Estrogen and Your Breast Cancer Risk

Taking estrogen may increase a woman's risk of getting breast cancer.Estrogen is probably the hardest-working hormone in a woman’s body, but it also has a dark side: Research has determined that estrogen often plays a key role in the development of breast cancer, especially after a woman reaches menopause. How? The estrogen in a woman’s body seems to raise breast cancer risk by encouraging the growth of breast tissue, which can speed up an existing tumor’s growth. Here's what you need to know.

• Combination hormone therapy (HT): If you’re considering taking estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone) to give you relief from annoying menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, be sure to limit the time you’re on the drugs. That’s because over time your breast cancer risk climbs, says JoAnn Manson, MD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of Hot Flashes, Hormones & Your Health.

"In the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial, when women got seven years of estrogen alone, there was no increased risk of breast cancer, but after four to five years on combined hormone therapy, the risk emerges," she says. In fact, over time, estrogen plus progestin can raise a woman’s risk for breast cancer by 24%; even if you take estrogen on its own for more than 10 to 15 years, your risk may still go up.

Dr. Manson was a coauthor on a March 2008 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that followed up on the WHI trial. It showed that even after the women stopped taking combination HT, their breast cancer risk remained elevated. "The risk of breast cancer does decline after stopping hormone therapy," she stresses, "but if a tumor has formed while a woman is on hormones it’s very likely to come to light even after she stops hormones, so there is some residual risk. Stopping drug therapy doesn’t mean a tumor evaporates, but the risk gradually declines."

• HT and early diagnosis of breast cancer: If you have no family history of the disease, you’ve probably been encouraged to get your first mammogram by age 40 and every one to two years after that to help ensure that any tumor is caught early, when it’s most treatable. That’s good advice, but taking HT may complicate things. "Estrogen-and-progestin HT can lead to increased mammographic density"—denser breast tissue—"that can obscure breast tumors and delay diagnosis," says Dr. Manson. Denser breasts are believed to be an independent risk factor for breast cancer, but they also make it harder to accurately read a mammogram and that "can lead to abnormal mammograms that may require extensive follow-up and anxiety about repeat testing and even unnecessary biopsies," Dr. Manson adds.

• HT and risk for benign breast disease: In April 2008, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that postmenopausal women who’d taken estrogen on its own doubled their risk of a noncancerous type of breast disease, but one that’s associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. A September 2008 study led by the same author, Thomas E. Rohan, MD, PhD, an epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in New York City, found similarly disturbing evidence in a study of women taking estrogen and progestin: Combined HT raised a woman’s risk of benign breast disease by 74%.

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Breast Cancer Risk and Estrogen Alternatives

Taking estrogen may increase a woman's risk of getting breast cancer.Getting relief from menopause symptoms doesn’t need to mean estrogen-only treatments or combined hormone therapy (HT), which may increase your risk of breast cancer. If you can, consider nondrug remedies first, says JoAnn Manson, MD, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the author of Hot Flashes, Hormones & Your Health.

Dr. Manson has several suggestions for managing hot flashes and night sweats:

Wear layered clothing.Lower the thermostat.Use portable fans.Avoid dietary triggers such as caffeine, spicy foods, and alcohol.Avoid tobacco.Increase your intake of soy-based foods.Consider trying the herb black cohosh.A low dose of a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or the antiseizure medication gabapentin may also be useful, according to Kala Visvanathan, MBBS, assistant professor of epidemiology and oncology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore. Alternative Therapy for Side EffectsMore than 80% of breast cancer patients have tried complementary therapies.  Read more"If a woman has only vaginal dryness and discomfort with intercourse and no other symptoms, she can use a topical estrogen or a vaginal estrogen ring, which have a much lower absorption of estrogen," adds Dr. Manson, who notes that relaxation and breathing techniques have worked for some women as well. "I would encourage women to try lifestyle modifications before going with estrogen, especially if they have mild symptoms," she says.

Dr. Visvanathan agrees: "You definitely want to try simple things first, then go to [HT] if you need to. It used to be that hormones were the first thing you tried, but the paradigm is changing because we’ve determined the long-term breast cancer and cardiovascular risk associated with HT, and because the benefits of HT have been shown to be less effective than previously thought. Women with modest menopausal symptoms can often treat their symptoms effectively with nonmedical therapies."

Have you tried estrogen alternatives for hot flashes?If you end up needing estrogen or combination HT, though, and you want to keep your breast cancer risk low while still keeping menopause symptoms in check, ask your doctor about transdermal patches, gels, and sprays, which deliver low doses of estrogen through the skin and may have fewer risks than pills. "Transdermal estrogen may be less likely to cause blood clots and gallbladder disease," Dr. Manson explains. "And lower doses may be less likely to increase the risk of breast cancer or other cancers."

