Submitted by the stupid cancer blog
It’s October 31st. It’s the last day of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Susan G. Komen was a real person. Given how so much has changed since her death in 1980 and how we are now living in a dystopic period of corporatized pinkocracy, we can now only ask “What Would Susan Do”? Think before you pink. – permalink (pdf)
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
Submitted by the stupid cancer blog
Our very own Cathy Bueti was showcased by CNN in a fabulous exposé about being a widowed young adult faced with the prospect of breast cancer and dating.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
Submitted by the stupid cancer blog
Hooray! Another newsletter! How funtasticly happydiculous! I can’t wait to see what’s in store in this exciting episode of “Tales…Of….Interest….” (cancer-style) – permalink
According to the results of a new study released during a meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, 20% of black women diagnosed with breast cancer are under 40. The incidence of breast cancer for white women under 40 is 12%.
According to the data, black women are also more likely to have large tumors.
2400 women with breast cancer were followed over a 30 year period
Submitted by Jayne’s Breast Cancer Blog
I was given a preview copy of this book and it is a stunner. Josephine Caruso Sethi, “Josie,” was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. In March 2006 the cancer returned. With a sense of urgency driving her creativity, Josie went about creating this book of pictorials. They are the faces of the folks that Josie met while undergoing treatment at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
From Kristi, whose family has had a history of breast cancer: She doesn’t want breast cancer to define her family legacy. Instead, she wants the family legacy to be defined by “action, courage and survival.”
From Cheryl: “The right time is now. Work. Create. Grow. Give.”
The book is pricey ($30) but net proceeds will go to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. And I have just put my money where my mouth is and ordered a copy - it’s for a gift.
Visit Josie’s website, The Pink Crusader, for more information.
Most breast cancer survivors will tell you that a good support system was essential to a successful treatment. However, as in most cancers, early detection increases the odds of a successful treatment. Remember, early detection starts with a self-examination. Here are the symptoms.
· New lump in breast or under arm pit
· Thickening or swelling of part of breast
· Irritation or dimpling of skin
· Redness or flaky skin in nipple area of breast
· Pulling-in of nipple or pain in nipple area
· Nipple discharge other than breast milk, especially blood
· Any change in size or shape of breast
· Pain in any area of breast
Bristol’s Ixempra (Generic: ixabepilone) was approved for sale by the United States Food and Drug Administration and will be available for sale in the United States within a few days.
The chemotherapy drug is approved for a stand-alone treatment for patients with advanced tumors that do not respond to Xeloda or other drugs with the anthracyclines or taxanes categories.
Two ongoing trials are expected to determine by late 2008 whether Ixempra actually extends survival.
This is a special post about breast cancer fund raising.
I love blogging because I can get an opportunity to tell you about a real good story. Not only is this a feel good story, but it’s a brilliant way to raise money for breast cancer research.
The subject of the story is about Cleavage Creek Cellars, a winery based in Pope Valley, California. The winery’s owner, Budge Brown, who lost his wife of 48 years to breast cancer has pledged that 10% of gross wine sales will be donated to breast cancer research. Each and every bottle of wine features a model who is a breast cancer survivor. The company’s wines range from $18.00 to $50.00 and the full list includes:
2005 Napa Cabernet
2005 Napa Petite Sirah
2005 Cabernet Syrah
2003 Secret Red
2004 Merlot
2004 Merlot Shiraz
2006 Reserve Chardonnay
2006 Secret White
Disclaimer This is not a paid advertisement and you should not visit this website unless you are of legal drinking age.
The overall cost of treating a typical breast cancer is $50,000 and can even exceed $100,000 in some cases.
Here is some data that really tells the story on how the burden of paying for cancer treatments is really affecting some American families.
A smart, world class investor once told me that there is science meant for science and there is science meant for Wall Street. This means that some science doesn’t have practical value for industry.
A recent conversation that I had with a doctor who treats breast cancer regularly at one of the world’s most respected medical institutions indicated that many cancer treatments are unnecessarily aggressive. In fact, he went as far as saying that many double mastectomies are not necessary.
It kind of makes me think whether some patients are undergoing unnecessary treatment. A new European study concluded that women under 40 with breast cancer who have chemotherapy in addition to lumpectomies or radiotherapy may not realize any additional benefits from the chemotherapy.
As the owner of this blog, we understand how important it is to give you as much information about breast cancer as possible. However, we also do not want to inundate you with information.
Main Stream Media understands the great interest there is among the public about many issues relating to breast cancer. However, we are not interested in publishing what sells, we are interested in creating a blog that will place the real important issues about breast cancer in front of you. Are we trying to be your judge? Absolutely not, but we don’t want to inundate you with material.
We are writing this because we receive many emails each day inquiring about our frequency of posting. 1800blogger has made a long term commitment to developing the leading blog about breast cancer. On the other hand, we respect your time.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, MSM spends more time on breast cancer issues. We are committed, 365 days a year, to alerting you to issues about breast cancer treatment, breast cancer statistics and breast cancer events. However, we pledge to you that we will always respect your time and give to you what we believe are the most important issues.
Thank you for the incredible interest in our blog.
Look around the Internet long enough and you may come to the conclusion that unless you live in a bubble and starve yourself, your risk of getting breast cancer is 18% higher than someone that lives in a bubble.
Look at this article that was published today by 2 doctors. Too many times, studies that are looking to publish statistics draw a conclusion based on a pre-conceived hypothesis that ultimately misleads the public. For example, many studies have been released that infer a direct cause between drinking and breast cancer. But is there really a direct cause?
I would want to know what was the population of the study. For example, did they just include people between the ages of 40 and 50, follow them to see if they got breast cancer, and then ask them if they were consuming 3 or more drinks per day? However, even if the data from that group of people that consumed 3 or more drinks per day had a higher occurrence of breast cancer than the women who did not, can we reasonably conclude there was any direct cause? For example, couldn’t a reasonable person assume that anyone who consumes 3 or more drinks per day is less likely to exercise than someone who doesn’t drink? So what is the cause, the drinks of the lack of exercise? I can also reasonably assume that a person who consumes 3 or more drinks per day is more overweight than a group that does not drink. Once again, what is the cause? You see my point?
The best way to understand the field of epigenetics is to truly understand its relationship to genetics. If genetics is the printed words and sentences that make up a book, epigenetics is the interpretation of those words and sentences when read by multiple beings.
Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene function without changes in DNA sequence. Scientists have discovered certain epigenetic signatures in certain types of cancers. Scientists are now searching through the genetic codes of breast cancer sufferers for a common signature.
Scientists warn that a test could be years away because even if a reliable signature is discovered, a test still needs to be developed that would identify the signature in blood earlier enough in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Still, another said that this could make a difference in the lives of women with breast cancer.
Yesterday we did a post about some of the myths about breast cancer but let me state unequivocally that myths are not necessarily a bad thing. In fact and in the case of cancer and especially breast cancer, the practice of being a devout hypochondriac is a good thing. Here’s someone who believes that breast cancer is being exploited.
We say exploit it as much as possible. Even if only 30% of the money that is raised for breast cancer actually is spent on research, that means that we are at the very least moving toward progress. In the case of commercializing cancer, I really don’t have a problem with it. That is of course, if some of that money goes to research. As we said yesterday, 40,000 women die each year from breast cancer. That’s 40,000 too many. Those pink riboons raise millions of dollars each year and bring awareness to breast cancer. I have no problem with those ribbons, in fact, everyone should have one. More myths on breast cancer.
One of the best things that we can do during Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to dispel all rumors about breast cancer. For example, family history is not the most common link for breast cancer, surprised? One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Wrong again.
