Tracking Breast Cancer Into The Brain

29 Mar

breast cancerA dense network of small blood vessels makes up what is called the blood brain barrier. There are many toxins and medications that cannot cross this barrier.

Breast cancer, however, can cross this natural barrier. Researchers think they may have found the genes responsible.

Spreading to the lungs seems to be the work of two genes known as COX2 and HB-EGF.

These genes appear to increase the mobility and invasiveness of cancer cells, allowing cancer to metastasize.

Cancer that has spread from its original location is said to have metastasized. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lungs, it is not lung cancer, but rather metastasized or metastatic breast cancer.

The gene which seems to be responsible for allowing breast cancer to metastasize into the brain is called ST6GAL NAC5. It seems that this gene makes the outermost coat of breast cancer cells sticky.

The breast cancer cells then remain in the capillaries of the blood brain barrier longer and may seep through the capillary walls into the brain.

Understanding how cancer becomes mobile and moves through the body will help develop additional medications and treatment modalities.

Each year, more than half a million women, die from breast cancer, the most common cause of cancer deaths in women.

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Diagnose Your Pelvic Pain For Appropriate Treatment!

28 Mar

Pelvic pain is also known as symphysiolysis. The term “pelvic pain” often refers to the pain in the region of the inner reproductive organs in women.

With recent researches, it has been estimated that about 12-20 percent of women have pelvic pain, and up to 33 percent women will experience pelvic pain during their lifetime.

Pelvic pain is one of the most hard to diagnose and manage diseases. Most of the time, this pain is just the normal functioning of the reproductive or other organs. Other times this pain can lead to a serious problem.

There is a greater risk of being affected with pelvic pain among those who perform heavy work or who previously have had back or pelvic pain. On the other hand, pelvic pain is also common among pregnant women with one in three affected suffer severe pains.Pelvic Pain

Diagnosis must be accomplished in very little time because some causes of pelvic pain (eg, ectopic pregnancy, adnexal torsion) need immediate treatment.

If your pelvic pain is severe and disrupting your life for few days a month or for longer periods of time or if you experience a recent increase in pain, then consult your doctor for early diagnosis.

The causes for pelvic pain are several. So be prepared for a long diagnostic process. Often, you may have more than one cause for pelvic pain and diagnosing the exact source is very difficult task.

In order to have medical help for your pelvic pain, you may consult either your internist (primary care physician) or gynecologist. In any case, your health care professional diagnose each possible source of pain.

Moreover, each source may involve different diagnostic tests and separate treatments. If you have more than one diagnosis, each can be diagnosed and treated accordingly.

However, in your first session, your health care professional starts the consultation by raising some specific questions related to your past and present health, family history, your menstrual cycle, sexual history, previous abdominal surgeries and symptoms.

Also, asks you to explain the type and severity of your pain and also the location where the pain is and how it affects your life.

As the information about your pain and other symptoms help your health care professional in his diagnosis, always maintain a pain diary with complete information about the pain and related symptoms.

Next, your health care professional will conduct a physical examination, which includes a pelvic and rectal exam to detect the areas of tenderness and also the presence of potential problems such as fibroids, masses and hernias in your body.

Depending on the results of these tests, he/ she may ask you to perform these simple, standard tests for pelvic pain:

    Blood tests for confirmation of the infection (complete blood count or CBC) and inflammation (sedimentation rate or ESR)
    Urinalysis and urinary tests
    Tests for sexually transmitted diseases

    If, in any case, specific conditions of pelvic pain are suspected then you may be recommended for some more tests such as Laparoscopy, Pelvic ultrasound, Pregnancy test, and MRI.

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Pelvic Pain – Causes and Therapies

28 Mar

Pelvic pain during intercourse is not something that women or even doctors speak about. However it is a very common condition among women. Pelvic pain that makes intercourse painful or difficult is referred to as ‘dyspareunia’.

pelvic painOne of the reasons for this pelvic pain is vaginismus, which is a tightness or tension in the muscles of the pelvic floor.  For some women this condition may occur very early in life, making it difficult to subject to a gynecological exam, or even insert a tampon; having sex may be difficult or impossible. Other women develop vaginismus later in life.

