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Lymphland International Lymphedema Online
| Everyday people do have a voice in the government - Richmond County Daily Journal - by Larry Kissell - Monday, January 25, 2010 - We hear a lot about the people not having a role in their government. There is a feeling that laws aren’t written with the average person in mind. I want to share the stories behind three pieces of legislation I have or will introduce in the coming weeks. Each one of these bills was born out of ideas presented by constituents right here at home. I am proud to introduce the legislation and even prouder to represent the folks who brought these issues to my attention. The first bill would have an impact on veterans across this country. My staff and I were contacted by a 100 percent permanently disabled American veteran who voiced his concerns about the vast difference in benefits offered by states to 100 percent permanently disabled veterans. While some states provide a very robust package of benefits, demonstrating its commitment and appreciation for its disabled veterans, other states’ benefits packages are lacking in comparison. The most bothersome is that despite North Carolina’s large veteran population, our state’s benefit package is far from what our veterans deserve. Our veterans have answered our nation’s call for duty and served this country with honor and distinction. They deserve the very best benefit package we can offer. After hearing this concern, I am sponsoring a bill to create a commission to review each state’s current disabled veterans benefits package, compare the packages and rank each state based on the benefits it offers to 100 percent permanently disabled veterans. This commission will provide recommendations to Congress and each state on how to make each state’s package comparable across the country. The second bill came about when a constituent visited our office to voice her concerns about lymphedema and the denial of coverage for treatment of this devastating disease. Her son suffers from the disease, and she had fought to see that he receives the treatment he needs. Lymphedema is a chronic disease caused by a weakened lymphatic system, and can be hereditary or caused by a secondary reason such as injury to the lymph nodes. Many cancer patients suffer from lymphedema which causes lymphatic fluid to collect in the limbs and cause swelling. The swelling can become permanent if not treated. Yet, coverage for treatment is routinely denied by insurance companies as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Complications from the disease if left untreated can range from severe deformity, disability, pain and can even lead to death. Luckily, treatment is covered for breast cancer patients under the Women’s Health and Cancer Act, but others suffering from the disease fight an uphill battle just to get coverage for treatment. Our constituent has already worked with the state to mandate insurance companies to provide coverage for lymphedema treatment in North Carolina with the help of Representative Tricia Cotham, but her concern is the thousands of people across the country that fight on a daily basis to get their insurance companies to cover this badly-needed treatment. States which have mandated the coverage have proven that covering the treatment leads to lower medical expenses caused by complications of the disease. We must right that wrong, and make sure that people living with this disease are granted access to the treatments they need. We hope to introduce this important legislation to mandate coverage for lymphedema treatment in the coming weeks. The third piece of legislation came straight from a couple in Stanly County. This couple trains service dogs, and they wanted to voice their concerns about allowing service dogs in training access to the areas where normally only service dogs at work would be allowed. This would allow service dogs to receive the best training in the areas where they will actually be working. Service dogs provide invaluable help to those they serve, allowing individuals freedoms that their disability might not afford them otherwise. It is critical that these animals receive the best training in any and all areas they will go while working. I introduced H.R. 4378 which would amend the Americans with Disabilities Act to require that the access to transportation and public accommodations be afforded to trainers and handlers of service animals as is afforded under the ADA to individuals with disabilities who use such service animals. This gives the trainers and handlers the ability to better train and prepares service dogs for their future uses. These extraordinary folks saw a need and petitioned their government and I am doing all I can to make sure that their idea becomes law. Their causes aren’t just about what they need, but about helping thousands of others who are living with the same problem or facing the same challenges. I am making sure their voices and yours are heard in Washington. Congressman Larry Kissell (D-N.C. -8) offices include Rockingham: 