While most of the 22,000 women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year respond to treatment, many of their cancers will return. A new therapy is helping keep that cancer away for good.

A new device is helping stop an embarrassing problem.

Watch a home video of a young breast cancer survivor's story. It's October 2005 in Florida, and Keri Haberstroh tells a short and sweet version of her journey, starting with diagnosis at age 25.

When Anya Silver was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, an uncommon and particularly aggressive type of cancer, doctors told her husband, Andrew, to terminate the pregnancy. Find out what happened to their son Noah.

Marisa Acocella Marchetto, the author of Cancer Vixen, checks in as the third free mammogram at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York is under way.   

Marisa Acocella Marchetto, aka Cancer Vixen, interviews Joomi Lim after Joomi had a mammogram at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center, during a free mammogram screening event sponsored by the Cancer Vixen Fund on July 11, 2008.

Joomi Lim, an artist and jewelry designer, had health insurance all her life until she recently lost coverage. A friend clued her in to the Cancer Vixen Fund free screening event that took place at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center on July 11, 2008. Joomi discusses why she came in for a free mammogram at St. Vincent's and shows off some of her bejeweled creations!!

Joomi Lim, an artist and jewelry designer, had health insurance all her life until she recently lost coverage. Luckily, a friend clued her in to the Cancer Vixen Fund free screening event that took place in New York on July 11, 2008. After having skipped breast screenings for over a year, Joomi discusses why she came in for a free mammogram at St. Vincent's -- and shows off some of her bejeweled creations!! 

Melvina Bardwell, the Supervisor of Radiology at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Breast Center in New York City, discusses the criteria for getting a free mammogram. Due to popular demand, the free screening event sponsored by the Cancer Vixen Fund on July 11, 2008 has been extended for another week.

Women who come to St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center are greeted by Roy, the Head of Security. He is the "first face" that people see, when they come to get a free mammogram as part of the Cancer Vixen Fund breast screening event in New York.

Been There, Done That, and Here to Help: PJ Hamel explains what it means to be an Expert Patient for HealthCentral.

Worried about breast cancer? Expert Patient PJ Hamel, a survivor, discusses symptoms of breast cancer that seem scary, but aren't worth panicking over. PJ also introduces resources to learn more about breast cancer symptoms.

The Cancer Vixen Fund and St. Vincent's are teaming up again to bring free mammogram screenings to the women of New York City on October 17, 2008. Mark your calendars and tell a friend! 

 

 

PJ Hamel, an Expert Patient and breast cancer survivor, extends a warm welcome to the MyBreastCancerNetwork.com community.

Ways to integrate conventional medicine with natural remedies to ease the debilitating side effects of cancer treatments.

Consumer tests can give people a look inside their DNA, but how useful are these tests in forecasting disease or extraordinary abilities?

Doctors agree earlier diagnosis can help patients fight cancer. A look at new ways to detect cancer before it spreads.

Whether its fighting cancer or making decisions about diet and drugs, there are many new sources that can help patients make better health care decisions.

Ways to integrate conventional medicine with natural remedies to ease the debilitating side effects of cancer treatments.

Dr. Dean Reports: Difficult to detect and treat, ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death among women. Research into early detection and patient specific treatments may help turn the tide against this silent killer.

Menopause Menstruation is a normal, natural shedding process of the uterine lining that occurs monthly in all healthy adult women after puberty. The parts of the body involved in the menstrual cycle include the brain, uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina. The ovaries are glands that produce certain hormones and contain tissue sacs in which eggs develop. In response to hormones from the brain an egg in one of the ovaries matures and travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized by a sperm, the thickened lining of the uterus consisting of blood-filled uterine tissue is shed. This cycle happens every month. Menopause is the natural cessation of this cycle when the ovaries stop making hormones called estrogen. This typically occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 60. Frequently menopause is characterized by hot flashes, sudden intense waves of heat and sweating. In the long term, some women experience problems linked to the low levels of estrogen found after menopause. These may include osteoporosis, increased risk for heart disease, mood changes and depression. Hormone Replacement Therapy - HRT is a treatment for these symptoms of menopause. As the name suggests, it 'puts back' some of the hormones that the ovaries have stopped producing. HRT can be administered in the form of pills, patches, gels, or implants and is individualized for each woman in consultation with her physician. 

A new, hormone-free treatment for women who suffer menopause symptoms is on the horizon.

