A Few Things To Consider Before Getting Cancer Insurance Quotes

The number of people looking for cancer insurance quotes is growing fast. After all, this type of policy can be a financial lifesaver should you ever hear a doctor utter the words "You have cancer." As a result, it's little surprise that so many are shopping for cancer insurance quotes to help meet their needs in that situation. Before you choose the right policy for you, though, there are several things you may want to think about.

Types of Policies

With so many different companies offering cancer insurance quotes, it's important to remember that you have to compare apples to apples. There are three main types of policies you'll be choosing from. A first diagnosis policy offers you a lump sum of cash as soon as you're diagnosed with the illness. An expense-incurred policy pays you a percentage of what you pay out of pocket for your medical expenses. There is a maximum amount that this policy will pay out. An indemnity policy compensates you based on a benefits schedule. Looking at the type of policy that might be right for you before you start shopping for cancer insurance quotes is an absolute must.

What's Actually Covered

In addition to the different types of policies, it's important to note that different benefits are covered under each policy, which is certainly something to consider before you go shopping for cancer insurance quotes. Depending on the type of policy, you may be able to cover your medical expenses, extended nursing care, and various treatment options. In some cases, you can have your travel expenses to and from your treatments covered. In some cancer insurance quotes, the company will note that some types of cancer aren't covered. Skin cancer is often one of these. You'll need to know what the policy does and doesn't cover in the event you're ever diagnosed with this serious condition.

Look over the details closely

Before you begin looking at cancer insurance quotes and deciding which policy to get, you'll need to review the details carefully. Look at the coverage dates based on your application date. You may also want to investigate whether you end up with reduced benefits during the first days of the policy. Some policies have a waiting period of up to 90 days. Some offer a fraction of the benefits during those first three months, too. So, before you sign on that dotted line, talk to the companies offering you cancer insurance quotes, and find out those details.

Lower Breast Cancer Risk By Avoiding Alcohol

If you want to lower breast cancer risk avoiding alcohol may be key, as even a little alcohol might be enough to get you in trouble. While experts have warned of the many health dangers of too much drinking, a new review reveals that just a single alcoholic drink each day can raise a woman's risk of breast cancer by almost 5%. Heavier intakes (3+ drinks/day) can bring the increase in risk to a dangerous 50% according to the team of researchers from France, Italy and Germany.

Warnings about alcohol consumption and cancer of the breast were first brought to light during the early 1980s, and have gained ground ever since. Alcohol is believed to raise estrogen levels, and there are earlier studies that have found alcohol linked strongly to estrogen receptor positive cancers that need the hormone in order to keep growing.

For the current review the team examined past research and selected 113 earlier studies that examined light drinking and cancer risk. They were able to attribute 2% of breast cancers in both North America and Europe to light drinking; almost 50,000 of these cancers the world over to drinking heavily. The findings do seem to echo the advice of physicians, to live a healthy lifestyle and minimize your intake of alcohol.

A healthy woman, who is at average risk for breast cancer, should not drink in excess of one alcoholic beverage a day. If you're at a higher risk due of a family history for example, you should avoid daily consumption of alcohol and perhaps only drink on special occasions, if at all.

While a family history of this disease increases your risk, remember that most women who get breast cancer do NOT have a family history of the disease.

The link between even moderate alcohol intake and a slightly higher risk of breast cancer was reported previously. The new findings update this thinking, and because they made use of both newer and older studies, are able to give a better estimate of the risk of drinking alcohol every day.

But, moderate alcohol intake is also believed to be good for the heart. So how do women choose?

Look to guidelines that suggest if you don't drink alcohol, don't start for health benefits. If you do drink, keep your intake to a maximum of one drink daily, though if you are at risk of cancer you might be smart to avoid alcohol altogether.

Experts believe that if you are at risk, a single change like this won't have much impact. You'll need to be doing other things - exercising and eating healthy - as well to truly lower breast cancer risk. In the U.S., estimates suggest that one in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in her life. The risk from light alcohol intake is then added onto that starting point. The good news is that drinking alcohol is totally within your control -so you can do something about your breast cancer risk if you need to.

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After Mastectomy - Breast Prosthesis Gives Shape And Balance To The Chest

Having been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may be advised to undergo mastectomy. This procedure involves the removal of the whole breast. This is advised in order to remove the cancer cells in the breast; your ailment is in advance stage. Mastectomy prevents the continuous growth of cancer cells that may spread in other parts of the body like armpit and chest.

