Breast Cancer - Remedies And Treatment

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that occurs due to malignant growth of tumors in the breast. The cells in the breast multiply abnormally and uncontrollably creating a lump. Breast cancer affects women mostly as compared to men. It has been estimated that one in every eight women is or will be affected by breast cancer in her lifetime. Though what causes this type of cancer has not yet been established, a number of risk factors have been associated with it. They include age, race, family and personal history, genetic and consumption of alcohol.

Treatment Options

1. Surgery

Most of the breast cancer patients often undergo surgery in order to remove the tumor. Mostly, breast conserving surgery which is a surgical procedure to remove the cancer and not the breast itself is employed. Different types of breast conserving surgery are available. They include:

• Lumpectomy: This involves removing the tumor and a small amount of the surrounding tissue.
• Partial mastectomy: This involves removing part of the breast that has cancer plus a small normal tissue around it. Chest muscles below the breast may also be removed.
• Total mastectomy: This involves removing the whole breast that has been affected by cancer. Lymph nodes that are found under the arms are also removed for biopsy.
• Modified radical mastectomy: This aims at removing the whole breast that is affected by cancer, the lymph nodes and the chest muscles around the breast.

2. Chemotherapy

This involves using anti-cancer drugs to stop the abnormal growth of cancerous cells. It can be taken through the mouth or injected through the blood veins. The drugs then enter the bloodstream up to the cancerous cells. It can also be done by placing it directly through the cerebrospinal fluid, a body cavity or abdomen, it only affects the cancerous cells around that region. Chemotherapy is given depending on the type and stage of the cancer.

3. Radiation Therapy

This involves using high energy X-rays to kill the cancerous cells. There are two types of chemotherapy: external and internal therapy. External therapy involves placing a machine outside the body to send radiation towards the cancerous tissue. Internal therapy involves placing a radioactive substance within the body near the cancerous tissue.

4. Hormonal  Therapy

This treatment involves using certain chemicals to block hormones that promote cancerous growth in the body. Drugs, radiotherapy and surgery may be used to block the production of these hormones. Estrogen hormone that promotes breast growth is sometimes blocked to prevent further spread of breast cancer. Sometimes hormonal therapy with aromatase inhibitor is often administered to postmenopausal women who are suspected to have hormone dependent breast cancer. Hormonal therapy with tamoxifen is also given to patients whose cancer is still at its early stages.

Remedies

Some of the home remedies for breast cancer include garlic, broccoli, grapes, wheatgrass, green tea, vitamin D, soybean, calcium and lignans which are found in the seeds of sunflowers, peanuts and flaxseed..

Source: http://www.easygoodhealth.com