Different kinds of diseases have come out of the public, affecting men and women alike. However, some diseases only affect the women. There was a listed 1, 215,947 deaths for females in the United States alone for the year 2004. Out of the total mortality rate, 330, 513 belonged to heart disease-induced death, while 267,058 deaths was for cancer. This was founded to be the cause of death among almost all races, excluding the Asians. Asians, for this matter, have Cancer as their leading cause of death (Women’s Health, 2007).
According to the website of the Department of Health and Human Services, the leading cause of death among women is heart disease with a percentage of 27. 2. This was then followed by cancer, with a whopping 22. 0 %. Seventh on the list is diabetes with 3. 1 % (CDC Office of Women’s Health, 2007). These diseases, may seem as alarming as it should, because of the simple symptoms they may exhibit. Unfortunately, these diseases are enough to cause the death of an individual, hitting them physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In order for patients to deal with these diseases easily, one should take the initiative to know the basic information about each disease. This paper aims to focus on three of the top ten leading causes of death in women. These are Breast Cancer, Heart Diseases, and Diabetes. Breast Cancer Breast Cancer is defined as the growth of abnormal, malignant tumors in the breast. These tumors develop and invade either the glands or the ducts of the breasts (Dolinksky, 2008). This type of cancer affects women most of the time. Although relatively rare, men also have a chance of developing such disease.
In the United States alone, an estimated 200,000 Americans every year are diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Out of this huge population, 40,000 of them succumb to their deaths. Furthermore, 5%-10% of all women inherit this deadly disease. On the other hand, the majority, which is 80%, are diagnosed with cancer even if they do not have a family history of the said disease (CBS Cares, 2007). Certain factors increase a person’s risk in acquiring breast cancer. These include the sex, age, family history, personal history, and genetic predisposition.
Other important factors include excess weight, lack in exercise, estrogen exposure, hormone therapies, race, the use of birth control pills, carcinogen exposure, and excessive alcohol consumption. Women are the ones mostly affected by Breast Cancer. However, this does not mean that the men cannot acquire such disease. Ac coding to the CBS website, there is an estimated 1,300 men who have breast cancer (2007). In relation to this, the personal and family history come as a factor in acquiring breast cancer. The disease is genetic, and may be passed on from one generation to the other.
Although sometimes the disease skips a generation line, there is still a possibility that women can have breast cancer. The risk of having breast cancer increases as the women get older. This may be attributed to the fact that as women grow older, their systems get weaker, as compared to women in their 20’s and early 30’s. In addition to this, women, especially in their early 50’s experience their menopausal stage, further increasing their risk of having breast cancer. Like any other disease, certain symptoms and signs may be associated with breast cancer.
A lump found in the breast is the most common sign associated with the disease. Soon after, discharges from the nipple become visible, with the nipple retracting and the skin turning reddish (Mayo Clinic, 2007). The signs and symptoms of Breast Cancer are considered to be tricky. For the early stages of the disease, the signs and symptoms exhibited are not clearly seen. Some of its symptoms are only felt when the cancer has grown and has metastasized to the different parts of the breast, and soon to the different parts of the body. Normally, a lump becomes visible near the underarms or near the breast.
Most of the time, there is only one lump that can be felt, but for other times, there are several small lumps around the breast area. When breast cancer is present, the size of the breast afflicted usually changes. The breast becomes bigger, with excessive pain felt by the patient. In addition to this, the skin of the breast is also afflicted, being puckered, dimpled, or even scaled. When either one of the above mentioned is detected, the patient must immediately seek for a physician’s advise. The diagnosis of breast cancer entails a series of tests conducted by specialists.
As a basic procedure, patients are examined for palpation. In this procedure, the physician feels the breast for a lump or a group of lumps. Based from the lump felt, the physician then makes a diagnosis as to whether or not the lump is benign or cancerous. The second test used by doctors is the mammography. In this case, the breast of the patient undergoes an x-ray, showing a comprehensible view of the lump and the whole breast. When the physicians are in doubt, the test may be done repeatedly. Along with mammography, another technique may be used.
Known as Ultrasonography, the technique helps in the identification of a lump, as to whether or not the lump comprises of liquid or solid components. Not long after these tests, a biopsy is conducted on the patient to detect as to whether the lump is benign or cancerous (Healthlink, 10 Oct. 1999). There are different types of breast cancers. For this paper, only the common types will be discussed. According to the American Cancer Society, some of the most common types of breast cancer include Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS), the Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCTS), and the Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC).
Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) is said to be an untrue type of cancer. It is classified as one of the non-invasive types, wherein the cancer cells starts to grow in the lactating glands, but end the spread in the lobule walls. Ductal Carcinoma (DCIS), on the other hand, is the type of cancer wherein the ducts are filled with cancer cells. Fortunately, the cells do not multiply invading the other walls of the breast. This type is also known to be the most common type of cancer that is non-invasive.
Moving on, two of the most popular invasive types of breast cancer are the Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and the Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. The IDC is the type of cancer that affects most women. The lymphatic system and the blood stream are considered responsible for the cancer to metastasize to the different parts of the body. The ILC, on the other hand, first affects the lobules (milk-producing glands). Afterwards, the cancer can metastasize to the different parts of the body. Unlike the IDC, the ILC is more difficult to detect through the mammogram (American Cancer Society, 2007)
Treatment of breast cancer is similar to those of the other types of cancer. The main therapy used is the extraction of the inflicted part through surgery. The type of medication given, with its corresponding dosage is given to patients according to the stage of cancer they have. The more serious their cancer is, the higher dosage of medication is given to them. Aside from surgery, cancer patients normally undergo other treatments to help them get better. When the cancer is on its early stage, the patients are advised to undergo chemotherapy.
Others, on the other hand, were given hormonal therapies so as to prevent the tumor from recurring (E Medicine Health, 2007). Some of the medications given to breast cancer patients include aromatase inhibitors, such as Tamoxifen. This drug is often used by patients before they reach their menopausal stage. Trastuzumab (Herceptin), on the other hand, is the drug suggested for patients who have undergone surgery or chemotherapy. This particular drug is focused on the HER-2 protein, making chemotherapy more effective. For chemotherapy patients, the drugs used are normally a combination of drugs.
One of these combinations include Cytoxan and Adriamycin. In addition to this, Taxol may also be combined (WebMD, 31 August 2007). Chemotherapy treatment not only needs a person’s physical patience, but also tests a person’s capabilities. Those patients who undergo chemotherapy usually feel weak and nauseus. Others even feel the need to vomit. For this, doctors have normally given chemotherapeutic patients medications that help them in the relief the uncomfortable feeling they have. Some of these drugs include a combination of corticosteroids with other drugs.
A combination of dexamethasone with serotonin helps in blocking the effects of the chemicals in the brain. For this, nausea and vomiting are controlled. An example of such drug combination is Aprepitant (Emend). Phennothiazines, on the other hand, help in the prevention of vomiting and nausea through the effects it has on the central nervous system (CNS). The chemical contents of the drug help in the reduction of effects chemotherapy has on the body of the patient. Furthermore, Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) is most commonly used for treatment of dizziness and motion sickness.
Little do people know that this drug is also used by chemotherapeutic patients. The drug blocks the motion signals sent to the brain, and thus helps in the prevention of nausea. Anxiety drugs, on the other hand, such as lorazepam (Ativan), and Alprazolam (Xanax), can also be used in relieving the mind of the patient. Thus, this helps in the prevention of nausea and vomiting (WebMD, 31 August 2007). These medications may be costly for patients, on top of the medical expenses that they have incurred. Either way, there is no guarantee that a patient with breast cancer may be completely healed from the said disease.
Until now, there is no proven medication that can cure and even prevent the spread of cancer. What both patients and non-patients can do is to try to live a healthy lifestyle, away from the factors that could help aggravate one’s situation. A close coordination with the physician is the best way to prevent the spread of the disease. In addition this, a routine check up done would also help the patient to update themselves and be aware of the precautions that may help hinder the contamination of the disease. Diabetes Diabetes is defined as the increase in the blood sugar level of an individual.
This may be attributed to problems, such as heart problems, and even obesity (The Human Genome Project and Diabetes, 1998). Diabetes affects an estimated 20 million Americans each year. Out of those 20 million, a third portion of them are not aware that they are diabetics (Women’s Health, 2006). Several factors affect an individual in having diabetes. Most of the time, age and obesity are the top factors. Most of the people who have diabetes, especially the women, develop this disease in their early 40’s. The family history of the patient is also taken into consideration.
When a member of their family, either the parents, grandparents or siblings have diabetes, it is also possible that the other members of the family have the same illness. People who are at risk of diabetes may experience certain signs and symptoms. According to the website of Changing Life with Diabetes, diabetics always feel restless regardless of what they do. The excessive thirst, accompanied by frequent urination is also noticeable. Another symptom visible to diabetics is their sudden weight loss, accompanied by hunger. In addition to this, their eyes weaken, with blurred vision; thus making the patients wear glasses (2007).
