More than 215,000 women are diagnosed with Breast Cancer every year. For many of them, surgery to remove the tumor is just the first step in the battle against the disease, often followed by radiation and/or chemotherapy. After that, these women may need to decide with their doctor whether to have "adjuvant therapy"-medication to help prevent their cancer from coming back.

When a woman's breast cancer does come back or spreads to other parts of the body, she may be at greater risk of dying from the disease. Women whose breast cancer is detected in the nearby lymph nodes at diagnosis and those who receive chemotherapy after surgery are considered to be at increased risk for breast cancer recurrence.

Postmenopausal women whose early-stage breast cancer is hormone-sensitive have a new option as their first hormone therapy following surgery. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Femara?(letrozole tablets) on December 28, 2005 for this type of use. This approval was based on a median of 24 months of treatment. The study is still ongoing to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of Femara. Already a leading breast cancer treatment, Femara is now the only medicine in a group called aromatase inhibitors that is approved for use both immediately following surgery and after five years of tamoxifen. The FDA granted Femara a priority review, a distinction reserved for medications that could potentially offer a significant improvement compared to products currently on the market.

Tips for Living Healthy

Discuss postsurgery treatment options with an oncologist. Whether you're one, five or 10 years beyond your diagnosis, taking care of your overall health and well-being can also reduce your risk of cancer coming back and give you the energy to do the things in life that you love.

Practice good nutrition
Exercise regularly
Tap into a support network
Take time out for yourself

Editors Note: Important safety information

Femara (letrozole tablets) is approved for the adjuvant (following surgery) treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor

positive early breast cancer. The benefits of Femara in clinical trials are based on 24 months of treatment. Further follow-up will be needed to determine long-term results, safety and effectiveness.

Talk to your doctor if you're allergic to Femara or any of its ingredients. You should not take Femara if you are pregnant as it may cause fetal harm. You must be postmenopausal to take Femara. Some women reported fatigue and dizziness with Femara. Until you know how it affects you, use caution before driving or operating machinery. There was an increase in cholesterol in patients on Femara versus tamoxifen (5.4% vs. 1.2%).

In the adjuvant setting, commonly reported side effects were generally mild to moderate. Side effects seen in Femara versus tamoxifen included hot flashes (33.7% vs. 38%), joint pain (21.2% vs. 13.5%), night sweats (14.1% vs. 13.5%), weight gain (10.7% vs. 12.9%) and nausea (9.5% vs. 10.4%). Other side effects seen were bone fractures and osteoporosis.

About the author: Vince del Monte is an expert in plastic surgery and dental problems.

Acupuncture for Infertility – Tracing Its Roots

Acupuncure, an ancient Chinese healing tradition, dates back over 1,000 years.  Some medical practitioners in the West accept this treatment as a valid way of addressing several types of ailments.  It has the ability to relieve muscle tension, help a person quit smoking, and improve skin quality, among many other benefits.  Reports from latest studies reveal that acupuncture is highly beneficial to couples with infertility issues.

The Western View

Despite its popularity, a lot of Westerners still doubt the effectiveness of acupuncture.  Very little scientific evidence is available to support acupuncture. As a result, many people shy away from using it.  Studies are currently being conducted on the matter, says the National Insitutes of Health based in the United States.

Health Hazards

Acupuncture, when done by a trained acupuncturist, is normally painless.  Only a few suffer ill effects.  Puncturing of organs, spreading of infectious diseases, forgotten or broken needles and minimal bleeding are the usual risks infrequently associated with acupuncture.  These can be done away with by having an experienced practitioner perform therapy.    However, acupuncture should not be applied to individuals with bleeding disorders and people using blood thinners.

Solo Versus Complementary

Acupuncture, when used as a solo treatment, is regarded as an alternative method in treating fertility concerns.  It may also be seen as a procedure that can enhance the effects of modern fertility therapies.  Acupuncture perhaps provides better results for couples experiencing functional problems, particularly when used by itself.  By itself, effectiveness in treating structural problems, as with sperm duck blockage, could be weak.

