Invisible Illness Week Awareness Grows Through Ill Bloggers
The statistics about the prevalence of chronic illness are stunning. Nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA are living with a chronic illness and the U.S Census Bureau reports that about 96% of the illnesses are invisible. Hundreds of thousands of people on the Internet search for health information and support for their illness, so it’s no surprise that thousands of bloggers now post daily messages on their blogs about coping with the emotional challenges of living with constant chronic pain and illness.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 8-14, 2008, will include, as an element of their outreach, thirty days of guest bloggers, as well as bloggers all over the web posting about invisible illness issues. One situation many chronically ill people experience is the skeptical and critical looks they receive when they park in a handicapped parking spot, despite that they are doing so legally.
Bloggers all over the world are joining the organizers of Invisible Illness Week to show their support through their blogs. A participation badge “I’m blogging for Invisible Illness Awareness Week” is available for download and bloggers are also publicly thanked each Friday on the Invisible Illness Week blog, getting the added benefit of extra exposure for their own blog. Bloggers are encouraged to post at any time, but the Invisible Illness Week committee is also asking them to post on September 8th to create awareness at the beginning of the week.
Lisa Copen, who founded National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002 says, “Though we live with thousands of different illnesses, we have more in common than not. For example, illness impacts our families, careers, finances and daily living, to name a few. We can all learn from one another and share during this journey.” She adds, “And frankly, people are tired of hearing, ‘But you look so good!’ and they want others to know that their illness is legitimate despite how well they seem to be holding it all together.”
Laurie Edwards is the author of a recently published book called, “Life Disrupted: Getting Real About Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties.” She has blogged about her illness since 2006 and says, “When you are a young adult, people expect you to put in long hours to establish a career, to jump into the dating world, and to build a life for yourself. But they certainly don’t expect you to be sick. There’s no such thing as ‘too young’ to be sick! That is just one of the many reasons why Invisible Illness Week is so important!”
If you would like to join this unique opportunity to blog for awareness about invisible illnesses, see www.invisibleillness.wordpress.com . You can also receive updates, participate in surveys, win prizes, and find out more about the telephone workshops at the Invisible Illness Week web site: www.invisibleillness.com .
The Fastest Hemroid Treatment You Can Do At Home
Hemroids hurt! But the not so bad news is that they are treatable and relief is available. Read on to find out how to cure your hemroids.
Some day to day things you do could be making your hemroids worse. So before we even look at treatment, let’s look at prevention. Are you:
* Consuming foods that make hemroids worse, like caffeine, any sort of alcohol, nuts or spicy items
* Wiping your anal area too hard after eliminating or rubbing vigorously
* When on the toilet, straining or pushing
* Remaining immobile by sitting or standing in the same position for a long time. Shift your feet, position or take a quick walk.
These things will cause your hemroids to get worse! Make sure you’re not doing any of them. Now, let’s look at dietary changes you can make:
* Notice if any other foods, including those above, make your hemroids flare up and avoid it
* Get plenty of fiber in your diet, or with fiber supplements. You’ll find it’s a lot easier to eliminate with a fiber rich diet.
* Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. This, like fiber, will make it easier to use the toilet.
When you do have a flare up, it’s important to treat it immediately so it doesn’t get worse.
There are several medicines available at the drugstore just for hemroids, but most aren’t safe for use over a week or so. Make sure you read the labels to avoid damage to your anal tissue.
One option is a cream containing hydrocortisone, because this will help your delicate skin cells from inflaming even more.
Pain relief can come in the form of a cream with zinc oxide, with is very soothing and contained in baby diaper rash creams.
Aerosol sprays are sometimes available that have numbing properties.
Like I’ve said, don’t wipe or rub the area after a bowel movement. Instead, pat it down gently, perhaps using baby wipes.
The numbing and decrease of swelling caused by icing the area for 10 minutes is a great way to relieve pain, and can be done several times per day. Sitz baths are another option. Simply laying down to prevent muscle strtain is a good idea too if your hemroids are very bad.
Moisture is a bad thing for hemroids, so wear cotton undergarmets to keep yourself dry. If you’re using any hygiene products that have dyes or perfumes, stop. They’ll only irritate your skin more.
These simple steps will help your hemroids, but always ask a doctor before starting any new medical treatments.
