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Caucasians
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Asians
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Dietary calcium deficiency
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Family History of Osteoporosis
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Small Body Size
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History of Steroid Therapy
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Use of certain medications
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Past History of Major Depression
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Sedentary Lifestyle
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Women''s health differs from men''s health, and not just with respect to reproduction. To understand and examine these differences appropriately, the variables of sex and gender are each relevant.In general, sex refers to biological, anatomical, phy...
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Starting at what is commonly called middle age, operations of the human body begin to be more vulnerable to daily wear and tear; there is a general decline in physical, and possibly mental, functioning. In the Western countries, the length of life...
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In general, only about three percent of the elderly living independently in the community will experience depression. That figure increases to around 20 to 30 percent of persons in nursing homes or with chronic illnesses like emphysema, heart disease or diabetes.
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The aged" refers to elderly people, those who have reached an advanced age.The concept of aging and the aged has changed, as record numbers of people around the world are living longer, a trend expected to continue throughout the twenty-first cent...
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Through the daily grapevine of popular culture, we get the message over and over that young is better than old. But new research contradicts these age-old stereotypes. Indeed, studies suggest that the older you get, the happier you become.
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Starting at what is commonly called middle age, operations of the human body become more vulnerable to daily wear and tear. There is a general decline in physical, and possibly mental, functioning.
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You can't turn back the clock, but you can slow down the aging processes often associated with getting older.
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This term is used by demographers when referring to an increase over time in the proportion of older persons in the population. It does not necessarily imply an increase in life expectancy, that"people are living longer that they used to," or that...
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Consider this fact: More than half the people who ever lived to be 65 are alive today. That alone suggests that myths about aging based on past generations may not hold true for this one. Let's look at 10 of those myths, and see what experts have to say about them.
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Discusses what we can do, if anything, to put ourselves in the category of those who live to advanced ages.
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Art, music, and other challenging activities may play a role in keeping the mind alert, even for those affected by dementia.
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Not only do baby boomers expect to live into their 80s or 90s, but they are expecting to be independent, one expert says.
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Beyond giving you energy to conquer a multitasking day, your diet can help slow the tick-tock of the biological clock that governs the aging process.
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No need to search for a secret formula to erase the effects of getting older. You already have the power to keep yourself feeling young for years.
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This report helps you avoid common health woes, such as heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and sight and hearing disorders.
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This report can help you preserve your independence and remain in your home in your later years. Includes information on financial and legal planning, finding and working with a caregiver, and useful home modifications.
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A practical guide to the causes of memory loss and the steps you can take to improve your ability to learn and remember for a lifetime.
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This report takes a view of the whole woman and helps her choose the most practical strategies for making her midlife transition.
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This report details how physical changes that occur as you age can affect your sexuality.It includes information on the therapies and medications that can help you overcome sexual problems.
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New research indicates that-while not exactly a fountain of youth-exercise can reverse some of the physiological signs of aging and reduce overall disease and mortality.
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Like the rest of your body, your eyes naturally change throughout your life. These changes occur gradually and become apparent in later years, as the structures in and around your eyes become less efficient. For most people, the first sign is presbyopia, deterioration of close-up vision. Luckily, this problem can be treated with reading glasses or bifocals.
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Learn how to put together a caregiving plan, draw on useful services, and address legal, medical, and financial planning issues. Also, find advice on involving family members, handling daily tasks, and maintaining your well being.
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Aimed at older adults, this report provides practical advice on how to avoid common and often deadly accidents at home.
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This report describes causes and treatments for the most common age-related skin problems. It also reviews the newest and most effective cosmetic treatments, including anti-aging creams, laser procedures, Botox injections, and surgeries.
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While regular physical activity is a cornerstone of wellness at any age, it's during your 30s, 40s and 50s that exercise becomes especially important.
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Physical removal of age spots can be costly and painful. Topical treatments take time to work, but are generally safe, cost less than removal procedures, and are easier on the skin.
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It's never easy to ponder death, whether you're facing the demise of a loved one or the end of your own life. But taking some time to think and plan ahead for those final hours or days can be a future blessing for your family and others close to you. Most people want a say in all life's important decisions. The same should be true regarding decisions surrounding death, such as what kind of medical treatment you receive. But what if you're unable to make your decisions or wishes known? Say, for example, you are unconscious and can't speak or hear. Unless you have spoken with your loved ones and taken certain legal actions, there may be confusion and stress over what those decisions will be and who can make them for you.
