IMAGINIS BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 30
AUGUST 9, 2001

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION

1. STUDY FINDS MRI EFFECTIVE AT SCREENING YOUNGER WOMEN AT HIGH BREAST CANCER RISK
A new study finds that screening younger women at high risk of breast cancer with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be highly effective at detecting the disease.  In fact, in the study, MRI was more accurate than mammography in screening this population of women for breast cancer.  While mammography is the only exam approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for breast cancer in women with no signs of the disease (such as a breast lump), MRI could one day become an established supplemental screening exam for young women who have a strong family history of breast cancer or other factors that put them at high risk of the disease. (MRI is now FDA approved as a diagnostic tool to evaluate breast abnormalities found with another exam).
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news8.08.01.asp

2. WHAT IS A SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY?
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, it is often necessary to remove some of the axillary (armpit) lymph nodes to determine whether the cancer has begun to spread out of the breast. The standard way of removing lymph nodes is called axillary node dissection. This technique involves removing several lymph nodes and can sometimes cause side effects and complications, such as lymphedema (chronic arm swelling). Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a relatively new procedure that involves removing significantly fewer lymph nodes, thereby reducing the chance for side effects. This newly updated article provides detailed information on sentinel lymph node biopsy, including how the procedure is performed, candidates for the procedure, side effects, recent research, and more.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/sentinelnode.asp

3. TREATING BREAST CANCER WITH MASTECTOMY
A mastectomy is the surgical removal of the breast. Surgery is currently the most common way to treat breast cancer. There are several different types of mastectomy including simple/total, modified radical, radical, partial/segmental, etc. This article explains how the different types of mastectomy are performed and includes several relevant topics such as: mastectomy and lymph node removal, choosing mastectomy as breast cancer treatment, mastectomy and breast reconstruction, the mastectomy procedure (including before and after surgery), phantom breast pain, exercising after mastectomy, and a recurrence of cancer.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/mastectomy.asp

4. BREAST IMAGING AFTER BREAST CANCER SURGERY
After breast cancer surgery, women should continue to practice breast self-exams and receive clinical breast exams. However, mammography and breast imaging guidelines may be different based on what type of surgery a woman has had. This article discusses breast imaging guidelines after lumpectomy, quandrantectomy, and different types of mastectomy.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/after_surgery.asp

5. UNDERSTANDING CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE
Coronary artery disease (also called coronary heart disease) is the most common form of heart disease in America and Europe and is a serious health problem worldwide. Statistics show coronary artery disease to be the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States and in Europe. For example, approximately 12,800,000 Americans suffer from coronary artery disease and nearly 500,000 Americans die from heart attacks caused by coronary artery disease. Over 12 million Americans have a history of heart attack or chest pain (angina) or both. This article provides important information about coronary artery disease including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and related complications such as heart attack.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/heart-disease/cad_ov.asp

6. FEATURED RESOURCE: LAB TESTS ONLINE
Lab Tests Online (http://www.labtestsonline.org/) has been designed to help patients and caregivers better understand the many clinical lab tests that are part of routine care.  The site also provides information about the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of conditions and diseases.  Users may search the site by lab test, condition/disease, or age group to find information about diseases and necessary medical tests.
Click here for a comprehensive directory of resources:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/menu-resources.asp

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SPECIAL REPORT: BREAST CANCER MYTHS, MISCONCEPTIONS AND FACTS

The Imaginis Breast Health Team has just published a Special Report entitled "Breast Cancer Myths, Misconceptions and Facts." The Special Report explains the truth surrounding the most common breast cancer myths and misconceptions and provides women with the latest information about breast cancer and breast health. Click here to order the Special Report: http://www.imaginis.com/reports/

Special Report Features:

-54 common breast cancer myths dispelled
-Easy-to-understand explanations and charts
-Written and edited by breast health experts
-16-page publication with comprehensive, up-to-date information
-Categories include myths about:
        1. Breast Cancer (General Myths)
        2. Risks and Causes of Breast Cancer
        3. Prevention of Breast Cancer
        4. Breast Lumps
        5. Mammography
        6. Treatment of Breast Cancer

The Special Report is perfect for mammography centers, women's healthcare providers, breast cancer meetings, support groups, and individuals. To learn more about the Special Report, to order single or bulk quantities, or to view a complete list of the breast cancer myths discussed in the report, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/reports/

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BREAST CANCER DISCUSSION BOARD, RECENT POSTING

"Has anyone used any products (Vitamin E, Mederma, Silicone sheeting, etc) that they felt made any difference in reducing their post mastectomy/reconstruction scars? There are a variety of different products out there. My plastic surgeon didn't feel anything made much of a difference. Has anyone found something they felt helped? If so, how soon after your surgery did you start applying it and for how long? Thanks a lot."

Click here to visit this discussion:
http://www.imaginis.com/_private/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000493.html

Click here to post or reply to messages on the Discussion Boards:
http://www.imaginis.com/discussions/

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ABOUT IMAGINIS.COM

Imaginis.com is a comprehensive, award-winning, independent 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 content is created and edited by a team of people including 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

Please visit the Imaginis.com website at http://www.imaginis.com/

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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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SIEMENS MEDICAL PROUDLY SPONSORS IMAGINIS.COM

To learn more about Siemens involvement in women's health, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/siemens/

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