Breasts

Most of the current breast enhancement products promise anywhere to ‘definite improvement in firmness’ to ‘within 1-3 months time’ a gain of at least one cup. All use some type of phyto-estrogenic derivative in varying ratios and other fillers. Although, the range of raw materials used (commonly red clover, fenugreek, fennel, and others) have shown historically, tribally, and scientifically to stimulate breast growth, it may not be valid for most of their costumers.

We feel that the key to natural breast enlargement success is correctly simulating the woman’s system with the correct natural breast enhancing herbs, a supporting food habit and also some physical massage to reap the full benefit of natural breast enhancement products.Accordingly we suggest the following methods together to achieve your desired size and it is found that those who followed our combination have got significant improvement.

Breast Enhancement Suppliment pills

We have already discussed a lot about these pills. You can compare the brands and take your decision.One scientific study is available for a reputed brand which is also available here.

Breast Enhancement Pumps

You know already that The pump increases collagen production and encourages production of new breast tissue cells providing a fuller firmer breast.Do it atleast two times a day for 15 minutes each.More information is here

Regular massages with some massage creams

Light to moderate breast massage can help stimulate breast growth, especially when paired with a quality topical cream or serum specially formulated for breast growth stimulation.Use a cream or lubricant – preferably a quality one (We recommend Benefil which contains Palmitoyal Penta Peptide & Isopropyle Myristate) to help prevent friction and increase the enjoyment and relaxation of the massage for a more pleasurable and therapeutic experience. We have prescribed few exercises also in our breast-massage page

Estrogen rich food habit

You should eat healthy amounts of food. Eating at least three healthy and well-balanced meals per day is the first step to healthy cellular growth. One cannot produce new breast tissues without first being able to produce healthy cells. Proper nutrition is necessary for the body to work to its fullest potential.Eat garlic, parsley, grains (soybeans, wheat, rice), vegetables (beans, carrots, & potatoes).Soak fenugreek seed in a cup of water for 5 hours and drink the water every day morning.

Other useful practices

1.) Try to avoid caffeine – this includes chocolate, coffee,

caffeinated sodas, tea, etc.

2.) Reducing stress by exercising moderately, getting plenty of sleep and eating the right foods that keep blood sugar stable is a must for keeping hormonal balance, which provides an excellent conduit to breast growth while on an oral breast enhancement supplement.

3.) For some reason, it has been found that oral breast enhancement supplements work best when consumed with higher protein meals.

4.) Take the supplement exactly as prescribed by the maker, at approximately the same time every day (just like you would a birth control pill, for maximum effectiveness).

5.) Try to let your breasts be as free from constraints as possible at all times, even if this means wearing a looser bra, or no bra at all once in a while. This really is a good rule of thumb for breast health in general as many doctors will tell you, as well as a beneficial practice for natural breast enlargement.

7.) If a particular breast enhancement supplement you are using is not agreeing with your body in any way for a period of time after the initial “adjustment” period that sometimes occurs, discontinue use and seek a refund from the manufacturer.

8.) Remember that everyone’s body chemistry is different, and some formulations may not work for one person or disagree with them, while it works wonders for another.Choose the formula that agrees with your body and gives results.

THE KEY TO GETTING THE BEST RESULTS IS REALLY HORMONAL BALANCE, WHICH THE ABOVE STEPS WILL HELP YOU ACHIEVE.

Don’t continue in embarrassments

|Copyright © 2006 natural-enhancement-enlargement-guide.com |



booty

The well known “Breast Gain Plus” has now been re-packaged into a complete breast enlargement system branded as “Breast Actives”, comprises the widely known and highly successful “Breast Gain Plus” pills, a breast enhancement cream, and a breast exercises program.

Breast Actives Latest Product Review:

Rating: Excellent

Success Rate: 98%

Doctor Approved: Yes

Prescription: No

Money Back Guarantee:

Breast Actives comes with a 100% money-back guarantee, If you are not totally satisfied, you have the opportunity to refund any unused and unopened item for any reason, within 90 (ninety) days of your purchase.

