Celebrationg Breast Cancer Awareness Month :

October is breast cancer awareness month -- and I recently became all too aware of the dangers of this disease.

I was showering, when I noticed a lump. Only about the size of a marble, I thought to myself, and pushed it to the back of my mind for the next six months.

Until that “routine” doctor visit, when as usual, the doctor asked if I had “anything else to discuss."

“Er, um, well, just a sort of little, uh, lump,” I muttered, staring at the floor. “I’m sure it’s nothing. “Well, let’s just check it out,” he said quickly.

There’s something about lying on your back, staring at the medical office ceiling as a doctor presses around your breasts and murmurs, “Yes, there’s that mass,” that causes every muscle in your body to tense up. Maybe it’s fight-or-flight syndrome, genes left from my cavewoman days. Whatever the reason, I had to force myself to stay on that examining table.

Eventually, the exam was over, and I found myself exiting the office, with a referral to have an ultrasound and a mammogram in my hand.

My world changed. Life seemed to revolve around insurance companies, doctors’ offices, and the Internet, where I researched all that I could find.

I’m one of the fortunate ones. That “marble” proved to be benign. But that doesn’t mean that you should ignore those routine check-ups. If you do have a malignant mass, it’s important to become proactive. It could save your life.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Take the time to recognize survivors, cheer on fighters and remember those who lost the battle... Think pink and pay tribute on our breast cancer blog .

Specializing in breast cancer in his clinical practice in California, Isaac Eliaz, M.D., L.Ac. combines Western medicine “with well-researched complementary and holistic approaches.” He emphasizes that “most breast abnormalities are benign, meaning that they are not cancerous and will not grow uncontrollably or spread. Cancers are a group of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Simply stated, breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells.”

Continue reading �