Stages Of Early Breast Cancer And The Chance of Its Coming Back

A cancer that develops in the breast is known as breast cancer. The ailment can be fatal if it had advanced and is not treated. Early detection can be treated successfully such that the affected person's survival rate is higher. The progress of the disease can be determined through two factors - grade and stage.

Grades of breast cancer

The grade indicates how fast the cancer cells are multiplying. This can range from Grade 1 to Grade 3. A low-grade such as Grade 1 indicates that the cancer growth is slow. On the other hand, a high-grade such as Grade 3 shows the fast spread and growth of the cancer cells. The higher is the grade, the more active the disease is. This can result to the spread of the ailment outside of the breast and into the lymph nodes and armpit.

Stages of breast cancer

When cancer of the breast is suspected, you may be required to undergo ultrasound, mammogram, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biopsies. The pathology report which is based on the biopsies will summarize the stages of breast cancer. Stages of breast cancer are given numbers I to IV. Stages I, II-A and II-B (lump measuring 2 to 5 centimeters) are classified as early stage. Stage II-B (lump is greater than 5 centimeters), III and IV are advanced stages.

The classification of early stage is based on two factors. First basis is the size of the cancerous lump. The second is the presence of cancer in the lymph nodes. When the lump is less than 2 centimeters and without cancer in the lymph node, it is Stage I.

There are three scenarios for Stage II-A.

First, the lump size is less than 2 centimeters with cancer in the lymph nodes.

Second, the size of the lump ranges from 2 to 5 centimeters without cancer in the lymph nodes.

Third, there is no cancer in the breast but the lymph nodes are positive for cancer.

For Stage II-B, the size of the lump ranges from 2 to 5 centimeters and there is cancer in the lymph nodes. When the size of the lump exceeds 5 centimeters, it will no longer be early stage, rather advanced stage.

There are several features that indicate the chance of early breast cancer recurrence. These are size of the lump, presence of cancer in the lymph nodes, presence of hormone receptors, HER 2 receptors, grade and surgical margin.

The disease has a slim chance of coming back

1. There is a big chance that when treated, the disease will not spread or come back. This is when the tumor is smaller than 2 centimeters.
2. Absence of cancer cells in the lymph nodes.
3. The tumor cells have hormone receptors and you undergo hormonal therapy.
4. Cancer cells are negative for human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER 2).
5. The grade is low.
6. The surgical margin is clear.

The surgical margin is the healthy-looking tissues around the cancer. If there are no cancer cells in these healthy-looking tissues, the surgical margin is clear.

Th Big C is likely to recur

1. The lump is larger than 2 centimeters.
2. Presence of tumor cells in the lymph nodes.
3. The cancer cells do not have hormone receptors.
4. The cancer cells are positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER 2).
5. The grade is high (Grade 3).
6. The surgical margin is not clear.

Early breast cancer is treatable. Although this is a common ailment for women, it will also affect men. Early detection is paramount in surviving this dreaded disease.

Article :By Felicitas Ramos

Essential Oils That Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer

Did you know that some essential oils have the ability to identify improperly written DNA, while others can destroy that DNA, and still others re-program the DNA correctly? Some oils can actually do all three themselves. Being able to do just one, two or all three is quite astounding, isn't it? Besides these incredible properties they can also pass through the blood-brain barrier because even those essential oils with the largest molecules still have molecules that are many times smaller than necessary to pass through that barrier.

Do you see why I believe some of the best things God has given mankind are essential oils? When the wise men brought baby Jesus the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh they were, in essence, providing Jesus' parents with a pharmacy. Frankincense is immuno-stimulating and antitumoral while myrrh is antiviral, antiparasitic, an analgesic and also antitumoral. These oils could protect baby Jesus from the plagues and illnesses of that day and then, when they were gone - Mary and Joseph could purchase more with the gold. If you ask me, these are pretty great baby gifts for any time in history!

Are there oils that can help reduce the risk of breast cancer and many other cancers? That answer is not black and white because, as I have said in other articles, everyone is unique and acts and reacts differently. However, generally speaking there are essential oils that help keep immune systems strong and others that suppress tumors - so, the answer is, in many cases, "yes"!

I believe most of you are aware that everyone has cancer cells within their bodies. The problem doesn't lie in that fact. It is when those cells are allowed to multiply because a person's immune system has been compromised, weakened and therefore functioning poorly that tumors form.

In addition to eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of pure water and exercising on a regular basis, the following oils can strengthen immunity and repair DNA in the cells.

Cistus (Cistus ladanifer) enhances immunity and immune cell regeneration.

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary to amplify immunity.

Oregano (Origanum compactum) is one of the most powerful antimicrobial essential oils. It helps fight off viruses, bacteria, fungal infections, and parasites allowing our bodies to concentrate on staying healthy.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) amplifies immunity and DNA repair in addition to being antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is one of the most powerful antioxidants of all essential oils and prevents cellular DNA damage. It is very important in cancer prevention to protect against cell oxidation. Additionally, it is antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antifungal.

There are many more essential oils that have these same qualities, but this gives you an idea of some of the most powerful. These oils are packed with a huge wallop in every drop so you don't need to use them in large quantities. They last well in hot climates as long as they are not exposed to light and you keep them bottled tightly to keep them from evaporating.

Anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis might want to consider adding Frankincense or myrrh to their traditional treatment since they contain antitumoral properties. Frankincense is somewhat easier to work with because it is has less resin than myrrh. Of course, one should always check with their doctor first before adding any essential oils or starting any alternative treatment. This is because the oils could react negatively with other treatments and/or medications or they could nullify the benefits of traditional medicine.

To provide the greatest protection one should use only the highest grade essential oils available. For me that means Young Living oils. They have a great track record and have pretty much set the standard for all other essential oils. As with any high quality product, these small bottles of oils are not cheap. But, remember - they do go a long way. Young Living has combined many of the oils that stimulate the immune system into a blended oil called ImmuPower. You can check it, and the company, out at http://www.youngliving.com.

My prayer is that some day we will wipe out cancer; but until that day, essential oils offer great protection against cancer and can offer help and hope for those who have been diagnosed with the disease.

Much of the information on the list of oils came from "Essential Oils Desk Reference, fifth edition". It is compiled and published by Life Science Publishing. You can purchase the book online through several vendors, including Amazon.

Carin Hansen was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40. After a long battle she emerged victorious and began a one-on-one wardrobe and beauty consulting business for other women journeying through cancer. She has been a model, actress, talent agency owner, benefit founder, certified acting/modeling instructor, writer, speaker and passionate cancer advocate. Please visit Carin's website at http://www.bridges2beauty.net for information and encouragement that is helpful and hopeFULL. You can purchase a hard copy of her book "A Woman's Cancer Journey Primer" or upload a free pdf on the website also. It is important to remember that Carin is not a physician and does not subscribe to or recommend any particular medical procedure or alternative treatment. She strongly urges you to consult with your Primary Physician, Oncologist and/or Surgeon before implementing any of her suggestions found in her articles, newsletter, blogs and books.

Article  :By Carin Hansen