DID YOU KNOW ABOUT MEN’S BREAST CANCER?

October is the national month for Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns, and you will see the color pink on clothing, products, and commercials in honor of breast cancer survivors. The majority of breast cancer victims are women, but there is a growing rate of men who are stricken with breast cancer, too. In the United States in 2009, it is predicted that 2,000 new cases of men’s breast cancer will be diagnosed, and because of the lack of early detection of most male breast cancers, many of these cases will be in the advanced stages for the disease. Since early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for survival rates, it is just as important for men to be aware of changes in their breasts as it is for women. Here is some helpful information for men on male breast cancer.

The breasts of both men and women are composed of nodules, ducts, and stroma, or the fatty and connective tissues surrounding the breasts. Until puberty, men and women’s breasts look the same, but after the initiation of menses, women develop larger breasts for multiple purposes. The reasons men have lower incidences of breast cancer are due to having less breast fatty tissue that is more prone to cancer cells, having less developed male breast duct cells, and they have lower levels of female hormones, especially estrogen.

The possible signs men can look for in early detection for breast cancer are:

• A lump or unusual swelling
• A nipple that has retracted or turned inward
• A dimpling or puckering in the breast skin
• Redness, scaling, or irritation of the nipple or breast skin
• Discharge from the nipple

Not all of these symptoms are due to breast cancer, but if you have any of the symptoms, you should immediately consult your physician. If your physician thinks you may have breast cancer, he or she will want to perform a complete physical, get personal and family medical histories, and probably schedule a mammogram or sonogram of the breast to help with the diagnosis. Approximately 1 in 5 men who have breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer. This correlation may lead to finding a genetic predisposition for breast cancer in men as well as women.

There are several risk factors for men that are correlated with breast cancer. However, even if a man has one or more of these risk factors, this does not mean he will automatically develop breast cancer. Here are the main risk factors for men in developing breast cancer:

• Aging- most men are 67 years old at the time of diagnosis
• Family History of breast cancer
  
• Inherited Gene Mutations- 1 out of 10 men diagnosed with breast cancer have a mutation in the BRCA2 gene
• Radiation Exposure
  
• Alcohol- heavy alcohol intake over time
• Liver Disease- men with severe liver dysfunction have lower rates of androgens and higher rates of estrogen
• Estrogen Levels- higher levels of estrogen in men has been linked with increased incidences of breast cancer
• Obesity- fat cells convert androgens into estrogens
• Testicular Issues- undescended testicles, having mumps as an adult, or testicular dysfunctions
• Environmental factors- certain jobs, chemicals, and environmental exposures can be linked with male breast cancer

After the breast cancer is diagnosed, the same protocols for medical interventions are given to men as those performed with women. There are several choices for treatment, each with pros and cons, so all the choices for treatment should be thoroughly discussed and explored with your physician and/or oncologist. The treatments are often different for the type, location, and stage of the breast cancer, however here are some of the most common medical protocol interventions:

• Surgery
• Lumpectomy
• Mastectomy
• Radiation Therapy
• Adjuvant Hormone Therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Combination of any of the above treatments

Since receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer can be shocking and anxiety provoking, it is crucial for your own efficacy to ask appropriate questions of the physician and/or oncologist. It is recommended to write down and bring with you all of your questions prior to the medical appointment so you remember to cover the pertinent issues. Here are a few sample questions you might want to ask:

• What type of breast cancer do I have?
• What is the stage of my cancer?
• What treatments are appropriate for my type and stage of breast cancer?
• Which treatment(s) do you recommend for me and why?
• How can I prepare for these treatments?
• What are the risks of these treatments?
• What are the side effects, if any, for the treatments?
• What is my prognosis?
• What are the plans for me if the breast cancer recurs?

There are other interventions you can do to help your prognosis if you are diagnosed with breast cancer. These healthy living habits will boost your immune system and keep it performing at top functioning. These strategies include taking vitamins, eating healthy organic foods, getting 7- 8 hours of sleep a night, losing weight, and regularly exercising.

If you would like more information and resources for men’s breast cancer, please contact the national resources listed below:

• American Cancer Society- (800) ACS- 2345; www.cancer.org
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure- (877) 465- 6636; www.komen.org
• Breast Cancer Network of Strength- (800) 221- 2141; www.networkofstrength.org

   

TIPS ON HOW TO CUT DOWN ON YOUR MONTHLY EXPENSES

    While you may know a couple of people who have not been financially hit by the global economic decline, chances are you know exponentially more people who have been negatively affected by the downturn in the economy, losses in their retirement accounts, or hurt by losing their jobs. Even if you are still employed and able to cover your monthly bills, here are a few tips that will help you save money on your regular expenses. After the economy recovers, you may find that you like these strategies so much that you incorporate them into daily living forever.

1. Exercise for Free: Gyms memberships require an initiation fee plus monthly charges. These charges can go from $50.00- $200.00 per month depending on the facility and monthly dues, plus another $50.00- $150.00 for initiation fees. To save on this monthly expense without compromising your healthy exercising habits, try to get the same benefits and at a low or no cost by trying these sources. There are scores of exercise DVD’s available to use at home, exercise games available for your Wii, and free exercise programs available on the television and online. Exercising outdoors, like going for a walk, is free.
   

    

2. Purchase a Water Filter. Giving up the habit of buying bottled water will save both your money and health. The cost of bottled water is exorbitant, and some research studies have found that the most popular brands are nothing more than packaged tap water. In addition, the plastic bottles shed highly toxic and carcinogenic substances into the water. You can buy a water filter for anywhere from $35.00- $50.00 that will give you safe and inexpensive water. Make sure that you have a metal bottle for transporting your water. In addition to saving money, these two steps of replacing plastic bottles with a renewable metal carrier and using a water filter at home will substantially reduce your carbon footprints on global warming.
   