Eat Your Way To Reduced Blood Pressure
In the US today high blood pressure has reached epidemic levels with over 65 million people suffering from high blood pressure and another 45 million suffering from a condition referred to as pre-hypertension. High blood pressure is a symptomless disease which raises your risk of heart attack and stroke and you could quite easily have it without any knowledge of it until it is too late.
There are of course medicines on the market that can help in lowering blood pressure, but several of these have accompanying side effects and, even though some people may need to take medicine in the short term to lower their blood pressure, a better solution is to control the condition naturally if you are able to.
For the majority of us high blood pressure is linked to weight and diet and this is a major problem today when nearly seventy percent of Americans are overweight or obese. In addition, most Americans get too much salt in their diets and not enough of the many other beneficial minerals and vitamins which can act to lower blood pressure. In short, you can eat your way to a normal blood pressure, as long as you know what to do.
In truth, it is often possible to lower your blood pressure quite quickly if you change your diet and begin to take some exercise. That said, if you’ve not taken any exercise for a long period of time you shouldn’t suddenly begin a vigorous exercise program and it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you start any exercise program.
To begin with though let’s look at what you should avoid and top of the list comes salt. Salt (or sodium) is one of the chief offenders in today’s high blood pressure epidemic. Too much dietary fat is also a culprit because it encourages weight gain, arteriosclerosis, and other problems which result in high blood pressure. Hence, two things which you should avoid in your diet are salt and excess fat, particularly trans or saturated fats.
So, what sorts of food should you have in your diet to help you in lowering your blood pressure? Well, potassium is one of the major substances which is missing in today’s American diet and that is very beneficial for your blood pressure. It help to reduce blood pressure just as sodium helps raise your blood pressure and thus getting enough potassium in your diet can help even out blood pressure.
It is very easy to get enough potassium into your diet by simply adding plenty of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, providing of course that they have no added suger or salt. Even though this may seem bland to some people, it is one of the best ways to ensure that you regularize your blood pressure. Naturally of course, at the same time you also want to cut down on the salt to no more than the recommended daily intake of approximately 2400 mg each day. A very good way to achieve this is not to add any salt at all to your diet because natural and unprocessed foods contain enough salt and, if you feel you need to add flavor to your food then simply try herbs and spices.
Magnesium and calcium are two other minerals which can help to reduce blood pressure. Both calcium and magnesium are considered calming minerals and the majority of Americans do not get enough of them in their diets. dairy products which are low in fat are a good source of calcium as are legumes, nuts, and dark and leafy green vegetables. You need to try to get a balance of approximately two parts of magnesium to three parts of calcium. Foods such as soybeans, sesame seeds and white beans not only contain a lot of calcium and magnesium but they are also excellent sources of potassium.
Finally, make sure that you drink enough water and also get enough fiber in your diet. Fiber is important because it helps to speed toxins and other unhealthy substances out of your body and it also helps you feel full so that you do not overeat.
Encouraging the Chronically Ill Moms in Your Playgroup
Mommy moments come in all forms of days at the park, birthday parties with streamers, and gymnastics classes. All of these provide the perfect opportunity for mothers to let their little ones burn some energy as well as share in their latest challenges. As the amount of women who live with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, continues to grow, however, so does the ability to always participate in these spontaneous mommy moments.
For example, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association, fibromyalgia (FM) experts estimate that about 10 million Americans and approximately 5 percent of the population worldwide suffer with FM, one of the fastest growing auto-immune diseases in the USA. I recently attended an adoptive mom’s playgroup and within this niche group, three out of the six of us had chronic illnesses. Being aware of a friend’s limitations and challenges, acknowledging them, and just asking questions, can make a huge impact in their ability to participate and feel comfortable with their peers.
[1]. Find out the best times of day for play-dates or activities. This will vary from season to season (weather and heat can affect it a great deal); and it also is different from one illness to another. For example, for some moms, mornings are good and afternoons are exhausting; for others they aren’t moving or out of PJs before the clock strikes noon.
[2] Be understanding if she has to cancel, rather than bombarding her with guilt. Coping with a chronic illness means that every day is unpredictable. Last week I did nothing other than take a step and my knee locked up for four days. I did all the heat and ice therapies, took extra medication and tried not to complain. But all my plans were cancelled with no advance warning.