Ingredients:

All of Breast Actives ingredients are 100% natural and herbal. There is no Ephedra in the products. Furthermore all of these ingredients are listed on the FDA’s GRAS list of safe foods, and none of these herbs come with any health warnings.

Side Effects:

Breast Actives pills and cream made from 100% all-natural ingredients that contain no harmful ingredients. You can rest assured that this supplement and cream are completely free from risky side effects. However, individuals with herbal allergic, existing medical conditions or who are currently taking prescription should first consult with their local physician prior to using any new supplement.

Benefits:



Helps you gain fuller, firmer, and more beautiful breasts

Develops and enlarges your breasts naturally without prescription

Promote even growth of the breasts (if your breasts are uneven)

Formulas contains all natural ingredients

Free 2-month supply currently offered

Reasonably priced

No embarrassing doctor visits

No costly and dangerous surgery

Discreet shipping & billing worldwide

Online breast enhancement exercise program



Manufacturer:

The Breast Actives’ manufacturer and distributors named Ultra Herbal Inc., has been in business for many years and is a trusted name in the herbal industry, producing all-natural products in harmony with the guidelines of the FDA. Ultra Herbal Inc is a member of the Natural Products Association and is dedicated to providing safe and effective products.

Results:

Most women that stick to the recommended dose for at least three months testify a growth of at least one cup size, and also notice a more full and natural shape of their breast. However, each person results can vary according to their body’s metabolism. Once you have attained the bust line you desire, there is no need for continued use. The results are permanent. Over the years, this breast enhancement system has changed the lives of more than 80,000 women worldwide.

Recommendation:

Breast Actives is highly recommended for those who want to stay away from risky silicon implant or breast surgery to increase breast size and appearance. For maximum results it is recommend that you take up these pills for at least 3-5 months. If you are pregnant, nursing, or currently taking any medication, consult with a doctor or physician prior to use. Breast Actives will not interfere in any way with the proper function of any known birth control medications. Do not consume over recommended use.

Cost and Available Packages:

There are your available packages you can choose according to your budget without a prescription as follow:



1-month supply (1 bottle & 1 jar of cream) $59.95

2-month supply (2 bottles & 2 jars of cream) $109.95 (buy 2 month supply and save)

4-month supply (4 bottles & 4 jars of cream) $179.95 (buy 3 month supply, get 1 FREE)

6-month supply (6 bottles & 6 jars of cream) $239.95 (buy 4 month supply, get 2 FREE)



You can use all major credit card, paypal, and money orders to purchase these packages.

Conclusions:

This herbal breast enhancement system is specially formulated with unique herbs to assist in the enlargement and natural growth of a woman’s breasts. This complete breast enhancement system is designed to provide even more effective and faster to enhance the shape, size, and firmness of female breasts. Breast Actives system can give you rounder, fuller, larger, and more beautiful breasts without inserting artificial implants, risks, and costly surgery.



hilary duff

 

There are numerous and dangerous risks for women who undergo breast enlargement surgery. Complications such as infection, rippling or rupturing of implants, scar tissue that causes capsular contracture, bruising, and bleeding are just some of the risks associated with breast enlargement surgery. You should discuss the benefits and side effects of breast implants with your doctor, so you will be well informed and, therefore, make a knowledgeable decision for yourself and decide what is best for you. One of the biggest fears for women getting breast implants is capsular contracture. It is one of the most common complaints from patients who have undergone breast enhancement surgery. As your breasts heal after the operation, scar tissue (which can include calcium deposits) forms around the incision and breast implant. Sometimes mammograms may be more difficult to interpret when women have scar tissue and calcium deposits around their breast implants. Usually the natural scar tissue, which is part of the healing process, is minimal. But, the scar tissue may shrink and harden causing a hardening of the breast. It can occur in one or both breasts. It also may desensitize the nerves in the breast. Many women who experience this excessive formation of scar tissue complain of pain in the breast and asymmetry of the breasts.

