Breast Cancer – The Silent Killer (Part II)

Breast Self-Exams

Regular breast self-exams help women to know their breasts well and notice the slightest change on their breasts. It helps to detect breast cancers that mammograms sometimes miss. Many breast cancer experts agree that self-exams are safer than mammography because it does not exposes women to radiation, a known carcinogen. In some cases, mammography fails to detect around 20 percent of breast cancers in older women and 40 percent in younger women whose breast tissue is more dense. Until scientists develop a safe, foolproof and accessible screening method for breast cancer, self-exams are an irreplaceable element in the early detection tool kit.

3 Steps of Breast Self-Exams

Step 1

Begin by looking at your breast in front of a mirror ,with your arms at your side, with your arms raised behind your head, and with your arms on your hips.

Here is what you should look for:

• One breast unusually lower than the other
• An unusual increase in the size of one breast
• Unusual thickening of your breasts
• Any new lump (which may or may not be painful or tender)
• Sticky or bloody discharge from your nipples
• Any changes in the skin of your nipples or breasts, such as puckering or dimpling

**Important: If you see any of the above changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention.

Step 2

Next, lie down with a pillow under your left shoulder and your left hand behind your head. Your shoulder should be raised enough for your left breast to be center on top of your chest. This will help you to check the breast tissues evenly. Use your right hand with the pads of the 3 middle fingers to feel your left breast. Start at the outer edge and work around your breast in circles, getting closer to your nipple with each circle. Be sure to include the area up to your collarbone and out to your armpit. You have lymph nodes in this area. Cancer can spread to lymph node tissue. Then, do exactly the same for your right breast with the pillow under your right shoulder.

Step 3

After you’ve finished checking your breast, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be a milky or yellow fluid or blood).

What is Mammograms?

A mammogram is another way to detect breast cancer early. A mammogram is a special kind of x-ray of your breasts. It is a quick and simple test that usually takes less than 30 minutes. The goal of mammograms is to detect cancerous cell/tissue before they start to cause symptoms. The dose of radiation used in a mammogram is very low, about the same amount as in a dentist's X-ray and there is no evidence that the small amount of radiation used can actually cause cancer. Women aged 40 and above are strongly encouraged to get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.

To be continued......

Waffle Delight Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of soybeans milk
• 1 cup of rolled oats
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of vanila
• 1 tbs full of melted butter

Directions:

1. First, pre-heat your waffle iron or non-stick pan. This will be a lifesaver later, when you will be stuffing yourself with tasty waffles instead of standing with a cup full of waffle batter in front of the cold waffle iron.


2. Take a bowl and mix in all soybeans milk, rolled oats, salt, vanila and melted buter.


3. Then put all ingredients into a blender and blend them until smooth.


4. Put one cup of batter in the preheated iron waffle or non-stick pan and close it.


5. If batter becomes thicken, pour in additional soybeans milk or water.


6. It will only take 2 minutes for waffles to get ready for serving.


7. When waffles are ready, leave them on a tray to cool down and then enjoy!

Breast Cancer - The Silent Killer (Part I)

Breast cancer is the number one killer for women in most parts of the world. In countries like USA, the statistics are more frightening where about 184,000 new cases of breast cancer are detected annually. Research found that:

• Every 3 minutes, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer (USA)
• Every 11 minutes, one woman dies from breast cancer (USA)
• Every year, 30,000 women and 200 men are diagnosed with breast cancer (UK)

In 2003-2005, breast cancer was the top killer for Malaysian woman aged 20 years old and above. Based on research findings:

• Among all races, Chinese have the highest record of getting breast cancer, followed by the Indians and then, Malays.
• Breast cancer formed 31.1% of newly diagnosed cancer cases in women from 2003 to 2005.
• A woman in Malaysia has a 1 in 20 chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime.
• The cumulative life time risk of developing breast cancer among the races were: Chinese women (1 in 16), Indian women (1 in 17) and Malay women (1 in 28).
• Women between 50 to 59 years old have the highest risk of getting breast cancer.

What causes breast cancer?
The exact cause or causes of breast cancer remain unknown. However, there is a number of risk factors that increase a person's chance of getting this disease. Certain risk factors, such as age, are beyond our control; whereas others, like lifestyle, can be modified. Here are some of the causes of breast cancer:

Risk factors that are beyond our control:

• Gender- Simply being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer.


• Age- Women between 50 to 59 years old have the highest risk of getting breast cancer.


• Race- White women are slightly more likely to get breast cancer than are African-American women.


• Family history.


• Genetic mutations.


• Personal history of breast cancer.