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The average age at which American women go through menopause is 51 years. If menopause(hormonal changes at the end of the female reproductive years) occurs before age 40, it is said to be premature menopause.
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Detailed information on osteoporosis, including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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A variety of exercises is best. Physical activity will slow further bone loss. It can also be fun.
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Your body needs calcium to build and repair bones. But it can't make calcium on its own. That's why it's important to eat calcium-rich foods. Some foods are naturally rich in calcium. Others have calcium added.
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are medicines that relieve symptoms of depression.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are used to treat serious, continuing depression that interferes with a person''s ability to function. Like other anti...
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I have been taking Prozac for several years (40 mg). My doctor has also prescribed Celexa (20 mg). Is it common to take two SSRIs in combination like this?
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Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress.
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Question: What are the negative effects of smoking?Answer: Smokers have an increased risk of the following:Lung cancerLung diseaseHeart attackHeart diseaseHypertensionStrokeOral cancerBladder cancerPancreatic cancerCervical cancerPregnancy complic...
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When you smoke, toxins are carried by your blood to every organ in your body. At the same time, the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke keeps red blood cells from carrying as much oxygen as normal.
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Adolescent smoking has risen steadily throughout the 1990s, following a sharp decline in the 1970s that leveled off in the 1980s. A 1994 report by the office of the U.S.
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Right away, you may cough, wheeze, and have a sore throat—that's the tar clogging up your lungs. You may also have a headache, feel dizzy, and be nauseated—that's the nicotine in your brain. Over time, you risk lung and throat cancer, and lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis.
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Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress.
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Smoking during pregnancy reduces oxygen and blood flow to your baby. This may cause bleeding problems that can put your pregnancy at risk.
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Hear the facts about smoking from those who have been doing it for a few years. Find a smoker or two. Ask a few questions. See if their answers sound something like these.
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Ex-smokers' risk of heart disease may eventually approach that of a lifetime nonsmoker, but their risk of lung cancer is less likely to fade, even after long periods of time.
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Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco that is used mostly in three forms: cigarettes, pipes, and cigars.Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress. A smoking habit...
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Life may seem out of control, but you're really making progress. You're going through withdrawal, which is how your body recovers from smoking.
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Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to keep your heart disease from getting worse. Smoking reduces oxygen flow to your heart, speeds plaque buildup, and increases your risk for heart attack.
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When you are trying to quit, the support of friends, coworkers and family members can make a big difference.
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Detailed information on respiratory diseases and smoking, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer
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One of the major triggers for asthma attacks is cigarette smoke. Cigarette, pipe, or cigar smoke is especially harmful to people with asthma because it damages the cells in the lungs that make the protective coating lining the bronchial tubes.
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The most common reasons include: "Smoking gives me more energy. I smoke to keep from slowing down. I reach for a cigarette when I need a lift. When I'm tired, smoking perks me up."
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Everybody knows smoking is bad for your health. Now here's something you may not know: Smoking is bad for your looks. It's true.
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Do you have healthy gums? You may kiss them goodbye if you're a smoker.
Do you have healthy gums? You may kiss them goodbye if you're a smoker, the American Dental Association (ADA) says.
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Detailed information on teens and smoking Diseases caused by smoking kill more than 437,900 people in the United States each year; around 35 percent of these deaths were cardiovascular related. Even with anti-smoking campaigns and medical disclaimers in place, many people continue to smoke or start smoking every year. According to the American Cancer Society, 90 percent of new smokers are children and teenagers, in many cases, replacing the smokers who quit or died prematurely from a smoking-related disease.
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Smoking damages your arteries, and it's thought that the damaged arteries in the discs and joints in your back may lead to pain and injury.
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Teens who smoke are more likely to quit if they can be convinced to participate in a cessation program that emphasizes the health risks of smoking, provides motivational encouragement and coping skills, and encourages a healthy overall lifestyle.
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For most people, the best way to quit smoking is some combination of medicine, a method to change personal habits and emotional support.
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Smoking is an important and preventable cause of death and illness. However, as more money has been spent on smoking cessation programs, the incidence of cigarette smoking has risen.
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Every day, nearly 6,000 teens and pre-teens try cigarettes for the first time, according to the American Lung Association. A third of these first-timers will end up becoming smokers.