    

3. Use a Shopping List: Whether you are going to the pharmacy, grocery store, or mall, make sure that you bring a shopping list. This serves two functions. The first function is to keep you to a tightly scrutinized list of purchasing only what is needed, and the second is to make sure you remember to get all the necessities. This is a great way to stop impulse buying which can be costly over the span of a year.
   

    

4. Cut Back on Dry Cleaning: Many clothing fabrics can be washed by hand or on the cold cycle in the washing machine and allowed to air dry. In addition to wash at home or by hand, look at the fabric and cleaning tags on the clothing before you make the purchase as you may want to change your mind if it is labeled “dry clean only”.
   

    

5. Trade Down for Household Staples: Whether you are buying expensive facial creams or brand name paper towels, you can save a good deal by eliminating the most expensive items you purchase with other products that are less expensive and equally good. Many of the cosmetics sold in department stores can be replaced with similar products sold for much less in pharmacies or discount stores. Look for deals that sell products for “buy one get one free” and stock up on the items you use with these savings. Make good decisions on what is really needed, and what you can live without.
   

    

    

6. Save on Communications: You may have both a landline telephone and a cell phone, so you can eliminate the landline in most cases. In addition, you will receive greater savings by assessing how many minutes you use on your cell phone and adjusting the minutes covered to get the best plan for your needs. Get an unlimited texting service if you text a good deal, and get your kids an unlimited calling plan if they are in college. Some wireless services let you have a network of family and friends who can call in for free and that expands your savings even more.
   

    

7. Develop a Budget: In an ideal world, your monthly income should cover your monthly expenses, give you “fun” money, and allow for a savings plan. If you develop a budget that encompasses all three areas, then your finances should be in good shape. The most important assurance for financial stability is to stick with the budget once it is developed and implemented.
   

    

8. Make Coffee at Home: Give up the daily morning stop at a coffee shop and you can save over $1,000.00 per year! Making and bringing your own coffee for the trip to work can be one of your best savings strategies, and if you are an aficionado of lattes and other sweet and flavored coffees, you may even lose weight when brining your own home brew.
   

    

Use the Internet for Savings: There are hundreds of online resources that can help you save money, compare the costs of items, and even serve as your personal shopper while you are at work. For a couple of examples, Bluefly.com and Yoox.com offer sales on clothing, OneKingsLane.com deals in home decorating sales, and ShopItToMe.com can offer virtual personal shopping. In addition, there are many online sites that offer free coupons and discounts for almost everything, and you can register at most sites for continuing services and savings alerts. You will also save money on gas if you buy online.

HEALTH BENEFITS FROM HAVING PETS

The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) issued a statement with supporting data from a plethora of research to show many health and mental benefits from pet ownership. Those who already own a pet probably do not need to be reminded of the daily doses of unconditional love they receive from their domesticated animal(s) and of the many other benefits that come from living with a pet friend. For many years, dogs have been used as therapeutic agents in nursing homes and with disabled children and adults, and these programs have shown decreases in patients’ uses of prescription drugs and the participating patients experienced fewer medical problems.

Anyone wanting to have a pet, however, needs to be careful to choose the appropriate pet and to ensure that the pet will have the supervision, time, love, and attention needed to grow and positively develop. Pets cost money for vaccinations, food, and grooming, if needed. They also need time commitments from their owners and families to experience connectedness, exercise, and feel appreciated. When these needs are met, you can expect to have a happy and enjoyable relationship with your pet.

Although pet owners will say that their pets make them feel better, sometimes it is difficult to articulate the exact ways in which their relationship is enhanced by their pet. Here are some known advantages to pet ownership, and additional benefits you may not know that emanate from owning a pet.

1. Lower Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Multiple studies have shown that people with pets have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels when compared with non-pet owners.
   

    

2. Lower Blood Pressure: Dogs have been shown to reduce blood pressure levels of their owners and to even lower blood pressure when they are present during stress tests of people who are not their owners.
   

    

3. Reduce Stress: In a study using a group of hypertensive New York stockbrokers, the presence of dogs and cats in their offices or at home reduced stress and lowered blood pressure. Other research showed the benefits of watching aquarium fish to both reduce stress and raise levels of focusing on tasks.
   

    

4. Increase Exercise and Activity Levels: Dog owners get more exercise due to walking their pets. This added exercise can be beneficial for overall health, weight reduction, stress management, and meeting new people.
   

    

5. Increase Social Support: Pets attract attention, whether they are walking or at home in their yard, and this can bring more socializing to the owner. Many new friendships can be forged at the local dog park, pet shows, pet rescue benefits, or canine recreational day programs.
   

    

6. Increase Longevity After Heart Attacks: Recent research has shown that pet ownership increases the percentage of people who survived at least one year after their heart attack to 28% with non-pet owners only having a 6% chance of survival after one year. In addition, dog ownership increased the immediate survival rate in people with heart attacks from 1 in 15 to 1 in 87!
   

    

7. Improve Mental Health: Pets offer unconditional love and constant companionship. Some studies have shown that patting a pet can release serotonin and endorphins, brain chemicals that provide the feelings of happiness and love. People who have pets report feeling less lonely and have lower rates of depression than their non-pet owner counterparts.
   

    

8. Provide Early Warning for Major Health Issues: For many years, dogs have been used to help the blind and disabled in daily functioning tasks. New studies have shown dogs can also warn owners when they are about to have a seizure up to 45 minutes before it occurs. In addition, trained dogs have been used with helping people with Parkinson’s Disease, to diagnose cancer, and to give an early alert to their owners who would have hypoglycemic attacks.