GARDENING AND CANCER PREVENTION: According to the University of Texas’ M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, lifelong nonsmokers can reduce the risk of developing lung cancer by 50% if they spent time gardening just one or two times a week. For former smokers, this amount of activity was found to reduce their risk by 40%. Researchers do not necessarily know if gardening is more effective in fighting cancer than other physical activities, but it was the most common one shared amongst the participants in the study. M.D. Anderson professor and epidemiologist Michele R. Forman, Ph.D., believes that the benefits of gardening may be the result of vitamin D-supplying sun exposure and the actual exercise involved.BREAST CANCER: Broadly defined, breast cancer is a malignant tumor formed by a mass of cells in an individual’s breast. Tumors occur due to a mutation of the genes specialized in regulating cell growth and health. These mutated genes, which are located in the nucleus of affected cells, cause a disruption in the cell’s natural death cycle and often stimulate the overproduction of similar cells – resulting in a cancerous tumor. Breast cancer typically begins in the cells of glands called lobules, which are responsible for producing milk, but may also be initially found in the milk-transporting ducts or, rarely, the connective stromal tissues of the breasts. The cancerous cells spread to healthy breast tissue and advance to the underarm lymph nodes. 90% of breast cancers are caused by genetic irregularities that often result from aging (SOURCE: breastcancer.org)
STAGES OF BREAST CANCER: According to breastcancer.org, Stage 0 is the least advanced stage, wherein the cancer cells have not spread outside of the breast duct. Stage I classifies a 2cm or less spread, which has not reached any areas not contained in the breast. When the nearby lymphnodes are affected, but no tumors exist in the breast, or if the tumor in the breast is only 2cm or smaller and has not travelled to the lymph nodes (or if it’s over 2cm and smaller than 5cm) then the breast cancer is said to be in Stage IIA. If the tumor is bigger than 2cm but smaller than 5, and has travelled to the lymph nodes, it is in Stage IIB, which also classifies tumors bigger than 5cm that haven’t spread to the lymph nodes. Stage IIIA classifies cancerous cells in either the auxiliary lymph nodes, that did not spread from the breast and have begun to stick to nearby structures, or the breastbone lymph nodes. In Stage IIIB, the tumor has affected the wall of the chest or the breast’s skin and may have spread to the auxiliary or breastbone lymph nodes and possibly stuck to other structures as well. If these conditions exist and also spread to lymph nodes above the collar bone, then the cancer belongs in Stage IIIC. Stage IV occurs when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
For More Information, Contact:
Kathy J. Hezlsouer, MD, MHS
Director, Prevention and Research Center
Mercy Medical Center
khelzlsouer@mdmercy.com
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