Cancer is a nasty disease and the cure is often even worse. With major courses of chemotherapy and radiation zapping energy and causing nausea, hairloss, and more - many people begin to wonder if it is even worth it. For this reason, a large majority of cancer patients turn to alternative medicine in hopes of finding a more natural way to cure their cancer. Here we will look at an overview of the most commonly used alternative medicines for cancer patients.

The idea behind most alternative medicine for cancer is that the body, when healthy, can fight off cancer on its own. Therefore, the cure lies in helping the entire body return to a healthy state, which is exactly what cancer patients are aiming for. Although some alternative medicines focus on specific areas or target the cancer itself, the majority of these treatments are for the entire body.

There are four main types of alternative medicine that cancer patients can lean towards. The most popular and probably best known is herbal therapy, which obviously focuses on the use of herbs to help the body restore its equilibrium. This is also the oldest form of cancer treatments, since herbs have been around since the beginning and were always used to treat illnesses and ailments of the body.

Mind-body therapy focuses on the mind-body connection and is one of the more controversial alternative medicines available for cancer patients. This therapy includes meditation, counseling and hypnosis among other methods to help the patient get to remission. The idea that emotions and beliefs can either hurt or help the patient is behind mind-body therapy. It also tends to use visualization techniques to build up the immune system and fight off the cancer.

Metabolic therapy is another alternative medicine that is often used to treat cancer . This is a treatment based on the idea that the cancer is caused by things within the body, usually toxins and poisons that have collected over the years. In order to treat the cancer, one must first remove the reasons for it. Metabolic therapy is often fairly aggressive, including whole-body detoxification and cleansing, colon cleansing and drastic changes in diet to maintain the purity of the body.

Immunology therapy is the yet another type of alternative medicine that cancer patients turn to. Metabolic therapy is based on the belief that a failure in the immune system allows the cancer to develop and grow within the body, so it treats the immune system, as the name suggests. There are various types of treatment within this therapy, including fever therapy, diet and nutritional supplements, along with vaccines and gamma globulin treatments.

These are the four most common alternative medicines that are used on cancer when people decide not to rely on more conventional therapies. While some cancer patients give up completely on chemotherapy and radiation, others combine the two, alternative medicine with more standard medical treatments.

When hope is running out, or if a cancer patient feels that they are only poisoning their body further with standard methods, alternative medicine is the place to turn. While some people claim great success with these methods, other say they don't work at all. It is really the decision of each individual as to what he or she will do.

Article by The Cancer Reports

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Before you agree to launch your program of hormone therapy, be aware of side effects that may occur as well as the basic pros and cons of using hormones.

Hormone therapy can be tremendously beneficial and can effectively stave off your cancer spread for years, but it shouldn't be taken lightly. When you take hormones (or have an orchiectomy), your body reacts to the orchestrated change in body chemistry.

Some side effects of hormone medications may be annoying, aggravating, or really difficult, depending on the type of drug you take, the dose, whether you take one or more hormones, and your own physiology and general health. If you take hormones for a short period, you shouldn't have any problem tolerating their side effects.

When you take hormones, tell your physician about any side effects you experience. Don't be the strong and silent type who never complains. The downside of never complaining is that your doctor has no idea how much you're suffering, so he won't offer you any medications or other solutions to make you feel significantly better. Your family members will appreciate it too, because men who don't feel well can be very difficult people to be around.

The following sections describe common side effects you may experience when taking hormones.

Hot Flashes: When most people think of hot flashes - which are momentary feelings of heat all over your body, like you were quickly thrown into a sauna and then tossed right out again - they think of older women going through menopause. But men can experience hot flashes, as well.

If you find that the hot flashes caused by your hormone therapy are really difficult for you to cope with, talk to your doctor. A variety of established medicines can help alleviate your hot flashes, such as a very low dose of estrogen or a hormone drug called Megace (generic name: megestrol acetate). Some alternative medicines may also help with hot flashes.

Irritability & Mood Swings: Hormones can transform Mr. Nice into Mr. Extremely Irritable. If you're suffering from bouts of extreme irritability, don't worry: You're not having a total and permanent personality change. But the emotional impact of your irritable behavior can be tough for you (and your loved ones) to take.

As much as possible, make a concerted effort to think first before snarling and lashing out. Count to ten when you find that your emotions are difficult to control. It really does help. You need to realize that, when you get used to the hormone therapy or it's done, Mr. Nice (or Mr. Average, or whoever you were before hormone therapy) will be back in the driver's seat of your mind again. If the hormone therapy is permanent, the mood swings will lessen with time. If the mood changes become too severe, ask your doctor about antidepressants or other mood-altering therapies. They usually work.

