Cinco Vidas

“I have very dense breasts,” says internet responder, Arl1947. “My doctor sent me for a mammogram after he detected a mass in my right breast. The mammogram was followed by an ultrasound because they couldn’t see anything on the film.”

“I don’t understand why they make women who have dense breast tissue go through so many hoops and emotions to find out that they are okay,” says fellow responder MesaMom. “It’s so time consuming, expensive, and emotionally draining.”

It’s something most of us haven’t heard much about, at least compared to other risk factors like smoking, drinking, and weight gain. But according to recent studies, having “dense breasts” may be an independent risk factor for breast cancer. Researchers from Toronto, Canada, for example, found that women who developed breast cancer had, on average, a baseline mammographic density that was 5.8 percentage points greater than the women who had not developed cancer. Then they compared women who had extensive breast density (density in more than 75% of their breast) with women who had only a small amount (less than 10%). Women with the most dense breasts had 4.7 times the odds of being diagnosed with breast cancer less than 12 months after a negative screening test. (more…)

She called you with the news. She may have been crying. Your girlfriend—that dear person you’ve shared so much with—has cancer. You desperately want to help, but what do you do?

Sometimes we can feel terribly helpless when it comes to friends with cancer. When I had cancer at 16 years old, most of my friends had no idea what to do or say. It’s almost easier when it’s a family member, as we feel we have “permission” to do anything we can think of to help. It’s different with a friend. How can we be sure what she will see as helpful, and what she will feel as intrusive? (more…)

If you’re going through breast cancer—or have survived it—you’re no stranger to stress. But stress takes on a new meaning when it’s paired with cancer. We know that stress attacks the immune system, which scares us into thinking that we may be making our health situation worse with all the worry and anxiety.

I have one question for you: Have you tried meditation? A recent study shows that you should. Researchers at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago studied over 100 breast-cancer patients for over two years and found that those who regularly practiced transcendental meditation experienced less stress, better emotional and mental well being, and an overall improvement in quality of life. (more…)

We mentioned in an earlier post the study that found parabens in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer. However, the FDA maintains parabens are safe. Do we need to worry?

Parabens are popular preservatives used in a wide range of cosmetic products, like shampoos, lotions, shave gels, soaps, makeups, and more. The Journal of the American College of Toxicology reported parabens are currently used in over 13,000 hygiene products. They help deter bacteria from forming, which means the product lasts longer on your shelves. You’ll find them listed on the ingredient deck as methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, and propylparaben. (more…)

Heidi Floyd, breast-cancer survivor, and her son, Noah.

Breast cancer was in her family. Her mother had passed away when she was only in her 40s. So she knew she was at risk—but she never expected to be diagnosed while she was pregnant.

Her name is Heidi Floyd, and today she serves as Breast Cancer Development Ambassador for the Very Bradley Foundation, traveling the nation raising money for breast cancer research. But when she was diagnosed, she was working in IT sales, and didn’t know where to turn. “The first oncologist I spoke to didn’t know how to treat a pregnant patient,” she says. “He told me my options were to terminate the pregnancy, or carry the baby to term while not addressing the cancer.” (more…)

News released at the end of November rocked the world of breast-cancer health—a government task force has recommended a more conservative approach to mammograms.

Many are questioning the change. “I think it is unfortunate that they came to this conclusion,” said Dr. Angela Sie, director of imaging at the Breast Cancer at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. “It would be a huge step backwards for women’s health in this country.”

The new guidelines basically say that most women age 40-49 are at higher risk for false positives and complications from biopsies and other invasive procedures, and therefore shouldn’t undergo routine mammograms until they turn 50. In the past, women were told to have annual mammograms after turning 40 years old. (more…)

Breast-cancer treatment is challenging enough on it’s own, but what if you have cosmetic breast implants?

According to Charlene Laino of WebMD News, breast augmentation is the most common cosmetic procedure in the U.S. However, little research has focused on how implants may affect treatment.

As you may know, breast-cancer treatment usually involves one of two types of surgery: either a mastectomy, where the entire breast is removed, or a lumpectomy, where only the tumor is removed, radiation applied, and the rest of the breast reconstructed. For women with implants, a mastectomy typically involves an implant exchange, whereas a lumpectomy may or may not leave the implant intact. (more…)

Breast cancer continues to be the leading form of cancer in women (aside from non-malanoma skin cancer). More and more, scientists are telling us that good lifestyle choices carry the most weight when trying to reduce our risk. Most of us know that a healthy diet and exercise are two of the major players in keeping us healthy, but a recent survey in Britain showed that actually, many adults still aren’t aware of common risk factors.

“The survey showed that about 70% were not aware of the link between processed meat and cancer,” reports Reuben Chow, journalist. “Further, 44% of those surveyed were not aware that being overweight also increases cancer risk.” (more…)

Not long ago, Oprah did two “intervention” shows on finding a bra that fits. Since then, choosing the right bra for an outfit has become as important as choosing the right shoes. Ana Marie Cox, writing for Time.com, reports: “According to ‘experts,’ ‘industry studies’ and ‘surveys,’ anywhere between 70% to 85% of women are treating their breasts badly, either shoving them into too-small cups or allowing them to float freely in a draping sling.”

Today, you can find all kinds of bra-fitting articles and tips online and in magazines, including those on the Oprah site and from Susan Nethero, the so-called “bra whisperer.” We all want to look good, so if we can learn what kind of bras will make our favorite blouses and dresses more flattering, why not? But some studies claim it’s about a lot more than fashion. They say a well-fitting bra, or wearing bras for fewer hours, could actually help us stay healthier—even lower our risk of breast cancer. (more…)

If you’ve gone through a mastectomy, you may be thinking your beach days are over. Think again. You can find a suit that fits you great and gives you the confidence you need to get back out in the sun.

There’s a wide variety of mastectomy swimwear available that’s fun, fashionable, and functional. Built for breast-cancer survivors, they have pockets where prosthetic breasts can be inserted. And don’t worry—they come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, so you’ll be able to find something that looks great on you. Land’s End has its own line (reputed to be more affordable than some), as does the popular Jodee brand. Hanes has suits at great prices, while Nicola Jane and Anita offer more up-to-date styles. (more…)