It will Take a Little Longer...!

Race for the Cure! Race for Life!

2007-09-16T15:29:00.000+01:00

Jen lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. This past year she went to Omaha (neighboring city) to participate in the Race for the Cure - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Each participant runs in homage to somebody. Jen ran for me. This year, she asks for permission to run for ALL OF US. And made us a video the one that added this text:

"This is a dedication, from the United States of America, to the women in Portugal with my promise to Run for Life on your behalf. The ... all » dedication is extended to all women all over the world and their friends and family affected by the disease.

The Komen Race for the Cure - Nebraska will be held in Omaha on October 7th, 2007. During this time, I am honored to carry in my heart and on my back the names of some very special women in Portugal."

God wants. The Man dreams. The Workmanship is born.

2007-09-14T15:24:00.000+01:00

God always wanted. I dreamed of this during much time. The Workmanship was born today, day 14 of September of 2007, to 4:05 PM, with the celebration of the public writing of Project Light. Me, Margarida and Marta gave life to the Portuguese Association of Support the Oncology patients, thus fulfilling our will to support these sick people until the end. I know that I will be able to count on you. Today I am a Woman who fulfilled a dream...

For us...! We deserve

2007-09-11T14:59:00.000+01:00

Longing...

2007-09-06T14:51:00.000+01:00

Jane Tomlinson

2007-09-05T14:40:00.000+01:00

"Jane Tomlinson, a cancer sufferer who raised over a million pounds for charity through a series of gruelling sporting events including marathons and long-distance cycle rides, has died, a family spokesman said on Tuesday.
(Advertisement)

Tomlinson, 43, from Leeds, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2000 and given six months to live. She died on Monday evening.

She single-handedly raised 1.5 million pounds, gaining worldwide support and in June was made a CBE.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among those who paid tribute to the mother-of-three.

In a statement, he said: "The whole country will be greatly saddened by the death of Jane Tomlinson and our thoughts are with her husband, her three children and all her family and friends.

"We will remember her amazing spirit and strength and that exceptional charity work, and she will be a daily inspiration to our generation to fight on against the terrible scourge of cancer."

yahoo news

To our Friendship

2007-09-01T14:33:00.000+01:00

Hoje eu vos queria oferecer estrelas
Brilhantes, coloridas, porque vos considero
Pessoas muito especiais, e é convosco que
Eu quero celebrar o lindo sentimento da Amizade.

Quantas coisas boas já partilhamos todas juntas,
O nosso encontro não foi casual, talvez até já estivesse escrito,
O que é certo é que todas(os) nós teríamos que nos encontrar,
Para que esta Amizade nascesse e fortalecesse entre nós,
Ao longo de nossas vidas.

Mas o que importa é o Presente,
E o Presente é este magnifico grupo de Amigos
Que tem vindo a crescer ao longo destes meses
E que eu admiro muito, porque estão sempre presentes
Nos bons e maus momentos, sem que peçam algo em troca.

Para mim são Amigos verdadeiros,
Dão-me força, esperança e muitos miminhos!!

Por tudo isso e muito mais , meus queridos…
Que hoje as estrelas do céu brilhem com mais intensidade
E se vocês notarem algumas delas com um brilho diferente
Não se assustem!!!
Foram aquelas que eu pedi a um Anjo
Para entregar a cada um de vocês com muito carinho
E Amizade da minha parte…
Beijinhos a todos e viva a Amizade.

E meninas e meninos, um grande tchim tchim,
À amizade,
Ao amor,
À força,
À esperança e, claro,
À nossa cura...

Muitos beijinhos

Da Anixinha para todas (os) vós.

Alda

2007-08-31T15:23:00.000+01:00

One year ago was this: "One of our 'girls', Alda, will be in surgery tomorrow. Here is a great little kiss and the certainty of that everything will go well. Go on! It will take a little longer... See you soon."

One year already passed, tomorrow goes to be with Alda, cool, pretty and healthful!

Anixinha

2007-08-25T18:36:00.000+01:00

Our Anixinha friend walks in a new battle. As you can see in this video, she is always to smiling... Obviously, she only can earn! Anixinha go on! It will take a little longer...

Breast Cancer Genes May Hide in Dad's Family Tree

2007-06-20T22:05:00.000+01:00

Researchers: Insurers should cover tests to track faulty genes, help with medical decisions.

Carla K. Johnson / Associated Press

CHICAGO -- A deadly gene's path can hide in a family tree when a woman has few aunts and older sisters, making it appear that her breast cancer struck out of nowhere when it really came from dad.

A new study suggests thousands of young women with breast cancer -- an estimated 8,000 a year in the U.S. -- aren't offered testing to identify faulty genes and clarify their medical decisions.

Guidelines used by insurance companies to decide coverage for genetic testing should change to reflect the findings, said study co-author Dr. Jeffrey Weitzel of City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif. Testing can cost more than $3,000.

"Interestingly, it's about Dad," Weitzel said. Half of genetic breast cancers are inherited from a woman's father, not her mother. But unless Dad has female relatives with breast cancer, the faulty gene may have been passed down silently, without causing cancer. (Men can get genetic breast cancer, too, but it's not common.)

The study, in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at the genetic test results from 306 women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50.

None of the cancer patients in the study had a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

Among the women with plenty of female relatives, about 5 percent had BRCA gene mutations. But among those with few sisters and aunts older than 45 (when breast cancer would be likely to appear), almost 14 percent had mutations of the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2. That suggests that these cancer patients were unaware of their genetic mutations because there were so few women in the family to signal a cancer risk.

The researchers defined few female relatives as fewer than two on either the father's or mother's side of the family.

Women who were adopted and don't know their family medical history should be aware of the findings, Weitzel said. Women whose female relatives died young before breast cancer had time to show up also are affected.

Useful Information!

2007-05-29T01:26:00.000+01:00

http://cancer.sutterhealth.org/information/bc_videos.html

http://cancer.sutterhealth.org/information/bc_notebook/

http://cancer.sutterhealth.org/

Manel

2007-05-28T01:18:00.000+01:00

When you died...I thought about me!

I reviewed every month where you lived sick, where you conserved the smile, where never you complained of. And I thought about me. You were so shy, defending so much your privacy...how could you accept your new dependence so well? Why didn't you reject the diapers? How could you allow that a stranger washed you and treated you every day? How could you always accept this with a smile and with a joke? You never demonstrated bother for seeing your privacy invaded. I only could think about me.

You knew that you had cancer and that you enjoyed the sun and the smell of the sea. You knew that the cancer was growing inside of your head and you appreciated your children as never before. You lost your faculties, and, inexplicable, you gained others... You gained the ability to appreciate everything that was around you. You were not capable to eat alone, but you drank life unexpectedly. You weren't able to read the books that you liked so much, but you were able to read the soul of those who were close.

You left me a book. You wrote: IT BELONGS TO MANUELA!

When you died, I stowed at the side of your daughter, in the morgue, to wash you, to dress you, to perfume you, to comb you. You were well, serene, and elegant. And I thought about me. One day, if I would be very sick, I wanted to be like you.

Eight months later, I had that chance.

To ours...

2007-04-22T18:57:00.000+01:00

UFFF!!!

2007-03-06T21:41:00.000Z

(In translation transition, will update shortly!)

Today I had the first mamogram and ultrasound after the operation and of the treatments. I do not need to tell you that the anxiety found me... You know, imagine, already they had passed for exactly! Nor to pass the enormous barrier of nerves that attacked me the neck. I do not know if this happens you, but I am with the neck and the col completely to the spots always that I go to a consultation, to make an examination, to wait a "sentence", to make a treatment. At last, nerves... Beyond the hypothetical results (my main concern, clearly), also she was apprehensive relatively to make a mammogram on an operated chest. The perspective me "to espremerem" the scar was not nothing tranquilizadora. After all, one showed so difficult as of custom, or either, cost but it is not nothing that if does not make. And all the anxiety was forgotten when the doctor said: You can be rest, is all good! The kilos that I have gained to the account of the Tamoxifen had left to weigh me today, in such way felt me have led! Of this time, I am disembarasses... This vulnerability goes to follow me forever (to follow us), believes. And to learn to live of healthful form with it is the biggest challenge that I have now. I become teeny and defenseless when it attacks, but it makes me very strong when I exceed it. The balance? Algures in the way, I say...

1st Anniversary!

2007-02-19T20:18:00.000Z

It will take a little longer! Already it has been one year...thank you for having been there. For me it has been very important.

Little kisses

Vitamin D Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

2007-02-10T03:04:00.000Z

Source: futurepundit.com

Now, new studies by researchers at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto suggest the "sunshine" vitamin may play a significant role in reducing breast cancer risk. The results, based on population data, found the reduction was most apparent among subjects exposed to the highest levels of vitamin D when they were young.