Decreased Sex Drive: When you take hormones to fight cancer, your sex drive may be very low or even reduced to zero. With no sex drive, you'll likely become impotent. Impotence may upset your partner, but it may not upset you a lot, because of your missing-in-action sex drive - except that you may feel bad that you really can't have intercourse with your partner while you're taking hormones. (But don't forget: Just because you can't have intercourse doesn't mean that you have to give up sex altogether. You can still pay attention to your partner sexually, even if you're not in the mood yourself.)

If you're on intermittent therapy, your doctor may eventually take you off hormones for a while. In many cases, your sexual desire and potency will return after the drugs are out of your system and you begin producing testosterone again.

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There are several things you can do to maximize your chance for a successful operation and minimize your risk for complications.

1. Ask your surgeon about your daily routines. Do you need to change your eating or exercise habits before surgery?

Stop smoking. Stopping smoking is very important to minimize your risk of lung complications following surgery. Your doctor can provide nicotine patches and refer you to smoking cessation programs to help you quit.

2. Ask about medications. Which medications do you need to take prior to surgery? Which ones should you stop taking? If you take a blood-thinning medication such as Coumadin, aspirin, or Motrin, stop taking it at least seven days before your surgery. Also, let your doctor know about any herbal preparations or vitamin/mineral supplements you take. Some of them have been associated with complications.

3. Ask your doctor about taking home an incentive spirometer. This device is effective for improving breathing immediately after surgery. No bigger than a bread-box, it is light and mobile and has a plastic tube that you blow into. Take one home and practice with it one week before your operation.

4. Carefully follow your bowel prep instructions. Proper bowel prep can minimize infection and maximize the success of your surgery. Your surgeon should provide you with step-by-step instructions. Two days prior to surgery, you'll need to begin a liquid diet as directed by your doctor. The next step involves drinking either a gallon of a lime-flavored purging liquid or several tablespoons of Fleets Phosphosoda mixed with water. In addition, your doctor will give you several antibiotic pills to complete the bowel preparation process.

5. Consider your own blood. Some people worry about receiving tainted blood in a blood transfusion during or after surgery. All donated blood is rigorously tested, so the risk of receiving tainted blood is very low, less than 0.01 percent. However, to alleviate this concern, you can donate your own blood weeks in advance of the operation or have a relative with the same blood type donate blood for you. By setting up your own (autologous) blood or a relative's donated blood, the risk' of receiving tainted blood drops to zero. Prior to your operation, ask your surgeon about the chances of requiring a blood transfusion and the feasibility of donating your own blood.

Operation Day

At the hospital on the morning of your operation, you'll be asked to fill out several admission and registration forms. Next you'll change into a hospital gown and enter the preoperative holding area, the last stop before entering the operating room. Loved ones will be able to stay with you in the holding area right up to the time you go into the operating room. Here, you'll meet the nurses and the anesthesiologist who will be involved in your operation. Your surgeon may also come by to see if you have any last-minute questions or concerns.

While you're in the preoperative holding area, an intravenous (IV) line will be started in your arm, and your medical chart will be examined for completeness. You will also be given antibiotics through the IV. Just before you enter the operating room, the anesthesiologist will give you an intravenous medicine to ease any nervousness you may have.

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As with chemotherapy, certain forms of medical radiation can lead to an increased risk of cancer. The benefits of using these types of medical radiation, however, generally far outweigh the risks associated with them.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells and treat or control cancer. Radiation therapy's cancer-causing potential was recognized many years ago. In fact, much of our knowledge about ionizing radiation has come from studying the survivors of the atomic bombs and their radiation in Japan, from workers' occupational exposure to radiation, and from patients treated with radiation therapy for malignant and nonmalignant disease. Despite being relatively rare, the development of a second cancer is more common among those who receive radiation therapy than those who do not.

It's a fine balance. You have to weigh the risk against the medical benefit. If you have a cancer and you're going to be treated with radiation, you should be concerned about the risk of developing a second cancer, but not to the extent that you turn down possible treatment. On the other hand, you should certainly discuss the treatment options fully with your doctor.