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When people consider the cost of smoking, they usually focus on the cost of the cigarettes alone. But that's only the first step.
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Among other things, keep a personal benefits log. Write down the benefits you experience from being smoke-free (for example, I can smell flowers again!) Write the specific occurrence, the date it first happened, and your reaction.
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A smoker's recovery plan includes listing those activities that you have chosen to help reduce the pressures of nicotine withdrawal and staying smoke-free.
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The personal motivation list will help you identify the benefits of quitting, for you, for your family, and for your friends.
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I know that smoking is very bad for me. I've cut down to one cigarette after lunch and another after dinner each day, with two or three more on most weekend nights when I socialize. I really enjoy smoking, but I want to know if I'm harming myself.
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Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is overactive, and makes too much thyroid hormone(called thyroxine[ T4] and triiodothyronine[ T3]). Hormones are substances that affect and control many important functions in the body.The ...
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Detailed information on hyperthyroidism, including symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment
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This small gland can cause a multitude of problems affecting every system in your body. Here's how to tell if your thyroid gland is producing too much or too little hormone and what to do about it.
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Detailed information on hyperthyroidism (Graves disease), including cause, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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When you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormone. With hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland produces too much hormone. A goiter is the enlargement of the thyroid gland.
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Detailed information on hyperthyroidism, including symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment
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Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of thyroid hormones by an overactive thyroid.Located in the front of the neck, the thyroid gland produces the hormones thyroxine(T 4) and triiodothyro-nine(T 3) that regulate the body''s metabolic rate by helpi...
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Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of thyroid hormones by an overactive thyroid gland.Located in the front of the neck, the thyroid gland produces the hormones thyroxine(T 4) and triiodothyro-nine(T 3) that regulate the body''s metabolic rate by...
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Hyperthyroidism is the condition that reflects excessive concentrations of thyroid hormones, due to any cause. The resulting hypermetabolic state causes increased heat production and accelerates many of the bodies'' processes.
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Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of thyroid hormones by an overactive thyroid.The term hyperthyroidism covers any disease which results in overabundance of thyroid hormone. Other names for hyperthyroidism, or specific diseases within the cate...
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Alcoholism is an addictive disease in which the victim becomes dependent on a drug—alcohol. The disease affects the alcoholic physically, psychologically, and behaviorally. Alcoholism is not a character weakness or moral shortcoming; it is an unrelenting, progressive disease that leads to death or brain damage. But recovery is possible by stopping drinking.
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The term"eating disorders" encompasses a group of problems that fall into two broad categories—overeating(binging), and undereating(anorexia)—sometimes referred to as"starving or stuffing." Eating disorders are most commonly found in y...
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A growing number are children, usually girls, aren't overweight but believe they are. Magazines and TV shows that worship ultra-thin models and pop stars fuel the trend.
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Eating disorders are characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with food and/or body weight.Eating disorders are rooted in complex emotional issues that center on self-esteem and pervasive societal messages that equate thinness with happiness. E...
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Boys and men have eating disorders, too. Males make up 5 to 15 percent of patients with anorexia or bulimia and 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorder.
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Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have risen steadily to affect nearly 10 million women (and 1 million men).
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Detailed information on the most common types of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder
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Detailed information on eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia The term eating disorders refers to a variety of disorders. The common feature of all the eating disorders is abnormal eating behaviors. Eating disorders are serious mental health problems and can be life threatening.
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Detailed information on eating disorders in children, including anorexia and bulimia
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Detailed information on adolescents and eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and obesity
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Detailed information on adolescents and eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and obesity
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Eating disorders affect both the mind and the body. Although deviant eating patterns have been reported throughout history, eating disorders were first identified as medical conditions by the British physician William Gull in 1873.
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The female athlete triad is a common nutritional disorder among female athletes caused by the drive of girls and women to be unrealistically thin in an attempt to improve performance. The disorder is most common in sports judged by build(e.g., gym...
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What's behind the rise in eating disorders? For one thing, experts' growing awareness may lead to more diagnoses. Another reason: A weight-obsessed culture bombarded by media "thin" messages.
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Detailed information on starting an exercise program to lower your risk of heart disease
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Cushing syndrome is a disease that occurs when your body produces too much of the hormone cortisol. It may also occur if you take too much cortisol or other steroid hormones.
