Different Types of Breast Cancer Drugs

As breast cancer survivors would attest, the journey to purging the body of the cancer cells is not easy. The good thing about the struggles that one has to overcome during treatment however is the fact that one feels like a real winner when health is finally regained. The easiest way to handle treatment is to gain knowledge about the breast cancer drugs and their side effects. Once this is done, the patient is in a better position to prepare him or herself psychologically for the treatment regimens and the effects that may come with them.

Some of the most common breast cancer drugs are used in chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy. Drugs in the chemotherapy regimen are intended to stop further multiplication of the cancer cells. They include drugs such as Flurouracil, Epurubicin, Clyclophosphamide, Adrriamycin Methotrexate, and Mitozantrone among others. Some of these cancer treatments are used in combination in order to give the patient maximum benefits. The most common side effects experienced when the chemotherapy drugs are used include hair loss, nausea, premature menopause, fatigue, hot flashes, and temporary low blood count. Once complete healing is attained however, most of these side effects disappear. Some like menopause are however permanent.

Hormone therapy includes the use of cancer drugs such as Tamoxifen, Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin. Tamoxifen is specifically used in pre-menopausal women, while Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin are administered on postmenopausal women. Drugs administered under the hormone therapy regimen inhibit cancer cells from growing by preventing the release of the estrogen hormone by the body. The hormone therapy drugs are often used after breast cancer surgery to prevent further growth of cancer cells in the breasts. Taxol is also another cancer drug that falls in the hormonal inhibiting category. The drug is specifically administered to patients who had received Adriamycin during chemotherapy. Some of the noted side effects for the drugs as used in the hormone therapy regimen are manifested through vaginal dryness and hot flashes. When Taxol is used, patients may experience tingling or numbness of their feet and hands, and muscular pains. Painful joints are also a common complaint among patients receiving Taxol treatment. Other drugs such as Herceptin fall in the biological therapy regimen. Drugs in this category work by boosting the patient's immune system. The immune system in turn acts by destroying existing cancer cells.

The specific type of breast cancer drugs to be used on an individual patient is determined by the oncologist based on the patient's condition. Depending on the patients age, health condition, resistance to specific cancer treatments and the stage of cancer, the oncologist may recommend different or a combination of breast cancer treatments. Notably however, the list of cancer drugs will continue growing in coming days, especially because researchers continue investigating newer and more effective treatment methods. Patients may also benefit from newer drug discoveries through taking part in clinical trials.

How Menopause Can Effect Your Appetite

Menopause is a condition that all women face. It is a normal part of nature's cycle and is something that is inescapable. Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. The ovaries stop producing eggs and estrogen and progesterone production is decreased dramatically. It is important to remember that you are not alone.

Every woman, to some extent, will experience what you are going through. True, not everyone has the same level of severity when it comes to menopause and there are a variety of symptoms involved. Besides the common symptoms of hot flashes, anger, depression, foggy thinking - a woman's body is going through so many rapid changes that nearly every system is affected in some way.

One of the common, but little known, symptoms of menopause is change in appetite. This change in appetite can work in two ways. Women can push food away and lose the desire to eat properly or they can experience a dramatic increase in appetite. Both situations can be potentially unhealthy. Fortunately, there are ways to cope with appetite changes due to menopause.

Menopause is essentially a change in a your chemical composition. It is a completely natural process. Researchers have proven that in addition to many of the symptoms previously mentioned, many women experience dramatic changes in appetite. Most commonly, women experiencing menopause experience a gain in appetite. This can lead to unhealthy eating practices and weight gain.

To cope with appetite changes you must be proactive: as with anything else, waiting around for something to get better means not a lot is likely to happen, meanwhile the pounds creep ever upwards. The bodily changes that occur during menopause do not allow your body to burn calories at the rate it used to. This means you have to make up for not only an increase in appetite, but a sluggish metabolism!

So, how can you overcome this? The answers may seem simple on the outset, but the struggle to maintain your weight is not easy. First, it is important to increase your activity level. Weight and resistance training are good bets to improve your health and metabolic functioning. As women age there is a natural decrease in activity - this is true for men as well. However, women experiencing menopause have to fight a more uphill battle.

