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IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER VOLUME 3, ISSUE 13 APRIL 5, 2001 WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION 1. NEW STUDY FINDS NO LINK BETWEEN BREAST IMPLANTS AND IMMUNE-RELATED DISORDER Women with silicone gel or saline filled breast implants do not need to worry about an immune-related disorder known as MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance), according to a new study from Harvard Medical School. While most cases of MGUS do not warrant concern, approximately 20% of patients with MGUS eventually develop more serious conditions, including certain forms of cancer (such as multiple myeloma--a cancer of the plasma cells). The general use of silicone gel-filled breast implants was banned in the United States in 1992 after women reported immune-related disorders and other sicknesses. However, this latest study provides more data to show that silicone breast implants may not cause significant medical conditions. Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news4.03.01.asp 2. RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE WHETHER TIMING OF MAMMOGRAM COULD INFLUENCE ACCURACY A small study suggests that timing mammograms according to a woman’s menstrual cycle may help improve the accuracy of the exam.  According to the researchers, breast tissue is often less dense (and less tender) early in the menstrual cycle, and less density could make it easier to detect breast cancer on mammogram films.  However, the American Cancer Society finds limitations to the study and says that having a mammogram is more important than scheduling it to coincide with the early phase of the menstrual cycle.  Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news4.04.01.asp 3. SCIENTISTS STUDY LASER TECHNOLOGY TO HELP DETECT BREAST CANCER Scientists from Clemson University are developing an imaging system that uses laser technology to detect breast cancer without having to compress the breast. Although the research is still preliminary, the scientists are encouraged by early findings which show that their "optical tomographic imaging system" can distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous breast tumors. Further trials are expected to begin soon, some of which will compare laser imaging to standard x-ray mammography and other supplemental breast exams, including ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news3.29.01.asp 4. ADVANCES IN BREAST MRI: CASE STUDIES Breast imaging with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1991 to help detect breast cancer when used in conjunction with mammography. Breast MRI uses powerful magnetic fields and radiowaves to achieve views in any plane and from any orientation. MRI may be used as a problem-solving exam when a breast abnormality is detected by mammogram or physical exam. Because breast MRI has excellent contrast resolution, it is highly sensitive to small lesions. This article illustrates the latest advances in MRI breast imaging with specific cases studies. Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/mri_casestudy.asp 5. UNDERSTANDING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS - IN DEPTH Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that affects the central nervous system. There are 2,500,000 people in the world with MS and 350,000 people in the U.S. have MS. Women are affected by multiple sclerosis 50% more often than men are: the ratio of women to men suffers of multiple sclerosis is 3 to 2. This series of newly updated articles provides detailed information on MS including its causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis and treatment. Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/multiple-sclerosis/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BREAST CANCER DISCUSSION BOARD "After having breast cancer and going thru the whole 9 yards of surgery and treatment is it safe to say that you are cured or just in remission? I never know what to tell people that ask. i still have 4 years on tamoxifen." Click here to visit this discussion: http://www.imaginis.com/_private/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000416.html Click here to post or reply to other messages on the Imaginis discussion boards: http://www.imaginis.com/discussions/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEW IN THE IMAGINIS BOOKSTORE "Everything You Need to Know About Medical Tests" is the only consumer guide devoted exclusively to medical testing and provides complete information on more than 400 tests. Each entry gives a clear description of the test and why it is done, what happens before the test, what happens during and after the test, and whether the test has risks. It also gives sample "normal" and "abnormal" results and provides information on which additional tests may need to be performed. Click here to learn more about this book: http://www.imaginis.com/bookstore/breasthealth/medical_resources.asp#everything Click here to browse nearly 150 books in the Imaginis Breast Health Bookstore: http://www.imaginis.com/bookstore/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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/ Please visit the Imaginis.com website at http://www.imaginis.com/ 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 If you haven't already, please take a moment to send us your feedback! Your comments help us tailor our website and newsletter to meet the needs of our readers. Click here to fill out our online feedback form: http://www.imaginis.com/about/form.asp. Or if you prefer, send us feedback by email at mailto:breasthealth@imaginis.com To view the full articles in this newsletter, click on the underlined links (web addresses) following each summary. America Online (AOL) users may need to copy and paste the links in this newsletter into a web browser to view them. In some cases, the links following the summaries may not successfully retrieve the webpages if the address extends to more than one line. If this occurs, please copy the full text of the link and paste it into the address box in a web browser. Please note, Imaginis does not send "spam" email and will unsubscribe anyone upon request (see link below). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SIEMENS MEDICAL PROUDLY SPONSORS IMAGINIS.COM To learn more about Siemens involvement in women's health, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/siemens/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: INFORMATION IN THIS NEWSLETTER, WITHIN THE IMAGINIS.COM WEBSITE OR IN OTHER SITES LINKED TO FROM THE IMAGINIS.COM WEBSITE SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR SELF-TREATMENT. THE INFORMATION FOUND IN THIS NEWSLETTER, IN THE IMAGINIS.COM WEBSITE AND IN WEBSITES LINKED TO FROM THE IMAGINIS.COM WEBSITE SHOULD BE USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT BY A MEDICAL DOCTOR. USE OF THIS NEWSLETTER IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE FOUND ON IMAGINIS.COM AT http://www.imaginis.com/guestbook/agreement.asp . IMAGINIS.COM DOES NOT ENDORSE AND HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT OF ANY OTHER SITES LISTED ON IMAGINIS.COM, AND PROVIDES LINKS AND REFERENCES MERELY AS A CONVENIENCE TO ITS USERS. SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IF YOUR CONDITION IS URGENT. Copyright © 2001, Imaginis Corporation. All rights reserved.

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