By interviewing about 576 patients who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,135 people who had no cancer, the scientists discovered that significant reductions in breast cancer were found in those who had either worked in an outdoor job, had taken part in outdoor activities when young, or consumed cod liver oil or milk.

Working an outdoor job between ages 10 to19 resulted in an estimated 40 percent reduced risk of breast cancer, while frequent outdoor activities between ages 10 to 29 lowered breast cancer risk by an estimated 35 percent.

"These outdoor activities included those that didn't involve physical activity," said Julie Knight, who headed the Mount Sinai research team. "And so we believe that this is evidence of a reduction of breast cancer risk, associated with earlier exposure to the sun."

For dietary influences on cancer development, taking cod liver oil between ages 10 to 19 reduced breast cancer risk by about 25 percent, and consuming at least nine glasses of milk every week between the ages of 10 to 29 reduced the risk by 35 percent. The dietary and lifestyle reductions were significant, even when adjusted for other risk factors for breast cancer such as age, ethnicity, close relatives with breast cancer, age at menarche and age at a woman's first birth.

Women with higher concentrations of vitamin D in the blood are at less risk of breast cancer.

Increasing doses of dietary Vitamin D may help prevent breast cancer, with the optimal level of intake of Vitamin D more that three times the current average for Americans, according to a study conducted at the University of California, San Diego.

Previous studies have suggested a link between Vitamin D deficiency and higher incidence of breast cancer. Cedric Garland, Dr. P.H., and Edward Gorham, Ph.D., of UCSD, and their colleagues examined existing cancer studies to determine if higher Vitamin D levels in the blood could reduce the risk of cancer.

"There is a strong inverse dose-response relationship between the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the risk of breast cancer," Garland said. "It's a close fit to a linear model," meaning that higher amounts of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the serum resulted in decreased risk of breast cancer. The evidence further pointed to a level of Vitamin D measured in blood that correlated with a 50 percent reduction in the incidence of breast cancer.

Garland, Gorham and their colleagues studied a serum Vitamin D metabolite known as 25 hydroxyvitamin D and its association with breast cancer occurrence in a pooled study that included 1,760 women. The studies that provided the data for the pooled analysis were conducted by Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson and colleagues at Harvard, and L.C. Lowe and associates at Saint George's Hospital Medical School in London.

According to the pooled analysis, Vitamin D in blood serum equal to 52 nanograms per milliliter was associated with a 50 percent reduced risk of breast cancer. To move closer to a serum concentration of 52 nanograms/milliliter, a typical individual would have to consume no less than 1,000 International Units (IU) of Vitamin D every day, through supplements or vitamin D-fortified foods. Currently, a typical American consumes only 320 International Units of Vitamin D a day. The upper limit for vitamin D intake established by the National Academy of Sciences is 2,400 IU/day, but no toxic effects of vitamin D intake have been reported for intakes below 3,800 IU per day.

Get Breast Cancer Facts

2007-01-04T19:35:00.000Z

Click above ( http://www.getbcfacts.com/home/home.asp ) for a great new customizable site with an abundance of information regarding breast cancer!

See and divulge!

Celebrate with me!

2006-12-30T19:31:00.000Z

Celebrate this day with me!

Today is one year since I had the first surgery.

One year later, I am here and you they are there. Livings creature! And this deserves celebration...

Happy New Year.

Progesterone in Breast Cancer...

2006-11-01T19:30:00.000Z

"New light over the role of the hormone progesterone in breast cancer Progesterone is a female sex hormone known to regulate the growth of normal breast tissue while also seeming to be involved in breast cancer. Its exact role in the carcinogenic process, however, is still unclear.But now, in work about to be published in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, a team of Portuguese scientists shows that progesterone seems to sustain the formation of blood vessels, which, by supplying nutrients to the tumour cells, are vital for breast cancer progression. This finding has important implications not only for a better understanding of the disease, but also for present and future therapeutic approaches against it."

Source: the-news.net

Experience in first hand!

2006-10-31T19:23:00.000Z

This is the first of some articles on chemotherapy that Alda goes to share with us.

As we can see, she is going to start a cycle of treatments and her impressions, her symptoms, the bad disposals, all the effects will be shared by her. Who knows if it will be very important for whom is passing for the same or it has this perspective?

Alda is a very great Woman, although to go up to around one meter and half! I thank to her enormous generosity giving her experience to us while is "fresh and new".

I've started the treatments of chemotherapy, and would like to share my new experience.

My bigger distrust, since the beginning, was to know that I would have to make the chemotherapy, the name scares, but as I did not have choice I was there to make 1st treatment, a little anxious, everything so new for me, still seems a nightmare. I go to make 4 treatments every 21 days.

Chemistries are applied in the vein, stow almost 5h in the hospital, because first they make analyses to the blood, will be all good, then beginning with the treatment. The first product is as if it was serum, is a preparation of the organism, after applied chemistry strongest.

A reaction is felt different soon, the body trembles, felt redness, a bad taste in the mouth, and a bad disposal in the end of the treatment, felt myself fragile and unsafe, with the sensation that the body was not mine. I've started to take tablets for sickness, but 30h later starts the first effect, perforated in the body, giddiness, but it was sunday morning that I had so strong sickness and vomits that I was with the throat very hurt, and during the day I was very tired, nauseated, passed the day lying, I ate very little, and I did not vomit. In the zone where Iwas operated the discomfort, after the chemotherapy, is very strong. Rush, some pains, felt to pull. Later it passed. The following day was already a little better, and thus it has been until today, every day improving.

October 13th, I'll go to the 2nd treatment. I will come back to give notice, let's see how I will react to other situations that will appear."

Chemotherapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Cancer Treatment

2006-10-22T19:29:00.000+01:00

1. What Is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anticancer" drugs.

How Does Chemotherapy Work?

Normal cells grow and die in a controlled way. When cancer occurs, cells in the body that are not normal keep dividing and forming more cells without control. Anticancer drugs destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing or multiplying. Healthy cells can also be harmed, especially those that divide quickly. Harm to healthy cells is what causes side effects. These cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy.

Because some drugs work better together than alone, two or more drugs are often given at the same time. This is called combination chemotherapy.

Other types of drugs may be used to treat your cancer. These may include certain drugs that can block the effect of your body's hormones. Or doctors may use biological therapy, which is treatment with substances that boost the body's own immune system against cancer. Your body usually makes these substances in small amounts to fight cancer and other diseases. These substances can be made in the laboratory and given to patients to destroy cancer cells or change the way the body reacts to a tumor. They may also help the body repair or make new cells destroyed by chemotherapy.

What Can Chemotherapy Do?

Depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can be used for different goals:

To cure the cancer. Cancer is considered cured when the patient remains free of evidence of cancer cells.
To control the cancer. This is done by keeping the cancer from spreading; slowing the cancer's growth; and killing cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body from the original tumor.
To relieve symptoms that the cancer may cause. Relieving symptoms such as pain can help patients live more comfortably.

Is Chemotherapy Used With Other Treatments?

Sometimes chemotherapy is the only treatment a patient receives. More often, however, chemotherapy is used in addition to surgery, radiation therapy, and/or biological therapy to:

Shrink a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neo-adjuvant therapy.
Help destroy any cancer cells that may remain after surgery and/or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
Make radiation therapy and biological therapy work better.
Help destroy cancer if it recurs or has spread to other parts of the body from the original tumor.

Which Drugs Are Given?

Some chemotherapy drugs are used for many different types of cancer, while others might be used for just one or two types of cancer. Your doctor recommends a treatment plan based on:

What kind of cancer you have.
What part of the body the cancer is found.
The effect of cancer on your normal body functions.
Your general health.

2. How Often and for How Long Will I Get Chemotherapy?

How often and how long you get chemotherapy depends on:

The kind of cancer you have.
The goals of the treatment.
The drugs that are used.
How your body responds to them.

You may get treatment every day, every week, or every month. Chemotherapy is often given in cycles that include treatment periods alternated with rest periods. Rest periods give your body a chance to build healthy new cells and regain its strength. Ask your health care provider to tell you how long and how often you may expect to get treatment.

Sticking with your treatment schedule is very important for the drugs to work right. Schedules may need to be changed for holidays and other reasons. If you miss a treatment session or skip a dose of the drug, contact your doctor.

Sometimes, your doctor may need to delay a treatment based on the results of certain blood tests. (See the sections on Fatigue, Infection, and Anemia.) Your doctor will let you know what to do during this time and when to start your treatment again.

3. Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Because cancer cells may grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells, many anticancer drugs are made to kill growing cells. But certain normal, healthy cells also multiply quickly, and chemotherapy can affect these cells, too. This damage to normal cells causes side effects. The fast-growing, normal cells most likely to be affected are blood cells forming in the bone marrow and cells in the digestive tract (mouth, stomach, intestines, esophagus), reproductive system (sexual organs), and hair follicles. Some anticancer drugs may affect cells of vital organs, such as the heart, kidney, bladder, lungs, and nervous system.