In addition to exercise, nutrition is an important consideration. Eat healthy meals, lots of fruit and foods high in fiber. Monitor intake of high-fat foods and try to stay away from fast food and fried foods. Start each meal being conscious of keeping portion size down to a minimum - your body most likely does not need everything on the plate. Fill up on healthy, low in saturated fats foods before considering higher calorie options.

Although it does happen, it is less common for women going through the menopause to experience a reduction in appetite. While on the surface this may seem like a great way to shed a few pounds, it can lead to a lack of proper nutrition.

Should you find your appetite has diminished, make sure that you take vitamins and minerals that will allow you to keep your body functioning as well as it can. Menopause wreaks havoc on your body, so you have to counterbalance what is happening. Try to have a few small meals or healthy snacks throughout the day. If sitting down for a big meal isn't working for you, this may be the way to go!

Menopause and appetite go hand in hand. It is important for you to recognize that you are going through a natural process that only seems unnatural. Take the proper steps to control your appetite consciously and you will be better able to cope with whatever the menopause throws at you.

Anxiety and Menopause: Understanding Anxiety Symptoms in Women

One of the most common menopause symptoms is anxiety. But why is this? We know what causes anxiety is often rooted in medical and psychological conditions. But it turns out that the anxiety symptoms in women in perimenopause and menopause are due in large part to the fluctuating levels of hormones, most notably estrogen and progesterone.

How Estrogen Affects Anxiety

One reason that menopause contributes to increases in feelings of anxiety is because menopause is marked by declining levels of estrogen. Estrogen has been proven to have a significant impact on levels of certain chemicals in the brain. The neurotransmitters serotonin, nor-epinephrine, dopamine, and melatonin are all very important in regulating our moods and emotions and are also impacted by estrogen levels in our bodies. As the level of estrogen fluctuates, so do the levels of these mood-balancing chemicals, resulting in mood swings and anxiety.

How Progesterone Affects Anxiety

Another player in the relationship between anxiety and menopause is progesterone. In a typical menstrual cycle, progesterone levels increase in the second half of the cycle in response to ovulation. But in perimenopause, we begin experiencing irregular periods because there are months where we don't ovulate. If we don't ovulate then progesterone is not produced, and we don't receive the benefit of its calming, relaxing effect.

And since our progesterone levels are so low, this leaves us in a state of "estrogen dominance." Again, estrogen significantly impacts our mood-regulating brain chemicals, so when estrogen levels are too high or too low, our emotions, including anxiety, can be all over the board.

There are many options for curing anxiety, including prescription drugs. But for many women suffering from anxiety, natural remedies are the preferred treatment. Several herbal supplements, including valerian, catnip, and passionflower, are good alternatives to the current available prescription medications.

7 Andropause Symptoms That Every Man Should Know

There are actually no less than 30 million males around the globe who could experience erectile dysfunction sooner or later in their lives. Beyond experiencing a mid-life crisis, andropause or male menopause is one of the life-changing phases any man will encounter. If you put in all of the other discomforts then it's likely that these men will require treatments.

As a man, you should be aware of these andropause symptoms in advance, so you will know how to deal with it when you reach that point.

1. Diminishing Sexual Urge

Every time a male feels much less desire in having sex then he will do it less often. During your 20's, the standard is around three or four times per week, when this gets controlled, you get to have one to two times each month. Given this is the time you get to your fifties, and it is for the reason that sex gets less pleasurable.

2. Exhaustion and Poor Energy Level

During your earlier years, it was effortless to move all day long with little recourse, however, with male menopause your pace is going to decrease. Sooner or later, you will see that basic activities take more time and require a lot more attempts.

3. Physical Makeup

Each time a male gets inactive, he drops about 10 percent of the toned body mass once you hit 30. This takes place almost every decade, indicating you are likely to reduce lean muscles. If there is muscular decrease, it will be substituted with fat. This will make a male overweight. It will then produce several health related problems.

4. Memory Lapse and Failure to Focus

Everyone forgets details every once in a while, but when you observe a greater change then this might be one of the andropause symptoms. Among the strong points of a male is his power to concentrate, and without it anyone could be depressed or feel worthless.