Sometimes, depending on the severity of capsular contracture, an operation must be performed in order to correct the problem. The surgeon will remove as much excess scar tissue as possible, or even replace the breast implant if needed. In a small percentage of women, capsular contracture recurs even after breast enlargement surgery to correct the problem. These women must have their breast implants removed permanently. It may take years before problems start to arise after an initial successful breast enhancement surgery. No one can tell what future problems a woman may experience with breast implants. The longer you have breast implants, the greater your risk of complications. Other complications such as asymmetry, is a common problem after breast enlargement surgery. Most women naturally have slight asymmetry of their breasts. Breast enlargement surgery can correct an uneven appearance of breast size and shape. But, an unsuccessful surgery can increase or cause size and shape differences in the breasts. Then, these women often undergo surgery to correct the problems caused from the first surgery. Infection near the incisions is another scary complication of breast enhancement surgery. Sometimes the incisions do not completely heal. Necrosis, which is the breakdown of tissue often accompanies a skin infection.

The breast implant may start to protrude through the muscle and tissue if infection and necrosis occurs. The chances that necrosis will occur increase due to a variety of factors such as: undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation of the breasts; the use of steroid drugs; cigarette smoking; among other reasons. If enough tissue breakdowns occur, the breast implant may become exposed and the breast implants must be removed to prevent further risks to your health. Breast implants may cause the undesirable rippling appearance of the breasts. This sometimes happens with silicone implants and if the breast tissue is very thin. We have stated just some of the most common problems with breast implants and breast enlargement surgery. There are even more risks and complications that you may discuss with your surgeon. Some women have to live with scars and abnormalities caused from breast implants for the rest of their lives.

I’m going to be in a play in a few months, playing a male role. I’m obviously female with a C cup bra size. Though my stage attire will be a little baggy around the chest, it would help my part to bind my breasts or otherwise to flatten my chest and make me appear more like a man.

What are some ways of doing this?

poetry

I just wanted to know this because I’m an adolescent and still going through puberty, and I was just wondering at what age does a young woman’s breasts start and stop growing, and how big do they usually get?

Breast implants deflate when the saline solution leaks either through an unsealed or damaged valve or through a break in the implant shell. Implant deflation can occur immediately or slowly over a period of days and is noticed by loss of size or shape of your breast. Some breast implants deflate (or rupture) in the first few months after being implanted and some deflate after several years.

Causes of deflation include damage by surgical instruments during surgery, overfilling or underfilling of the breast implant with saline solution, capsular contracture, closed capsulotomy, stresses such as trauma or intense physical manipulation, excessive compression during mammographic imaging, umbilical incision placement, and unknown/unexplained reasons. You should also be aware that the breast implant may wear out over time and deflate/rupture. Deflated breast implants require additional surgery to remove and to possibly replace the breast implant.

Capsular Contracture

The scar tissue or capsule that normally forms around the breast implant may tighten and squeeze the breast implant and is called capsular contracture. Capsular contracture may be more common following infection, hematoma, and seroma. It is also more common with subglandular placement (behind the mammary gland and on top of the chest). Symptoms range from mild firmness and mild discomfort to severe pain, distorted shape, palpability of the breast implant, and/or movement of the breast implant. Additional surgery is needed in cases where pain and/or firmness is severe.

This surgery ranges from removal of the breast implant capsule tissue to removal and possibly replacement of the breast implant itself. Capsular contracture may happen again after these additional surgeries.

Pain

Pain of varying intensity and duration may occur and persist following breast implant surgery. In addition, improper size, placement, surgical technique, or capsular contracture may result in pain associated with nerve entrapment or interference with muscle motion. You should tell your surgeon about severe pain.

Additional Surgeries

You should know that there is a high chance that you will need to have additional surgery at some point to replace or remove the breast implant. Also, problems such as deflation, capsular contracture, infection, shifting, and calcium deposits can require removal of the breast implants. Many women decide to have the breast implants replaced, but some women do not. If you choose not to, you may have cosmetically unacceptable dimpling and/or puckering of the breast following removal of the breast implant.