You may have none of these side effects or just a few. The kinds of side effects you have and how severe they are, depend on the type and dose of chemotherapy you get and how your body reacts. Before starting chemotherapy, your doctor will discuss the side effects that you are most likely to get with the drugs you will be receiving. Before starting the treatment, you will be asked to sign a consent form. You should be given all the facts about treatment including the drugs you will be given and their side effects before you sign the consent form.

How Long Do Side Effects Last?

Normal cells usually recover when chemotherapy is over, so most side effects gradually go away after treatment ends, and the healthy cells have a chance to grow normally. The time it takes to get over side effects depends on many things, including your overall health and the kind of chemotherapy you have been taking.

Most people have no serious long-term problems from chemotherapy. However, on some occasions, chemotherapy can cause permanent changes or damage to the heart, lungs, nerves, kidneys, reproductive or other organs. And certain types of chemotherapy may have delayed effects, such as a second cancer, that show up many years later. Ask your doctor about the chances of any serious, long-term effects that can result from the treatment you are receiving (but remember to balance your concerns with the immediate threat of your cancer).

Great progress has been made in preventing and treating some of chemotherapy's common as well as rare serious side effects. Many new drugs and treatment methods destroy cancer more effectively while doing less harm to the body's healthy cells.

The side effects of chemotherapy can be unpleasant, but they must be measured against the treatment's ability to destroy cancer. Medicines can help prevent some side effects such as nausea. Sometimes people receiving chemotherapy become discouraged about the length of time their treatment is taking or the side effects they are having. If that happens to you, talk to your doctor or nurse. They may be able to suggest ways to make side effects easier to deal with or reduce them.

Below you will find suggestions for dealing with some of the more common side effects of chemotherapy.

Fatigue

Fatigue, feeling tired and lacking energy, is the most common symptom reported by cancer patients. The exact cause is not always known. It can be due to your disease, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, low blood counts, lack of sleep, pain, stress, poor appetite, along with many other factors.

Fatigue from cancer feels different from fatigue of everyday life. Fatigue caused by chemotherapy can appear suddenly. Patients with cancer have described it as a total lack of energy and have used words such as worn out, drained, and wiped out to describe their fatigue. And rest does not always relieve it. Not everyone feels the same kind of fatigue. You may not feel tired while someone else does or your fatigue may not last as long as someone else's does. It can last days, weeks, or months. But severe fatigue does go away gradually as the tumor responds to treatment.

How can I cope with fatigue?

Plan your day so that you have time to rest.
Take short naps or breaks, rather than one long rest period.
Save your energy for the most important things.
Try easier or shorter versions of activities you enjoy.
Take short walks or do light exercise if possible. You may find this helps with fatigue.
Talk to your health care provider about ways to save your energy and treat your fatigue.
Try activities such as meditation, prayer, yoga, guided imagery, visualization, etc. (See the section "Complementary Therapies.") You may find that these help with fatigue.
Eat as well as you can and drink plenty of fluids. Eat small amounts at a time, if that is helpful.
Join a support group. Sharing your feelings with others can ease the burden of fatigue. You can learn how others deal with their fatigue. Your health care provider can put you in touch with a support group in your area.
Limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink.
Allow others to do some things for you that you usually do.
Keep a diary of how you feel each day. This will help you plan your daily activities.
Report any changes in energy level to your doctor or nurse.

Nausea and Vomiting

Many patients fear that they will have nausea and vomiting while receiving chemotherapy. But new drugs have made these side effects far less common and, when they do occur, much less severe. These powerful antiemetic or antinausea drugs can prevent or lessen nausea and vomiting in most patients. Different drugs work for different people, and you may need more than one drug to get relief. Do not give up. Continue to work with your doctor and nurse to find the drug or drugs that work best for you. Also, be sure to tell your doctor or nurse if you are very nauseated or have vomited for more than a day, or if your vomiting is so bad that you cannot keep liquids down.

What can I do if I have nausea and vomiting?

Drink liquids at least an hour before or after mealtime, instead of with your meals. Drink frequently and drink small amounts.
Eat and drink slowly.
Eat small meals throughout the day, instead of one, two, or three large meals.
Eat foods cold or at room temperature so you won't be bothered by strong smells.
Chew your food well for easier digestion.
If nausea is a problem in the morning, try eating dry foods like cereal, toast, or crackers before getting up. (Do not try this if you have mouth or throat sores or are troubled by a lack of saliva.)
Drink cool, clear, unsweetened fruit juices, such as apple or grape juice or light-colored sodas such as ginger ale that have lost their fizz and do not have caffeine.
Suck on mints, or tart candies. (Do not use tart candies if you have mouth or throat sores.)
Prepare and freeze meals in advance for days when you do not feel like cooking.
Wear loose-fitting clothes.
Breathe deeply and slowly when you feel nauseated.
Distract yourself by chatting with friends or family members, listening to music, or watching a movie or TV show.
Use relaxation techniques. (See the section "Complementary Therapies.")
Try to avoid odors that bother you, such as cooking smells, smoke, or perfume.
Avoid sweet, fried, or fatty foods.
Rest but do not lie flat for at least 2 hours after you finish a meal.
Avoid eating for at least a few hours before treatment if nausea usually occurs during chemotherapy.
Eat a light meal before treatment.

Pain

Chemotherapy drugs can cause some side effects that are painful. The drugs can damage nerves, leading to burning, numbness, tingling or shooting pain, most often in the fingers or toes. Some drugs can also cause mouth sores, headaches, muscle pains, and stomach pains.

Not everyone with cancer or who receives chemotherapy experiences pain from the disease or its treatment. But if you do, it can be relieved. The first step to take is to talk with your doctor, nurse, and pharmacist about your pain. They need to know as many details about your pain as possible. You may want to describe your pain to your family and friends. They can help you talk to your caregivers about your pain, especially if you are too tired or in too much pain to talk to them yourself.

You need to tell your doctor, nurse, and pharmacist and family or friends:

Where you feel pain.
What it feels like ?? sharp, dull, throbbing, steady.
How strong the pain feels.
How long it lasts.
What eases the pain, what makes the pain worse.
What medicines you are taking for the pain and how much relief you get from them.

Using a pain scale is helpful in describing how much pain you are feeling. Try to assign a number from 0 to 10 to your pain level. If you have no pain, use a 0. As the numbers get higher, they stand for pain that is getting worse. A 10 means the pain is as bad as it can be. You may wish to use your own pain scale using numbers from 0 to 5 or even 0 to 100. Be sure to let others know what pain scale you are using and use the same scale each time, for example, "My pain is 7 on a scale of 0 to 10."

The goal of pain control is to prevent pain that can be prevented, and treat the pain that can't. To do this:

If you have persistent or chronic pain, take your pain medicine on a regular schedule (by the clock).
Do not skip doses of your scheduled pain medicine. If you wait to take pain medicine until you feel pain, it is harder to control.
Try using relaxation exercises at the same time you take medicine for the pain. This may help to lessen tension, reduce anxiety, and manage pain.
Some people with chronic or persistent pain that is usually controlled by medicine can have breakthrough pain. This occurs when moderate to severe pain "breaks through" or is felt for a short time. If you experience this pain, use a short-acting medicine ordered by your doctor. Don't wait for the pain to get worse. If you do, it may be harder to control.

There are many different medicines and methods available to control cancer pain. You should expect your doctor to seek all the information and resources necessary to make you as comfortable as possible. If you are in pain and your doctor has no further suggestions, ask to see a pain specialist or have your doctor consult with a pain specialist. A pain specialist may be an oncologist, anesthesiologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, other doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

Hair Loss

Hair loss (alopecia) is a common side effect of chemotherapy, but not all drugs cause hair loss. Your doctor can tell you if hair loss might occur with the drug or drugs you are taking. When hair loss does occur, the hair may become thinner or fall out entirely. Hair loss can occur on all parts of the body, including the head, face, arms and legs, underarms, and pubic area. The hair usually grows back after the treatments are over. Some people even start to get their hair back while they are still having treatments. Sometimes, hair may grow back a different color or texture.

Hair loss does not always happen right away. It may begin several weeks after the first treatment or after a few treatments. Many people say their head becomes sensitive before losing hair. Hair may fall out gradually or in clumps. Any hair that is still growing may become dull and dry.

How can I care for my scalp and hair during chemotherapy?

Use a mild shampoo.
Use a soft hair brush.
Use low heat when drying your hair.
Have your hair cut short. A shorter style will make your hair look thicker and fuller. It also will make hair loss easier to manage if it occurs.
Use a sun screen, sun block, hat, or scarf to protect your scalp from the sun if you lose hair on your head.
Avoid brush rollers to set your hair.
Avoid dying, perming, or relaxing your hair.

