FitSugar

New Drug Fights Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Breast cancer is a horrible disease that claims the lives of many daughters, mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and sisters. Anyone can get breast cancer, and over 12.6% of women will be diagnosed with it at some point in their lives. That's why research that finds medicines and treatments to cure this dreadful epidemic are so vital.

I didn't know this, but breast cancer isn't just one disease, but a family of diseases. That means not all tumors are the same, so they respond to different treatments. A new study has found a drug that can cut the recurrence of one type of tumor by 41%.

The drug called paclitaxel, when used with chemotherapy, can target HER2-positive (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) tumors. Of course these findings need to be subjected to further research, but this news gives us great hope. We are learning that there isn't a "one size fits all" type of treatment for breast cancer. With more research, new treatments will be discovered to defeat all types of breast cancer.

Source

Health Headlines: Cancer, Brain Tumors, and Public Health

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:30:00 PST

For Black Women, Breast Cancer Strikes Younger - NPR
The discrepancy between death statistics for African-American women and white women diagnosed with breast cancer is startling. Black women are twice as likely to die of cancer as white women.

Mobile Phones "Have Not Increased Brain Cancers" - BBC
Danish researchers have concluded that cell phones do not increase brain cancer risk, since there has been no large rise in reported brain tumors since mobile phones became a mass market item. But researchers added that more research is needed.

Not Smoking But Still Dying - Science
The public health gains from the anti-smoking crusade of the past 15 years - a 20 percent decrease in smokers - may be eclipsed by the increase in obesity.

Have You Ever Kept a Health Problem Secret Like TLC's T-Boz

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:55 PST

Tionne Watkins is better known to most as T-Boz, and a member of the former girl group TLC. Watkins has been extremely open about the fact that she lives with sickle cell anemia, but I was shocked to hear that she secretly battled a deadly brain tumor that led to a risky surgery.

Watkins discovered the grapefruit-size tumor in 2006 and faced the frustrating challenge of trying to find a doctor who would operate on her. Most doctors refused because of the complications her sickle cell anemia posed, namely lung and heart failure. The tumor was not cancerous, but it was tied to the vestibular nerve which affects balance, facial movements, and hearing.

To learn more about her condition, keep reading.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Poker Face"

Diana Nguyen — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:46:57 PDT

This week on Grey's Anatomy, the doctors of Seattle Grace explore the delicate balance between keeping things to oneself for others' sake and just telling it like it is. While the fifth-year residents are encouraged to prep for the board exams, Meredith is forced to focus on a new specialty to keep her marriage intact. Callie falls into a new-mom rut, and the newfound friendship between Mark and Arizona isn't helping.

All in all, I enjoyed this week; it was a feel-good episode, featuring spousal support and female gumption. Ready to break it down? Just keep reading.

How Exercise Reduces Your Breast Cancer Risk

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:54:11 PDT

We've heard it before: exercise can reduce a woman's risk for developing breast cancer. But how much and what types of exercise are we talking about? Here is some information on the relationship between breast cancer prevention and working out.

Exercising Often May Make You Reach Menopause Sooner
What? You're not thinking about menopause? If you're in your 20s or early 30s, I don't blame you, but a recent study shows that premenopausal women reached menopause sooner when they exercised often - eight to 10 hours per week. I know reaching menopause earlier, dealing with the hot flashes and irregular periods, isn't exactly every young woman's dream, but it may help with cancer prevention. During menopause a woman stops ovulating, which decreases her exposure to tumor-promoting estrogen. This is why early menopause is linked to lower breast cancer risk - another reason to get moving!

Keep on reading to find out three more ways exercise helps reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

You Can Help Lancôme Raise Funds For St. Jude

Jaime Richards — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:05:08 PDT

Did you know that it takes $1.7 million dollars a day to operate St. Jude Children's Research Hospital? Even more astounding is the fact that no child is ever denied treatment regardless of his or her family's financial situation. Recently, Lancôme flew a group of online beauty editors (including myself) down to Memphis to visit St. Jude where we not only experienced a truly inspiring look behind the daily goings-on at the hospital, but interacted with the kids firsthand. What I found to be most touching, however, was the unbreakable spirit of the patients; children who are being treated for the unimaginable: pediatric cancer or other catastrophic illnesses. To see more, and learn how you can make an impact, just keep reading.

