BREAST CANCER
Almost
every woman worries about breast cancer and would like to do everything
she can to reduce her chance of ever getting the disease. And if
you're a woman who has already had breast cancer, you certainly
want to do everything possible to never see that cancer again.
Whether
or not you've already been affected by the disease, what can you
do to effectively reduce your risk?
Prevention:
If
you are at a high risk for breast cancer (as determined
by your physician, you may want to consider using preventive
medication. Medicine can reduce the extent to which estrogen
stimulates the growth of breast cells. Tamoxifen (brand
name: Nolvadex) has been shown to reduce the risk of first-time
breast cancer in women at high risk. It also reduces the
risk of recurrence in women who have already been diagnosed.Until
all breast cancers can be prevented, every woman needs to
practice early detection measures. The goal is to find breast
cancer as early as possible, when it's most curable. These
are current recommended guidelines for the early detection
of breast cancer:do a monthly breast self-examination at
home, get a yearly breast examination by a physician (you
may need these exams more often, depending on your situation
and individual level of breast cancer risk), get a mammogram
every year beginning at age 40.
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Treatment
In recent years, there's been an explosion of life-saving treatment
advances against breast cancer, bringing new hope and excitement.
Instead of only one or two options, today there's an overwhelming
menu of treatment choices that fight the complex mix of cells in
each individual cancer. The decisions—surgery, then perhaps radiation,
hormonal (anti-estrogen) therapy, and/or chemotherapy—can feel overwhelming.
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