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Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter


IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 11
MARCH 22, 2001

BREAST HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION

1. CONTROVERSY OVER ABORTIONS/BREAST CANCER RISK HEATS UP
Physicians, breast cancer organizations, and activists on both sides of the abortion issue continue to debate whether abortion increases the risk of breast cancer. Five U.S. states currently require abortion providers to give patients informed consent literature which includes information on a possible link between abortion and breast cancer risk, and at least 11 states are considering legislation that would require abortion clinics to tell parents about the potential risk. This infuriates physicians like Susan Love, MD, a vocal breast surgeon who argues that state legislators would be raising "unwarranted concerns" by imposing such mandates. To further complicate matters, groups such as the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer point out that some studies do support the link between abortion/breast cancer risk while other organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute say those studies are flawed and other data, which do not show any risk, should be considered instead. So what do women need to know?
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news3.19.01.asp

2. SCIENTISTS FIND MAMMOGRAPHY IS STILL "GOLD STANDARD" FOR BREAST CANCER DETECTION BUT RECOMMEND RESEARCH INTO MORE ACCURATE METHODS
In a comprehensive review of breast cancer detection methods, a committee of scientists report that standard film mammography is still the best available method to detect breast cancer. Mammography helps detect approximately 85% of all breast cancers and has contributed to a 2% annual decline in breast cancer deaths in the past 10 years. Despite the overall effectiveness of mammography, the scientists acknowledge that mammography can miss breast cancer in a small percentage of women or falsely indicate cancer in others, leading to unnecessary breast biopsies.  Therefore, the committee recommends that further research investigate better methods of breast cancer detection. At the same time, the study reports that underprivileged women should be given better access to existing breast cancer screening technology.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news3.14.01.asp

3. HERCEPTIN HELPS REDUCE DEATHS FROM ADVANCED BREAST CANCER
When combined with standard chemotherapy, the drug Herceptin (generic name, trastuzumab) significantly increases the chances of survival for some women with advanced breast cancer, according to a newly published study.  Approximately 25% to 30% of advanced (metastatic) breast cancer patients carry extra copies of the HER2 gene (also written HER2/neu), which usually signals aggressive cancers.  Herceptin targets this cancer and results in fewer deaths from breast cancer.  However, Herceptin does increase the risk of serious heart problems, and patients need to be monitored by physicians for potential complications.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news3.21.01.asp

4. BREAST CANCER DOES NOT INCREASE RISK OF COLORECTAL CANCER
A large study finds that having breast cancer does not increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) later in life.  The researchers hope that these results will help clear up confusion from previous studies, in which some data suggested a link between breast and colorectal cancer risk.  In fact, according to the new study, women with a history of breast cancer may actually have a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer than the general population. Breast cancer patients and survivors should still be aware that colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths and should receive regular colorectal screenings beginning at age 50.  However, having a history of breast cancer alone does not require women or their physicians to take additional measures to prevent colorectal cancer.  
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news3.21.01b.asp

5. COMMON MYTHS ABOUT BREAST CANCER
This article addresses more than 30 common misconceptions about breast cancer.  Myths include: antiperspirants cause breast cancer, all breast lumps are cancerous, women with lumpy breasts are more likely to get breast cancer, oral contraceptives increase breast cancer risk, if a breast lump is painful then it is not cancerous, an injury to the breast causes breast cancer, nipple discharge indicates breast cancer and more.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/bcmyths.asp

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BREAST CANCER DISCUSSION BOARD

"I have a dear friend who has Breast Cancer. Well actually they have told her they got it all when they removed the lump and the lymph nodes it had invaded. She is going through Chemo right now, and has 4 more months of that. She has lost all her hair, and is very tired all the time. Her blood count went very low, but is back up right now. When talking with her she said that she does not want to "talk about the disease," but wants to just talk about "normal" things and just enjoy her days. Why is it that people who have a friend with BC don't know what to say to them? How to help them, or even if we can help them? I've never faced this, so I'm at a loss of what her needs might be. Please help me. I want to "be there" for her, but not smother her either. I hesitate to call her, or "bother" her as well as do other's who know her. We are not sure if it is more of a help or a hindrance to have us around..."

Click here to visit this discussion:
http://www.imaginis.com/_private/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000406.html

Click here to post or reply to other messages on the Imaginis discussion boards:
http://www.imaginis.com/discussions/

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NEW IN THE IMAGINIS BOOKSTORE

"No Less a Woman: Femininity, Sexuality and Breast Cancer" by Deborah Kahane: through firsthand accounts of ten survivors of breast cancer, the author offers support and advice concerning such issues as telling family about ones diagnosis, maintaining intimacy with a partner, and adjusting to a new body image.

Click here to learn more about this book:
http://imaginis.com/bookstore/breasthealth/survival.asp#noless

Click here to browse nearly 150 books in the Imaginis Breast Health Bookstore:
http://www.imaginis.com/bookstore/

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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

Thousands of breast cancer patients, survivors and healthcare professionals receive the Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter, which is published by email every week. If you enjoy receiving this newsletter, feel free to share it with a friend, colleague or family member. Simply click "forward," type in a friend's email address, and then click "send." If you would like to add the email addresses of your friends and family to the newsletter mailing list, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/newsletter/

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Imaginis.com is an independent, award-winning, comprehensive resource for news and information on breast cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment and related women's health topics such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and ovarian cancer. Imaginis.com breast health content is edited by an expert breast imager and a breast surgeon. To learn more about the Imaginis.com Breast Health Team and Editorial Board, please visit
http://www.imaginis.com/about/breast_health_team.asp

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