The bottom line: Consider alternative approaches to see if one or several together can control your menopause symptoms before turning to oral estrogen or combination HT.

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Products That May Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer

There is no proven link between breast cancer and household products, whether they be soap or water bottles. But many consumers, activists, and experts are concerned that a variety of goods contain hormone disruptors, chemicals that when absorbed into the body can mimic or interfere with hormones such as estrogen. Some researchers believe that chemicals with estrogenic characteristics can cause normal breast cells to divide.

"Each time they divide, they have the risk of copying DNA incorrectly and creating mutations in key genes, which may lead to increased breast cancer risk," says Suzanne Snedeker, PhD, the associate director for translational research for the Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors at Cornell University. Chemicals that mimic estrogen might also enable an existing breast tumor to keep growing, because most tumors depend on estrogen to grow.

Individual products contain only small amounts of these questionable chemicals, if they do at all. But there is growing concern that the ubiquity of such agents in cosmetics, household products, and certain plastics, may have a cumulative estrogenic effect. "We are not saying if you use a certain product with estrogenic ingredients it will cause breast cancer," Snedeker says. "But the science suggests your risk may be reduced if you avoid these ingredients." Here are a few ways to play it safe.

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Dealing with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that is characterized by widespread pain in the body. Such pain that is felt by a person with fibromyalgia is often referred to as allodynia, a kind of pain that results from something that does not usually cause pain.

Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that is characterized by widespread pain in the body. Such pain that is felt by a person with fibromyalgia is often referred to as allodynia, a kind of pain that results from something that does not usually cause pain. Research tells us that fibromyalgia affects more women than men in a ratio of 9:1, and while the condition was not considered a disease by some medical experts in the past, it is now recognized as a diagnosable disorder by many. People who are suffering from fibro may experience chronic symptoms such as widespread body pain, unusual feelings of fatigue, oversensitivity to pressure, nerve pain, muscle spasm and twitching, limb weakness, constipation, palpitations, and severe sleeping problems.

While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, experts suggest that such condition can be controlled or managed. However, the problem should be diagnosed and treated immediately since it has a tendency to get worse. Since stress is considered as the largest precipitating factor of fibromyalgia, the best thing you can do is to learn how to manage stress in your life. There are many reasons why people get stressed. Common sources of stress may include your work, your family, and even your health. Perhaps the reason why women are more prone to fibro than men is that they have a tendency to juggle work and family, which is a common cause of stress for them. In order to avoid work- and family-related stress, try not to take your job with you at home, and try to leave family matters at home instead of bringing them with you to work. By doing this, you can focus at one thing at a time and the chances of you getting stressed will be minimized.

Eating a well-balanced diet, getting enough sleep and rest, and living an active lifestyle are also essential if you are to overcome fibromyalgia. A well-balanced diet should include fresh fruits and green, leafy vegetables. Both fruits and veggies contain antioxidants that does not only boost your health but also help you beat stress. These foods include bananas, spinach, broccoli, nuts, and blueberries. At the same time, you would want to avoid food that contains a lot of preservatives and sweeteners. In addition, drink plenty of water to keep your body well-hydrated and try to limit your intake of caffeine and soda.

One of the commons sign of fibromyalgia is chronic sleep disturbances. This may be caused by anxiety as a result of stress. To combat this symptom, it is important that you avoid over stimulating your mind a few hours before going to sleep. If possible, turn off your television or personal computer an hour before bedtime. This way, you can condition your mind for sleep and rest. If watching TV, surfing the internet, or reading a book is part of your pre bedtime routine, just see to it that you watch or read something with light content so as not to stimulate your mind. Furthermore, try to go to bed as early as 10PM. According to studies, it is the period between 10PM and 6AM that the body works fulltime in repairing broken tissues and damaged cells.

Regular physical activity is also an excellent way to deal with fibromyalgia. Studies show that there is a strong link between stress and a lack of exercise. This is simply because exercise helps the body release “feel good” chemicals called endorphins that help boost the mood and get rid of stress. Therefore, if you fail to exercise regularly, you are only increasing your susceptibility to stress that may lead to conditions such as fibromyalgia.

When it comes to dealing with pain that is associated with fibromyalgia, perhaps the best thing to do is control the it through relaxation. A person with fibro may feel excruciating pain even from a gentle pat on the back. But if you can train your mind to expect lesser pain when pressure is applied on your skin, then that’s just what you’re going to receive. This may not be the easiest solution to dealing with fibromyalgia, but once you learn this technique, along with managing stress, getting enough sleep, eating a well-balanced diet, and staying physically active, you will have a huge chance of overcoming the said condition.

