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Mother’s Day is just around the corner and Y-ME is once again pleased to announce their 2007 Y-ME race season! Each year volunteers participate in the Y-ME ‘Race to Empower’ which occurs on Mother’s Day. The race was developed to raise funds and support for the Y-ME’s services and programs.
Participants have the choice of completing a one or three mile walk, or a five kilometer run. The race is taking place in 12 cities across the United States and you can visit their website to find out if they have a race in your city and to find out information about how you can register for a race in your area. In the last 15 years, Y-ME’s Mother’s Day Events have successfully raised over $26 million in funds to support their breast cancer services. They want you to join them this year for another great Mother’s Day.
The Y-ME offers a variety of free programs and services to support anyone who has been affected by breast cancer. Some of these programs include a 24 hour National Breast Cancer Hotline with peer counselors who are also breast cancer survivors, a Wig and Prosthesis Bank, a Survivor Match Program to offer support to breast cancer survivors, a Partner Match Program to offer encouragement and hope to partners of breast cancer victims, and informative breast cancer publications. These are just a few of the generous services the Y-ME provides to those touched by breast cancer.
‘Walk. Run. Empower’. The ‘Race to Empower’ has the goal of providing support services to individuals to make sure that nobody has to face breast cancer alone. Hopefully you’ll be able to join the many mothers and women who will be participating in the race for an inspiring Mother’s day!
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What teens and parents need to know about breast surgery
By Eric Sparling
Maybe you’re a mother who’s heartbroken about your 16-year
old daughter being ridiculed for her “flat” chest. Or perhaps you’re an active
young woman who’s sick of her large bust interfering with her favorite sport. Well,
unhappiness about breast size and appearance is common among teenagers. But
when does unhappiness warrant a surgical solution, and how young is too young?
TheBreastSite.com asked two surgeons to provide us with
their perspectives on breast implants and reductions for young women.
Dr. Joao Carlos Sampaio Goes is a past president of the
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), and the scientific
director of the Brazil-based Instituto Brasileiro de Controle do Cancer (IBCC).
“There is no specific age for mammoplasty,” says Goes. “We
should base our decision in every specific case by consider the body’s
development and how big the problem is for the patient.”
Whether it’s a mammoplasty (reduction) or enlargement
(implants), Goes stresses the importance of using a “conservative” approach. In
the case of augmentation, for example, he would only recommend it for young
women who have “very, very small breasts.” And for such surgeries he uses the
inframammary fold method – to preserve nipple sensation – won’t use large
implants, and inserts the implants sub-fascially (which is less invasive than
having it placed beneath the chest muscles).
Dr. Foad Nahai is currently the First Vice-President of
ISAPS, and a director of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The Atlanta-based
surgeon sets his lower age limit for implants at 18. “Of course, I would only
use a saline implant,” he says.
He says 16 or 17 is the “usual age” for reductions.
“Ideally, they should only undergo reduction once the breast has stopped
enlarging in size,” although there are circumstances that warrant reduction
before growth is complete.
Both physicians stress that surgery is not without risks,
both psychological and physical. Surgery can leave scars and may effect breast
sensation and even the ability to breast feed in the future. Dr. Nahai
emphasizes that, in the case of implants, young women need to be “mature enough
to understand that these are not permanent devices, they are not maintenance
free, and it will take a lifetime of commitment to maintain their result.” The
doctors are in agreement that an implant needs to fit the patient’s body:
“Someone with a narrow chest and a narrow breast may not be able to accommodate
the dimensions of a large implant,” says Goes.
After mentioning all of these reservations, it’s important
to stress that there are conditions under which these surgeons would recommend
procedures. Over-sized breasts, in particular, can have a negative impact on
health. Some of the conditions the doctors cite include back pain, neck and
shoulder pain, and intertrigo (infection under the fold of the breast).
Undersized breasts do not carry the same health implications as oversized
breasts. In the case of the former, psychological issues will be the primary
consideration.
The question remains: surgery or no surgery? Well, in the
case of teenagers getting reductions or implants, caution seems to be the
watch-word. Ideally, a girl should wait until she has passed fully through
puberty before undergoing a procedure (although there are exceptions). And
neither physician cited physical reasons why implants would be necessary.