Find out about a minimally invasive breast reconstruction procedure.

Learn about recent studies of a new device that uses electricity to detect cancer.

Learn about a new way to take a breast biopsy. It is less invasive than a surgical breast biopsy, leaves a small (or no) scar, and can be performed in less than an hour with local anesthetic.

Researchers are studying a new gel that could help detect breast cancer in younger women.

Learn about the lastest breast cancer screening methods.

There's integration happening between traditional cancer care and adjunct alternative therapies. Find out if new developments could help you.

A new drug is giving hope to women with breast cancer that's spread to other parts of their bodies.

Find out how benign breast tumors can be removed without resorting to invasive surgery.

These seeds are smaller than grains of rice but they're making a huge difference for some breast cancer patients.

These seeds are smaller than grains of rice but they're making a huge difference for some breast cancer patients.

Breast Self Exam Instruction: Breast Carcinoma or breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in middle-aged women. The breasts are specialized accessory glands of the skin consisting of ducts embedded in fatty tissue. Breast cancer can arise in the duct system anywhere from the nipple to the terminal lobule. Most often, the cancer is detected after it has spread to the other parts of the body. Periodic breast self exams are essential for early identification and treatment. The breast self-exam should be done regularly every month immediately following the menstrual cycle. Step 1- Visual Inspection Look for any changes in the skin over breast like redness, swelling or puckering and nipple changes like discharge, scaling or indentation. Step 2 - Tactile Inspection There are three ways to physically examine the breasts. The Circle method The Line method, and The wedge method The Circle Method: Move the three middle fingers in a circular fashion starting from the outer edge of the breast towards the nipple. The Line Method: Move the three middle fingers starting from underarm area down below the breast. Move slowly back upwards. Repeat this until the entire breast is felt. Wedge method: Move the three middle fingers beginning at the outer edge towards the nipple. Repeat the procedure for every wedge until the entire breast is felt. Regardless of the method, the objective is to feel the entire breast and observing any abnormal changes. The breast should be soft and smooth to the touch. Pay special attention to check the underarm and upper chest areas. Feel the entire breast Breast should be soft and smooth. Observe for abnormal changes. Check under arm and upper chest areas.

Meet Dr. Atul Gawande. He's a brilliant surgeon, professor and author who is not afraid to admit to his mistakes. Gawande's candor is changing the ways doctors think about improving the medical system.

During a public reading of his book Better, author Atul Gawande fielded questions from patients and doctors in the audience. In this clip, the father of a patient inquires how you go about identifying the best doctors or hospitals? When do you just "trust your gut?"

Dr. Atul Gawande discusses the difficulty of selecting a specialist doctor or surgeon, when outcomes data is sparse and reputation serves as a weak proxy for actual ability. He responds to the father of a patient, during a public reading of his book Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance.

Dr. Atul Gawande discusses the "art to being a patient," which ranges from knowing when to get angry to doing your Internet research homework to letting go and putting yourself "in the hands of those you know are fallible." The discussion is part of a public reading of his book Better.

Dr. Atul Gawande explains how, with imperfect and incomplete information, a patient can "draw the line" and make an informed decision about the right hospital and doctor. Gawande shares his thoughts during a public reading of his new book Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance.

Author Atul Gawande discusses why he is so open about his medical errors, as context for why he wrote his second book, Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance.

Author Atul Gawande discusses who benefits from doctors being open and frank about their medical errors, as context for why he wrote his second book Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance.

Author Atul Gawande discusses why he values the act of writing so highly, as context for why he wrote his second book, Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance.

Author Atul Gawande identifies critical ways that patients and families can take control of improving medical care. 

Breast Reduction Breast Reduction, or reduction mammoplasty, is the surgery to reduce the weight, mass and size of the breasts. There are several reasons for requiring this procedure. Backaches Neckaches Difficulty in breathing Numbness of any portion of the breasts and upper chest due to the excessive weight of the breasts Contraindications for surgery History of irregular mammograms Undiagnosed lumps or other types of masses Diabetes Wound healing and clotting disorders, Lactating (or have recently ceased) The surgery is usually performed with general anesthesia. While most patients stay overnight at the hospital, occasionally patients are able to go home the day of surgery Typically, incisions are around the nipple, from the nipple down to the chest wall, and side to side under the breasts The incisions are designed so the scars will not be visible while wearing normal clothing The surgeon removes excess breast tissue and skin then repositions the nipple and areola appropriately. The skin is then closed around the new breast mound A drain may be left in place at the time of surgery and removed several days later. Sutures are removed within the first two weeks following surgery. In some cases no external sutures are used. Potential complications of the surgery are: Postoperative bleeding Infection Obvious scars Failure of the nipple and areola to "take" or heal Irregularities in the final size and shape of the breasts or in the positioning of the areola and nipple. Decrease in sensation of the nipple. Permanent inability to breast-feed after having the surgery

