Common Cancer Facts That Women Need to Know About

!±8± Common Cancer Facts That Women Need to Know About

Did you know that the most common cancers that affect women are breast, colon, endometrial, ovarian, skin, cervical and lung cancer?  By learning a little about these cancers you can know what actions you can take to possibly save your life or the life of someone you care about.

Breast Cancer

The most common cancer that women may have to face in their lifetime is breast cancer.  This disease can strike at any age, but it most common among women 40 and older.  There are certain risk factors that may dramatically increase your chances of getting breast cancer, such as a family history of breast cancer.  All women should know about breast cancer and what they can do about it.

 Steps You Can Take

The very best way to defend against breast cancer is to detect it as early as possible when it is much easier to treat.  Early detection is the best weapon against breast cancer.

All women should have yearly mammograms starting at age 40. All women should have a clinical breast exam at least once every 2 or 3 years for women in their 20's and 30's, and every year for women in their 40's or older. Women should report any changes in their breasts immediately to their doctor. All women should perform a breast self-exam at least once per month starting in their 20's.

Women who are at an elevated risk for breast cancer (women who have a family history of breast cancer, a genetic tendency, or have had past breast cancer) should learn about the benefits of starting cancer screenings earlier, or have additional tests such as a breast x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI.  These women should talk with their doctors about these options. 

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer can affect women as well as men.  Any adult can get colorectal cancer.  It is most common among people 50 years old and above.  If you have a personal or family history of cancer, or have polyps in the colon or rectum, or inflammatory bowel disease, then you are more likely to have colon cancer.  Other risk factors are a diet consisting of high-fat foods (especially foods from animal sources), being overweight, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Steps You Can Take

Almost all colon cancer starts as a polyp in the colon.  If precancerous polyps are found and removed, then colon cancer has a great chance of being prevented.  Regular testing can find polyps before they become cancerous, and possibly save lives.

Eat a low-fat diet with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables to help prevent colon cancer. If you are 50 or older here are five recommendations about testing options. Yearly fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) or fecal immunochemcial test (FIT) is recommended. Every five years a flexible simoidoscopy is recommended. Combine yearly FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years is the preferred option. Double contrast barium enema is recommended every 5 years. Every 10 years a colonoscopy is recommended. See your doctor and discuss these options and your risk for colon cancer. 
Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is cancer of the lining of the uterus and it occurs most often in women who are 50 or older.  Risk factors for this cancer are:

Estrogen therapy without also taking progesterone Using Tamoxifen for breast cancer treatment or prevention Early onset of menstrual periods or late menopause A history of infertility or never having children Obesity and diabetes Personal or family history of hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer are more likely to get endometrial cancer.
Steps You Can Take

Signs and symptoms to watch for are unusual spotting or bleeding, not related to menstrual periods.  Report these to you doctor immediately.  At menopause, women should talk about endometrial cancer with their doctors.  Pap tests are not reliable for detecting endometrial cancer, only cervical cancer.  If you have risk factors for endometrial cancer, then yearly testing with an endometrial biopsy is recommended for women 35 or older.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is more likely to occur in women as they get older.  Other risk factors are women who have never had children or have infertility, or women who had their first child after the age of 30; women who had late menopause (after the age of 50); women who use hormone replacement therapy for more than 10 years; women who have had breast cancer.  Even if you do not have any of these risk factors, you can still get ovarian cancer.

Steps You Can Take

Unfortunately, unlike getting a mammography to detect breast cancer, there are no proven effective tests to detect ovarian cancer early.  However, a pelvic exam should be a regular part of every woman's health exam.  Here are some other possible warning signs to discuss with your doctor: persistent swelling of the abdomen, persistent digestive problems (gas, bloating, losing your appetite), abdominal pain, pelvic pain, back pain, leg pain, feeling like you need to urinate all the time.  If you have any of these symptoms, discuss them with your doctor.

Skin Cancer

If ever spend time in the sun, then you could be at risk for skin cancer - which means anyone could be at risk!  Fair-skinned, blondes or red heads are more likely to get skin cancer than those with naturally darker skin and hair colors.  Other skin cancer risk factors are having a close family member with a melanoma, and anyone who had a severe sunburn before the age of 18.

