Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer

            Hello, this is IGL and this post is about breast cancer. Breast cancer is the disease of the overgrowth of breast cells. Tumors will form; the two kinds of tumors are benign (harmless) and malignant. Harmful tumors can spread to other body parts and affect the system drastically. Types of malignant breast cancer are Invasive Ductal Carcinoma; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; Inflammatory Breast Cancer; Metastatic Breast Cancer; Metaplastic Carcinoma; and Paget's Disease.

            Symptoms for breast cancer are not usual at first, but when signs that a benign tumor is forming in the breast, it usually means cancer. But if you are going through puberty, do not mistake a bud to be breast cancer. For more serious conditions, painful symptoms occur. Breast or nipple pain, swelling, a large, strange lump, tenderness, skin irritation, skin dimpling, inward nipple, and nipple discharge that is not breast milk. If any of these symptoms occur, visit your doctor immediately.

            Breast cancer is classified into stages.

1.       Stage 0- Cancer not invasive or dangerous

2.      Stage 1A- Grows up to 2 cm but has not spread to other body parts

3.      Stage 1B- No tumor with invasive cells, or there is a tumor but smaller than 2 cm.

4.      Stage 11A

a.      No tumor but invasive cells found in lymph nodes

b.      Tumor is 2 cm or smaller, but has spread to axillary lymph nodes (under arm)

c.      Tumor is bigger than 2 cm, but hasn’t spread to axillary lymph nodes

5.      Stage 11B- Tumor is bigger than 2 cm and has spread to axillary lymph nodes or is bigger than 5 cm but did not spread to axillary lymph nodes

6.      Stage 111A- No tumor, but invasive cancer cells clumped in lymph nodes or any size of tumor has spread to axillary lymph nodes

7.      Stage 111B- Tumor is any size and spread to skin, and could’ve spread to axillary lymph nodes

8.      Stage 111C- NO sign of breast cancer, but could have spread to wall. Also has spread to lymph nodes near collarbone and to axillary lymph nodes near breast bone.

9.      Stage IV- The cancer has spread to other parts in the body

Breast cancer can be caused by many risk factors. Intoxicants, such as smoking, drinking, and drugs, can be cause breast cancer in the future. Being overweight and being exposed to radiation are also common ways. Radiation exposure before the age of 30 to the chest and face is a likely cause of cancer. Obesity is a huge risk factor. The excess fat produces more estrogen, which also produces more breast cells. As you begin to become older, losing weight is difficult. Junk food is also malicious to the body. Growth hormones in the fatty foods grow more breast cells, and also make girls receive their period before the age of 12, which is also another risk factor. Dense breasts make it harder to detect the cancer during testing. But there has been no link discovered from breast implants to breast cancer. But it is quite possible that breast implants may cause lymphoma. But lack of data can clarify this statement. Smoking is also a big risk. It damages the lungs, which makes it harder for treatment and healing. Drinking speeds up the growth of estrogen, and if a female drinks at least three drinks a week, it increases breast cancer risk by 15%. People who’ve taken HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) in the past, it can also risk breast cancer. Low Vitamin D and exposure to chemicals are also risk factors.

Luckily, if noticed early enough, breast cancer can be treated. Surgery is the most common type. Lumpectomy is the removal of a tumor and unhealthy tissue; mastectomy is the removal of a whole breast. A mastectomy reduces the risk of breast cancer again by 90%. The female has a choice to reconstruct the breast either by replacing with a breast implant or gathering other tissue. Surgeons remove the lymph node as well. Prophylactic Ovary Removal is when the ovaries are removed to reduce estrogen growth. This only makes it harder to get breast cancer. Hormonal therapy is similar to Prophylactic Ovary Removal—it blocks off or shuts down estrogen supply. When using hormonal therapy, often times the surgeon would remove the fallopian tube or ovaries. Cyrotherapy is when extreme cold temperatures are used to kill off cancer cells. However, scientists are not sure if cyrotherapy is affective. Radiotherapy is when radiation is used to kill invasive, cancer cells. Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to weaken or kill cancer cells. To see if you have breast cancer, contact the doctor for a mammogram, which is a test to see if you have breast cancer.

It is rare for parents to pass down breast cancer to children, which is only 5-10% of causes. The main reason is aging, which is 90%. In the United States, 1 out of 8 women will get breast cancer. However, individual risks vary depending on background, considering age. Breast cancer is most common in Caucasian women.

October is National Breast Cancer Month. Many organizations have been collaborating for events for National Breast Cancer Month. October 4^th is Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The breast cancer ribbon is light pink.

NBCF (National Breast Cancer Foundation) is an organization that helps women by providing mammograms and detecting breast cancer before it becomes malignant. They give education and helpful advice for breast cancer and what might happen. NBCF started off as giving free mammograms in the United States, but now helps all around the world. NBCF is one of the most praised cancer foundations in the world.

There are many ways to help. You could:

1. Tell someone. Write an article about it.
2. Stop or abstain from drinking, smoking, and using drugs.
3. Exercise a lot and keep a healthy weight. Maintain a healthy diet with plentiful Vitamin D.
4. Stay away from radiation and harmful chemicals.
5. If dense breasts are a burden, suggest breast reduction as an option.
6. Donate to organizations, such as NBCF or American Cancer Society
7. On October 4^th, wear a pink ribbon in celebration of breast cancer.
8. Test for breast cancer frequently, like mammograms
9. Receive the best treatment for breast cancer if you have it

Help stop breast cancer!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop Child Abuse

Stop Child Abuse

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about child abuse. Child abuse has been a major conflict in the world for many years. It is when a child is abused physically or emotionally under the age of eighteen by an adult. It hurts the child and breaks trust from the child to others, maybe causing social disabilities in the future. Child abuse doesn’t tend to happen in a certain place. It could happen in any place, economy, race, or population. No matter how much you apologize to that victim, it will never be the same. For example, take a piece of paper and crumple it as hard as you can, no matter what. Then apologize to it and smoothen it out thoroughly. Now observe. The paper will never be the same, just like a child.

