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HOW OFTEN DO CHILDREN NEED TO WASH THEIR HAIR?

 When children are between the ages of 8 and 12, parents often ask dermatologists this question. If you’re a parent trying to answer this question, you’ve come to the right place.  In three easy steps, you can figure out how often a child between 8 and 12 years of age needs to shampoo.  Step 1: Consider your child’s traits To determine how often your child needs to shampoo, you first need to consider your child’s: Hair type (straight, curly, oily, dry) Age Activity level Step 2: Find your child’s traits on the following chart Shampoo guidelines: Children 8 to 12 years old Shampoo every other day or daily 12 years of age or starting puberty Oily, straight hair Active: Plays outdoors, plays sports, or swims Exception: Hair is dry and curly Shampoo 1 or 2 times per week 8 to 11 years of age Exception: Hair is dry and curly Shampoo every 7 to 10 days Dry and curly hair, even hair with braids or weaves After heavy sweating or swimming, rinse and condition the hair Step 3: Fine tune to get

Can Estrogen Increase Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

 How does estrogen increase your risk of breast cancer? In some cases, doctors may prescribe estrogen for: pregnancy prevention moderate acne female hypogonadism advanced prostate cancer menopause symptom relief Estrogen is a physiological necessity for people assigned male or female at birth. However, it may be harmful in large amounts and may even increase the risk of breast cancer development. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) People assigned female at birth who are postmenopausal and take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also called menopausal hormone therapy, may especially be at risk. HRT is sometimes prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, changes in mood, and night sweats, especially if these symptoms interfere with your quality of life. However, the pros and cons of HRT must be weighed carefully because of the risk of breast cancer. According to the National Cancer InstituteTrusted Source, estrogen-only HRT may increase your risk of breast ca

What to Know About Breast Lesions

 What is a breast lesion? A breast lesion refers to an area of abnormal breast tissue. These are relatively common findings. In fact, it’s estimated that at least 20 percent of females may develop breast lesions, though males may also be affected. A doctor may discover a breast lesion during an imaging test, such as a routine mammogram, or an ultrasound that was initially ordered for another reason. A doctor or nurse may also discover a breast lesion during a physical exam. In some cases, breast lesions may be self-detected. You might feel an unusual lump or bump during a monthly breast self-examination. Depending on the type of lesion, such abnormal areas of breast tissue may feel rubbery or firm to the touch. Sometimes a breast lesion may cause pain, along with skin changes and nipple discharge. If you detect any lumps, pain, or other changes in your breasts, it’s important to talk with a doctor right away. They may order additional diagnostic exams, such as imaging tests, to help de

How Urgent Is Surgery for Breast Cancer?

 Does time to surgery affect breast cancer outcomes? There’s always going to be some amount of time between diagnosis and surgery. This is because a healthcare team will do preoperative tests to better understand your cancer. It can also sometimes take time to schedule your surgery. There’s no standard for how soon you should have surgery after a breast cancer diagnosis. However, it’s possible that delays in having surgery can affect breast cancer outcomes. A longer delay could potentially lead to the growth or progression of your cancer. A 2016 studyTrusted Source looked at time to surgery in 94,544 people with breast cancer. Time to surgery was divided up into five 3-month intervals: less than 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 90 days 91 to 120 days 121 to 180 days The researchers found that overall survival was lower with each increasing delay interval. They noted that while preoperative evaluations are important, a shorter time to surgery should be pursued, if possible. How long is too l

Where Does Breast Cancer Spread?

 What is metastatic cancer? Metastatic cancer is cancer that’s spread to a different part of the body than where it originated. You may also see metastatic cancer referred to as stage 4 cancer. In some cases, the cancer may have already spread by the time of initial diagnosis. Other times, the cancer may spread after the initial treatment. For example, a person who has been treated for early-stage breast cancer may later be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Metastasis can occur with almost every type of cancer and is considered advanced-stage cancer. Cancer metastasis may occur months to years after initial breast cancer treatment. There’s also a type of metastatic cancer called oligometastatic cancer. This is where there’s only a few small areas of metastatic cancer. Because this type of metastatic cancer is only found in a few locations, researchers hope it will be more treatableTrusted Source. What’s the difference between metastatic and recurring breast cancer? Recurrent can

What Foods Help Prevent Breast Cancer or Reduce Your Risk?

 Foods that may lower breast cancer risk Keep in mind that many factors are associated with breast cancer development. While improving your diet can improve your overall health and reduce your cancer risk in general, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Even with a nutrient-rich diet, you still need regular breast cancer screenings like mammograms and manual checks. After all, early detection and diagnosis significantly increase survival rates. Ask a healthcare professional for advice about breast cancer screenings. All the same, research suggests that these foods may lower your risk. 1. Leafy green vegetables These are just a few of the leafy green vegetables that may have anticancer properties: kale arugula spinach mustard greens chard Leafy green vegetables contain carotenoid antioxidants, including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Higher blood levels of these antioxidants are associated withTrusted Source reduced breast cancer risk. An older 2012 analysisTrusted Source of eight

Symptoms of Late Stage Metastatic Breast Cancer

 Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer If the cancer is confined to the breast, it’s usually easy to treat. If it has spread, it becomes more difficult to treat. That’s why early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer are so important. If breast cancer is diagnosed at a later stage, there may be symptoms that appear in addition to those present with earlier stage breast cancer, such as skin changes, nipple discharge, or a lump in the breast. Metastasis in the bones If breast cancer has spread to your bones, symptoms may includeTrusted Source: bone pain pain in the joints, which can worsen after activity weakened bones that are more likely to fracture Metastasis in the brain If breast cancer has spread to your brain, you may experienceTrusted Source: headaches that are sometimes persistent or severe possible seizures behavior changes vision problems nausea and vomiting difficulty walking or balancing difficulty moving certain parts of your body general weakness confusion speech changes

Stage 3 Breast Cancer: Understanding Your Outlook

 How does staging relate to types of breast cancer? Besides the cancer stage, doctors also look at the tumor grade and subtype. Tumors are graded on a scale of 1 to 3 based on how atypical the cells appear compared to the natural cells. The higher the grade, the more aggressive the cancer, meaning that it tends to grow quickly. The subtype is important because treatment and outlook will vary depending on which subtype of breast cancer you have. Subtypes include: HER2-positive ER-Positive triple-negative The TNM system for staging breast cancer In 2018, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) added the letters T, N, and M for anatomic breast cancer staging. This adds more information to a breast cancer diagnosis. Here’s what they mean: T (tumor): The tumor grade shows a higher number for a larger size or density. N (nodes): Nodes refer to lymph nodes and use the numerals 0–3 to explain how many lymph nodes are involved in the cancer. M (metastasis): This refers to how the cancer h