 Steps You Can Take

Skin cancer is one of the few cancers that can (mostly) be prevented!  Avoid being out in the midday sun for long periods of time.  Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and long-sleeved shirts.  Sunscreen should be SPF 15 or higher and you should use it on all exposed skin areas.  Don't let your children get sunburned!  Regularly examine your skin all over your body and have your skin examined during your regular health checkups.

Cervical Cancer

Women who have had sexual activity can get cervical cancer.  Risk chances are dramatically increased in women who have HPV (human papilloma virus).  HPV is passed on to women during sex.  You increase your risk factors as you get older, and if you don't have regular Pap tests, as well as if you smoke, have HIV or AIDS.

Steps You Can Take

Pap tests can find changes in the cervix which can be treated before they become cancerous.  Also Pap tests can detect cervical cancer in its early stages, when it is more likely to be curable.  All women should have regular cervical cancer tests after the age of 21 or within three years of beginning vaginal sex.  Testing should be done every year (for the regular Pap test) or every two years (for the newer liquid-based Pap test).  Starting at age 30, women with three normal Pap test results in a row can switch to testing every two or three years.  Talk with your doctor about how often you should have the test performed.  All women should take the newer HPV DNA test (talk to your doctor about it).

Lung Cancer

Smoking is the cause of over 80% of all lung cancers, but even people who don't smoke can get lung cancer.

Steps You Can Take

Lung cancer, like skin cancer, can often be prevented!  If you smoke - quit!  If you don't smoke - don't start!  Help and encourage others to quit smoking.

The Bottom Line About Cancer

Early detection is your best weapon against cancer.  Visit with your doctor about your risk factors and what tests and screenings are recommended for you.  Doing these things could save your life!

Common Cancer Facts That Women Need to Know About

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Questions Diabetics Ask in Winter

!±8± Questions Diabetics Ask in Winter

Winter is just around the corner so I thought I'll put up an excerpt from a conversation that I had which would be helpful to diabetics during winter time.

Does climate in any way, direct or indirect, affect diabetes?

Warm and Cold temperatures have no direct effect on diabetes control but can affect it indirectly.While your blood sugar doesn't go up or down in response to hot or cold outdoor temperatures, it does have an impact on eating and exercise habits, which is a key factor in controlling your blood sugar levels.In warm temperatures, the body can be stressed due to heat and high humidity. And this can throw the blood sugar levels out of control.For those who are on insulin, storing it becomes a problem in warm climates as improper temperatures can destroy insulin and it won't work effectively if it is not stored correctly.Winter season according to some studies is a cause for depression and anxiety, which is a stressful state for the body and stress can in turn, affect blood-sugar levels.

Generally people tend to eat more during winter. They also snack more. In such circumstances should diabetics take special precautions?

Only disciplined and responsible eating can help a diabetic control their blood sugar levels. There is no real harm with snacking when you are hungry but the key is to snack on healthy alternatives that only a good dietician can guide you on.

During winter, it is sometimes difficult to exercise because of the cold. Diabetics are supposed to regularly exercise. What do they do?

For those who find it difficult to exercise in the cold they can try other options such as:
Heated pools: Swimming in a heated pool is a great way to stay active in cold weather. Swimming is an ideal full body exercise for those who have a lot of weight as they can exercise without risking damage to their joints. Working out at a Gym: Gyms offer many ways to keep moving indoors, from aerobics classes to weight machine circuits. Winter might also be a good time to test a trial membership. Studies have shown that weight training in diabetics helps tone muscles and keeps bones strong and healthy. Exercising at home: It's easy to be active even without leaving home. Housework: Routine house work can be exercise, and you will end up with a neat and tidy house in the bargain. Playing fast-paced music may also help. Exercise videos: Videos can help people stay focused, teach new moves and provide good warm-up and cool-down periods. Exercise videos made especially for people with diabetes are available. Online videos are available which people can easily download and use.

All people who exercise need to remember to drink clean water or electrolyte replenishing fluids and avoid sugary drinks.

In places like Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu temperatures dip to near zero and in south in Hyderabad and Bangalore, the temperature goes below 10 degrees C. What are the precautions that diabetics should take in terms of skin care, diet, sleep, protection etc.

