Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women ages 34 to 54, notes the BBC website. This form of cancer is characterized by the formation of cancerous cells in the breast tissue, which eventually form a lump. The exact cause of breast...
Femara, also known as letrozole, is a drug used for treating breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This therapy has several side effects, and one of them is weight loss. Femara is a potent hormone drug and only your physician can assess if it can...
In a healthy person with a healthy diet, after eating a meal, blood sugars rise and then return to normal as the pancreas releases insulin. When the pancreas excretes too much insulin, or if someone eats lots of sugars and the pancreas constantly...
The perennial vine known as the wild yam, also called Mexican yam, and its close relative, the Chinese yam, have both been widely touted in herbal medicine and called into question by traditional medicine. Despite the common use of wild yam...
Lignans are substances found in a variety of plants, including seeds, beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Lignans are called phytoestrogens because the body converts them into chemicals that function like estrogen. Several hundred...
The Tea Association of the USA notes that tea consumption is considered safe if you drink in moderation. It claims that tea has about half the caffeine as coffee, with a cup of tea providing about 40mg of caffeine and a cup of brewed coffee over...
Femara (letrozole) is a daily oral medication available in the United States whose purpose is to lower levels of the hormone estrogen in a woman's body. Femara is prescribed to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women, reports Drugs.com. You...
Soy protein powder that makes up soy shakes is made from soybeans that are high in protein. Soybeans are a member of the pea family and are indigenous to southeast Asia. Soy contains isoflavones, protein and fiber. It is an excellent source of...
Grapefruit juice can increase estrogen levels in your bloodstream. The estrogen boost is only slight when you drink grapefruit juice by itself. However, when combined with medications containing estrogen, such as birth control pills, grapefruit...
Insulin is the hormone secreted by the beta cells in the pancreas. It helps sugar to cross the cell barrier and enter the cell to provide energy and allow the cells to do their work, such as muscle cells to move the skeleton or the pituitary...
Flaxseeds contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. While vital to many bodily functions, omega-3 fatty acids are not produced by the body. Dr. Frank Sacks, professor of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Harvard...
Fosamax, also known by its generic name, alendronate, is indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis caused by menopause or steroid treatment. It belongs to the class of drugs known as bisphosphonates and works by slowing bone loss...
Progesterone is a steroid hormone made primarily in the ovaries but also by the placenta during pregnancy. Progesterone acts with other female hormones, such as estrogen, to maintain female reproductive health and female sex characteristics. It...
Breast cancer refers to a potentially life-threatening condition in which cells in the breast grow at a rapid rate. The Mayo Clinic says that breast cancer is one of the most common cancer in women within the United States after skin cancer. Signs...
Staying healthy and well involves forming a number of healthy habits. You should maintain a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and healthy oils; practice a regular exercise regimen; get enough sleep; stay hydrated; and...
Prempro is a prescription drug also called Premphase. It contains conjugated estrogens and medroxprogesterone (a combination of two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone). These hormones play important roles in the reproduction process. As a...
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) refers to the hormones that are generally taken by women at menopause to relieve symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. HRT was also believed to prevent osteoporosis and...
Your daily habits contribute as much as one-third to your risk for certain types of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Stay physically active, reach and maintain your ideal weight and eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet to...
Because there is no definitive proof that vitamin D prevents breast cancer, there are no definitive recommendations for preventative doses. The association between vitamin D and breast cancer remains unproven, and one animal study discussed in an...
Your body mass index, or BMI, is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. The range for a healthy BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. As your BMI increases above the healthy range, your risk of developing serious health problems increases. A BMI of...
Approximately one in every eight American women develop breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Getting early, appropriate treatment for the condition can significantly increase the chance of survival from this disease. Letrozole,...
Grapefruit juice can affect estrogen hormone levels. Grapefruit may minimally increase a woman's natural estrogen levels. If consumed with drugs containing estrogen, such as birth control pills or drugs prescribed to treat the symptoms of...
Approximately 1 in 8 women living in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, with the majority occurring after menopause. According to a 2008 study published in the "American Journal of Epidemiology," up to 40...
Studies have linked grapefruit and grapefruit seed extract to cancer, both as possibly causing and combating the disease. However, the findings remain preliminary and inconsistent. Grapefruit seed extract poses potentially serious side effects and...
Flaxseed meal primarily provides you with a necessary oil called omega-3 fatty acids. Ground flaxseed meal is preferred over whole seeds, because they are more readily digested to take advantage of the beneficial properties. Whole flaxseeds have a...
Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid--better known as EPA and DHA--are two types of omega-3 fatty acids that are found in cold-water fish, such as salmon and tuna. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids are...
Fish oil and omega-3 fats can benefit a number of chronic health conditions, including cancer. It has been suggested that fish oil can stop cancer from developing and can also prevent some complications of cancer in people who already have it. In...
Femara, the brand name of the generic drug letrozole, is a prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors. Femara is used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is also used...
Hot flashes are one the most common symptoms of menopause, with three out of four menopausal women experiencing them. Traditionally, hot flashes have been treated with synthetic estrogen in the form of hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. More...