Treating Breast Cancer

The fight against breast cancer has had some major improvements over the years, thanks to the improvements of early detection and advances in treatments. Many tumors are being caught at an early stage; the rise in the incidence of this disease has slowed and the death rate has dropped. But this type of cancer is still the most prevalent cancer in women and is likely to take their lives. Breast cancer looms large in our health concerns because many have experienced it personally or most know a particular relative or friend who has had it. One particular unsettling is the randomness of this cancer, so far medical science has still no answers on why one woman develops breast cancer and another doesn’t. However, family history and certain gene mutation can substantially increase the risk.

Researchers have found the associations between nutritional factors and cancer risk, although not all associations have resulted in risk reducing strategies. Certain test for foods that seem promising at first like eating soy or taking supplements like vitamin e, vitamin c or selenium. Researchers have found little support for the common assumptions that dietary fat increases the cancer risk and the evidence that fruits and vegetables are protective is weaker than once thought. But many studies have shown that weight gain is a risk factor for breast cancer after menopause. Women who gained 20 to 30 pounds during their adulthood were 40 percent more likely to develop cancer. So slimming down can help prevent the disease.