Most cases of leukemia related to radiation exposure develop within a few years of exposure, peaking at five to nine years then slowly declining. Most other forms of cancer do not occur until ten years after radiation exposure, and some cancers are diagnosed even fifteen or more years later. Radiation-related leukemia risk depends on a number of factors, such as the amount of radiation received, the percentage of bone marrow exposed to radiation, and whether the patient was also treated with chemotherapy.

Studies of radiation-related breast cancer have found the greatest risk in women who were irradiated as children and adolescents for other conditions. (The most common reason for adolescents to have chest radiation is Hodgkin's disease, a type of lymphoma.) Oncologists (doctors specializing in cancer treatment) know about the increased risk of breast cancer in these women and generally recommend that they have vigilant lifetime screening for breast cancer. However, most studies of individuals with Hodgkin's disease have found no increased breast cancer risk among women who receive radiation at 30 years and older.

X-rays and Mammography: Many people are concerned about their exposure to x-rays. X-rays (including mammograms, x-rays of the breast) use doses of radiation that are many times lower than those used in radiation therapy. As with radiation therapy, studies in the past have shown that there appears to be some risk in receiving many x-ray examinations, particularly for children who have multiple x-rays. The level of radiation in modern x-rays is much lower than that used even 25 years ago and poses much less of a risk. While it's a good idea to minimize repeat exposures whenever possible, especially in children, it's important not to avoid necessary x-rays.

CT Scans: Computed tomography (CT) scans use larger doses of radiation than those found in conventional x-rays. Again, concern has been raised over the possibility of an increased cancer risk in children who receive multiple CT scans. Ways to lower radiation doses without compromising medical value are encouraged.

Another potential source of exposure to radiation are whole-body CT scans, which some people are now requesting as part of a regular health checkup as a way to screen for cancer and other diseases. Many groups, including the PDA, have expressed concern over this practice because there is little evidence of its usefulness, and it exposes people to unnecessary radiation. Sometimes CT scans are available in shopping malls. They are advertising for healthy people to come in and get whole-body scans. This is unnecessary and inappropriate.

However, whole-body CT scans do have their place. They can save the lives of accident victims who need quick evaluation to determine if they have a ruptured spleen or punctured lung. They are also effective in diagnosing some chronic conditions.

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Whether the doctor you're considering is a urologist or an oncologist, it's a very good idea to ask him some basic questions in person before signing up. Some men who've had prostate cancer say that they wish they would've asked more questions before agreeing to treatment, because they believe that a more experienced doctor might have preserved their sexual potency or provided them with better treatment. Learn from their mistakes and ask questions. You're making a pivotal decision, because the treatments the doctor provides will have a significant effect on your life - hopefully, a significantly positive effect!

Here are some questions to consider when talking to a urologist, radiation oncologist, or medical oncologist, as well as any other specialists you communicate with:

Have you treated many cases of prostate cancer? This question is more tactful than asking directly how many cases of cancer the doctor has treated. But you may prefer the direct approach, and that's okay, too.

The answer will usually generate a number (such as, "I've treated over a thousand cases since 1990") or some other answer. Seek someone with experience. If the doctor is a surgeon, he should perform at least 15 prostatectomies a year and have several hundred or more under his belt.

About what percentage of your prostate cancer patients are around my age? This is important, because if you're 50 years old, for example, and nearly all the doctor's patients have been older than 70, he may be less knowledgeable about preserving your sexual potency or your urinary continence than a doctor who treats patients closer to your age.

What are the possible side effects of the specific treatments you recommend? The doctor should talk to you about possible problems with impotence, mood swings, and other side effects. If the doctor waves away your questions or tells you to ask the nurse to explain everything, he's not the right doctor for you.

What is your success rate with the preservation of potency and continence? If he cites "the literature," tell him that you want to know about his results, not the general results for all doctors.

Do you see prostate cancer as a treatable illness? The answer should at least be a qualified "yes," because you want to be treated by a doctor who's going to fight for you, even if your case is a difficult one. Of course, you need to accept what he tells you, as well.

Now That You've Chosen Your Prostate Cancer Specialist…

When you find a specialist you want to work with, it's vitally important that you understand what the doctor proposes to do, as well as what he wants you to do, and that you feel comfortable conveying concerns and questions to him. You need to establish a basic trust level and feel confident enough to ask the doctor about worrisome issues.

You, like many people, may fear that you're "bothering" the doctor when you ask him questions. Or you may worry that the doctor will think that you're stupid or annoying if you ask questions. This is rarely true. To communicate effectively with your doctor, follow these basic hints:

1. If you don't understand what your doctor says, don't say that you do. If possible, rephrase what you think he said, and then ask if you understand him correctly. ("Doctor, you're saying that I need to lose weight before surgery, correct? If so, how much weight, and how fast do I need to lose it?")

