Monday, October 30, 2006

Top 2 Ways To Look For Breast Augmentation Info Online


Be honest- are you one of those people who wants all the work done for them? I am too. Given the shear volume of content that is produced every single day, looking for news and information is getting more difficult. Well, don't worry. Because, we've done a lot of the basic research on breast augmentation for you. And the best part is, we've boiled it down to the 2 best ways to go about looking for the information that you need. Also, we are not medical professionals of any sort, so you always want to get an experts medical opinion before proceeding with any procedure.

1)Search multiple search engines for the same thing. All search engines are not created equal. Google seems to be excellent for scientific based searches, while Yahoo seems to be much better for popular media searches. (Note: there is no concrete evidence on this issue, it's mainly just what we've noticed.) So Googling 'breast augmentation' or 'breast enhancement' might yield some amazing search results in Google due to the shear volume of scientific content that seems to be indexed in Google.


2)Make sure you look for the right stuff. Try searching for 'breast augmentation problems,' 'breast augmentation faq,' and even 'breast augmentation reviews.' Repeat this substituting 'augmentation' for 'enhancement.' These searches should yield you an impressive amount of information that you might not normally find than by just searching for 'breast enhancement.' Also try searching with quotes- you'll get a whole different set of results. You aren't the first person who's thought of getting breast enhancement, read up on what other people are saying about it and what their experiences have been. Find out all about it from other people, not just the people offering this service.

While this bits of info are clearly useful, they are really just the tip of the iceberg. Learn all about breast augmentation before making any major decisions, there are a lot of things that should go into your decision making process.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Breast Augmentation From Another Side

Whenever I brought up the subject of breast augmentation, I could hear my partner begin to grumble. She'd always been against it, opposed to it and happy to say no to it. Her point was that cosmetic surgery should be used for reconstruction, except in extreme cases. She couldn't see the point of trying to make one's self appear more attractive, primarily according to what OTHER people thought was attractive. As far as she was concerned, it was far more important that the individual themselves be concerned about their body image.On the other hand, this was coming from someone who managed to attract the occasional stare of both genders whenever we went out. Her body was something that made her overly self-conscious as a teenager, due to its beauty in shape and form. However, by the time she left high school and started working, she soon got over it. And besides, she could deal with anyone's ogle if it ever got to be harassing.I, on the other hand, didn't have the serious self-image issues she had as a teenager. And in some ways, that was the problem.

I was always looking at ways of improving my appearance, like make up, clothes, new hairstyles, etc. It was like an unending metamorphosis. Unfortunately, the caterpillar kept coming out of the chrysalis instead of the butterfly, or so I thought. Then one day, after having done some research, I began shopping around for a doctor and/or clinic that could perform breast augmentation surgery. The sane ones basically said, that I wasn't ready. (The other ones just wanted my money.) I simply couldn't understand nor fathom why they said that to me. It sounded ridiculous. I was generally physically healthy, had the resources, and had a reliable partner that could help me as I recovered.


It was then that I realized that I needed to deal with WHY I really wanted to get this done in the first place.It had to be for me. It wasn't for anyone else, not even my partner. If she left me because of it, so be it. I wanted to do this for myself. Ultimately, this is what I told her. She was shocked at first. A few hours - and tears - later, she finally understood WHY I wanted to do this.So it was after getting across this initial hurdle, that I finally went back and arranged another consultation. After that, it was to arrange the appointment for the procedure

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Breast Reconstruction Decision

Breast Reconstruction Decision

With today's advanced surgical procedures, most women who undergo surgery for breast cancer are candidates for breast reconstruction. There are various types of reconstruction, and they are available to women who have had a mastectomy, partial mastectomy, or lumpectomy.
The decision of whether to have breast reconstruction arises at a very emotional time usually at the same time a woman learns she has breast cancer and needs surgery. It is a time when many questions come up about reconstruction, the most common of which are answered here briefly:
Is age a factor? As long as a woman is in good general health and chooses a procedure that is compatible with her physical condition, age is usually not a factor. Breast reconstruction is frequently done for women in their 70s.


