Breast diseases like breast cancer mostly have an effect on women. This is since male breasts are more undeveloped than female breasts, making them more resilient to cancer. It is at times categorized into some ‘types’.

Types of breast cancers
There are several types of breast cancer, although a number of them are so uncommon. Sometimes a breast tumor could be a combination of these types or a mix of invasive and in situ cancer.

- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This is the most widespread type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS represents that the cancer is simply in the ducts. It has not extended by means of the walls of the ducts into the tissue of the breast. Almost all women with cancer at this stage could be treated. Frequently the best method to discover DCIS early is with a mammogram. (more…)

OK, here we go again. Decades ago, there was widespread panic over the possibility that overhead high tension electrical power lines could be a cause of cancer for people living in close proximity or underneath them. When that was disproved, the doomsday crowd went onto blame cell phones as a possible risk of brain cancer due to tiny amounts of radiation emitted when the phone is transferring data. Thus far, after dozens of studies, there has been NO conclusive evidence that cell phones produce a significant enough amount of radiation to create a measurable increase in the risk of cancer. But is there a cause for concern? Just who conducted those tests?

A new joint study from the University of California at Berkeley and multiple Universities in Korea, reexamined 465 article published in major journals along with 23 large scale case studies of over 37,916 patients. The study group was comprised of patients with and without brain tumors. They found that when they look at the group as a whole, there was no association between brain tumors and cell phone use. When they looked closer however, and divided the large group into clinically significant subgroups, there was a clear increase in risk for cancer, of up to 30%. Furthermore, they found that some of the previous studies that had yielded results of “no risk,” were in fact funded by cell phone manufacturers. (more…)

We all know massage offers great benefits to clients, everything from physical to emotional wellbeing, but I was as surprised as the doctor, when a massage turned out to be a lifesaver. While giving my athletic firefighter husband a relaxing massage, I found a melanoma on the bottom arch of his right foot, the last place you would expect to find it. I began my career in massage therapy 15 years ago after many years working as a para-medical professional in mainstream and complementary medicine. As an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for 19 years, I have performed CPR and other lifesaving maneuvers in my volunteer career. Imagine my surprise when my husband’s dermatologist told him that I saved his life when I spotted something strange on his foot. The site was actually a four year-old fire ant bite that had healed, but changed suddenly. The discovery led to several surgeries and precautionary procedures to ensure that the 1mm thick melanoma has not spread to the lymphatic system. I, as many massage therapists and practitioners, take Continuing Education classes to keep licensure current, but the amount of education I have received while accompanying my husband, in just one visit to UW Hospital in Seattle was as “priceless” as the Master Card commercial.

“Swelling of the supra clavicular lymph nodes are often the first sign of a problem within the lymph system of the body,” according to Sydney R. Lillard, MD the surgeon working with my husband, at UW Hospital in Seattle, WA. She said, “Massage Therapists spend a lot of time working in that general area with the neck and shoulders. An interesting physiology of the body is that the right node drains only the upper right side of the lymph, while the left supra clavicular node drains the rest of the entire body. Swelling or nodules in lymph nodes warrants a physical examination and medical workup by a physician,” “Just because you have sun burned your ears, let’s say, doesn’t mean that’s where a melanoma may develop. Melanoma is more likely to develop if you have had one or more bad sunburns in your lifetime may and develop anywhere on the body. Areas of the skin that may have been injured are also potential melanoma sites.” My husband, fair-haired avid outdoorsmen, always wears SPF 50, so this was news to us.

What Is Melanoma? Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. However, if it is recognized and treated early, it is nearly 100 percent curable. But if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. (more…)

In the US, men have slightly less than a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. In about 6 men, 1 of them will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Thankfully medical technology has come along way and only about 1 out of 34 men will die from it.

There are two main stages of prostate cancer that are found when diagnosed. One is called the local stage and that means that its still confined to the prostate at the time of diagnosis. The second is called regional and this means that it has spread to other nearby areas.

If prostate cancer is found to have already spread to other parts of the body, the 5-year relative survival rate for men is about 33%. That is according to Core Oncology. (more…)

Isn’t it bothersome for women to have ovarian cysts? If you’re one of the many who has been experiencing or who has already experienced having the unwanted cysts in your ovary, you probably can relate to the different discomforts that the cysts can cause to the body.

A cyst is basically an ovarian follicle which grows larger than two centimeters. It is an aggregate of fluid which is encapsulated and forms within the ovary. The cyst is generally harmless and benign. Also, its size can range from the size of a pea up to a size bigger than a cantaloupe. (more…)