Discussing Breast Cancer

I read about this new wb 2.0 site called Ask500People … once on the site, you register, type up a question you want asked and then wait for the results — results that come in from random people around the world.

Today I asked … “Do you think we’ll find a cure for cancer within the next fifty years?” After fielding a few questions about what kind of cancer (I specified breast cancer but it at that) — the question was asked and the results were resounding!

73% of the people said yes! That’s hope in action. I love it. Most of the people participating were from the United States. But the question did draw worldwide participation.

I chose to use 50 years because I’m 40 now, so that timeframe would be ‘in my lifetime’ assuming I live to a ripe old 90 years of age (there’s that hope again). For some of you … well, let’s just say you have a whole lot more life ahead of you than I do, so that number might be limiting. Forgive me.

I have a marketing research background so I’m intrigued by this method. Maybe next time I’ll ask a more controversial question. Like the should we have the mandatory cervical cancer vaccine for young girls. But this time … well, everyone wants a breast cancer cure and I do believe people think we are close.

Anyway, that’s it. I just wanted to share the results. (Remember, this is not scientific folks, so please don’t take this as much more than fun and interesting.)

What do you think … honestly, do you think we’ll find a cure?

cancer, breast cancer, cure, cervical cancer, vaccine, health, wellness, research

Researchers have developed a new model to determine if you face an increased risk of breast cancer. They define “increased risk” as a 2 percent chance of developing breast cancer over the next five years. Taking Tamoxifen might reduce that risk for women who meet the criteria — so this assessment is worth considering.

Using data from the WHI study (Women’s Health Initiative), a 15-year research program involving 161,808 postmenopausal women and funded by the National Institutes of Health, the researchers found postmenopausal women were at an “increased risk” of developing breast cancer if they were:

• 55 years of age or older and had either had a breast biopsy at any time, regardless of findings, or had a first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) who had breast cancer diagnosed at any age.

The article, entitled “Predicting Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women by Hormone Receptor Status,” appears in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Here’s the reported story where I read it at Science Daily.

Once again, I feel like I’m in a quandary. I think it is important for women to consider their risk for this disease. But I HATE that studies focus on older women. Haven’t we heard enough stories of young women getting this disease to realize that we have to study the younger populations more? Didn’t the researchers read “Nordie’s at Noon”? Don’t they know that 55 is often too late to worry about risk, that women should consider their risk when they are much younger?

It’s that postmenopausal thing — they have the numbers to be included in research studies. But premenopausal women — there just isn’t great research there.

Anyway, if you are a postmenopausal woman who fits the criteria and is at increased risk, consult your doctor about the benefit of taking Tamoxifen. Weigh the risks against the benefits. If you are premenopausal … nudge your doctors to take any questions or concerns you have seriously and ask them to share with you what research they do have for women your age. Be your own advocate.

cancer, breast cancer, WHI, Tamoxifen, Nordies at Noon, Premenopausal, Postmenopausal

I just wanted to share with my readers here that an article I wrote for Fairfield Magazine (a regional glossy) now appears online at their website. It’s called, The Heroines of Breast Cancer. Here’s the link. Let me know what you think (better yet, email the editor, and let her know what you think!)

cancer, breast cancer, Fairfield CT, Fairfield Magazine

You might be thinking … what does Bon Jovi have to do with breast cancer? The answer is: EVERYTHING, if you are me.

I fell in love with Jon Bon Jovi in the eighties, when he was still an up and coming rock star. His hair, his clothes … I was all about him. The boys I fraternized with knew they were second to him (sad, but true). Somehow I managed to find ones to date that supported my habit. Yes, I’ve been blessed.

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OK, so last night I posted about the Gal to Gal walkers … and I keep smiling as I think about this virtual walk. Don’t you wish we could all just do what these gals are doing???

Anyway, I start poking around the Internet and I find out lots of celebrity hot shots have created virtual gals … like Martha Stewart, Lynn Redgrave, Jorja Fox and Marg Helgenberger (from CSI), Kristin Chenoweth, Angie Harmon, Molly Sims, Mena Suvari, Diane Farr, Leisha Hailey, Marg Helgenberger, Jaslene Gonzales, Jorja Fox, Christina Cabot and Diedre Goodwin.

The gals are in Vegas baby … oh, I wish I was with ‘em!

Did you catch this lady on Oprah?

Kris Carr … she’s amazing. In 2003 Kris was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer — but her view of life and the way she lives is AMAZING.