Buzz Lines: What's Your Favorite Quote From Kindergarten Cop?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 PDT

Even though he is a police officer posing as a teacher, Kindergarten Cop's Mr. Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger) provides some of the most memorable lines of any onscreen educator. Add to that the fact that Schwarzenegger has an accent that's just begging to be imitated, and you have the perfect combination for an addictively quotable film. Check out some lines I've found myself repeating throughout the years, and then chime in with your favorites in the comments section!

"Who is your daddy and what does he do?" - Mr. Kimble
"Boys have a penis, girls have a vagina." - Joseph
"It's not a tumor!" - Mr. Kimble

The Latest on Soy For the Ladies

Zelana Montminy — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:41:58 PDT

If all the mixed messages about soy products have you confused, you're not alone. Recent studies have certainly found mixed evidence on the benefits. I've been hearing mostly about soy's effect on heart disease and breast cancer, so here's the latest research on the topic.

Heart Disease
A recent comprehensive update of soy research by the American Heart Association's nutrition committee found that soy protein does not have as much of an effect on cholesterol as previously thought. The benefit for the heart is not due to a direct relationship to reduced cholesterol but rather because soy products are generally used as a substitute for unhealthy choices and also because they are low fat yet high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Breast Cancer
Soy products contain a wide range of compounds including isoflavones, which can act as antioxidants, but also function as phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are chemicals that plants make that are similar to human estrogen, and many of us have read that these phytoestrogens have been linked to breast cancer. In some cases these phytoestrogens may be able to mimic estrogen in the body or block the action of estrogen. Phytoestrogens acting as estrogen could possibly affect cell communication, prevent the formation of tumors, or change the way DNA is processed in cell multiplication.

For more on the relationship between soy and breast cancer, keep reading.

DrSugar: The 411 on Mammograms

DrSugar — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:26:33 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's explaining how mammograms work and why they're important.

This week on DrSugar, I'm going to discuss the hows, whys, and whens of mammograms. Inspired to research the topic given my positive family history of breast cancer in my grandmother, I wanted to share the information I found with FitSugar readers to help clear up any confusion you may all have on the matter.

The National Cancer Institute defines a mammogram as an X-ray picture of the breast. The actual procedure involves the breasts being compressed between two firm surfaces to spread out the breast tissue and then X-ray images are taken. There are two types of mammograms, screening and diagnostic. A screening mammogram is used to check for breast cancer in women with no signs or symptoms of the disease. Screening mammograms typically involve two X-ray pictures of each breast and can make it possible to detect tumors that cannot be felt. Diagnostic mammograms are obtained to check for breast cancer after a lump or other sign or symptom of disease has been found. These differ from the screening mammograms in that they take longer to perform because more X-rays are taken to obtain images of the breast from multiple different angles.

More information on mammograms after the break.

Seth Rogen Makes Cancer-Stricken Joseph Gordon-Levitt Laugh in the 50/50 Trailer

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:41:26 PDT

I still think of Seth Rogen as a raunchy comedy guy, but in Funny People he showed that he can pull off understated comedy as well. In 50/50, he's revisiting the subject of a friend with cancer, only this time, he's coming from a place of personal experience. Based on his friend Will Reiser's cancer diagnosis at the age of 27, the film is produced by Rogen and written by Reiser. Rogen also stars as Kyle, the best friend of Adam (the character based on Reiser), who is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. We see him go from a healthy young man who's shocked to find out he has a tumor to someone battling illness and its physical and mental repercussions. Adam has help in the form of his supportive and yes, funny, friend Kyle and a youthful therapist played by Anna Kendrick.

Despite the delicate theme, it looks like Rogen and co. have hit just the right balance; it seems funny but restrained, and objective about Adam's diagnosis while neither downplaying it nor manipulating the audience. I think Gordon-Levitt was the perfect casting choice for Adam, since the actor has the chops for a meaty role like this, and he's able to play straight man to Rogen's sense of humor. Watch the trailer for 50/50 when you