230 East Franklin St., Rockingham, NC 28379, Phone: 997-2070; Concord number (704) 786-1612; Fayetteville number (910) 920-2070; Washington office: 512 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; phone (202) 225-3715. Web site, kissell.house.gov ImmunoGen cancer treatment receives 'orphan drug' status from US ... - Gaea Times - Monday, March 8, 2010 ImmunoGen cancer drug gets ‘orphan drug’ status WALTHAM, Mass. — ImmunoGen Inc. said Monday the Food and Drug Administration and European regulators gave the company’s potential cancer drug IMGN901 “orphan drug” status. Orphan drug status is given to drugs aimed at rare conditions or conditions that have a lack of treatments on the market. Incentives in the U.S. include seven years of market exclusivity following FDA approval, assistance in clinical trial design, a reduction in user fees, and tax credits. European incentives include similar benefits, with 10 years of market exclusivity. The special designation covers IMGN901’s use as a treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma, which is a rare type of aggressive cancer that develops beneath the skin. Shares of Immunogen rose 38 cents, or 5.2 percent, to $7.75 in after-hours trading after rising 27 cents, or 3.8 percent, to close at $7.37 during the regular trading session. `Sentinel' First Defence Against Breast Cancer - Bru Direct - Monday, March 8, 2010 - Zareena Amiruddin Bandar Seri Begawan - A less-drastic option than the traditional surgery undertaken in the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage breast cancer is now available, a guest speaker said at the recently-held Malaysian Healthcare Seminar at the International Convention Centre.Dr Harjit Kaur, a breast and endocrine consultant and surgeon front the Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC) in Kuala Lumpur, explained to The Brunei Times that PCMC was the first and is still the only hospital in Malaysia to perform sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. A lymph node is an organ of the immune system which traps cancer cells, bacteria or other harmful antigens. Groups of lymph nodes are found in the neck, armpits, chest, abdomen and groin. The SLN, Dr Kaur explained, is what doctors call the first lymph node to trap cancer cells that are spreading from the primary tumour. "Breast cancer surgery is not just the breast surgery, the most important part is the axillary (armpit) lymph node surgery," explained Dr Kaur. Axillary surgery is important in determining whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and for determining whether the cancer is stage one, two, three or four, she added. "Traditionally axillary surgery requires removing about two-thirds of lymph nodes in the armpit. That's quite a radical dissection in the armpit," she said. Dr Kaur said that doing this exposes patients to many complications, including stiff shoulders, pain, numbness, loss of efficiency of the arm and, most dreaded, lymphedema, the swelling caused by excess fluid buildup, which is experienced by 20 per cent of women who undergo the surgery. "When you are able to identify the first lymph node that 'drains the breast' (starts trapping cancer cells from the breast), you are able to determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. So the principle is: if the lymph node is cancer-free, one need not have the full axillary surgery," she said. "This spares a large number of women from undergoing unnecessary (surgery) and ending up with problems," she added. Dr Kaur said that most women who have undergone traditional axillary surgery have found the lymph nodes removed to be free of cancer. By delivering her presentation in Brunei, Dr Kaur said she hoped to give the public more options for their medical Cart Asked about cost, Dr Kaur said the simplest of surgeries to the most complicated could range from around RM12,000 (about $5,000) to RM20,000 (about $8,300).-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times MU Researchers Collaborate to Develop Standard of Care for Breast ... - Healthcanal.com - , Thursday, February 11, 2010, MU Researchers Collaborate to Develop Standard of Care for Breast Cancer Survivors with LymphedemaMU Researchers Collaborate to Develop Standard of Care for Breast Cancer Survivors with Lymphedema COLUMBIA, Mo. – Lymphedema, a chronic swelling condition that can appear after breast cancer surgery, is a risk for 1.3 million breast cancer survivors. Although lymphedema can cause lifelong swelling in the arms, back, neck and chest, there is no national standard of diagnosis or care. Now, University of Missouri researchers are leading the American Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP), a national, multi- disciplinary collaboration to develop comprehensive guidelines for the assessment, treatment, and management of lymphedema. “We can’t cure lymphedema today – we can only manage it,” said Jane Armer, MU nursing professor and director of the project at the MU Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. “Lymphedema is a complex, chronic condition. Currently, there