March 2009 Archives

Lymphedema a continuing challenge

  • Posted on March 23, 2009 at 9:16 am

A recent article on lymphedema and its associated challenges appears in an online health journal .  Note the ACS website link at the end of this article:  http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/625089/main.html?ic=6006

Cancer blogs become part of treatment

  • Posted on March 23, 2009 at 9:03 am

People are finding that blogging is helping people cope with their cancer illnesses.  When I was first diagnosed, phone calls, group emails, and snail mail were the main means to get the word out to friends and relatives.  I used private journaling as a therapeutic outlet.  For lymphedema I used a listserv (ACOR) as an online support group because finding a personal support group for this condition was difficult.  With the advent of online journaling, blogs, and social networks, the sky is the limit for informing others and obtaining needed social support.  The latest article on this phenomenon is at  http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/20/cancer_blogs_become_part_of_treatment/?page=1.   Blog on!  Jan.

Scientists may have identified an enzyme that helps cancer spread

  • Posted on March 17, 2009 at 8:54 am

March 8, 2009 – Cancer Cell journal news: Institute of Cancer Research scientists have found that an enzyme called LOX is crucial in promoting metastasis. Metastasis is the spreading of cancer from its original location, and is responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. They hope from this finding to develop drugs that block this enzyme’s action, keeping cancer from spreading. Welcome news, indeed! For full details, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7813072.stm.

The researchers studied breast cancer in mice, but are confident that their findings will apply to humans with other cancer types too.

Booksigning today at Barnes and Noble in Chico!!

  • Posted on March 14, 2009 at 8:49 am

Today, Saturday, March 14, 2009, from 1 pm to 3 pm PST, author Jan Hasak will be signing her books (Mourning Has Broken: Reflections on Surviving Cancer”) at Barnes and Noble in Chico, California. She will also have available materials and information from the American Cancer Society in conjunction with the upcoming Relay for Life events and their thrift shop.

New genomic test for breast cancer

  • Posted on March 2, 2009 at 10:01 am

It has just been announced that a new genetic test that analyzes a set of 50 genes to identify four types of breast cancer could lead to quicker, more immediate treatment for patients, according to U.S. researchers who developed the test.  This test could help identify better those women who don’t need chemotherapy.   The four types of tumors are luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched and basal-like. A genetic test called OncotypeDx, which is currently in wide use and discussed in my book, doesn’t identify all four tumor types, according to background information in the news release. See http://www.healthcentral.com/utils/newsweb/breast-cancer/news-284845-31.html?ic=6006 for more information.

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