Breast Cancer, to be informed that you have such a serious disease has to be a life altering point in a woman’s life. No one can ever prepare themselves to receive bad news of that caliber. Even with the advances in treatment, support systems, and recovery statistics, fear of the unknown is omnipresent. Fear of the side effects of radiation therapy and chemo therapy can cause the stress level to increase substantially. It’s a natural response to a serious situation

Extensive research has revealed the various ways people respond to their cancer has a direct affect on the course and intensity of the disease. Additional research has proven that intense negative emotions over time can impede the body’s ability to combat the disease.

One thing we must be aware of, however, is short term stress can actually be a good thing because it stimulates the fight or flight response. Oftentimes the jolt of a serious diagnosis spurs some people to take a proactive attitude towards the new and challenging situation. This positive attitude frequently gives them the energy to do whatever it takes to defeat this cancerous foe.

We should also be aware of the consequences of a negative attitude. If one becomes consumed with fear, negative thoughts and attitudes, the results will be an immune system that is less efficient and vulnerable to an attack by an aggressive cancer. Doctors who practice a holistic approach to breast cancer agree that the mind-body approach like meditation, yoga, and Qi Gong can relax the mind, reduce stress, and make it easier for the patient to cope with the magnitude of the issues at hand.

Chemicals produced from long term stress shorten the telomeres found on the tips of the chromosomes. Telomeres are the end-caps that prevent our DNA from unraveling, thus preserving its strength and preventing damage that can ultimately lead to chronic disease. Cells with shortened telomeres have a tendency to age prematurely. This premature aging process poses a potential risk for the development of new cancers. Stress, a pessimistic attitude, negative thoughts, and a negative attitude can affect your immune system by seriously damaging and often destroying critical immune cells. This, believe it or not, can result in the cancer intensifying. Some research strongly indicates a cancer risk increases in women who experience long periods of stress.

Stress reduction is of primary importance in the fight against cancer. A good way to fight depression, fear, anxiety, and other stressful states of mind is by practicing meditation on a regular basis. All it takes is a few minutes of your time to sit quietly, focusing on deep slow breathing to decrease the intensity of your stress related hormones. Numerous studies have shown that meditation can significantly stimulate immune function, reduce pain, and improve ones quality of life.

There are additional mental-physical methods of reducing stress and improving immune function. They are called moving meditation because they combine deep mental concentration with slow methodical movement. Examples of moving meditation are Tai Chi and Qi gong where the emphasis is placed on deep methodical breathing that helps correlate the connection with mind and body to facilitate a greater healing capacity.

Never underestimate the healing power of joy. It can be your best friend and cancers worst enemy. Doing something you really enjoy will significantly reduce your stress. Take a relaxing nature walk, hug a baby, laugh, interact with family and friends. All those types of activities will improve your mental state which will fortify your immune system.

We now know about the strong connection between our mental state and this insidious disease called cancer. There is also a strong connection between our eating habits and cancer. You have probably heard this in the past but it bares repeating. And that is to avoid grain fed red meat, fried foods, and sugar. These three items have been shown to increase your risk of contracting cancer. Sugar feeds inflammation and stimulates tumor growth. Try to cut back on the white stuff and make it a habit to read those food labels because that’s where much of your sugar comes from.

Raw organic fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, provide an abundance of antioxidants that assist in neutralizing the harmful effects of free radicals. Raw organic fruits and vegetables contain high concentrations of phytochemicals which are key players in the fight against cancer.

Broccoli, cauliflower, and kale are extremely beneficial because they contain ingredients that stimulate breast health by assisting in the balance of a woman’s hormones. One ingredient that is especially helpful is DIM which is produced naturally in the body when broccoli, kale and cauliflower are digested. Once DIM is exposed to the body’s interior, it helps to reduce inflammation, fortify the immune system, and ultimately fight the invading cancer cells.

The types of food we ingest plays an important role in our fight against breast cancer, any cancer actually. But lets not forget the role supplements play in this fight. In numerous documented cases, supplements have shown great success in the fight against breast cancer, even in aggressive cases.

Some of the key supplements in this fight are Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP), Beta-Glucan, Maitake Mushroom, Turmeric, Chinese Skullcap, Astragalus, Quercetin, and DIM. All of those have a variety of cancer fighting attributes. But there is one attribute they all have in common, and that is they all fortify your immune system.