2. If you really don't get anything that your doctor says, ask him to explain it again, but in very simple terms. It's also a good idea to ask him to explain any words or phrases that you don't understand.

3. Tell your doctor that you're upset, and it's hard for you to grasp what he's saying (assuming this is true). Ask if he can explain it again at your next appointment.

4. Bring your partner or a friend with you when the doctor explains his treatment plan. They may be upset, because they care about you, but they'll probably be able to listen better than you can.

5. Take notes when your doctor talks to you. Then ask him about any points that are unclear to you.

6. Ask your most important questions first. Don't ask major questions last, when the doctor is walking out the door to see other patients.

7. When you start your treatment, be sure to tell your doctor if you have problems. Listen carefully to his suggestions on how to resolve them.

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Going through external beam radiation therapy is a lot like getting a routine x-ray: You feel nothing, and you see nothing. You do, however, hear something - the buzzing and clicking of the machine that delivers the radiation to the cancer site.

Most often, the machine used during external radiation therapy is a linear accelerator (LINAC for short). A time-tested machine that is updated as improvements are developed, the LINAC can deliver beams of both low and high-energy photons and electrons. Other machines used in external beam radiation therapy include orthovoltage x-ray machines and cobalt-60 machines, which deliver low-energy beams.

Several different types of external beam radiation are available. Keep in mind that the necessary equipment is not always available in smaller hospitals. To get the treatment you need, you may have to travel to a medical center that has the up-to-date, high-tech equipment required.

1. Photon/electron Radiation Therapy: The most common form of radiation therapy in use is high-energy photon (x-ray) beam radiation, which is used to destroy or shrink tumors and to destroy any cancer cells in an area where a tumor has been removed. Most cancers are treated with high-energy photon radiation. Low-energy radiation is used to treat surface tumors.

Electrons are charged particles used to treat more superficial tumor sites, such as lymph nodes in the neck; to boost treatment of a breast cancer site; or to treat skin cancers. Electron beams have different energies and must be carefully chosen for the appropriate depth of the cancer being treated. Often, patients are treated with a combination of photons (x-rays) and electrons (accelerated charged particles).

2. Three-Dimensional Con Format Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT): Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy calls on computers and computer-assisted tomography scans (also know as CT or CAT scans), along with magnetic resonance imaging scans (MR or MRI scans), to create a three-dimensional representation of a tumor and the surrounding organs. Tools called multileaf collimators, or blocks, match the radiation beams to the size and shape of the tumor. This allows for less radiation exposure to nearby normal tissue.

3. Intensity modulated Radiation Therapy (1MRT): This type of radiation therapy is a form of 3D-CRT that breaks the radiation beam into many small "beamlets," with individually adjusted levels of intensity. Sometimes, IMRT can be used to deliver a higher dose of radiation directly to the tumor while limiting radiation received by normal tissues. This currently is the most precise, cutting-edge form of external radiation, and it requires meticulous planning and quality assurance on the part of the radiation oncologist, physicist, dosimetrist, and radiation therapists.

4. Proton Beam Radiation Therapy: Proton beam therapy uses protons (charged particles), rather than x-rays, to treat cancer. Proton therapy provides a sharper beam, which may be useful in treating lesions close to the spinal cord, for example. However, there's a price to pay for that precision: potentially intensified side effects. This therapy is very costly, and few proton beam therapy machines are available in the United States.

5. Neutron Beam Radiation Therapy: Some tumors that are radio-resistant, or difficult to kill with conventional radiation therapy, can be treated with neutron beam therapy. This type of therapy occasionally is used to treat some inoperable tumors, though most often such tumors are treated with radiation therapy using photon (x-ray) and electron radiation therapy.

6. Stereotactic Radiation Therapy: In Stereotactic radiation therapy, high doses of radiation are focused on a small area, no larger than 2 to 3 centimeters. Also, many beams of high-dose radiation converge on the tumor from different directions. This therapy is often used to treat small tumors in the head, brain, lungs, and other sites.

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The major cause of leukemia is the longtime, continuous consumption of foods and beverages that include sugar, sugar-treated foods and drinks, ice cream, chocolate, carob, honey, soft drinks and soda, tropical fruits, fruit juices, oily and greasy foods, dairy foods, especially butter, milk, and cream, and many chemicals contained in foods, beverages, and supplements. All of these should be avoided in daily eating.