Her documentary film called, ‘Crazy Sexy Cancer,’ airs again tonight on TLC at 8:00 and 11:00 (I assume EST). This’ll be the last time you can catch it before it’s out on DVD next year. I’ll be watching; I’ll write about it, too, in case you miss it. And before too much longer goes by I’ll be reviewing her book by the same name here as well. So far … I’m lovin’ it.

cancer, breast cancer, kris carr, crazy sexy cancer

In a few hours (1:00 EST) I’ll be hosting another airing of Inspire! the internet talk radio show sponsored by Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine.

Today’s guest is a survivor named Connie Pombo. Connie is an author, speaker, mentor and an entrepreneur from what I’ve seen. She will share how she came to be diagnosed with breast cancer and let me tell you, it’s a great story to share during breast cancer awareness month. She’ll also share how she came to write and live out her ‘passionate’ to do list.

Join me today by clicking here … and if you miss the show, you can always listen to it later today at your leisure!

It’s official. I’m walking in this year’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event in Westport, CT. The walk takes place at Sherwood Island State Park on Sunday, October 14th.

I almost didn’t walk … you can read about my decision on my event homepage. In a nutshell, it is because I thought maybe I needed a break, I thought maybe I could spare myself the emotions that accompany such events and spare my family the hype and bustle of life in the world of cancer awareness and fundraising events.

But then I realized this is my life, this is part of who I am and what I do and I need to walk.

So, check out my site, and while you’re there … consider making a donation to the ACS.

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Yes, it’s true. Breast Cancer Wellness magazine’s Internet Radio Show Inspire! was in need of a new co-host and I’ve been recruited for the job.

Starting this Wednesday, October 11th, you can tune in at 12:00 CST and listen to the show that focuses on a holistic approach to healing from breast cancer.

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You know how last week I shared with you that I was pictured/quoted in the October 2007 issue of Shape magazine?

Well, today I’ll share that I was quoted in the Fall/Winter 2007 issue of Beyond Breast Cancer magazine. The piece is called ‘dancing with fear’ and it addresses the fear of recurrence.

Before you get all ‘yeehawww’ on me, it’s not all great because they messed up, big time. The piece is loaded with inaccuracies. Here’s a scanned excerpt (yes, print is small, it’s not your aging eyes!):

First of all, I have three children, not two. The jokes about my boobs, I have made those jokes, but only after the dreaded surgeries of 2006 — in particular, the TRAM flap, not trans flap. Amazingly, a fact checker ran the piece by me in June after the writer submitted it to the magazine; I corrected her then, on each of these points, but that didn’t make a darn bit of difference — they ran it uncorrected!

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Did you know that National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) started in 1985?

Did you know that the entire point of NBCAM is to increase awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer?

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October … 31 days of pink products, pink services and pink possibilities!

Quite frankly, I’m excited. There’s so much to share during Breast Cancer Awareness month it’s been hard to decide where to start.

Just to get you ready and in the mood to think pink, check out this site that explains all about National Breast Cancer Awareness month — and look through their online catalog if you’re in the mood to shop.

See you tomorrow!

When I sifted through my email inbox this morning, I found one from Ford. Someone created a special Warriors in Pink patch on their Virtual Quilt in my honor. I followed the link and searched for Karen Lynch and there it was …

THAT is why I do what I do. Thank you, my anonymous virtual quilter! I love it.

I’m passing on an excerpt from an MSNBC news story:

“The death rate from breast cancer continues to drop steadily–by approximately 2% annually, according to the American Cancer Society.”

Wait … don’t get all excited … read on … the decline is in part because women stopped taking hormone replacement therapy and fewer women got mammograms and therefore were not diagnosed.

ARRRGGHHHH!

Fewer women getting mammograms!!!!!

ARRRGGHHHH!!

Have you seen the October 2007 issue of SHAPE? It’s loaded with information about breast cancer. That’s Sheryl Crow on the cover (looking like the fantastic survivor she is). And, oh, wait … that’s me on page 226!

I was called several months ago; the writer, Ginny Graves, explained the premise of part of her article to me … real life advice from real life survivors. I was onboard in an instant. When I turned the pages of the magazine, I now see I’m in the company of Jaclyn Smith (yes, the actress herself) and Cathy Bueti (author of “Breastless in the City”).

How proud am I? This scan below is rough … but you get the drift of my advice, don’t ya?