DCIS treatment readiness

January 17, 2018

DCIS treatment readiness: Preparing for your appointment

DCIS treatment readiness is very essential. For timely treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients must seek timely solutions

Like with all other cancer, DCIS treatment readiness is very essential. For timely treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients need to schedule an appointment with their specialist immediately they notice a lump or any other unusual changes on the breast. Speaking to doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center, it is important that if you’re seeking for second opinion, you must submit to your new doctor all the tests results of all the previous tests done. Submit all the original diagnostic mammogram images and biopsy results to your new appointment. These should include your mammography images, ultrasound CD and glass slides from your breast biopsy. As you make that move, the following pieces of information will prepare you for your new appointment including what to expect from your doctor:

DCIS treatment readiness: What you can do

Document your medical history, be honest and detailed stating any benign breast conditions you may have been diagnosed with and any radiotherapy you may have received before.

Family history of breast cancer, especially among the nuclear and very close members of the family.

List of both current and past medications. This should include all prescription, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies. Never forget to mention hormonal replacement therapy where applicable.

Be in company of a family member or friend during the appointment. The pain that come with cancer diagnosis can make you lose focus. A second ear is important for accuracy of information.

Write down questions to ask your doctor. In your state of mind it may be easy to forget what you wanted to ask. Listing prior questions is going to help you benefit fully. The following are some questions you may want to ask your doctor about DCIS:

What treatment approach is appropriate?
What tests would reveal the type and stage of cancer?
Do I need to change my lifestyle to help reduce my risk of a DCIS recurrence?
Are there any side effects or complications during treatment?
Is seeing a genetic counselor necessary?
How effective is this treatment approach effective in women with a similar diagnosis?
How will recurrence of DCIS be handled?
For how long will I need follow-up visits upon completing treatment?
Is a second opinion necessary?
Do I have breast cancer?

These are just guide lines. You can use to make your own. Always remember to ask without holding. It is very important for you and the doctor.

DCIS treatment readiness: What to expect from your doctor

Besides your own question, the doctor will also have some questions for you. Such will be to help him/her give an informed professional opinion. It is likely that your doctor will ask some of the following:

What is your daily diet like, do you take alcohol?
Have you in the past or your close female relatives been tested for the BRCA gene mutations?
Have you had other breast biopsies or operations?
Have you gone through menopause?
Have you ever had radiation therapy?
Besides this, have you been diagnosed with any breast conditions?
Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions?
In your family history, has anyone had breast cancer?
Are you using or have you used any medications or supplements to relieve the symptoms of menopause?
How active are you physically?

Try your best to give honest responses and feel free to explain all you can. This is not a very good time for anyone but as experts at AWAREmed health center, we will always be there for you to help you go through this. You can call us for any further professional advice.

DCIS treatment readiness: Preparing for your appointment

Angiosarcoma diagnosis

January 16, 2018

Angiosarcoma diagnosis: Treatment

Angiosarcoma diagnosis. The best treatment procedure for angiosarcoma cancer will depend on the cancer’s location, size

Tests and procedures used in angiosarcoma diagnosis include physical examination to understand the patient’s condition, carrying out a biopsy primarily to determine any characteristics of cancer cells to help in the treatment. Imaging testing can also be done to give the extent of the cancer level or stage. This may include MRI, CT and position emission tomography (PET).

Treatment

The best treatment procedure for angiosarcoma cancer will depend on the cancer’s location, size and whether it has spread to other areas of the body. Treatment options may include:

Surgery – surgery is used to remove the angiosarcoma completely. However, where the cancer has spread so much to other areas of the body, surgery may not be appropriate.

Radiation therapy – this uses high-energy beams like X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. It can sometimes be applied after surgery to kill any remnants of cancer cells.

Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs or chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be an option if your angiosarcoma has spread to other areas of your body. In certain situations, it may be combined with radiation therapy if you can’t undergo surgery.

