Saturday, March 12, 2011

Breast Cancer Survivor has plenty of attitude

Volunteering comes naturally for cancer survivor

Kim Schmidt, Kearney HubTHERESA BAACK of Kearney is probably best known for the red 2002 Chevrolet Suburban she drives because it has American Cancer Society and Relay For Life messages on the back window.

Posted: Saturday, March 12, 2011 6:00 am |Updated: 2:11 am, Sat Mar 12, 2011.

By KIM SCHMIDT Hub Staff Writer |0 comments

KEARNEY — In fighting cancer, attitude is everything. No one knows that better than Theresa Baack of Kearney, who has plenty of attitude.

“I have a huge attitude,” Baack said with a giggle.

A cancer survivor and volunteer for the American Cancer Society, Baack, 42, is the medical category winner in the Hub’s 2011 Freedom Awards.

Tara Knuth of Kearney was one of four people to nominate Baack, calling her the face of the American Cancer Society in Buffalo County and across the country.

“She has used her voice in Kearney to soothe a newly diagnosed patient or to secure another sponsorship donation; in Lincoln to advocate for the ban on smoking and changes in cancer screenings by insurance; in Dallas, Texas, to change policies on survivor development and train new volunteers in the fight; and in Washington, D.C., to make sure no one forgets that cancer affects everyone.”

A rarely speechless Baack said she was surprised by the honor.

“I’m really dumbfounded. It’s awesome,” Baack said. “It’s very humbling.”

Baack became involved with Relay For Life in 1998 when she joined a workplace team. Shortly after that, she became the Relay For Life chairperson.

“Once you go, you just can’t stop,” Baack said of the annual fundraiser for ACS.

The work with ACS has come naturally. Baack discovered 31 members of her family had died of different kinds of cancer. She’s active in several ACS aspects: the Reach for Recovery program, which provides support for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients; as a regional survivorship specialist; in the Cancer Action Network, which lobbies for ACS; and is on the task force to help with marketing and communication for Relays For Life throughout the state.

In 2009, she was named the Hero of Hope for the Nebraska region. The award recognizes survivors who have triumphed over cancer, made significant contributions to cancer control and had an effect in the lives of others. She’s also active with Good Samaritan Hospital’s breast cancer support group.

“She doesn’t just walk, she runs, jumps and would do cartwheels if she could. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her dedication is unmatched,” said Ethel White of Kearney, another person who nominated Baack.

Baack says it’s the bond with fellow cancer survivors and other volunteers that makes her efforts worthwhile.

“It’s like another whole family,” she said.

In 2003, Baack’s sister Kathy Lewis of Kearney, died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A year later, Baack was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Lewis died three days after Baack completed her radiation treatment .

In 2005, Baack was re-diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite treatment and eventual bilateral mastectomy Baack continued to be active with her ACS volunteer duties. She now is in remission.

“Talking to other breast cancer patients and telling them they can survive has helped me with my own recovery. Attitude is everything,” Baack said. “If I can help in anyway possible and be someone to talk to, I will. You just have to ask.”

Baack is possibly best known for the red 2002 Chevrolet Suburban she drives. It has ACS and Relay For Life messages on the back window.

“I am pretty much a walking billboard. A lot of people honk at me,” Baack said .

The youngest of 11 children born to Doris and the late John Keough of Kearney, Baack credits her older siblings for a good share of her attitude. She also credits her parents and her faith in God.

“Mamma always says it’s not going my way, it’s going God’s way. He’s got the plan, I don’t,” she said.

Baack would eventually like to be a ACS division-level Relay For Life trainer who teaches people in how to put on annual events. For now, she plans to live her life much like a friend from Lincoln who died earlier this month of breast cancer.

“Dying is easy. Living is hard,” Baack said.

e-mail to:

kim.schmidt@kearneyhub.com

http://www.kearneyhub.com/news/local/article_04129528-4c80-11e0-9e6f-001cc4c03286.html

Friday, March 11, 2011

Considerations for Elective Mastectomy

Elective mastectomy—what I wish my doctor had told me.

The diagnosis of breast cancer brings with it an avalanche of decisions, and one of the most difficult is whether or not to remove the unaffected breast. Our hope is that getting rid of the breast will protect us from recurrence, and with advancements in reconstruction, we can look forward to perky, cancer-free breasts. Good as new.

Right?

Not really.

