Breast changes are common and, in most cases, benign. However, it is not possible to distinguish between a harmless condition and something more serious without appropriate clinical assessment. Understanding what constitutes a benign breast condition and what screening is designed to detect can help patients approach breast health with greater clarity and less unnecessary concern.
Outside of promoting a healthy microbiology in the gut, wine also enhances the resistance of the surface cells of the gut to invasion by disease-causing microorganisms. This is an important effect in a world where infections with anti-biotic resistant bacteria are becoming increasingly common.
A playful look at what science says about wine and sex, highlighting research that links moderate red wine drinking with better sexual wellbeing for both women and men, while making it clear that overdoing it has the opposite effect.
Dr Hoosain shows how to do a self breast-examination and chats to CTV about when to do it and what to look for. She also answers the question on how and when men can do self-checks.
Her journey began quietly. At 29, she noticed a cyst in her breast that grew over time and caused occasional light pain. Her nipples began to invert, and she saw yellow discharge. The skin around her nipple developed the distinctive “orange peel” appearance often associated with breast cancer. Her breast even began pulling slightly to the left. Later, a lump appeared under her arm, accompanied by a swollen lymph node. Like many younger women, she didn’t immediately recognise these as warning signs. Merisca's story is one of genetics, diagnosis and the journey towards healing. It's also a journey of faith.
Pippa Hudson chats to Dr Hoosain about what is causing the rise in early-onset cancers worldwide. She also touches on what this means for screening, for lifestyle choices and more.
When Christine Marais felt a tiny “dorinkie” (a thorn-like sensation in her breast), she never imagined it would mark the beginning of a life-changing journey. At almost 64, with no symptoms and only a faint bluish mark to hint that something was wrong, she trusted her instincts and acted quickly. That decision, she says, made all the difference.
Whilst it is unclear why early-onset cancer cases are increasing, emerging hypotheses suggest that “biological age” in younger populations is outpacing chronological age due to environmental exposures. According to a prominent study, “Global trends in incidence, death, burden and risk factors of early-onset cancer from 1990 to 2019 are projected to increase by 31% and 21% in 2030 respectively." This demands risk management programmes and access to health education for younger people.
In 2018, a much-quoted research paper on alcohol burden appeared in one of the most influential medical journals, The Lancet. It formed the basis of the WHO’s rather alarmist statement that there is “no safe level of alcohol use”. The research was [...]
In former times, sulfur got a bad rap due to its association with volcanoes and the smell of rotten eggs. In the food industry, sulfur – most commonly in the form of sulfur dioxide (SO₂, a sulfite rather than a sulfide) – is widely used as an antioxidant and preservative, effective against a broad range of spoilage bacteria and fungi. Not only that, it is also generated in the human body as part of the metabolism of amino acids and serves as a messenger for physiological functions such as heart muscle recovery and anti-inflammatory effects. This already makes claims that it has negative health effects rather tenuous.
Is dit werklik seer om ’n mammogram te kry en het drinkers werklik ’n groter kans om borskanker te ontwikkel? Dit is dikwels moeilik om tussen feite en fiksie te onderskei, met soveel mites en vooropgestelde idees op die internet. Bors-, skildklier- en paratiroïedspesialiste, dr. Justus Apffelstaedt en dr. Fatima Hoosain, help om ’n paar wanopvattings oor borsgesondheid te ontmasker.
Van vrese vir heksery tot stilte gewortel in skaamte, het sy ontrafel hoe stigma diagnose en behandeling vertraag – veral in minderbevoorregte gemeenskappe. Haar oproep tot deernisvolle, kultureel sensitiewe sorg herinner ons daaraan dat begrip die eerste stap na genesing is.
Dr Hoosain speaks about treatments and screenings, and how these have developed and evolved. She also talks about some of the stigmas that still exist around breast health and how conversations around breast health should be normalised. The full interview is available to listen to here.
An in-studio conversation with Cape Town TV about the importance of early detection to save lives. The full interview is available to listen to here.
A chat with Clarence Ford about the rural versus urban divide and some detailed conversations around treatment options and when breast-related conversations should start. The full interview is available to listen to here.
Even in today's times, there are still stigma's and beliefs that exist about breast cancer. This important conversation explains why it's so important that women understand that breast cancer is a disease, and that it can be treated, and that self-examination and screening saves lives.
Behandeling-geïnduseerde beenverlies is een van die newe-effekte van algemene borskankerbehandelings wat die beste nagevors is. Alle vroue en mans ervaar na die ouderdom van 30 ’n mate van beenverlies – ’n natuurlike gevolg van veroudering. Die estrogeenontneming van menopouse by vroue is egter ’n bydraende faktor. Tog is dit slegs sommige vroue wat genoeg been sal verloor om behandelings teen beenverlies te regverdig.
Die fasebepaling van borskanker is ’n integrale deel ten opsigte van insig omtrent die siekte. Dit stel die pasiënt en hul mediese span in staat om die vordering van die siekte in meer diepte te bestudeer en word deur verskeie faktore beïnvloed, soos: hoe groot die gewas is, en of die kanker lokaal in die bors versprei het óf na ander organe of weefsels in die pasiënt se liggaam metastaseer (uitgesaai) het. Dit dra by tot die bepaling van behandelingsprotokolle en beïnvloed chirurgiese opsies. Dit dra ook by om verwagtings rakende die risiko van terugkering en lewensverwagting te bestuur.
To better understand cancer and to develop drugs that fight it, medical researchers have been studying genes and the changes in these genes for a very long time. The goal behind this research is to create therapies that disrupt various steps in cancer growth, whilst causing minimal damage to normal cells.
Dr Hoosain outlines why there are not enough breast health conversations taking place and why these conversations are important. She also touches on how churches can play a role in opening up positive conversations around breast health.
Wine is in essence put into food for 3 reasons: 1. To add acidity 2. To soften proteins, notably meat 3. To provide taste in food. This article breaks down exactly how it works.
Cape Pulpit speaks to Dr Hoosain about cultural misperceptions around breast cancer, and with permission, is available to listen to here.
Lotus FM chats to Dr Hoosain about self-care and the conversations that women should be having to dispel some of the myths and fears around breast health care. The full interview is available to listen to here.
A conversation about why Dr Hoosain became interested in breast health, why some of the fear surrounding breast cancer is a challenge in South Africa, and what the reality is. She also takes questions from listeners and the full interview is available to listen to here.