Chemotherapy involves the administration of drugs that kill the cancer cells or stop them from growing. Most chemotherapy medications are given through an intravenous line, although some are administered in pill form. Chemotherapy is a harsh regime which often makes people feel more ill than the illness they are suffering from, however it has been proved to be very effective.
Chemotherapy is usually administered in cycles where each cycle consists of a period of intensive treatment which lasts for a few days or weeks followed by a week of recovery. Most patients with breast cancer have two to four cycles of chemotherapy to start with before tests are performed to see what effects it has had on the cancer.
Chemotherapy is different to radiation as it can treat the whole body with the potential of finding other tumor cells that have migrated from the breast and surrounding area. Many people are familiar with chemotherapy’s side effects although the side effects do depend upon which drugs are used to treat the patient.
The most common side effects are loss of hair, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting and low blood cell count making the patient more susceptible to infections, feeling sick or tired. Many notice that they bleed more than usual, especially from gums and small scrapes and sores etc.
There are three different chemotherapy strategies are used in breast cancer:
? adjuvant chemotherapy – this is given to patients who have undergone curative treatment for breast cancer such as radiation or surgery. This treatment is given to decrease the possibility of the breast cancer returning.
? Pre-surgical chemotherapy – this is given to shrink a large tumor and/or to kill any stray cancerous cells. This will also increase the chance that the surgery will kill the cancer completely.
? Regular chemotherapy – this is given routinely to people who have breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast or the surrounding local area.
Hormonal therapy may also be given as many breast cancers such as those that have ample estrogen or progesterone receptors are sensitive to changes in hormones.
In some breast cancer cases, a woman’s natural hormones are suppressed with drugs whereas other patients find benefits by adding hormones. Tamoxifen for instance is currently the most commonly prescribed effective hormone treatment. It can be used for treating breast cancer and also in the prevention of breast cancer. Tamoxifen has few side effects and can considerably improve the life span of those women who have advanced cases of breast cancer.
A further treatment, Fulvestrant has recently been approved in the USA. It is planned that it will be used for treating hormone receptor positive metastastic breast cancer in women who have been through the menopause. It is given following antiestrogen therapy.
Another treatment known as monoclonal is antibodies that are antagonistic against the proteins which are in or around cancer cells. They recognise an invader such as a cancer cell and attack it. This antibody therapy is currently being investigated and holds out a lot of hope for breast cancer sufferers.

Cellulite is the fat deposit, found closer to the surface than the subcutaneous normal fat deposits. One of the most pressing issues for women is how to get rid of the cellulite on their body. This cellulite can be described as a dimpling pattern of fat which is found on the hips, thighs and buttocks of many women. Sometimes if they are really unlucky, some women get cellulite on their upper arms.

It is a fact that women are much more likely to have cellulite than men. This fact is due to the layout of a component in the skin called the septa and its elasticity. Due to its design, women develop cellulite as they get older and get that orange peel look on their skin.

There are several causes of cellulite. The most common is of course, aging. Cellulite is a type of fat tissue, and we can find it just below the surface of our skin. This layer of skin contains bands of connecting tissue, containing fat cells. A lack of exercise, a bad diet, insufficient water intake, birth control pills, smoking and drinking or stress are the most common causes of cellulite. Also, in some cases, genetics play an important role. If your mother or grandmother had cellulite, you will probably suffer from this condition too.

The problem that comes with cellulite is how to get rid of it. Unfortunately, none of the methods used can be considered totally effective. Yet, if you combine several ways, you can often improve your cellulite even if you can’t make it disappear. The first thing to try is some creams, gels and lotions. Depending on their ingredients, they can often have good results. The advantage is they are applied directly on the affected parts of the body, and are more likely to be effective than pills that can be taken.

There are also creams and lotions that will have no beneficial effects at all. There are some ingredients that creams need to contain in order to have positive results on cellulite. One of these ingredients is methylxanthine. Specialists have found clear evidence that show this substance penetrates the skin much easier thus reducing the cellulite aspect of your skin.

A good diet can also be of great help. Antioxidants, amino acids, essential fatty acids or lecithin based diets will reduce the amount of stored fluids; improve circulation and cellular inflammation, leading to a cellulite reduction.

Exercise is also useful in your attempt to get rid of your cellulite. There are special programs designed by physicians that usually have good results. A good exercise program, combined with a proper diet will assure your skin is much improved. The programs mean you have to take light exercises, and sometimes they can be really fun. Aerobic classes are strongly recommended. Sometimes, even long walks, playing sports, ridding a bicycle or swimming will lead to a cellulite reduction.

What you need to know about these techniques is that, only if you combine them you will have positive results. If you don’t combine them, and use one technique alone, you will only get temporarily results, and the cellulite will appear again on your body.

For many generations, women in the United States have relied on a root known as black cohosh to relieve various problems associated with female health. From PMS issues and menstrual cramps to menopause, black cohosh has long been used to treat a variety of women’s issues.

As far back as 1900, the indigenous wildflower known as black cohosh provided the main ingredient for a popular tonic used to treat various female problems. Black cohosh is a member of the buttercup family, and its usefulness extends far beyond PMS and menopause. In addition to these traditional uses, black cohosh has been used to treat a large number of other conditions, including everything from eczema to insect bites.

Modern uses of black cohosh
For many years, the use of black cohosh fell out of favor, but this popular root is once again being used as an herbal treatment for such symptoms as hot flashes which are commonly associated with menopause. When traditional hormone replacement therapy was found to carry significant health risks, many doctors recommended that their patients treat their menopausal symptoms instead with black cohosh.

Black cohosh is also thought to be an excellent anti-inflammatory medication, a relief for muscle aches and even a mild sedative. In addition, black cohosh has been used to clear stopped up mucous membranes and to help lessen congestion and coughing.

The importance of black cohosh
Black cohosh also has a long history of treating menstrual cramps in a drug free way. The antispasmodic properties of black cohosh may be responsible for its effectiveness at treating the discomforts of menstrual cramps. In addition, black cohosh is thought to increase the blood flow to the uterus, and to reduce the intensity of painful cramping. Black cohosh is even thought to benefit those suffering from premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Black cohosh is available in a number of different preparations, including tinctures, tablets, capsules, and dried herbs. These dried black cohosh herbs are often used to prepare soothing teas.

What to look for
When shopping for capsules or tablets containing black cohosh, it is important to look for those products which have been standardized to contain 2.5% triterpenes glycosides, which are the active ingredients in the black cohosh root. It is this amount that has proven most effective in clinical trials of black cohosh.

When buying liquid forms of black cohosh, it is important to seek out those products that have been standardized to a higher percentage, around 5% of triterpene glycosides.

For many people the capsules which contain the freeze dried black cohosh roots can be an excellent choice, since these capsules are most likely to contain all of the key ingredients in this herb. This includes many of the compounds that have yet to be identified by science, but which are likely to be part of the active ingredients of black cohosh.

The best preparation of black cohosh for PMS symptoms is to take 40 mg of black cohosh two times a day. This regimen should be started from a week to 10 days prior to your period. Muscle aches and pains are best treated with a warm compress which has been soaked in black cohosh tea. This preparation should be applied to the affected area for about 20 minutes. The black cohosh tea is made by boiling the dried black cohosh root in water for 20 to 30 minutes, and then allowing the tea to cool before it is used.