Other reasons for the pain could be vaginal dryness that comes with menopause, or scar tissue occurring as a result of surgeries such as C sections, episiotomies, hysterectomies and so on. Often it may be caused by nothing more than stress.

Very often it is possible to combat pelvic pain by physical therapy which is a step by step approach to relieving tension in the area as well as massage.

As exercise can help to alleviate pain in the other muscles of the body, so it is with the muscles of the pelvic floor as well. Many women find that this physical therapy can actually alter their entire life.

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Dieting Two Days A Week Can Lower Breast Cancer Risk

27 Mar

Restricting calories just two days in a week can help to lower blood levels of hormones known to be responsible for causing breast cancer. A study carried out at the Wythenshawe Hospital found that overweight women put on a restrictive diet on two days of the week, saw a 40% reduction in breast cancer risk. The fact that the participants of the study also experienced weight loss of about 13 pounds on an average, was just a plus.

breast cancer riskIn the study, 100 women were put on a diet that required them to have only 650 calories on two days of the week, with a 1,500 calorie diet prescribed for the rest of the week. 6 months of this diet meant that women experienced a 40% drop in the hormone leptin.

Also their insulin levels were down 25% and the inflammatory protein count was down 15%. Each of these three factors are known to contribute to breast cancer risk.

This new diet could literally be a ‘life saver’ for women who found it difficult to stick to a diet for a week says Dr Michelle Harvie of the Wythenshawe Hospital.

Study participant and researcher Gillian Haddock who was considered to be at high risk of breast cancer lost 12 pounds and also lowered her breast cancer risk.

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Pregnant with PCOS | PCOS Treatment | PCOS And Pregnancy

26 Mar

Trying to get pregnant with PCOS? PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, affects one in ten women today.

This condition can cause cyst to develop in clusters or groups on the ovaries. If you suffer from this condition it can be very difficult to become pregnant.

The condition will cause a hormonal imbalance to occur within the body that can prevent pregnancy.

Women who have this condition will produce high levels of testosterone.

All women have testosterone, but women with this condition will have severely high levels.pcos and pregnancy

When these levels become too high the body’s menstruation cycle can become very disturbed. The body may release the eggs too soon before pregnancy can occur or the womb may not be properly prepared to accept a fertilized egg.

This can result in a shorter window of opportunity for pregnancy, or lead to miscarriages as the body cannot support the pregnancy. However, there are PCOS treatment options that can help you to get pregnant.

Weight Loss Is Important

The majority of women who are diagnosed with PCOS are overweight. Being overweight can cause several other medical conditions that can make PCOS and pregnancy a difficult task.

Many women who are overweight, experience abnormalities in their menstrual cycle. When these irregularities are added to those caused by PCOS, pregnancy can be even more difficult.

Your doctor may be able to help you lose weight by setting up a special diet and exercise plan. There are also several medications that can aid in weight loss.

Hormonal Therapy May Help

There are many types of hormonal drugs on the market today. If you want to get pregnant with PCOS, Clomid is one drug that has proven effective for some women. Clomid forces the body to produce eggs, or become fertile. This can extend the period available to become pregnant.

When Clomid is taken along with weight loss, your body will have a greater chance of becoming pregnant, and being able to retain the pregnancy. While Clomid is effective for a large number of women, some will have to try more invasive treatments to become pregnant with PCOS.

Ovarian Drilling May Be Necessary

Ovarian drilling is a process that is used by many physicians to induce ovulation. During this procedure a needle is inserted into the ovary. This needle delivers an electrical charge to the ovarian tissue and destroys a portion of the tissue.

If completed correctly the body responds by beginning ovulation. This can allow you more time each month to try and become pregnant.

Invitro Fertilization May provide Possibilities

For women who do not respond to hormones or other invasive PCOS treatments, Invitro Fertilization may provide possibilities for getting pregnant with PCOS. During Invitro Fertilization the women’s egg is removed, and fertilized with the man’s sperm.

