Happy Thanksgiving from Susan

  Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! I love this holiday! Always filled with family, good stories, good food and very good times. I...

Thursday, March 29, 2018

How one cancer survivor found her calling through helping style cancer patients

How one cancer survivor found her calling through helping style cancer patients

In the Detroit suburb of Pleasant Ridge, Michigan, next to a diner and across from a park, lies Susan’s Special Needs. Inside you’ll find a wide array of products for women going through cancer or radiation, including wigs in the hundreds, scarves, hats, skincare, swimsuits, mastectomy bras, compression bras and breast forms. An emporium of sorts, the other thing Susan’s offers is a safe space for anyone who feels lost amidst a diagnosis or recovery.
For the store’s founder Susan Thomas, a former oncology nurse and breast cancer survivor herself after a 1992 diagnosis, the store is her calling. She wanted to make sure that no one’s journey and fight through cancer would be like her own.
“My true issue was I wanted the journey to be different for those who followed me,” Thomas said in an interview. “My journey through cancer was very stiff, because there weren’t products and services. There was no one to talk to. The purpose of the store is trying to change the journey because it’s the right thing to do.”
Susan Thomas and her husband, Dave
Susan Thomas and her husband, Dave Courtesy of Susan Thomas
Despite specializing in cancer as a nurse, when she was faced with her own diagnosis, she felt lost. “Not for one moment did I ever ask my patients how they felt about their hair loss, their mastectomy or where they got their products,” she said.
That’s how the idea for Susan’s came to her. She wanted to create a place that offered not only necessary products, but information, expertise and compassion to cancer patients and survivors. She wanted to, in her words, “take care of the people the way I’d want to be taken care of.”
Susan’s Special Needs
Susan’s Special Needs Courtesy of Susan’s Special Needs
In a retail era that hasn’t exactly been kind to physical stores, with retailers like Sears and Macy’s shutting doors across the country, Susan’s — which opened its doors in 2000 — is one of those rare exceptions that has offered services that can only be experienced in-person — for more than 15 years now.
“In retail today, there are plenty of stores that would welcome somebody with a Visa card who needed a wig,” Thomas said. “But from my perspective, the success is going to be only as good as they make it. It’s up to me to set the tone.”
The front of Susan’s Special Needs
The front of Susan’s Special Needs Courtesy of Susan’s Special Needs
Susan’s not only sells wigs, but has someone there to cut the customer’s hair, give a scalp massage and fit them repeatedly until it’s just right. She not only sells mastectomy bras, but has three private fitting rooms where stylists can help find the right bra, breast form or scarf to match the customer’s personality. With a staff of stylists and cosmetologists, someone is always there to give you their full attention.
Her longtime customers can attest.
“I know when I needed my first compression bra, I was sent to the hospital and it was like, ‘O.K., this kind of fits you, it’ll be fine,’” Lynn Cooper, who’s been a Susan’s customer for more than a decade now after breast and lung cancer diagnoses, said in an interview. “It’s a box, you know? They’re salespeople. They don’t know what you’re going through. They just want you to buy the product and get out of their way. At Susan’s it’s an experience.”
One of the fitting rooms in Susan’s Special Needs
One of the fitting rooms in Susan’s Special Needs Susan’s Special Needs
What immediately adds to this sense of comfort upon walking into the store is that it looks nothing like a store that sells wigs and medical supplies. It is styled like a Parisian boutique, with murals of the French countryside painted along the walls.
“We didn’t want it to look medical,” Thomas said. “We did not want it to be obvious that you’re walking past medical supplies. We wanted it to be comforting and warm and inviting. We have a fireplace with an electric fire where husbands can have a sip of coffee while their wives get fitted.”
Susan’s Special Needs
Susan’s Special Needs Courtesy of Susan’s Special Needs
The private rooms, styled to look like salons with plush upholstered seats and tiled wall decor, offer often necessary moments of privacy, as customer Jacqueline Kerr, a high school math teacher who first went to Susan’s in September after a breast cancer diagnosis, experienced herself.
“I had decided to get my hair shaved, and I was very self-conscious,” Kerr said in an interview. “I was able to be alone at that time, and they were very respectful. I was able to find a wig that would match the hair I had at the time, and do it privately.” Kerr goes now back every month to get her wig styled in the store.
What sets Thomas apart from many other people selling the same medical products is the understanding she has of the women — and men sometimes, too — who need her help when it comes to using style and fashion to feel like themselves again.
“I think going through treatment and losing your hair or losing your breast or having reconstruction, it changes you completely,” Thomas, who had to wear mastectomy bras herself in the ’90s, said. “Women see themselves in a certain way, and when that perception changes due to treatment, this store provides the opportunity to restore a healthy perspective of how you look. It gives you the confidence and courage to keep moving forward. I’m just so honored to help them.”
One of the fitting rooms in Susan’s Special Needs
One of the fitting rooms in Susan’s Special Needs Courtesy of Susan’s Special Needs
One of fitting rooms in Susan’s Special Needs
One of fitting rooms in Susan’s Special Needs Courtesy of Susan’s Special Needs
That level of compassion has created a community of people around Pleasant Ridge that see Thomas as their angel, including Cooper.
“There’s the empathy, the compassion — the kindness oozes out of her,” Cooper said. “The knowledge base that she has.... just by holding your hand or touching your arm, comfort goes through your body. If I had a question or just needed to sit, that’s where I went.”
In reality, Thomas often serves as a confidant to her customers, calmly guiding them step by step. Days ago, one woman called Thomas sobbing, and Thomas did what she considers her job.
“She wanted to come in for a wig,” Thomas said. “She worked part-time at Lowe’s. She had no money. Within the first 15 minutes, I had her calmed down because I reassured her that I could help her. I can’t duplicate that. I was able to say, ‘I don’t want you to worry. Whenever you can come in, we will take care of you.’”
If that woman does decide to come in, Thomas and her staff will be ready.

