Blood on the toilet paper?

Q. Blood on the toilet paper?

When i go to the toilet and it's number two's there's sometimes a tiny bit of blood on the tissue i'm too embaressed to tell anyone but i'm also quite scared please could you give me advice on what to do to stop it happening?

Molly, 16

Sexuality and Breast Cancer

How Breast Cancer Can Affect Sexuality

By Cory Silverberg, About.com Guide

Updated September 28, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Sexuality is part of life, and all life experience may affect our sex lives and sexuality. Even if you haven't had a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer -- you think you've felt a lump, a doctor suggested they'd like to take a closer look at something you hadn't noticed -- the possibility of breast cancer, the idea of it and all that it evokes, can affect your sexuality. We may not always say them out loud, but people often have questions about sex and sexuality early on in their experience with breast cancer, questions like:

• Will breast cancer change the kind of sex I can have?
• Will it change how much I want sex, or how much I enjoy sex?
• Will it affect who I get to have sex with? Will people not want to have sex with me?
• Will sex feel different?

It can be easiest (although easy probably isn't the best word) to focus on detailed questions like these, the anatomical and physiological parts of sexual activities. This approach is often supported by doctors who, if they are comfortable talking about sex at all, tend to focus on sexual functioning. But there are drawbacks to this approach, including:

• Focus on individual and not social, cultural, environmental factors that affect sexuality can mistakenly lead people to think that they can solve every problem with the right medication or attitude.
• Breaking sexuality into its "functional" components can strip it of much of its meaning and limit opportunities for sexuality to be a source of strength and support.
• Medical models focus on heterosexual intercourse, ignoring the infinite possibilities for sexual pleasure (not to mention the fact that we don't all have heterosexual intercourse!), and eliminating the possibility that breast cancer can lead to positive personal exploration.
• Focus on the individual or couple also contributes to social isolation, reducing the opportunities to connect with others around shared challenges.

It is almost certainly the case that breast cancer, like any other significant life experience, will change your sexuality and your sex life. What we forget, or sometimes don't realize until we're confronted with an illness, is that our sexuality is always changing, and in the long run, that change may be for the better.

Below are links to information on some of the predictable ways that diagnosis of and treatment for breast cancer can affect your sexuality in general and your sex life in particular. As you're reading, remember that each of us experiences sex in our own way. Comparing yourself to what is written here or to others, may feel like the right thing to do, but in the end it's often not that helpful. More helpful in the long run is to start with yourself. Ask yourself what connections you're already aware of between what's happening with and to your body, and your sexuality. Know that you have the right to care as much about sex, or as little about sex, as you want. Along the way you'll have to pull partners and/or health care providers in for support and ideas, but ultimately you are the one that should be deciding the priorities, pace, and timing of conversations about sex, and having sex.

Sexuality and Breast Cancer Diagnosis
In what ways does a diagnosis of breast cancer immediately change the way you think about sex, the way you imagine your immediate and distant sexual future? If every message we get about sex is that it's for the young and healthy, what does it mean for your sexuality if you're now branded as "sick" or "diseased"? Here are some examples of obstacles people face when they are diagnosed with breast cancer, and tips on how to reduce the affect and increase your access to sexual health and pleasure following breast cancer diagnosis.

Sexuality and Breast Cancer Treatment
There are many different treatments for breast cancer and each of them can have multiple effects on sexuality. On the one hand it's important to get detailed information from health care providers about the effects of your treatment regimen. On the other, it may be time to broaden your definition of what sexuality includes, in order to find ways to be sexual during what can be a long and difficult process, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Sexuality and Surviving Breast Cancer
Surviving breast cancer doesn't mean that your sexuality or sex life will go back to the way it was. Just as your sex life when you're 30 won't ever be like it was when you were 20, your sex life after cancer won't be exactly the way it was before. We can't go back. Mind you for many of us the way it was may not have been so hot, and there are those who talk about how dealing with major illness, including breast cancer, has eventually led to them having better sex because they had to learn to ask for what they want and become more active participants in their sexual pleasure.

Sexuality and Terminal Diagnosis
Just as sexuality is a part of life and living, it's a part of dying too. No one has the right to tell you that you should or shouldn't care about sex or want sex to be a significant part of your life, at any time, and least of all at the end of your life. If your cancer diagnosis is terminal you may feel a silent pressure from those around you to put sex and sexuality way on the back burner. And if that's how you feel too, that's okay. But if sexuality is an important part of your life, know that it can be a part of the end of your life as well, it just takes advocacy, desire, creativity, and usually some humor.

gotquestions  http://sexuality.about.com/od/Cancer-and-Sexuality/a/sexuality-and-breast-cancer.htm

BREAST CANCER: ARE 20-SOMETHINGS AT RISK?

