Rainbow over breast cancer treatment

Over the last week, I met three newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who were severely depressed over being diagnosed with breast cancer. What women with this disease must realize is that most women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive.

In fact, so many advances have been made in the last 10 years, that the five-year overall survival rate for breast cancer is now more than  90 percent  What was once a deadly disease has become manageable for the most part.

Breast sparing/conserving surgery (lumpectomy + radiation) has become increasingly common. Novel hormone therapies have become widely available (Arimidex®/Femara®). Effective cancer growth pathway blockers have been developed (Herceptin®/Tykerb®). Chemotherapy advances have also been noted, with newer agents for advanced breast cancer (Halaven®, Nab-Paclitaxel, Xeloda®). Comprehensive bone support has also become standard of care (Xgeva®/Prolia®/Zometa®). All these treatments options are available in Cebu City. Consult a cancer specialist (medical oncologist) to learn which treatment options are best for a particular case.

Lifestyle matters.

Our understanding of the importance of lifestyle changes among breast cancer survivors has grown immensely over the last five years. The Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study, showed that breast cancer survivors who consumed five  servings of fruits/vegetables and had 30 minutes of exercise per day had a 50 percent decrease in breast cancer recurrence. Concentrate on carotenoids (carrots, papaya, malunggay) and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, pechay) for breast cancer survivors.

Brisk walking and light aerobics are excellent forms of exercise. The Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) confirmed that a low-fat diet reduced the risk of  recurrence of ER (-) breast cancer by 42 percent. Olive oil (not extra-virgin) and canola oil are the best forms of cooking oil, a maximum of 5 to 7 teaspoons per day on average for most women.

Studies also show that maintaining a healthy weight for height (body mass index) of between 18 to 24 significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Other dietary factors like freshly ground flax seed, PSK Coriolus mushrooms, Maitake MD fraction mushrooms, Omacor® fish oil and vitamin D, have also been shown to help fight breast cancer in addition to standard/conventional care. All of these dietary options are also available in Cebu City.

PREVENTION

An ounce of prevention is still better than cure.

Together with living a healthy lifestyle, early detection is still the best way to prevent invasive breast cancer. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, one  out of every 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer. This figure should not scare women, but underscores the importance of lifestyle, screening and early detection. Every woman 40 years old and above must see their obstetrician/gynaecologist to learn about screening procedures and how to properly perform monthly self-breast examinations.

Breast cancer may also occur at a young age, even in women in their 20s, among families with a strong history of breast cancer (2 or more 1st degree relatives). If you belong to this category, please consult your obstetrician/gynaecologist as soon as possible. Women already diagnosed with breast cancer must also have yearly monitoring of the other healthy breast.

Best news: most hospitals and laboratories in Cebu offer a  50 percent discount on breast screening procedures for the whole month of October.

Good information saves lives.

(Breast Cancer patients may avail of state subsidized medical care of P100,000 under Philhealth’s type Z package at VSMMC.)

For more information about breast cancer, you may contact Me’Anne Alcordo Solomon, program coordinator of I CAN SERVE FOUNDATION CEBU (tel. no. 254-9370) or Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center EJACC (tel. no. 254-6351)

Wishing all women the best of health this Pink October!

(Omid U. Etemadi, MD, FAAIM  is a specialist in Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Care (Integrative Oncology). He is a   Graduate Fellow of the Univ. of Arizona Health Sciences Center and a participant of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute-Harvard Medical School Master Class for Oncologists Program. He is a full member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He presently holds clinic at CANCERCARE Cancer Survivorship Center, 308-A Robinsons’ Cybergate Complex across Chong Hua Medical Center.)