• Menstrual period- Women who began having periods early (before age 12) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

Risk factors that are within our control; Lifestyle:

• Recent use of birth control pills


• Not having children or having them after age 30


• Not breast-feeding


• Abuse of alcohol


• Overweight or obese


• Lack of or no exercise


• Unhealthy fat diet


• Use of antiperspirants


• Frequent use of bras especially at night to sleep


• Abortions


• Breast implants


• Cigarette smoking


• Pollution


• Working late hours

Diet and breast cancer
Research found that diet and food intake play an important role in the prevention of breast cancer. To prevent breast cancer, you should:

• Consume as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Eat fruits such as citrus, berries and cherries. Eat cruciferous vegetables (such as brocolli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower), dark lea (such as collards, kale, spinach), carrots and tomatoes.


• Take daily supplements. Scientists suggested that taking Vitamin D, Low GI (glycemic index) carbohydrates, Omega-3 fats, Flaxseed Oil and Vitamin E are effective to prevent breast cancer.


• Consume whole food soy products such as tofu and roasted soy nuts. Only consume organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) soy.

To be continued......

Corn Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, chopped1 large russet potato (or 2 red skinned potatoes), cut into 1/4” cubes
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 5 ears corn, husked
• 1 cup of cooked rice
• 5 cup of water
• 1 tsp of nutritional yeast flakes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 ½ tsp of salt
• 2 tbsp of olive oil

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, hold 1 ear of corn upright and use a serrated knife to cut off the kernals, but only go halfway deep. Go around the ear once. Go around the ear a second time, this time getting the rest of the kernals. Third time around: use the back of the knife and go over the ear again, to extract out all of the creamy, milky pulp. The purpose of going around 3 times is to get as much cream from the kernels as possible (and without the use of a food processor) Repeat with remaining ears. Set aside.

2. Boil potatoes, onion, green pepper, and corn with water in a large pot.

3. Scoop out half portion of the soup and vegetables. Put it inside a blender.

4. Add in cooked rice, nutritional yeast, garlic, salt and olive oil in the blender, and blend until creamy.

5. Pour blended soup back into the large pot, mix and serve warm.

Understanding Radiotherapy

What is radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy is the use of high energy x-rays and similar rays (such as electrons) to treat disease. The aim of the treatment is to destroy the cancer cells in the area being treated. Normal cells will also be affected but they are better able to repair themselves. Radiotherapy treatment can cure some cancers and can also reduce the chance of a cancer coming back after surgery. It may be used to reduce cancer symptoms.


Types of radiotherapy
There are two main types of radiotherapy treatment: external radiotherapy and internal radiotherapy.

External radiotherapy is where a machine is used to give a dose of energy, such as X-rays, to attack the cancer cells. There are different types of radiotherapy machines, which work in slightly different ways. For a session of radiotherapy you will be asked to sit or lie in a position that allows the energy beam to be directed accurately at the cancer. This may involve lying down while the machine rotates around you, or you may be asked to sit in a chair while the beam is directed at a cancer that is near the surface of your skin (also called superficial cancer). The machine won't touch you and you won't feel any pain during the treatment. When you are settled, the therapist has to go out into a separate control room. This is for their protection from repeated exposure to radiation. In the control room they can see you via a TV monitor or through a window, and you will still be able to talk to them. The therapist then uses controls to emit radiation from the machine for a short time.

Each session of treatment usually only lasts a few minutes (although it may take several minutes to position you and the machine correctly each time). During each treatment session the radiation may be emitted several times in short bursts from different angles. This may mean that you or the machine need to be adjusted a few times during a treatment session. One reason why this may be done is that although each burst of radiation will focus on the cancer, each burst will pass through different parts of your body on the way. This aims to reduce damage to normal tissues.

Internal radiotherapy is where the source of radioactivity is put inside your body so it can get closer to the cancer. This can be done in two ways:

1. Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy allows a physician to use a higher total dose of radiation to treat a smaller area and in a shorter time than is possible with external radiation treatment. A solid source of radioactivity is put next to a tumour to give a high dose of radiotherapy. This means the effect on body tissue around the cancer is as little as possible.

Brachytherapy is used to treat cancers throughout the body, including the:

• Prostate
• Cervix
• Head and neck
• Ovary
• Breast
• Gallbladder
• Uterus
• Vagina

2. Radioisotope therapy

This is when a liquid radioactive source is put inside your body. A radioactive liquid (usually radioactive iodine) is given either as an injection into a vein or as a liquid you can drink. Radioisotope treatment can be used for thyroid, adrenal and bone cancers.

You will need to drink plenty of water during your treatment, to flush the radioactive iodine out of your system. The amount of radiation in your body will be closely monitored, and when it drops back down to a safe level you will be able to go home.

