IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 32
AUGUST 23, 2001

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YOU CAN STILL ORDER THE IMAGINIS SPECIAL REPORT:

"BREAST CANCER MYTHS, MISCONCEPTIONS AND FACTS"

*comprehensive information about 54 common breast cancer myths
*easy-to-understand explanations and charts
*written and edited by breast health experts
*significant discount for bulk orders

Click here to order your copy:
http://www.imaginis.com/reports/

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WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION

1. SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATE TREATMENTS FOR BREAST CANCER THAT HAS SPREAD TO THE BONE
A recent study found that a drug called ibandronate successfully reduced the number of breast cancer cells in the bones of mice. Ibandronate belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates that scientists have been studying to determine whether they can block the progression of breast cancer cells that have spread to the bone. One bisphosphonate, Aredia (generic name, pamidronate disodium), has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help treat bone metastases caused by breast cancer while a number of other bisphosphonates are currently under investigation for this use. With these advances in research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently published guidelines on the role of bisphosphonates in breast cancer.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news8.21.01.asp

2. FDA APPROVAL OF HAND-HELD DEVICE WILL ALLOW OSTEOPOROSIS PATIENTS TO MEASURE BONE LOSS AT HOME
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently granted regulatory approval to a new device that allows patients with osteoporosis to quickly determine whether their treatment is working.  Patients use a hand-held disposable device called the Osteomark NTx Point-of-Care to measure their bone loss (bone resorption changes) to make sure they are not losing too much bone.  Prior to the FDA’s recent regulatory approval, the device was only available in physician offices.  Now, the manufacturer expects to make the device available by prescription to osteoporosis patients later this year.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/osteoporosis/news/news8.22.2001.asp

3. UNDERSTANDING BENIGN, NON-CANCEROUS BREAST CONDITIONS
A benign breast condition is any non-cancerous breast abnormality. Approximately nine out of 10 women have at least one benign breast condition at some point during their lifetime. Some conditions, such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), increase the risk for breast cancer. Other conditions, such as cysts or fibroadenomas, do not. This completely revised and updated article discusses several benign breast conditions and provides information on how they are diagnosed and treated. Topics include nipple discharge, LCIS, fibrocystic breasts, cysts, galactoceles, fibroadenomas, phyllodes tumors, papillomas, duct ectasia, fat necrosis, mastitis, and more.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/benign.asp

4. MAMMOGRAPHY QUALITY STANDARDS ACT - UPDATED INFORMATION
The Mammography Quality Standards Act went into effect in the U.S. in 1999. The Act ensures that all mammography facilities are FDA-accredited and meet annual inspection requirements. The Act also requires that all women be informed of the results of their mammograms within 30 days of the exam. This updated article discusses the details of MQSA and what they mean for women who receive mammograms.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/mqsa.asp

5. PETITION TO END "DRIVE-THROUGH" MASTECTOMIES
This year, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro has reintroduced legislation to ensure that women who undergo mastectomies (breast removal) as treatment for breast cancer are not rushed out of the hospital too soon. Many women who have breast cancer surgery are forced to leave the hospital before they are ready because their insurance companies refuse to cover adequate hospital recovery periods. The legislation would require all women who have mastectomies to receive coverage by their insurance company for more than one day in the hospital after the surgery. Lifetime Online has created an online petition that supporters can fill out and submit to Representative DeLauro's office on Capitol Hill and to the White House.
Click here to sign the petition:
http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html

6. ORDER BREAST SELF-EXAM SHOWER CARDS
Imaginis.com and Siemens Medical have collaborated to create a breast self-exam shower card. These cards provide a convenient way for women to remember to perform their monthly breast self-exams. Illustrations and simple explanations of the proper techniques are provided on a durable, aesthetically pleasing shower card. One to two shower cards may be ordered free of charge. Bulk quantities are also available.
Click here to order the cards:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/bse_cards.asp

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BREAST CANCER DISCUSSION BOARD, RECENT POSTING

"Recently had partial mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes. Was reported to have had clear margins and negative Lymph nodes. I know my next step is radiation, however was wondering if it might be safer to go ahead and have chemo just to make sure all is gone. The location of the tumor was in the far left region of the right breast and I know there are lymph nodes behind the breast bone that can not be tested. Would I be wise to go ahead and have chemo or just stay with the radiation?"

Click here to visit this discussion:
http://www.imaginis.com/_private/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000490.html

Click here to post or reply to other discussions:
http://www.imaginis.com/cgi-bin/discuss/Ultimate.cgi

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ABOUT IMAGINIS.COM

Imaginis.com is a comprehensive, award-winning, independent resource for news and information on breast cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment and related women's health topics such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and ovarian cancer. Imaginis.com content is created and edited by a team of people including an expert breast imager and a breast surgeon. To learn more about the Imaginis.com Breast Health Team and Editorial Board, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/about/breast_health_team.asp

Please visit the Imaginis.com website at http://www.imaginis.com/

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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

Thousands of breast cancer patients, survivors and healthcare professionals receive the Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter, which is published by email every week. If you enjoy receiving this newsletter, feel free to share it with a friend, colleague or family member. Simply click "forward," type in a friend's email address, and then click "send." If you would like to add the email addresses of your friends and family to the newsletter mailing list, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/newsletter/

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