[3] Communicate with her that you understand she has some limitations. So ask “How far are you comfortable walking today?” and try to accommodate. A two-block walk to the park may seem like miles for her and the few stairs may be impossible. I won’t even take escalators any more with my poor knees, so take the elevator with her. Don’t run ahead of her, unless you are chasing your kids (or hers!) and understand she may need to sit down on a bench for a few minutes to rest, even after walking just one-hundred feet. Standing can also be hard, so even if the carousel line looks like a ten minute weight, she may need for you to stand in line and then let her jump in at the last minute.
[4] Show some interest in what she deals with but ask politely. For example, say, “What is your greatest challenge?” Avoid sharing with her about the many cures you’ve heard about on TV and in the magazines for her illness; don’t try to sell her products from your trunk that will cure here overnight; and don’t think that it will encourage her to hear about your mother’s cousin’s sister who has the same illness but still manages to raise four children and work a midnight shirt at the local hospital because she “refuses to give in her illness.”
[5] Be aware of simple things that may be difficult for her. For example, if you go to the beach, you may want to ask her if she would like to be dropped off while you find a parking spot; she may not be able to sit on the ground so bring a few lawn chairs so she isn’t the only one two feet above the rest of your friends. She will likely be limited in her sun-exposure. She may not be able to carry as much picnic items as you can from the car. While you don’t want to make her feel helpless, nor does she want you to make a big deal out of it, just be aware that she may need some extra considerations.
[6] Don’t presume that she can watch your children diligently, even for five minutes, unless she volunteers. Taking care of kids is exhausting and caring for her own may be draining the little strength she had left. Plus, if your kids are run out into the street, keep in mind that she may not physically be able to sprint after them as fast as you could.
[7] Plan things that she can participate in. Even though you may think nothing of inviting her to your stroller exercise group, and mommy and me aerobics classes, these are not likely options for her. Discover what kinds of things she likes to do and then see if you can join her. And don’t try to set a record for the longest outing. Keep the activities under three hours or at least let her know that she’s welcome to go whenever she wants. You may like six hours watching the elephants, but she’s going to need to get home and recover from the outing. Don’t try to encourage her to stay longer by saying “A little more exercise might really help you feel better!”
[8] Lastly, tell her what every mom longs to hear: “I don’t know how you do it. I really admire your perseverance and strength. You’re my hero.
Simple Facts Worth Learning About Cholesterol
There is both good and bad cholesterol which means that it is important to be able to differentiate between each type and know how it impacts a person’ s health and know the ways and means to lower it in case such is required.
The diverse types of cholesterol are LDL and HDL and the preceding is a bad type because when there’s excess of it in a person’s blood it will build up in the inner walls of his or her arteries which can end up causing the blocking of the arteries and thus causes atherosclerosis that’s not a desirable condition.
HDL In High Quantities Will Prevent Heart Attacks
However, the good form of cholesterol is HDL, which when present in high quantities will actually help in preventing heart attacks, though when the level of HDL is low, it can put the person at risk of experiencing a heart attack.
There’s another aspect to cholesterol and that’s triglyceride, which is a type of fat that is obtained from the food that you eat and which is also produced in the body, and when there is a high level of triglycerides, you’re at risk of having high total cholesterol in which you can get high LDL as well as low HDL, which is bad for your health.
In order to test your cholesterol level, you may require to take a test that is aimed at measuring your lipoproteins which are sorted according to their density. In case of high density, the ratio of proteins compared to fat will be high and high density lipoproteins or HDL is the good cholesterol which does the work needed to help unblock your arteries and which also helps in getting rid of unwanted fat from the body.
If we see on the other hand, low density lipoproteins or LDL which along with very low density lipoproteins or VLDL and triglycerides make up the bad cholesterol, which in high numbers will cause your arteries to be clogged and results in a heart attack as well as other likely diseases related to the heart.
Of course, bad as well as good cholesterol will deviate from one person to another and the main factors that affect how much of it you may have are being overweight, diets with plenty of saturated fats as well as cholesterol and absenteeism of sufficient exercises as well as hereditary conditions. Also, cholesterol will also go up as a person becomes older and to control the level of it in your body, it’s advised to eat healthful foods and take plenty of exercises.
quality information and related stuff
Is Colon Cancer Caused By Bad Diet Habits?