We now know that the most successful method of fighting breast cancer is to combine a positive mental approach with a healthy organic diet and key supplements. I’m sure you are aware that there are no guarantees in life, but your chances of a successful outcome will increase greatly if you apply these methods.

While you can’t guarantee the prevention of breast cancer by exercising, eating healthily, and being aware of changes in your body, such actions that are normally attributed to a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Both women and men can get the disease, but women are 100 times more likely to get it than men. Also, it is the fifth leading cause of death by cancer in women worldwide. These breast cancer statistics are certainly sobering, but they help us put the problem into a perspective that translates to a dire need for women to take preventative steps throughout their lives, not just when they become candidates for mammography around age 40.

Self-examinations are key. At minimum, women should be performing self-breast examinations once a month and getting breast health exams from their physicians at least once annually. Monthly self-exams for pre-menopausal women should be done several days after menstruation to get the most accurate results. Menopausal women should perform their self-exams on the same day of each month.

Genetics and environmental factors certainly play a part in the development of the disease, but even if you have no incidence of it in your family, you shouldn’t rely on genetic luck alone to keep you in the clear. Living healthily is a major key to breast cancer prevention. We’ve already mentioned healthy eating, exercise, and self-breast exams, but there are also behaviors that put us at risk that are well within our abilities to control. Alcohol, for instance, should be used in moderation and use of tobacco should be limited, if not cut out altogether. Both of these behaviors have been linked to higher incidence of breast cancer in women, not to mention all the other health problems that can arise. Overweight and obese women are also at greater risk, especially if the weight was gained post-menopause.

There is no known breast cancer medication or “cure” as of yet, but a great deal of scientific energy is being channeled toward that end. Thankfully, there are numerous research foundations, societies and organizations large and small wholeheartedly dedicated to this fight. The battle for each of us as individuals, however, begins at home. Whether we have been diagnosed with the disease or not, we can all play a part in spreading awareness and valuable breast cancer info. Prevention and early detection are the best assurances we have. And sometimes, no matter what we do to reduce our risk, we still end up on the front lines among the 12.7% of women in the United States who will develop the disease at some point during their lives.

Next time you’re with a group of friends, in a mall or on a crowded street, remember this: 1 in 8 women born in the U.S. will get the disease. While some of us are more at risk than others, either due to genetics, environmental factors, lifestyle choices or a combination thereof, none of us are immune or invincible. This alone is good enough reason to become more aware and to spread that awareness to everyone you know.

The breast cancer survival rate for Stage 4 breast cancer is much lower than for breast cancer detected at earlier stages.

Stage 4 breast cancer, or advanced breast cancer, has metastasized to other tissue including bone tissue, lung tissue, or the liver. When breast cancer has overwhelmed the body’s natural defenses and spread this far by the time the cancer is first diagnosed, the 5-year survival rate drops to 16%-20% in the United States (American Cancer Society).

Up to 5% of white women in the U.S., and up to 9% of black women have advanced breast cancer spread to distant tissue at the time of first diagnosis (SEER). This difference is usually attributed to poverty and lack of health insurance.

In general, women who have advanced breast cancer at the time of diagnosis live approximately 18 months after diagnosis (median survival rate). Those who are still alive five years after their diagnosis of advanced breast cancer can live an additional 3.5 years (median survival rate) according to the American Cancer Society.

Since this is the most deadly category of breast cancer, it is important to work closely with all the health care providers. New treatments are being developed all the time, and second, or even third opinions may give the patient more information about newly discovered successful solutions.

Early detection is clearly the most important factor in breast cancer survival rates. Breast cancer detected at Stage 1 while it is still localized to the breast has a survival rate of 98%-100%, while metastasized breast cancer first detected at Stage 4 drops down to 16%-20%.

Early detection procedures must include monthly self-examinations done at the same time each month. From age 20-40, healthy women should have clinical breast exams performed by their health care providers every three years. After age 40, the breast exams should be annually and should include a mammogram or similar procedure.

North American white women have the highest rates of breast cancer in the world, but the 5-year survival rate for all stages (Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, and Stage 4) combined is 88% for the U.S. A recent study found European countries have lower 5-year breast cancer survival rates, with England at 77.8% and Ireland at 76.2% (Lancet Oncology).

The difference in these survival rates is usually attributed to life-saving early detection.