Preventing Breast Cancer

According to Dr. Michael Zeligs, MD

Cancer risks are reduced by 1) a healthy estrogen metabolism; 2) a high intake of cruciferous (crunchy, green, leafy) veggies like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower; 3) Vit D; 4) healthy thyroid function; 5) regular exercise; 6) well balanced diet; 7) reducing exposure to environmental toxins (including smoking).

The Rise of Women in the World

Determining What Kinds of Healthcare We Need For Uterine Fibroids

The surgical costs for removing uterine fibroids runs anywhere from $13,000 to $20,000+ depending on the procedure that is selected and any complications. There are approx. 250,000 uterine fibroid surgeries done annually in the U.S. and many of these are unnecessary. Most uterine fibroids are non-cancerous (benign) and do not cause discomforts; they are not typically jeopardizing a pregnancy or causing excess bleeding or pelvic obstructions. Baring these reasons for the removal of uterine fibroids, what other reasons account for some doctors rushing to the decision to do so many "unnecessary" surgeries annually?
One reason is fear (on the part of doctors and/or patients) that the fibroids MAY become malignant or develop other complications. A second reason is that most Western doctors have not informed themselves about some of the safe, cost saving alternative (also called "complementary") methods of shrinking fibroids or stopping the bleeding fibroids sometimes contribute to. A third reason may sound cynical but research validates the point that the profit motive leads some doctors' to encourage women to have surgeries or procedures to remove fibroids that are not problematic and pose no threat to their health or life. We must face the fact that medical health care is a business as much as it is a compassionate service. The health care industry --hospitals/doctors/pharmaceutical and insurance companies -- also looks upon working, insured women with uterine fibroids as an opportunity for profits. If this were not the case, the health care industry would spend more of its resources in prevention and teaching women how to care for themselves. If they were sincerely patient-centered they would include some of the less toxic, less expensive alternative methods of healing.

As women learn about our bodies and ALL of our healthcare options, we will be better able to determine and insist on receiving the kinds of healthcare we need.

Beverly Coleman

Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer

Caveats and Concerns With New Study on Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer

Janis C. Kelly

August 12, 2010 — The use of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) dropped from about 40% of eligible women to about 20% after the 2002 report from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trial that found an elevated risk for breast cancer associated with HT, but about 30 million women per year still use HT in the United States...

Dr. Ursin, who is from Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Oslo, Norway, said that they "expected that hormone therapy would only increase the risk of the most benign breast cancer subtype (i.e. the type with estrogen and progesterone receptors, but which do not have HER2 receptors). Although overall our findings are consistent with this —the hormone users tend to get relatively small and less lethal tumors — our findings on HER2 are not conclusive and suggest that there may be some increased risk for tumors that are HER2-positive as well."

Breast Cancer -- An Integrative View

Did you know that there are various types of breast cancer? Yes! Depending on the initial cause of the breast cancer and what tissues in the breast the cancer cells develop. Some types of cancer develop faster or slower than others. Each type is more or less responsive to different kinds of treatment. The cause of cancer is not known for a fact but there are many ideas about the cause floating around bio-science (another way of saying “Western science”) and complementary (another way of saying “alternative” or “integrative”) health care.

The typing or differentiation of cancer cells is a kind of “miracle” of bio-science technology. This typing gives medical doctors important data which enable them to determine which drugs might be more suitable to successfully treat a patient. This medical advance is called “personalized medicine.”

From my “natural care” or Eastern (Asian) science point of view, the typing of cells is also an argument for practicing a more integrative approach in the treatment of breast cancer. For example, Chinese (“Eastern”) medical studies indicate that when personalized herbal formulas are used along with conventional bio-science (Western} medical treatments, the patients’ prognoses (forecasts) are greatly enhanced.

There is also the fact that a very strong immune system is capable of sending its “soldiers” into certain kinds of cancer cells and overcoming the cancer. A knowledgeable practitioner of natural medicine (herbs, homeopathy, therapeutic nutrition, medicinal essential oils, naturopathy, Ayurvedic or Asian medicines, etc, etc.) can usually help patients build strong and efficient immune responses. (Note to reader: Please don’t try this on your own as it takes an enormous amount of knowledge and experience!)

