Cancer Risk Factors

If polyps are found during the colonoscopy, the specialist would have removed and sent it for microscopic examination - biopsy.

If the biopsy shows that the polyp

1. is cancerous- you may need surgery to remove the portion of the colon where the polyp was removed.
2. is precancerous - (all variety of adenomas) - you will need a periodic colonoscopy at a a regular interval depending on the number of other risk factors you may have -such as family history of colon cancer, number & size polyps you had & how "bad" the precancerous polyps were on biopsies.
3. Hyperplastic- usually of no concern. However, this subject has become a debate point lately & some scientists do believe that these polyps too may be a sign that you are at a risk of developing precancerous polyps later on.

There are other rare types too but that subject is beyond the discussion in this forum.

No - many women have "lumpy" breasts which is usually related to the combination of glandular tissue and fatty tissue in the breast, but lumpy is not the same as dense. Breast density refers to the appearance of the breast tissue on imaging, usually mammogram. Dense breast tissue appears more "white" on mammogram, which makes it harder to detect cancer, also usually "white" on mammogram. Younger women naturally have dense breast tissue, but some women still have dense breast tissue even as they get older. Hormone therapy will maintain the dense breast appearance on mammogram.

Women with dense breast tissue on imaging are at higher risk for the future development of breast cancer, and as mammograms may miss more cancers in women with dense breast tissue, additional imaging such as ultrasound or MRI may be helpful.

Breast cysts are completely benign, in other words, not related to breast cancer. Think of them like little "water balloons" in the breast - they develop due to enlargement of an area of the milk duct that fills with fluid. They will often enlarge and may become painful right before the menstrual period, and then often decrease without any intervention. An ultrasound can be used to ensure that a lump is indeed a fluid filled cyst and not a solid tumor. "Simple" cysts, which have a thin wall and no solid growth associated with them can safely be observed, but sometimes fine needle aspiration is recommended if a cyst is large or painful.

Dysplastic nevi are generally larger than ordinary moles and have irregular and indistinct borders. They have 'funny looking' or 'atypical' melanocytes (the benign cells that make pigment that protects against the sun and are the cells that can turn into melanomas). They may be a precursor lesion to a melanoma although most dermatopathologists use the more appropriate name for precursor lesions - atypical melanocytic hyperplasia with dysplasia (mild, moderate or severe).

Dysplastic nevi don't 'turn into' an invasive melanoma but are a marker for a patient that is a risk of developing a melanoma in the future. These patients are usually seen twice a year by their dermatologist.

Inflammation is heat or fire in the body. This includes a distinction between acute and chronic inflammation. Think about when you've had a cut or wound. Your skin is red, flamed, and perhaps uncomfortable. That's acute inflammation. But in chronic inflammation, the "flare" does not stop. It continues on and on for months and years where the body acts with immune and other processes to heal a "wound" and yet there isn't one. The chronic inflammation then begins to support health conditions such as cancer.

To reduce inflammation, eat organic vegetables, some fruits, spices such as turmeric, and consider specific supplements. Inflammation levels can also be tested. The most common blood test is called c-reactive protein (CRP) high sensitivity available through mainstream blood laboratories. A healthy level is below 1.0 mg/L.

You can learn more about inflammation and cancer, including a more in depth explanation about inflammation and how to reduce it, in an article on the EmbodiWorks integrative cancer care resources website at http://www.embodiworks.org/cancertreatments/bodymindspirit/inflammation/.

Elevated levels of markers of chronic inflammation are associated with an increased risk of cancer (for more details: http://talkabouthealth.com/what-is-meant-by-the-term-inflammation-in-the-context-of-cancer-and-integrative-medicine). There is a difference between association and causation. While chronic inflammation and many diseases occur together, the exact mechanisms as to how inflammation might cause illness have not yet been worked out—but what an exciting area of research!

Hello there! I'm sure my surgical team did some tests, and I was told that I would get a "copy" of the study I took part in when it was done, but I never received it. I would have like to know what it said. I don't even know now where or if I could obtain it. It was at University of Alabama Birmingham. Things have changed alot medically, but I still would like to know. They even sent someone out to my house to interview me. I was counting on the information!

Since my uterus was not fully developed in the womb (the mouth, or opening), while I was in-utero, I have wondered if my mother had gene abnormalties, because she had cervical cancer at 36 (I was 12). Her's was caught in a Pap Test early and treated. She did well. But that was so long ago. If both occurrences happened today, I believe at least some of the outcomes would have been different, in a positive way.

My mother did smoke, and drink alcohol occasionally while pregnant. And while there are differences in opinion about this, some medical, some take offense to the suggestion; I believe it has to have a negative effect just by common sense. Especially with two babies at the same time are needing nutrition from the mother.

p.s. Would love to hear from you on this (if you have any thoughts)!

Most uterine malformations are just bad luck. Daughters of women who took DES when they were pregnant are at higher risk of uterine and cervical problems. Smoking in and of itself is associated with a higher risk of cervix cancer. Virtually all cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus, which is a sexually transmitted infection. Women who smoke and are exposed to HPV may be at increased risk of developing precancerous changes on their pap smear and need to see their gynecologist yearly.

The day I was diagnosed with breast cancer my doctors told me I had to stop taking the pill. When I asked why they told me becasue, "they can cause breast cancer". I went straight home and opened up the pill pack pamphlet folded up in the lid, the one I never read for 15 years, and it says it right there in black and white. I firmly believe that the Rx manufacturers are required to disclose this for a reason and I bet if you talked to enough breast cancer survivors you would learn that this is a huge common denominator. I don't believe it is any coincidence. Dr. Malcolm Pike, epidemiologist at SLoan Kettering Cancer Institute has said he believes the risk increase is closer to 21%, not the "claimed 2%"

I've eliminated everything! This book taught me a ton:
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Green-You-Easy-Detox/dp/141654125X

I removed every cleaning product in my house that was not natural. You can you many natural products to clean your house. One of my favorites is mixing lavender oil with water and spritzing it around as a air freshener.

Next you need to take a look at all of the bath and beauty products that you use everyday. I was shocked to learn that many mainstream face moisturizers contain phyto-estrogens. Many of us have been slathering these on our faces for years. Begin by getting rid of every product that your skin absorbs - lotions, sunscreens, makeup, deodorant (this is an important one) etc. The next step is to clean up your soap, toothpaste, mouthwash - everything that you put on your body but wash off. You can look up specific products on this website:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

I don't buy anything until to look it up on this and other websites. You can't just go to the drugstore and pick up any old brand of beauty aids at this point. It takes some time to clean all of this up but its worth it in the end. You might pay a little more for these more natural products but every extra step with our health counts!