IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 18
MAY 17, 2001

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION

1.  ALL NEW SECTION ON HEART DISEASE
While it is a common misconception that cardiovascular disease is a man’s disease, the fact is that heart disease kills more women each year than breast cancer and all other cancers combined. To help create awareness and educate women about heart disease, Imaginis has created an all new, in-depth section on cardiovascular disease and related issues. Topics include coronary artery disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure, congenital heart defects, heart rhythm disorders, aortic aneurysm, and more.
Click here to visit the heart disease section:
http://www.imaginis.com/heart-disease/

2. ADVANCES IN DRUG THERAPY FOR BREAST CANCER
At the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) held this May in San Francisco, California, physicians and healthcare professionals discussed a variety of advances in drug therapies for breast cancer. In addition, several recently published studies have also helped shed new light on the advantages and disadvantages of treating breast cancer with drugs.  This article summarizes recent research on drug therapy for breast cancer, including new information on tamoxifen, Aromasin, Femara, chemotherapy regimens, Paxil, and more.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news5.17.01.asp

3. STUDIES CONTINUE TO SHOW NO BENEFIT OF HIGH-DOSE CHEMOTHERAPY/BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS FOR BREAST CANCER PATIENTS
High-dose chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant remains a controversial experimental treatment for breast cancer. While some researchers believe this treatment may be the only viable option for some women with advanced (metastatic) breast cancer, others do not see any clear benefit to the therapy. High-dose chemotherapy received negative attention in early 2000 when a South African researcher admitted to falsifying results of a study that showed high dose chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplants benefits advanced breast cancer patients. Now, several recent studies have also failed to find any increase in survival time for breast cancer patients who undergo high-dose chemotherapy.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news5.16.01.asp

4. SCIENTISTS USE ADULT STEM CELLS TO REPAIR HEART ATTACK DAMAGE IN MICE
Scientists recently made a promising advance in heart disease research when they discovered that it is possible to repair cells damaged from a heart attack with adult stem cells taken from the bone marrow of mice. The research, conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and New York Medical College, is the first of its kind to show that stem cells could become functional heart muscle cells. Though the research is in preliminary stages, the scientists are encouraged by the positive results and see great potential for using adult stem cells in treating human patients.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/heart-disease/news/news5.11.01.asp

5. EXPERIMENTAL OSTEOPOROSIS DRUG SHOWS PROMISE, MAY SOON BE AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC
A new drug called Forteo (generic name, teriparatide) may soon be the first FDA approved drug that actually helps form new bone in patients with osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease. In a newly published study, Forteo significantly reduced the incidence of spinal and non-spinal fractures and increased bone mineral density in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis. Forteo is identical to a portion of the human parathyroid protein, a hormone responsible for bone formation.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/osteoporosis/news/news5.14.2001.asp

6. FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Fibrocystic breast condition can be characterized by breast lumps, tenderness, cysts, areas of thickening, fibrosis, and/or pain. The non-cancerous condition is the most common cause of non-cancerous breast lumps in women between 30 and 50 years of age and affects more than 50% of all women at some point in their lives. This article explains what causes fibrocystic breasts, how the condition can be diagnosed and treated, and discusses breast health guidelines for women with fibrocystic breasts.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/fibrocystic_breasts.asp

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VISIT THE ALL NEW POST-MASTECTOMY PRODUCTS SECTION ON IMAGINIS!

*In-depth information on breast prostheses and mastectomy bras
*Tips about prescriptions, prices, and insurance coverage for these products
*Comprehensive directory of where to find manufacturers and shops

Click here to visit the post-mastectomy products section:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/post_mastectomy.asp

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BREAST CANCER DISCUSSION BOARD

"I've been on Tamoxifen for almost two months now. Over the last two weeks I've been able to sleep less and less. I sleep for 2-3 hours and then wake up every hour or so. Is this common with Tamoxifen? Has anyone else had this experience? Has anything helped? Melatonin? I work during the day so this is beginning to take its toll. Any info or ideas would be greatly appreciated."

Click here to visit this discussion:
http://www.imaginis.com/_private/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000437.html

Click here to post or reply to other messages on the Imaginis discussion boards:
http://www.imaginis.com/discussions/

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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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Imaginis.com is an independent, award-winning, comprehensive 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 breast health content is edited by 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

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SIEMENS MEDICAL PROUDLY SPONSORS IMAGINIS.COM

To learn more about Siemens involvement in women's health, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/siemens/

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