No one cautioned me about the impact of nipple amputation on my sex life. No one even mentioned sexual function in any way. I know, it should be obvious that no nipple equals no pleasure. But such obvious things are exactly the kinds of things that don't occur to us when we are scared to death of dying.

When men have prostate cancer the top question they ask is, you guessed it, "Will I retain sexual function?" And a huge percentage of men opt for the less invasive, more risky, treatment in order to preserve quality of life. Why is sexual function not considered an important issue when choosing breast cancer treatment, particularly elective mastectomy?

It never occurred to me, and no one warned me. In all of my research I have never found a woman who was told about the cost of nipple amputation. Some women say, "I wouldn't miss it. I haven't felt my nipples since I breast fed." Others say, "It would be a devastating loss." The point is informed consent-- hear the pros and cons, and make the choice you can live with.

Of the dozens of women with whom I have spoken since my surgery, only one said that someone brought up this issue with her prior to surgery. That is unconscionable, so I make sure to explore the subject with women who contact me. I want to be part of the solution, not just complain about the problem.

I wish someone had done so for me.

http://ht.ly/4cccd

Thursday, March 10, 2011

12 Million Cancer Survivors

Almost 12 Million Cancer Survivors Living in U.S., Report Shows

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Trend largely driven by an aging population, CDC researchers say

THURSDAY, March 10 (HealthDay News) -- The number of cancer survivors in the United States climbed to 11.7 million in 2007, government health officials reported Thursday.

That's a dramatic increase since 1971, when there were 3 million survivors, and also since 2001, when there were 9.8 million survivors, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI).

"The percentage of people surviving cancer in the U.S. continues to grow," said report co-author Arica White, a CDC epidemic intelligence service officer. "Life is not over when you get cancer."

"Many people are living a long time after diagnosis, and this is especially true for cancers that we have the ability to detect early," White added.

Of the 11.7 million people living with cancer in 2007, 7 million were 65 or older, according to the report published in the March 11 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"These numbers are really driven by the aging population, which is at a higher risk for cancer," White said. The number of cancer survivors is expected to grow as the aging population grows, she explained.

Most of the survivors (54 percent) are women, with survivors of breast cancer making up the largest group, at 22 percent.

After that comes men who have survived prostate cancer (19 percent), and then people who have survived colon cancer (10 percent), according to the report.

Many survivors, 4.7 million, were first diagnosed 10 or more years ago, the researchers added.

In addition to the aging population, the increase in the number of survivors is due to earlier diagnosis and better diagnostic methods, better treatment and more follow-up care after treatment, the researchers said.

Bart Frazzitta of New York City, who has survived advanced esophageal cancer for more than a decade, attributed his survival to the chemotherapy, surgery and radiation he underwent. "It's most of all being lucky," he said.

In addition, after treatment he modified his lifestyle by stopping drinking and other unhealthy habits.

"Having cancer has changed my life to the better," Frazzitta said. "It's helped me to appreciate life. To stop and smell the roses."

"There is now a growing number of people who have faced a cancer diagnosis which affects them and their loved ones from the time of diagnosis through the rest of their lives," Julia H. Rowland, director of NCI's Office of Cancer Survivorship, said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, for many cancer survivors and those around them, the effect of cancer does not end with the last treatment. Research has allowed us to scratch the surface of understanding the unique risks, issues and concerns of this population. This report underscores the need for continued research, as well as for the development and implementation of best practices to provide optimal care and support for all cancer survivors," she added.

Dr. Peter Kozuch, a medical oncologist at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, noted that more people are surviving cancer because more people are living longer. "This is, unfortunately, one of the unintended rewards of living to a ripe old age, the increased chance of cancer," he said.

"Lastly, more effective therapies -- be it surgery, radiation or chemotherapy -- allow people to be cured of cancer or live with cancer longer," he added.

Kozuch noted that screening for breast cancer and colon cancer has resulted in earlier diagnosis and treatment, which leads to better survival.

However, there are some cancers that remain hard to detect early and treat effectively, Kozuch said.

For example, "when it comes to pancreatic cancer and brain cancer, not only are we at the earliest stages of determining at-risk individuals, but we are still very much on the ground floor when it comes to methods of early detection and methods of intervention," he said.

The best way to prevent cancer is with a lifestyle that includes a prudent diet, no smoking and being physically active, Kozuch said.

More information

For more on cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.

