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Lymphland International Lymphedema Online
Acupuncture — where fine needles are inserted into the body’s ‘meridians’ — is said to help sooth the headaches, nausea, pain and discomfort caused by breast cancer treatment. ROMINA MCGUINNESS METRO WORLD NEWS October 12, 2009 10:27 p.m. Be the first to comment Print article Text size “It takes just two words: breast cancer, to change someone’s life,” says breast oncologist Dr. Marisa Weiss. The way the mind connects to the body plays a huge part in the patient’s battle against cancer. In hospital you’ll have doctors dealing with physical issues but what is often neglected is the patient’s state of mind. “It’s essential doctors find out what’s going through a woman’s mind to address underlying issues including lack of sleep, anxiety or intimate concerns. Breast cancer sufferers tend to place the blame on themselves; heavily questioning their lifestyle and the person they used to be.” Although not cures per se, holistic treatments focus on getting women to take the time to address their mind and their body following the intrusion and exhaustion of surgery or chemotherapy. Yoga “Yoga brings a lot of things; but the breathing is key as it brings relaxation and meditation. Whether anxiously awaiting test results or unable to sleep, yogic breathing will help keep focus. Yoga also builds up physical strength, corrects posture, balance, flexibility and range of motion. Following diagnosis, women often feel their body has betrayed them, yoga helps re-build their body confidence.” Acupuncture “Acupuncture — where fine needles inserted in the body’s ‘meridians’ help the positive flow of energy throughout the body — sooths headaches, nausea, pain and discomfort caused by treatment.” Weiss does hold one reservation with the technique, “never place needles in the arm adjacent to the affected breast, as this may cause Lymphedema.” Here the lymph system is damaged or blocked causing fluid to build up in soft tissues creating swelling or infection. In this case, patients can choose to undergo “Acupressure,” where pressure is applied to specific spots with the hand instead of needles. Nutrition Modern days diets can be unhealthy; most people eat processed foods daily. According to Weiss, “we should be eating between five and nine fruit and vegetable servings a day, seeking out organic sources when possible to avoid consuming pesticides. Low fat, non-dairy options are best and fried foods should be avoided alongside the frequent consumption of red meat, which can contain hormones.” That’s just the starting point. Weiss insists there is a link between breast cancer and alcohol consumption, “limiting your intake to five drinks a week is a good benchmark — the more you drink, the higher your risk.” Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy uses a technique where the mind talks to the body, known as cell command therapy. Hypnotherapist, Marisa Peer, explains how the method is based on how the body mimics the mind. Patients must tell cells what to do and how to behave, imagine their cancerous cells being devoured. Cancer brings fear and anxiety, “the power of the mind is amazing,” explains Peer. “Once a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer she is confronted with the fear of dying. Hypnotherapy allows women to communicate with their body, get rid of this fear and make their imagination work with them rather than against them. Biological Feeback Less widely used and acknowledged, biological feedback is the repetitive training of the mind to relax. Physiologically, there is a physical state of relaxation defined as state of being which slows heart rate and lowers blood pressure. The effectiveness of the holistic approach to breast cancer is still up for debate. “They definitely fight the cancer,” exclaims Dr. Marisa Weiss. “The body has a lot of healing and battle to go through. If your immune system is down and you are anxious, you won’t be able to overcome the physical challenges.” http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/live/article/338061--a-holistic-approach-to-breast-cancer ------- http://www.estacadanews.com/features/story.php?story_id=125617270186887900 Oregon second in nation for incidents of breast cancer Curves hosts free women's health workshop Friday By Evan Jensen The Estacada News, Oct 21, 2009, Updated 14 hours ago Two major risk factors for breast cancer include gender and age, according to the American Cancer Society. Being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer. While men also get the disease, it is about 100 times more common in women than in men. In addition, the chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. About two out of three women with invasive breast cancer are 55 or older when the cancer is found. File photo / Estacada News ADVERTISEMENTS Curves of Estacada owner Susan Wagner knew the women’s-only fitness center she opened five years ago would provide a perfect place to promote healthy living, but she couldn’t have entirely predicted its influence as a support group and social network for women in the community. In the five years since she opened the Curves franchise in Estacada, Wagner has seen a host of members come and go, lose weight, survive accidents and battle breast cancer. “When you start asking the question, ‘What’s your connection to breast cancer?’ it’s hard not to know someone,” says Lisa Regan-Vienop, Breast Health Education Manager at Oregon Health and Science University. “My stepmother had breast cancer and so did a close personal friend of mine. Luckily, I also have a lot of friends who are survivors.” Wagner met Regan-Vienop at a recent Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure meeting and invited her to Estacada to talk to women in the community about breast health and risk factors for breast cancer, to recognize October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The meeting will include a presentation by Regan-Vienop, in addition to presentations by naturopathic doctor Kimberly Horner and massage therapist Tamara Nielson from the Oregon Massage & Lymphedema Clinic. Curves will host the free workshop on breast cancer and breast health on Friday, Oct. 23, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 321 S.W. Highway 224. “We know a lot about breast cancer, and we are making a lot of progress with research, but we don’t have a way to prevent it,” Regan-Vienop