Common side effects during treatment

Not every patient experiences side effects. Usually, one or two side effects occur. Depending on which part of your body is being treated, possible side-effects immediately after radiotherapy include:

• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling sick and vomiting
• Skin changes – skin may become red, itchy and sometimes sore, like sunburn
• Hair loss (alopecia) – this may affect parts of the body that were treated, including head, facial hair, armpits and pubic hair.
• Mouth issues – may include mouth dryness, difficulty chewing and swallowing, and dental decay.
• Chest problems – may include coughing, shortness of breath and painful swallowing.
• Abdominal problems – may include diarrhoea, bleeding (rarely), a burning sensation when urinating, the urge to urinate more often, vaginal dryness and discomfort. If the ovaries are present and working, they may cease to work after four weeks and menopause may affect women. Patients with prior bowel disorders such as diverticular disease may find their symptoms become worse.
• Emotional symptoms - feeling low, depressed or anxious after treatment
  

Quick Notes:

• Radiotherapy is the use of precisely targeted x-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is a painless treatment given in a number of doses.
• Common side effects of radiotherapy include fatigue and skin problems such as itchiness and colour changes.
• It is important to remember that almost all side effects will disappear once treatment is completed.
• Later effects will need to be monitored along with your progress.

Baked Long Beans Recipe

Ingredients:

• 20 trips of long bean
• ¾ tsp soy sauce
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp sesame butter
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds (baked or fry dried)

Directions:

1. Put washed long beans into a pot of boiling water to boil until soften, and then scoop them out.


2. In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, salt, olive oil, nutritional yeast, sesame butter and sesame seeds. Add long beans in it and mix well.


3. Use your hands to knot the long beans one by one. Then, place them on the baking tray to bake for 20 minutes in the oven (temperature: 180 degree Celsius).

Understanding Chemotherapy

What Is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. Many different kinds of drugs are used, either alone or in combination, to treat different cancers. Chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of cancer may be taken as tablets or, more commonly, given by intravenous drip directly into a vein.


How is chemotherapy administered?

Most chemotherapy is given by injection into a vein through an intravenous catheter (IV). Alternatively, chemotherapy can be injected into a muscle or under the skin or taken by mouth. Usually a patient has chemotherapy as an outpatient, but on occasion chemotherapy may be administered in the hospital. A short hospital stay may be necessary depending on several factors such as which drugs are given, the dose, how they are given, and the patient’s general health.

Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles. A cycle includes a treatment period (one or more days when treatment is given) followed by a recovery period (several days or weeks), then another treatment period, and so on.

Aims of chemotherapy
The major aims of chemotherapy are to:

• Cure the cancer or increase the chance of cure
• Reduce symptoms and improve quality of life
• Improve survival.

Chemotherapy And Side Effects

The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the drugs and the doses the patient receives. The side effects vary from person to person. Generally, chemotherapy affects cells that divide rapidly. In addition to cancer cells, blood cells also divide rapidly and may be affected by chemotherapy. Blood cells fight infection, help the blood to clot, and carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When blood cells are affected by chemotherapy, patients are more likely to get infections, to bruise or bleed easily, and to feel unusually weak and tired.

Common side effects include:

• Hair loss (also called alopecia)
• Infection
• Reduced levels of red and white blood cells and platelets
• Mouth ulcers or mouth infections
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bowel changes such as diarrhoea or constipation
• Skin problems such as itchiness or extreme light sensitivity.

Coping with side effects

Almost all side effects will disappear once treatment is completed. In the meantime, helpful strategies include:

• Rest as much as you can.
• Avoid sun exposure.
• Avoid using perfumes, deodorants, soaps, creams and make-up.
• Avoid scratchy or stiff clothing.
• Avoid hot showers or baths, scratchy towels and shaving.
• Exercise gently whenever possible.
• Avoid harsh hair treatments such as dyes, perms, hair rollers, gels and sprays if you are having radiotherapy to the head - which can cause hair loss.
• Seek help if you feel depressed or anxious.
• Try to snack lightly throughout the day rather than having three main meals.
• Choose high-energy foods.
• Avoid over-the-counter mouthwashes, alcohol and cigarettes
• Discuss fertility and sexual function with your specialist, as they may be affected by radiotherapy given to the pelvic area in men.

Tofu Egg Sandwich Recipe

Ingredients:

• 5 pcs Tofu, mashed
  
• 5 pcs Big onion
  
• ½ tbsp olive Oil
  
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
  
• 1 tsp turmeric
  
• 1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Saute onion in ½ tsp olive oil, then add tofu and stir-fry for a few minutes.
   
2. Add turmeric to get desired color.
   
3. Add salt and nutitional yeast to taste.

Exercise Can Help You Cope With Cancer

Cancer and cancer treatments can cause a person feeling tired all the time. Cancer patients would feel too tired to exercise. However, research shows that regular and moderate physical activity can help a cancer patient to cope with the disease and the side effects of treatment.