Thursday, March 22, 2018


You’re Not Alone: 6 Benefits of Joining a Breast Cancer Support Group

support group benefits
If you’ve received a breast cancer diagnosis, you may want to familiarize yourself with the many support groups available to you. While you may receive support from friends and family, it could also be helpful to connect with others who have gone through or are going through similar experiences with breast cancer.
These groups provide opportunities to share information, resources, hopes, and fears. Groups may meet in person, by telephone, or online.
Here are six ways a support group can help you as you begin to navigate life after a breast cancer diagnosis.

1. They provide camaraderie and fellowship

You may initially join a support group because you want to be around others who are going through the same thing. But you may find yourself connecting on a deeper level by sharing experiences and concerns without fear of judgment or misunderstanding.
Your fellow group members may be at different points in their recovery process, but simply hearing about their trials and triumphs can give you information on how to deal with your own ups and downs. Likewise, sharing your personal story may also help someone else.

2. They can reduce your isolation

Undergoing cancer treatment can create a wall between you and even the most caring and considerate friends and family. This may simply be because they find it difficult to understand the range and intensity of your emotions.
But bouts of depression and anxiety are difficult to fight alone. The therapeutic nature of a support group can help you stay on the path to recovery.

3. They improve your coping skills and help you adjust

If you’re overwhelmed and stressed out about your situation, seek advice from members who know exactly how that feels. Support groups are a great place to learn coping skills related to exercise, diet, and meditation that to can help you manage the stress of an illness.
Members often have valuable insight on concerns that may seem more mundane, like navigating the maze of doctor visits, hospital procedures, and insurance red tape. They can also share advice on treatment options and additional resources to find more information. These tips can ease the difficulty of adjusting to life after a breast cancer diagnosis.

4. They allow you to speak honestly

Some support group meetings may be organized as open forums that encourage discussion about how you’re feeling and how you’re managing your breast cancer on a day-to-day basis. The group dynamic helps you talk more openly about your emotions, so there’s no need to keep a stiff upper lip or pretend you’re not afraid or angry. Chances are everyone there has been in a similar place.

5. They improve your quality of life

Participating in a support group can improve your communication with your healthcare provider and family members. This can help you better manage your treatment protocol.
The social interaction can lift your spirits, improve your outlook, and give you something to look forward to, all of which can improve your emotional health and quality of life.

6. They’re a resource for advice and information

Whether it’s about treatment options, new medications, additional resources, or a great day spa where you can be pampered, a support group is an excellent place to find vital information to aid your recovery.
If you’re thinking about joining a group, here are some questions to consider to help you select one that meets your needs:
  • Do you want to learn about treatment options, receive encouragement, or discuss personal and family issues you may be having?
  • Would you prefer to interact with those dealing with any type of cancer, or metastatic breast cancer patients only?
  • Would you prefer to attend meetings in person or online? Would an online support group be more convenient for your schedule?
  • Do you want a meeting led by a professional or a survivor? Professionals are trained to lead groups and help members with information and resources. Survivors bring personal experience, but may lack the support group skill training necessary to handle difficult group situations.