Some people who lose all or most of their hair choose to wear turbans, scarves, caps, wigs, or hair pieces. Others leave their head uncovered. Still others switch back and forth, depending on whether they are in public or at home with friends and family members. There are no "right" or "wrong" choices; do whatever feels comfortable for you.

If you choose to cover your head:

Get your wig or hairpiece before you lose a lot of hair. That way, you can match your current hair style and color. You may be able to buy a wig or hairpiece at a specialty shop just for cancer patients. Someone may even come to your home to help you. You also can buy a wig or hair piece through a catalog or by phone.
You may also consider borrowing a wig or hairpiece, rather than buying one. Check with the nurse or social work department at your hospital about resources for free wigs in your community.
Take your wig to your hairdresser or the shop where it was purchased for styling and cutting to frame your face.
Some health insurance policies cover the cost of a hairpiece needed because of cancer treatment. It is also a tax-deductible expense. Be sure to check your policy and ask your doctor for a "prescription."

Losing hair from your head, face, or body can be hard to accept. Feeling angry or depressed is common and perfectly all right. At the same time, keep in mind that it is a temporary side effect. Talking about your feelings can help. If possible, share your thoughts with someone who has had a similar experience.

Feelings About Sexuality

Sexual feelings and attitudes vary among people during chemotherapy. Some people find that they feel closer than ever to their partners and have an increased desire for sexual activity. Others experience little or no change in their sexual desire and energy level. Still others find that their sexual interest declines because of the physical and emotional stresses of having cancer and getting chemotherapy. These stresses may include:

worries about changes in appearance.
anxiety about health, family, or finances.
side effects of treatment, including fatigue, and hormonal changes.

A partner's concerns or fears also can affect the sexual relationship. Some may worry that physical intimacy will harm the person who has cancer. Others may fear that they might "catch" the cancer or be affected by the drugs. Both you and your partner should feel free to discuss sexual concerns with your doctor, nurse, social worker, or other counselor who can give you the information and the reassurance you need.

You and your partner also should try to share your feelings with each other. If talking to each other about sex, cancer, or both, is hard, you may want to speak to a counselor who can help you talk more openly. People who can help include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage counselors, sex therapists, and members of the clergy.

If you were comfortable with and enjoyed sexual relations before starting chemotherapy, chances are you will still find pleasure in physical intimacy during your treatment. You may discover, however, that intimacy changes during treatment. Hugging, touching, holding, and cuddling may become more important, while sexual intercourse may become less important. Remember that what was true before you started chemotherapy remains true now: There is no one "right" way to express your sexuality. You and your partner should decide together what gives both of you pleasure.

4. Eating Well During Chemotherapy

It is very important to eat well while you are getting chemotherapy. Eating well during chemotherapy means choosing a balanced diet that contains all the nutrients the body needs. Eating well also means having a diet high enough in calories to keep your weight up and high enough in protein to rebuild tissues that cancer treatment may harm. People who eat well can cope with side effects and fight infection better. Also, their bodies can rebuild healthy tissues faster.

When a poor appetite is the problem, try these suggestions:

Eat frequent, small meals or snacks whenever you want, perhaps four to six times a day. You do not have to eat three regular meals each day.
Keep snacks within easy reach, so you can have something whenever you feel like it.
Even if you do not want to eat solid foods, try to drink beverages during the day. Juice, soup, and other fluids like these can give you important calories and nutrients.
Vary your diet by trying new foods and recipes.
When possible, take a walk before meals; this may make you feel hungrier.
Try changing your mealtime routine. For example, eat in a different location.
Eat with friends or family members. When eating alone, listen to the radio or watch TV.
Ask your doctor or nurse about nutrition supplements.
Speak with your dietician about your specific nutrition needs.

The National Cancer Institute's booklet, Eating Hints for Cancer Patients: Before, During & After Treatment, provides more tips about how to make eating easier and more enjoyable. It also gives many ideas about how to eat well and get extra protein and calories during cancer treatment. For a free copy of this booklet, ask your nurse or call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

Can I Drink Alcoholic Beverages?

Small amounts of alcohol can help you relax and increase your appetite. On the other hand, alcohol may interfere with how some drugs work and/or worsen their side effects. For this reason, some people must drink less alcohol or avoid alcohol completely during chemotherapy. Ask your doctor if and how much beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages you can drink during treatment.

Can I Take Extra Vitamins and Minerals?

You can usually get all the vitamins and minerals you need by eating a healthy diet. Talk to your doctor, nurse, registered dietician, or a pharmacist before taking any vitamin or mineral supplements. Too much of some vitamins and minerals can be just as dangerous as too little. Find out what is recommended for you.

5. Symptoms of Infection

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:

Fever over 100° F or 38° C.
Chills, especially shaking chills.
Sweating.
Loose bowel movements.
Frequent urgency to urinate or a burning feeling when you urinate.
A severe cough or sore throat.
Unusual vaginal discharge or itching.
Redness, swelling, or tenderness, especially around a wound, sore, ostomy, pimple, rectal area or catheter site.
Sinus pain or pressure.
Earaches, headaches, or stiff neck.
Blisters on the lips or skin.
Mouth sores.

Information taken from "Chemotherapy and You" at the National Cancer Institute:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/chemotherapy-and-you/page1

Our Alda!

2006-10-19T19:27:00.000+01:00

Our Alda had her second chemo treatment last Friday, as planned. She had some rough days, but she still has great laughs. A big kiss. We are waiting for you..."

Celebrate with me!

2006-10-08T19:25:00.000+01:00

Celebrate with me!

One year ago I found a nodule in the left breast. Such as I wrote in one of first articles of this blog, " In the SPA of the Carla. Yes. It was in the SPA of the Carla that everything started. 8th October of 2005, Saturday. I was preparing myself for the massage that was my reward per the week of work, schedules, of short nights, of some postponed projects. I jumped for the bed and I felt the impression/pain in my breast. I touched the lump immediately. "

Yesterday, I went back to the SPA of the Carla. I usufructed of her massage as now I know to usufruct of everything that life gives me. I obtained to relived that instant, and I placed myself in the same position where it was when, a year ago, I discovered the nodule. Now I don't have a nodule, now I have a scar, now I have a skin still burnt of the radiations, but I don't have nodules. I have strength and trust.

Sometimes, I still feel one punch in the stomach when the fear remembers to me that a return is possible and even probable. And it's no good to dissimulate that I do have fear. I have. But most of my days is lived far of the fear. Each time step more time without being overwhelming with what it can happen, with the result of the next examinations, or with the possibility of this not to be one cure, but only a break.

Celebrate with me! It passed one year. I do not know if it will pass two or ten or more. More important than to accumulate days is celebrate them...

Race for the Cure!!!

2006-10-06T19:24:00.000+01:00

Building a Better Tumor Killer

2006-09-01T19:22:00.000+01:00

By Jocelyn Kaiser ScienceNOW Daily News 31 August 2006

2006/09/01 10:42

In a first for gene therapy, researchers have successfully treated cancer patients by genetically modifying their immune cells to attack tumors. Although the treatment worked in only two of 17 patients, the researchers say this proof of concept, reported online today in Science, should pave the way for more gene-therapy cancer cures.

Steven Rosenberg's group at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Maryland, has been working on ways to rev up immune cells to vanquish cancer for 2 decades. A few years ago, the researchers removed tumor-attacking immune cells called T cells from melanoma patients, grew more in the lab, and reinjected them into the patients. The influx of additional tumor-attacking cells pushed the cancer to regress in about half the patients ( Science, 25 October 2002, p. 850). But only about half of melanoma victims have these tumor-fighting T cells, and the cells are very scarce in other kinds of cancer.

So for 17 patients with advanced melanoma who didn't have tumor-fighting T cells and had failed existing treatments, Rosenberg's team tried gene therapy. The researchers removed normal T cells from the patients' blood, then gave them a powerful guidance system: a molecule that sticks out from the T cell and homes in on melanoma tumor cells. The gene that codes for this molecule was ferried into the cells via a harmless retrovirus. The researchers then injected these modified cells back into the patients.

In 15 of the patients, the injected cells thrived and made up at least 10% of their total T cells weeks later. Two men who had even higher levels of the modified T cells experienced a dramatic recovery. In one, a liver and armpit tumor that had developed from spreading melanoma cells shrank, and in the other a lung tumor disappeared. Both men remain healthy 18 months after treatment.

That success rate is low, Rosenberg admits, but he adds, "this is just a start." Rosenberg's group is now working on a half-dozen ways to improve the treatment, including adding molecules that are better at finding cancers. The team is also hoping to test T cells modified to attack breast, lung, and colon tumors.

