Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in women across the world. In the UK, it is estimated that one in nine women will be affected by breast cancer at some point in their lives, a phenomenal figure which highlights the scale of the problem. However, although it is more often associated with women, it can also affect men of all ages.

Breast cancer is caused when malignant tissue forms inside the breast. The cells that are affected by this become damaged, causing them to divide and grow until a lump is formed. It is this formation of a lump that is usually the first physical sign that someone has developed breast cancer.

The most common form of breast cancer is known as invasive ductal carcinoma, named as such because it forms in the ducts of the breast. A less common form of breast cancer is invasive lobulal carcinoma, which is formed in the lobules of the breast.

The Causes

We are unsure about the exact causes of breast cancer, but what we do know is that there are a number of certain risk areas that have been discovered which can lead to its formation.

One of these is the age of the woman, as 80 per cent of breast cancer is found in post menopausal women. However, also at greater risk are women who have children later in life or have not had any children at all, people who are overweight, people who smoke or drink a lot of alcohol and women who experience a late menopause. There is also an increasing likelihood of getting breast cancer if someone else in the family has been diagnosed with the condition.

The Symptoms

As with all cancers, early diagnoses is important. We should all be aware of the general feel of our breasts so that we are more likely to become aware of any changes in texture or feel. Although this is most commonly found in the form of a lump, we have to remember that any pain, unusual discharges or anything unusual should be checked out as soon as possible. Thickened areas of skin and an itchiness in the armpit are also known to be common early indicators.

Standard Treatments

The most common type of treatment for breast cancer is surgery. However, treatment can vary depending on the stage of the cancer, the age of the sufferer and their fitness levels.

Surgery can consist of either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, both of which can be very invasive and leave the sufferer with emotional as well as physical scars. If the cancer is at a later stage then chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also possible options, but these are often very unpleasant treatments and can have a whole range of adverse side effects, as well as having a relatively low success rate.

Alternative Treatments

Due to the harsh nature of surgery and other standard treatments, many of us now opt for alternative therapies for the treatment of breast cancer. We may be initially dismissive about such therapies, but actually we are learning a lot most about these natural treatments all the time, and we are discovering some real benefits and results from using them.

One such treatment focuses on the power of massage, which is already proving to have very positive results on patients. It involves the massage of the breast and the lymph, which is an entirely natural process that helps to drain the lymph. Massages can last for up to an hour, and results have been encouraging. As breast cancer is linked to a blockage in the lymph system, massage and ultra sound therapy is used by alternative clinics in enhancing the movement of toxins through the lymphatic system. The treatment also involves massaging the rest of the body, because stiff muscles and blocked nerves can prevent blood from flowing properly which can slow down the treatment process.

Massage can also be used alongside bio-photonic light therapy to achieve even better results. This involves using a bio-photonic machine to restore the amount of energy in a cell through using UV rays, as the energy levels in the cells go down when they are affected by free radicals. This completely non-invasive treatment has been seen to increase the effectiveness of other treatments as well as producing good results on its own.

Dietary supplements such as Vitamin B12 (B17) and flaxseed oil are all widely regarded as very helpful supplements during the course of treatment, but one of the most powerful natural remedies is surprisingly simple, and comes in the form of Vitamin D3.

It is widely considered that not enough of us get the right amount of exposure to sunlight, which is the best source of Vitamin D. Vitamin D contains calcitriol, which has been known to prevent cancer cells from developing, and it also helps to prevent anti-angiogenesis, a process by which blood vessels grow around the tumor.

All of these alternative therapies can be used on their own, but for the best results they are used in combination, and it is only now that we are learning just how powerful they can be as opposed to traditional treatments.



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