How to find a support group

You can begin by going online and checking out the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. These websites provide extensive lists of support groups all across the country. Facebook also has a wide variety of breast cancer support groups. Take a moment to find the one that seems right for you.
Your doctor, hospital, or treatment provider may also be able to provide you with a list of support groups in your area.

The takeaway

It’s normal to feel scared, overwhelmed, and isolated after a breast cancer diagnosis. But there are ways you can overcome those emotions. Talking to others who know what you’re going through — because they’ve been there — can make all the difference.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Precision medicine for breast cancer


Overview

Precision medicine for breast cancer is an approach to diagnosis, treatment and prevention that takes into account the genes you're born with (your genetic makeup) and the genes or others markers present within the cancer cells. With this approach, your blood or tumor tissue is collected for analysis, often genetic. The information may help predict or diagnose disease and guide treatment decisions.
Cancer care is among the first medical specialties to apply precision medicine. Several kinds of genetic and nongenetic tests for breast cancer are available that can help personalize therapy. Some genetic tests are specific to inherited risk, which means they look at your genetic makeup to determine your personal risk of developing breast cancer or other types of cancer in your lifetime. Inherited risk accounts for about 10 percent of all breast cancer cases.
Other tests check for genetic changes or variants (sometimes called mutations) within the cancer cells that help determine which treatments you'll most likely benefit from or if you need any treatments at all. For example, cells from a breast tumor may be tested to determine whether they produce too much of a protein called HER2. Someone with HER2-positive breast cancer is likely to respond to the drugs that target that protein. Some genetic tests will reveal whether your body will turn on (activate) certain medications thus helping to determine which treatment may be best for you.
Eventually, with new advances in precision medicine (also called individualized or personalized medicine) many more precise choices will become available.

Why it's done

Image of Breast cancer consultation
Your doctor may talk with you about a clinical trial for a new breast cancer drug.
The goal of precision medicine for breast cancer is to tailor treatment to your particular genetic makeup and the genetic changes in the cancer cells.
Precision medicine for breast cancer may involve analyzing the genetic makeup of your cells or, if you have cancer, the makeup of your cancer cells. Tests might include:
  • Drug-gene testing. Your genes may influence the way your body processes medications, including those used to treat breast cancer. Your doctor may use information from a genetic test of your cells to determine which medications and dosages are most appropriate for you. The field of drug-gene interactions is called pharmacogenomics.
  • Advanced cancer. If your cancer progresses despite treatment, your doctor might recommend testing the genetic makeup of your cancer cells. This test, called tumor sequencing, is used to look for changes or alterations in the cancer so that your doctor can choose the best drug for your type of tumor.
  • Family history. Genetic testing for inherited gene mutations that increase your risk of breast cancer, such as the BRCA gene, is offered to people with a strong family history of the disease. Women who have these genes have an increased risk of developing breast cancer compared with the general population. This same test can also be used to determine if you would respond to a specific drug for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (Parp inhibitor). Other, newer genetic tests may be available, too, depending on a person's family cancer history.