SOURCES: Arica White, Ph.D., M.P.H., Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Peter Kozuch, M.D., medical oncologist, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City; Bart Frazzitta, cancer survivor, New York City; March 11, 2011, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

http://www.cancercompass.com/cancer-news/article/36083.htm?utm_source=twitter.com/cancer_buzz&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=cancer&utm_content=cancer

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

New Online Resource for Colon Cancer Patients

SOURCE: Genomic Health, Inc.

Mar 09, 2011 08:00 ET

Fight Colorectal Cancer and Genomic Health Launch Unique Online Resource for Colon Cancer Patients

My Colon Cancer Coach Is the First Patient-Focused Interactive, Online Tool for Newly Diagnosed Colon Cancer Patients

REDWOOD CITY, CA--(Marketwire - March 9, 2011) - Genomic Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: GHDX), in partnership with Fight Colorectal Cancer, today introduced My Colon Cancer Coach, a unique online tool that provides patients with a personalized report of their specific type of colon cancer. Coach empowers patients with individualized information based on a number of key clinical questions to engage in a more knowledgeable dialogue and an active role with their healthcare team.

Coach launched today at Fight Colorectal Cancer's Call-on Congress event in Washington, D.C., and is available on Fight Colorectal Cancer's website and at www.mycoloncancercoach.org. TheCoach tool is narrated by Richard M. Goldberg, MD, Distinguished Professor of Gastrointestinal Cancer Research and Associate Director for Clinical Research at the University of North Carolina's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, who is on the Medical Advisory Board of Fight Colorectal Cancer and is a volunteer with the organization. Coach walks patients through a simple questionnaire with audio guidance to help them better understand key colon cancer terms and important information about their diagnosis. Based on information provided by the patient, Coach creates a customized report for patients to share with their doctor as they discuss treatment options.

"The first few weeks following a colon cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming for a patient, especially when there is so much information to sift through," said Carlea Bauman, President of Fight Colorectal Cancer. "Fight Colorectal Cancer was pleased to help create My Colon Cancer Coach because it helps patients get important information that addresses their specific diagnosis."

My Colon Cancer Coach includes a host of important resources, including information on tumor testing and treatment options, which are designed to address the questions and concerns of newly diagnosed patients. The goal of the resource is to encourage patients to have educated conversations with their doctors, ultimately leading to more personalized, tailored treatment.

"Genomic Health is committed to helping physicians and patients enhance the quality of treatment decisions through the individualized genomic analysis of a patient's tumor tissue," said Kim Popovits, President and CEO of Genomic Health. "My Colon Cancer Coach was designed to help patients better understand their diagnosis and treatment options with the goal of facilitating more meaningful discussions with their doctors."

My Colon Cancer Coach joins My Breast Cancer Coach, an online patient resource for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients offered by Breastcancer.org and Genomic Health. Both tools help patients with cancer learn more about their diagnosis and provide them with information so they can take an active role in making decisions about their treatment.

About Genomic Health, Inc.

Genomic Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: GHDX) is a molecular diagnostics company focused on the global development and commercialization of genomic-based clinical laboratory services that analyze the underlying biology of cancer allowing physicians and patients to make individualized treatment decisions. Its lead product, the Oncotype DX® breast cancer test, has been shown to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in early-stage breast cancer. In addition to this widely adopted test, Genomic Health provides the Oncotype DX colon cancer test, the first multigene expression test developed for the assessment of risk of recurrence in patients with stage II disease. As of December 31, 2010, more than 10,000 physicians in over 60 countries had ordered more than 190,000 Oncotype DX tests. Genomic Health has a robust pipeline focused on developing tests to optimize the treatment of prostate and renal cell cancers, as well as additional stages of breast and colon cancers. The company is based in Redwood City, California with European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, please visit www.genomichealth.com.

About Fight Colorectal Cancer

Fight Colorectal Cancer demands a cure for colon and rectal cancer. We educate and support patients, push for changes in policy that will increase and improve research, and empower survivors to raise their voices against the status quo.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the company's expectations of the value and utility to physicians, patients and payors of its colon cancer test, the company's expectations as to the clinical utility of its colon cancer test for patients with stage II colon cancer, the belief that our prior development and commercialization strategy can be applied to a test for colon cancer, the reproducibility of initial study results, the timing and success of the company's plans to launch a test for mismatch repair status, the applicability of clinical study results to actual outcomes, our beliefs regarding the prerequisites necessary to develop a test for colon cancer, and our expectations regarding future growth of the company's business. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risks and uncertainties associated with the regulation of the company's tests; the impact of competition, the results of clinical studies; the applicability of clinical study results to actual outcomes; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Genomic Health disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

NOTE: The Genomic Health logo, Oncotype, Oncotype DX and Recurrence Score are trademarks or registered trademarks of Genomic Health, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Fight-Colorectal-Cancer-Genomic-Health-Launch-Unique-Online-Resource-Colon-Cancer-Patients-NASDAQ-GHDX-1408403.htm

Dr. Susan Love and Avon. A Perfect Combination!