Once the fertilization has occurred, the eggs are then placed into the womb to begin pregnancy. Some doctors will insert several fertilized eggs, to provide a better chance for pregnancy.

However, this procedure can result in multiple births, so you may want to be careful of the number of embryos implanted.

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Cervical Dysplasia – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

26 Mar

Cervical Dysplasia or Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia as it is also known is basically the development of abnormal squamous cells on the surface of the cervix.Though in a majority of cases, cervical dysplasia remains stable and non-threatening; in some cases this may take on a premalignant form.

For a majority of those that have cervical dysplasia, the immune system of the body is able to eliminate any problems without actual intervention.

What are the causes of Cervical Dysplasia? The HPV (human Papilloma virus) is responsible for causing cervical dysplasia. This is the basic infection that is responsible for causing genital warts or mild dysplasia to severe dysplasia and even cervical cancer.

There are certain factors that increase risk of HPV induced dysplasia and even subsequent cervical cancer.

Smoking is a factor that is seen to substantially increase risk.

Other conditions that make a person immune compromised such as HIV etc are also more at risk.

The importance of the Pap Smear in detecting Cervical Dysplasia: The fact is that cervical dysplasia has no observable signs or symptoms and as such is impossible to detect without screening.

Since this is a condition that typically takes years to develop, regular screening is the best weapon against it so as to be able to detect any chances of developing cancer in the future.

This is where a pap smear (Papanicolaou test) assumes great importance. This test is performed by obtaining a smear or sample of cells from the outside of the cervix using a brush or a spatula or a swab. This sample of cells collected is then observed in order that any irregularity, disorder or abnormality can be detected.

Other tests for detecting cervical dysplasia could include colposcopy (examination of the vulva, vaginal walls and uterine cervix), doing a biopsy (taking of tissue samples to examine for abnormality or malignancy) and/or HPV testing.

What is the treatment for cervical dysplasia: The treatment usually depends upon the type or severity of cervical dysplasia that a woman has.

Mild or low grade cervical dysplasia generally requires no actual treatment and can resolve itself without intervention. Monitoring the situation is more important than treatment.

Since treatment is not required, monitoring is done to see that the problem does not develop and progress into a malignant or cancerous form.

The treatment for high grade cervical dysplasia could be performed in two ways: ablation (destruction of the abnormal area) or resection (removal of the abnormal tissue).

Though both procedures are seen to be effective, in general the former is recommended for milder conditions of dysplasia and the latter is indicated for more severe or cancerous conditions.

So as we have seen the diagnosis of cervical dysplasia need not be any cause for panic. For a large majority of women this may be an important warning sign that could indicate that a serious problem may be possible in the future.

However, in most cases, cervical dysplasia is something that resolves itself without treatment or medication and for a vast majority of women who have the condition; it is nothing to worry about.

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Determine The Source Of Chronic Pelvic Pain To Manage The Condition!

26 Mar

The reason for the development of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) can be cyclic or noncyclic, variable or constant.

Several different conditions can lead to the development of the chronic pelvic pain.

The source of the pain is classified into various categories: Gynecologic, Gastrointestinal, Urologic, Musculoskeletal, and Psychosocial.

Conditions Responsible For The Development Of Chronic Pelvic Pain:

Gynecologic ConditionsChronic Pelvic Pain

Endometriosis, adenomyosis, adnexal lesions (ectopic pregnancy, ruptured corpus luteum cyst, a uterine rupture or ovarian masses), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), primary dysmenorrhea, fibroids, pelvic neoplasm, pelvic adhesions and pelvic congestion syndrome are the conditions responsible for chronic pelvic pain.

Gastrointestinal Conditions

The lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract infections can lead to the development of chronic pelvic pain. This is because the visceral innervation of both pelvic region organs and lower GI tract is same.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is primarily responsible for the development of chronic pelvic pain. Depression and anxiety are more common in patients who acquire IBS-related chronic pelvic pain.