are inconsistent approaches to care for lymphedema, and often the most common form of self-management is to not treat it at all.” The ALFP, established in 2008, has two main goals: establish a best practices document with evidence- based lymphedema treatment guidelines for health practitioners, and create a minimum data set of all available lymphedema research and clinical data. The ALFP researchers plan to publish the best practices document in 2011. “Part of why there isn’t a standard of care is the lack of reliance on current evidence by health practitioners and third party payers, which in turn causes problems with reimbursement from health insurance companies. Many people with lymphedema have to pay out-of-pocket for care,” Armer said. “There isn’t a clear, national consensus for how to diagnose lymphedema and when to start treating it. The ALFP collaborators aim to document a standard of care reflecting a consensus on best practices that will help solve these problems.” Researchers, including those at MU, have found that the most effective method of care for lymphedema is complete decongestive physiotherapy, in which therapists use specialized lymphatic massage techniques to reduce protein-rich fluid buildup. Bandages and compression garments also help to reduce swelling. One of Armer’s innovations at MU is measuring patients’ arms with a perometer, a machine that was first used to fit garments for swollen limbs. First implemented in a research setting at MU, the machine has a large optoelectric frame that glides over a patient’s arm, scans its image and records an estimated limb volume reading. Perometer measurement is as, or more, accurate than several previous methods to measure arm circumference and volume. The machine is now used in about 20 sites across the country. Highlights of MU Sinclair School of Nursing research from the past 10 years reveal that there is a 40 percent higher risk of developing lymphedema in women with a body mass index (BMI) classified as overweight or obese compared to normal-weight women. The researchers also found that younger patients may have less occurrence of the condition but tend to report more symptoms, which could be a result of psychological and aging-related factors. “In addition to our previous findings, we’re currently studying whether there are any genetic factors that increase the risk of lymphedema,” Armer said. “A pilot study now underway and a proposed multi-site research study will look at the possibility of genetic predisposition for secondary lymphedema. The results could be applied to cancer treatment in which surgery and radiation affect the lymphatic system.” In recognition of the leadership in lymphedema research at MU, the ALFP is housed at the MU Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. Armer’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is published in several journals, including the Journal of Lymphoedema; Lymphology; Lymphatic Research and Biology; and the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, and presented at conferences throughout the world. The activities of the ALFP have been funded by industry partnerships and grants from the American Cancer Society through The Longaberger Company, a direct-selling company offering home products, and the Longaberger Horizon of Hope Campaign, which provided a grant for breast cancer research and education Breast cancer survivor, advocate honored - Quad City Times - Wednesday, February 17, 2010, - Deirdre Cox Baker Shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy, Roxanne Kramer found herself shivering in a department store fitting room, a slew of brassiere boxes stacked at her feet. There was no place to sit, and the store’s personal fitter had the day off. Kramer was alone, scared and a little angry. “I had no idea how to proceed,” she said. “It was so, so hard to figure all this out by myself.” That was in 1980, when Kramer was 34 years old and the mother of four small children. Doctors had found a large tumor and excised one breast in an effort to prevent the cancer from spreading. At that time, there was no place in the Quad-Cities for breast cancer survivors to buy specially fitted bras or prosthetics. So, Kramer founded a breast cancer support group with and for women in similar circumstances. After a few years, she and a partner started the Always A Woman boutique in downtown Moline that caters to breast cancer survivors. Now 63, she will be celebrated for her vision and service with a new honor — the Roxanne Kramer Award — established in her name by the Trinity Health Foundation’s Stylin’ Against Breast Cancer planning committee. The creation of the award will be announced at a news conference today, and nominations are being taken by the foundation until March 12. “We have an icon right here in our community,” said Berlinda Tyler-Jamison, the president of the Trinity Health Foundation. “It just seems like the right thing to do.” Something to be talked about Kramer knew that breast cancer was not something openly discussed in polite society during the 1980s, but she scoffed at