Riley Hendersen asked:

Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lifetime; incredibly, it is estimated that just over a million people throughout the world - women and men alike - will be diagnosed during this year alone. Just as incredibly, in this same year, nearly 43,000 people will die in the United States. The statistics are sobering; not just for their sheer volume but because it does not have to claim as many victims as it does. In many cases, it can be beaten. But fighting the battle means early detection and comprehensive treatment.

Breast cancer - the most common cancer among women - continues to be diagnosed on a daily basis as more and more people learn to read the signs and symptoms of this disease and seek early medical intervention. During this early intervention, doctors will work with each patient to determine the best possible treatment - as determined by the type and stage of the cancer as well as the overall physical health of the patient.

Technological advancements in treatment continue to bring new and exciting options to the table; but when you are suddenly thrust into the position of having to make a decision about treatment, the choices can seem overwhelming.

One choice is surgery, wherein the cancerous growth is removed from the breast - also know as a lumpectomy. In more severe cases - or as a preventative measure - a partial or total mastectomy, or removal of part, or all, of the breast, may be performed.

But aside from surgery, there are also many other choices including, chemotherapy - a frequent course of intravenous drugs used to stop the growth of the cancer; radiation - using pinpoint radiation therapy to kill cancer cells; and hormonal therapy to stop the growth of cancer cells. In many cases, however, breast cancer treatment utilizes a combination of many different therapies in order to achieve the greatest possibility for success.

In some cases, patients also choose to incorporate holistic therapies into their treatment. Such therapies may include diet, exercise, therapeutic massage, and acupuncture.

Early treatment is the key to ongoing health and survival - increasing a patient's chance of recovery and five year survival rate by nearly 95%. With such dramatic statistics at hand, it's no wonder that doctors aggressively promote any and all methods of early detection including self-examination, routine gynecological exams, mammograms, and breast ultrasound.

The most important thing to remember is that new treatments continue to be aggressively researched. And what has resulted are new and less invasive treatment options for patients. If breast cancer has affected you or someone in your life, it is important to stay educated on research findings.

The battle continues to be waged by women on a daily basis. As more and more women are incorporating self-examination and routine gynecological exams into their lives, the access to early breast cancer treatment grows exponentially. And as those who have been affected can attest, early diagnosis and treatment saves lives.

Sandra Clair asked:

Many women suffering from breast cancer are interested in learning more about natural treatment options. This type of treatment is often referred to in the medical field and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatment, and there are actually a number of different types of treatment options that fall under this category.

Understanding CAM

CAM is any type of medical practice, system, or product that is not considered to be the standard form of care. There are three areas of natural breast cancer treatment that fall under this category: Complementary Medicine, Alternative Medicine, and Integrative Medicine.

Complementary medicines are those that are used along with standard medical treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. A common complementary treatment is acupuncture, which is used to help with the side effects associated with cancer treatment. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, is a natural treatment approach that is used instead of standard medical treatments. Special diets to treat cancer, for example, may be used rather than chemotherapy. Integrative medicine takes care of your mind, body, and spirit by combining standard medicine techniques with CAM techniques.

Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Techniques Involving the Mind and Body

There are a number of treatment techniques you can utilize to help ease the pain and assist in the treatment process. Some of these techniques include:

Biofeedback - using machines to learn how to affect certain bodily functions you are normally not aware of, such as your heart rate.

Meditation - focusing breathing or repeating words or phrases in order to calm your mind.

Yoga - using special stretches and poses with special attention given to your breathing.

Hypnosis - creating a state of relaxed and focused attention and concentrating on certain ideas, feelings, or suggestions to assist in the healing process.

Creative Outlets - special therapy such as dance, music, and art.

Imagery - imagining certain pictures, scenes, or experiences in order to help the body heal.

Biological Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options

It is also possible to treat your breast cancer by taking advantage of things found in nature, such as herbal products and dietary supplements. These can include certain foods, vitamins, herbs, and special dietary plans. Soy products are one additive that have shown a great deal of promise when it comes to preventing and treating breast cancer.

You should also include whole grain foods, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, low-fat dairy products, flaxseed, green tea, as many herbs as possible, and either virgin oil or canola oil in your diet. All kinds of herbs are good to add to your diet because they increase your intake of phytochemicals, which may help to fight cancer.

Body-Based Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options

Body-based treatment options are those that work on one or more parts of your body. These techniques manipulate the body in order to achieve a greater level of health. Massage involves manipulation of the tissues, while chiropractic care manipulates the skeletal system and joints. Reflexology, which utilizes pressure points in the feet and hands to affect parts of the body, is another type of treatment.

Deciding if Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options are Right for You

Before deciding to start a treatment program, it is important to discuss it with your doctor. There are certain foods and supplements that can actually interfere with other forms of treatment, so you want to be sure the plan you are following is safe.

Your best option is to consult a professional that is trained in natural strategies. Your doctor or nurse might be able to refer you to a specialist. If not, contact your local cancer center or hospital and ask for names of professionals that might be able to help you. Before working with the person, however, make sure he or she is licensed to practice in your state. Your health is important, so you need to be sure to have the best care possible.

Nguek-fluek Nguang asked:

Women who have received a diagnosis for breast cancer usually follow some sort of treatment to cure it or at least keep it under control. The best breast cancer treatment option depends on several factors, such as the location and size of the tumor, the stage of the disease and the results of laboratory tests.

Most breast cancer treatment options include a surgery as well. The common types of surgery are lumpectomy and mastectomy. Some women follow an additional treatment as well, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and medication, in order to stop the cancer from growing and spreading.

Lumpectomy

Lumpectomy means removing the tumor in the breast through surgery. Many women prefer this breast cancer treatment because it allows them to keep most of their breast. Lumpectomy is usually performed on Stage 0, Stage I or Stage II cancers and rarely on Stage III breast cancer. When combined with a six-week radiation therapy, it is referred to as "breast-conserving therapy".

Mastectomy

Mastectomy is the removal of the whole breast through surgery and often some or all of the axillary lymph nodes as well. It is performed in Stage 0, I, II or III breast cancers and rarely on Stage IV breast cancer. Although this breast cancer treatment involves the removal of the entire breast, further reconstruction is generally possible.

Lymph Node Removal

This surgical procedure involves removing some or all of the underarm lymph nodes. It is usually performed on patients who have undergone a mastectomy to check whether the cancer has spread outside the breast or not. Sentinel node biopsy is a newer procedure which allows the removal of only the sentinel lymph node to evaluate cancer spread. A potential side effect of this breast cancer treatment is lymphedema (the chronic swelling of the patient's arm).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a breast cancer treatment with anticancer drugs, normally administered either orally or intravenously. It can be used alone or in combination with surgical treatments. The drug flows through the blood stream and is aimed to interfere with the DNA of cancer cells.

Radiation

Radiation therapy is a type of breast cancer treatment that uses high-energy rays to end the growing and dividing of cancer cells. It deposits energy in the affected area, damaging the genetic material and stopping the growth of cancer cells. Though it damages normal cells as well, these are usually able to repair themselves after treatment.

Medication Therapy

There is a wide variety of drugs that can be used in breast cancer treatment, either alone or in combination with a surgical procedure. The most common medicine is tamoxifen, which blocks the estrogen in the breast, thus helping slow the growth and dividing of cancer cells. Other medications include Herceptin, Ellence, Taxol, Docetaxel and Aromasin and they are used to treat different forms of breast cancer.

With the fast developing of medical technologies, more and more breast cancers can be treated successfully. However, breast cancer is still a cause of death for a large number of women worldwide. Regular breast examination is essential to ensure you discover any possible disease in time and get a treatment to cure it.