Enlargement is always a cosmetic procedure; while
psychological trauma is real and painful, a self-esteem-based, counseling
approach might be worth trying before seriously considering a physical
solution.
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Dermatologist says there’s no safe way to tan topless
By Eric Sparling
Sun tan season is just around the corner. With a pool in the
backyard and a nice tall, wooden fence for privacy, it’s time to free the
sisters and bask topless as nature intended. But to avoid a sunburn on your
palest parts, how short should your first sun tanning session be?
For an answer to this and other questions about topless sun
tanning, we contacted Gene Rubinstein, MD, a California-based dermatologist.
So doc, to start building up a tan base, how long should we
stay out on the first sunny day?
“Zero hours, zero minutes, zero seconds!”
Whoa, who, whoa! Zero, zero, zero? No tanning? None?
That’s right, boys and girls – okay, just girls – our MD has
nothing positive to say about sun tanning. Not your arms, not your legs, and
not your breasts.
“No dermatologist will ever recommend sun tanning of any
type,” says Rubinstein, “since any sun tan is a sign of sun damage and thus may
lead to skin cancer.”
That’s right. The healthy golden-bronze tan you’re lusting
after is actually the baked hue of irradiated, damaged flesh. When you think of
it that way, it kind of takes the luster off the tanning thing, doesn’t it.
According to the doc, a base tan offers “absolutely no
protection,” and even sunscreen is only a “supplement” to doing your best to
stay covered up and out of the direct rays of the sun. Says Rubinstein, “it
makes no sense to seek out the sun and then use sunscreen to lessen its
effects.”
But let’s say you’re not sensible. Five-inch stilettos
aren’t the slightest bit sensible, but there’s still a time and place, right?
Well, you need to understand that there is no healthy way to
get a real tan. The dermatologist says there are many self-tanning products
that are “completely safe,” but there are no exceptions to his ban on the real
deal. Sun damage is the leading cause of skin cancers, and basal cell carcinoma
is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Melanoma, another
skin cancer, kills 8,000 Americans every year, says Rubinstein.
But your mind is made up. You’ve heard all the yadda-yadda
about skin cancer and you just don’t care. Won’t happen to you. You didn’t give
up smoking just because of lung cancer, either. So you’re going to doff your
top and set your skin on “sizzle.” That’s your right, of course. A high SPF
suntan lotion will help slow the rate of damage, sure. But don’t kid yourself:
a gradual tan is just gradual damage; there’s no “healthy” way to tan, just as
there’s no healthy way to hold a lit match against your hand. And if you ever
have an unhealing-pimple, a bleeding area, or a new, irregularly-shaped dark
patch on the skin of your breasts, head directly to a dermatologist – and pray
you aren’t just another burnt offering to the sun god.
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 Last week I spoke with a very inspiring group of women – The Crazie Daizies. The Daizies first came together in 2004. It was during this time that work colleagues and running partners - Pauline Tam, Kathleen Kwan and Heather MacDonald - decided that they wanted to participate in their first Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Toronto.
Today the Daizies are made up of team members Pauline Tam, Kathleen Kwan, Heather MacDonald, Sally MacDonald, Heather Seabrooke, Margaret Reiss, Joyce Lin and Karen Frybort. In addition to their participation in walks, the team also raises money for Breast Cancer research in the following ways:
Cleaning Service: In 2004, the Daizies ran a golf club cleaning service and challenged their company to a golf tournament.
Knitting scarves: In 2005, the Daizies were obsessed with knitting. They found a pattern for a keyhole scarf and started making them for our friends and family for Christmas. After finding pink fun fur at the store and trying it out in the pattern, they realized that the pink keyhole scarves looked like the breast cancer ribbon and might be fun to make as a fundraiser for the walk. They started off slow and were selling them at work for $20 each. By the time the walk came around the Crazie Daizies had sold over 100 scarves - 100% of the money from the scarves went to the walk! At last count, we were over 200 scarves sold.