For those who have extremely high blood sugars, their sweetened urine, accompanied by degrading wounds is the most predominant symptom. Sometimes, due to the excessive sugar content, ants swarm over the urine. In addition to this, some of diabetes patients also exhibit a fruity odor and sometimes hallucinate. Others, on the other hand, feel confused with their hands shaking. These are the symptoms exhibited by a person who has extremely high blood sugar levels. When this happens, a physician should be contacted soon so as to avoid any further damage to the patient.
Specifically, diabetes has three types: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the type wherein the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas. In this case, several abnormal antibodies are detected in the body (Medicine Net, 2006). As a result, the beta cells are destroyed, if not damaged causing the insufficiency in the insulin level of the body. Type 1 Diabetes also has several names. These are Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, juvenile diabetes, brittle diabetes, and sugar diabetes.
Since patients who are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes are insulin dependent, certain complications may also arise. Hypoglycemia, is one of the most common complications. This occurs when the blood sugar of the patient is below the normal level, causing her to feel weak and dizzy. Hypoglycemia is one of the most common signs, when the patient has skipped a meal, or has had a minimum amount of water intake for a particular amount of time. Hyperglycemia, on the other hand, is the result when the blood sugar of the patient is relatively higher than that of the normal range.
This is much easier to control than hypoglycemia (St. John’s Mercy Health Care, 2008). The worst complication that a diabetic patient can experience is the diabetic’s comatose. Termed as Ketoacidosis, this complication that aroused from complications in diabetes. Sometimes, this is also a result of untreated diabetes. This complication is caused by the ketone build up in the body, wherein there is a lack in the glucose level of the body. As a replacement, fat is used as a source of energy for the body (Univeristy of Maryland Medical Center, 2008).
Type II Diabetes, on the other hand, is more predominant than Type I Diabetes. Also known as Diabetes Insipidus, this type of diabetes is associated with the rampant need to drink water and polyuria. Polyuria is defined as the excessive urination experienced by an individual in a day (Mayo Clinic Staff, 7 September 2006) . In addition to this, the amount of insulin produced by the body of a Type II diabetic is insufficient. This is the type that is rampant in adults, menopausal women, and in obese patients (Changing Life With Diabetes, 2007).
The third type of diabetes is Gestational Diabetes. This type is usually detected in pregnant women. The food ingested by the expecting mother is digested and produces glucose. The pancreas then have a hard time producing the insulin, causing diabetes. Out of 200,000 pregnancy cases in a year, 5 percent of them are diagnosed with Gestational diabetes (National Institutes of Health, n. d. ). Some of the risk factors involved with Gestational diabetes include being overweight, if the patient is over 30 years old, and the family history.
Women who had a history of gestational diabetes during the last pregnancy are also at risk of acquiring such on the succeeding pregnancies (March of Dimes, January 2007). Treatments given to each type of diabetes may vary on certain factors. Age, body weight, and the corresponding allergies patients may have are taken with much consideration. Diabetes cannot be fully cured, it can only be stabilized. Thus, the main objective of diabetes treatments is to decrease and normalize the levels of blood sugar in the body. For this, certain techniques are used, which includes a self-monitoring test, and the intake of medications.
Testing blood glucose levels from time to time may help in stabilizing the glucose levels in the body. By using self testing machines, such as Accu-Check, the patients may be able to see within minutes, as to whether their sugar is high or not. Afterwards, the necessary procedures are conducted. For Type I Diabetes (Insulin Dependent Diabetes), administration of insulin is done at least twice a day, and injected subcutaneously. This is usually taken thirty minutes before intake of meals, so as to give way to the absorption of the insulin in the body.
For fast speed effectivity of the insulin, it is usually injected subcutaneously in the external oblique, or the stomach, as how we know it (National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, n. d. ). For Type II diabetics, treatment may include the administration of certain medications. Some of the most common medications used in the treatment of diabetes include Tolbutamide (Orinase), Glyburide (Diabeta glynase), Glimepiride (Amaryl), Metformin (Glucophage), and Acarbose (Precose). These drugs are normally taken, at least twice a day, and helps in keeping the normal blood levels of glucose in the body (WebMD, 2008) .
There is only a slim chance of preventing an individual form having diabetes. The family history of the patient is always taken into consideration – when one of the family member has, it is possible for any other member to have diabetes. What patients can do is to avoid drinking alcohol and stop smoking. In addition to this, individuals should eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and in calories. Exercise should also be done at least once a week so as to help in the lowering of the blood sugar level (USA Today, 2008) .