convention. “I didn’t care that it was a closet disease,” she said. She had no time to rest while mothering her four children, all of whom were younger than 10 years old at the time. Yet she found little solace for her personal pain. That’s when a friend called to talk about how she also had breast cancer and went to the same doctor as Kramer. The two chatted for hours. Then they learned of two other survivors and the group of four gathered for coffee. “We talked, shared concerns and laughed. Cancer jokes are funny to us, but not to people who haven’t had the disease,” she said. Some publicity followed, and the group quickly increased to 90 members. Today, the Quad-City Breast Cancer & Lymphedema Support Group is comprised of almost 2,000 area women. Kramer also is involved with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, Race for the Cure events and, most visibly, the annual fundraising fashion show called Stylin’ Against Breast Cancer. “Our community is very lucky to have all these events to promote cancer awareness,” she said. Loyal survivors A celebration at Kramer’s boutique gave Tyler-Jamison the idea for the Roxanne Kramer Award. “I went to the open house for the 25th anniversary of Always A Woman, and I was just stunned by the number of people who were there,” Tyler-Jamison said. “The women filled the shop and sidewalk, and they were all survivors. All had been helped by the shop, and all were there to honor Roxanne.” Kramer started small with her business. In 1984, it was part of a pharmacy. In 1989, she and JoAnn Wandry launched Always A Woman at the Moline location on 17th Street near 4th Avenue. Kramer bought out Wandry in 1995, but the two remain friends. Always A Women sells specialty bras and support lingerie, wigs, head wear, swimsuits and prostheses. Kramer’s own 1980 experience has not been forgotten: The boutique includes spacious and comfortable fitting rooms with tables and chairs. All employees are certified fitters, and their certification is renewed regularly. One of the store’s loyal customers is Pat Steffe of Colona, Ill. She lost both breasts to surgery as she battled cancer about 20 years ago. A nurse told her about Always A Woman, and Steffe found great support from the store’s employees. “It’s a place where they know what they are talking about, and about what you need. They also know how you feel,” she said. “You start out feeling like a deformed person, but then you find out how many women are just like you.” Tyler-Jamison admires Kramer’s energy and can-do attitude. “Roxanne Kramer is a force of nature,” she said. Kramer is humbled by the implications of the new award. The store and its focus are a lasting reflection of her life. “It is a very fulfilling career,” she said. “You help someone and then they hug you and thank you. That’s very therapeutic to me.” Steffe was not surprised to learn about the honor being bestowed. “Such an award for Roxanne Kramer is long overdue,” she said. Lakeshore update - Herald Times Reporter - Saturday, February 13, 2010 - Lakeshore update Leibham holding input sessions Herald Times Reporter - Manitowoc, Wis. Date: Feb 13, 2010 Start Page: A.2 Section: MAN Text Word Count: 464 Abstract (Document Summary) Holy Family Memorial's lymphedema therapy program has moved from the health network's Harbor Town Campus to its medical center, 2300 Western Ave. Becky Blanke, a certified lymphedema therapist will be available three days a week 'Race for the cure': Susan G. Komen walk a major breast cancer ... - North Fort Myers Neighbor - Saturday, February 13, 2010 - By MCKENZIE CASSIDY - ‘Race for the cure’: Susan G. Komen walk a major breast cancer fund raiser Each year Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure raises hundreds of thousands of dollars in local funding to support breast cancer initiatives in Southwest Florida. One of the largest cancer fund-raising events in the five counties, the race includes more than 8,000 runners and 700 breast cancer survivors who walk or run 5- kilometers or close to 3 miles. The 2010 event is scheduled for March 13 at Coconut Point in Estero and organizers are hoping to raise more than last year’s $914,000. “Unfortunately, the need in the community has risen and we have had more request than ever for financial support from our partners,” said Miriam Ross, executive director of Komen for the Cure in Southwest Florida. “I hope the community will come out and be supportive and help us raise the money necessary.” The organization has come along way since its inception in 2002 when they gave out $5,000 worth of grants in their first year. Now they are raising close to $1 million per event and funnel the proceeds to local organizations working with people who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Ross said that requests from agencies have steadily increased each year. Last year there were $1.8 million worth of grant requests and the organization gave out its largest amount ever, $963,000. The Susan G. Komen affiliate has contributed more than $3 million to the community and put $1 million to new research in the field. Susan G. Komen has affiliates across the nation also raising money to help both women and men. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women, according to the American Cancer Society, and although it is rare in men, cases do exist. The ACS estimates that 192,370 new cases of female breast cancer were diagnosed across the United States in 2009. In Florida that amounts to 11,850 new cases with an estimated 2,760 who likely will lose their battle. Leesa Crapa, 48, moved to Cape Coral two years ago from Memphis, Tenn. Last June she found a lump in her breast and even though she didn’t have health insurance, she contacted Lee County’s Partners for Breast Cancer Care. This organization pays for breast cancer screening and treatment for men or women who don’t have health insurance or are underinsured. “I found a lump and, not having any insurance, I went to Partners for Breast Cancer Care and they told me about Dara Leichter,” said Crapa. Besides paying for her healthcare needs, Partners for Breast Cancer Care connected Crapa with a breast health navigator named Dara Leichter. Working for Lee Memorial Health System’s Breast C.A.R.E. (Cancer Assistance Resource Expansion) Program, she assists patients with paperwork, and filing for assistance, as well as education, guidance and counseling. “She had all of the paperwork ready and when it came back as malignant, it was a matter of like 24 hours, and I was covered retroactively,” said Crapa. Leichter is the only navigator in Lee County, said Crapa, and is typically busy assisting patients across the county. Months later she helped Crapa through the challenging process of undergoing a mastectomy. Finding out she had breast cancer has brought Crapa’s life “to a halt.” She takes intravenous drips of treatment once every week and has seven weeks to go. Even after that round of medication she is unclear when she’ll be able to work again or return to the life she had before finding the lump. But, she is grateful to the local organizations for their help. “They saved my life,” she said. Partners for Breast Cancer Care and the Breast C.A.R.E. Program both receive funding from Susan G. Komen. Leichter’s organization received $209,350 in grant money last year while Partners for Breast Cancer Care was given $207,100. This year’s race features honorary chair James Denton, an actor who stars on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.” Southwest Florida Ford dealers are also offering a free 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid to the winner of “Think Pink, Drive Green” sweepstakes. Local residents can enter the drawing at one of the regional dealerships and the drawing will be at the race. Ford dealers are also donating $20 for every sweepstakes entrant, with a maximum of $20,000, to the Race for the Cure. For more information about the race or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, visit www.komenswfl.org. Yahoo! Alerts MU Researchers Collaborate to Develop Standard of Care for Breast Cancer Survivors with Lymphedema - Kansas City InfoZine Fri, 12 Feb 2010 - Lymphedema, a chronic swelling condition that can appear after breast cancer surgery, is a risk for 1.3 million breast cancer survivors. Columbia, MO - infoZine - Although lymphedema can cause lifelong swelling in the arms, back, neck and chest, there is no national standard of diagnosis or care. Now, University of Missouri researchers are leading the American Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP), a national, multi-disciplinary collaboration to develop comprehensive guidelines for the assessment, treatment, and management of lymphedema. “We can’t cure lymphedema today – we can only manage it,” said Jane Armer, MU nursing professor and director of the project at the MU Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. “Lymphedema is a complex, chronic condition. Currently, there are inconsistent approaches to care for lymphedema, and often the most common form of self-management is to not treat it at all.” The ALFP, established in 2008, has two main goals: establish a best practices document with evidence- based lymphedema treatment guidelines for health practitioners, and create a minimum data set of all available lymphedema research and clinical data. The ALFP researchers plan to publish the best practices document in 2011. “Part of why there isn’t a standard of care is the lack of reliance on current evidence by health practitioners and third party payers, which in turn causes problems with reimbursement from health insurance companies. Many people with lymphedema have to pay out-of-pocket for care,” Armer said. “There isn’t a clear, national consensus for how to diagnose lymphedema and when to start treating it. The ALFP collaborators aim to document a standard of care reflecting a consensus on best practices that will help solve these problems.” Researchers, including those at MU, have found that the most effective method of care for lymphedema is complete decongestive physiotherapy, in which therapists use specialized lymphatic massage techniques to reduce