IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 19
MAY 24, 2001

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION

1. RESEARCHERS EXPLORE ISSUE OF WEIGHT GAIN IN CHEMOTHERAPY PATIENTS
Weight gain can be a common side effect in breast cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy.  Previous studies have shown that these patients typically gain between five and 14 pounds during treatment. Now, a new study has found that the cause of weight gain from chemotherapy may not be caused by overeating but by a lack of physical activity. The researchers found that women who underwent chemotherapy had notable changes in body composition. The researchers make suggestions on how weight gain during chemotherapy might be avoided.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news5.18.01.asp

2. NEW GUIDELINES EMPHASIZE AGGRESSIVE MEASURES TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL IN MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
New U.S. government guidelines recommend a more aggressive approach for treating high cholesterol and preventing heart disease in millions of women and men. In addition to more emphasis on low-fat diets and exercise, the guidelines call for an increase in the number of people that need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs from 13 million Americans to an estimated 36 million. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, if the new guidelines are followed, the incidence of heart disease could be reduced by as much as 30% to 40%.
Click here to read the new guidelines:
http://www.imaginis.com/heart-disease/news/news5.21.01.asp

3. RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE WHETHER MAMMASTATIN PROTEIN CAN HELP IDENTIFY WOMEN AT RISK OF BREAST CANCER
A protein called mammastatin is being studied to determine whether it can help predict which women are likely to develop breast cancer. First identified in 1986, mammastatin is thought to be produced naturally by breast cells. Research has shown that the mammastatin protein may be absent or present in significantly lower than average levels in many breast cancer patients. Genesis Bioventures has announced plans to receive FDA regulatory approval to make a Mammastatin Serum Assay (MSA) test available at select laboratories in the United States. The MSA test would measure levels of mammastatin in healthy women to determine whether the test is accurate in determining breast cancer risk.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news5.22.01.asp

4. DUCTAL LAVAGE - NEW TEST FOR BREAST CANCER?
Ductal lavage is a new procedure that involves collecting samples of breast ducts cells and then examining the cells under a microscope to determine whether they are normal or precancerous. The goal of ductal lavage is to determine whether breast ducts cells have certain abnormal characteristics which may cause them to develop into cancer at a later date. Currently, ductal lavage is available at a handful of locations across the United States. This article discusses how ductal lavage is performed and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/ductal_lavage.asp

5. TREATING OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease that affects mostly post-menopausal women. There are several treatments to help decrease bone loss and prevent bone fractures that can occur with osteoporosis. This article describes new and standard treatments for osteoporosis, including hormone replacement therapy, drug therapies (Evista, Fosamax, Miacalcin, Actonel), surgery, and more.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/osteoporosis/osteo_treatment.asp

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VISIT THE ALL NEW CLINICAL TRIALS SECTION ON IMAGINIS!

*In-depth information about pros and cons of entering a trial
*Definitions of common terms used with trials
*Comprehensive list of resources to find relevant trials

Click here to visit the clinical trials section:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/clinical_trials.asp

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BREAST CANCER DISCUSSION BOARD

"I have been experiencing swelling and discomfort in my reconstructed breast (surgery last October following mastectomy in May 2000) and think that I can feel a lump in the side of my breast.... What are the chances of this happening and what happens if it has? I had the muscle from my back used to reconstruct together with a permanent prosthesis. Will they remove this. Do I have to do the chemo route again? I feel so depressed and the next couple days are going to be horrendous. Thanks for any advice you can give."

Click here to visit this discussion:
http://www.imaginis.com/_private/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000441.html

Click here to post or reply to messages on the 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 a team of people including an expert breast imager and a breast surgeon. To learn more about the Imaginis.com Breast Health Team and Editorial Board, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/about/breast_health_team.asp

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