Posts Tagged ‘this’

Walking for research this weekend

Walking for research this weekend
A brain tumor had no chance of defeating Stefanie Reid. The Lake Oswego woman is simply too vivacious. She is also a marathon runner and dancer. Most of all she makes it a point to never let a challenge get the best of her. “It’s the old story of life handing you lemons,” Reid …

Read more on Portland Tribune

This is a Lecture On Health Care

This is a Lecture On Health Care
Abstract: The reason that America needs health care reform, and the reason that the cost of health care is going up dramatically faster than we can afford and faster than everything else in the economy, is that government has broken the system.

Read more on Heritage Foundation

This Week in JAMA [This Week in JAMA]

This Week in JAMA [This Week in JAMA]
JAMA. 2010;304(4):377. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1043 In a retrospective cohort study of 227 521 Medicare beneficiaries who initiated treatment with rosiglitazone or pioglitazone from July 2006 to June 2009, Graham and colleagues (SEE ARTICLE) found that compared with pioglitazone, prescription of rosiglitazone was associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality …

Read more on Journal of the American Medical Association

Breast Mri ? Should All Women Get This Test?

Patients often ask me: “Should I get an MRI?” (magnetic resonance imaging).  The answer from me is: “Only if you need it.” 

Why should we NOT all get breast MRI?  After all, we know that mammograms and ultrasounds do fail to pick up some breast cancers.  MRI is the latest, most expensive modality in breast imaging.  It’s the best, is it not?  Well, clearly, the advantage of MRI is that it can see everything and anything.  The disadvantage of MRI also is that it can see everything and anything.  When an “abnormality” is detected on MRI, sure it could turn out to be breast cancer.  But it can also turn out to be one of the many completely benign conditions, such as fibroadenoma, cyst, fibrocystic, infection, breast engorgement from menses or lactation, bruising from trauma, scar from previous surgery or needle biopsy, previous radiation, etc.  The only sure method of telling cancer from benign is to subject the patient to an invasive biopsy to obtain tissue from the MRI breast abnormality.  So, if you want to get a breast MRI, you should be mentally prepared for the biopsy that will be recommended by your doctor if the MRI shows an “abnormality”.  Because the MRI is so good at seeing everything and anything, there is a good chance that an “abnormality” will be revealed.  Afterwards, we call these benign biopsies unnecessary because the “abnormality” is a false positive finding.  But before the biopsy result comes back as benign, it certainly was very necessary, because no patient and definitely no doctor wants to let an “abnormality” go unchecked.

The answer to who needs an MRI is not always simple.  The current guidelines advise breast MRI for the following women:

1) Lifetime breast cancer risk 25% or higher

2) BRCA (breast cancer gene) carrier

3) First-degree relative of a BRCA carrier, if the first-degree is not tested for the gene

4) Previous radiation to chest between age 10 and 30 (for non-breast cancer reasons)

5) New diagnosis of breast cancer

6) Silicone breast implants

There are certain women who may need a breast MRI, although these women may not meet any of the above criteria.  The decision for a breast MRI should be made jointly with a physician, on an individual patient basis, so that the “pros” and the “cons” can be discussed ahead of time.  It should be emphasized that MRI is an adjunct to mammography, not a replacement.  Normal-risk women age 40 or higher should have yearly mammogram and physical examination.  High-risk women should have an individualized plan, based on the individual’s specific breast cancer risk(s) and other non-breast medical condition(s).

My left breast has pain in it and is larger than my right. Could this be a sign of breast cancer?

There is no lumps that I can tell.

I received a call from “Breast Cancer Charities”, is this a group?

I was told this would fund mammograms for women without insurance. I was asked if it was okay to send a pledge card and info in the mail. I said sure, gave my address and asked a question about participating in the program. I was never asked for financial info.

Fifteen minutes later, I get a call with curt questions from a noisy call center to verify my pledge, address and acceptance.

I agreed to accept info from a charity, in the mail, and asked for info. Why did I get a call from a “boiler room” verifying my address and then, the woman hung up? That makes me feel like it’s a scam.

I can’t find a “Breast Cancer Charities” group on the ‘net and I was not given a legit organization name. If this telemarketer is working for someone, why don’t they name the organization?

Has anyone else received a “no pressure” call from this group? The call was obviously from the phone book and I was only asked for an address.

I just want to know the originating charity, so I can research.
I did the search for “Breast Cancer Charites”, made some contacts and asked questions.

I’m just annoyed because I don’t want to have spend hours conducting research to determine if a charitable group is worthwhile and fiscally responsible.

I want to hit Google, load a name and learn they spend 2-3 percent on admin and the rest is spent wisely.

I’m not stupid. I’m just tired of “charities” that take in loads of money from well-meaning people, and it goes for salaries, parties, and expenses.

*cough* United Way…*ahem* Red Cross.

The Red Cross has collected millions and millions, and historically, they have charged survivors for water, ice, and necessities after hurricanes, in the US. After Andrew, I won’t give the Red Cross a dime! Maybe they give stuff away overseas after a disaster, but they SELL it, in the states.

It’s not a charity, it’s a business.

Why do people on this site answer like Cancer is a death sentence?

So many people answer questions on the cancer section with such negative statements. More and more people are surviving stage III and IV cancer. Survivor rates are increasing. If you are not familiar with cancer, say nothing or offer encouragement.

Even the press gets it wrong. They keep reporting that Elizabeth Edwards has terminal breast cancer. Yet she is still living 2 years later, has written a book, and is enjoying life. Yes, the B. cancer will catch up with her but to keep labeling it terminal is overkill. You can be hit by a car tomorrow so life is a terminal disease.

Is this lump on my right breast cancer my breast also itches?

I’m 17, I have a lump on my right breast and my breast also itches sometimes… but the same lump might be on my left breast I cant tell… Im also supposed to be starting my period soon.. cause my boobs are tender like they usually are before my period… Is it normal for them my right one to itch? And the lump is hard and not on my breast but above it.

I am a 35 year old female with ALOT of stress. Could this be causing chest and breast pain?

A friend told me that the chest pain is causing pain in my right breast coming from th chest wall. Is this true or could the pain in my breast be breast Cancer? Im worried. Help!

Could this be a breast tumor?

So one of my boobs hurts but only in one spot on the boob, not the whole boob. It isn’t like a soreness feeling. I have had tumors in my breasts before (non- cancer) and have had to surgeries to remove tumors. I’m not sure if there is a lump or not because I’m not sure what boobs are supposed to feel like. I feel like I might just be over reacting but I’m not sure. I’m not on my period and I’m not planning on getting my period for another 10 plus days. I’m 17 years old.