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Cushing''s syndrome is a relatively rare endocrine(hormonal) disorder resulting from excessive exposure to the hormone cortisol. The disorder, which leads to a variety of symptoms and physical abnormalities, is most commonly caused by taking medica...
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Cushing syndrome was first described by an American neurosurgeon in the early twentieth century named Harvey Cushing. Cushing recognized a specific set of symptoms that collectively he identified as part of a syndrome.
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Cushing''s syndrome is a relatively rare endocrine(hormonal) disorder resulting from excessive exposure to the hormone cortisol. The disorder, which leads to a variety of symptoms and physical abnormalities, is most commonly caused by taking medica...
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Amenorrhea is the medical term for the absence of menstruation. There are two types of amenorrhea, primary and secondary.
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Detailed information on amenorrhea, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment Amenorrhea is a menstrual condition characterized by absent menstrual periods for more than three monthly menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea may be classified as primary or secondary.
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There are two types of amenorrhea, primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea is delayed menarche(the first menstrual period) and is defined as any one of three conditions:.1.) absence of menarche by age 16 with otherwise normal pubertal developmen...
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Detailed information on amenorrhea, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment Amenorrhea is a menstrual condition characterized by absent menstrual periods for more than three monthly menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea may be classified as primary or secondary.
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When you first get your period, it's normal to be confused and wonder what's happening to you. If all your questions aren't answered here, talk to your mom or someone else you trust.
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Detailed information on amenorrhea, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment Amenorrhea is a menstrual condition characterized by absent menstrual periods for more than three monthly menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea may be classified as primary or secondary.
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Detailed information on amenorrhea, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment Amenorrhea is a menstrual condition characterized by absent menstrual periods for more than three monthly menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea may be classified as primary or secondary.
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The absence of menstrual periods is called amenorrhea. If a woman has never had any menstrual blood flow by the age of 16, doctors call this primary amenorrhea.
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Primary amenorrhea is the failure to start having a period by the age of 16. Secondary amenorrhea is more common and refers to either the temporary or permanent ending of periods in a woman who has menstruated normally in the past.
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Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation and is a symptom, not a diagnosis.Primary amenorrhea refers to the absence of the onset of menstruation by age 16 whether or not normal growth and secondary sexual characteristics are present, or the absen...
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I have been off of the birth control patch for seven months and I am still not getting a period. I am not pregnant, and my annual physical was fine. Why would I still not be getting a period?
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This decision guide is designed to help women with secondary amenorrhea understand what may be causing it and the questions your doctor will want to ask.
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Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in American women, accounting for approximately 30 percent of their new cancer cases. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, following lung cancer.
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Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast.Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes(ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type.
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Noninvasive breast cancer occurs when cancer cells are only in the ducts. Invasive breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells move out of the ducts or lobules into the surrounding breast tissue.
Metastasis occurs when cancer cells move into the lymph nodes or bloodstream and travel to another part of the body.
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Breast cancer is the abnormal growth and uncontrolled division of cells in the breast. Cancer cells invade and destroy surrounding normal tissue, and can spread throughout the body via blood or lymph fluid(clear fluid bathing body cells) to start ...
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With so much information out there about breast cancer, sometimes it's difficult to separate myth from reality.
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Detailed information on breast cancer, including the difference between benign and malignant tumors and the most common types of breast cancer
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Breast cancer is caused by the development of malignant cells in the breast. The malignant cells originate in the lining of the milk glands or ducts of the breast(ductal epithelium), defining this malignancy as a cancer.
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Breast cancer mortality rates are declining, while the five-year survival rate is climbing. The decline in breast cancer deaths can be attributed to a number of factors.
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Breast cancer is cancer that begins in the breast. It is one of the most common types of cancer in American women. Doctors do not yet know what causes breast cancer. Once breast cancer occurs, cancer cells can spread to other parts of your body, making it life-threatening. The good news is that breast cancer is often found early before it has spread, and more treatment options exist than ever before. That means there's more hope of beating breast cancer.
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The ducts and the lobules are the two structures of the breast where cancer is most likely to occur. Your doctor can look under a microscope at the cancer cells that were collected during your biopsy to determine which type of cancer you have. The type of cancer partly determines your choices for treatment. Other rare types of cancers, such as inflammatory breast cancer and Paget's disease, can begin in the breast as well.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about factors that may increase the risk of developing breast cancer and about research aimed at the prevention of this disease.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about tests used to detect or screen for breast cancer.