          Physical abuse is when a guardian/parent abuses the child with contact of their body. This includes hitting, kicking, punching, slapping, whipping, and more. Many parents believe physical abuse as a discipline is the best way to teach a child how to behave. However, if continued on, the child will live in fear instead of understanding the meaning of the “lecture”. Some parents instead physically abuse their child out of anger or some unimportant reason.

          Emotional abuse is somewhat like bullying, but between a parent and a child. Putting down a child is not okay, and certainly will break trust between a parent and the child may dislike the adult. Limited affection and screaming/threatening will hurt a child’s feelings.

          Child neglect is when a guardian/parent takes care of a child but does not meet their needs. Failing to give the child food, shelter, clothing, education, or hygiene is child neglect. If an incapable mother has a baby that she cannot take care of, she should resort to giving it up for adoption (safe haven law). Substance abuse or unstable ability is also counted as child neglect. A safe environment is always needed for a child.

          Child sexual abuse is when a child has come into contact with an adult sexually. Usually, it is a person the child knows, like a parent. Both boys and girls can be victims, but males don’t usually report it because they have a feeling to be brave and fearless. Never think that a child is joking about sexual abuse and call the police.

          There are many signs that a child is being abused. For physical abuse, unusual injuries, intense all the time, uneasy when people lightly touch them, or wearing irregular clothing (like long pants on a hot day). For emotional abuse, low self-esteem, extremely demanding or aggressive, irregular behavior, or a detachment between a child and a parent are signs of emotional abuse. For child neglect, inappropriate clothing for the weather, untreated illnesses, incomplete cleanliness, or constant tardy are usual signs. For child sexual abuse, knowledge of sexual behavior, trouble walking or sitting, doesn’t want to participate in activities, avoiding a specific person, receiving an STD or getting pregnant before the age of 13, and running away from home are constant signs of child sexual abuse.

          Drug and alcohol abuse, witnessing domestic violence, lack of support and parenting skills, and if a parent has an untreated mental illness all are risk factors to child abuse. If you know something about a child being abused call the police.

          There are many ways to stop child abuse. You could:

1. Start a petition and get people to sign it.
2. Spread awareness.
3. If you currently are abusing a child, stop!
4. Donate to organizations that help stop child abuse.

-Stop child abuse!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Obesity & Nutrition

Obesity & Nutrition

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about obesity and nutrition. Eating excess calories causes you to become obese. In this century, obesity is one of the most morbid disorders of the world. Obesity also causes many other diseases you could get including diabetes and heart attacks. It also hurts their confidence and trust on their appearance.

          Symptoms for obesity include difficulty of exercising, a large body, being lazy, and difficulty of breathing, muscle pain, early puberty, and knock-knees. It is difficult to exercise because of easily becoming tiresome. This leads to lethargy, or laziness. When obese, the muscles are weakened, making it hard to move. The fat pressures the muscle so it is hard to function properly or strongly. Fat produces estrogen and testosterone (hormones). With excess hormones, you receive puberty earlier. Knock-knees are when the legs are straightened, the knees ouch at an awkward angle.

          Effects include cancer, heart disease, muscle difficulties, back pain, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, breathing problems, strokes, organ diseases, and many more. Psychological problems include depression, stress, and low self-esteem. New studies show that pregnant and obese women have a higher chance of giving birth to a child with autism. ADHD is also more common in obese or overweight children.

          To have a better weight, exercise and eat healthier. Exercising is an important step to maintaining a better weight. Exercise daily like jogging or maybe jumping jacks. Exercising always helps. The next step is to eat healthier. The food pyramid consists of food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, meats & beans, milk products, and extras. Grains include bread, pasta, rice, cereal, and oats. Eat 6-11 servings a day. The vegetable group includes leafy greens, carrots, corn, and broccoli. Eat about 3-5 servings a day. The fruits include nectars, citruses, berries, melons, apples, and bananas. Eat 2-4 servings a day. The oils include castor oil, sesame oil, and nuts. Eat about a handful of nuts a day. The oils are usually included in vegetable servings. The meats & beans group include seafood, chicken, beans, and eggs. Eat about 2-3 servings a day. The milk products include yogurt, cheese, and milk. Eat about 2-3 servings a day. Extras are the unhealthy foods including ice cream, lollipops, butter, chips, and cake. Use the extras sparingly.

          Many countries in the world have a high number of people that are obese. According to studies in 2012, the country with the highest number of people obese is the United States. The US’s percentage of obese people is 33.8% of the population. Mexico is next (30%) and New Zealand after (26.5%). Since 2010, the percentage of child obesity in the US has increased a great amount. Since 1980, people from ages 6-11 have increased from 7% to 18%. Teenagers have increased from 5% to 18%.

          September is the National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. The yellow ribbon stands for obesity. Make sure you wear the yellow ribbon in September.

          There are many ways to help. You could:

1.     Spread the word

2.    Wear the yellow ribbon in September

3.    Bond with children or adults that are obese

4.    Make your own body healthier.

Help stop world obesity!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL