BREAST CANCER

BREAST CANCER

Cancer begins in cells the building blocks that make up tissues Tissues make up the organs of the body. The nipple is in the center of a dark area of skin called the areola Fat fills the spaces between the lobules and ducts

Normally cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them When cells grow old they die and new cells take their place

Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong New cells form when the body does not need them and old cells do not die when they should These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor

Tumors can be benign or malignant

Benign tumors are not cancer

Benign tumors are rarely lifethreatening
Generally benign tumors can be removed They usually do not grow back
Cells from benign tumors do not invade the tissues around them
Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body
Malignant tumors are cancer

Malignant tumors are generally more serious than benign tumors They may be lifethreatening
Malignant tumors often can be removed But sometimes they grow back
Cells from malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs
Cells from malignant tumors can spread metastasize to other parts of the body Cancer cells spread by breaking away from the original primary tumor and entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system The cells invade other organs and form new tumors that damage these organs The spread of cancer is called metastasis

Check your Body Mass Index BMI to determine if weight has become health risk According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 60% of Americans are overweight defined as having a BMI a ratio of height to weight over 25 Of those nearly half 27% qualify as obese with a body mass index of 30 or more In 1980 just 15% of Americans were considered obese

Match your diet to your bodys requirements If you eat and drink more calories than your body requires you will put on weight Learn to control calories and portion sizes make recipes leaner and eat infrequently from fast food restaurants Also learn how to snack with healthful choices

Color your diet with a large variety of colorful cancerfighting fruit and vegetables There are seven different color ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and vegetables we are extending our consumption of cancer and other disease fighting nutrients

Eat lean protein with every meal Protein provides a powerful signal to the brain providing a longer sense of fullness The right source of protein is essential to controlling your hunger with fewer calories and necessary to maintain your lean muscle mass Choices of protein should be flavored soy shakes with fruit the white meat of chicken and turkey seafood such as shrimps prawns scallops and lobster and ocean fish or vegetarians may prefer soy based meat substitutes

If you want to enjoy a lifetime of wellbeing exercise is a key ingredient Colleen Doyle MS RD director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society ACS says adults should do something for 30 minutes each day that takes as much effort as a brisk walk Children should be active for an hour each day We are more likely to develop habits around things we enjoy so seek activities which you enjoy doing It is also helpful to build physical activity into your daily routine use the stairs instead of the escalator or lift at work park your car in the parking bay furthest from the super market and dont use the remote control to change TV channels

Get support to ensure you develop a healthful eating plan and reach your goal weight Whilst a small percentage of people possess the discipline to lose weight many obese people have developed strong thoughts and habits concerning the food they eat In order to establish new habits most people respond well to some form of consistent encouragement and coaching A study Effects of Internet Behavioral Counseling on Weight Loss in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes shows that participants who had the support of weight loss coaching lost more weight than those who didnt The study concluded that the support of a weight loss coach can significantly improve weight loss results