Angiosarcoma diagnosis: Preparing for your appointment

Like is the case with any other health problem, when you notice some disturbing signs and symptoms, you will need to seek for medical attention immediately. You physician may refer you to the right specialist like a dermatologist or oncologist. And as you visit your doctor’s office, doctor Akoury advices that you need to have some documentations to help you get all the information you need. You could list down some questions of great concerns to you. And for this problem, the following questions could be relevant:

With my other health problems. How will I handle them together?
Will I be able to work and do my usual activities during angiosarcoma treatment?
What treatments is recommended?
What are the benefits and risks of each treatment option?
Should I see a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment?
Is seek a second opinion necessary?
How advanced is my angiosarcoma?
Has my angiosarcoma spread to other organs?
Can take some time before making a decision on treatment option?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?

It is important that you get all the answers. And remember, very question you have is relevant so don’t hold any, ask even when you think it is not necessary.

Angiosarcoma diagnosis: Expectations from your doctor

Finally with such concerns, your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions too. Be ready to answer them appropriately and honestly because they will help your doctor to give his/her professional opinion about your disease appropriately. So you doctor may ask:

When did you start experiencing these symptoms?
Are you on any medications currently whether vitamins or supplements?
How severe are your symptoms?
Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions before?
Is there anything that make your symptoms to worse or improve?
Do you experience these symptoms occasionally or continuously?

Angiosarcoma diagnosis: Treatment

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Breast cancer symptoms

January 16, 2018

Breast cancer symptoms and signs: What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer symptoms. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor which is a collection of cancer cells arising from the cells of the breast.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor which is a collection of cancer cells arising from the cells of the breast. Although breast cancer mainly take place in women, it can also affect men. But for the purpose of this article, we are going to focus on women breast cancer beginning with the symptoms. Identifying breast cancer symptoms is not always immediate since breast cancer rarely show indications of signs and symptoms. It is possible for women have every cancers without the production of masses that can be felt or yields recognized changes in the breast. However, when symptoms appears, it will be a lump or mass in the breast which is always the most common symptom. Nonetheless, and according to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, besides the lump, there are other possible symptoms including:

Swelling of part of the breast.
Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
Nipple discharge or redness,
Changes in the skin such as puckering or dimpling,
Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
A newly reversed nipple
A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue

The use of screening mammography becomes necessary to detect any formation of cancer in good time. The difficulty in reorganizing early symptoms and signs of breast cancer is not limited to small breast cancer but extends to even the larger breast cancers. And as has been stated, when they do appear, the most common symptom is a lump or mass in the breast or underarm area says doctor Akoury. And though not so common, we have some types of cancers known as inflammatory breast cancers that are likely to produce redness and warmth of the affected breast. Breast pain is also not a typical symptom, but breast or nipple pain may occur in certain cases.

Breast cancer symptoms and signs: Breast cancer causes and risk factors

In understanding this point, it is true that we have several risk factors that can increase the chances of developing breast cancer, it is important to appreciate that, the exact reason for cancer development is not known scientifically. However, factors like family history of breast cancer and the presence of certain inherited genes like BRCA1, BRCA2 can increase the risk for developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer symptoms and signs: Available statistics on male breast cancer

Breast cancer is rare in men. Like for instance, only an approximately of 2,400 new cases are diagnosed per year in the U.S. which typically has a significantly worse outcome. This is partially related to the often late diagnosis of male breast cancer, when the cancer has already spread. Symptoms are similar to the symptoms in women, with the most common symptom being a lump or change in skin of the breast tissue or nipple discharge. Although it can occur at any age, male breast cancer usually occurs in men over 60 years of age. And because we care about your health, AWAREmed health center doors are open for you at any time for further consultation with our experts.

Breast cancer symptoms and signs: What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer types

January 16, 2018

Breast cancer types: Where does breast cancer come from?

Breast cancer types. In fact experts reports that breast cancer occurs when some breast cells grows abnormally

We have several breast cancer types and each of them is a threat to life. There are many types of breast cancer. Some are more common than others, and there are also combinations of cancers. We will look at several types of breast cancer but for now let’s look at where the disease come from. Experts have established that breast cancer occurs when some breast cells grows abnormally. Such cells multiplies very fast than healthy ones and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Speaking to doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, she adds that, the growth of such cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). This can also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) as well as in other cells or tissue within the breast.

Breast cancer types: Inherited breast cancer

It is estimated that up to 10% of breast cancer linked to gene mutations passed through generations of a family. The inherited mutated genes like gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), both of which significantly increase the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. Therefore, if you have breast cancer history in your family, it may be necessary that you take a blood test to help identify specific mutations in BRCA or other genes that are being passed through your family. The following are some common types of cancer:

Ductal carcinoma in situ: The most common type of noninvasive breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This type of cancer has not spread and therefore usually has a very high cure rate.