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Protecting Yourself against Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a major problem in the modern world. A woman had a higher chance, at almost 10 times greater, of getting a fracture related to osteoporosis compared to being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Osteoporosis is a major problem in the modern world. A woman had a higher chance, at almost 10 times greater, of getting a fracture related to osteoporosis compared to being diagnosed with breast cancer. Osteoporosis is also found to be five times more likely to occur than a heart attack. Anyone planning to live up to 85 years old would have a 30% chance of getting a hip fracture.

Why is this so? Experts believe that part of the problem lies in the basic human mindset over these last three decades: believing that medicine was the answer to all the physical issues faced by human beings. As such, diet and lifestyle took a backseat. Unfortunately, for osteoporosis especially, the drugs commonly prescribed are actually not as effective as people believe. They have also recently been found to have more long-term side effects, which include a wide range of physical ailments as well!

From these findings, experts are fast pointing back to proper nutrition and exercise. Medication is now only resorted to in cases of severe osteoporosis or when the person has suffered a fracture related to osteoporosis. For example, fractures related to osteoporosis typically come about from falls. The risk that an individual has for suffering a fall is actually more directly related to her balance skills and strength compared to her bone density score. Granted, muscles and bones have their size and strength decrease as the person ages; but there are factors that directly affect this decline, including muscle strength that is responsible for moving that bone. Regular exercise not only builds muscle, the bone also benefits from being strengthened and increased in its density. It would seem that bones react to stress in a way similar to muscles, wherein they become stronger and bigger.

As such, having regular exercise is a great way to fight against osteoporosis, most particularly the back and the legs. Experts in fact believe that muscle strength is an accurate gauge of predicting bone strength, and that improving muscle strength is actually the most effective way of improving the strength of one’s bones.

Meanwhile, nutrition is also an important determinant of the health of one’s bones. Of course, just about any woman has heard all the hype about an inadequate supply of dairy being directly related to poor levels of calcium which ultimately results in osteoporosis. But do you know that calcium is not all there is when it comes to bone health? Fruits and vegetables continue to lay claim as the best food choices, even over dairy, for dealing with osteoporosis. Why? These food choices, as well as beans and nuts, not only come rich in calcium, they also contain potassium, magnesium, vitamin K, and vegetable protein. They also come with micronutrients and phytochemicals that play a crucial role in bone health. Vitamin K is also found to be crucial for bone health, and fruits and vegetables are rich in this nutrient.

While calcium is indeed important, a person actually does not need as much of it as she is led to believe, and dairy certainly is not the only source. In fact, when a person eats a fairly balanced diet high in fruits and veggies, she will not likely be lacking in calcium, as fruits and veggies, as are all “natural” foods, all contain calcium. The advantage of fruits and veggies as a source of calcium is that they are alkaline, or they do not produce acid, which do not result in the loss of calcium through the urinary tract. Also, the absorption rate of calcium for green vegetables is found to be more than 50%, while milk has been found to have about 32% absorption rate.

It would seem that the reason why dairy was added and popularized as a calcium source could be related to the average American diet centered on meat and carbs. When a person’s diet was only composed of refined grains, animal meat, and sugar, calcium will definitely be lacking, and dairy seems to be the right answer. However, experts also show that relying on dairy without having enough vegetables may actually worsen one’s bone health.

Vitamin D is another crucial vitamin. Children know this as the vitamin we get from the sun. Perhaps the problem with osteoporosis could be related to the higher probability of people working indoors all day, and thus becoming deficient in the sunshine vitamin.

From these points, it would seem that your best bet for fighting osteoporosis would therefore be a balanced diet loaded with fruits and vegetables, a regular exercise program, and a good dose of frolicking in the sun—with the necessary sunscreen, of course!

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Natural Remedies for Yeast Infections

The itching and burning sensation caused by yeast infections are largely common among women, although if a man has a wife who suffers from it, he may also be infected. Scientifically, it is called Candida Candidiasis, with the infection caused by the more than 20 species of microscopic fungi or yeast.

The itching and burning sensation caused by yeast infections are largely common among women, although if a man has a wife who suffers from it, he may also be infected. Scientifically, it is called Candida Candidiasis, with the infection caused by the more than 20 species of microscopic fungi or yeast. These infections can happen around dentures, nailbeds, beneath skin folds, or under one’s breast and in the vagina. They are generally more common as the woman ages, but they may also happen to younger women.

