Holly Alonzo is a 21-year-old wife and mother, diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), which is tumors on the spine and cranial nerves. The doctors remove her tumor, but after the surgery she woke up blind.
Now, the Neurofibromatosis is threatening her hearing. She has already lost the hearing in one ear due to the bilateral tumors on her hearing nerves and the tumor on her good ear is now growing and something has to be done soon.
She is hopping to get an auditory brain stem implant (ABI) which will provide her with some auditory stimulation so she won’t have to risk being completely blind AND deaf. Unfortunately, the procedures to get the implant are only done at select hospitals which do not accept her insurance (Medicaid). The estimated cost of the surgery is $60,000.
Pelf Nyok and Yvonne Foong have launched a One Dollar Campaign to help Holly raise the $60,000.
How can you help Holly?
1. Donate $1 to Holly.
2. Blog about Holly and spread the news as much as you can.
3. Place a “Help Holly” badge on your blog. You can find some badges on Holly’s blog.
Many thanks to all of you who will help Holly!
January 30th, 2008
Have you ever confronted with hair loss? If you do, you should know that hair loss can be caused by many reasons, like an illness or a major surgery, hormonal problems, certain infections, some medicines, child birth. Hair loss is so common that most of the time it is considered a normal variation and not a disease. While hair loss has few medical complications, there are some psychological effects associated with going bald, like to have a negative body image than those without hair loss.
There are many treatment options for hair loss, including grooming techniques, wigs and hairpieces, medications, and surgery. If you want to use a natural treatment, you can use Provillus: an all natural herbal hair loss re-growth product, very appreciated by customers who have used it. There are Provillus for men and Provillus for women, both of them containing an excellent blend of nourishing nutrients that blocks DHT (dihydrotestostrone) – a hormone recently identified to be the main cause of the hair loss.
If you want to find more about hair loss and Provillus, please visit the hair loss forums.
November 29th, 2007
For the Blogging for Boobs event, I want to bring in your attention some new researches on Breast Cancer. Because I’m not a medical specialist, I write a little quote and then I’ll give you the link to the full article. These are just a few articles that I’ve found out over the internet, but assuredly there are much more.
Sunlight exposure may decrease risk of advanced breast cancer
A research team has found that increased exposure to sunlight (which increases levels of vitamin D in the body) may decrease the risk of advanced breast cancer. The researchers found that women with high sun exposure had half the risk of developing advanced breast cancer, which is cancer that has spread beyond the breast, compared to women with low sun exposure. These findings were observed only for women with naturally light skin color. The study defined high sun exposure as having dark skin on the forehead, an area that is usually exposed to sunlight.
You can read the full article in Medical News Today – published: 20 Oct. 2007
Accuracy of breast cancer prognoses improved
One of the many unknowns facing women who are diagnosed with breast cancer is predicting the likelihood that the cancer will spread to other parts of the body — metastasize. Researchers from UC San Diego are looking to change that. UCSD bioengineering professor Trey Ideker is pioneering a more accurate approach for predicting the risk of breast cancer metastasis in individual patients.
Distant metastases are the main cause of death among breast cancer patients, but physicians have a hard time predicting if a patient’s breast cancer is likely to spread.
The researchers from UCSD and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology took advantage of new protein interaction databases and identified networks of genes from breast cancer patients — rather than individual genes — that can be used to predict whether a breast cancer tumor is likely to spread.
Their results offer new mechanistic insights into breast cancer metastasis and are more accurate and reproducible than two sets of individual marker genes currently used to help predict the likelihood that a patient’s breast cancer will spread.
“Over the years, large numbers of women have endured unnecessarily harsh treatments, such as aggressive chemotherapy, due to our inability to predict metastasis risks with high accuracy. One of our goals is to improve this situation,” said Trey Ideker, a bioengineering professor from the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering and the senior author of the new study.
You can read the full article in Science Daily – published: 17 Oct. 2007
Less invasive more accurate ’seed’ therapy for breast tumor removal
Physicians at UT Southwestern Medical Center are the first in Texas to use a new technique in which a small radioactive pellet, or “seed”, is implanted into a mass or suspicious lesion in the breast to pinpoint its exact location for surgical removal.