Fundraiser spin offs: In 2006 the Daizies expanded their scarf line to include breast cancer bath mitts and soap sacks as well. These didn’t sell as well as the scarves, but they were a fun experiment.
Other Crazie Daizie fundraising events:
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A craft show that was organized by another Weekend to End Breast Cancer team.
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A ‘tag day’, where the Daizies handed out tiny clothes pins with pink ribbons on the main street and at the liquor store in exchange for a donation.
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Team member Margaret Reiss’ family store collected change in a jar on the counter that added up to an amazing total to help the breast cancer cause!
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Team member Sally MacDonald took pictures at her ski hill and sold the photos as a fundraiser.
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The entire team participated in the town garage sale - and managed to raise quite a bit of money while getting rid of a lot of junk!
Thanks again to the Crazie Daizies for sharing their unique and fun fundraising ideas with The Breast Site. Why not take inspiration from the Dazies and raise money for the cause this coming October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
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Experts reserve judgment
Have you heard the latest news from the frontiers of experimental cancer drugs? The media have been buzzing about dichloroacetate, or DCA, a drug that has the potential to be a cheap and effective treatment – even cure? – for some cancers. According to NewScientist.com, “Evangelos Michelakis of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and his colleagues tested DCA on human cells cultured outside the body and found that it killed lung, breast and brain cancer cells, but not healthy cells.”
The web-site says this drug has already been used to treat metabolic disorders, and generic (i.e. inexpensive) versions are available. The mechanism for its effect on cancer cells seems to be the way it interacts with cell mitochondria, details New Scientist. Cells in benign growths are starved of oxygen, which causes the cell to change to another method of energy creation. This new method, called glycolysis, shuts down the cell’s mitochondria (metabolism engine of the cell), which is where the cell’s mechanism telling it when to die is found. The cells replicate but none of them die. To make matters worse, glycolysis also produces lactic acid, which breaks down barriers in the body, allowing the cancer cells to migrate. It appears that dichloroacetate turns the mitochondria back on – glycolysis and lactic acid productions tops, and the cells healthy self-destruct switch is turned back on.
Which sounds great, right? Cancer patients across North America are eager to see DCA pushed through the approval process and made available ASAP. There’s just one problem, though: Cancer is complicated, and while a simple solution has endless appeal, it’s also not a sure thing. Len Lichtenfield, MD, an oncologist and the deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, is urging restraint and healthy skepticism.
“If I had a nickel for every time I have heard such a proposition [i.e. a simple cure has been found and must be used] based on this type of evidence, I would be a rich man.”
In the realm of cancer treatment, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and patients understandably grasp at every glimmer of hope. But the doc thinks DCA needs a lot more testing before we should start getting excited.
“The overwhelming number of promising laboratory experiments have not ended up as effective cancer treatments when they move from the bench to the bedside, if they are even able to get to the bedside in the first place,” Lichtenfield says. He acknowledges that Michelakis’s results warrant further investigation, “but I believe in patience, prudence and caution because my experience has taught me that those are the best guidelines to follow…”
The Canadian Cancer Society echoes Lichtenfield’s caution, albeit in a more upbeat tone. In their view, DCA is “promising,” but it’s important for people to understand that a) “only preliminary research has so far taken place,” b) DCA delayed growth in lab rats but did not eliminate tumors, and c) DCA has side effects when used on humans. And a crucial comment all patients should consider: “People with cancer should not use DCA on their own, as this could be dangerous.”
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Last week I spoke with a very inspiring group of women – The Crazie Daizies. The Daizies first came together in 2004. It was during this time that work colleagues and running partners - Pauline Tam, Kathleen Kwan and Heather MacDonald - decided that they wanted to participate in their first Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Toronto. The 3 friends had already completed several 5km and10km runs and 3 half marathons together. Now it was time for a new challenge! They wanted to give something back to the community.
