In the previous discussion about breast cancer, I pointed out that cancer of the breast, which usually manifests at the early stage as a lump that may look harmless are of two types. They are the benign tumor and the malignant tumor. In treating these tumors, the doctor must first understand the type of tumor he is about to remove in order to get the desired result. The approach here is to first remove a small portion of the abnormal tissue, and send it to a pathologist for a microscopic examination, in order to know the exact nature of the tumor. All these will take place while the patient is still lying down on the operating table. When the result is out, the doctor will now know the next line of action to take.

If it is a case of a benign tumor, which is a relatively harmless tumor, performing the remaining operation will be very easy. But if the result shows that it is a malignant tumor, it might require removing the entire breast, including some of the muscles on the wall of the chest, and also removing the lymph nodes in the arm pit.

A lump in the breast may develop very fast and without attracting any attention. It may even occur in between the time of the yearly routine check up. So in order to take care of this emerging dangerous situation, it is now being advocated that women should learn how to check themselves. This self examination which should be carried out monthly should complement the yearly check up, and if the woman discovers any questionable growth around her breast, whether painful or not, she should report to her doctor immediately.

To carry out this self examination, the woman will lie down on her back and use the flat area of her fingers to press every area of her breast against the rib and the muscle.

When a malignant tumor in the breast is detected early and treated within days and not months, the prospect of five year survival are said to be about 95 per cent. When a woman has passed the age of menopause, and she begins to notice some discharges from her nipples, (whether watery or bloody discharges), it is a matter that requires serious attention, and should be reported immediately to a doctor. This is a sign of the beginning of breast cancer.


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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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Breast cancer is a horrible disease which affects millions of women and men every year. Nearly everyone in their lives knows someone affected by breast cancer. Did you know it affects almost ten percent of women above the age of forty years? While we are conducting massive research into it, the causes of this killer cancer are still largely unknown.

While we don't know much of what causes it, there are ways for you to get properly screened before the cancer takes root. This would include self examinations, mammography viewer, or PACS workstations. Here are some methods and steps to get you screened for breast cancer.

Screening Mammograms

Screening mammograms are designed for women with no real, significant symptoms. These range from a lump to a black or bloody nipple discharge. Women experiencing any of these symptoms should schedule a diagnostic mammogram, which must be performed by a physician.

Diagnostic Mammograms

Diagnostic mammograms are done under the direct supervision of a radiologist. This type of mammography involves the verification, localization and characterization of breast abnormalities and uses a multitude of tools to evaluate these abnormalities.

Digital Mammograms

Digital mammography, such as PACS workstations and the mammography web viewer, is the latest technology achievement in the early detection of breast cancer. New digital capabilities allow tools like the mammography workstation and mammography viewer technologists to immediately view images on a mammography web viewer. These PACS workstations reduce the amount of wasted time spent in the imaging suite as well as the need for retakes.

Preparation for mammography using a mammography viewer or PACS workstations requires just a few simple steps from the patient. They mostly all involve communication with the radiologist performing the mammogram.

• To help minimize discomfort during a mammography under a mammography workstation, schedule your mammogram to take place one week after your period. Your breasts tend to be less tender during this time.
• If at all possible, bring previous mammogram results with you. A list of where and when you had previous mammograms is also acceptable.
• On the day of your examination, do not wear any type of talcum powder, deodorant, lotion or perfume under your arms or on your breasts. These substances can cause blemishes on your mammogram making the images harder to read. Aluminum flecks in some powders and deodorants can mimic micro-calcifications on the x-ray image. You don't often have this problem with PACS workstations but they still ask that you don't.
• Try to wear a two piece outfit. This way you only have to remove your top and bra for the mammography viewer examination. Other clothes such as a blouse which buttons in the front is also acceptable since it can be easily removed.
• Try not to ear any jewelry. If you do have jewelry on, be sure it can be easily and quickly removable. This is especially true with PACS workstations procedures requiring you to lie face down.

If you have questions concerning the mammography viewer test procedure, discuss these issues with your doctor beforehand.



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