During the procedure, a radiologist uses a needle to insert a small radioactive seed, about the size of a grain of rice, into the mass. Once lodged, surgeons use a wand that detects radioactivity to locate the mass and find the best pathway for removal.
“The new technique is less invasive for the patient and allows us to be more precise when removing possible breast-cancer tumors,” said Dr. Roshni Rao, a surgical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer.
You can read the full article in Medical News Today – published: 15 Oct. 2007
Breast cancer radiation won’t hurt immune health
Neither of two commonly used radiation treatments for early-stage breast cancer has any negative effect on a patient’s immune system, concludes a Loyola University Health System pilot study.
“One of the first questions a woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer asks is, ‘What impact will radiation have on my body?’ This study helps allay some fears,” lead author Dr. Kevin Albuquerque, a radiation oncologist, said in a prepared statement.
The study did find that women who received five-day partial-breast radiation therapy (PBRT) had more energy and better quality of life than women who had whole-breast radiation therapy (WBRT).
The researchers noted that WBRT had been the standard of care for early-stage, small-tumor, node-negative breast cancer but, in the past five years, PBRT has become common in cancer centers across North America.
You can read the full article in MedicineNet – published: 12 Oct. 2007
A ‘Smart Bra’ to find breast cancer?
Could your bra one day detect breast cancer? One team of researchers in the United Kingdom says it is moving closer to a prototype for such an undergarment.
Called a “smart bra,” the device incorporates a series of microwave antennae to detect temperature changes in the breast that point to early stage breast cancer.
Professor Elias Siores, director of the Centre for Research and Innovation at the University of Bolton in the United Kingdom and inventor of the smart bra, says the device can detect cancer before the tumor can develop and spread into the surrounding areas.
The concept at play is known as thermography, the detection of subtle temperature changes within the breast. Spot elevations in temperature, Siores says, could denote an increase to blood flow to a developing tumor.
You can read the full article in ABC News – published: 12 Oct. 2007
Breast cancer can be caused by enhanced DNA-repair mechanism
Although defects in the “breast cancer gene,” BRCA1, have been known for years to increase the risk for breast cancer, exactly how it can lead to tumor growth has remained a mystery. In the October 15, 2007, issue of the journal Cancer Research, scientists from the University of Chicago and Kyoto University, Japan, suggest that a mechanism that normally repairs damaged DNA may function abnormally in BRCA1 carriers leading to one type of poor-prognosis breast cancer.
Their findings provide insight into how the normal BRCA1 gene suppresses the growth of tumors as well as the nature of the genetic instability that leads to cancer when BRCA1 is defective.
“If you take a normal, healthy cell and get rid of BRCA1, you end up with an unhealthy, slow-growing cell,” said Douglas Bishop, PhD, associate professor of radiation and cellular oncology at Chicago and principal investigator of the study. “That’s a bit of a paradox, because loss of BRCA1 also causes tumors and tumor formation is not normally associated with poor cell growth.”
Bishop and colleagues found that the slow growth caused by loss of BRCA1 could be compensated for by increasing the amount of the DNA repair protein RAD51.
You can read the full article in Medical News Today – published: 16 Oct. 2007
HER-2 status predicts success of chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment
Researchers have found they can potentially target chemotherapy for breast cancer to only those women most likely to benefit, sparing the majority of patients from unnecessary side effects.
The multicenter study, led by University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers, found women whose breast cancer expressed a protein called HER-2 were most likely to benefit from adding the drug Taxol to the chemotherapy regimen, while women whose tumors were fueled by estrogen but did not express HER-2 did not get any benefit from the added Taxol. About 15 percent to 20 percent of breast cancers express HER-2, and as many as three-quarters of breast cancers are so-called estrogen-receptor-positive.
“In general, chemotherapy for breast cancer has been a one-size-fits-all approach. Our decision to recommend it is based on whether a woman is at high risk of the breast cancer recurring, without any idea of whether she would benefit from the additional therapy. With this data we hope we will be able to focus chemotherapy on patients whom it’s most likely to help,” says lead study author Daniel Hayes, M.D., clinical director of the breast oncology program at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. Hayes was the lead investigator on the study, which was run by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B through the Breast Cancer Intergroup of North America.