Who should not have breast reconstruction? Women who are in poor general health, who have psychological problems that would be exacerbated by the surgery, or who have severe diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, a recent stroke nine-art attack, or severe lung disease usually should not have breast reconstruction.


Do I have to make a decision about having reconstruction before I have the mastectomy? No, but the best time to think about breast reconstruction and to consult with a reconstruction surgeon is before you have your mastectomy. Depending on the type of mastectomy you have, you may be able to undergo immediate reconstruction while you're still on the operating table. There are advantages and disadvantages to having immediate reconstruction (see below). Not all mastectomies lend themselves to this approach, however, which means it is important for you to understand all your options prior to mastectomy. Then if you choose to delay reconstruction, you at least were given the opportunity to make an informed decision.


Are there any health conditions that could have a negative effect on reconstruction? Women who smoke are more susceptible to postoperative infections and slow healing, so if you smoke it is best to quit before surgery. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of pneumonia, blood clots in the legs, and complications related to anesthesia. The results of both types of reconstruction (implant and flap, both described below) are frequently unsatisfactory in obese women.


How many operations are involved in breast reconstruction? Most breast reconstructions can be completed in two operations. The majority of the work is done during the first procedure, and the second usually involves reconstructing the nipple and areola, improving symmetry of the breasts, and making any minor adjustments.


Does breast reconstruction cause cancer? There is no evidence that breast reconstruction causes or contributes to the development of cancer.


How will my breast reconstruction look in 5 to 10 years? The long-term results of breast reconstruction are different for each woman and depend on the type of procedure you have, your weight, and whether you experience intervening infections or other breast problems.


Immediate Reconstruction: Yes or No?
Once you know you must undergo mastectomy, it is usually difficult to also have to think about reconstruction. This is the time to surround yourself with supportive individuals, be they family, friends, health care providers, or breast cancer support group members. It is also the time to educate yourself about reconstruction. This is a way to take charge of your health, to have some control over the direction your life is taking.


When it comes to the question of whether you are a candidate for immediate or delayed reconstruction, ask your breast and reconstruction surgeons to explain why they are recommending one or the other. The primary factor that determines the best approach is whether the cancer has affected the lymph nodes and to what extent. Chemotherapy usually is not started until 2 or 3 weeks after mastectomy to allow for healing. If your surgeons believe you must begin chemotherapy immediately to get the best possible outcome, they may recommend delaying reconstruction.


Combining mastectomy and reconstruction adds days and occasionally weeks to the healing period, which would significantly delay chemotherapy and possibly have a negative impact on your prognosis. If your surgeons say immediate reconstruction is an option for you, you must decide if it's best for you.


To help you make a decision, it may help to look at the pros and cons (outlined below) and to discuss your concerns with those close to you. The best candidates for immediate reconstruction are women with early breast cancer who are in good general health, women with small breasts, and those who need both breasts reconstructed. However, even if you are ready physically, you may not be mentally or emotionally prepared. In that case, it may be better to delay reconstruction. Advantages and Disadvantages of Immediate Reconstruction

PROS
· Avoiding an additional surgical procedure.
· One less procedure means less chance of complications.
· Less recovery time needed.
· Costs less money
· Less time to dwell on the cancer.
· Less negative impact on body image.
· Faster opportunity to get on with your life.

CONS
· Less time to gather information to make an informed decision. · Surgical procedure is longer, which increases the chances of complications.
· Possible dissatisfaction with the results
· May delay mourning period for the missing breast

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Does Olive Oil Really Help Lower The Risk Of Breast Cancer?


From past scientific reports the Mediterranean dietary intake has been proven to offer protection against many diseases. In US studies researchers have found out in what way the Mediterranean food diet that contained a high portion of olive oil can protect against breast cancer. A component of the olive oil could even find itself in the close future used in cancer therapy.