Invasive ductal carcinoma: This cancer starts in a duct of the breast and grows into the surrounding tissue. It is the most common form of breast cancer at about 80%.

Invasive lobular carcinoma: This starts in the glands of the breast that produce milk. Approximately 10% of invasive breast cancers are invasive lobular carcinoma. The rest of breast cancers aren’t common and may include:

Mucinous carcinoma are formed from mucus-producing cancer cells. Mixed tumors contain a variety of cell types.
Medullary carcinoma is an infiltrating breast cancer that presents with well-defined boundaries between the cancerous and noncancerous tissue.
Inflammatory breast cancer: This cancer makes the skin of the breast appear red and feel warm (giving it the appearance of an infection). These changes are due to the blockage of lymph vessels by cancer cells.
Triple-negative breast cancers: This is a subtype of invasive cancer with cells that lack estrogen and progesterone receptors and have no excess of a specific protein (HER2) on their surface. It tends to appear more often in younger women and African-American women.
Paget’s disease of the nipple: This cancer starts in the ducts of the breast and spreads to the nipple and the area surrounding the nipple. It usually presents with crusting and redness around the nipple.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma: These cancers have both glandular and cystic features. They tend not to spread aggressively and have a good prognosis.
Lobular carcinoma in situ: This is not a cancer but an area of abnormal cell growth that can lead to invasive breast cancer later in life.

Breast cancer types: Where does breast cancer come from?

Breast cancer truths

January 16, 2018

Breast cancer truths: Established facts about breast cancer

Breast cancer truths. Breast cancer is that type of cancer whose formation begins in the cells of the breasts

As the name depicts, breast cancer is that type of cancer whose formation begins in the cells of the breasts. Professionally, experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center among other experts has established that one of the breast cancer truths is that, it is second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women after skin cancer. This fact does not mean that men are free from it. Men too can contract breast cancer, it’s only that women are more vulnerable.

Because of aggressive awareness campaigns and support for breast cancer, a lot of ground has been covered in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. It’s is rewarding to note that, because of such efforts, breast cancer survival rates have increased. The number of deaths resulting from breast cancer has been on a downward trend because of various factors including early detection, better personalized treatment approach and a better understanding of the disease.

Breast cancer truths: So how best do you understand breast cancer?

There are a lot more to know about this disease. These are essential facts which are proven scientifically in the United State and across the globe, like for instance:

We have several types of breast cancer.
For every eight women, one will develop cancer in the United States.
Different types of breast cancer are uniquely different in the way they spread (metastasize) to other body parts and organs.
Besides the risks factors, the distinct causes of breast cancer are not known.
Among other types of cancer, breast cancer is the most common among American women and beyond.
Breast cancer symptoms and signs may include
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or armpit,
- Orange-peel texture or dimpling of the breast’s skin,
- Inverted nipple,
- Breast pain or sore nipple,
- Bloody nipple discharge,
- A lump in the breast or armpit,
- A change in the size or shape of the breast or nipple.
The diagnosis is done during a physical exam through self-examination of the breasts, mammography, ultrasound testing, and biopsy.
Treatment of breast cancer depends on the type of cancer and its stage and may involve surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.

Breast cancer truths: America Cancer Society

According to the American Cancer society the following facts have been established scientifically.

Over 250,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed each year in women in 2017 and over 2,400 in men;
Approximately 40,000 women and 440 men died of breast cancer in 2015;
There are over 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States;
Although breast cancer awareness and survival has increased significantly in the United States for all races, several studies have cited a significantly worse survival rate for African-American women compared to white women; and
Guidelines for mammography differ depending on the organization making recommendations. Currently, the American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms for women aged 45-54 for women at average risk for breast cancer and mammograms every two years for women aged 55 and older, who should also have the option to continue yearly screening.

Finally, looking at these facts about breast cancer, it’s evident that we have a big problem to address. Therefore, if you’re reading this article right now and you or your loved one is suffering from this disease, you can be of help by scheduling an appointment with experts at AWAREmed health center now for a one on one discussion with doctor Akoury.

Category Archives: Chemotherapy