Winter brings special challenges to people with diabetes.
Keep yourself warm. Wear layers of clothes. Staying warm requires that you trap warm, dry air next to the body. Watch your weight. Winter can mean an extra 2-5 kilos for many people. This is risky as weight gain increases your risk of heart disease. Diabetes-related circulation and nerve problems can mean icy cold feet. Don't use hot-water bottles, but rather just wear layers of socks to keep your toes warm. Drink lots of water as people who are dehydrated will send their sugar levels up Stay relaxed as stress leads to high sugar levels. For those whom stress is a routine occurrence, they should learn and practice relaxation exercises to combat stress. Don't ever guess your sugar levels. Sometimes we all feel lazy and guess our sugar levels instead of testing it on the glucometer. This is not the recommended option. Always test your blood sugar levels and then take your medicines. Every once a year show your doctor how you test your blood sugar and confirm that you are doing it correctly. When the weather gets cold, old aged individuals who have a decreased ability to control body temperature and a less body fat have more chance to face a drop in body temperature. Such people and their care takers should take more care to prevent this from happening.

  Are diabetics more vulnerable to extreme cold conditions?

There is not much difference in terms of vulnerability to cold for a normal diabetic compared to a normal person. But those diabetics who have begun to lose sensation in their hands and feet need to be very careful as the cold can cause damage to the hands or feet areas and the person won't even feel the damage at the time.

This is also a season when people tend to consume alcohol more to ward off cold. Is alcohol harmful to diabetics even in limited quantity? Is there any threshold limit?

Contrary to popular belief alcohol does not keep you warm. It actually makes you lose more heat than usual. This is because it dilates blood vessels and in winter dilated blood vessels allow more heat to escape from the body compared to normal.Another thing for diabetics to remember is that alcohol reduces your blood sugar levels quite quickly so always eat some healthy snacks along with your drinks. The safe threshold limit is one drink for a woman and two drinks for a man per day. Anything more will have cancel out any beneficial effects of alcohol on the body.

In case people eat more and also occasionally drink, how often should they go for check ups?

Normally the doctor who is supervising your diabetes treatment will decide who often you have to visit him. In addition to those normal visits that can be once in a week to once in a month or even once in 3 months, you have to visit other specialist doctors one in a year or in case you have any problems more often.

What about juvenile diabetics and winter? Any special care or precautions to be taken?

Juvenile diabetic is an older term for Type 1 diabetic. There are clinical studies that have found that environmental triggers contribute to the onset of diabetes in people. More people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during winter months as well as in colder climates in general, so cold weather is a suspected environmental trigger for developing type 1 diabetes. Therefore to sum it up Type 1 diabetics should follow all recommendations for the control of blood sugar levels that all diabetics should follow.

Any other comments, suggestions for our readers?

Visit your primary doctor who treats you for Diabetes, once a month or at least once in 3 months.

You have to visit other specialist doctors like you eye specialist, dentist e.t.c. once a year normally or more often if suggested by the specialist.

Questions Diabetics Ask in Winter

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Consideration in Choosing a Pet Sitter

!±8± Consideration in Choosing a Pet Sitter

If you own a pet chances are you might be faced with the need for someone reliable to look after your pet.

Pet sitters care for your pet just a babysitter cares for your child while you are gone. Pet sitters do much more than just providing food and water. A good pet sitter will look after your pet as you would yourself. A pet sitter will provide exercise, some playtime, some attention and also be aware if your pet needs veterinary attention.

People with exotic or particularly high maintenance pets will benefit from the services of a pet sitter.

Pet sitters will allow for the most positive experience your pets can have while you are away. Pet sitters offer the added advantage of allowing your pets to stay in their own environment while you are away. Your pet will be less stressed than if they where in one of the more traditional options for pet's whose owners are away.

Pet sitters provide one on one attention and the special care that your beloved pet will require in your absence.

Hiring a pet sitter will not only give you peace of mind but will also save you worrying about your pet while you are away. Your home is also a lot safer. You have someone who will pick up the mail, water the plants and check on the general welfare of the entire home.

It's worth the extra expense for the added peace of mind.