However, the consumption of these items is often accompanied by the intake of foods from the extreme opposite category as the foods explained above, including meat, poultry, eggs, and cheese in order to achieve a rough counterbalance. Accordingly, all these animal foods are also to be avoided, with the exception of fish and seafood, which can be consumed occasionally in moderate volume. Although they are not the direct cause, the following enhance leukemic conditions and should also be discontinued: ice-cold food and drinks, hot, stimulant and aromatic spices, various herbs and herb drinks that have stimulant effects, and vegetables that historically originated in the tropics including potato, tomato, and eggplant.

Following are daily dietary suggestions for the prevention and relief of leukemia in older children or adults:

Fifty to sixty percent whole-cereal grains. All pressure-cooked cereal grains are recommended, though brown rice and barley are most suitable as daily staples. They can be cooked often in the form of soup together with vegetables and a small volume of sea vegetables. Whole-grain bread can also be used occasionally if unyeasted. Wholewheat or buckwheat pasta and noodles may also be used a few times a week.

Five to ten percent soup. Miso or tamari soy sauce soup cooked with sea vegetables such as wakame or kombu, together with vegetables such as carrots and onions are to be the staple soups. Both miso and tamari soy sauce should be a type that has fermented naturally for one-and-a-half years or longer. Barley miso or hatcho miso is preferable to other types of miso.

Together with sea vegetables and vegetables, soup can be made occasionally with whole grains such as brown rice, barley, millet, or buckwheat. Less frequently, a small portion of white-meat fish or small dried fish can also be cooked into the soup with vegetables, sea vegetables, and/or grains. Two to three times a week, vegetables may be lightly sauteed with a small volume of sesame oil or corn oil before cooking them in the soup.

Twenty to thirty percent vegetables. Except for potato, tomato, eggplant, and other vegetables originally native to the tropics, vegetables can be prepared in a variety of cooking styles. In general, leafy vegetables, round, hard vegetables grown near the surface of the earth, and root vegetables can be used in about equal volume. During cooking, they can be seasoned moderately with sea salt, tamari soy sauce, or miso. Unrefined vegetable oil, especially sesame or corn oil, may be used for sauteing vegetables several times a week, though oil should not be over-consumed. Fresh raw salads are to be avoided except a few times a week and can be replaced by boiled salads and homemade pickled vegetables.

Five to ten percent beans and their natural products. Smaller beans such as azuki beans, lentils, chickpeas, and black beans can be used often, cooked with such sea vegetables as kombu, fall-season, hard, sweet squash, or small volumes of onions and carrots. Bean products such as tempeh, natto, and tofu can be cooked and used for occasional change.

Five percent or less sea vegetables. All cooked, edible sea vegetables are recommended as a natural mineral source, especially a small dish of hijiki or arame a few times a week. Sea vegetables can be cooked with other vegetables or sauteed with a small volume of sesame oil after softening them by soaking and boiling lightly in water.

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The chemotherapy used to treat cancer is generally well tolerated by most people. Most side effects are mild and can be treated with medication.

Mouth Sores: Chemotherapy can cause painful sores and ulcers on the lips, mouth, gums, and throat. These sores can become infected. They can also make eating and drinking difficult, which can lead to dehydration. Fortunately, mouth sores disappear once the treatments have concluded. Ask your doctor about medication to treat these sores. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid spicy, sauce-based foods. Eat soft foods such as baby food, milk shakes, or ice cream until your condition improves. Here are additional suggestions for coping with mouth sores:

1. See your dentist if possible before chemotherapy to have your teeth cleaned and any cavities filled.
2. Brush and floss your teeth properly, using a soft toothbrush; hard bristles can damage tissues.
3. Rinse your toothbrush well after use and store it in a dry place.
4. Avoid commercial mouthwashes that contain a lot of salt or alcohol. Ask your doctor or nurse about a mouthwash that you might use. Your dentist may recommend a fluoride rinse or special gel for oral care.

Low Blood Counts: Chemotherapy can damage actively dividing cells in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is an important source of red blood cells, infection-fighting white blood cells, and cells that help the blood to clot. By temporarily damaging bone marrow cells, chemotherapy can cause anemia, a low red blood cell count. Chemotherapy can also reduce the number of platelets, cells that help clot the blood. If your platelet counts get too low, you can bleed or bruise very easily. If you notice unexpected bruises on your body, contact your doctor immediately.

