugs would keep patients alive longer, but could swallow half of the current Nhs cancer funds within four years. (this refers to all cancer drugs at a cost of £50 billion).

With the billions being raised by habitancy colse to the world in the name of breast cancer, is it right that nothing else but more women are getting this devastating disease every year?

Secret #2 You Do Need To Act Against Getting Breast Cancer Before You Reach 50 And You Cannot Rely On Mammograms.

Women in the Uk are offered breast screening by mammogram every three years from the age of 50. This is because breast cancer is still more tasteless in women over 50 but also because the breast tissue of younger women is denser and, therefore, makes it more difficult for a mammogram to pick up on a inherent breast lump.

However, this could be giving the message to younger women that they don't need to check their breasts themselves. Based on my touch while my breast condition talks, very few younger women check their breasts. The main reasons for this are that no-one has shown them how to, they don't know what to do, they think that they only need to worry if breast cancer is in the family (see hidden #3) or they are afraid that they might find something.

For a younger woman it is even more leading to check her breasts from her mid-twenties as breast cancer in younger women is usually much more aggressive as the breast cancer cells can multiply more rapidly than in older women. If girls were taught by their mothers to check their breasts from their mid-twenties, they would not be afraid - it would just be part of their general regime of seeing after themselves. Also they would feel sure about what to do. Breast self-examination is easy to do once you have been shown how and there are even devices on the store which can help you do so with confidence and greater accuracy.

Breast cancer is the biggest killer of women aged 35-54, which means it makes sense for women in this age bracket to do all they can to safe their breasts.

Furthermore, I do not believe that we should rely on mammograms either. Women are only screened every three years and, usually, a mammogram can only detect a breast tumour once it has been growing for 8 years. By the time the tumour reaches 10 years, it could be too late. The other thing to remember is that a mammogram can only screen the part of the breast which can be put into the "clamp". It cannot screen under the armpit or between the breasts for example.

Lastly, there is growing concern over the protection of mammograms. The following are extracts from an narrative written by Peter Leando PhD.

"Controversy has raged for years as to whether the risks connected to the radiation exposure suffered from mammography are justified by the benefits gained ...... New evidence relating to the singular type of radiation used and the hard evidence relating to the clinical benefits of mammography have caused a serious re-evaluation of the justification of mammography as a screening test.

Radiation from routine mammography cannot be directly compared to other types of X-ray like chest X-ray etc because they are very distinct types of radiation.

The comparisons that have been used between a chest x-ray and mammography, 1/1,000 of a rad (radiation-absorbed dose) for a chest X-ray and the 1 rad exposure for the routine four films taken of both breasts for a mammographic screening exam results in some 1,000 times greater exposure. (This refers to the Us, where they do four-way screening. In the Uk typically only two-way screening is offered.)

This is thought about a important risk factor when extended over a ten year screening duration and a inherent accumulative dose of 10 rads. Unfortunately this is not the major risk posed by the singular type of radiation used by mammograms, mammography X-rays use a low energy form of ionising radiation that causes greater biologic damage than the high energy X-ray. The very low energy electrons sway the density of ionisation tracks that pass straight through the tissue, which can cause involved damage to the Dna and carcinogenic changes.

The radiation used by mammography is practically 5 times more productive at causing cancer." So, women do need to start checking their breasts from their early twenties and we cannot rely on mammograms 100%, particularly for younger women who would have a greater exposure to radiation while their lifetime if they were offered mammograms from a younger age. Also mammograms do not detect Inflammatory Breast Cancer (Ibc) which is a much rarer form of the disease and does not involve a lump. This would only detected by a woman seeing for changes to her breasts and reporting them to her doctor.

Secret #3 You Are At Risk Of Getting Breast Cancer Even If You Don'T Have It In Your Family.

Amongst the hundreds of women I have talked to about breast health, the vast majority were under the false impression that breast cancer is primarily hereditary. They were surprised to hear that fewer than 10% of cases occur to women who have breast cancer in the family.