Today, the Crazie Daizies are made up of the following members:
Pauline Tam
Kathleen Kwan
Heather MacDonald
Sally MacDonald
Heather Seabrooke
Margaret Reiss
Joyce Lin
Karen Frybort
When I spoke to the Daizies they offered to share their most inspiring memories from their Weekend to End Breast Cancer walks with us:
Pauline Tam: “During the walk in 2004, a special woman really stood out from the crowd. On the first day, at lunch, as we were climbing the huge hill that leads out of Sunnybrooke park, we came across a woman walking, with the help of a walker, who had already made it part way up the hill. We slowed to talk with her daughters. They told us how their mom, who was 80, was walking for the second year in a row. The walk provides vans to allow people to walk part of the way, and if they have health issues they can take the van to the next rest stop. They told us how last year she walked the entire way on her own and was determined to do the same this year. Her grit and determination was really inspiring in itself. We saw her again throughout the two days. We saw her coming into camp at night and leaving early in the morning to get out there and get a good start on the day. At the end of the second day, as the walkers gathered after crossing the finish line, there is always cheering to help others celebrate completing their journey. We could hear the noise from outside before we could see her. There was a ripple effect though the crowd as the other 5,000 walkers cheered this very special woman as she crossed the 60km finish line on her own!”
Kathleen Kwan: “As we were crossing an intersection, there was a woman standing by herself on the other side of the street. She stood there alone and clapped as the walkers walked by. Occasionally, she would just say “Thank you for walking.”
Margaret Reiss: “About 20km in on the first day, I was feeling very sore. My knees and hips were hurting, and then I started to listen to 2 survivors who were talking to each other, behind me. They were talking about what their treatment had been like. The sacrifices they had to make, and that which their families had to make, in order for them to cope. They also shared how even though now they are cancer free it still took about a year of therapy to really understand that they were ok, and to get on with their lives. Listening to those 2 women made me forget my pain for awhile. After they were finished, I was still hurting and I realized that shortly my pain would end. I didn't haven anything nearly as hard to overcome, as what they did. Yet they were still walking and talking and spreading their story, and the least I could do, is walk with them.”
Heather Seabrooke: “Last year I spent a couple of months in hospital, not with anything life threatening or incurable, but I was there for a while. There was a woman with cancer in a room down the hall. I would walk by her room and smile. I think once she attempted a smile, but without much effort. Then came the day I walked by her room and smiled and I was shocked by the look she gave me. She could not have said it louder if she used words. It broke my heart as her eyes said “Go away. Stop smiling at me. You’re going to walk out of here one day and I’m not!” Shortly after, I did leave and she didn’t. I’m not sure at what point after that encounter that I decided to walk, but walk I would!
I walked so that one day others will walk out of the hospital!
I walked so that one day cancer will lose the power to fill one more pair of eyes with the complete loss of hope. I walked to change that.
I walked for hope!”
Heather MacDonald: “I signed up for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer because it seemed like a good mixture of something that would challenge me personally and would help to raise a lot of money to research a cure for Breast Cancer. After signing up for the event and establishing our team, we set out to start raising our minimum $2,000 each of donations. This seemed like a really daunting task at first and is the reason why many people don’t participate in the event. We started off by writing letters and emails to our family, friends and co-workers to get the word out there that we were participating and looking for support. The response that we got back was overwhelming. The generosity of others truly inspired me throughout our 3 years of walking. People would come and share their stories of a loved one or friend that was fighting cancer, or whom they had lost and make a donation to help us reach our goals, and ultimately the goal to end breast cancer forever. I have not met one person who can say that their lives or the lives of their friends and family haven’t been touched by breast cancer or some other form of cancer.
When we arrived at the walk on the first day, not knowing what to expect, we were completely blown away. At the opening ceremonies they have a group of survivors walk down a center aisle through the 5,000 + walkers with their hands joined to form a circle, where the empty space in the middle represents all the mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters and friends that we have lost to this horrible disease. Interspersed throughout the crowd are other survivors who have battled the disease and come out strong enough to walk 60kms and make a difference so that others don’t have to go through what they have gone through. You stand there and think, the least I can do is raise money and walk 60kms!
We were all inspired each year as we approached the front entrance to Princess Margaret Hospital [in Toronto, Ontario]. On the front steps were the doctors, nurses and other staff from the hospital cheering on the walkers and thanking us for raising money and for walking. In the first year, we walked for part of the route behind Paul Alofs, President and CEO of The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and Dr. Tak Mak who is one of the leading researchers.