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Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells begin to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. It often shows up as a breast lump, breast thickening, or skin change.The breasts are areas of tissue located on the front chest wall, and are ...
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Some people use statistics to try to figure out their chances of getting cancer or being cured of it. However, statistics only show what happens to large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, you cannot use them to predict what might happen to you.
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Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells begin to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. It often shows up as a breast lump, breast thickening, or skin change.The breasts are areas of tissue located on the front chest wall, and are ...
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Detailed information on breast cancer treatment, including surgery, breast reconstruction, lymphedema, breast prosthesis, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, Tamoxifen, and Taxol
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Breast cancer is caused by the development of malignant cells in the breast. The malignant cells originate in the lining of the milk glands or ducts of the breast(ductal epithelium), defining this malignancy as a cancer.
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For more information, talk to your healthcare team or support network. You and your healthcare provider will discuss your treatment options. Weigh all of your options before deciding which is best for you. Your plan may call for one or more types of adjuvant therapy. These are treatments used in addition to surgery.
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When you are undergoing treatment for cancer, you may have side effects that affect your physical response to sex. You may also experience changing feelings about who you are, how you feel about yourself, and how you feel about your relationships. All of these feelings can influence your sexuality.
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During a biopsy, a doctor removes cells from your breast and then sends them to a lab to be examined under a microscope. There is more than one kind of biopsy. The type that your doctor suggests depends on what has been learned thus far about the lump and whether or not it can be located by touch alone. Here are brief descriptions of each type of biopsy.
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It helps to learn all you can about your disease and treatment choices so that you can take an active part in decisions about your medical care. Discuss these choices with your doctors, nurses, and loved ones. Your doctor is the best person to answer your questions about treatment. Make sure you ask how the treatment will change your daily life and how you will look and feel after treatment.
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Your doctor may suggest radiation if you fall into one of the following categories.
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Your doctor may suggest chemotherapy to treat breast cancer for any of the following situations.
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A new type of treatment may be used for breast cancer. It's called targeted therapy. It uses molecularly targeted drugs. That means the drugs zone in on the exact change in the cell that lets cancer cells grow and spread. There's a specific kind of targeted drug for breast cancer. These drugs are called monoclonal antibodies. They work by stopping or slowing the growth of a certain protein in cancer cells. For breast cancer, the drug is Herceptin (trastuzumab). Herceptin aims for a protein called HER-2 or erb B2. That stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. About 20 to 30% of breast cancer tumors make too much of this protein. This is called over expression. These tumors tend to grow faster than tumors that don't make too much HER-2. And these tumors are more likely to recur. Treatment with Herceptin can stop or slow the growth of cancer cells.
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Your doctor may suggest targeted therapy if these statements apply to you. You have stage IV breast cancer, and your cancer cells have high levels of the protein HER-2.
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Detailed information on treatments for breast cancer, including hormone therapy, adjuvant therapy, biological therapy, bone marrow transplant, and autologous stem cell therapy
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Detailed information on the risk factors for breast cancer A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases, including cancers, have different risk factors.
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Detailed information on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer The following are the most common symptoms of breast cancer. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain and may cause no symptoms at all. And, some breast cancers never cause symptoms or other indications of a problem.
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Detailed information on different types of surgery for breast cancer treatment, including lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, total mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, and radical mastectomy
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Detailed information on the genetics of breast cancer, including information on hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome, brca1, brca2, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, and ataxia telangiectasia
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There is a debate raging that has respected nutrition experts on both sides of the battle lines. The topic is the role of soy in breast cancer. Does soy prevent breast cancer or promote it? Does soy have different effects in different people? Unfortunately, there are simply no clear-cut answers yet.
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Breast cancer is the abnormal growth and uncontrolled division of cells in the breast. Cancer cells can invade and destroy surrounding tissue, and may metastasize(spread) throughout the body via blood or lymph fluid to other parts of the body.Brea...
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Investigators report headway against breast cancer, the disease that worries women more than any other.
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How long you stay in the hospital will depend mostly upon your overall health and the type of surgery you had. Your doctors and nurses will explain the side effects you can expect with each form of treatment. They can also suggest ways to help prevent or manage these side effects. It is important that you let the doctor or nurse know if you have side effects. Below is a description of general side effects resulting from breast cancer surgery. They're listed in order of the most common to the least common.