You can read the full article in Medical News Today – published: 11 Oct. 2007
Weight loss may improve breast cancer-related Lymphedema
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, weight loss may significantly reduce breast cancer-related lymphedema in overweight women.
Lymphedema is the buildup of lymph fluid in the tissues just under the skin, resulting in swelling, tightness, and discomfort in the affected limb. Damage to or blockage of the lymph system is the cause of lymphedema, and in cancer patients, this damage is usually due to surgery or radiation therapy.
While there is no single treatment for lymphedema, steps can be taken to manage the symptoms, including compression of the area, a specific type of massage to increase lymph flow, and specialized exercises.
You can read the full article in Cancer Consultants – published: 19 Oct. 2007
Researchers find new gene linked to breast cancer
Researchers in a multicenter international study have identified a new gene that, if mutated, may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer by more than a third.
Further, the researchers found that the gene, HMMR, interacts with the well-known breast cancer gene BRCA1. Alternations in either gene cause genetic instability and interfere with cell division, which could be apath to breast cancer developing. This leads researchers to not just a single gene, but a pathway that may be a potential target for treating or detecting breast cancer.
You can read the full article in Cancer News – published: 8 Oct. 2007
I will wait for you tomorrow, on Blogging for Boobs day, to stop by and leave here a comment. Let’s show that we care!
October 27th, 2007
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). The cancer cells can spread (metastasize) to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. Many people think that only women get breast cancer. But about 1 in every 100 cases of breast cancer occurs in men. So any breast lump in an adult male should be checked. More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
What causes breast cancer?
Doctors do not know exactly what causes breast cancer. But some things are known to increase the chance that you will get it. These are called risk factors. The main risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Age. Most breast cancer occurs in women older than 50, and the risk is greatest in women older than 60
- Family history. If a woman’s blood-related relatives on either her mother or father’s side of the family have had breast cancer, then she is at increased risk for the disease. Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer can double a woman’s risk.
- Female hormones. Your risk is higher if you have used hormone replacement therapy for more than 4 years, started your period before age 12, or began menopause after age 55.1
- Genetic predisposition. Women who inherit certain genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 are more likely to have breast cancer.
- Menstrual periods. Women who begin menstruating at an early age (before age 12) and those who reach menopause after age 55 have an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Radiation exposure. If you received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or young adult, you’re more likely to develop breast cancer later in life. Your risk is greatest if you received radiation as an adolescent during breast development.
- Excess weight. The link between weight and breast cancer risk is controversial. Some studies suggest that overweight (obese) women who gained weight as adults are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, but women who have been overweight since childhood are not at any significantly higher risk.
- First pregnancy at older age. Women who have their first child after age 30 or who never have a child are at a slightly higher risk for developing breast cancer.
- Smoking. Smoking increases a woman’s chance of developing several types of cancer, including breast cancer.
- Excessive use of alcohol. Breast cancer risk increased between 40 and 70 percent with about two drinks daily
Many women who have risk factors do not get breast cancer. And many women who get breast cancer do not have any known risk factors.
Breast cancer symptoms
- The first symptom of breast cancer for many women is a lump in their breast. But 9 out of 10 breast lumps (90%) are benign. That means they are not cancers.
- A spontaneous clear or bloody discharge from your nipple, often associated with a breast lump
- Retraction or indentation of your nipple
- A change in the size or contours of your breast
- Any flattening or indentation of the skin over your breast
- Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
How is breast cancer diagnosted?
If a woman has any breast symptoms it is very important that she consult her doctor so that the cause of these symptoms can be found. If breast cancer is found at an early stage this improves the chances of recovery. As a rule, the doctor will ask her a number of questions.
- Does the lump vary in relation to her menstrual cycle?
- What previous breast problems has she had?
- Is there any breast cancer in her family?
- How many children has she had?
Physical examination
Your breasts will be thoroughly examined for any lumps or suspicious areas and to feel their texture, size, and relationship to the skin and chest muscles. Any changes in the nipples or the skin of your breasts will be noted. The lymph nodes under the armpit and above the collarbones may be palpated (felt), because enlargement or firmness of these lymph nodes might indicate spread of breast cancer. Your doctor will also probably do a complete physical exam to judge your general health and whether there is any evidence of cancer that may have spread.