ONE MILLION STRONG STARTS WITH ONE—YOU

The Love/Avon Army of Women, an initiative of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, thanks to a generous grant from the Avon Foundation for Women offers a revolutionary new opportunity for YOU to partner with research scientists to move breast cancer beyond a cure.

What is involved?

Register TODAY and provide us with very basic information such as your name, email, age, city, and state of residence.
You will receive email updates from us announcing new research studies looking for volunteers with or without breast cancer, just like you. There are many different types of studies. Some might require you to complete a questionnaire, while others might need a sample of blood, urine, saliva, breast fluid, or breast tissue. Some studies might be clinical trials testing a new detection marker or drug. You decide which studies you want to take part in. The email will detail the research project and who and what the researchers need.
If you fit the criteria and you’d like to participate, all you need to do is “RSVP” and let us know you’ve accepted our “Call to Action.” You will be asked to go through an online screening process to confirm you fit the criteria for the study.
Once we confirm your eligibility for the specific study, your information will be given to the researcher conducting the study and you will be contacted by the researcher for a secondary screening to make sure you meet the study criteria and answer any questions you might have about study participation.
You are in complete control and you self select what you want to do! You will never be pressured to take part in any study. The decision to take part is yours—and yours alone.

Breast cancer has been around for decades, but it does not have to be our future. We can be the generation that eliminates breast cancer by identifying what causes this disease and stopping it before it starts. Sign up for your sister, mother, daughter, granddaughter, best friend, and the woman you met last week.

Have more questions? Visit our FAQ

Ready to sign up Today?http://ht.ly/2N8Xh

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Omega 3: Significant fish oil breast cancer benefits

Omega 3 Fish Oil Benefits for Breast Cancer

New research confirms that there are significant fish oil breast cancer benefits. So you can add fish oil supplements for breast cancer prevention to the many other fish oil benefits for women.

And the benefits of fish oil for reducing breast cancer risk are so easy for women to achieve. That is, if you're getting the omega 3 benefits from pure high quality fish oil supplements.

Why is pure fish oil so different from other omega 3 sources? Quality omega 3 fish oil is the richest and best source of EPA, DHA and DPA – the three omega 3 fatty acids proven in scientific research study after study to produce the amazing omega 3 benefits.

Studies on Omega 3 Fish Oil Benefits for Health

Getting plenty of quality omega 3 from fish and fish oil supplements has long been known to be healthy for your heart. It helps lower cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure naturally.

And the DHA in fish oil is a natural anti-inflammatory that stops cellular transformation and kills off cancer cells too. Over the years studies have shown that women who eat a diet high in omega 3 fatty acids are happier, healthier and have up to 50% lower risk of breast cancer.

Some of these earlier studies have also shown that a diet high in omega 3 fatty acids, from fish such as salmon, tuna, herring and sardines, has strong anti-cancer benefits, providing significant protection against colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer.

But this new recent study was based on fish oil supplements exclusively, showing that women who take fish oil capsules on a regular basis have at least 32% less risk of breast cancer.

This is the first study verifying that fish oil supplements reduce breast cancer risk. The scientists believe the protection comes from the anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil supplements.

Research and Fish Oil Breast Cancer Benefits

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that, out of a variety of supplements, fish oil was the only one that significantly reduced breast cancer risk.

The results were published in a recent issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, the well-respected journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Quality fish oil supplements, from salmon and other omega 3 fatty fish, contain high levels of EPA, DHA and DPA fatty acids, providing many amazing health benefits for women. Fish oil has also been found to relieve menstrual cramps, improve fertility, support healthy pregnancy, minimize menopause problems, protect against osteoporosis and reduce risk of heart disease.

The researchers at the Cancer Research Center studied more than 35,000 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 76. None of them had a history of breast cancer.

Over a period of six years, breast cancer developed in 880 women. But those who took fish oil supplements had a significantly reduced risk of being one of the 880 breast cancer patients.