In fact, every woman is at risk and should take control of her own breast condition to give herself the best inherent opening of stoppage or early detection.

The other most tasteless acknowledged risk factors are:
Age - breast cancer is more tasteless in women over 50 Early puberty - it is worrying that puberty is beginning younger, with most girls beginning their periods at original school Late gravidity - many woman are opting to have children later Late onset menopause Not having children and not breastfeeding - this was known as early as the 18th century when a physician in Italy noticed that nuns had higher levels of breast cancer than the general population Being overweight - this applies mainly to post-menopausal women Alcohol - over-consumption increases the risk of breast cancer

Acknowledged risk factors account for colse to 50% of breast cancer cases. For the remainder, there are no exact reasons.

There are a growing amount of scientists, commercial clubs and individuals who believe that this remaining 50% is due to the rise of the amount of chemicals which have been introduced over the past 50 years. They are used in our food, in our toiletries, in the workplace, in our clothes, in our furnishings - in fact, in every aspect of our lives. Many of these chemicals are endocrine disrupting chemicals (Edc's), also known as hormone disruptors or oestrogen mimickers. In straightforward terms, they act like oestrogen in our bodies and could be responsible for changing our delicate hormone equilibrium which controls events like pregnancy, puberty, menopause.

An intriguing example of the levels of oestrogen of British women was examined in a collaborative study undertaken in the late 80's between Oxford University, the Chinese Academy of Preventive treatment Beijing, Guys, and the Dept. Of Preventive Medicine, L.A., California. They compared blood-serum concentrations of hormones connected to breast cancer between women in rural China and in Britain. The results showed that British women who are exposed to toxic chemicals in their daily lives had increasingly higher levels of oestradiol (oestrogen) than women living a rural lifestyle in China (see table below).

On this theme, the Guardian online reported on 22/05/07 that 'Beijing blames pollutants for rise in killer cancers'.

Oestradiol levels higher in British women by: Age 35 - 44 36% Age 45 - 54 90% Age 55 - 64 171%

Secret #4 Most Of The Money Spent On investigate Is Not Going Into stoppage To Ensure That Fewer Women Suffer The Devastating Effects Of Breast Cancer In The Future.

As we know, billions of pounds are raised every year worldwide in the name of breast cancer and most of this money is received by the mainstream breast cancer charities. In my opinion, the areas which should be targeted by these funds are prevention, treatment and care. You would probably expect these areas, at least, to be treated with equal significance and the funds available allocated accordingly.

Let's first take a look at the mainstream breast cancer charities in this country, namely Cancer investigate Uk (who obviously deal with all cancers), Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign and Breast Cancer Care.

Cancer investigate Uk has done a huge amount of investigate into breast cancer and their website has a wealth of useful data with a lot of detail on breast cancer. Their catchword is 'Together We Will Beat Cancer'. The charity offers funding schemes to scientists. Their investigate strategy is directed at reducing mortality from cancer and more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. Cancer investigate Uk is seeing trying to prevent breast cancer in women known to be at high risk of developing it (approx 10% of sufferers). Doctors have looked into using tamoxifen and other hormone blocking drugs such as anastrozole (Arimidex) to lower the risk of breast cancer in women with a strong family history. This work has to be done very carefully. These women are salutary and the treatment aimed at preventing breast cancer must not risk their condition in other ways.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer supports a programme of cutting-edge biological investigate to reach their foresight of 'a time to come free from the fear of breast cancer'. Breakthrough set up the Uk's first dedicated breast cancer investigate centre in 1999, the Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer investigate Centre. Breakthrough is funding The Generations Study whosepurpose is primarily to investigate environmental, behavioural, hormonal and genetic causes of breast cancer, and secondarily to investigate the causes of other cancers and diseases, by means of a Uk cohort study to be established of more than 100,000 women in the Uk aged 18 years and older at entry.

However, when you look at environmental factors as a inherent risk factor, it seems to be dismissed because it is too difficult to investigate due to the huge amount of chemicals to which we are exposed in our daily lives. You can read more at their website under "risk factors".