Posted by Ashley Rose Howard 

It’s any woman’s worst nightmare. You’re in the shower washing your body with soap and singing along to your favorite new tune when you come across a noticeable lump in your right breast. Panic sets in. Is it a bruise? A cyst? You’re still in your 20s–the picture of youth and health. So should you really be concerned? According to theYoung Survival Coalition: Young Women Facing Breast Cancer Together, women ages 15 to 34 die more frequently from breast cancer than any other cancer. In dedication of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to make sure all of you are properly informed about your breast and self-examinations.

First thing to remember: Don’t Stress! If you’ve discovered a lump, you may develop anxiety over the possibility of getting diagnosed with breast cancer. But at the same time, you’re putting an enormous amount of worry and stress on your body, which can weaken the immune system and cause other health issues. The statistics prove that developing breast cancer in your 20s is possible, but very unlikely. “The odds of a 20-something being diagnosed with breast cancer are about as likely as the diagnosis of a 74-year-old man,” says Dr. Colette Ho, a New York City Internal Medicine Practitioner tells us. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take proper precautions in your 20s, especially if you have a lineage of breast cancer in your family.

Doctor’s #1 recommendation: Self-Exam. Yes, that’s right. Fondling your own breasts is the most important preventative measure a woman in her 20s can practice. A self-exam should be preformed in the comfort of your own home–preferably one week after your menstrual period begins–by following these four steps:

Step 1: Lay down so your breast tissue spreads evenly over your chest wall and is as thin as possible. You may also opt for the shower, as the slippery texture of water may increase your chances of detecting a change.

Step 2: Use the pads of the three middle fingers of your left hand–not your fingertips–to check your breast for lumps by moving your fingers slowly in small coin-sized circles. Use different levels of pressure to feel all of your breast tissue.

Step 3: Check your entire breast using a lengthwise strip pattern. Feel all of the tissue from the collarbone to the bra line and from the armpit to the breastbone. Start in the armpit and work down to the bottom of the bra line.

Step 4: When in doubt about a particular lump, check your other breast. If you find the same kind of lump in the same area on the other breast, both breasts are probably normal. Pay attention to any lump that feels much harder than the rest of your breast or painful to the touch. If you find anything that concerns you, schedule a visit with your doctor.

Other than the self-exam, the best way for 20-somethings to reduce the risk of breast cancer is to maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, reduce stress and drink alcohol in moderation (basically, everything opposite from your college years!).

So, how do you protect the ta-tas with age?  The same advice goes for 30-somethings–self-exams, eat right and get your body moving. As for 40-somethings, diet and exercise becomes more mandatory rather than recommended. Dr. Ho says most cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women between the ages of 40 and 75.  Lockey Maisonneuve, Founder of MovingOn, an organization offering exercise classes for breast cancer survivors,can’t stress enough about the importance of balancing a healthy diet and exercise to prevent breast cancer going into your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond.

Lockey was one of the unfortunate women who discovered her worst nightmare of breast cancer soon after her 40th birthday. As a survivor, she suggests women begin getting annual mammograms starting at age 40, and most importantly, “Don’t put it off!”  As for 20-somethings, Lockey recommends to Life2PointOh getting educated on your genetic history of breast cancer. “So many young women have no idea that their mothers, grandmothers or even great-grandmothers were once diagnosed with breast cancer.”

As you start recognizing the extensive amount of pink ribbons waving around for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, take a moment to appreciate your healthy 20-something breasts. Practice your self-exams, investigate your family history and don’t wait to get checked if you feel a non-organic lump!

 Want more helpful advice? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!http://life2pointoh.com/2011/10/breast-cancer-awareness/

15 Ways to Fight Breast Cancer

Reviewed by QualityHealth's Medical Advisory Board

An estimated one in eight women will be afflicted with breast cancer in her lifetime. Although there is no guaranteed protection against the disease, there are things you can do lower your risk. Follow these tips to prevent breast cancer and to support finding a cure:

• Maintain a healthy weight.

  There is a strong link between obesity and breast cancer, particularly if extra weight is added after menopause.

• Schedule an annual mammogram.

  This is vital after age 40, as mammograms may help detect early signs of breast cancer, sometimes up to several years before a lump can be felt.

• Eat foods high in fiber.

  Try to consume 20 to 30 grams of fiber daily. Among its many health benefits, fiber may help reduce the amount of circulating estrogen in the body. Foods high in fiber include whole grains and beans.

• Avoid long-term hormone therapy.