Dissatisfaction with Cosmetic Results

Dissatisfying results such as wrinkling, asymmetry, implant displacement (shifting), incorrect size, unanticipated shape, implant palpability, scar deformity, hypertrophic (irregular, raised scar) scarring, and/or sloshing may occur. Careful surgical planning and technique can minimize but not always prevent such results.

Infection

Infection can occur with any surgery. Most infections resulting from surgery appear within a few days to weeks after the operation. However, infection is possible at any time after surgery. Infections with a breast implant present are harder to treat than infections in normal body tissues.

If an infection does not respond to antibiotics, the breast implant may have to be removed, and another breast implant may be placed after the infection is resolved. In rare instances, Toxic Shock Syndrome has been noted in women after breast implant surgery, and it is a life-threatening condition. Symptoms include sudden fever, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and/or sunburn-like rash. A surgeon should be seen immediately for diagnosis and treatment for this condition.

Hematoma/Seroma

Hematoma is a collection of blood inside a body cavity, and a seroma is a collection of the watery portion of the blood (in this case, around the breast implant or around the incision). Postoperative hematoma and seroma may contribute to infection and/or capsular contracture. Swelling, pain, and bruising may result.

If a hematoma occurs, it will usually be soon after surgery, however this can also occur at any time after injury to the breast. While the body absorbs small hematomas and seromas, large ones will require the placement of surgical drains for proper healing. A small scar can result from surgical draining. Implant deflation/rupture can occur from surgical draining if damage to the breast implant occurs during the draining procedure.

Changes in Nipple and Breast Sensation

Feeling in the nipple and breast can increase or decrease after breast implant surgery. The range of changes varies from intense sensitivity to no feeling in the nipple or breast following surgery. Changes in feeling can be temporary or permanent and may affect your sexual response or your ability to nurse a baby.

Breast Feeding

At this time it is not known if a small amount of silicone may diffuse (pass through) from the saline-filled breast implant silicone shell and may find its way into breast milk. If this occurs, it is not known what effect it may have on the nursing infant. Although there are no current methods for detecting silicone levels in breast milk, a study measuring silicon (one component in silicone) levels did not indicate higher levels in breast milk from women with silicone-filled gel breast implants when compared to women without breast implants.

With respect to the ability to successfully breast feed after breast implantation, one study reported up to 64% of women with breast implants who were unable to breast feed compared to 7% without breast implants. The periareolar incision site may significantly reduce the ability to successfully breast feed.

Calcium Deposits in the Tissue Around the Breast Implant

Deposits of calcium can be seen on mammograms and can be mistaken for possible cancer, resulting in additional surgery for biopsy and/or removal of the implant to distinguish the calcium deposits from cancer.

Delayed Wound Healing

In some cases, the incision site takes longer to heal than normally.

Extrusion

Unstable or compromised tissue covering and/or interruption of wound healing may result in extrusion, which is when the breast implant comes through the skin.

Necrosis

Necrosis is the formation of dead tissue around the breast implant. This may prevent wound healing and require surgical correction and/or breast implant removal. Permanent scar deformity may occur following necrosis. Factors associated with increased necrosis include infection, use of steroids in the surgical pocket, smoking, chemotherapy/radiation, and excessive heat or cold therapy.

Breast Tissue Atrophy/Chest Wall Deformity

The pressure of the breast implant may cause the breast tissue to thin and shrink. This can occur while breast implants are still in place or following breast implant removal without replacement. In addition to these complications, there have been concerns with certain systemic diseases, of which you should be aware.

Connective Tissue Disease

Concern over the association of breast implants to the development of autoimmune or connective tissue diseases, such as lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis, was raised because of cases reported in the literature with small numbers of women with implants. A review of several large epidemiological studies of women with and without implants indicates that these diseases are no more common in women with implants than those in women without implants. However, a lot of women with breast implants believe that their implants caused a connective tissue disease.

Cancer

Published studies indicate that breast cancer is no more common in women with breast implants than those without breast implants.