CHOOSING A PET SITTER

If you are going to go to the trouble to pay someone to look after your pet and home while you are gone, you will want to spend some time choosing the best pet sitter for you and your pet.

Make sure you see some qualifications.

Also make sure to ask for references, and follow up. This is the best way to get some idea of how reliable your pet sitter is. Glowing references are the best way to gauge which is the best pet sitter for your home.

You can start with the phone book or an online search. You can ask your Veterinarian for a reference. The vet often knows who the best pet sitter in the area is.

It's best to line up a few different options. Arrange interviews with them all. Check to see how they interact with your animal. Many pet owners know hat animals can be fussy too!

When interviewing your prospective pet sitter it's useful to see if the sitter asks a variety of questions too. The pet sitter should be interested in any medical conditions your pet might have, likes, dislikes allergies etc. If your sitter does not ask these questions rather choose someone who is genuinely concerned about the well being of your pet.

When choosing a pet sitter you don't want to take any chances. After all it's not just your pet who is vulnerable it's the entire contents of your home too!

You can things a bit easier for your pet sitter too. Buying extra pet food and treats, leaving clear instructions and taking your pet for his regular checkups will ensure that things go smoothly. If you have a pet that is fussy or has a medical condition make sure you leave clear instructions for the sitter as to how to handle the situation.

Also if you have a complicated alarm system or security system make sure to explain clearly to the sitter how to get in and out, and how to secure the property in your absence. Leave a copy of your keys with a trusted neighbor and explain that you will be away. You can never have too many people keeping their eyes open.

Now that you know your pet and home are being well looked after, you can have a relaxed holiday. All that's left to do is enjoy your vacation!

Consideration in Choosing a Pet Sitter

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How Do I Choose A Dog Breed

!±8± How Do I Choose A Dog Breed

Being a dog owner can be one of the most rewarding things in life and can be even more rewarding if you choose the right dog breed. When you decide to bring a dog or puppy into the home you will soon realize what superb, loving and fantastic companions they will make for your family. However, if you choose the wrong breed of dog for your living situation, it can easily go the other way. Hopefully these quick tips will help you on your way to choosing the right dog for you.

Time and Exercise

Before even beginning your search for a dog, you need to first decide whether or not you have the time to devote to dog ownership. Dogs are extremely social animals and desire your companionship as much as, if not more than, you desire theirs. If your life is busy and hectic right now, dog ownership may not be for you.

For those of you that do live a busy life schedule, and are still determined to choose a dog, then going for a smaller dog breed will be much better than a larger dog breed. Smaller dog breeds, or less active dog breeds, will require less exercise to stay fit and healthy. One caveat you should be aware of is that not all small dog breeds are less active dogs, nor are all large dog breeds more active dogs.

Space and Comfort

The amount of living space you have and the amount of space you are prepared to allot for your dog is a major contributing factor in choosing the breed of dog for you. The most important factor to consider in regards to space is: How active is your dog going to be? If your living space is small, for instance, you may still choose a larger less active dog breed. In contrast, if you choose a highly active small dog breed, you will need to provide the space for them.

In addition to have the space for your dog to reach the activity levels he or she will require, you will also need to choose a dog breed that will live comfortably within your living arrangements. A couple of simple, yet often overlooked questions, one might ask themself when choosing a dog breed are: 'Do I intend on having my dog live outside, am I able to provide a dog house or other means of shelter?' and 'Do I have the extra living space to provide my new dog with his or her own area?'

Available Funds

Yep, money also is a contributing factor to choosing the right dog breed for you. Firstly, can you actually afford the dog itself? Some dog breeds are far more valuable, in a monetary sense, than others. A quick look through your local classifieds will easily inform you of the going rates of particular breeds in your area. Another place you can find information on the prices of dogs is a simple search on the Internet.

The more important things you need to take into consideration are whether you are going to be able to afford to buy dog food, pay for regular vet checkups, medicinal supplies, purchase necessary equipment such as leashes or kennels and grooming. Oh yeah, treats and toys too, dogs love treats and toys.

Every person's life is different and for every person the factors to consider for choosing a dog breed are different. In the end, the right dog breed for you to choose is the dog that best suits your life as it is now.

How Do I Choose A Dog Breed

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