5. Unusual Feelings and Thoughts

In case you are observing more irritability, anger, depression and anxiety the whole day, then people may have difficulty working with you. It is an,obvious manifestation of male menopause.

6. Sleep Problem

People need sleep, but when you are consistently going through disrupted sleep, then your system may have a more difficult time rejuvenating itself. Lots of men have problems sleeping especially at their andropause stage. In time, this could develop a number of health problems when not solved.

7. Indecision and Low Self-Confidence

Dealing with problems is a component of being a male. You get the feeling of efficiency, competence and power to do anything. If you are going through andropause symptoms, all these start to deteriorate.

One way to combat male menopause is through testosterone therapy. This will improve the overall health of any aging man. It will boost your libido, mental performance and endurance. It will lower your risk of developing heart problems. This therapy along with supplemental vitamins prescribed by your doctor can help lessen the adropause symptoms.

Cause Of Hair Loss - A Comprehensive 13 Point Checklist

There may not be a single cause of hair loss in many cases but rather a number of factors may contribute to thinning or losing hair.

The following 13 point checklist will help you identify which causes of hair loss may apply in your case. But first a word about hair growth cycles.

Hair Growth Cycles

Hair is constantly going through cycles of growth, resting, shedding. When hairs that are lost are not replaced, or when more hair follicles go into the resting phase, hair loss becomes noticeable.

While there is ongoing debate regarding causes of hair loss, the list below shows many of the common contributing factors:

#1: Ageing

The period for hair loss is between the 20 and 50 years of age. Some individuals arrive at the advance stages of hair loss sooner than others although it becomes increasingly evident as people advance in age.

#2: Cosmetic Chemicals

This can be an unrecognized cause of hair loss, especially bleaching, permanents, and coloring products.

#3: Drugs/Medications/Radiation

This cause of hair loss can include anticoagulants, antidepressants, contraceptive pills, amphetamines, some arthritis medications, some antibiotics, some blood thinners, medicines for gout, drugs derived from vitamin-A, certain drugs for ulcers, beta blocker drugs for high blood pressure.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy halt the growth phase of hair follicles which results in a sudden hair loss as those follicles all shed their hair at about the same time.

#4: Heredity

Androgenetic alopecia is the term used to describe a genetic predisposition in men and women for pattern baldness or pattern hair loss. Although there is a dominant tendency for male pattern baldness, female members of a family can be transmitters as well.

#5: Hormonal Imbalance

If the male and female hormones, androgens and estrogens, are out of balance, hair loss may result. Also an overactive or underactive thyroid gland can contribute to hair loss.

#6: Illness and Severe Infections

These can include scalp fungal infections, Thyroid disorders, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Diabetes, Lupus.

#7: Immune System Disorder

Alopecia areata is an immune system disorder which causes hair follicles to stop producing hairs. Advanced forms of the disorder are identified by the terms alopecia totalis when all head hair disappears, and alopecia universalis which results in all body hair disappearing.

#8: Menopause

This can be a main cause of hair loss in women. Due to hormonal changes after menopause, some women find their hair begins to thin.

There are a variety of treatments available involving hormone replacement therapy (HRT). There may be side effects in some cases and experimentation may be necessary under the guidance of a physician.

#9: Poor Blood Circulation

Poor blood flow to the scalp, insufficient nutrients in the blood, or poor drainage of waste products through the lymphatic systems can all contribute to hair loss.

#10: Pregnancy

Three to six months after delivering a child, many women notice a degree of hair loss as the hair goes into a resting phase because of the physiological impact of the pregnancy on the body.

#11: Pulling

Traction Alopecia is the term used to describe loss of hair from constant pulling, as with tightly braided hair styles such as pony tails.

Also the improper use of curling tongs or rollers can tug the hair so it weakens.

#12: Sebum Buildup

A basic cause of hair loss is sebum buildup in the follicles which attacks the hair bulb, the rounded area at the end of a hair strand which is rooted in the follicle. Sebum causes the hair bulb to shrink so the hair is not as well rooted.

After the hair falls out the new hair strand growing in that follicle is weaker and thinner and the process is repeated until the hair follicle is so damaged it dies. (Sebum is a fatty substance secreted from the sebaceous glands most of which open into hair follicles.)