Second Generation Effects

There have been concerns raised regarding potential damaging effects on children born of mothers with breast implants. A review of the published literature on this issue suggests that the information is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions.

Breast augmentation is performed to increase breast fullness and volume for women with small breasts or those who have experienced a decrease in breast size due to pregnancy or weight loss. There is a wide variety of implant designs, shapes, sizes, and textures, all of which have certain advantages and disadvantages. A breast implant is basically a soft, silicone envelope with various fillers that is surgically implanted under the tissues of your chest to simulate natural breast tissue.

The breast implant used for primary breast augmentation in the US is made of a silicone shell filled with a saline solution. Saline filled adjustable implants that are similar to the standard saline filled implants with the addition of a small connector tube through which the surgeon can adjust the size via injection.

This implant requires a second incision to remove the injection port in an additional surgical procedure. Under certain conditions, including breast reconstruction, breast lift and other secondary breast procedures, silicone gel implants are now approved by the FDA.

Breast augmentation may be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. General anesthesia may be recommended for women desiring implant placement below the muscle. The surgery consists of making an incision, lifting the breast tissue, creating a pocket in the chest/breast area, and placing an envelope containing a soft, implant material underneath.

An incision may be made either in the crease below the breast, around the areola, or under the armpit. The implants can be placed either under the chest muscle or directly under the breasts. Placement considerations include the anatomy of your breasts, breast feeding, and your personal preference. All of the options will be discussed in detail to allow you to make an informed decision.

A breast lift or mastopexy is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape breasts that have sagged as a result of pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging, weight changes, and the natural force of gravity. We can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.

A breast lift can sometimes be combined with the placement of an implant in some cases where volume needs to be enhanced or replaced. Several different techniques can be used to correct this condition, depending on the degree of sagging and breast tissue.

Breast lift surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. The standard breast lift has four components; the areola is reduced, breast tissue is repositioned, the nipple and areola are elevated to a better position, and excess skin and breast tissue is removed so that a new skin envelope is formed.

The most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision following the natural contour of the breast. The incision outlines the area from which breast skin will be removed and defines the new location for the nipple. When the excess skin has been removed, the nipple and areola are moved to a higher position. The skin surrounding the areola is then brought down and together to reshape the breast.

Stitches are usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downward from the nipple area, with or without a suture line along the lower crease of the breast, depending on the method used.

In general, the more tissue that is removed, the more shaping is possible. In women with extensive sagging, the skin may be so stretched and thinned that a smaller incision will not allow us to remove sufficient tissue to lift the breast. In these cases, longer incisions may be required.

The vertical mastopexy falls somewhere in-between the traditional and minimal scar technique, and is widely suitable for many types of breasts. We often favor this technique because the end result is a lollipop scar, and our patients find this technique very acceptable.

Women commonly choose to undergo breast reduction surgery because the size and weight of their breasts is affecting their comfort and health. Breast reduction represents a means to an end to the physical symptoms and discomfort they have suffered with for years, and sometimes decades.

Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia. Most often, the incisions for breast reduction are similar to those used for breast lift techniques. Breast reduction surgery is a trade-off between the extent of the scars and the extent of the reshaping and size reduction possible.

Whenever possible, we attempt to limit the number and length of the incisions for the best aesthetic outcome by incorporating liposuction to treat the lateral portion of the breast.

The most common technique for reducing the breasts involves an anchor-shaped incision that circles the areola, extends downward, and follows the natural curve of the crease beneath the breast. Incisions outline the area of skin, breast tissue, and fat to be removed and also outline the new position for the nipple. In most cases, the nipples remain attached to their blood vessels and nerves.

Excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin are removed, and the nipple and areola are moved into their new position. We then bring the skin from both sides of the breast down and around the areola, shaping the new contour of the breast. If the breasts are very large or pendulous, the nipples and areola may have to be completely removed and grafted into a higher position.