INTRODUCTION: Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and the leading cause of cancer deaths among non-smokers.
It is, in the majority of cases, a treatable disease providing it is caught early. The facts show that when colon cancer is caught early, there is a 95 percent survival rate. It may be nutritionally based. For example, the rate of colon cancer is much higher in North America than in China, but Chinese who move to North America have a higher incidence.
EARLY: Most colorectal cancers are predictable by early diagnosis and screening. In fact, screening prevents more deaths due to early detection than breast or prostate cancer screening. Other research is looking at multiple genes involved in colon cancer and at improving screening techniques so more cancers can be detected early.
This includes looking for markers in blood, stool or urine that might provide an easier screening method to detect early signs of colon cancer. In general, when treatment starts at an early stage, more than 90 percent of patients survive at least 5 years after their diagnosis. However, only about 39% of colon cancer is found at an early stage.
SYMPTOMS: Symptoms tend to vary depending on the position or site of the cancer within the colon or rectum, though there may not be any symptoms at all. Symptoms of colorectal cancer can include intense abdominal pain, bloody stools or rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, or major changes in bowel habits (recurring constipation or diarrhea).
In fact, the most common symptom is no symptoms at all, says Emina Huang, MD. But once these symptoms begin to develop, it may be a sign of more advanced disease. Half of people diagnosed after symptoms develop will die. Finding colorectal cancer before symptoms develop dramatically improves the chance of survival.
CONCLUSION: There’s no question that the earlier colon cancer is found, the more likely the patient will be cured with surgery. Although the cause is still unknown, there is evidence that most of these cancers arise from polyps (benign intestinal tumors).
It has been well demonstrated that if colon cancer is caught in the earliest stages, the cure rate could be increased to 90%.
Some Things That You Didn’t Know About Smoking…
Now I know that all of you smokers out there know darned well that smoking isn’t good for you, so I’m not going to go on and on about the main problems that smoking can cause you, these things are already well documented, but I will say this; you can eat five portions of fruit and veg a day and exercise regularly, but healthy behaviour means little if you continue to smoke.
The message that ’smoking is bad for you’ is an old one, so not everyone gives it much attention anymore. Here, however, is a list of some of the facts and figures that are not so well known about the health risks of smoking:
Cigarettes contain more than 4000 chemical compounds of which at least 400 are toxic substances, how can you knowingly suck that into your face?? When you inhale, a cigarette burns at 700 degrees C at the tip and around 60 degrees C in the core. This heat breaks down the tobacco to produce various toxins. As a cigarette burns, the residues are concentrated towards the butt, so you get the full dose of toxins as you finish your cigarette.
These are the worst of the products:
1) Tar, a substance that causes cancer
2) The addictive substance is nicotine, which raises cholesterol too
3) The oxygen in your body is reduced by carbon monoxide
Smoking causes differing levels of damage depending on:
1) How many cigarettes you smoke
2) Whether the cigarette has a filter
3) In what way has the tobacco has been prepared
Although it is well known that smoking kills, what many smokers do not realise is that of the 300 people who die daily in the UK due to smoking, research has now shown that many of them are rather much younger than ever before.
The number of people under the age of 70 who die from smoking-related diseases exceeds the total figure for deaths caused by breast cancer, AIDS, traffic accidents and drug addiction.
The more cigarettes you smoke in a day, and the longer you’ve smoked, the higher your risk of lung cancer (OK, you knew that one but I thought I’d sneak it in anyway as it’s kind of important). Similarly, the risk rises the deeper you inhale and the earlier in life you started smoking. For ex-smokers, it takes approximately 15 years before the risk of lung cancer drops to the same as that of a non-smoker.
Also if you smoke, the risk of contracting mouth cancer is four times higher than for a non-smoker. Cancer can start in many areas of the mouth, with the most common being on or underneath the tongue, or on the lips. Many smokers are not aware of the increased risk of getting these cancers. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and is responsible for 80 per cent of cases.
It’s estimated that 94 per cent of 20-a-day smokers have some emphysema when the lungs are examined after death, while more than 90 per cent of non-smokers have little or none. COPD typically starts between the ages of 35 and 45 when lung function starts to decline anyway.