Friday, March 9, 2018


Cancer-killing hydrogel stays in place until the job is done

MEDICAL
A scanning electron microscope image of the injectable cancer-fighting hydrogel, dubbed STINGel
A scanning electron microscope image of the injectable cancer-fighting hydrogel, dubbed STINGel(Credit: Hartgerink Research Group/Rice University)
VIEW GALLERY - 2 IMAGES
The cure for cancer might have been inside us all along – our own immune system. The trick is to give it a boost to find and destroy those rogue cells, and that's the focus of the field of immunotherapy. To that end, a new hydrogel has been developed that can be injected directly to the site of a tumor, where it stays to slowly release its payload of immunotherapy drugs for longer.
Put the two into a ring, and the immune system will win every round against cancer. To give itself a fighting chance, the Big C instead focuses its attention on stealth attacks, using a variety of tactics to evade detection by the immune system until it can grow strong enough to overwhelm the body.
Immunotherapy aims to swing the odds back into our favor, re-arming the immune system with new ways to detect and kill cancer cells. These techniques mainly involve extracting a sample of a patient's T cells, genetically engineering them to attack tumors, and returning them to the body. Others may be able to stimulate the system with a single injection, akin to a cancer vaccine.
Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are a type of drug sometimes used in immunotherapy treatments, usually administered through a simple injection. The problem is that the drugs end up being circulated throughout the body, which diminishes the concentration at the tumor site and results in them being flushed out of the body relatively quickly.
The new study, conducted by researchers at Rice University and the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth), set out to keep the drugs in the right spot for longer. Rather than being contained in a liquid solution, the CDNs are loaded onto self-assembling multidomain peptide (MDP) hydrogels. These start off in a liquid form for injection, but once inside the body they quickly turn semi-solid, before degrading slowly over time. In the process, they release their cancer-killing CDNs more gradually and precisely. The team calls their creation STINGel.
Three days after treatment, the live cells (green) gradually die off (red) as the timed-release dosage...
"The normal approach to CDN delivery is simple injection, but this leads to very rapid diffusion of the drug throughout the body and reduces its concentration at the site of the tumor to very low levels," says Jeffrey Hartgerink, lead researcher on the study. "Using the same amount of CDN, the STINGel approach allows the concentration of CDN near the tumor to remain much higher for long periods of time."
The researchers tested the STINGel's effectiveness in a series of lab tests, both in culture and in rodents. In the latter, the team divided rodents up into six groups of 10. One group received normal injections of CDN. Another was treated with control collagens on their own, while a third received those same collagens loaded with CDN. Another group received STINGel – containing CDN in an MDP hydrogel – while another received just the MDP without the CDN.
The team found that for the groups that were treated with liquid CDN and those treated with collagen and CDN, only one of 10 animals survived for 105 days. Among those treated with STINGel, on the other hand, six out of 10 survived that long. Better yet, even when the researchers implanted more cancer cells, this group managed to fight them off. This indicates that their immune systems had effectively learned to recognize cancer into the future – a promising start towards a potential "vaccine."
"The MDP hydrogel provides a unique environment for the release of CDN that other gels just can't match," says Hartgerink. "The CDN we used in this study is currently in clinical trials. We think that our STINGel approach has the potential to significantly broaden the scope of this powerful immunotherapy drug to a larger range of resistant cancers."
The research was published in the journal Biomaterials.
Source: Rice University

Thursday, March 8, 2018


Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment

Your doctor can tell you whether your particular chemotherapy treatment is likely to cause hair loss. This allows you to plan ahead for head coverings or treatments to reduce hair loss.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
You might not think about how important your hair is until you face losing it. And if you have cancer and are about to undergo chemotherapy, the chance of hair loss is very real. Both men and women report hair loss as one of the side effects they fear most after being diagnosed with cancer.
For many, hair loss is a symbol to the world that you have cancer. If you aren't comfortable sharing this information with others, you may fear this side effect more than other chemotherapy complications. Talking to your cancer care team about your concerns and preparing for the possibility of hair loss may help you cope with this difficult side effect of treatment.

Why does it occur?

Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also attack other rapidly growing cells in your body — including those in your hair roots.
Chemotherapy may cause hair loss all over your body — not just on your scalp. Sometimes your eyelash, eyebrow, armpit, pubic and other body hair also falls out. Some chemotherapy drugs are more likely than others to cause hair loss, and different doses can cause anything from a mere thinning to complete baldness.
Talk to your doctor or nurse about the medication you'll be taking. They can tell you what to expect.
Fortunately, most of the time hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary. You can expect to regrow your hair three to six months after your treatment ends, though your hair may temporarily be a different shade or texture.

What should you expect?

Hair usually begins falling out two to four weeks after you start treatment.
It could fall out very quickly in clumps or gradually. You'll likely notice accumulations of loose hair on your pillow, in your hairbrush or comb, or in your sink or shower drain. Your scalp may feel tender.
Your hair loss will continue throughout your treatment and up to a few weeks afterward. Whether your hair thins or you become completely bald will depend on your treatment.
People with cancer report hair loss as a distressing side effect of treatment. Each time you catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror, your changed appearance is a reminder of your illness and everything you've experienced since your diagnosis.

When will your hair grow back?

It may take several weeks after treatment for your hair to recover and begin growing again.
When your hair starts to grow back, it will probably be slightly different from the hair you lost. But the difference is usually temporary.
Your new hair might have a different texture or color. It might be curlier than it was before, or it could be gray until the cells that control the pigment in your hair begin functioning again.

Can hair loss be prevented?