#13: Stress and Nervous Disorders

Telogen Effluvium is the term used for a slowing down of new hair growth because of sudden or severe stress. The stress triggers a large number of hair follicles to enter the resting stage, so a few months after the stressful event, those follicles shed hair at about the same time.

From the list above you may be able to identify the main cause of hair loss in your case. Don't hesitate to get professional advice from a medical practitioner if the reason is beyond your direct control. Early action can save much anxiety later!

Helpful Tips For Surviving Menopause in One Piece

As a woman reaching that "certain" age in life, you know that menopause is coming. You can plan for it all you want, but that doesn't make the symptoms any easier to deal with, right? These symptoms of menopause can last for many months, even years, and can sometimes continue after menopause. That is because your body is slowly learning to live with a reduced level of hormones. Let's talk about some of the challenges you may face after the "change" and give you some easy tips that you can use in your everyday life to make post menopausal life somewhat more pleasant.

For many women, it can feel like you're at the mercy of your own body, but there are things you can do to minimize the impact of hormone reductions. For a start, nutrition and exercise play a major role in the health of women in this time. It may mean being disciplined enough to make a significant change in your lifestyle, but you'll feel much better about yourself in every way. If you think of this as a chance to improve yourself and your habits, it will be much easier than if you try to fight it!

It's also a good idea to start taking a multivitamin that is high in Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and folic acid. Vitamin D will help your body to absorb calcium, for bone building that is so important. Also if you are battling with night sweats then take a cool shower before bed, wear lighter cotton clothing to absorb sweat and keep yourself comfortable. Depending on what climate you live in, you may want to dress in layers so you can remove clothing as you get hot.

Another trick the body has in store for you is the diminished levels of estrogen have a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling your appetite, sex drive, sleep cycles, and body temperature. This big drop in estrogen confuses the hypothalamus, which is sometimes referred to as the body's thermostat, and this causes the body to overheat. Yes, even older women are "hot" sometimes! (Although they wish they weren't)

Your heart pumps faster, the blood vessels in your skin dilate to circulate more blood to radiate off the heat, and your sweat glands release sweat to cool you off even more. Eighty-five percent of the women in the United States experience hot flashes of some kind as they approach menopause and for the first year or two after menstruating has stopped. Once the post menopausal stage has been reached, this symptom should disappear, hopefully forever.

Birth Control or Hormone Replacement Therapy - Can These Affect Your Thyroid Function

Are you being treated for low thyroid symptoms, and are you also on birth control pills or undergoing hormone replacement therapy? If so, it's very important to ask your physician about the possible effects birth control pills or HRT might have on your thyroid, especially if you are suffering from low thyroid symptoms.

Today, experts in diagnosing and treating thyroid conditions know that therapies such as hormone replacement for menopause symptoms and birth control pills may actually exacerbate problems with the thyroid.

High levels of estrogen can interfere with thyroid function, as well as, hormones used in HRT. Such treatments may in effect further shut down the thyroid and cause a whole host of problems.

Ironically, HRT and birth control pills are often prescribed to alleviate hormonal complaints associated with menopause or menstruation problems, including hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances and excessive or irregular periods. Although many of these symptoms are hallmark traits of menopause, they are also symptoms that may be caused by or related to a low thyroid condition.

Ask your primary care physician the all important question, "Can my birth control pills or my hormone replacement therapy be causing my symptoms?" If the answer you receive is "no," or "there's really no connection between this and the thyroid," you should really consider other options available to you.

You should ask this question for another very important reason.

Although it may seem highly unlikely, the physician treating your low thyroid condition may not even be aware you are taking birth control pills or undergoing HRT. If a gynecologist or other medical care provider is prescribing these treatments, it's possible that it may not be included in your physician's medical records. Vice versa, the health care provider, may not realize you are being treated for low thyroid either.

Your treatment for low thyroid is unlikely to be successful or have your symptoms alleviated if these key factors that may be having an effect are not addressed. You and your physician must arrive at a solution that works for your health.

It's very clear in the research available today that the hormones in birth control pills and HRT can disrupt the thyroid function and cause you to have low thyroid symptoms. It's crucial that you evaluate all the options and all of the aspects of why you might have a thyroid problem. This is the only way to get the answers you need for your own health and wellness.