Inflammatory bowel syndrome (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), chronic appendicitis, peptic ulcers, hernias, and gastroenteritis are some gastrointestinal conditions that result in the development of chronic pelvic pain.

Urologic Condition

Urinary tract infection is the most primary urologic source of chronic pelvic pain development. According to recent researches, interstitial cystitis is also a main source for the development of chronic pelvic pain. Kidney stones, urinary tract infection and urethral syndrome are other urologic conditions that lead to the development of chronic pelvic pain.

Musculoskeletal Conditions

The mechanical stress of leg-length discrepancy, a musculoskeletal condition with muscle tone enlargement on muscles, ligaments, and joint capsules can result in the development of chronic pelvic pain. Furthermore, the chronic pelvic pain can develop from diseases of the hip, spine, or other muscles.

Psychosocial Conditions

The sources of chronic pelvic pain can also involve psychosomatic conditions having certain bodily functions and sensations. Moreover, temporary/permanent pressures can also result in manifestations of pelvic pain. Lifestyle is also one of the primary sources of chronic pelvic pain.

Determining the source of the chronic pelvic pain helps the doctor to diagnose and treat the condition successfully.

How To Evaluate And Manage Chronic Pelvic Pain?

Owing to huge number of sources for the development of chronic pelvic pain, numerous tests are needed to evaluate the condition. Physical examination is most essential, particularly the abdomen and pelvis, to evaluate the source of chronic pelvic pain.

The need for laboratory tests depends on the outcome of the physical examination. A laboratory test initially involves a blood test, urine test, test for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, and a pregnancy test.

Ultrasound imaging, intravenous pyelography (IVP), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), barium enema and laparoscopy are also recommended to evaluate the severity of the pain.

The chronic pelvic pain treatment is possible only by determining the underlying cause of the condition. However, the pelvic pain can be managed through NSAIDs. No matter what the cause is, the physician provides suitable NSAIDs for symptomatic relief.

Applying heat to the abdomen, regulating bowel movements, and certain exercises also works effectively in providing symptomatic relief.

As the source of the chronic pelvic pain is must for an appropriate treatment, evaluate the source accurately to minimize the effects of the pain!

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Cone Biopsy – Best Method In Detecting Cervical Disorders!

26 Mar

Are you suffering with cervical disorder or cervical cancer?

Cone biopsy is the surgery which will help in removing the tumors which are responsible for cervical disorders.

Cervical cancer is the common problem for most of the women. It mainly shows its effect on your reproductive system.

Cone biopsy is an extensive method of cervical biopsy.

In this method, a piece of tissue which is cylindrical in shape is taken for the diagnosis of the cervical cancer. Small tumors in the cervix can be removed with cone biopsy.Cervical biopsy

Cone biopsy is generally recommended for two main purposes:

    It is used to take the thin or thick sample tissues inside the cervix, which is needed for diagnosis of the cervical cancer.
    It is also used for the treatment of some abnormal tissues or tumors present inside the cervix, which does not need any long term treatment or surgeries to be removed.

Cone biopsy is usually done in either of two given ways:

    LEEP, loop electrosurgical excision procedure is one of the surgical methods of cone biopsy, in which the tissue is removed with the help of an electric wire, heated with an electric current. In this method of surgery, you will be given only with local anesthesia and it is a quick process which can be done at your physician’s office.
    Cone biopsy using laser technology is another method of removing the tumors from the cervix. In this method, CO2 laser is used to remove the abnormal tissues. In this method, you will be given with general anesthesia. Using lasers is always advantageous, as there will be no bleeding process involved when it is done with the lasers.

Important tips to be followed after cone biopsy:

    After the surgery, you need to take rest for one to four hours and also special instructions are given to take care of yourself after the surgery is done.
    You can find some vaginal bleeding for about a week after the surgery, which is quite normal and also some vaginal spotting for up to three weeks.
    Avoid sexual intercourse and use of tampons for four to six weeks.