In smokers, the rate of decline in lung function can be three times the usual rate. As lung function declines, breathlessness begins. As the condition progresses, severe breathing problems can require hospital care. The final stage is death from slow and progressive breathlessness, a truly dreadful way to go.
Nicotine itself is known to cause narrowing of the arteries all over the body, but there is one particular problem that affects you guys out there. Men in their 30s and 40s, who smoke, are much more likely to have erectile dysfunction…now you’re listening aren’t you?! Erection cannot happen if the arteries that lead to the penis are not functioning properly, as the blood flow would be reduced, so stopping your performance before it even gets started.
This narrowing effect increases over time, so if you haven’t got problems now, things could change later (and I’m not apologising for scaring you on that one)…in actual fact, erection problems in smokers may be an early warning signal that cigarettes are already damaging other areas of the body – such as the blood vessels that supply the heart.
The smoke that you do not inhale and is released from your cigarette between puffs actually carries a higher risk than inhaled smoke. Maybe it’s time for a little thought for your non smoking partner, kids, friends, etc., (yeah, I’m trying the guilt trip tactic now).
Children who grow up in a home where one or both of their parents smoke have twice the risk of getting asthma and asthmatic bronchitis. They also have a higher risk of developing allergies. Infants under two years old are more prone to severe respiratory infections and cot death.
Passive smoking has also been widely documented and the link between that and lung cancer is pretty well established, although the link between passive smoking and heart disease is not conclusive. What you can be sure of though, is that as a non smoker or an ex smoker, you can look forward towards a happier and healthier old age.
Please do yourself and all those who love you (actually those who don’t but have to be near you when you are polluting the air as well) a huge favour. There are 100’s of stop smoking programmes out there to help you, so quit smoking NOW!
Top 10 Tips on How To Quit Smoking
As soon as you tell people you’re thinking of quitting smoking, it seems everybody knows someone who stopped recently. and that you should try the stop smoking program that they used. The problem is what works for one person won’t necessarily work for you.
The fact is that with so much information passed around that is confusing to people it is often much easier to just continue smoking and hoping for a simple solution. Actually taking the necessary steps to really quit smoking is not easy. It means coming to terms with the fact that stopping smoking really is best for you, as well as your health.
I’m sure most, if not all smokers are well aware that giving up smoking will lead to a dramatic improvement in their health, but figuring out how to quit smoking and beat the addiction is never that easy. There are distractions and temptations every where we go, so it’s hardly surprising the failure rate of quitting smoking is so high.
Tip #1 What is your real reason for wanting to quit smoking? It better be a good one, or when times get tough you’ll likely fall at the first hurdle. Having a powerful and compelling reason to quit will keep you focussed and motivated.
Tip #2 Look for small rewards that you can give yourself as you make progress. You are not likely to just quit cold turkey with no complications. Set up small rewards that will help you to want to make progress towards ultimately quitting. This can be a great motivation to keep you on target.
Tip #3 Plan out your quitting strategy. Decide how you want to try to quit and stick to it. Set a specific amount of time for your plan. If after a time, say six weeks you have not quit, work on a new plan. This will allow ample time to try each method, while still giving yourself flexibility to try something else.
Tip #4 Work to overcome your struggles. If you are smoking due to stressful things in your life, you need to deal with the stress before you can successfully quit. Regardless of the reason why you are smoking, it needs to be dealt with in able to quit for good.
Tip #5 Don’t give yourself any breaks. If you fail to achieve one of your goals, make sure you punish yourself accordingly. If you break the plan and sneak a cigarette, punish yourself by refraining from one of your favorite activities the next day. This drives a clear message to your subconscious that you mean business.
Tip #6 Seek out help from your friends and family. You need support as you are trying to quit, and this will help you to ensure that you are not alone in the entire process.
Tip #7 Do you work alone, or are you a team player? If you think a quit buddy would be a good idea, find someone you can give up together with. It doesn’t have to be a friend or family member – just search for a local quit smoking group. Having someone to support and be supported by can really help give you the extra motivation when you need it.
Tip #8 Don’t let yourself get tired. If you’re not getting enough sleep, it’s going to make your task of quitting smoking even harder. You no doubt already know what it’s like to be tired. Don’t make giving up smoking any harder than it already is.
