IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 29
AUGUST 2, 2001

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION

1. CHANGE IN RECOMMENDATION REGARDING HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY FOR THE HEART
Reversing its policy from a few years ago, the American Heart Association has announced that it no longer recommends that women be prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the sole purpose of preventing heart disease. While past studies had suggested that HRT may protect the heart, new research casts doubt on those findings and reveals that HRT may even increase heart attack and stroke risk in women who already have heart disease. However, the American Heart Association emphasizes that healthy women who are taking HRT for non-cardiac benefits, such as the relief of menopausal symptoms or the prevention of osteoporosis, should continue doing so provided that they are fully aware of all the potential benefits and risks.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news7.27.01.asp

2. CANADIAN REPORT OUTLINES BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY
Surgeons often remove some or all of the axillary (armpit) lymph nodes in breast cancer patients to “stage” the cancer and determine the most appropriate treatment options. The standard surgery for removing these lymph nodes is called axillary node dissection. However, a relatively new procedure called sentinel lymph node biopsy, is becoming more common. Instead of removing 10 to 20 or more lymph nodes with axillary node dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy involves removing only one to three lymph nodes.   While sentinel lymph node biopsy has been associated with reduced side effects, the procedure is new, and long-term data on its safety and effectiveness are still being gathered.  Recently, a steering committee of Health Canada’s Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative conducted a systematic review of English-language literature on sentinel lymph node biopsy from 1991 to 2000.  Based on their review, the committee has made a number of recommendations for physicians and patients regarding the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy in women with breast cancer.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news8.01.01.asp

3. EXPERIMENTAL TRANSPLANT SURGERY COULD OFFER HOPE TO PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Yale researchers have just performed an experimental surgery on a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) in an attempt to repair damaged brain cells. MS is a progressive disease in which the body’s immune system attacks nerve fibers in the central nervous system and damages their myelin, the protective sheath surrounding the cells. When the myelin is damaged, the cells do not conduct the nerve impulses properly, which can affect many body functions. It will be six months before Timothy Vollmer, MD and his colleagues can determine whether the transplant surgery was successful. If so, the procedure could offer hope to people suffering with MS and those with other myelin disorders.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/news7.31.01.asp

4. CANCER SURVIVOR LANCE ARMSTRONG WINS THIRD TOUR DE FRANCE TITLE
Twenty-nine year old cancer survivor Lance Armstrong won his third Tour de France bicycling championship on July 29. Five years ago, Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. His doctors estimated his chances of survival to be 50%. However, through three surgeries, an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, and a positive attitude, Armstrong was able to overcome cancer. He becomes the first American and only the fifth man in the world to win three or more consecutive Tour de France titles. Armstrong is also the spokesman for Cycle of Hope, a cancer education campaign that provides free information about early cancer detection, treatment, and survival.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news7.24.01.asp

5. ALL NEW OVARIAN CANCER SECTION
Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer because its symptoms can be subtle, leading to a delayed diagnosis and poorer outcome. However, if ovarian cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is approximately 95%. This completely revised and updated section discusses how ovarian cancer develops and includes topics on prevention, risk factors, symptoms, detection, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of the disease.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/ovarian-cancer/

6. LUMPECTOMY: BREAST-CONSERVING SURGERY FOR BREAST CANCER
Lumpectomy involves surgically removing a cancerous breast lump and a surrounding margin of normal breast tissue. It is a common treatment for breast cancer and is usually followed by radiation therapy. Lumpectomy is also called breast-conserving surgery because unlike mastectomy, it allows women to preserve much of their breast. This article discusses all aspects of lumpectomy, including how the surgery is performed, who is a candidate for lumpectomy, lymph node removal, and radiation therapy after lumpectomy.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/lumpectomy.asp

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BIG BAM! HOSTS CELEBRITY BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER

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BREAST CANCER DISCUSSION BOARD, RECENT POSTING

"I was diagnosed with non-invasive DCIS in June. Had a lumpectomy July 13 and am now facing a second surgery and radiation therapy. I would like to know what side effects to expect from the radiation. I'm 41 and am an avid cyclist. I currently ride close to 200 miles per week. One of my doctors said that since I'm so active the radiation probably won't slow me down much, but then another doctor told me exactly the opposite. I would appreciate hearing from folks who have actually been through this."

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http://www.imaginis.com/_private/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000486.html

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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 breast health 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

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