said. “Early detection make a big difference, but we still don’t know what we can do to prevent it. It’s not like we can tell people they will decrease their risks with certain healthy behaviors or increase their risks if they are doing X, Y and Z.” An estimated 194,000 new cases of breast cancer in the U.S. will be reported by the end of the year, according to the National Cancer Institute, and the disease will claim the lives of an estimated 40,000 people in 2009 when early detection, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and the body’s ability to battle the disease aren’t enough. Oregon ranks second in the nation in cases of breast cancer, with Washington state reporting the most cases and Connecticut in third, according to the Centers for Disease Control. “We do know that statistically we have more cases of breast cancer here,” Regan-Vienop said. “So we’re really trying to combat that. I don’t try to give the women I talk to about this a guilt trip, but I really want to stress the importance of doing their exams and heighten their awareness about breast cancer and the risk factors.” Two major risk factors for breast cancer include gender and age, according to the American Cancer Society. Being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer, and while men also get the disease, it is about 100 times more common in women than in men. In addition, the chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. About two out of three women with invasive breast cancer are 55 or older when the cancer is found. “As women age, statistically they are more likely to get breast cancer,” Regan-Vienop said. “The risk factor goes up exponentially with age, and that’s one of the reasons health practitioners recommend regular mammograms for women who are 40 and older.” On Friday, Regan-Vienop will talk with women who attend the free clinic about breast cancer, risk factors, early detection and treatments. The workshop will include a self-exam demonstration using breast models with castings that simulate cancerous findings. “We want to help women become more familiar with what they are looking for when they do their own breast exam,” Regan-Vienop said. “A lot of times we find that women aren’t doing their exams as regularly as medical providers recommend. Sometimes that’s because they don’t know what they are looking for or they might be afraid of what they might find. … Essentially, it’s like trying to teach someone to find a grain of rice in the sand, so it’s really important to help women understand their personal landscape and what to look for.” When breast cancer strikes, the treatment options vary widely based on the extent of the cancer, but when detected early it’s a highly survivable disease, evident by the dozens of survivors who still frequent Curves of Estacada and participated in the Relay for Life event cancer research fundraiser at Estacada High School this summer. “There are a lot more options for treating breast cancer when it’s detected early,” Regan-Vienop said. “If the cancer is less advanced and detected early, the person might not have to have the full course of radiation and chemotherapy because of some of the other treatment options available. Breast cancer is very survivable compared to liver cancer or pancreatic cancer, especially when it’s identified at an early stage.” IF YOU GO Curves of Estacada will host a free breast health and breast cancer workshop on Friday, Oct. 23 from 6 p. m. to 8 p.m., with speakers on breast health and wellness; non-members welcome. For more information, call 503.630-7551 or visit Curves at 321 S.W. Hwy. 224. ------- Univ. Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences' V. Suzanne Klimberg, M.D. Authors Book On Breast Surgical Techniques Main Category: Breast Cancer Article Date: 24 Nov 2009 - 0:00 PST email to a friend printer friendly view / write opinions rate article Current Article Ratings: Patient / Public: Health Professional: 5 (1 votes) Article Opinions: 0 posts The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) announces the publication of the "Atlas of Breast Surgical Techniques" by V. Suzanne Klimberg, M.D., director of the Breast Cancer Program at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Written for practicing surgeons, surgical residents and medical students, the book presents surgical procedures - many developed by Klimberg - intended to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. "I have heard many residents say how easy they think breast surgery is. Yet even in these modern times, as many as 40 percent of patients require a second surgery to remove additional malignant tissue," said Klimberg, who also holds the Muriel Balsam Kohn Chair in Breast Surgical Oncology at UAMS. The 440-page atlas includes 550 illustrations and operative photos, biopsy specimens, and artists' renderings of key anatomy. It is part of the Surgical Techniques Atlas Series published by Elsevier. The atlas' six sections cover excisional biopsy/partial mastectomy, lymph node biopsy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction, extensive resections and surgical techniques to assist irradiation. Among the topics presented are axillary reverse mapping (ARM) and excision followed by radiofrequency ablation (eRFA), both procedures developed by Klimberg at UAMS. eRFA begins with standard removal of the tumor. Then, an RFA probe is inserted and heated to 100 degrees for 15 minutes, creating a one centimeter zone of dead tissue around the cavity. The procedure is intended to give the patient a cancer-free area around the site where the tumor was removed so that a second surgery in the area is unnecessary. The ARM procedure prevents one of the most common side effects associated with breast cancer treatment - lymphedema or swelling of the arms due to faulty drainage of the lymph nodes. "The removal and analysis of the lymph nodes under the arm remains the most important factor in determining the severity of disease in breast cancer patients," Klimberg said. To prevent the arm swelling, Klimberg developed the ARM procedure. The technique evaluates the ways in which fluid drains through the lymph node system in the arm through the injection of blue dye, thus decreasing the chances of unintended disruption of the lymph node system during surgery and reducing the risk of developing swelling in the arm. Source University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171891.php |