"The technology will get better," agrees cancer gene therapy researcher Carl June of the University of Pennsylvania. One important result is that the treatment didn't seem to cause a serious autoimmune response as a side effect, he adds. "I'm very happy to see this," he says. "This shows the basic safety. That's really good news for the field." .

It will take a little longer...

2006-08-30T19:20:00.000+01:00

One of our "girls", Alda, will be operated on tomorrow. From here a great little kiss and the certainty that everything goes well. Go on! It will take a little longer...

See you in a while.

A contribution of the other side!

2006-08-10T19:18:00.000+01:00

Note from the editor of the English version: This is a contribution of a friend of Manuela's, who is a nurse at the IPO (Portuguese Institute of Oncology), and because it is a bit more dfficult to translate from the point of view of another, I prefered to leave it in its original form. Please feel free to use Babelfish to copy and paste the article for translation. It will not be a 100% translation, however, you will be able to understand the context in which the article was meant. Please take a moment for this important column. --JCS

??Ol�, sou a Margarida e gostava de dar as boas vindas a todos os que procuram este espa�o de ??conversa?.

Trabalho no IPO, e, por coincid�ncia no servi�o de cirurgia onde a Manuela realizou as duas cirurgias. Mas por obra do acaso, ou talvez n�o, descobri a nossa amiga mais tarde, em Julho deste ano quando frequentava um curso da AMARA. Foi ent�o que nos conhecemos: convers�mos nos intervalos, discutimos ideias e fic�mos amigas.

Sou enfermeira e, estou aqui porque a M. me pediu para falar um pouco da experi�ncia de cuidar de pessoas com cancro, em particular das mulheres com este problema.
Ningu�m fica indiferente quando est� frente a frente com esta doen�a. Primeiro vem o choque, a pessoa nem quer acreditar que tem um cancro, fica como que entorpecida, petrificada. Depois percebe que � verdade e chora, tem medo?e pergunta, porqu� eu? Que fiz eu de mal? Revolta-se contra a vida e contra os outros! Mas ningu�m tem culpa!

Por isso quando a mulher entra no servi�o de cirurgia, pode apresentar-se de muitas formas. Algumas tentam manter alguma normalidade, mostrando-se calmas. Outras mostram-se como guerreiras, determinadas a combaterem o cancro com todas as armas e for�a de que disp�em. E outras ainda, expressam receios com a anestesia / cirurgia, e por estarem numa situa��o que decerto n�o querem. O enfermeiro tenta reduzir os medos do desconhecido, por isso fala sobre aspectos relacionados com a cirurgia e d� resposta s d�vidas. Espera-se que seja um internamento curto. Bem, n�o t�o curto como o da Manuela! Certo!

Mas nos momentos de sil�ncio, quando pensamos que ningu�m nos observa, encontro o olhar triste das doentes. Embora tente sempre demonstrar disponibilidade para falar das ang�stias da ??alma?, � nestes momentos que me parece mais oportuno. Algumas conseguem falar, outras preferem esconder a sua dor, como se um n� na garganta se formasse e n�o conseguissem soltar palavra alguma. Respeito essa vontade, pois sei que � dif�cil falar com estranhos, sobre coisas que nos provocam muita dor. Depois o hospital � um local onde existe muito movimento, est�o sempre coisas a acontecer, gente a passar. Temos dificuldade em falarmos dos nossos sentimentos e mostrarmos as nossas emo��es (chorar � entendido por muitos como sinal de fraqueza). Muitas vezes s�o os nossos entes mais chegados, que sem maldade nos dizem: ??V� l�, n�o chores! Tudo vai passar!? E deste modo, fica tudo guardado para quando chegarmos a casa, e estivermos sozinhos para podermos chorar vontade.

Pois, por mim, prefiro que seja genu�na, se tiver vontade de chorar, pois chore! Se estiver angustiada e com necessidade de falar, pois fale com a sua melhor amiga, com o seu marido, ou com algu�m que a reconforte, e porque n�o com o seu enfermeiro?
Eu espero que assim aconte�a! Queremos ajud�-la a passar melhor esta fase! Pode contar connosco!?

V�, aproveitem-na, abusem dela e fa�am-lhe todas as perguntas que quiserem...!

Also amusing ways to do it...

2006-08-06T19:17:00.000+01:00

See this video about Self Breast Exam and let's not forget that joy and laughter are also a part of good health!

My Lovely Lady Lumps!

See Also the video at the right of the screen...

Now and Always...The Prevention

2006-08-02T19:16:00.000+01:00

Examining your breasts is an important way to find a breast cancer early, when it's most likely to be cured. Not every cancer can be found this way, but it is a critical step you can and should take for yourself. No woman wants to do a breast self exam (or "BSE"), and for many the experience is frustrating??you may feel things but not know what they mean. However, the more you examine your breasts, the more you will learn about them and the easier it will become for you to tell if something unusual has occurred. BSE is an essential part of taking care of yourself and reducing your risk of breast cancer.

Try to get in the habit of doing a breast self-examination once a month to familiarize yourself with how your breasts normally look and feel. Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you are no longer having periods, choose a day that's easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.

Don't panic if you think you feel a lump. Most women have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts all the time. Eight out of ten breast lumps that are removed are benign, non-cancerous.

Breasts tend to have different "neighborhoods." The upper, outer area??near your armpit??tends to have the most prominent lumps and bumps. The lower half of your breast can feel like a sandy or pebbly beach. The area under the nipple can feel like a collection of large grains. Another part might feel like a lumpy bowl of oatmeal.

What's important is that you get to know the look and feel of YOUR breasts' various neighborhoods. Does something stand out as different from the rest (like a rock on a sandy beach)? Has anything changed? Bring to the attention of your doctor any changes in your breasts that:

last over a full month's cycle, OR

seem to get worse or more obvious over time

Five Steps of a Breast Self Exam:

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
Here's what you should look for:

breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color.
breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling.

If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention:

dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin.
a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out).
redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.

Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

Step 3: While you're at the mirror, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be a milky or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side??from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. Be sure to feel all the breast tissue: just beneath your skin with a soft touch and down deeper with a firmer touch. Begin examining each area with a very soft touch, and then increase pressure so that you can feel the deeper tissue, down to your ribcage.

Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.

breastcancer.org

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

2006-07-03T19:15:00.000+01:00

Please see the video to the right titled "Inflammatory Breast Cancer" for additional information.

??What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon form of rapidly advancing breast cancer that usually accounts for approximately 1% to 3% of all breast cancer diagnoses. Inflammatory breast cancer is a form of invasive breast cancer that progresses quickly and should be differentiated by physicians from other forms of advanced breast cancer with similar characteristics. Inflammatory breast cancer causes the breast to appear swollen and inflamed. This appearance is often caused when cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast, preventing the normal flow of lymph fluid and leading to reddened, swollen and infect-looking breast skin??hence the designation "inflammatory" breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is not caused by infection or inflammation as was once believed.

With inflammatory breast cancer, the breast skin has a thick, pitted appearance that is classically described as peau d??orange (resembling an orange peel). Sometimes the skin develops ridges and small bumps that resemble hives.

How is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

The symptoms associated with inflammatory breast cancer are usually the first cause of concern. These symptoms may include:

breast redness
swelling
warmth
ridges or pits in the breast skin (a condition referred to as peau d??orange; resembling an orange peel)
a change in the size or shape of the breast
nipple discharge or an inverted (pulled back) nipple
swollen lymph nodes

Inflammatory breast cancer can sometimes be mistaken by patients and physicians as a breast infection (or mastitis) because its symptoms , and the rapidity with which they appear (sometimes within weeks) resemble those associated with infections. However, while most breast infections will respond to antibiotics, inflammatory breast cancer will not. In fact, symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer do not usually get better or worse as infections do. If symptoms persist more than two or three weeks despite treatment, further testing and a breast biopsy should be performed to determine whether cancer is present.

Inflammatory breast cancer is typically classified as Stage III cancer, unless it has spread to the lymph nodes or other body organs. In these cases, it is classified as Stage IV breast cancer, or advanced breast cancer. Click here for more information on breast cancer stages.

How is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treated?

Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive cancer that can grow and spread quickly. If the inflammatory cancer has not spread beyond the breast, a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) may be performed to remove the tumor. However, because inflammatory breast cancer involves lymphatic vessels of the skin, mastectomy can increase the chances for the cancer to recur (since the skin is stitched together after mastectomy). Therefore, other treatment options (most commonly, chemotherapy) are usually considered before surgery.

Chemotherapy is treatment with anti-cancer drugs. Chemotherapy is often administered to inflammatory breast cancer patients before local treatment (such as mastectomy or radiation). One common regimen of chemotherapy used to treat inflammatory breast cancer patients is CAF (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil). Researchers are also investigating whether high-dose chemotherapy is effective for treating inflammatory breast cancer. Because high dose chemotherapy causes damage to bone marrow cells, a bone marrow transplant or blood stem cell transplantation may be necessary. After surgery, patients with inflammatory breast cancer are usually treated with additional chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy to the chest wall.