No treatment exists that can guarantee your hair won't fall out during or after chemotherapy. Several treatments have been investigated as possible ways to prevent hair loss, but none has been absolutely effective, including:
  • Scalp cooling caps (scalp hypothermia). During your chemotherapy infusions, a closely fitted cap that's cooled by chilled liquid can be placed on your head to slow blood flow to your scalp. This way, chemotherapy drugs are less likely to have an effect on your hair.
    Studies of scalp cooling caps and other forms of scalp hypothermia have found they work somewhat in the majority of people who have tried them. However, the procedure also results in a very small risk of cancer recurring in your scalp, as this area doesn't receive the same dose of chemotherapy as the rest of your body. People undergoing scalp hypothermia report feeling uncomfortably cold and having headaches.
  • Minoxidil (Rogaine). Applying minoxidil — a drug approved for hair loss — to your scalp before and during chemotherapy isn't likely to prevent your hair loss, although some research shows it may speed up your hair regrowth. More research is needed to understand whether minoxidil is effective in regrowing hair after cancer treatment.

How to make the best of it

Your hair loss generally can't be prevented or controlled, but it can be managed. Take the following steps throughout your treatment to minimize the frustration and anxiety associated with hair loss.

Before treatment

  • Be gentle to your hair. Get in the habit of being kind to your hair. Don't bleach, color or perm your hair — this can weaken it. Air-dry your hair as much as possible and avoid heating devices such as curling irons and hot rollers. Strengthening your hair now might make it more likely to stay in your head a little longer during treatment.
  • Consider cutting your hair. Short hair tends to look fuller than long hair. So as your hair falls out, it won't be as noticeable if you have short hair. Also, if you have long hair, going short might help you make a better transition to total hair loss.
  • Plan for a head covering. Now is the time to start thinking about wigs, scarves or other head coverings. Whether you choose to wear a head covering to conceal your hair loss is up to you. But it's easier to plan for it now rather than later. Ask your doctor to write a prescription for a wig, the cost of which may be covered by your health insurance.

During treatment

  • Baby your remaining hair. Continue your gentle hair strategies throughout your chemotherapy treatment. Use a soft brush. Wash your hair only as often as necessary. Consider using a gentle shampoo.
  • Consider shaving your head. Some people report that their scalps feel itchy, sensitive and irritated during their treatments and while their hair is falling out. Shaving your head can reduce the irritation and save the embarrassment of shedding.
  • Protect your scalp. If your head is going to be exposed to the sun or to cold air, protect it with sunscreen or a head covering. Your scalp may be sensitive as you go through treatment, so extreme cold or sunshine can easily irritate it. Having no hair or having less hair can make you feel cold, so a head covering may make you more comfortable.

After treatment

  • Continue gentle hair care. Your new hair growth will be especially fragile and vulnerable to the damage caused by styling products and heating devices. Hold off on coloring or bleaching your new hair until it grows stronger. Processing could damage your new hair and irritate your sensitive scalp.
  • Be patient. It's likely that your hair will come back slowly and that it might not look normal right away. But growth takes time, and it also takes time to repair the damage caused by your cancer treatment.

Covering your head

Covering your head as your hair falls out is a purely personal decision. For many people, hair is associated with personal identity and health, so they choose to maintain that look by wearing a wig. Others choose hats and scarves. Still others choose not to cover their heads at all.
Ask your doctor or a hospital social worker about resources in your area to help you find the best head covering for you.
Look Good Feel Better is a free program that provides hair and beauty makeovers and tips to women with cancer. These classes are offered throughout the United States and in several other countries. Many classes are offered through local chapters of the American Cancer Society.
Look Good Feel Better also offers classes and a website for teens with cancer, as well as a website and a guide with information for men with cancer.

Radiation therapy also can cause hair loss

Radiation therapy also attacks quickly growing cells in your body, but unlike chemotherapy, it affects only the specific area where treatment is concentrated. If you have radiation to your head, you'll likely lose the hair on your head.
Your hair usually begins growing back after your treatments end. But whether it grows back to its original thickness and fullness depends on your treatment. Different types of radiation and different doses will have different effects on your hair. Higher doses of radiation can cause permanent hair loss. Talk to your doctor about what dose you'll be receiving so that you'll know what to expect.
Radiation therapy also affects your skin. The treatment area is likely to be red and may look sunburned or tanned. If your radiation treatment is to your head, it's a good idea to cover your head with a protective hat or scarf because your skin will be sensitive to cold and sunlight. Wigs and other hairpieces might irritate your scalp.