Some acupuncture practitioners recommend that Chinese herbs be used alongside acupuncture procedures and treatments.  If you are under medication, check your doctor before taking herbs.  There are certain herbs that may inhibit the action of fertility procedures and drugs.

Acupuncture for Fertility - Effectiveness Factor?

How acupuncture works as a cure of infertility is still debatable.  However, many acupuncturists stress that even this age-old therapy can aid in normalizing the body's functions.  It boosts the flow of blood into reproductive organs and helps stabilize hormonal functions.  The general outcome is enhanced ovarian function in females and a higher sperm count in males.

Acupuncture positively affects women who use it together with other procedures that aim to boost fertility.   There are people who believe that acupuncture relaxes women when they undergo stressful fertility procedures.  Recent researches show that a woman undergoing in vitro fertilization has a higher chance of conception if acupuncture is introduced into therapy.

The Selection Process

Healthcare professionals who want to add acupuncture to their roster of services are required to have around 300 hours of specialized training to be certified.  Professionals looking to branch out to acupuncture need to pass the board exam first and complete between 2000 and 3000 hours of training to be licensed in this field.

There are many people who practice acupuncture, and the number continues to rise.  To make sure patients land in good hands, here are some things that must be taken into account.  People who are thinking of undergoing acupuncture must do a background check on a potential acupuncturist.  A practitioner should have the training and certification required by the state or other government authority where he or she conducts practice.  Good friends and relatives are excellent recommendation and feedback sources regarding potential acupuncturists.

Before jumping into the procedure, patients should always ask about the possible total costs to be prepared.  Many individuals are relieved that some insurance plans cover charges for acupuncture treatments.

What You Can Expect

Several acupuncture treatments have to be undergone before one gets the best results.  Frequent visits, usually lasting a few weeks to a few months, must be done to maximize its benefits.  A visit to the acupuncturist normally goes on for an hour or so, as this time will be used to discuss your present health condition and entertain any question about the entire procedure.

The symptoms of ovarian cysts are never stable and they rise continually without the woman actually realizing that they have an ovarian cyst. The most common symptom that originates in women is pain in the abdomen or in the pelvis. Pain in the belly of women having an ovarian fibroids can occur due to the burst of the cyst, bleeding of cyst, speedy growth or writhing of the cyst.

Feeling pain during sexual intercourse also indicates that the woman has ovarian fibroids. Pressure or pain due to many factors like bleeding or collapsing of a cyst, annoys the tissues in the lower part of the abdominal. Some of the symptoms of ovarian symptoms can also be linked with other diseases such as ovarian cancer or a problematic pregnancy. Furthermore, appendicitis and diverticulitis may also originate with similar symptoms.

They have the same symptoms as rupturing of ovarian fibroids. Women should be alert if any type of these symptoms or any alterations in the body takes place. They should also knowledge that which of the symptoms are dangerous. As some cysts may also be life threatening. One should be aware of the following types of symptoms. If all or any of these symptoms originates in the body, then women should undergo a treatment recommended by an expert. The symptoms that are commonly recognized in the women having ovary cyst are described below.

One of the most common signs that you can experience is to have a subtle, aching pain which comes on suddenly and a sort of discomfort in your pelvis. You may feel that your periods seem strange or that you feel bloated all the time.

The tell tale signs that you may have ovarian fibroids are: inability or pain when passing water, sore nipples, irregular periods, a feeling of putting on weight and trouble conceiving. These are the common symptoms that are observed in women having an ovarian fibroids.

Except the above mentioned symptoms, women may also experience problems like growth of hair all over the body rapidly, head-aches, unnatural pains in ribs and swelling. Hopefully from reading this article you are familiar with the symptoms of ovarian cyst. As these are the most common symptoms those arise in the women facing the problem of ovarian cysts and women should be aware of these symptoms. If you get any of these symptoms then you should really consult your doctor.