That's 880 good reasons to eat more omega 3 rich fish and take quality fish oil supplements.

http://www.bellaonline.org/articles/art170913.asp

Monday, March 7, 2011

Survivor support under the age of 40

Matthew Zachary: Pediatric Brain Cancer Survivor

Matthew Zachary is the founder of the I’m Too Young For This Foundation, the only advocacy group working exclusively on behalf of cancer survivors and caregivers under the age of 40.

MATTHEW ZACHARY, Founder i[2]y.org: Pediatrics has its own universe, adult cancer has its own universe, but it’s that middle group, that 15-39 population that’s really been largely ignored and that was me.

NARRATOR: Meet Matthew Zachary, founder of the I’m Too Young For This Foundation – the only advocacy group working exclusively on behalf of cancer survivors and their caregivers all under the age of 40. Zachary himself, a 12-year pediatric brain cancer survivor, has organized a nationwide following and given a voice to a rising movement.

MATTHEW ZACHARY: I was the guy who was desperate to find somebody who was my age. Where are all the young people at? I was the guy who needed advocacy in my fertility. I was the guy that was really having a hard time dating again and was having a really hard time accepting my physical changes and I have financial impacts from that stuff, even employment was a problem. So a lot of those sort of lifestyle issues still have not been resolved for that population.

NARRATOR: I’m Too Young For This began simply as a webpage listing Matthew Zachary’s favorite organizations for the under-40 crowd. Within weeks, it was written up in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsday.

MATTHEW ZACHARY: Because our website is so accessible and navigable, lots of hospitals started to refer to us and like the social workers or the oncology nurses, patient navigators, child life specialists, even some oncologists just started saying, “We want your stuff in our hospital.” Since April, we’re at 230-something cancer centers in nine countries who have our stuff, give it out to their young patients. And then literally four months after we launched, we were ranked a Time Magazine, Best 50 Websites of 2007.

NARRATOR: In addition to launching I’m Too Young For This, Matthew hosts a popular weekly web radio program, The Stupid Cancer Show – the first nationally syndicated webcast for young adults affected by cancer. But it’s music that was Matthew’s first passion; a trained concert pianist, he has recently releasedScribblings, an original CD of his own compositions.

MATTHEW ZACHARY: In the wake of my survivorship, like by not dying what I did was I wrote music, that’s all I had at that point. And music was such a powerful tool for me to express myself and just get it out, get it out of my system and figure out a way to make sense of the madness in a weird way. And as I started doing more concerts and speaking engagements, I came across scores of other young musicians who were cancer survivors that also chose to write music as a result of their experiences. And I just saw so much potency, so much energy, passion, and power and creative force that I decided to just bring everyone together under one umbrella called The Artist’s Survivorship Coalition and I had a goal to just someday make a benefit CD of just original songs by all these artists who are young, affected by cancer and tonight is the, sort of the fruition of that.

NARRATOR: A benefit concert featuring some of the artists took place recently at The Derby, in Los Angeles.

MATTHEW ZACHARY: It’s all about art and creativity, expressing yourself and connecting – that you’re part of something, you know. You didn’t go through stupid cancer for nothing and we’re here, this is who we are, this is what it means to be a survivor and damn it, we are too young for this.

NARRATOR: One of Matthew’s focuses now is in trying to improve survivor rates in the young.

MATTHEW ZACHARY: A report came out from the National Cancer Institute, that people between the ages of 15-39 have been ignored by the Cancer Continuum Research and Advocacy for 30 years now. And the scary part of that report is that survivor rates for young adults remain unchanged over the past 30 years. If I got the same cancer tomorrow that I had 12 years ago, my prognosis is identical and that’s scary as crap and that’s not right.

I would say we’ll understand cancer in the same way we understand HIV and the same way we understand diabetes, but they were all death sentences at one point and today I hearken them to life sentences, where it’s about being vigilant, being a self-advocate, knowing your doctor. I didn’t die; I might get it again, but I’m vigilant about it and I’m trying to make the most of the time I have and just to live. So that’s the message – how to understand cancer is to just live.

NARRATOR: For more information on the I’m Too Young For This Foundation, The Stupid Cancer Show, or any of Matthew Zachary’s current projects, please check out ImTooYoungForThis.org.

http://news.cancerconnect.com/matthew-zachary-pediatric-brain-cancer-survivor/