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