There are certain complications involved with this cone biopsy. Before going to have this surgery, you need to know about these things which can cause harm to you.

    After surgery, you may need blood transfusion or vaginal packing. This happens very rarely. About only 10% of women or less than that suffer with this problem.
    The cervix can be turned narrow which leads to infertility.
    Due to the lack of ability of the cervix to remain closed during pregnancy, your pregnancy may end up with miscarriages or even premature babies.

Try to discuss with your doctor about these complications before having this surgery in order to avoid the disasters to happen.

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The Quick Checklist To Remain Breast Cancer Safe

25 Mar

The Women’s Health Mag offers a short and simple checklist of dos and don’ts to keep breast cancer at bay:

Monthly self exams should be done so that you can detect any change in shape, size, texture of the breast. Do this at the same time every month, that is the same time of the monthly cycle.
Eat a healthy diet.
Exercise for half an hour 5 times a week.
Take daily a multi vitamin which includes Vitamin D as well.

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Different Techniques Used In Cervical Cancer Treatment!

25 Mar

Worried about cervical cancer? There are many methods to treat cervical cancer in women.

Cervical cancer treatment mainly depends up on the size of the tumor, stage of the cancer, overall health of the patient and also on the patient’s desire to have children.

For most of you, cancer of cervix mainly corresponds to the change of cells in the cervix which can promote the abnormal growth of tissues or other organs of your body. This abnormal or unwanted growth can be treated by detaching the tissues immediately.Cervical Cancer Treatment

Cervical cancer can begin with abnormal growth of cervical tissue and also cause due to certain other factors. The factors which are responsible for the cancer include; using oral contraceptives, early sexual contact and also due to the infection caused by Human Papilloma virus.

Non-invasive cervical cancer treatment:

There are several methods for the treatment of cervical cancer depending up on the type of tumors present in the cervix. If the tumor is confined to the outer layers of the cervix, then it typically requires the removal of abnormal area of cells which are responsible for the growth.

In such cases, you don’t need any additional treatments. Simple surgery is required to remove these tissues. The procedures involved in the removal of non invasive cancer include:

Cone biopsy: In this method of cervical cancer treatment, the surgeon uses a scalpel to remove the abnormal tissue in the cervix.
Laser surgery: In this procedure, a narrow beam of light is used for detaching the abnormal tissue or cells in the cervix. In this cervical cancer treatment, a narrow beam of intense light is made to pass through the cervix which destroys the cancerous and precancerous cells present in the cervix.
Cryosurgery: In this technique, freezing is employed to kill the precancerous cells present in the cervix.
LEEP method: LEEP stands for loop electrosurgical excision procedure. As the name indicates, this technique mainly uses electric current to detach the abnormal tissues or pre cancerous cells from the cervix.
Hysterectomy: This is the major surgery in cervical cancer treatment. This method mainly involves with removal of cancerous or precancerous cells from the cervix. At times, this is also used for the removal of uterus and cervix in your body, depending up on the stage of the cancer. This is usually done in preferred cases of non-invasive cervical cancer.

Invasive cervical cancer treatment:

If the cancer is not pertained to the outer layers and is invading the deeper layers of cells on the cervix, then you require invasive cervical cancer treatment. This extensive form of treatment mainly includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy and mostly hysterectomy.

Chemotherapy: This therapy uses a systematic procedure for treating cervical cancer. In this therapy you are mainly given with strong anti-cancer chemicals to destroy the cancer cells in the cervix. These drugs are usually injected into your blood through veins, which will destroy the growth of cancerous cells in your body.

Chemotherapy is involved with certain side effects like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss and in some rare cases it can lead you to infertility and early menopause.

Radiation therapy: This kind of cervical cancer treatment mainly uses high powered radiations to kill the cancerous cells. It can be used externally or internally by placing devices filled with radio active material near your cervix. This therapy can also be used in combination with chemotherapy.

Try to change your life style during the course of treatment with mild physical activities, which are comfortable for you. Maintain a good balanced diet with lots of proteins and vitamins and keep your self healthy and fit.

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