Gene Research is Shedding Light on Breast, Ovarian Cancer Risk

While there’s no crystal ball that can definitively predict if a woman will develop breast or ovarian cancer, genetic researchers have uncovered more clues that can help doctors and their patients better understand risks. In fact, mutations in two particular genes can serve as a marker to help identify those who may need to be monitored a bit more closely for these diseases.

The latest research into the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes was published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers used data from the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA to gain their insights. A total of 19,581 women with BRCA1 mutations and 11,900 women with BRCA2 mutations were included in the study. Researchers took into account a variety of different types of mutations found in these genes to gauge their connection between the development of breast and ovarian cancer.

The results are eye-opening. Among study participants with BRCA1 mutations:

• 9,052 women, or 46 percent, developed breast cancer

 • 2,317, or 12 percent, developed ovarian cancer

• 1,041, or 5 percent, developed both breast and ovarian cancer

Among women with BRCA2 mutations:

• 6,180, or 52 percent, developed breast cancer

 • 682, or 6 percent, developed ovarian cancer

• 272, or 2 percent, developed both breast and ovarian cancer

While more research is needed to better understand the connection between mutations in these two genes and the development of ovarian and breast cancers, current studies are showing that these two markers can help identify those at higher risk for development. Genetic testing isn’t quite a crystal ball that can predict the future with absolute certainty, but it can help women better understand their risks and assist with better monitoring that may help lead to earlier detection and intervention.

Women who are concerns about their risks of breast or ovarian cancer should speak directly with their healthcare provider for more information about risk assessments, including genetic testing.

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Why Are Lymph Nodes Removed in Breast Cancer Staging?

Women who have tested positive for breast cancer may find themselves wondering just why their surgeon is recommending the removal of lymph nodes for further testing. This can seem like an unnecessary and overly invasive extra step with a cancer that already tends to require rather invasive treatment.

Lymph node biopsies, however, are not performed lightly and they can, in fact, prove critical for helping doctors not only stage cancer, but better understand its spread if that has indeed occurred. Lymph node biopsies are simply a critical part of the diagnostic process for localized breast cancer. This procedure can also better help physicians determine treatment and management strategies while offering prognostic insights, as well.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer and the Union for International Cancer Control recently published guidelines for lymph node staging. In most cases, staging recommendations only involve sentinel node dissection, but the best management for patients who have detectable axillary disease remains under review.

Women who have clinically node-negative breast cancers will find a sentinel lymph node biopsy will generally be performed as the standard of care. For those with node-positive cancers, axillary dissection will also likely be performed. Sentinel nodes for breast cancer patients are generally located under the armpit. Once the sentinel nodes are found using a radioactive dye, a few of will be removed and examined to look for signs of cancer. This can help with staging while also enabling doctors to determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. If axillary lymph node dissection is required, most of the lymph nodes under the arm will be removed for study to help seek out signs of cancer’s spread.

While lymph node biopsies might seem like an added burden for a woman undergoing breast cancer treatment, they serve a vital purpose. This examination can help ensure doctors have a clearer picture of the cancer while arming them with the facts needed to help direct the battle against it. Visit here for more information.

End Your Lease on a Pleasant Note by Hiring Professional House Cleaners

When your lease ends and it is time to move out, you need to make sure that the house is clean and ready for its next occupants. Cleaning the house can make the landlord or the owner happy, too, allowing you to end your lease on a pleasant note.

Professional cleaning at the end of lease is important not only to ensure a clean home for the next occupants, but also to make sure that you can pack your things in an organized manner. Moving out can be exhausting and daunting, especially if you are alone. Aside from all the manual labour, you also have to spend money to buy cleaning supplies and equipment. Vacate and end of lease cleaning services can spare you from the trouble of buying cleaning equipment and cleaning the house all by yourself. You can leave everything to the cleaning specialists and they will get the job done on time.

Vacate cleaning services can remove all cobwebs and extensively dust your home. You can leave the thorough mopping and vacuuming of all floors to professionals—and you can rely on them to clean and disinfect the bathrooms and exhaust systems. Expert cleaners make sure that they do not miss a spot, so you can expect them to clean and polish mirrors, too. Moreover, they can clean the kitchen and its appliances, such as the oven, dishwasher, and burners.

Professional cleaners extend their cleaning expertise beyond the house. They can sweep the garage and wipe the skirting boards and window seals, door handles, doors, and switches. They can even deodorize and freshen the air of the house for free after they have completed the cleaning. These may seem like small tasks, but when done right, they can certainly improve the quality of the house, impressing your landlord and the next occupants.

Helping Your Loved One Face Cancer

Finding out that someone you love has cancer can be worse than hearing the diagnosis yourself. After all, while you won’t be waging the battle at the very front of the line, you will have to put a brave face on and provide strength and support when it’s needed the most. Chances are you’ll be doing so while also wrestling with your own fears, doubts and fatigue. With all that in mind here are some tips that can help you provide a strong shoulder to lean on while ensuring you, too, preserve the necessary energy to face what’s to come:

•    Don’t be afraid to ask questions – If it’s your intent to attend medical appointments with your loved one, feel free to ask questions on your mind and on your love one’s behalf. Keep in mind, he or she is likely dealing with a whole lot of doubt and may not be able to fully articulate every question on the mind. If you’ve been invited in to the appointments with the oncologist, it is OK to ask away and get clarifications about the specific disease and stage, treatment plan, potential side effects and more. If you happen to be the primary caregiver during treatment, having the answers will become critical as the procedures progress.