Tip #9 Aim to quit for good. This might seem a bit strange, but if you are just planning to quit for a weekend you are not going to put much effort into the process. If you are planning to quit for good, a lot more time and effort is going to go into the process as well as your plan to quit.
Tip #10 You will undoubtedly have cravings and urges, so make a list of things you can do to take you mind of smoking when these situations arise. Forewarned is forearmed.
Breast Cancer – A very Scary Disease!
INTRODUCTION: Breast Cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is the leading cause of death among women between 40 and 55 years of age, the second overall cause of death among women (exceeded only by lung cancer) and is on the rise worldwide. Breast cancer is more easily treated and often curable if it is found early.
LUMPS: Most breast tumors (abnormal lumps of tissue) are benign (not cancerous). Using your fingertips, a lump may be detected within the breast. If a lump is found, the doctor may need to cut out a small piece of the lump (called a biopsy).
There are four kinds of biopsies: Excisional Biopsy (The removal of all of a lump or suspect tissue); Incisional Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue); Needle Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump, suspicious tissue, or fluid, using a thin needle); Core Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump or suspect tissue using a wide needle).
A group of rapidly dividing cells may form a mass of extra tissue. For example, fibrocystic change is a relatively benign condition in which women develop cysts (accumulated packets of fluid), fibrosis (formation of scar-like connective tissue), lumpiness, areas of thickening, tenderness, or breast pain.
RISKS: Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who have had cancer in one breast are at great risk of developing cancer in the other breast. These women also have a high risk of developing ovarian cancer, and may have an increased risk of developing various other cancers.
Age and health history can affect the risk of developing breast cancer. Each woman’s risk may be higher or lower, depending upon several factors, including family history, genetics, age of menstruation, and other factors that have not yet been identified. Breast feeding for several months also seems to reduce breast cancer risk.
TREATMENT: Treatment usually depends on the type of cancer and whether it has spread outside of the breast to the rest of the body. Treatment may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and endocrine/anti-hormone therapy. Treatment for male breast cancer is most often a mastectomy, which is surgery to remove the breast.
CONCLUSION: Previously a malady that mostly afflicted white, affluent women in the industrial hubs of North America and Western Europe, breast cancer is now everywhere. But in China, as in most other emerging economies, it is a relatively new concern, something that both patients and doctors are only haltingly learning how to treat.
The newest age-specific data in Denmark show that the incidence of breast cancer is maximal for a woman born between 1945 and 1950, and is on the decline for women born since that time. Greater than 90 out of 100 women whose cancer is found early will be cured. The leading cause of this form of cancer is said to be the use of anti-perspirants. The good news is that it is a highly curable disease when it is found and treated early.
Breast Cancer Hormone Treatment Drugs
The U.S. has the highest rate of breast cancer in the world. One woman out of eight will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in her life.
Lung cancer is the only cancer that kills more women in the United States. More than forty thousand women will die from breast cancer in the U.S. this year.
Every woman should perform monthly breast examinations on herself. Doing so makes her more familiar with her body and when changes are happening, she is much more apt to notice. Any lumps or hardening of the breast tissue should be noted along with a misshapen nipple or discharge. Soreness may accompany these changes but not every one feels pain in the earliest stages of cancer.
Every woman over the age of 40 should have regular mammograms done to be sure she does not have cancer. Early detection of breast cancer saves thousands of lives.
Not only does a woman have a better chance of surviving if her cancer is caught early, but her chances of keeping her breast(s) are much higher as well.
When breast cancer is diagnosed, a woman will be presented with several courses of treatment. Depending on the stage of her cancer, one or all of the treatments may be required to cure her. Treatments include: hormone therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and lymph node removal. Some women who are diagnosed early on will choose to have both of her breasts removed as a preventative against a reoccurrence of cancer.
Some of the side effects caused by breast cancer treatments may include fatigue, nausea, lymphedema, compromised immune system, pain and depression. Sometimes breast cancer does come back. Depression is caused by losing one or both breasts and/or a fear for one’s life even after the cancer has been declared “cured”.
Unbeknownst to many, men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer. The numbers are very small, but they are there. The treatments for them are much the same as they are for women.