Fortunately, the chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat cancer have mild effects on bone marrow and do not present a major problem. Once chemotherapy has stopped, the low blood counts are completely treatable and reversible. Your doctor should monitor your blood counts with periodic blood work.

Infections: Chemotherapy can also lower your white blood cell count. This may lead to a weakening of the immune system, which makes an individual susceptible to infections. If you're receiving chemotherapy, you are more prone to get infections throughout the body, including pneumonia, blood infections, urine infections, and skin infections. Be alert for the signs of infection - fever over 100 degrees, shaking chills, sweats, coughing up dark or bloody sputum, pain or burning with urination, and pain or redness around cuts. If you feel an infection coming on, notify your doctor immediately. Infections can be effectively treated with antibiotics. To reduce your risk of infection:

1. Stay away from people who have diseases that you can catch, such as a cold, the flu, the measles, or chicken pox.
2. Wash your hands often during the day, especially after using the bathroom.
3. Clean your rectal area gently but thoroughly after each bowel movement. Notify your doctor or nurse if this area becomes irritated or if you have hemorrhoids.
4. Stay away from children who have recently received vaccinations.
5. Clean cuts and scrapes right away.
6. Wear gloves when gardening or cleaning up after pets or small children.
7. Use a soft toothbrush that won't hurt your gums.
8. Be careful not to cut or nick yourself.

Rashes: Chemotherapy used to treat cancer can result in rashes on your hands or feet. These rashes can itch and be painful. However, they are temporary. Ask your doctor about medication to relieve the itching. Try to avoid scratching, which can lead to infections requiring antibiotics.

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If all women were having routine mammography, 90% of all breast cancers would be found by X ray. If you have found a lump yourself, you're in good company. It may seem startling, but most malignant lumps are still found by women themselves, either through self-examination or else by chance.

Women know how their own bodies normally feel at various times during the month. They know the contours of their own breasts, and they are therefore in the best position to notice any changes. The more familiar you are with your breasts, the better prepared you are to detect any changes.

The first step in identifying potential problems is to learn as much about your own breasts as you can. Breast self-examination is the best way to do that, though being alert to your breast contours even when you're not specifically examining them can be extremely useful. Many women have found a suspicious lump when they were washing themselves in the shower or scratching a mosquito bite. Even "accidental" discoveries such as these, however, are much more likely if you have already learned the topography of your breast through self-examination.

Sometimes, either accidentally or in deliberately examining your breasts, you may notice that there is a painful spot. This is not at all uncommon. There is an old saying, "If it hurts, it's not cancer." That's usually true, but in a very small percentage of cases, cancerous lumps do hurt. You should call the painful place to your physician's attention.

By learning the techniques of self-examination, you are not specifically learning how to discover a cancer. You are learning to spot changes in your breasts that may or may not mean trouble.

When it is done properly, breast self-examination can significantly reduce the risk of advanced-stage cancer. Unfortunately, most women do not know the proper technique. Learning it could greatly increase the possibility of detecting a cancer in its early stages.

Here are a few tips to get you started in the right direction:

1. A good time to start examinations for lumps is in the late teens or early twenties. That's usually when women first visit a gynecologist or a women's health facility, and this is a convenient opportunity to begin to learn how to perform self-examination and to incorporate the habit into your life.

2. Never stop giving yourself self-examinations! It is an easy thing to do, and you should continue the procedure throughout your life, especially since breast cancer becomes more common as you get older.

3. You must examine your breasts, carefully and thoroughly, once a month. In addition to this scheduled, thorough examination, however, you'll find that as you become familiar with the appearance and contours of your breasts, you'll also be a more alert observer of any changes that may take place between examinations.

4. You should schedule the timing of self examination to the menstrual cycle because the breast's texture and contour often change during the month. You may have noticed that a few days before you get your period, the breasts become firmer and fuller. They also can become tender - in some women slightly so, in others quite painfully. The breasts may feel lumpy at that time of the month. This is a natural result of premenstrual engorgement. It does not indicate a cyst or a cancerous lump.

The swelling, tenderness, and lumpiness will almost certainly disappear after you menstruate. For these reasons, you should not perform your regular breast self-examination just before
your menstrual period.

5. Examine your breasts every month, ten days after the start of your period. If you miss the tenth day, do your examination as soon afterward as you can. Do not wait until the next month to "catch up."

Post-menopausal women should examine their breasts on the first day of every month; this makes it easy to remember.

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