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What happens during radiation therapy depends on whether you get EBRT or brachytherapy. EBRT is the more common way to have radiation therapy for breast cancer. This is how it works.
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If you get EBRT, you don't need to worry about being radioactive after your treatments. It's perfectly safe to be around other people. However, if you have brachytherapy, you may be told to avoid certain people who could be sensitive to radiation, such as small children.
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What happens during chemotherapy depends on the type of drug or drugs you take.
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Chemotherapy kills cancer cells, and it also harms healthy cells. That means it often causes unwanted, and sometimes serious, side effects. Ask your oncologist and chemotherapy nurse about each drug's side effects. Everyone doesn't have the same side effects. They depend on the chemotherapy drugs you take and on the drug combinations that are used. Many of these side effects can be controlled and most end during the recovery part of the chemotherapy cycle or after the treatment is done.
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You get Herceptin through an intravenous (IV) injection into your vein. It will take 30 to 90 minutes to get your full dose. You can usually have this done as an outpatient.
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Because Herceptin targets particular cells, it is less damaging to healthy cells than other types of treatment. Compared with chemotherapy, the side effects are mild. This list of side effects is listed alphabetically. Ask your doctor which ones are most likely for you.
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The decision to have reconstructive breast surgery is a very personal one. It depends a lot on how you think you will feel after a mastectomy. If you think you would feel uncomfortable with a flat chest or wearing a false breast, called a prosthesis, you may want to consider reconstructive surgery. If you don't mind how you'll look or don't want to have any extra surgery, you may not want to do it. Reconstructive surgery can be done at the time of your mastectomy. Or you can schedule it for a later date. You may need more than one operation to complete the reconstruction.
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Before you have surgery for breast cancer, your doctor is likely to schedule a bone scan for you. This test can show if the cancer has spread to the bones, called bone metastis.
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Q: Can breast cancer be prevented? A: There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. All women can consider the lifestyle risk factors as they make their choices. The answers are not all in on this subject and women need to stay informed as new research is published. For women who are at higher-than-average risk, tamoxifen has been approved in the United States to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. This hormonal treatment has side effects and risks of its own, so the decision to use tamoxifen for prevention should be made in careful consultation with a doctor. It is likely others will be approved in the future, based on ongoing studies and approvals in Europe. For women at extremely high risk of breast cancer, preventive mastectomy (surgery to remove the breasts) may be considered. While many breast cancers cannot be prevented, early detection and prompt treatment can save lives when breast cancer occurs.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of breast cancer.The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.
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Factors that can affect a woman's risk of breast cancer include weight gain, activity level, alcohol consumption, vitamins, birth control pills, hormone therapy, breast density, and use of preventive medication.
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A review of several new advances in breast cancer treatment, including a report on a drug that may reduce cancer recurrence by as much as half.
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Breast cancer survivors should work with their doctors to monitor their health closely, to avoid a relapse or other medical problems. Surviving the illness takes a serious mental toll as well.
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Detailed information on chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancerous cells. Chemotherapy reaches all parts of the body, not just the cancer cells. The oncologist will recommend a treatment plan for each individual. Specific treatment will be based on:
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Detailed information on radiation therapy for breast cancer Radiation therapy is a process that precisely sends high levels of radiation directly to the cancer cells. Radiation done after surgery can kill cancer cells that may not be seen during surgery. Radiation may also be done:
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What can you do if you are at risk for breast cancer? See "Am I At Risk for Breast Cancer” for a list of risk factors. The best thing you can do is to try to lower as many of the risks as possible, such as by making certain lifestyle changes. Remember, however, that in some cases, more studies are needed to confirm which of these can have the greatest impact.
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You have a better chance of surviving breast cancer if your doctor finds and treats it early. The best way to detect breast cancer early is to be screened regularly. This isn't possible for many cancers, but it is with breast cancer. Screening, however, doesn't guarantee that you won't get cancer or die from it, especially if it's found after symptoms develop.
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Breast cancer often causes no symptoms in its early stages. Women with early breast cancer usually do not feel pain or experience any symptoms at all. Screening tests are better able to detect the disease at this time. As the cancer grows, however, it can cause the following changes.
