Women's Health and Beauty

Breast Cancer Awarness Get Checked!

Dr. Hochstein urges women to schedule their yearly mammogram!

Every woman over the age of 40 should take time out of their busy schedule and schedule their annual mammogram. Your best defense against breast cancer is early detection. Dr. Hochstein recommends the following breast cancer screening guidelines to promote early detection:

Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.
Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.

Breast Self-Exam (BSE)

Taking a few minutes to do a breast self-exam a minimum of once a month can make a lifetime of difference. Nearly 70% of all breast cancers are found through self-exams and with early detection the 5-year survival rate is 98%. If you find a lump, schedule an appointment with your doctor, but don't panic—8 out of 10 lumps are not cancerous. For additional peace of mind, call your doctor whenever you have concerns.

How to do a Brest Self-Exam

In the Shower

Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.

Before a Mirror

Inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead.

Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women's breasts do.

Lying Down

Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast.

Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

Digital Mammography

A mammogram is an x-ray examination of the breasts, used to detect and diagnose breast diseases. Screening mammography is used as a preventive measure for women who have no symptoms of breast disease.

This painless procedure does not squeeze or damage the implant as it uses computers and specially designed digital detectors to produce an image that can be displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor, and transmitted and stored just like computer files.

Breast implants can also impede accurate mammogram readings because both silicone and saline implants are not transparent on x-rays and can block a clear view of the tissues behind them, especially if the implant has been placed in front of, rather than beneath, the chest muscles. Experienced technologists and radiologists know how to carefully compress the breasts to improve the view without rupturing the implant.

From a patient´s point of view, having a digital mammogram is very much like having a conventional screen-film mammogram. Both film-based and digital mammography use compression and x-rays to create clear images of the inside of the breast. During all mammography exams, the technologist positions the patient to image the breast from different angles and compresses the breast with a paddle to obtain optimal image quality.

Unlike film-based mammography, digital mammograms produce images that appear on the technologists monitor in a matter of seconds. There is no waiting for film to develop, which can mean a shorter time spent in the breast imaging suite.

Mammography is a very safe procedure that uses low doses of radiation to produce high quality x-rays.

Benefits

Imaging of the breast improves a physician's ability to detect small tumors. When cancers are small, the woman has more treatment options and a cure is more likely.
The use of screening mammography increases the detection of small abnormal tissue growths confined to the milk ducts in the breast, called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). These early tumors cannot harm patients if they are removed at this stage and mammography is the only proven method to reliably detect these tumors. It is also useful for detecting all types of breast cancer, including invasive ductal and invasive lobular cancer.
No radiation remains in a patient's body after an x-ray examination.
X-rays usually have no side effects in the diagnostic range.

Early Signs of Ovarian Cancer

Print this up and bring it to your doctor if you feel any of these symptoms, Click Here.

Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are not specific to the disease, and they often mimic those of many other more-common conditions, including digestive and bladder problems.

When ovarian cancer symptoms are present, they tend to be persistent and worsen with time.

Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:

Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating
Pelvic discomfort or pain
Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full
Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
A persistent lack of energy
Low back pain

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you.

If you have a family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer, talk to your doctor about your risk of ovarian cancer. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a genetic counselor to discuss testing for certain gene mutations that increase your risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Why do I need a Pap test?

A Pap test can save your life. It can find the earliest signs of cervical cancer. If caught early, the chance of curing cervical cancer is very high. Pap tests also can find infections and abnormal cervical cells that can turn into cancer cells. Treatment can prevent most cases of cervical cancer from developing.

Getting regular Pap tests is the best thing you can do to prevent cervical cancer. In fact, regular Pap tests have led to a major decline in the number of cervical cancer cases and deaths.

Do all women need Pap tests?

It is important for all women to have Pap tests, along with pelvic exams, as part of their routine health care. You need a Pap test if you are 21 years or older.

Women who have gone through Menopause (when a woman's periods stop) still need regular Pap tests. Women ages 65 and older can talk to their doctor about stopping after at least 3 normal Pap tests and no abnormal results in the last 10 years.

How often do I need to get a Pap Test?

It depends on your age and health history. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you. Most women can follow these guidelines:

Starting at age 21, have a Pap test every 1-2 years.
If you are 30 years old and older and have had 3 normal Pap tests for 3 years in a row, talk to your doctor about spacing out Pap tests to every 3 years.
If you are over 65 years old, ask your doctor if you can stop having Pap tests.

Blueberries: Cancer Fighter, Beauty Enhancer

Posted Thursday, October 13, 2011 by Shellie Terry Benson, Editor

The little blue fruit has had quite a year as researchers continue to find ways it boosts health internally and externally. The high antioxidant content (higher than nearly all other fruits) and anti-inflammation properties found in blueberries act as anti-aging agents, fighting off environmental hazards to the skin, protecting the skin from sun damage and even preventing wrinkles. Some studies suggest that eating blueberries regularly can even help improve acne-prone skin. We’ve even highlighted some beauty products that take advantage of this benefit, like Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment.

Internally, blueberries have been found to boost weight-loss efforts, cardiovascular health, maintain vision, aid in digestion and improve brain function, particularly memory. This week, researchers revealed the effects of blueberries on breast cancer. They found that mice fed blueberry powder saw a significant reduction in the growth and spread of triple negative breast cancer cells, an aggressive form of the disease that affects 10 percent to 15 percent of breast cancer patients.

Mice that were fed 5 percent freeze-dried blueberry powder had breast cancer tumors that were 75 percent smaller that those found in the control group that wasn’t fed the blueberry powder.

To get similar protection, a human would need to eat two cups of blueberries a day. Fresh is definitely best, but berries that are flash frozen retain their antioxidant levels. Any other form of berry that has been processed (canned, juiced, preserves) will lose their nutrient benefits.

So what are you waiting for? Sprinkle some on your cereal, blend some in a smoothie or top your morning yogurt with a handful!

For more information or to Schedule your Appointment please contact:

Comprehensive Breast Care Center
20601 E. Dixie Hwy #310
Aventura, FL 33180
305-931-1344

Comprehensive Breast Care Center
1380 NE Miami Gardens Dr. Suite 105
North Miami Beach, FL 33179
305-944-3132

Dr. Daniel Levin, MD, F.A.C.O.G
Gynecology
12550 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 604
North Miami, Fl 33180
305-981-0231

Sincerely,
Leonard Hochstein

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