Dr. Carrie Morrison, a breast radiologist, discusses a breast biopsy device that is less invasive and provides a better "intact" specimen than traditional biopsy methods.

    Breast cancer can spread locally through the Lymphatic system to the draining lymph nodes nearby and distally through blood to the brain, lung, bone and liver. Breast cancer can be diagnosed by self examination of the breast, mammography, and biopsy. Breast cancer can be treated by surgery, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or some combination of these treatments. 

New technology that creates 3D breast images may replace mammograms and better detect cancer in younger women. Not only can this scanner detect the smallest cancer tumors but it could detect even the threat of cancer.

If you have no family history, can you still get it? Does having smaller breasts raise your risk? What you don't know may surprise you when it comes to breast cancer.

Biopsies for breast cancer can be as painful as childbirth for some, but a new radioactive dye is helping surgeons find and remove the cancerous lymph nodes with less discomfort.

How exercise can help you cope with challenging menopausal symptoms.

Tips on how to prepare for your initial appointments with your surgeon and oncologist after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Tips on how to make losing your hair due to chemotherapy less traumatic.

Some tips for finding a bra that gives you the support you need after surgery.

A new surgery combines a tummy tuck with breast reconstruction to help cancer patients feel whole again.

A new individualized approach to treating breast cancer is increasing a woman's chance for a cure without a mastectomy.

They're only the size of a grain of rice, but these tiny seeds are helping doctors spot breast tumors.

Two new genetic tests are changing the way breast cancer is treated, and getting rid of the one-size-fits-all approach to medicine.

Each year, more than 200,000 women are forced to tackle breast cancer. But, once the fight is over, the task of rebuilding mind and body starts.

It may sound odd, but the same method used to bust drunk drivers is now employed to diagnose breast cancer in record time.

We typically think of vaccines as protecting us from measles, mumps and the flu, but now a new kind of vaccine is revving up immune systems and protecting people from cancer.

Tackling breast cancer is tough enough, but what about when chemo and radiation are done. Sometimes, the pain is still there. Here are some new ways to help ease the pain of cancer treatment.

Is it possible to reduce cancer pain by 30% without surgery or medication? Some say it is. Here's an alternative way to find some pain relief.

This firefighter is in the fight of her life. A new course of action is providing her with more personalized breast cancer care...using the drugs that are best for her and most lethal for her cancer.

Meet a two-time cancer survivor who's hoping to quash the disease by using...her dog? It's true, and it's as touching a story as we may ever be able to offer.

Recovering from breast cancer can be difficult and can take a long time. Looks like gardening gloves and digging in the dirt can help shorten that recovery time.

What if doctors could diagnose you with breast cancer before you reach the third grade? New research shows how survivors can help make this happen for their daughters and granddaughters.

Meet a two-time cancer survivor who's hoping to quash the disease by using her dog.

Your body your life, right? Maybe not. Twenty thousand genes have patents on them. That means no treatment, no tests, no cures can be found on these genes without paying a fee. What does this mean to you? What does this mean to your health?

Being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming. Now think how much more difficult it would be if your doctor spoke a different language. It's a problem scaring some Hispanics in the U.S. from getting the help they need. A national project is hoping to change that.

It's a one-two punch for cancer that plants itself inside a patient's head. Learn more about a new cancer fighting approach that saves time and could save lives.

A shot in the arm or a simple breath test could be the key to killing breast cancer for good. Doctors are working on ways to diagnose it and prevent it before a lump is found.

A new, non-invasive way to fight breast cancer can help women be cancer free quickly. The simple procedure could have patients in and out of the hospital in about an hour.

It's an unslightly side effect of breast cancer many survivors have to live with. Now, a new way to deliver cancer treatment is reducing the risk of lymphedema.

Believe it or not, there's an app that can help figure out if a tumor's cancerous in almost no time at all!