The not so Lonely Road of Breast Cancer

Many women of today’s biggest fear is breast cancer. With staggering statistics of over a million women each year being diagnosed each year, it is not hard to understand why there is this shadow of worry.

Improvements in technology have allowed the scientific and medical world to more accurately screen and detect the condition, but unfortunately we are nowhere closer to defining an exact cause or even know what can be done to prevent it.

Is it hereditary? Surprisingly enough only a an extremely low amount can be linked to genealogy. It also seems that the scientific community is less motivated to on the age old saying of “prevention is better than cure,” with the majority of funds being emptied into more lucrative market of treatment, rather than the research dedicated to finding and eliminating the cause of the cancer.

The treatments themselves are invasive and often severe. The shock of a positive diagnosis, can leave many women frozen and, many of the treatment options presented to them are drowned out by the resounding diagnosis. To do it alone is foolish not brave, a close friend will be far more able to take the options that are given.

Probably the most severe form of treatment, and unfortunately the most common in years gone by is either a lumpectomy or mastectomy. This is then followed up with an intensive course of radiotherapy to eliminate the chance of any cancer cells surviving. Depending on the individual, the radiotherapy can in turn be followed by the haunting prospect of chemotherapy.

Hormonal treatment is another option The drug Novaldex cuts the production of estrogen which has been proven to actually nourish tumors. Many breast cancer patients have decided to turn their back on conventional medicine and taken to the far less invasive alternative treatments.

It may seem a dark and lonely road, full of confusion, fear and at times desperation, but you can be assured that there are women out there who have overcome these feelings and who are on the side waiting to take your hand.