What is the Prognosis for Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Because inflammatory breast cancer is an advanced cancer, it has been associated with a poor prognosis (expected outcome). Past statistics have shown the average survival rate of inflammatory breast cancer to be approximately 18 months. However, recent studies have shown that advancements in treatment may help to extend the survival time for women with inflammatory breast cancer. Using chemotherapy, surgery (mastectomy), and radiation, the average five-year survival rate is currently 40%. Physicians are hopeful that advances in treatment will continue to improve the prognosis for women diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.? - http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/nipple.asp

Gene Responsible for Breast Cancer Risk Discovered

2006-06-20T19:13:00.000+01:00

PLoS Medicine
About 13% of women (one in eight women) will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, but many factors affect the likelihood of any individual woman developing this disease, for example, whether she has had children and at what age, when she started and stopped her periods, and her exposure to certain chemicals or radiation. She may also have inherited a defective gene that affects her risk of developing breast cancer. Some 5%??10% of all breast cancers are familial, or inherited. In 20% of these cases, the gene that is defective is BRCA1 or BRCA2. Inheriting a defective copy of one of these genes greatly increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, while researchers think that the other inherited genes that predispose to breast cancer??most of which have not been identified yet??have a much weaker effect. These are described as low-penetrance genes. Inheriting one such gene only slightly increases breast cancer risk; a woman has to inherit several to increase her lifetime risk of cancer significantly.

It is important to identify these additional predisposing gene variants because they might provide insights into why breast cancer develops, how to prevent it, and how to treat it. To find low-penetrance genes, researchers do case??control association studies. They find a large group of women with breast cancer (cases) and a similar group of women without cancer (controls), and examine how often a specific gene variant occurs in the two groups. If the variant is found more often in the cases than in the controls, it might be a variant that increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

The researchers involved in this study recruited Icelandic women who had had breast cancer and unaffected women, and looked for a specific variant??the Cys557Ser allele??of a gene called BARD1. They chose BARD1 because the protein it encodes interacts with the protein encoded by BRCA1. Because defects in BRCA1 increase the risk of breast cancer, defects in an interacting protein might have a similar effect. In addition, the Cys557Ser allele has been implicated in breast cancer in other studies. The researchers found that the Cys557Ser allele was nearly twice as common in women with breast cancer as in control women. It was also more common (but not by much) in women who had a family history of breast cancer or who had developed breast cancer more than once. And having the Cys557Ser allele seemed to increase the already high risk of breast cancer in women who had a BRCA2 variant (known as BRCA2 999del5) that accounts for 40% of inherited breast cancer risk in Iceland.

These results indicate that inheriting the BARD1 Cys557Ser allele increases a woman's breast cancer risk but that she is unlikely to have a family history of the disease. Because carrying the Cys557Ser allele only slightly increases a woman's risk of breast cancer, for most women there is no clinical reason to test for this variant. Eventually, when all the low-penetrance genes that contribute to breast cancer risk have been identified, it might be helpful to screen women for the full set to determine whether they are at high risk of developing breast cancer. This will not happen for many years, however, since there might be tens or hundreds of these genes. For women who carry BRCA2 999del5, the situation might be different. It might be worth testing these women for the BARD1 Cys557Ser allele, the researchers explain, because the lifetime probability of developing breast cancer in women carrying both variants might approach 100%. This finding has clinical implications in terms of counseling and monitoring, as does the observation that Cys557Ser carriers have an increased risk of a second, independent breast cancer compared to non-carriers. However, all these findings need to be confirmed in other groups of patients before anyone is routinely tested for the BARD1 Cys557Ser allele.

Go on!

2006-06-11T19:12:00.000+01:00

Next 12th of June, one of our blog's young ladies will start the chemo treatments. We don't know her name, and that is not really important. We are sending her a big kiss and we wish her simply the best!

As always, we will be here, no matter what. Go on! It will just take a little longer...

Heavy on my heart

2006-06-09T19:10:00.000+01:00

I try to fly away but it's impossible

And every breath I take gives birth to deeper sighs
And for a moment I am weak
So it's hard for me to speak
Even though we're underneath the same blue sky

If I could paint a picture of this melody
It would be a violin without its strings
And the canvas in my mind
Sings the songs I left behind
Like pretty flowers and a sunset

[Chorus:]
It's heavy on my heart
I can't make it alone
Heavy on my heart
I can't find my way home
Heavy on my heart
So come and free me
It's so heavy on my heart

I've had my share of pleasure
And I've tasted pain
I never thought that I would touch an angel's wings
There's a journey in my eyes
It's getting hard for me to hide
Like the ocean at the sunrise

[Chorus:]
It's heavy on my heart
I can't make it alone
Heavy on my heart
I can't find my way home
Heavy on my heart
So come and free me
It's so heavy on my heart

Love, can you find me in the darkness, and love,
Don't let me down
There's a journey in my eyes
It's getting hard for my to hide
And I never thought I'd touch an angel's wings
Whooo...
[Chorus]

Anastacia (Breast Cancer survivor!!)

2006-05-31T19:08:00.000+01:00

To write this article, it was necessary to breathe deep some times because I??m telling what of more difficult I lived. I was not alone and this was very important. Better than my memory, is here some emails exchanged with a great friend and they show a little of what I felt in those days between the two surgeries, after knowing that the miracle that I believed in had vanished. It had?

Day 4 of January - moments before knowing that the analysis to the nodule had the confirmation of cancer.

"?I never felt it so strongly. Maybe it's because I'm at home, doing nothing, with lots of time to think. So, I feel that I should be doing something, but i don't know what to do. I'm feeling kind of empty, with no common feelings, as if the normal and common feelings that everybody has, don't mean anything to me. I'm not normal anymore.... LOLOLOL
Strange Times, hum? But I have also normal and common stuff to solve, like normal people. Taking a big bath! God, how much money do you want for letting me have a real bath? And wash my hair? God, I want to wash my hair... Please? Forget the scar, I want a bath... See? Normal stuff from normal people!"

Perhaps it hadn??t passed half an hour on these concerns, when I received the news that I would have to be operated again within two days. I couldn??t say much more.

"?I'm very, very sad. The exam is ready and I have some cancer cells, so I have to do another surgery the day after tomorrow and after that do some radiation. Like it was supposed in the beginning. God, I'm weak now. It's hard after all that joy...."

Day 5 of January

"Hi Sweetie, I'm starting to look ahead again and see the Light. God, this was hard. It took some time for me to get balanced and see the Hand of God in all this. But I'm seeing it now. Again. Feeling peaceful and believing that everything is happening for a reason and for our Supreme and Divine Path.

I'm feeling light and free again. I can't be away from my faith, I just can't. Not even for a day. Now I can feel all the love that comes down from Heaven and simply inspires us. And, believe me, I can't live without this certainty. That is not life, it's just surviving. I want a real LIFE, full of miracles, full of joy and hope. For one day, I forgot that. God, I was not living.

For one day, I stopped believing in miracles. How could I? I'm still living in the middle of a miracle. And I must learn true acceptance. Remember when I said that from now on it was for real? This all episode was too easy (nothing wrong with things too easy) and i didn't work acceptance. I thought I was accepting, but truly I wasn't. Because I had a very glorious thing to accept. It was easy. Now, yes, I'm working acceptance.

I'm really lucky because they found the cancer cells. They are so few that it would be easy not to find them. And then what? In a year or so, how would I be? Really ill. Now, I have to deal with this and I will be ok.

Yesterday, when the doctor called me, I've said again (the same as one month before hearing the results of the biopsy) : Father, if it's possible, take that cup away from me. But, what leads is your will not mine. But after the news, I really didn't act this way. I felt bad, with no light, as if i was alone. That was not my Father's will.

Sweetie, I'll be back in a few days. Stay peaceful, light a candle for me and another for the world?Kisses and pray for me"

Day 6 of January I was operated

Day 9 of January

"Home, at last. God, How happy I am to be home...
How are you Sweetie?
I'm ok, not very well, as you can imagine, but ok. Better than at the hospital, for sure.
This night (Sunday to Monday) was awful. God. I had lots of pains, I felt so lonely that I cried all night long. Didn't sleep at all. And I've made some stupid movement (without thinking) with my left arm. Something that was supposed to NOT do. God, it was so painful, but I'm not used to have restrictions, so I keep forgetting that. What a night!
But I'm better now. I couldn't explain the sadness that I had. I'm so grateful to every friend I have for being with me at this hour. I've missed you and our conversations.
I must rest now, but I wanted to send my biggest kiss and hug."

