50 | October 2012 www.womanthismonth.com Wellbeing Step 1: Prevention Our expert: Dr Sanjay Gupta, head of the breast clinic at American Mission Hospital. Every woman wants to know what she can do to lower her risk of breast cancer. Some of the factors associated with breast cancer can’t be changed, however other factors are your choice. “By choosing the healthiest lifestyle options possible, you can empower yourself and make sure your breast cancer risk is as low as possible,” explains Dr Sanjay. “Your doctor should accurately assess your level of breast cancer risk to help you come up with a plan to lower your risk. This can also influence recommendations about breast cancer screening — what tests to have and when to start having them.” Maintain a healthy lifestyle Being overweight can increase the risks of breast cancer, especially for women after menopause. “Fat tissue is the body’s main source of estrogen after menopause, when the ovaries stop producing the hormone. More fat tissue means higher estrogen levels, which can increase breast cancer risk,” he says. A controlled diet is key; an eating plan rich in fruits and vegetables is generally recommended. Additionally, evidence is growing that exercise can reduce the risk. The American Cancer Society recommends 45-60 minutes of physical exercise five or more days a week. Limiting alcohol consumption will also help as this limits your liver’s ability to control blood levels of the hormone estrogen, which can, in turn, increase risk. Pregnancy benefits The processes of pregnancy and breastfeeding have been proven to reduce the overall number of menstrual cycles in a woman’s lifetime, and this appears to reduce future breast cancer risk. “Birth control pills appear to slightly increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer, but only for a limited period of time. Women who stopped using oral contraceptives more than ten years ago do not appear to have any increased breast cancer risk,” Dr Sanjay states. The importance of self-examination Probably the best way to fight breast cancer is by immediately consulting a doctor should you notice a lump in one of your breasts. By doing this, you can immediately start the course of treatment required and begin a recovery plan. “It is important that every woman checks her breast for abnormal lumps regularly — at least once a month. We advise that women become familiar with the normal consistency of their breasts and underlying tissue, so that any new changes that arise will be noticeable,” suggests Dr Sanjay. Step 2: Treatment Our expert: Dr Stephen Angamuthu, consultant general and laparoscopic surgeon at the Royal Bahrain Hospital. If it is clarified that a woman does in fact have breast cancer, it is highly advisable to have an idea of the type of treatment courses available. There are many different types, each suitable for the unique patient and their cancer’s progression rate. This can all be incredibly overwhelming, which is why a woman with cancer will be advised by her doctor on the correct treatment path to follow. However, the ultimate choice of which type to opt for will be the patients own. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormonal manipulation are the most common treatment methods, depending on the type and stage of the cancer. When surgery is an option Early detection of breast cancer can save lives. “With patients that have small tumors or are in the early stages of breast cancer, surgery is the most viable option,” says Dr Stephen. “Often surgery at this stage can result in completely ridding the breasts of the cancerous lump(s) and sometimes no chemotherapy is even required.” The most common types of surgery are a mastectomy, which is the removal of all of the breast tissue, or a lumpectomy, which is the removal of only the tumor and a small amount of the surrounding tissue. Undergoing chemotherapy If chemotherapy is required, the course you embark on will be meticulously considered to suit your body type and the stage your cancer is in. It works by using medicine to weaken and destroy cancer cells in the body, including cells at the original site and any cells that may have spread throughout the body. “Chemotherapy is commonly used to treat advanced-stage breast cancer,” explains Dr Stephen. “Most standard chemotherapy regimens include a combination of two or more medicines from anthracyclines and taxanes. Depending on the characteristics of the
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