After mastectomy, the wound heals. The physical pain is gone but physical recovery is only a part of the painful experience. Emotional recovery is more agonizing. Why would it not be? Is there any woman who would not feel the grave sense of grief when she loses a breast?

After mastectomy, you lose balance and posture. One of the recommended solutions is breast prosthesis. You may find wearing prosthesis a big help as this makes you feel and look better after losing a beast. Though this will not really take the place of the lost asset, still this will give a better shape when you put your clothes on.

So - what is breast prosthesis? This is an artificial breast that you wear inside your bra to give balance to your chest. The prosthesis is designed to match the color, size and shape of the remaining breast. In fact this is meticulously weighed in order for this to move and feel like the other breast. Wearing this prosthesis, people who do not know of your mastectomy will not be able to tell that you are wearing one.

There are four types of prosthesis - temporary, permanent, partial and lightweight breast form. The temporary prosthesis is light and soft which is worn for the first six weeks after surgery. The permanent type is properly weighed to fit and match your remaining breast. The partial prosthesis, also called shaper, bra booster or shell prosthesis, is worn by a woman who had undergone breast conserving surgery. A lightweight breast form is a special kind of prosthesis that is designed to be worn inside your swim suit.

There are different ways to wear your prosthesis. You can have a bra with pocket, similar to a nursing bra, where you can put the artificial breast in place. There are also mastectomy bras for this purpose. Or - you can improvise your mastectomy bra by a sewing pocket into your normal bra. And there are other women who opt for self-adhesive prosthesis which are attached to the chest by using special glue.

After undergoing your mastectomy, you will need the prosthesis to provide balance to the chest area of your body. It is best to have your prosthesis fitted by a professional prosthesis fitter. Choosing the right artificial breast will involve several factors. These considerations are the type of surgery, the body shape, the cost and your individual choice or preference.

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A Swedish Ounce of Prevention

Several thousand women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer in Sweden, making it the country's most common form of cancer in women. Thus, its prevention would improve quality of life and rate of mortality for a significant part of the population.

Studies so far confirm that there can be a genetic defect involved in some occurrences of breast cancer in women. But the picture is much more complex, as those without any such genetic mutation can also be affected.

So, the questions remain: why do some women get it, despite a healthy life style and others do not? How much do genetic factors influence one's risk?

If one is genetically predisposed to develop this disease, can other factors prevent it? In addition to lifestyle factors, are there environmental triggers that may be involved?

Considering the potential savings of lives and health care costs, this field has become more and more interesting to researchers in Sweden.

One such researcher, a professor at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Dr. Per Hall, recently devised a way to study the occurrence of breast cancer by following 100,000 women living in Sweden for ten years.

Named "The Karma Study" (Karolinska Mammogram Project) it will recruit women from different parts of Sweden during the coming two to three years.

The women all fill in a questionnaire on lifestyle and family history. At the time of their routine mammogram screening, they also leave a blood sample. Those who have previously been treated for breast cancer are also invited to participate in the study.

The study will try to identify those who risk getting the disease and discover if it is possible to prevent it. Researchers at Lund University will also be involved as major collaborators.

In an interview for Helsingborgs Dagblad, Professor Hall said, "It has been so frustrating to not have had the time and opportunity to get the answers to the questions about which women will get breast cancer."

Now with over $10,000,000 of funding from the EU, Swedish Research Council and Marit & Hans Rausing (Tetra Pak heirs) the opportunity has materialized.

http://karmastudy.org/sources/

For several thousand women a year, their findings may mean knowing how to avoid getting this disease. Others may benefit from less anxiety about a loved one becoming ill.

For the entire population of Sweden, The Karma Study will hopefully mean economic savings that can be applied to the next health mystery awaiting investigation.

Until then, "ounces of prevention" via healthy diets, regular, vigorous exercise, limited alcohol consumption and no smoking are surely worth much more than we can ever imagine... until we fall ill.

May, 2012

Lund, Sweden

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13 Tips for Giving Lymphedema People a Fashion Makeover

So often those of us who struggle with post-mastectomy issues or lymphedema search far and wide to find clothing that makes us look more appealing, and thus enhances our sense of self-worth. Lymphedema is a lifelong swelling of a limb or the trunk that needs to be controlled to avoid infection, further swelling, and complications.