There are many other examples of how integrative and natural approaches can be helpful in assisting medical doctors better understand and treat breast cancer patients but, first, you should understand a few basics about some kinds of breast growths:

It is believed that breast cancer begins with one cell. When it is just a “speck” it draws sustenance from its own blood supply. As the cancer cells begin to multiply and form a nodule, it’s own blood supply is no longer adequate and it begins forming its own internal network of blood vessels through which it can “drink the blood,” so to speak of its host. This process can be stopped by certain pharmaceuticals or other medical procedures. However in many other cultures and complementary procedures, herbal teas, liniments, compresses, salves, etc., are also helpful and, used expertly, have little or no side effects. These methods, along with conventional Western medicine can help bring about an even better outcome especially when used in the early stages of breast cancer.

All of the above point to the importance of EARLY DETECTION and OPEN MINDED PRACTITIONERS (INCLUDING MEDICAL DOCTORS) WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER USING A VARIETY OF TREATMENTS FOR THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF EACH PATIENT!

Beverly Coleman

Women's mortality stats in US

Leading Causes of Death in Females
United States, 2006

Below are the leading causes of death in females for 2006.

All Females, All Ages	Percent*
1) Heart disease	25.8
2) Cancer	22.0
3) Stroke	6.7
4) Chronic lower respiratory diseases	5.3
5) Alzheimer's disease	4.2
6) Unintentional injuries	3.5
7) Diabetes	3.0
8) Influenza and pneumonia	2.5
9) Kidney disease	1.9
10) Septicemia	1.5

White Females by Age Group- United States, 2006

White Females, All Ages	Percent*
1) Heart disease	26.0
2) Cancer	22.0
3) Stroke	6.7
4) Chronic lower respiratory diseases	5.8
5) Alzheimer's disease	4.5
6) Unintentional injuries	3.5
7) Diabetes	2.7
8) Influenza and pneumonia	2.6
9) Kidney disease	1.7
10) Septicemia	1.4

Black Females by Age Group- United States, 2006

Black Females, All Ages	Percent*
1) Heart disease	25.5
2) Cancer	21.6
3) Stroke	6.8
4) Diabetes	5.0
5) Kidney disease	3.2
6) Unintentional injuries	3.1
7) Chronic lower respiratory diseases	2.5
8) Septicemia	2.4
9) Alzheimer's disease	2.3
10) Influenza and pneumonia	2.0

American Indian or Alaska Native Females by Age Group- United States, 2006

American Indian or Alaska Native Females, All Ages	Percent*
1) Cancer	19.2
2) Heart disease	18.8
3) Unintentional injuries	8.1
4) Diabetes	7.0
5) Stroke	4.9
6) Chronic lower respiratory diseases	4.3
7) Chronic liver disease	4.2
8) Kidney disease	2.4
9) Influenza and pneumonia	2.0
10) Septicemia	1.7

Asian or Pacific Islander Females by Age Group- United States, 2006

Asian or Pacific Islander Females, All Ages	Percent*
1) Cancer	26.9
2) Heart disease	23.7
3) Stroke	9.8
4) Diabetes	4.0
5) Unintentional injuries	4.0
6) Influenza and pneumonia	3.4
7) Chronic lower respiratory diseases	2.3
8) Alzheimer's disease	1.8
9) Kidney disease	1.7
10) Hypertension	1.6

Hispanic Females by Age Group- United States, 2006

Hispanic Females, All Ages	Percent*
1) Heart disease	22.8
2) Cancer	21.7
3) Stroke	6.4
4) Diabetes	5.4
5) Unintentional injuries	5.0
6) Chronic lower respiratory diseases	2.7
7) Alzheimer's disease	2.7
8) Influenza and pneumonia	2.6
9) Kidney disease	2.2
10) Perinatal conditions	2.1

*Percent of total deaths in the race category due to the disease indicated. The white, black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander race groups include persons of Hispanic and non-Hispanic origin. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.