Investigations conducted on the population of south Europe pointed out that a Mediterranean diet with a lot of fish, fruit, vegetables and olive oil protects against a row of diseases, among them are some kinds of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

In particular an illness-preventing effect is associated with olive oil and the unique oleic acid contained within it. The researchers around Javier Menendez before that Northwestern University Fine Mountain School OF Medicine in Chicago examined it at a cellular level to see the effects of the cell in contact with the acid.

Gene activity braked

The tests showed that oleic acid decreases the activity of a gene, that with the emergence by breast cancer in connection with the gene- Her-2/neu-Gen. Within approximately 20 per cent of all breast cancer patients this gene is overactive.

It comes on with an aggressive tumor growth and female patients connected with it have a smaller chance of survival. In the cell tests oleic acid lowered the genes activity by 46 per cent, reports the scientists in the "Annals OF Oncology".

Beyond that oleic acid increased the effectiveness of the cancer means "Herceptin". This affected likewise the Her-2/neu-Gen and can extend the life expectancy of the female patients.
Possibly oleic acid can emerge as one of the solutions to become another resistance for use by medicine to help prevent or at last stop, this aggressive cancer reports Menendez.

Because it affects a protein, which plays a role in the emergence of Herceptin. It still remains to be seen whether the results of the cell attempts can be transferred to humans, their investigation however supports the epidemiological studies, which showed a Mediterranean Diet offered a protecting effect.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Breast Cancer: What Women Should Know

From relative obscurity, breast cancer has become one of the leading causes of deaths among women in the world. In 2001, about 200,000 cases of breast cancer have been reported in the United States, making it the second leading cause of cancer death in the US. It is, in fact, the most common malignancy problem that is affecting women in North America and Europe today.

But what is breast cancer and how do people get it?

Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors in the breast grow and start to affect other tissues in the body. There is still no clear indications how tumors are created but what is often observed is that cancerous cells usually comes from ducts or glands.

Although women’s health organizations advise women to massage the breast daily and to feel for any lumps, it may a long time before a cancerous cell get big enough for us to feel it. By that time, it may already be too late. Doctors make use of mammograms for their diagnosis.

Breast at risk

All women are actually at risk, with the risk increasing with the presence of some risk factors that are already part of the natural cycle, for example, aging. Family history of breast cancer can also significantly affect the prognosis as heredity has been found to play a role. Women who got their periods before they were 12 years old and those who never had or had children after 30 years old are also more likely to develop breast cancer.

There are also risk factors that medical science can help alter such as hormonal problems through replacement therapies. Women are also advised to decrease their consumption of alcoholic drinks, exercise every day and decrease the use of birth control pills. Breastfeeding has been found to decrease the risk of breast cancer development.

Although there are some factors that women can avoid to prevent breast cancer from developing, cause and effect relationships between these factors and breast cancer is still debatable. For women who are already at high risk, doctors often recommend a drug called Tamoxifen, which is known to decrease the risk by as much 50 percent when taken in five years. Still, like all medications, Tamoxifen has side effects such as hot flushes, vaginal discharges and sometimes even blood clots. Taking the drug can also lead to pulmonary emobolus, stroke and uterine cancer, although these are all isolated cases.

Another avenue that women can go to is Vitamin A, which some studies show to be effective in decreasing the risk. Still, research is still in the initial stages and nothing has been proven yet. Other things that are being linked to the breast cancer fight are phytoestrogens, which can be found in soya, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C.

But until something concrete is found in research, the only thing that women can do to ensure that they are safe from breast cancer is early detection. This can be done through daily self-examinations as well as annual check ups and mammogram tests. It is also important that women know the beginnings of breast cancer. Here are some of the signs that they should watch out for.

Lumps in the breast and in the underarms
Scaling of the skin of the breast and of the nipple
Redness in the skin of the breast and of the nipple
Changes in the size of their breasts
Discharges from the nipple

If these signs are observed, it is best to consult a specialist so that you can know whether you have breast cancer or not.