protein-rich fluid buildup. Bandages and compression garments also help to reduce swelling. One of Armer’s innovations at MU is measuring patients’ arms with a perometer, a machine that was first used to fit garments for swollen limbs. First implemented in a research setting at MU, the machine has a large optoelectric frame that glides over a patient’s arm, scans its image and records an estimated limb volume reading. Perometer measurement is as, or more, accurate than several previous methods to measure arm circumference and volume. The machine is now used in about 20 sites across the country. Highlights of MU Sinclair School of Nursing research from the past 10 years reveal that there is a 40 percent higher risk of developing lymphedema in women with a body mass index (BMI) classified as overweight or obese compared to normal-weight women. The researchers also found that younger patients may have less occurrence of the condition but tend to report more symptoms, which could be a result of psychological and aging-related factors. “In addition to our previous findings, we’re currently studying whether there are any genetic factors that increase the risk of lymphedema,” Armer said. “A pilot study now underway and a proposed multi-site research study will look at the possibility of genetic predisposition for secondary lymphedema. The results could be applied to cancer treatment in which surgery and radiation affect the lymphatic system.” SCC alum writes 'Plus- Sized' hit - Solano Tempest - Wednesday, February 10, 2010 -By Kris Jones - Voluptuous, curvaceous, stacked: When it comes to finding words to describe the full-figured woman, Kamane Malvo Marshall believes a rose by any other name smells just as sweet. For Marshall, however, the road to redemption and acceptance has not been the easiest to travel. In her new book, “Praise Be to the Plus-Sized Sister: Stories of Redemption for Full-Figured Women with Modern-Day Issues,” Marshall, the self-proclaimed president of the Plus-Sized Sister Movement, tells the story of seven full-figured African American women--her way. “I kept seeing these images about big black women on television that I didn’t agree with,” said Marshall. “Either we had to be the buffoon or were somebody evil.” For Marshall, who graduated from Solano Community College with an English degree and Cal State University Hayward with a degree in communications, writing was a passion. Over the years she had written short stories about full-figured African American women and the tribulations they faced with others and within themselves. She decided she would make a book out of the stories in one of the most unlikely of places, an Emergency Room hospital bed. In April 2008, Marshall received emergency care for stage two lymphedema, a condition in which the body retains extra fluid and causes swelling. Marshall had been undergoing treatment due to Grave’s disease, also known as hyperthyroidism. However, her lymphedema, caused by the treatment, had been misdiagnosed by her physicians. By the time doctors realized what was actually occurring, Marshall’s condition had caused congestive heart failure. “They kept wanting to say, ‘Oh, you’re fat,” said Marshall. As she laid on what had almost become her death bed, she had an out of body experience, and a conversation with God. “I said, ‘Lord God, there are so many things that I have yet to do.’ And I said, ’If you give me a second chance, I won’t run from you no more, I’ll get out them streets, and I’ll stop running from my destiny and from you.” For a full year Marshall began to pull from the characters of her previously written short stories and even added some of her own story to her book. Each character, though connected through friendship or family ties, was at a different stage in her life, and each took the journey of spiritual discovery and self healing. After completion of the book,Marshall decided to take the Plus-Sized Women Movement to the next step. She began motivational speaking and even a comedy routine for her alter-ego, Queenie TT. On stage she is both energetic and unapologetic about her true self, from the inside out. “I have so much to say and so much to give because I’ve suffered,” said Marshall. “But to suffer is to gain, and suffering makes you very creative.” Of all the lessons Marshall has learned and shared, she says the most important is self love, no matter one’s physical features. Marshall believes that learning how to accept ourselves teaches us to accept others. We might even learn from each other. “Barbie can teach me to eat a salad,” said Marshall. “But I can teach Barbie how to love herself even if she can’t fit into that size six!” Marshall’s book can be found at Barnes and Noble Bookstores or online at amazon.com and xlibris.com Marshall’s stand-up comedy routines can be seen at numerous venues around the Bay Area, as well as on youtube.com at http://www.youtube.com/user/kamanemarshall1 Integrated dance program for kids - The Suburban - Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - By Mike Cohen - A new program of integrated dance will be offered