Posts tagged with 'surgery'

Freezing breast cancer away

  • Posted on March 27, 2010 at 5:11 pm

Can freezing breast cancer cells replace surgery?  New research suggests this possibility.  Specifically, in a minimally invasive procedure, several needle-like “cryoprobes” are inserted into the tumor and super-cold gas is passed through them. The ice ball created by the gas kills off only the cancerous cells.  Thirteen women with breast cancer who received this “image-guided multi-probe cryotherapy” are still cancer-free up to five years later.

Lead researcher Dr Peter Littrup, of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, said: “This is the first reported study of successfully freezing breast cancer without having to undergo surgery afterward to prove that it was completely treated.”

Here’s the link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iyQLWE3x1X6IsKqepr5lMXtCls_w

I’m looking forward to the day when surgery is considered a primitive way to treat cancer. Here’s a toast to an ice-cold alternative that, upon further testing, might be in our medical future.

Happy Spring!

Jan

Cancer Patients Seek Honesty, Informality in Doctors

  • Posted on November 13, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Cancer patients want straight talk from their doctors, according to a written survey recently reported  in WebMD Health News (http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20091104/cancer-patients-want-honesty-from-doctors?ecd=wnl_brc_111009).  The survey reflected responses from over 500 survivors of breast, lung or prostate cancer.

A large majority of patients (95%) appreciated honesty in their doctor regarding their odds of survival and how long they might live.  Prostate cancer survivors were more likely than lung cancer patients to want their doctors to be upfront about survival chances: 97% vs. 91%.

In addition, the survey revealed that patients welcome informality in their doctors. Almost 75% preferred to be addressed only by their first name, and even more were fine with their doctor not wearing a white coat.  Most wouldn’t mind a hug after two months of radiotherapy, and a third of women cancer survivors indicated a desire to have their hands held by their oncologists during critical office visits.

Further survey findings reveal that most patients (84%) welcome a detailed explanation of their treatment plan, and an even higher percentage (95%)  said they want their physician to use laypersons’ terms when discussing the details.

As to spiritual matters, 40% of survey respondents indicated they would like to share their own beliefs with their doctor. The results indicated that patients don’t appreciate doctors imposing their own spiritual views, but would like doctors to affirm the individual patient’s own belief system.

I consider these findings refreshing. Patients long for an informal, straight-forward and detailed conversation with their oncologists, similar to what we had before doctors stopped making house calls. Anything the doctors can do to incorporate these findings into their practice would be very beneficial for cancer survivors struggling to understand their prognosis and treatment options. The personal touch is in.

Newly diagnosed with breast cancer?

  • Posted on October 17, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Wonder where I have been during October, Breast-Cancer Awareness Month?  Busy with book signings, Reach to Recovery training for the American Cancer Society, and my new job as church secretary.  But I am still very much engaged in the cause.

Here’s some interesting information for those who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer or know someone who is:

1. For aid in decision-making about breast-cancer treatment, visit  www.mytreatmentdecision.com.

2. An interesting study about surgical decisions was published recently in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (www.cancerconsultants.com/surgical-decision-making-early-stage-breast-cancer).  Regardless of race or ethnicity, more women with early-stage breast cancer who were active in their own decision-making chose mastectomy than those who made a “shared or surgeon-based decision,” even though mastectomies and lumpectomies have been shown to be equivalent.  Women concerned about recurrence or the effects of radiation were more likely to opt for mastectomy than those who did not share those concerns. In contrast, women concerned about body image or their spouse’s opinion were more likely to undergo a lumpectomy than those who did not voice those concerns.

This finding rang true for me:  when I first had breast cancer at 43, I was concerned about body image and chose lumpectomy.  But when at 53 I was diagnosed with a recurrence in the same breast, body image went out the window, and I chose a bilateral mastectomy.  After my second bout with cancer I wished I had chosen a mastectomy the first time to avoid the recurrence and radiation effects.  God had His reasons, however (one of them being to tell my story), and I’m good with that.

Happy October!

Jan

Late-Stage Breast Cancer Patients Benefit from Breast Surgery

  • Posted on September 29, 2009 at 6:58 pm

The main treatment for most breast cancers is surgery to remove either the affected part of the breast (lumpectomy) or the entire breast (mastectomy).  If the cancer has spread, however, surgery is generally only offered if the breast tumor causes pain or other symptoms.

A new study reported in WebMD Health News challenges this thinking about women diagnosed late with breast cancer.  A recent review of pertinent medical records reveals that patients whose cancer had already metastasized to other parts of the body lived about a year and a half longer if their breast tumor was surgically removed.  Women should ask their doctors about these new research findings, which, if confirmed, may lead to major changes in treatment of this population of patients.  For further information see:  http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20090922/surgery-improves-late-stage-breast-cancer?ecd=wnl_brc_092909

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