•    Be firm, but understanding – If your loved one is undergoing chemotherapy and other more rigorous forms of treatment, chances are he or she will not be acting in typical form. Be understanding about the side effects, exercise patience with anticipated fatigue, but be firm in ensuring that doctor’s orders are followed.

•    Be kind to yourself – Do not forget to take time out for yourself. Your loved one is not likely to need you around the clock and you, too, must recharge your batteries. If you find it helpful, lean on a friend to share concerns with or look into a support group that can help you process the life-changing situation you are facing.

While cancer patients must face down the disease head on, they are often not alone in the struggle. If you are caring for a loved one facing this disease, there are ways you can help them stay on course while ensuring you’re taken care of, as well.

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BMI and Cancer Risk

Increased body weight puts us at risk for developing a variety of health conditions. This is not news to anyone. Those who are overweight or obese are more at risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes, stroke, liver disease, and more. It’s also important, however, to understand that increased body mass index (BMI) - the ratio of your body’s height to weight - can also be an indicator of your potential risk for developing certain types of cancer.

In fact, the American Cancer Society estimates that about one in three cancer-related deaths in the United States are connected to body weight; making losing weight priority number one in taking control of our health. It has been shown that increased BMI is connected to cancers such as pancreatic, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, colon/rectum, and more.

It is believed that increased weight causes inflammation in the body thus causing an imbalance in our natural immune system and hormone levels. This imbalance, in turn, can affect cell division which can result in cancer.

There is no better time to get healthy than now. To lower your risk of a variety of health conditions and potentially lower your risk of developing cancer, it’s important to eat healthy, exercise, and stay in balance.

It is recommended to lower the number of calories that we ingest on a daily basis by eating smaller portions and reducing our intake of fried foods and those foods that are high in fat and calories. Instead, we should be increasing our intake of whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. There is a seemingly ongoing discussion about the potential connection between sugar and cancer but regardless it’s recommended that we limit our intake of sugar as much as possible.

There will always be a good reason to lose weight and live our life at a healthy BMI. Lowering our risk of developing cancer is another fantastic reason to let go of the excuses and get healthy.

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Talking to Your Doctors

Treatment for cancer – no matter how short or relatively comfortable – can be terrifying. There is so much up in the air and so many considerations including choosing the appropriate treatment that fits with the diagnosis and interferes as little as possible with our daily activities. It’s difficult enough to wrap our own heads around what is completely a surreal experience but then there is making sure that our family and friends – essentially our support team – is comfortable with all the information. You can easily find yourself more worried about disseminating information to the appropriate people – and managing bills and paperwork - than getting through treatments and before you know it you’re overwhelmed with the “admin” of cancer care.

This is the time you draw the line in the sand and start asking for help; admittedly a very tough thing for people who are often accustomed to handling everything on their own. But now is the time to reach out to the people who love you and whom you love – and would do the absolute same for in a heartbeat – and elicit their assistance. Here’s what you need:

*Someone to manage the paperwork. No, you don’t need anything else on your plate and you certainly don’t need any more stress. Pushing through the inevitable paperwork associated with cancer treatment should not be your job right now. Your team’s practice will have someone in charge of billing that should happily walk you through what needs to be done and after that you assign someone to manage it – preferably a spouse – who can take that burden off of you.

*Someone to go with you to doctors appointments. A ride is nice but having someone by your side during appointments is also about having another set of ears to listen to what the doctor has to say. This person should be detail oriented, willing to speak up with questions, and will take notes and remind you of important items.

*Emotional support. More than anything you need someone who is a soft place for you - that will accompany you to procedures, sit with you after treatment, and provide you the emotional support you definitely need at this time. This person should be a safe place for you where you can let down and be vulnerable and someone who you will let take care of you both physically and emotionally following treatment. Visit here for more information.

The Best Cancer Doctor for YOU

Those looking for appropriate cancer care can easily find they are inundated with choices. There are many amazing doctors who have devoted their professional lives to treating cancer. But that doesn’t mean that every doctor is a good fit for every cancer patient. This is a professional - and medical - relationship to be sure. But it is also a very personal relationship. This is a person with whom you will be spending a great deal of time and in whom you have entrusted your health and even your life. It is important that there is a comfortable and mutually respectful personal connection. So how do you find the best cancer doctor for you?

Create a short list. Of course you’ll need to first narrow down a list of doctors that meet your medical and logistical needs. That means finding doctors - preferably close to where you live - that specialize in your type of cancer, who have excellent reputations, experience, and superb standing within the medical community.

Interview. Once you have your list narrowed down to those doctors who meet your medical criteria, take the time to go and speak with each. Ultimately, it may come down to how comfortable you feel with each of them. This is a relationship like any other and your personalities must align.

Determine what’s important for you. This is your journey and every person’s experience with cancer treatment is different. The style of care that works for one person may not necessarily work for another. Do you need someone who spends a lot of time with you answering questions? Do you prefer someone who has a softer bed side manner or someone who is more cut to the chase? Your style must ultimately dictate the doctor you choose.

Certainly no one wants to be in a position to be searching for a cancer doctor. But unfortunately there are circumstances in our life where we have to be an advocate for ourselves, whether we want to be or not. Taking the time to find the best fit for your cancer care is well worth the time and effort and will ultimately make this a much more successful relationship with a mutual focus on your health. Visit here for more information.