What Are The Benefits of Exercise?
Physical activity can boost the energy levels of a person who has cancer. Moderate regular exercise can:

• Prompt the body to make more red blood cells, which increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood


• Strengthen the cardiovascular system and improve blood supply to every cell of the body


• Increase muscle tone and strength


• Improve stamina, which makes daily activities less tiring to perform


• Reduce nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy


• Increase appetite


• Encourage deeper and more refreshing sleep


• Reduce the pain of cancer because exercise stimulates the brain to release endorphins, which are opiate-like pain-killing chemicals


• Stabilize mood – depression and anxiety are known to cause fatigue


• Reduce the need for drugs used in the treatment of depression and anxiety because some of these drugs may cause fatigue

What Are The Cancer-Fighting Benefits Of Exercise?

• Encourage the body to produce more white blood cells


• Boost functioning of the immune system


• Reduce the time spent in hospital in some cases


• Increase survival rates in some cases.

What Are The The Appropriate Forms Of Exercise?
Almost any type of exercise may be appropriate, these includes:

• Walking, jogging, running


• Dancing


• Tai Chi


• Cycling


• Weight training


• Team sports


• Gardening


• Yoga


• Swimming

Quick Notes:

• Physical activity can boost the energy levels of a cancer patient.


• Regular exercise can improve the functioning of immune system and may increase survival rates in some cases.


• Aim for 5 to 20 minutes of moderate intensity exercise everyday (if possible).

Cancer Prevention Diet

What To Eat:

1. Vegetables, especially raw vegetables and salad

2. Citrus fruits, carrots and tomatoes

3. Clean water

4. Low-fat dairy products

5. Soy protein

6. Bean and lintels

7. Grains and nuts (but be careful of fat content)

8. Chicken or fowl with skin removed

9. Clean fish (at least three times a week)

10. Selected food supplements


What Not To Eat:

1. Fried food

2. Alcohol

3. Fatty processed red meat

4. Processed food that are low in fibre

5. Organ meat such as brains, liver, kidney and etc.

6. Skin of chicken or fowl

7. High-fat dairy products

8. Heavily salted and pickled food

9. Burnt or barbecued food

10. Caffeine

Risk Factors You Would Want To Know

1. Family history of cancers

2. Overexposure to the sun

3. Tobacco and passive smoke

4. A diet low in fiber

5. Poor diet, lack of physical activity or overweight

6. Abuse of alcohol

7. Too much radiation from various sources

8. Growing age

9. Inadequate amounts of certain vitamins and minerals

10. Certain chemicals and other substances (e.g. Asbestos, benzene, benzidine, cadmium, vinyl chloride and nickel)

11. A prolonged stressful life

12. Certain viruses and bacteria (such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV).

Are You Experiencing Any Of These TEN Warning Signs Of Cancer?

1. Unexplained weight loss
Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. If you experience unexplained weight loss of 4.5 kg or more (when you are eating like normal and not trying to lose weight) may be the first sign of cancer.

2. Unusual bleeding or discharge
Unusual bleeding on discharge can happen in early or advance cancer. Blood in the phlegm may be a sign of lung cancer. Blood in the stool (or a dark or black stool) could be a sign of colon cancer. Cancer of the cervix or the endometrium (lining of the uterus) can cause unusual vaginal bleeding. Blood in the urine may be a sign of bladder or kidney cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple may be a sign of breast cancer.

3. Persistent indigestion or difficulty swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing which comes with a pain and burning sensation, it may be signs of cancer of the esophagus (the swallowing tube that goes to the stomach), stomach, or pharynx (throat).

4. Change in bowel habits or bladder functioning
Persistent constipation, diarrhea or a change in the size of stools may be a sign of colon cancer.
If you experience pain when passing urine or change in your normal bladder function (such as a need to urinate more or less often than usual).

5. Noticeable change in a wart or mole or skin condition
Any changes of wart, mole or freckle in terms of color, size or shape; followed with itching and bleeding should be reported to a doctor immediately.

6. Fatigue
Fatigue is extreme tiredness and lack of energy that does not get better with rest. It may be an
important signal as cancer grows. It can happen in early stage of cancers like leukemia, or if the
cancer is causing blood loss, which can occurs in colon or stomach cancers.

7. Sores and ulcers that do not heal overtime
If your sores bleed and do not heal over a week, it may be a sign of infections or early skin cancer which includes areas such as in the mouth, on the genitals (penis or vulva) and on skin highly exposed to the sun.

8. Persistent cough or hoarseness
A cough that does not get well after more than three weeks may be a sign of lung cancer.

9. Thickening or lump in the breast or other parts of the body
If you notice any unusual lumps on your breast or other parts of your body, it may be a sign of breast cancer or testicular cancer. A lump or thickening may be an early or late sign of cancer.

10. Vomiting Blood
If you vomited blood and noticed blood, it may be bleeding of a stomach ulcer or irritation of stomach lining but it may be a stomach cancer.