Nutrition: Breast Cancer
Among women, breast ca
This is an excerpt from the paper...
Among women, breast cancer is a major health problem. In fact, it was once the leading cause of female cancer mortality. There are many possible etiologies for breast cancer. One of the these is nutrition. The nutritional aspects of breast cancer affect not only its development, but also its outcome. In 1989, breast cancer accounted for 28% of all new cancer cases in women, and 18% of all deaths due to cancer. Moreover, disease's incidence varies according to both age and nationality. Although it is uncommon in young women, the annual incidence rises rapidly from age 30 to about age 45 years. The highest rates of breast cancer generally occur among white women with high standards of living. This has led certain scientists to postulate that such cultural factors as nutrition may influence the disease's development. Evidence for this includes the fact that, among populations subjected to periods of dietary restriction during World War II, there were a significant breast cancer declines (Carbone et al., 1993, p. 819). The etiology of breast cancer remains a mystery. Innumerable factors have been associated with its development. Some of these include the following: (1) genetics; (2) cigarettes; (3) psychosocial factors; (4) early menarche; (5) late menopause; (6) late first childbirth; (7) hormones; and, finally, (8) diet. Of these, diet has a major etiological influence. For example, the most effective prevention method currentl
. . .
ous studies have shown, for example, that obese women with breast cancer tend to have both shorter survival times and a greater incidences of recurrence (Monnin & Schiller, 1993, p. 72). Moreover, weight gain is a common tendency during adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, cancer patients anxious about recurrence may also be especially prone to unproven cancer diets. Therefore, breast cancer patients should generally receive dietary counselling (Nordevang et al., 1992, p. 395). Nutritional guidelines promoting low intakes of fat, weight reduction, and dietary sources of vitamins and minerals may help these women cope with their illness.
Breast cancer is a very complex disease. Clearly, nutrition affects both its development and prognosis. The underlying physiologic mechanisms involved must be further delineated, however, before innovative measures for the disease's prevention and treatment can be established.
References
Carbone, P. P.; Jordan, V. C., & Bonadonna, G. Neoplasms of the breast. In P. Calabresi & P. S. Schein (eds.), Medical oncology: Basic principles and clinical management of cancer. Second edition (pp. 819-849). New York, NY: McGrawHill, Inc; 1993.
Hankin, J. H. (1993, September). Role of nutri
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
War II, Major HIV, Keusch Thea, Breast Cancer, Monnin Schiller, B6 B12, Disease Consequently, HIV/AIDS Infection, AIDS Moreover, Nerad Gorbach, breast cancer, cancer patients, et al, carbone et al, al 1993, et al 1993, breast cancer patients, carbone et, aids patients, libman 1992, hiv infection, pp 1-14, clinics north america, aids disease, breast cancer journal,
Approximate Word count = 1562
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
More Essays on Nutrition: Breast Cancer
Among women, breast ca
|