It meant a lot to have them out there participating with us.”
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The Crazie Daizies are a team of inspiring women, from all walks of life and who range in ages, from the Kitchener, Ontario region. They were officially established in 2004, when Pauline Tam, Kathleen Kwan and Heather MacDonald decided that they would participate in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Toronto. In 2002, they took up running together and successfully completed several 5km and 10km runs and eventually 3 half marathons. Running together for long distances is a real bonding experience. After successfully completing the challenge of the half marathons, they were looking for a new challenge that would also give something back to the community.
Today I’d like to share my very inspiring interview with the Daizies…
Where did the team name originate?
Our team name originally came from Pauline, Kathleen and Heather. When we ran on particularly cold or rainy days, we would often remark about how we shouldn’t be braving such crazy weather conditions because we are ‘delicate flowers’. When we signed up for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, we decided on Crazy Daisies because it seemed a little crazy for such delicate flowers to be volunteering to walk 60kms! Because the team is made up of such unique individuals, the spelling of the name had to be as well.
What runs do the Crazie Daizies participate in?
The Crazie Daizies team was originally founded to participate in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer which is a 60km walk through the streets of Toronto to raise money for Breast Cancer research. After establishing our team name and website, we sometimes use it for other events that we participate in, for example Heather and Pauline participate in the CIBC Run for the Cure and the Terry Fox Run.
Why is the Terry Fox run so important to you to participate in?
The Terry Fox run has become a yearly event for us, and something that we now do without question. Terry Fox was an amazing person and his Marathon of Hope was such an inspiration to all Canadians. It is important to us to carry on his legacy and bring new people to participate in the run each year. We encourage friends to join us and bring their families out for a fun walk or run for a great cause. It is difficult to find anyone whose life hasn’t been touched in some way by Cancer. We need to find a way to end the suffering and cure this disease.
How does participating in events for breast cancer inspire you?
From team member Margaret Reiss: “Doing this big event for breast cancer made me feel empowered. It made me feel like I could make a difference in finding a cure. It also made me feel thankful for the good health that I have and being able to participate. There is a certain helplessness that you feel when you hear someone tell you that they have breast cancer or that someone in their family has been diagnosed with breast cancer. I can’t help but think that it could easily be me next. So, I have a choice, I can sit back and wait for it to happen to me or my mom or one of my friends and be devastated by the news … or I can get out there and raise money to find a cure. I can be part of the solution. I can make a difference. I can walk or run for those that are suffering and do something to try to help ease their pain. There is also a selfish part to participating in these events. The friendships that you build with your team members are priceless and the memories are something we will all treasure for the rest of our lives. You share stories with your team about your life and hear their stories. There is lots of time to hear the whole story and not the Coles notes version.”
What is the atmosphere like during the runs/walks?
It is an atmosphere of unity, friendship and determination. There is an overwhelming feeling of positive energy in the air throughout the weekend. The mood changes as the weekend progresses. At the opening ceremonies you can almost taste the feeling of anticipation as the walkers are anxious to hit the pavement and a little wary that they may not be able to make it all the way through. The entire weekend is an exceptionally well run event. The opening ceremonies are a time of reflection, celebration and inspiration for the long walk ahead.
Every 4kms there is a rest station with food and medical supplies. These rest stations are run by amazing volunteers who dress up in costumes and raise the spirits of the walkers throughout their journey. Safety is taken very seriously as none of the streets in Toronto are closed for the walk. The volunteers and police that help the walkers cross intersections safely also help to boost spirits. Throughout the route there are sweep vans that continuously drive past the walkers to make sure that everyone is feeling good. There is a lot of horn honking, screaming and cheering.
As mid-afternoon hits, energy fades. It is the walkers along the route that help each other out. Singing, joking and generally inspiring those around them to see past the tired muscles and pain and celebrate the journey. As we sometimes had to remind others, it isn’t a race. It is a journey.