If you happen to have these uncomfortable infections, check out these natural remedies before you run out to the pharmacy for synthetic cures that may only alleviate the discomfort temporarily:

1. Plain yogurt is well known for carrying good bacteria; these good bacteria help fight yeast. Do you know you can use yogurt both externally and internally? Make sure you buy the plain and unsweetened yogurt, though, as yeast actually thrives on sugar. If you want, you can also opt for making your own yogurt with a yogurt starter; this way you can experiment with other kinds of milk, such as almond or soy. Whether you buy or make your own yogurt, take some before your meals to give your stomach the good bacteria it needs in digestion. For an external application, you can use a tampon dipped in the plain yogurt and use it as you would a regular tampon. Alternatively, you can also just apply some yogurt on the surface outside. Just be sure not to leave the tampon in for long period of time, as it tends to be counterproductive. Wipe off the yogurt as soon as you feel an alleviation of the itch.

2. Garlic is another great yeast-fighter. You can use a garlic tablet or garlic clove to be put on the affected parts in intervals of a few hours each time, or as necessary. If you opt for garlic tablets, check that the ingredients are pure and natural. In addition to putting the garlic pieces in the affected areas, you can also up your consumption of garlic, preferably raw. One lady recommends pressing a whole garlic clove, then downing it with water. In addition to helping you fight off the yeast infection, garlic is known for its ability to lower blood pressure as well as reduce bad cholesterol.

3. Apple-cider vinegar is another good remedy for yeast infections. Although it may also be taken both externally and internally, it is considered a bit too strong to apply directly onto the skin. Sure, it will get rid of the yeast that way, but you will also feel a burning sensation that might be more uncomfortable than the infection to begin with! If you do choose to use it externally, you can choose to dilute a cup of apple cider vinegar into bathwater just before you take a hot bath. Some women find that the relief tends to be temporary, though, especially when compared with garlic. Also, make sure you buy apple cider vinegar that is as natural and not as processed, as plain white vinegar will feed the yeast.

4. Water is actually found to be a great natural remedy for yeast infections: drinking more than the recommended 8 glasses a day has been proven to reduce the chances of getting infected with yeast. This is due to the fact that drinking more water results in more urination, allowing the body to wash out whatever sugars may be present that could feed the yeast.

5. Oil of oregano is another good natural remedy for yeast infections, as it is known to be very powerful against yeast. Check the directions for taking it internally; also, find one that has a high level of carvacrol content, since this is found to be the active ingredient in killing yeast.

These natural remedies are found to be very effective in fighting off yeast infections. If symptoms still persist, you might want to schedule a trip to the doctor, but if you can have them go away with natural means, why not, right? Alongside these treatments, try to avoid sugar as well as refined foods, as these feed yeast. Just be careful not to overdo any of these, and if relief still does not come, do not hesitate to consult your health specialist.

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5 Major Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Though many women have ovarian cancer but the symptoms are vague and so difficult to understand or decide. In many times the symptoms may be attributed to some other problems like indigestion, consequences of aging or weight gain etc.

So Some of the main symptoms of ovarian cancer are

1. General abdominal discomfort or pain- This is a prominent symptom of ovarian cancer. You will often find problems in your abdomen. These problems may persist or they may appear in repeated succession. Some of the problems that you may encounter are gas, pressure, indigestion, bloating, swelling, cramps et cetera. These problems will be present throughout the year.

2. Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination - All these problems are seen when you have ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer will change your body and so your body will react to the stimuli by showing nausea, frequent urination, diarrhea etc. When you find these symptoms too much or too often, then go to your doctor.

3. Unexplained weight loss or gain – Unexpected weight loss may be another ovarian cancer symptom. Suddenly you may gain weight. It happens in such a high volume that you can feel it as soon as it happens. Sometimes you may lose weight also. Whether the weight loss or gain, both happens in high multitude, which is easily visible. When you find such problem, talk to your doctor. Please do not ignore it.

4. Abnormal vaginal bleeding – Abnormal vaginal bleeding is another ovarian cancer symptom. If you find that there is vaginal bleeding at other times than at the time of your menstrual cycle, then you should be careful and talk to your doctor. Such abnormal bleeding may be dangerous. Bleeding may also happen during your menstrual cycle. Bleeding may happen at different rate. It may also have some foul scent. So such symptoms will tell you that you probably have ovarian cancer.

5. Unusual fatigue- You may feel vary tired sometimes. Tiredness may be there throughout the day or only in a part of the day. Tiredness may pull you down throughout the day. In some cases you may feel tired during the morning or evening time. Unusual fatigue results from the fact that your body is not well and some of the cells at your ovary are not working, as they should be. When you have fatigue for a unusually long time, then go to your doctor and go through a check up.

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