Day 13 of January

"Hi Sweetie, Yes, tomorrow we will be at msn. Don't know at what time, because I want Paulo to take me see the sea. I'm missing the sea... lol Don't feel depressed with your diet. Just think how nice it will be to walk on the beach with a bikini next summer.... Wow...

I can feel the miracle now, yes. During some days it was hard to understand it, but now I know that I've been spiritually arrogant for quite a while. Thank God, I had a second chance to learn.

Kisses."

Chemotherapy

2006-05-10T19:07:00.000+01:00

We have a person who asked for information on chemotherapy; she goes to initiate the treatments. How can we help?

Chemotherapy is effective against cancer cells because the drugs love to interfere with rapidly dividing cells. The side effects of chemotherapy come about because cancer cells aren't the only rapidly dividing cells in your body. The cells in your blood, mouth, intestinal tract, nose, nails, vagina, and hair are also undergoing constant, rapid division. This means that the chemotherapy is going to affect them, too.

Still, chemotherapy is much easier to tolerate today than even a few years ago. And for many women it's an important "insurance policy" against cancer recurrence. It's also important to remember that organs in which the cells do not divide rapidly, such as the liver and kidneys, are rarely affected by chemotherapy. And doctors and nurses will keep close track of side effects and can treat most of them to improve the way you feel.

In this section, you'll learn more about how chemotherapy works and the best ways to manage nausea, hair loss and other chemotherapy side effects.

You'll also read about the different chemotherapy regimens and about deciding together with your medical oncologist which regimen would be best suited to you.

Related Areas:

Learn how to stay on track with chemotherapy treatment, and why it's so important to stick with it.

It's important to remember that every woman's ideal treatment plan is different. Be aware that your "chemo" regimen may be different from someone else's, based on very individual??and sometimes subtle??breast cancer factors. These include: lymph node involvement, tumor size, hormone receptor status, grade, and oncogene expression. Be prepared for your doctor to recommend a combination of chemotherapies??together or in a series.

(from http://www.breastcancer.org)

A Telomerase-dependent Conditionally Replicating Adenovirus for Selective Treatment of Cancer

2006-05-03T19:06:00.000+01:00

Thomas Wirth, Lars Zender, Bernd Schulte, Bettina Mundt, Ruben Plentz, Karl Lenhard Rudolph, Michael Manns, Stefan Kubicka and Florian Kühnel

Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Medical School Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany

The catalytic component of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is not expressed in most primary somatic human cells, whereas the majority of cancer cells reactivate telomerase by transcriptional up-regulation of hTERT. Several studies demonstrated that the hTERT promoter can be used to restrict gene expression of E1-deleted replication defective adenoviral vectors to telomerase-positive cancer cells. In this study, a conditionally replicating adenovirus (hTERT-Ad) expressing E1A genes under control of a 255-bp hTERT-promoter was constructed. Additionally, an internal ribosomal entry site-enhanced green fluorescent protein cassette was inserted downstream of the E1B locus to monitor viral replication in vivo.

Adenoviral replication of hTERT-Ad and enhancement of enhanced green fluorescent protein expression could be observed in all investigated telomerase-positive tumor cell lines. In contrast, hTERT-Ad infection of telomerase-negative primary human hepatocytes did not result in significant replication. The capability of hTERT-Ad to induce cytopathic effects in tumor cells was comparable with that of adenovirus wild type and significantly higher compared with ONYX-015, regardless of the p53 status of the tumor cells. Single application of low-dose hTERT-Ad to tumor xenografts led to significant inhibition of tumor growth, confirming the potential therapeutic value of conditionally replicative adenoviral vectors. These in vivo experiments also revealed that hTERT-Ad-mediated oncolysis was more efficient than ONYX-015 treatment. These results demonstrate that expression of E1A under transcriptional control of the hTERT promoter is sufficient for effective telomerase-dependent adenovirus replication as a promising perspective for the treatment of the majority of epithelial tumors.

Now, it is really serious...

2006-04-28T19:05:00.000+01:00

Now it is the true test. And me thinking that it had been before!

I was interned again, operated, I recouped. I had beside me my family, the friends, the fellow workers. Everything went well. In the last night that I stayed in the hospital, I cried since 10 PM until the 7 in the morning. It was the biggest laudering of heart that I have ever made. And why? I do not know. Just because. Because the mobile phone fell to the floor and I was not capable to raise me and catch it. Because I was sick, dependent, with pains, did not have ice in the hospital and I missed the time when I awake trusting life. The nurses who had made their rounds in the night had not asked anything; they had respected the tears.

I came home, I got rid of the drains, of the stitches, I had an excellent notice: I would not need to have chemotherapy; the radiation would be enough. That was excellent news! The treatments seemed not to end, but they did... And I am in return to the said "normal life"...

How I started to believe in life again? This will be a new story! Together with everything that I earned in these months.

And Now...? (5)

2006-04-20T19:03:00.000+01:00

But I didn't know?

I left soon the hospital in the following day, directly from the recovery, still with the drains, ready to celebrate the New Year and what party! After the good notice that had been given me, what else could I want for the New Year?

The recovery was taking place, with no worries, and even so they had informed me that the result only would be definitive when the analyses to the operated part was ready, it didn??t interest me to register this information, even because did not beat all certain with the path that I had made...

Four days later, in the eve to remove the stitches and felling already sufficiently recouped, the telephone rang.. My heart went off and it was with much reluctance that I answered it... It was the IPO. The Dr. wanted to speak with me, they had said. I realized that my stomach contracted at the rhythm of the beats of the heart. And the notice came: it was cancer, after all.

If it had been difficult to hear the result of the biopsy two months earlier, to describe what I felt at that moment, I have no words. I had to be operated immediately to remove the auxiliary lymph nodes. I could only say: No!

"(...) Now it is really necessary that you keep yourself lighted. You need to be strong and to believe. It has to be like this. It will take just a little more? ".

How to explain that it was not the fact of (after all) having cancer that was making me vomit? I had already received this notice times before and had survived.

How to explain that the faith that supported me was fallen to my feet? How to say that I felt betrayed to the deepest of my soul? How was I going to live after this? To have another operation, to have the treatments of chemo and/or radiation that would follow, the eventual consequences if the nodes were infected, everything was details. Everything was practical aspects that did not interest me at all. I only wanted to know how I would recoup of so great disillusion. And for what!! I was the loneliest person of the world. Abandoned.

Disconnected from the Source...

And now...? (3)

2006-04-04T16:14:00.000+01:00

While the medical procedures elapsed, other questions echoed in my head: what do I have to learn with this? What part of me has been forgotten and damaged to be dealing with these consequences? What is life showing me?

I looked for answers to these questions next to my dear friends and Masters who already have been near for some years. The boarding through the Family Constellations (of Dr. Bert Hellinger) came to bring many surprises.

But knowing that few people know that therapy and not wanting to lose an excellent chance to divulge a little, I'm going to use some texts that consist of the site of these "angels" that I spoke to you: http://www.portais.org.

This site is already the space where more information in Portuguese exists on this therapy and soon much more information will be available on the same one, as well as, everything involved with it (also the theory of the Morphogenetic Fields of Rupert Sheldrake).

[??Morphogenetic Field'' is the name given to a hypothetical field that explains the simultaneous emergency of the same adapted function in not-contiguous biological populations. According to holism, the morphogenetic fields are the collective memory the one that appeals to each member of the species and for which each one of them contributes.].

In a simple way, the base of the Familiar Constellations is the following one: we have recorded inside of us, images known and unknown, of our family. These images impose them, of an unconscious form, its subtle ties, either in the way as we relate with ourselves, either with that in encircle them, taking the one that in our life, situations for problematic times appear. Causing suffering, that in last instance they originate, illnesses or unhealthy behaviours, which, apparently, do not have a rational explanation. These unconscious images of disharmony have, with frequency, origin in a break of the love flow.

The purpose of the Family Constellations Therapy is to find where the love stops flowing and, in an existential and deep form to bring to the light this breaking and, if possible, to help the love begins to flow again. And when the love begins to flow once again, can suppress the actual symptoms, or heal.

The Family Constellations show us as we all are one in a mysterious form. It is a chance to evidence the millenarian spirituals theories that say that "we all are all", as well as the most recent scientific theories on the unity of all the substances that exist in the Universe. A chance to observe as the theories scientific and spirituals walk each time more, in convergent directions.

I am not here to transcribe all the information on the Family Constellations; simply I intend to sharpen the curiosity of who can be reading this blog and give a small explanation to better understand my path.

I am going to omit many details of the sessions where I participated to preserve my privacy and the privacy of my family. However, a thing was very clear: non solved and expressed emotions always come back under the form of any blockade. They do not disappear, even if they are forgotten and, as an entity with proper life, go growing, conquering their space and one day they become noisy. This was the first teaching: truly knowledge done of proper experience...