The closing ceremonies are something that I don’t talk about with people that haven’t done the walk. It is a special time and wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise for anyone else that makes the journey to get there. It is well worth it. After so much togetherness, laughter and tears, it is very difficult to say good-bye to your team members at the end of the Sunday.
How much money did you raise during your last walk to raise money for breast cancer research?
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2004 – 3 of us raised $11,589.50 and the Weekend event total raised $14,000,000
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2005 – 4 of us raised $16,110.00 and the Weekend event total raised $16,000,000
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2006 – 8 of us raised $18,352.22 and the Weekend event total raised $17,200,000
Thank you so much to the Crazie Daizies for sharing their treasured memories, and your inspiration and hope with the readers of The Breast Site.
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Did you know that a set of unsupported breasts can bounce up and down at a distance of 14-centemeters during strenuous exercise? Well it’s definitely something to ponder during your next jog - especially if you’re strapping your sisters into an ordinary bar (which only reduces bounce by about 35%).
Severe bounce can cause permanent damage to your breasts and your surrounding breast tissues. And we all know how an uncomfortable bra can dig into your breasts and back when you exercise. Well a company in the UK has invented a new sports bra dubbed the “Shock Absorber”. The bra, now being sold at Victoria Secrets in the UK, claims to reduce bounce by up to 74% because it’s not only fitted to a woman’s breast cup size, it’s also fitted to her back for added support.
You can see the Shock Absorber bra in action via a fun tool called the Bounce-ometer. This virtual chart let’s the user choose they’re cup size and activity level. It then displays the 3 levels of bounce she experiences – when wearing no bra, when wearing an ordinary bra and if she wore a Shock Absorber bra. Hopefully the Shock Absorber will be available to support North American breasts soon!
To read the full article click here- http://www.shockabsorber.co.uk/bounceometer/shock.html.
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A recent study has linked breastfeeding to children’s respiratory health. The study, conducted by the University of California’s pediatric department, showed that 2 additional months of breast-feeding may in fact be related to the number of respiratory ailments a child will suffer in infancy, right up until the age of 2-years-old.
The study examined the respiratory health of a group of children – from birth up until the age of 2-years-old. It concluded that babies whose mothers ceased breast-feeding before they were 6-months-old suffered more instances of re-occurring ear infections and pneumonia; compared to those who were breast-fed right up until 6-months or older.
Dr. Caroline J. Chantry, leader of the study and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, claims simply that the longer a mother breastfeeds; the greater her child’s respiratory health will be in the future. "If you can breast-feed for 6-months,” says Chantry, “you're doing your baby a favor."
Read the full article here - http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/health/21prev.html.
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Breastfeeding advocate group, the La Leche League, plans to go to bat for working mothers with Senate Bill 167. The bill will be presented at the Capital, and would require businesses to give breastfeeding employees a sufficient amount of time and a private place to either breastfeed their babies or to pump their breast milk.
Mary Ann Kerwin, a member of the Colorado Breastfeeding Task Force, feels that Bill 167 would benefit both working mothers and businesses if mothers could continue to breastfeed after returning to work. Kerwin points out that working mothers tend to breastfeed less often and for shorter periods of time compared to stay-at-home mothers. Senate Bill 167 would require businesses to allot 2 additional unpaid, 20-minute breaks to working mothers to either breastfeed or pump. Overall, Kerwin says that the breaks would find new mothers missing less scheduled work time to breastfeed, and less time off work because they're babies would be breastfed longer and therefore remain healthier.
"We're just trying to get an accommodation just like they've made for smokers," says Mary Ann Kerwin, a member of the Colorado Breastfeeding Task Force.
Read the full story here - http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_043112959.html.
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If you recall, back on January 18th I dedicated The Breast Blog topic to a co-worker of mine, named Tamara, who courageously dedicated her time – and skin – to the Pink Ribbon campaign. This rather unique breast cancer fundraiser was hosted by a local Cambridge, Ontario radio station - DAVE FM - who was willing to pay for Tammy to get a pink ribbon tattoo if she raised the $500 (minimum) worth of sponsor donations.