We then remove excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, and moves the nipple and areola into their new position. Skin that was formerly located above the nipple is brought down and joined to reshape the breast. Sutures are used to close the incisions, giving the breast its new contour. The resulting scars around the areola, below it, and in the crease under the breast are permanent. I

n general, the more skin that is removed, the better and smaller shape you can expect.



korn

Using known risk factors for breast cancer, mathematical models can be developed to help answer important questions.  These mathematical models are useful tools for researchers and for patients as follows:

1. Research on risk factors – The Claus risk assessment model was used to discover the subpopulation of people who had an autosomal dominant genetic allele that increased their risk from 10% to 92%. This led to the discovery of the BRCA genes associated with breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. 2. Clinical trial eligibility – The Gail risk assessment model was developed to help researchers determine who to enroll in the NSAPB Breast Cancer Prevention Trials

where chemoprevention was shown to reduce breast cancer risk.

3. Guidelines for doing BRCA testing – BRCA testing is very expensive and practically worthless if done on everyone (because it is so rare to be homozygous for BRCA1 or BRCA2). Mathematical models such as the BRCAPRO, BOADICEA, and Tyrer-Cuzick models can help determine what patients should undergo BRCA testing. The decision for testing is usually made when one of these models predicts a 10% or greater chance that there is a mutation of the BRCA1, BRCA2, or both genes. 4. Guidelines for doing MRI screening for breast cancer - MRI screening for breast cancer is not a cost effective screening test for the general population, but in specific groups, there are clear cut reasons to do so. In general, screening MRI is recommended for women with 20-25% or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer. The BRCAPRO and Tyrer-Cuzick models have been used to help make clinical decisions about ordering MRIs for breast cancer screening. 5. Guidelines for breast cancer therapy - The Gail model is used clinically to help

determine who should be put on tamoxifen or raloxifene for chemoprevention.  Other models have been used to help make decisions about breast cancer risk reduction with prophylactic mastectomy.

For these reasons, it is important to understand these models.  These models are collectively refered to as “risk assessment tools”.  The following paragraphs summarize the most popular and most widely used risk assessment tools.  Keep in mind that none of these risk assessment tools apply to breast cancer survivors.  No mathematical model has been widely accepted to determine cancer risk in cancer survivors. 

General Risk Assessment Tools

Gail Model:  The Gail model is a validated risk-assessment model that focuses primarily on nonhereditary risk factors, with limited information on family history.  It was developed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) to assist health care providers in discussing breast cancer risk to determine their eligibility for the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial.  The tool allows one to project a woman’s individual estimate of breast cancer risk over a five-year period of time and over her lifetime.  It also compares the woman’s risk calculation with the average risk for a woman of the same age.  The Gail Model is an on-line quiz that has 13 questions and is interactive.  This calculator is based on published risk statistics and methods gathered from peer-reviewed journals, and has been extensively tested for its validity. 

                                                                                                               

The major limitation of the Gail model is the inclusion of only first-degree relatives, which results in underestimating risk in the 50% of families with cancer in the paternal lineage and also takes no account of the age of onset of breast cancer.  It may underestimate risk in certain groups, such as obese patients.

                                                                                                

National Cancer Institute Model:  The NCI risk assessment tool is essentially a simplified Gail Model that also factors in race.  Race is a factor in determining breast cancer risk but is excluded when determining eligibility for clinical trials.  This tool is probably the most popular risk assessment tool available to the public as an on-line, interactive risk calculator.  The on-line quiz is a shorter, nine-point questionnaire that includes multiple factors, giving a woman her future five-year risk of breast cancer and her lifetime risk of breast cancer.

                                                                                             

The NCI tool does not account for a lot of risk factors that can be modified.  For this reason, it is difficult to use this test as a motivation tool to show people how lifestyle can alter their risk of breast cancer.  It also cannot be used in breast cancer survivors, in patients with DCIS, LCIS, or people who carry one of the BRCA genes.