As I have mentioned, I am one of the many habitancy who believe that sure chemicals which act like oestrogen in our bodies are a contributing factor in rising breast cancer rates. I am disappointed to see that Breakthrough are not even together with this as a inherent risk factor, particularly as we know that immoderate oestrogen has been connected to breast cancer cell growth.

Breast Cancer Campaign cites its mission is to beat breast cancerby funding innovative world-class investigate to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, stoppage and cure. The charity is supporting 97 projects worth over £12.8 million in 41 locations throughout the Uk. Over the past 13 years, Campaign has awarded 232 grants with a total value of over £23 million to universities, curative schools / teaching hospitals and investigate institutes over the Uk. Campaign's breast cancer investigate gap determination document has been published by the open way journal Breast Cancer Research. The document entitled 'Evaluation of the current knowledge limitations in breast cancer research: a gap analysis' is the stock of two and a half year project. It involved colse to 60 of the key breast cancer scientists in the Uk.

Through their website, they sell products of discrete types and the clubs who own those brands donate part of their profits to the Campaign. They comprise things like lip gloss, perfume, toiletries, clothing and stationery. Some of us would say that many of the products comprise harmful ingredients and are not nothing else but contributing to the breast condition of the ladies buying them! I was also disappointed that, although they mention stoppage in their mission statement, I have one of their leaflets that shows stoppage only receives 1% of their budget.

Breast Cancer Care, as its name suggests, is primarily implicated with the care and treatment of ladies going straight through breast cancer. It provides invaluable data and support.

I applaud all of these organisations who are dedicated to their work to help us understand and treat breast cancer.

However, I still believe that the risk factor of sure chemicals affecting our delicate hormone equilibrium should be taken seriously and that all the available investigate should be studied. It is leading to note that only 50% of breast cancer cases can be put down to one of the acknowledged risk factors. What is this remaining 50%? What has changed in our world over the past 50 years? It is also intriguing that other countries are recognising the dangers of these chemicals and banning substances. I also believe in adopting the 'precautionary principle', which means that if there is a doubt over the protection to public health, then we should not wait until it is too late but take action as soon as possible. It has also been proved that there are alternatives to these potentially harmful chemicals when we see the growing amount of clubs who are selling safer food, cosmetics and toiletries.

This is why I am an active supporter of Breast Cancer Uk, the only charity whose main focus is original prevention. We are thought about that breast cancer should be a 'preventable' disease not an 'inevitable' one. There is lots of investigate available on the link between endocrine disrupting chemicals and breast cancer. It is time that this was taken into account when seeing at breast cancer risk factors.

Secret #5 Most Women Are Not Breast Aware And Are Afraid Of Breast Cancer.

Despite the huge focus on being breast aware, particularly while Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, the majority of women are not breast aware. In fact, most women pay minute attentiveness to their breasts and do very minute to look after them, except maybe while breastfeeding. Our breasts describe our femininity - they make us feel sexy and they nourish our children. Yet most women don't even know what their breasts feel like, let-alone check them for anything unusual.

It is so leading that women take control of their own breast condition by undertaking monthly self-examination to check for any changes. If they find a lump and go to their physician straight away, the chances are the lump will be benign (80% are) or, if it is cancerous, they are giving themselves the best inherent opening of recovery. At Stage One, women have colse to a 95% opening of surviving beyond 5 years. At Stage One the lump is less than 2cm and has not spread to the lymph nodes or anywhere else in the body. At Stage Four this survival rate drops to 1 in 10. The median size of lump discovered accidentally by women who don't check their breasts usually is practically 3.6 cm.

I have spoken with hundreds of women straight through my breast education work and most women do not check their breasts because they don't know what to do, they don't comprehend that all women are at risk, they don't know about the four stages of breast cancer and the corresponding survival rates, they don't nothing else but think about the need to do anything to look after their breasts or they are afraid that they might find something.

According to investigate by Breast Cancer Campaign, breast cancer is the most feared disease surrounded by women. Fear is usually due to a lack of knowledge. This is nothing else but the case here. If women understood all detailed here, they would want to give themselves the best opening of survival should they get the disease. The current approach to women's breast condition obviously isn't getting through, which is why I believe it is time to get women to take control themselves and empower other women to do the same.

Secret #6 Women Are Not Given Lots Of guidance On How They Can safe Their Breasts Against Breast Cancer.

In the past, Gp surgeries used to run Well Woman clinics where any woman could go and see a physician or nurse and be given guidance about seeing after herself with practical data like being shown how to check her breasts. Very few surgeries offer these clinics now. This is one of the reasons that I started my Breast condition Presentations. I talk to women in the workplace or in other gatherings and empower them with information, which helps to remove some of their fear. I also show them how to check their breasts and talk to them about their bra-wearing habits, how to avoid harmful chemicals in their daily lives and how to advantage from detoxifying breast massage.

As we know, breast cancer is the most feared disease surrounded by women and insight how it develops, the risk factors and, most importantly, how to safe against it, will make women feel more in control and sure towards their breast health.

During October and other events while the year, the focus is on breast cancer rather than breast health. I am one of those habitancy who believe that the more you focus on something negative, the more you will get of it. This is why it is time to change that focus.

I believe that it is right on time for women to take their breast condition into their own hands, which is why I have launched my new campaign "Healthy Breasts For Every Woman". You can read more at www.healthybreastscampaign.co.uk.

Secret #7 Most Women Do Not Appreciate How leading Their Breasts Are And Do Not Do all They Can To Look After And safe Them.

As I mentioned before, most women give very minute conception to their breasts. They get up in the morning and they may give them a wash in the shower. They then shove them into a cage we call a bra (and most women wear a bra that doesn't fit them properly) and forget about them for the rest of the day. It is fabulous that we live in a society which is obsessed with breasts and women do very minute to safe this most costly part of their body. It is also fabulous that women spend a fortune on seeing after every other part of their body with creams and lotions and forget about their breasts! I know that once women understand more about breast condition and don't feel so helpless in the face of breast cancer that they do want to be proactive and take control of their breast health.

Seven Secrets About Breast Cancer

Diary of a Breast Cancer Survivor

March 15, 2007: One treatment down and 7 more to go...

My treatments are every two weeks - in in the middle of I am supposed to climb back out of the hole and try to make myself strong for the next time when they are going to knock me down again. The first treatment was 10 days ago. Every day seems to center colse to whether killing part of me or boosting me up so that I am strong adequate to be knocked down again.

California Sky Diving

There is a famed breast cancer surgeon, Dr Susan Love, (same name - so odd !!) who calls it "slash, poison and burn." Hopefully the new directions in investigate that are being taken will bring in something more humane and effective. It's the equivalent of their giving arsenic to cure syphilis back early in the Xxth century.

My quarterly Md gave me some "tonic" last week. It's made of plants, a dark brown in colour and as nasty tasting as you can imagine. Now I am bouncing off the walls with energy. Maybe if I could meditate that would balance out the zinginess.

My oncologist is quite happy to co-ordinate the treatments with all the vitamin and herbs, etc that I am taking. It took me a while to find man open minded adequate but I ultimately did. While he doesn't work at Sloan Kettering but at Ny Presbyterian (next door), he uses Dr Norton's protocol (the Sloan Kettering breast cancer God). While Sloan Kettering may be The place, I had a friend die a consolidate of years ago after they misread her x-rays --- so no where is perfect. (Her family is now rich from the law suit - but has no mom. adequate said.) Nyc is full of improbable world class people - the challenge is to find the most humane ones.

Finding a surgeon was also a hunt: the first was a smart looking woman in a tight skirt, 4" heels and a bevy of beautiful secretaries who all made you feel plain, vulnerable and pitiful by comparison (which was my state of mind anyway, when I first discovered the tumor). She coldly announced my options, glared at me through hoody eyes when we announced we would, of course, be seeking a second opinion, and my husband, Curtis and I left shaking. Two weeks later we were again sitting and waiting, Curtis trying to look cheerful and me huddled under my hospital gown, close to tears. In marched someone else top-of the-tree surgeon, but this one had a grin and a bow tie. Any guy who wears a bow tie has a sense of humor. He gave us more or less the same choices and handed me his card with his email and said please shot off any questions and we booked a date.