for free at the Westmount YMCA starting March 28. The program, a first in Montreal, is designed to promote social interaction between six to nine-year old children with physical special needs, and children who do not have special needs in the context of dance. On Sunday, March 21 (3 p.m.), Michelle Zitomer, a dance educator who initiated the pilot project, will give an information session at the Y (4585 Sherbrooke St. West) for parents. Michelle holds an undergraduate degree in dance education and a Quebec teaching permit for dance. She is currently a graduate student in the department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at McGill University, focusing on dance, and has been teaching ballet, contemporary dance, jazz and creative movement for a number of years. The integrated dance program is part of her thesis requirements. Integrated dance is a program in which students with a disability participate alongside typically developing peers. It is based on the idea that each member has an equal opportunity to participate and contribute to the group activities. The program will run every Sunday between 3 and 4 p.m. ending June 13. For further information, contact Michelle at 514-812-4184, or email michelle.zitomer@mail.mcgill.ca. TIGHT ‘N BRIGHT: The Lymphedema Association of Quebec (LAQ) has a “Tight n’ Bright” event planned for this Friday, March 12 (10 p.m.) at Club 3519 (3519 St. Laurent Blvd.). LAQ raises funds for those who suffer from Lymphedema, a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. Friday’s event will be “club” themed, with drinks, music a raffle and many prizes. Event chair Jamie Tajfel, whose mother’s battle with the disease motivated her to become involved with the LAQ, says that everyone is encouraged to come “in tight, bright, and wacky clothing.” Tickets are available in advance or at the door. Info: 514-582-2728 or alexandratoulch@gmail.com. LITERARY AWARDS: CBC/Radio-Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts and Air Canada’s enRoute magazine have announced that there are 80 English finalists for the CBC Literary Awards. They were chosen from more than 6,000 submissions in French and English from across the country, in the Creative Non-fiction, Poetry and Short Story categories. The winners will be unveiled on March 18 (11 a.m.) by host Shelagh Rogers on CBC Radio One (88.5 FM in Montreal). French-language victors will be announced later that same day. Have you got something for the Public Eye? Email mcohen@thesuburban.com or call 514-484-9203, ext. 307. Lymph Node Transplant after Breast Cancer - Ivanhoe Broadcast News - Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - CHARLESTON, S.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. One in eight will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime, and it will claim the lives of more than 40,000 this year alone. But for those who beat the disease, sometimes the battle isn't always over after treatment ends. After surviving breast cancer, Jane Dinnan thought her troubles were over. "You wanted to feel good about the fact that the cancer is gone, but I couldn't feel that way," Dinnan told Ivanhoe. As part of her treatment, doctors removed 17 lymph nodes from Dinnan's arm; tiny organs that help the immune system fight off infection. But without the lymph nodes, body fluid couldn't drain from the limb. "It felt like I had a lead weight on my arm all the time," Dinnan recalled. Her arm swelled to more than twice its normal size. "It just was miserable," Dinnan said. "I was miserable. I wanted, I mean the arm could go and I'd be happier." She spent almost all of her time wearing a compression sleeve or using a machine to try to push the lymph up her arm so it could get into her immune system. "The treatment of lymphedema for the most part in the United States is management or conservative management of lymphedema," Marga Massey, M.D., a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Roper St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, S.C., explained. After being told there was no other option, Dinnan found Dr. Massey, who's brought a new surgery to the U. S. Dr. Massey removed three lymph nodes from the inside wall of Dinnan's abdomen. "Blood vessels are harvested in order to keep the lymph nodes alive," Dr. Massey explained. She then transplanted them under Dinnan's arm, into the area missing lymph nodes. Dinnan spent just one night in the hospital and the swelling went down almost immediately. "I would say overwhelmingly the majority, somewhere even in the range of perhaps maybe 90 percent of patients, show relief from their symptoms," Dr. Massey said. It's given Dinnan a chance to celebrate life cancer-free. "I'm back to normal. I feel like my life is back," Dinnan said. "So I never felt the elation that I feel now that I've beat this." Dr. Massey says the condition lymphedema occurs in up to 30 percent of breast cancer patients who've had lymph nodes removed as part of their treatment. Dinnan had the lymph node transplant surgery at the same time she was having breast reconstruction surgery. |