The fight against breast cancer is alive and well today, but it comes after a long, sordid history of illness. The history of breast cancer brings us back to ancient Egypt at 1600 BC, the time during which the first known medical documentation of breast cancer was recorded. The item was discovered in 1862 by Edwin Smith, a famous Egyptologist from London, but the valuable document didn’t come to attention until the 20th century. The papyrus remnants described 3 cases of breast cancer: 2 women and 1 man. The doctor used a “fire drill” to burn the tumor, and while they were able to remove tumors in some instances, they were unable to treat the disease. On the document, the doctor concluded that there was no cure for what would later be known as breast cancer.

The next phase in the history of breast cancer takes place in Europe, where breast cancer tumors were discovered to be linked to lymph glands in the 17th century. In the 18th century, a turning point in breast cancer history took place when surgeons Jean Louis Petit and Benjamin Bell removed lymph nodes and breast tissue/muscle to stop the cancer from continuing its course. Following this success, William Stewart Halsted performed the first mastectomy, which is still performed as a treatment for breast cancer today.

Treating breast cancer includes awareness and prevention in addition to treating the disease itself, and breast cancer awareness and research finally took off in the 20th century. Many non profits and government organizations have mobilized in order to provide support to breast cancer patients, to spread awareness of breast cancer, and to collect funding to support research that is trying to discover the cure that the ancient Egyptians were unable to find. The history of breast cancer has come a long way, from discovery and treatment to awareness and scientific advancements. We have been able to learn much from the history of breast cancer, and to use that knowledge to fight it.

Breast cancer is an issue that potentially affects everybody—breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women following skin cancer, and it can afflict men as well. With 1 woman receiving a breast cancer diagnosis every 3 minutes, chances are that you know somebody who is currently at risk. Together, we should all join the fight against breast cancer so that we can live healthy lives that aren’t robbed from us by disease.

You can bury your head in sand, or try to look the other way, but only foolish people wouldn’t admit that young people are sexually active in ways that previous generations weren’t. In addition to the rise of sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies are a major issue facing today’s young people and teenagers. Giving them information about birth control is crucial – and, more to the point, giving them completely comprehensive information about birth control is not just practical, but, otherwise nearly tyrannical.

Not all measures of birth control are effective. Of course, it is important when talking about birth control options, to make it very clear that the only 100% guaranteed effective birth control method is abstinence. Most young people don’t understand this completely when talking about birth control; they assume that different methods have similar prevention rates. On the flip side, it is completely impractical to consider abstinence as the only birth control option. Realistically, young people will explore sexuality, especially if you tell them not to. From my experience, I know that the surest way to get a teenager to do something is to tell them not to.

That said, talking about birth control options other than abstinence is not only appropriate, it is irresponsible not to. Condoms are a simple and inexpensive way to practice birth control and, while not 100%, is very effective. The “pill” (though now there are a wide variety of different “pills”) is also an effective choice, though it has a wide range of side effects. Sponges and other diaphragm devices vary widely, and can be costly. While some are very effective, not all of them are, and few if any of them actually prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. IUD is a strangely effective form of birth control, but is associated with numerous health side effects for the uterus and reproductive system. Exploring all the different birth control options allows young people to understand the different risks.

Having conversations about birth control, and the different benefits or negatives and risks in using them is not the same as giving your son or daughter permission to have sexual relationships. However, not giving them this information puts them at high risk for unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Don’t assume that others have given them this information or that they already know things, or that they will figure it out as they go. Talking about birth control in a straightforward and all-encompassing way is critical to the sexual health of young people.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and all sorts of places from websites to your local grocery market are going pink to spread the word about this widespread disease and raise funds to help fight it. By donating, wearing your pink bracelet or informing friends about breast cancer, you can join the community in promoting this important cause. Individually, you can equip yourself with the proper knowledge so that you can prevent breast cancer, catch it early, or treat it. The cause for breast cancer is still unknown but there are known risk factors and treatments associated with alleviating it. Most breast cancer treatment consists of medical approaches like surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, biological/hormonal therapy and monoclonal antibodies, but breast cancer patients might also choose to seek alternative breast cancer treatment.

Some alternative breast cancer treatment involves consuming certain substances that are thought to fight tumor cells. Mistletoe can help increase immune system activity and kill cancer cells, and various herbs can cleanse the blood and nourish the body. Other treatments are acupuncture, massage, stress reduction, and exercise. It’s possible for acupuncture to relieve symptoms like nausea, fatigue and hot flashes, and nerve problems. Massages help relax the body and they may decrease depression and lymphatic obstruction, and increased immune activity. Stress reduction also helps patients to relax and it can help them to cope with the distress that comes with a breast cancer diagnosis. Exercises like yoga can help patients to distress and improve their physical health.

There are different reasons why patients might prefer alternative breast cancer treatment to standard medical treatment. Some prefer holistic medicine and natural methods because they believe that medical procedures are harmful and unreliable. For example, they contend that mammograms are very expensive, yet they give inaccurate results and may even increase tumor spreading, or they believe that hormone therapy might actually cause hormonal imbalances. Others might find holistic ways to treat breast cancer appealing because they help patients deal with the emotional aspect of having breast cancer as well as the physical consequences, and they may utilize alternative breast cancer treatment in addition to standard medical procedures.

Whether or not alternative breast cancer treatment is effective, it definitely benefits patients psychologically, and even if the treatment might not be “real,” the results are. A placebo effect nevertheless improves the health of the patient and in the end, recovery is the goal of any treatment.