BRCAPRO model:  This is a statistical model available as a computer program that uses two different algorithms to evaluate family history and helps a doctor determine the likelihood of finding either a BRCA1 mutation or a BRCA2 mutation in a family.  The results of this can be used to determine if BRCA testing is indicated.  This is very useful in light of the high cost of BRCA testing ($3,000).  None of the nonhereditary risk factors can yet be incorporated into the model, however.  In a comparison of four different methods for estimating breast cancer risk in patients with a family history of breast cancer, the BRCAPRO model was the least accurate.  It predicted only 49% of the breast cancers that actually occurred in the screened group of patients with a family history of breast cancer.

Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention Risk Assessment Tool:  This is another breast cancer risk assessment tool that includes more lifestyle factors than the NCI or Gail Model tools.  It has not been studied as extensively as the Gail Model or the simplified NCI model, but it is promising in that it includes many lifestyle factors that people can do to modify their risk of developing cancer.  It is also an on-line questionnaire that can be used by both women and men to estimate their breast cancer risk.

Making all this practical

 

          Now after a thorough and confusing discussion of all these statistical models, it’s time to make all this information practical.  What is the best way to help a patient accurately assess her risk of breast cancer and if possible, show her what positive factors are reducing her risk and what negative factors can be changed to reduce her risk?  If possible, it would also be great to show the patient the value and indications for testing, imaging, chemoprevention, and in some cases surgery.  A discussion of the practical aspect of each of these is addressed in a Q & A format below:

Q: What (free) online programs can be used to help a patient assess their risk of breast cancer?

A: Several of the risk assessment tools mentioned above can be accessed for free by the public. Here are the tests and their websites:

   

1. Your Disease Risk – English version: http://www.diseaseriskindex.harvard.edu

This is a great interactive questionnaire that calculates five-year and lifetime risk of breast cancer developed by the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention and made public online in 2000.  In 2005, they launched the Spanish version of the site, “Cuidar de su Salud”.  The risk calculator includes lifestyle factors such as weight, dietary vegetables, alcohol intake, as well as Jewish ethnicity.  It does not include other ethnicities, however, and is not accurate for BRCA mutation carriers or breast cancer survivors.  Despite these issues, this is by far the best free online risk calculator since it is very interactive and gives you a personalized description of your risk in the form of a colored bar graph, which they can electronically manipulate to experience “virtual” risk reduction.  The bar graph is a seven-level scale that compares users to a typical man or woman your age.  Users learn where to focus their prevention efforts and how to make lifestyle changes by “clicking on” personalized strategies.  With each click, the bar graph shrinks, and the user watches his/her predicted risk drop.  This is a great concept to motivate people to participate and comply with lifestyle modification measures.

2. The NCI Risk Assessment Tool -regular web: http://www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool

     This is the easy to use, on-line questionnaire based on a modified Gail model that also includes ethnicity.  It does not factor in a personal history of breast cancer, DCIS, or LCIS.  It does not account for other factors such as BRCA status, hormonal replacement therapy, lifestyle factors, breast feeding, menopause, or mammographic density.  Despite these issues, it is a very useful tool that gives a woman her five-year and lifetime risk of breast cancer.  It is the only risk assessment tool that can be used via mobile handheld devices (any type).  A version of this can be downloaded for PDAs with Windows Pocket PC operating system as well.

Q:  What programs can be used to help a doctor make decisions about ordering a breast MRI?

  

A:  The American Cancer Society has developed some very good guidelines for breast cancer screening with MRI.  It should be emphasized that MRI is an adjunct to mammography, not a replacement.  

1. A Cancer Journal for Clinicians – http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/full/57/2/75 2. BRCPRO - ver.4.3 available @ http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/breasthealth/cagene/default.asp

nickelback

I have 2 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts I need to boil so I can shred them to make Flautas. How long should I boil them?

target

There was a time when I took up jogging every morning but the only problem that bothered me the most is that my breasts were starting to decrease to a certain point. That is the reason on why I’m asking this question. Also, my brother’s girlfriend is a cross country runner and her breasts don’t seem to be decreasing even though she seems to be becoming slimmer. Can someone help me? This is making me somehow jealous.