If breast symptoms and/or the results of the physical exam suggest breast cancer might be present, more involved tests will likely be done. These might include imaging tests, looking at samples of nipple discharge, or doing biopsies of suspected areas.
Mammograms
If the patient is over 35 and has not had a breast X-ray within the past year, the doctor may arrange for one to be performed. Breast X-rays are known as mammograms. Mammograms are a good way of identifying abnormalities in the breast, but they don’t always tell whether they are benign or malignant. Further tests are sometimes necessary and these tests include ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).
Ultrasound scanning
X-rays do not pass easily through the breasts of young women. Ultrasound scanning, which is familiar to many women by its use to look at babies during pregnancy, can also be used in the breast to tell whether a lump is fluid or solid.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI can be used along with mammograms for screening women who have a high risk of developing breast cancer, or it can be used to better examine suspicious areas found by mammogram. MRI is also used for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to better determine the actual size of the cancer and to look for any other cancers in the breast.
MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed and then released in a pattern formed by the type of body tissue and by certain diseases. A computer translates the pattern into a very detailed image of parts of the body. A contrast material called gadolinium is often injected into a vein before the scan to better show up details.
Ductogram
This test, also called a galactogram, is sometimes helpful in determining the cause of nipple discharge. In this test a fine plastic tube is placed into the opening of the duct in the nipple. A small amount of contrast medium is injected, which outlines the shape of the duct on an x-ray image and shows if there is a mass inside the duct.
Biopsy
A biopsy is done when mammograms, other imaging tests, or the physical exam finds a breast change (or abnormality) that is possibly cancer. A biopsy is the only way to tell if cancer is really present. During a biopsy, the doctor removes a tissue sample to be looked at under a microscope.
There are several types of biopsies, such as fine needle aspiration biopsy, core (large needle) biopsy, and surgical biopsy. Each type of biopsy has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of which to use depends on your specific situation. Some of the factors your doctor will consider include how suspicious the lesion appears, how large it is, where in the breast it is located, how many lesions are present, other medical problems you may have, and your personal preferences. You might want to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different biopsy types with your doctor.
Needle tests (FNAC)
Inserting a needle into the lump will show whether it is full of fluid (a cyst) or solid. The needle can allow a sample of cells to be removed for examination under the microscope (a process called cytology) and this is a very accurate method of finding out whether the lump is benign or malignant.
If there is an abnormality on the mammogram, but no lump to feel, then using either the X-ray machine or the ultrasound machine, it is possible to guide the needle into the area of abnormality and to obtain enough cells or tissue to obtain a definite diagnosis. The very fine needles used for this procedure give rise to its name.
Treatment methods for breast cancer
The treatment of the disease depends on the tumour type and the stage of disease – how far it has spread to involve either lymph glands or other organs in the body. There are various ways a cancer can be staged and classified.
Local therapy: Surgery and radiation therapy are local treatments. They remove or destroy cancer in the breast. When breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body, local therapy may be used to control the disease in those specific areas.
Systemic therapy: Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy are systemic treatments. They enter the bloodstream and destroy or control cancer throughout the body. Some women with breast cancer have systemic therapy to shrink the tumor before surgery or radiation. Others have systemic therapy after surgery and/or radiation to prevent the cancer from coming back. Systemic treatments also are used for cancer that has spread.
How can breast cancer be prevented?
You cannot control some things that put you at risk for breast cancer, such as your sex and age. But you can change others. To stay as healthy as you can:
- Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Be active. Try to get 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week.
- Stay at a healthy weight. Getting regular exercise and watching what you eat can help.
- If you drink alcohol, limit the amount. After menopause, even having one drink a day or less may increase the risk for breast cancer.
Still, there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, so it is very important to have regular exams and mammograms. Discuss your risk factors with your doctor to find out how often you should have a mammogram.
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, ask your doctor about genetic testing. A blood test can check for changes in the BRCA genes that may increase your chance of getting breast cancer.
October 25th, 2007