  The link between postmenopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer has been a subject of debate for years, and research results have been mixed. For women approaching menopause and having frequent symptoms, experts believe it's probably safe to take hormones for as long as four to five years any longer increases breast cancer risk, without conferring any clear benefits.

• Enjoy soy.

  Isoflavones in soy foods are weak estrogen-like compounds that block the action of estrogen, which may contribute to breast cancer. Use soy flour in recipes, add tofu to soups or main dishes, eat green soybeans, or drink soy milk.

• Limit alcohol consumption.

  Drinking alcoholic beverages is linked to breast cancer, and the type of alcohol doesn't seem to matter. Consume less than one alcoholic beverage per day, or better yet, avoid it entirely.

• Stay physically active.

  Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise on most days. Try to include weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, or dancing, which have the added benefit of keeping bones strong.

• Eat good fats.

  Certain types of fats seem to increase estrogen levels, which, in turn, raise breast cancer risk. Opt for monounsaturated oils like olive and canola and omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon, sardines, and herring. Avoid trans fats, found in stick margarine, packaged baked goods, and snack foods, and the polyunsaturated fats featured in corn, sunflower, and safflower oils.

• Consider aspirin therapy.

  Taking an aspirin just once a week may help protect against breast cancer, but be sure to consult a doctor before starting an aspirin regimen. When used for long periods of time, aspirin can cause stomach irritation, bleeding, and ulcers.

• Avoid additives.

  When possible, buy hormone-free organic meats, poultry, and dairy foods. Be sure to wash fresh produce and remove peels to get rid of pesticide residue.

• Try vitamin E.

  In a small study at State University of New York at Buffalo, participants with a family history of breast cancer had an 80 percent lower risk for developing breast cancer if their diets contained 10 or more IU per day of vitamin E.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables.

  In particular, get enough cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, which can boost cancer-fighting enzymes.

• Perform monthly breast self-exams.

  Women can detect lumps or changes in their breasts by performing exams every month. The best time to do a self-exam is a week after the start of your period, when breasts are less likely to be tender or swollen.

• Breastfeed if possible.

  Some studies have shown that breastfeeding may decrease the risk of breast cancer later in life.

• Participate in the fight against breast cancer.

  There are numerous ways to get involved in raising awareness and money for breast cancer research, so do your research and get started today.

http://www.qualityhealth.com/cancer-articles/15-ways-fight-breast-cancer

8 WAYS YOU CAN FIGHT BREAST CANCER

Posted by Kristin Granero

The National Cancer Institute projects more than 230,000 new cases of breast cancer in women this year alone! While we’re still searching for a cure, there are many opportunities to raise awareness and join the fight during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

1. Assess your risk. Breast cancer research suggests about five to 10 percent of cases are hereditary, passed from mother to child. Make an effort to learn your family health history, and talk to your doctor about your personal risk.

2. Get handsy with your breasts. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, nearly 70 percent of all breast cancers are discovered through self-exams. Get a head start on early cancer detection with this step-by-step self-examination guide.

3. Schedule a screening. Even if you don’t notice any changes in your breasts, such as new lumps, change in size or shape, and/or irregularity of the nipple area (in which case, you should pay a trip to the doctor right away), the Susan G. Komen Foundation recommends having a clinical breast exam at least every three years starting at age 20 (switching to every year at age 40).

4. Start maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While doctors can’t pinpoint one specific breast cancer trigger, they have come up with lists of possible “lifestyle-based” precursors, such as poor diet and exercise habits. For a list of cancer-fighting foods, click here.

5. Join the fight. Think power in numbers! Rally up a group of people to participate in a charity walk or run. For a list of events in your area, look to organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and the Avon Foundation for Women: Breast Cancer Crusade.

6. Make the cut. Eight inches and six ponytails. That’s what it takes to make a wig. So with a snip here and a snip there, your shorter ‘do will have a ongoing effect lasting longer than the six weeks before your next trim. It might just be the boost a woman needs as she fights for her life. For more information, check out Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which specializes in having hair made into wigs for women in need.

7. Host a fundraising event. Thanks to social media platforms, raising money for a cause is easier than ever before. Next time you’re on Facebook, add the Pink Ribbon application, which raises money for mammograms. Or bookmark The Breast Cancer Site on your browser – one simple click each day provides a free mammogram to a woman in need. If you’re feeling more creative and more proactive, look into hosting a bake sale or happy hour.

8. Shop for the cure. Perhaps the easiest way to contribute to breast cancer research costs is to think pink while shopping for groceries, clothing, beauty products and more this month. For information on some of the many brands hosting Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns, click here.

How will you fight back this month?

http://life2pointoh.com/2011/10/breast-cancer-activism/