Well on Friday, February 3 the monies were in, and Tammy raised a whopping $1,480 thanks to the support of her friends and co-workers. She is now the proud owner of a pink ribbon tattoo for breast cancer on her hip. In the words of Tammy, “The campaign itself raised over $20,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation! The tattoo is done and yes, it hurt like hell, but what kept me going through it was the great cause and fantastic support from everyone!”
For more information on Tattoo for the Cure...with 107.5 DAVE FM click here - http://www.davefm.com/station/contests_details.cfm?ev=2320
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Research indicates that over 80-percent of employed women with breast cancer go back to work after treatment. These findings were based on a study of 416 working women who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. After diagnoniss the women were followed up after 12-months and again after 18-months.
Dr. Reynard R. Bouknight, the chief researcher from Michigan State University in East Lansing, points to the fact that 87-pecent of employers had support systems in place to accommodate the treatment needs of ill employees. Bouknight says this proves that "working breast cancer survivors can be helped immensely by employers who are sensitive to their health care needs."
Read the full article here - http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-01-31T162757Z_01_COL159316_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-BREAST-CANCER-DC.XML&archived=False
PS - In next week's blog I'll be updating you on the results of my co-worker Tammy's Tattoo for the Cure Campaign. See the blog from Wednesday, January 18, 2006.
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Fans of the TV show One Tree Hill will be anticipating the upcoming release of a soundtrack of favorite songs featured on the series. The Friends with Benefit soundtrack is set to hit store shelves on February 7, 2006, featuring tunes from popular bands such as Audioslave, Tyler Hilton, Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy, Hot Hot Heat and more.
However, the disc will do more than simply promote the WB Network series, according to One Tree Hill creator and executive producer Mark Schwahn who says, "We have an audience of young girls and women and selfishly, we'd like to keep them alive and healthy for years to come." Therefore, a portion of the proceeds from the Friends with Benefit CD will go to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Currently One Tree Hill is featuring a storyline that has a popular character’s mother battling breast cancer. The storyline and the soundtrack recognize that the vast majority of One Tree Hill fans are undoubtedly young women that may one day be touched by breast cancer. Who says educational programming can’t be fun?
Read the full article here - http://www.groovevolt.com/Newswires/newswire.asp?ID=1803.
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The topic of this week's Breast Blog was inspired by a woman I work with. You see Tammy has always wanted a tattoo, but has never really come across a design that's meant enough to her to have it inked permanently onto her body till the end of time. That was until Tammy heard about the Pink Ribbon campaign, being hosted by a local Cambridge, Ontario radio station - DAVE FM. You see the radio station was willing to pay for any listener to get a pink ribbon tattoo if they are able to raise the minimum $500 worth of donations.
In the words of my friend Tammy “As soon as I heard the idea I knew this was the tattoo I wanted because it's not "just for me" anymore. It's a much more important cause. I don't know too many people that haven't been affected by it [breast cancer] in some way or another.”
This Breast Blog is dedicated to the individuals like Tammy who make a big difference in the fight against breast cancer with small steps. It can be simply by hosting a car wash, a bake sale or even by getting a pink ribbon tattoo for the cause. Every little bit helps.
Thank you,
From The Breast Site
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Ringing in the New Year means champagne toasts, spontaneous kisses at midnight and frivolous dinning for most of us. However, January 1st is the extreme opposite, when we awake and face honoring those dreaded New Years resolutions.
The most typical resolutions for the New Year consist of our commitment to eat healthier, lose weight and quit smoking, but for woman all of these resolutions have one vital thing in common – they’re all key ways to reduce the chances of breast cancer and other forms of cancer.
In celebration of the New Year, the American Cancer Society has released their annual list of resolutions ‘Tips on how to be Healthier in 2006!’
And what do you imagine tops their list:
1) Quitting smoking
2) Committing to a more active lifestyle
3) Maintaining a health weight
4) Limiting alcoholic consumption
5) Eating a healthy diet
6) Scheduling regular cancer screenings
Read the full article here - http://westchester.com/Westchester_News/Westchester_Health_News/American_Cancer_Society_Tips_On_How_To_Be_Healthier_In_2006_200512316079.html.
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