Another thing that I want you to know was the discovery of a familiar pattern that, for being unaware of, also surprised me. I could prove later, through registers of a deceased uncle that the dates that had emerged of the therapy sessions were completely sharp. I send you for a previous paragraph where is said that "we all are one" and I add that the choices of our soul not always are understood by our conscientious one. But it is for them that our life leads us.

My paternal grandfather died (of cancer) when my father was sixteen years old. I can't evaluate the damages that this event caused to him, but seems that it was in such devastating way that my father waited until I was sixteen years old and also died of cancer. I still do not evaluate the damages that this caused me, but does it surprise you that cancer has been diagnosed to me exactly when my daughter sixteen years old?

What choice had I made? And who could help me to modify the path?

And Now...? (1)

2006-03-21T18:56:00.000Z

In the SPA of the Carla. Yes. It was in the SPA of the Carla that everything started. 8th October of 2005, Saturday. I was preparing myself for the massage that was my reward per the week of work, schedules, of short nights, of some postponed projects. I jumped for the bed and I felt the impression/pain in my breast. I touched the lump immediately. I always thought that I wouldn't be able to find anything... When it is needed, we can identify!

This was not here, never felt, what it could be? I decided, immediately, to mark the mammogram and the ultra-sound next Monday. I would wait not even one more day. Until there, I wouldn't think about the subject. It was no use. I had already had one or two scares with small cysts. This could only be just one more. Or not... We would see soon.

The remaining weekend was not so relaxed as I would like and not so worried as we could think after that discovery. It passed.

One week of wait until making the examinations. The mammogram went well, better saying, it did not ache much! On the other hand, the ultra-sound had moments of some anguish. The doctor asked the reason for me to make an examination eight months after the previous one that was just routine. I explained my discovery and he said that what I had felt was just a cyst of no importance. The same he could not say of a nodule that was in the external quadrant of the breast. It seemed suspicious. In his opinion, it had to be checked with a biopsy to clarify any doubt. My doctor could consider to wait sometime and to repeat examinations, but he thought it was better not to postpone and to make the biopsy.

The appointment was calm. The doctor said that she would ask a biopsy, but without concern. It was a cyst, with certainty. I made the biopsy in the Hospital Amadora-Sintra. I was very nervous, but it was painless. I waited one week or more for new appointment where the doctor already would know the results.

I wanted to go alone to it. I insisted with my husband because I was only going to know the result of an examination, was not necessary aid... But I was a pile of nerves. I waited more than one hour; the doctor was delayed. More nerves still... Finally, the hour to know. The doctor was in a very good mood; she played with my worried face and finally she phoned to the Hospital. In the middle of a cheerful conversation, she asked for my process.

I don't know if I heard or just guessed! I swear that I did not hear the remaining portion of what the person of the other side said, but that I heard. Or just guessed... Invasive ductal carcinoma. I could still see the change of expression of the doctor and her effort for keeping the normal colloquy. But I didn't see anything more. The emotions had blasted and I just thought that I was going to have a heart attack. I wanted to think and I was not capable. I found that, in that moment, I had to ask some practical questions; it was normal to want to know what it this meant, what I had to do later, what was the hypotheses of a favourable outcome, questions... I was not capable to think of any. I was not capable to think about anything. After sometime, I was able to articulate these words: Then, and now? Even these absurd words had required all my last forces. I grasped the fax with the result, I left the doctor's office, the mobile phone, the fax, the coat fell down; I think that I left myself fall down. I paid, I kept the receipt and I left for the street. I do not know how...

The street was a good place to cry. Nobody bothered me, nor asked what I had. I phoned my husband and I asked him to go pick me up. Later I phoned a very close friend and I left in the recorder a short message: I have a cancer. And many seconds of convulsive crying.

The instant where we know that we have a cancer does not have description... For me, it was so many emotions (I couldn't identify them) that it buried me underneath of... I don't know! First, that diagnosis is not possible to be ours, clearly! Later, and suddenly, we just don't know what this means. In the following instant, we don't know what this implies. To follow the mind stops and we don't think. The heart goes crazy and we do not know if it is fear, anguish, penalty, panic... I really don't know! This happens in some few seconds... Only that we continue living and we are supposed to breathe, to move ourselves, to do anything... What!? What can we do after this?

Prevention and Fear

2006-03-13T09:13:00.000Z

"About 20% of women who receive invitations to carry through the gratuitous tracing to the cancer of the breast refuses with fear of the result...This is one of the conclusions of the Precocious Diagnostic study "of the Cancer of Breast valuation and practical of diagnosis", made for Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro (LPCC), Associação Laço (AL) and Sociedade Portuguesa de Senologia (SPS). "We cannot have distrust because surely we will have bigger consequences", informs Jorge Soares, of the SPS - remembering that in Portugal, each year, 4500 new cases appear. Moreover, the inquiry advances that about 40% of the women had not received the invitations for not being registered correctly in its centers of health.

The study, that used two samples of feminine population - of the áreas metropolitanas (AM) and the ones that are enclosed by the Programa Nacional de Rastreio (PNR) - discloses that a great level of information and knowledge exists on the substance. However, shows still a passive attitude to wait for medical suggestion or to consider that the examination only must be made in case that some symptoms exist, what can be fatal - an attitude adoptee for 10% of the inquired ones..

Thus, almost half of the resident women in AM and 40% of that they inhabit in districts enclosed for the PNR answer that the doctor never suggested the examination, while 27.9% of the first and 28% of the second affirm that they do not have symptoms. "It is a wrong idea to think that it is all good when danger is not around", it opposes Lynne Archibald, of the AL. The next step is to increase the number of tracked women. This study it is fit in the initiatives of Breast Cancer Month." (Diario de Noticias, 26.10.2005)

Why? In a country where the health system is not good, what takes a woman to reject the hypothesis to make, gratuitously, an examination that it can save her life?

The word 'cancer' always was frightful for all. The immediate reaction to this diagnosis is: "I am condemned to death". Despite the information and great therapeutic advances in the last years, the first reaction still is of desperation.

We all have some relative or friend who died of cancer. The hypothesis of this also happening to us is terrifying. And the reaction is: I do not want to know; I prefer not to know.

For more absurd than this reaction may seem, who can say, with full truth, that didn't live this doubt to make or to not make a mammogram or a Pap test? It seems unconsciousness? No, it is not. It is fear.

And because all of us have fear, it is very important to have certifications of success cases, therefore these examples only can help to exceed the barrier that we construct. And why are these cases of success? The time and the look ahead. We only gain the time making of the prevention a life question. Without blinking. Even if all our ghosts pull our head for the sand.

In this, as in all the areas of our life, the fear is the great enemy.

I can tell you the situation that lives, at this moment, a friend mine. She had removed a benign lump some years ago. Very little time ago, she passed again for a scare when another nodule, that was kept steady, unexpectedly started to grow and to assume very irregular contours. Who passed for this, must be able to imagine the anguish that she lived. Happily, the result of the biopsy was favorable and the fibroid was removed in a simple surgery.

But, she has not forgotten the episode and already another nodule is there for the service...

Which is her doubt at this moment? She doesn't feel like passing for everything another time! A little bit of calmness before dealing again with the anguish and the uncertainty. It is unconscious? Clearly not. She is a good example of a person who takes care of herself and makes everything in accordance with the rules. However, she is tired. And this fatigue could be fatal to her. I wait sincerely that it earns what she knows to be correct, despite the repetition of the torture.

What I want exactly to emphasize is that, excluding the extreme cases of total negligence, we enter in a misty zone of balance between the said normal life and the non paranoiac attention of our health. We know what is correct, but sometimes we are so tired...

Therefore, from here, I say to you all: Come on, it will just take a little longer!

Radiation

2006-02-27T15:23:00.000Z

I am about to start radiation.
Any special advice to give me?

It will take a little longer!

2006-02-19T15:20:00.000Z

Such as it is said in the heading of blog, this forum destines it women with breast cancer. To have a space to share our fragilities and our victories. It does not intend to teach anything or to substitute the several professionals who we have found along the way. This time is painful and all the support is little. Also it does not intend to be a wall of lamentations. Well, it just intends to be what it will be necessary that it is. It is our room of friendship.
I will give you a little of my history. Everything started in October 2005 when I discovered a "nodule". Immediately, I went to make a mammogram and an ultrasound. Followed by a set of appointments, exams, more appointments and more exams. Everything was prepared for the surgery. In this period, I passed for phases of feeling completely lost and with deep hope. Each day represented an authentic carousel of emotions.
Passed the surgery, followed by recovery, the uncertainty of the results of the analyses to the ganglia, to operated fabrics, the necessary treatments... At last, a new life always dealing with the uncertainty.
Tell your histories and mainly, share your experience and emotions. It was this that motivated me to create this blog.
Thank you.