There was only one place that I felt he slipped up and that was not ordering the test that they do in California and any other places which analyzes the tumor tissue to see what kind of chemo is most likely to kill your particular cancer. Most Md's don't ask for it as many insurances don't pay for it. When I asked the oncologist about it he said that it wasn't 100% dependable (neither is chemo) but still useful and that unfortunately one needed a live sample for the test. I had no live sample as I had not set it up beforehand - one has to do a lot of the "work" oneself and the choices are numerous and confusing.

While searching for an oncologist, I read and read - the internet is both a curse and a blessing. I came across a Ralph Moss, who writes very useful cancer reports for the general public. (He was recently on the New Your Times page on strengthen in cancer work.) I also found the Dr Susan Love Foundation with a good website.

People keep lively me to lunch with friends of theirs who have had breast cancer and who have "survived." The first thing you look at is to see whether or not their eyelashes have grown back because you can't believe they positively will. They do.

I ordered the wigs and the turbans and waited with dread for the first poisoning. I also had to discontinue a root canal first - one is not supposed to do anything during the treatment that would introduce possible infection.

I found a lovely Chinese doctor who gives me acupuncture and who always comes into the room, sits down beside me, puts his hand on my shoulder and slowly asks how I am doing today. Makes you feel that you have a big brother who is going to take care of you. Curtis is so intrigued by the idea of electric circuits in the body that he is reading a huge tome by a Swedish Md, head of a large hospital and at one time on, the Nobel prize committee (when dealing with cancer one always states the person's credentials as there are so many quacks out there). So now both Curtis and I go twice a week to have pins stuck in us. He is regaining the circulation in the pads of his feet which he had been slowly loosing over the years and is pleased as punch.

My goodness, this has turned into "an essay."

Lastly, I found a hospital study on the internet done in New Zealand where 85% of the women didn't loose their hair by sitting under a casque emitting electric impulses any times a week. You are supposed to start 2 weeks before the first chemo, but I found the study 3 days into the chemo. I traced the business who made the motor to Vancouver, called them up and asked if anything in Nyc had one. I was referred to a dermatologist in Brooklyn who sent me to a spa in Midtown. I sit under the casque for 12 minutes while Curtis chats with the owner of the salon, Laslo from Hungary, who told him that he looked just like his father. I think Hungarians are charming just by the fact of being Hungarian. Must be taught in school there. We'll see what happens - so far on day twelve it's still hanging in there - we'll see. :)

The whole thing is like a soldiery campaign. I'm taking a ton of vitamins, get antioxidant Iv drips from my Gp, have my scalp rubbed and electrically "stimulated" one a week, see the acupuncturist twice a week and try to have a massage when I can. Talk about maintenance!

The thing they say is that you need a team - my "team" is my wonderful, sick person husband, Curtis; my family and friends; the techies who work on my website and the printer who prints the cookbooks - they send me flowers and books to read and riposte buyer emails on the days I can't; my very caring Gp, Patrick Fratellone; my Dom (doctor of Chinese medicine), Dr Chen - the man with the needles; the Hungarian technician, Laslo, with the head stimulator machine; my oncologist, Dr Pasmantier (who allows me alternative therapies and who is even a bit interested); my surgeon, Alex Swistel (the man with the bow tie and the grin who gives out his email address to his patients), My Columbian dentist, Martha (who does flamenco in her spare time); my French massage therapist (who lectures me); Ralph Moss who writes the Moss Reports on the internet (a voice of sanity). Opps - almost forgot the nice people in the wig store....

Off to eat a second breakfast of incredibly salutary things, drink my wheat grass and raw vegetable juice.

Diary of a Breast Cancer Survivor