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Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It's a systemic treatment. That means it affects your whole body. The drugs travel all through your body in your bloodstream, killing rapidly dividing cancer cells. Here are some ways chemotherapy works.
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Radiation treatment is also called radiotherapy. It's one way to treat breast cancer. It uses strong X-rays or another source to kill cancer cells. Radiation is a local treatment. That means it affects the cancer cells only in the treated area.
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Certain well-respected organizations have varying advice about the methods of breast cancer screening and how often you should be screened. Here's what two of these groups recommend for those with an average risk of getting breast cancer.
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There is really no way to know for sure if you're going to get breast cancer, though certain risk factors can make it more likely. However, having one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean that you will get breast cancer. In fact, you can have all the risk factors and never get breast cancer, or you can have no known risk factors and still get the disease.
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A Harvard Medical School doctor describes her own fight against breast cancer and provides recommendations for other women coping with the disease.
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Detailed information on the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT): Tamoxifen as Prevention Therapy for Breast Cancer
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No matter what type of treatment you have for breast cancer, it can take a toll on both your body and emotions. The effects of the disease and treatment often cause women to become less active, more stressed, and unable to sleep well. And the worse you feel, the more inactive you tend to become. As a result, you may lack the strength and stamina to continue or resume the roles and activities you carried out before your cancer diagnosis.
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In recent years, researchers have discovered new and better ways to detect and treat breast cancer—and to keep it from coming back.
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The good news is that breast cancer can be treated successfully. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or any combination of these. Here's a closer look at each.
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If you're having symptoms of breast cancer or have something suspicious that has shown up on a previous test, your doctor will want to follow up. Your doctor is likely to ask you questions concerning these things:
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Your doctor took a sample of cells from your breast using a biopsy to confirm that you have cancer.
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You will likely have physical concerns since your cancer may cause symptoms, and you may have side effects from your treatment. In this section, you'll learn more about how to respond to some of the most common ones. They are listed in alphabetical order.
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When you are being treated for breast cancer, it's likely that you will have side effects from that treatment and, perhaps, also symptoms of the disease itself. For instance, the cancer itself can cause symptoms if the tumor puts pressure on an organ or body part and causes pain. Or the tumor may interfere with the function of that organ or body part. The treatments to destroy cancer cells can harm healthy cells at the same time, and that means treatment can cause side effects.
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It may sound harsh to ask the question "Can I survive this?” But it's a question on most people's mind when they are facing a diagnosis of breast cancer. And the answer can be just as hard as asking the question.
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A variety of false theories about breast cancer risk factors cause unnecessary concerns for many women. Many have been studied and found to not have any impact on breast cancer risk.
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You may have more than one surgeon depending upon the procedures you're having. You'll meet before surgery to discuss your procedures. At this time, you can talk about any questions or concerns you may have. You may also want to review the risks and possible side effects of surgery. Ask your doctor when you can expect to return to your normal activities and whether the surgery will leave scars. If you haven't scheduled reconstructive surgery, ask about your options.
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Key Points The National Cancer Institute, a component of the National Institutes of Health, estimates that, based on current rates, 12.7 percent of women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives.
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NATIONAL MAMMOGRAPHY DAY The third Friday in October each year is National Mammography Day, first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1993. On this day, or throughout the month, we encourage women to make a mammography appointment.
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Digital mammography is poised to replace the standard version, but studies show them to be about equal in effectiveness at detecting cancers, depending on age and breast density. Ultrasound and MRI are also useful tools for detection in some women.
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The recent decrease in new breast cancer cases in women over 50 appears to be linked to the decline in the use of hormone therapy for symptoms of menopause.
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Detailed information on breast cancer statistics, including information from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program
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Thefollowing Inspirational Story was taken from Silver Linings: The Other Side of Cancer, published by the Oncology Nursing Press, Inc.
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Fear of recurrence joins with initial fatigue, hair loss, and perhaps discomfort from breast reconstruction.
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The Harvard Health Letter celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. In the third of a series, the Health Letter takes a look back at three decades in medicine.
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Reports that, contrary to earlier studies, ductal lavage is not a good alternative to mammography in screening for breast cancer.
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A recent study reports that regular exercise reduced mortality by as much as half among breast cancer survivors.
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The following drugs and tests have been approved since the year 2000 for the treatment of breast cancer.
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