While we are usually far more aware of our perceived flaws than anyone else, we still desire to feel confident in our appearance. It's a way to regain control over what has happened to us, to make us feel good about ourselves. Here are some fashion tips to renew our sense of attractiveness, whether we've had a lumpectomy or mastectomies, or deal daily with lymphedema:

• Wear tops with built-in bras for prostheses, or go without, depending on your mood and your figure.
• Don tops with a higher neckline if you are concerned about scars from catheter ports.
• Invest in camisoles that can be worn under lower-cut garments. Now available are camisole dickeys that can be snapped onto bra straps. These detachable shirt-fronts offer a sense of modesty without providing another layer of clothing on hot days.
• Make use of tops with long or loose sleeves and pants with pantaloon legs for comfort and to disguise swollen arms and legs.
• Sport a broom skirt with bright colors to disguise legs if you have leg lymphedema.
• Choose bright tops if you have leg lymphedema, to turn attention away from lower extremities.
• Pick out attractive pants, capris or shorts if you have arm lymphedema, to turn attention away from upper extremities.
• Take advantage of clothing with dark asymmetric or patterned designs to distract the eye.
• Splurge on post-mastectomy underwear and nightwear, if desired.
• Use accessories (purses, scarves, jewelry, shawls, ponchos, comfort belts) that take the focus away from form-fitting garments.
• Find comfortable shoes and boots that are fashion designed.
• Apply makeup to draw attention to attractive features of your face.
• Finally, and most importantly, wear a smile. It will brighten up anyone's day. It will tell people you are approachable and friendly. It speaks of an inner beauty that can't be defeated.

Many companies exist to help with clothing challenges for those with post-mastectomy issues or lymphedema. Examples include Cast Clothing Co., Holy Clothing, and Pink Ribbon Lingerie. Just type "fashion clothing/shoes and lymphedema/lymphedema" into your search engine to find a wealth of information. Also, you can join discussion forums and support groups through Facebook, other social networks, and online support websites to exchange ideas.

The bottom line? We are gorgeous regardless of what clothes we wear. Our battle scars define who we are. With so many options and resources available, we now have the freedom to choose whether to disguise our scars or let them be a statement that can benefit others if they ask. We have the final say.

This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.

Breast Cancer Link With Diet

New research on the breast cancer link with diet finds that elevated levels of dietary cadmium are likely to increase your chance of developing this form of cancer. Cadmium is a heavy metal that is naturally a part of our environment, and is also a part of many farm fertilizers. It doesn't take much for the substance to make its way into the food chain and its found in bread, cereal, potatoes and other root crops as well as veggies. Experts have known for a while now that cadmium is considered toxic and in some forms cancer causing.

Cadmium has been associated with lung cancer, but the link to breast cancer is something new. Over the last 8 years, research on animals has found that cadmium shows estrogen like effects. Estrogen is known to fuel the growth of some types of breast cancers, and can increase breast cancer risk for post menopause women.

For the latest work the team followed almost 56,000 women taking part in a Swedish Mammography Cohort established in 1987-90. The subjects supplied information on their diet, as well as other details, and were followed for 12 years during which time 2,112 diagnoses of breast cancer were made in the study population.

The team split the women into 3 groups, based on dietary intake of cadmium. The lowest intake was under 13 micrograms per day, the mid level look in from 13 to 16 micrograms per day, and the highest intake group consumed over 16 micrograms of cadmium per day.

The subjects with the greatest exposure to cadmium from the food they ate had a 21% higher chance of cancer of the breast. The risk was highest (27%) for lean to normal weight women than it was for overweight women.

The relationship between cadmium and cancer of the breast was strongest in estrogen receptor positive (ER-positive) breast cancers. As the name suggests these are breast cancers caused by estrogen. The link with cadmium and ER-negative cancer was too small to be statistically significant. More work is needed.

The study findings are no reason to stay away from veggies and whole grains according to the researchers. In fact, they discovered that subjects in the research who ate large volumes of these foods had a reduced chance of developing cancer when compared with others who were exposed to cadmium from other food sources. It's not clear why, but researchers believe that whole grains and veggies might protect against developing breast cancer due to their antioxidant properties.

Understanding that cadmium works like estrogen once ingested into the body, and that estrogen can encourage cancer growth are vital points to pass on - especially to women post menopause. If you're concerned about your breast cancer link to dietary choices, be sure that you are making other smart, healthy lifestyle choices known to be good for you - curb your intake of alcohol, don't smoke, be more active and keep your weight under control. Because while you can't change your age or the genes you carry, there are still plenty of things you can do to keep your body healthy and cancer free.