Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter | Newsletter 2000 | Imaginis - The Women's Health & Wellness Resource Network

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Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter


IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 21
OCTOBER 5, 2000

Thousands of breast cancer patients, survivors and healthcare professionals receive the Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter, which is published by email every two weeks (every week during October 2000). 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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SIEMENS AND IMAGINIS PROUDLY SUPPORT NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, OCTOBER 2000

By proudly sponsoring Imaginis.com, Siemens is dedicated to providing comprehensive information and service to improve and advance women's health. To coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2000, Siemens and Imaginis have launched a new version of the awarding winning Imaginis.com website. Imaginis.com continues to provide the most comprehensive, up-to-date information on breast cancer prevention and screening, diagnosis and treatment, medical procedures, and related women's health topics.  Imaginis.com has also been expanded to include a section for healthcare professionals. Visit the newly redesigned Imaginis.com website at http://www.imaginis.com/. To learn more about Siemens involvement in women's health, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/siemens

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BREAST HEALTH NEWS

1. FDA PUBLISHES NEW HANDBOOK ON BREAST IMPLANTS
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a new brochure that addresses vital information on breast implants.  The 2000 government brochure entitled, "Breast Implants: An Information Update," discusses several aspects of breast implants, including which brands are currently FDA approved and the potential complications that may occur with breast implants.
Click here to read more and find out how to download the new handbook:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news9.13.00.asp

2. BREAST CANCER DEATH RATES DROP IN BRITAIN
Deaths from breast cancer have declined significantly in the 1990s in Britain, according to a new study. Researchers attribute the 21% decrease in breast cancer deaths to a national breast cancer mammography screening program that was implemented in the late 1980s. Better treatments, such as chemotherapy and the drug tamoxifen, also contributed to the decline in breast cancer deaths in England and Wales. Further declines in breast cancer deaths are expected in the next 10 years, according to the researchers.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news9.19.00.asp

3. CONTROVERSIAL STUDY FINDS MAMMOGRAPHY EQUAL TO CLINICAL EXAMS
A new study conducted by the National Breast Screening Study of Canada (NBSS) finds the number of deaths from breast cancer is nearly equal among women in their fifties, regardless of whether women have annual screening mammograms or simply have annual physician-performed clinical breast exams. The study contradicts previous studies, which show that annual screening mammography is responsible for a decrease in breast cancer deaths.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.02.00.asp

4. ADDITIONAL RADIATION DOSE MAY REDUCE BREAST CANCER RECURRENCE
Women with early stage breast cancer who receive an extra dose of radiation may significantly reduce their chances of developing breast cancer again, according to new research. The results of an international clinical trial show that women who receive an additional radiation boost after breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) and standard radiation therapy (typically six weeks) may reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence by nearly 50%.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.03.00b.asp

5. STUDY FINDS TAMOXIFEN MAY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE RISK OF UTERINE CANCER
The drug tamoxifen has been used for over 20 years to help treat breast cancer.  Recently, tamoxifen has also been approved by FDA to help prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease. Though researchers have known for some time that tamoxifen can increase a woman's risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus), a new study from the Netherlands finds that long-term use of tamoxifen may increase the risk for endometrial cancer by as much as 50%. Therefore, the researchers are cautioning physicians to think carefully before prescribing tamoxifen to healthy women as a preventive measure.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news9.14.00.asp

6. LYMPHEDEMA ALERT BRACELETS HELP BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS WHO HAD LYMPH NODES REMOVED
With the help of the National Lymphedema Network (NLN), Karin Douglas, a breast cancer survivor and lymphedema activist, has created a Lymphedema Alert bracelet and necklace to protect breast cancer survivors from receiving treatment on their affected arm. Lymphedema (chronic swelling) of the arm is a side effect of breast cancer surgery, particularly if some or all of the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes were removed.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.03.00a.asp

7. IMAGINIS MEDICAL EDITOR TO HOST BREAST HEALTH FORUM
Breast surgeon and Imaginis medical editor, Hannah Brooks, MD, FACS will be hosting the Breast Health Forum on Self Magazine's Phys.com during the week of October 16, 2000. Dr. Brooks is director of the Breast Surgical Service at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Hospital at Forest Hills, New York. Visit Phys.com during the week of October 16 to ask Dr. Brooks your breast health questions.
Click here to visit the Phys.com Breast Health Forum:
http://www4.phys.com/apps/physforums/get.cgi/forums/selfbreasthealth.html

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IMAGINIS.COM PATIENT AND PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS

The Imaginis Discussions have been designed to help promote the discussion of a variety of women's health topics, including breast cancer, medical imaging and related health topics. The Patient Discussions are designed to bring women together who have shared similar experiences. Breast cancer patients, survivors, and all women interested in breast health issues are encouraged to participate in the Patient Discussions. In addition, Imaginis has recently added a Professional Discussion section to bring physicians and other health care providers together to discuss the latest women's health issues.
Click here to visit the Imaginis.com Discussions:
http://www.imaginis.com/discussions/

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THIS NEWSLETTER IS DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF SUSAN S. BAILIS, HEALTHCARE PIONEER (1946 - 2000)

After many years as a nationally recognized health care administrator, Susan Bailis personally launched the Susan S. Bailis Cancer Research Fund to help fund much needed research on less publicized aspects of breast cancer, such as the environmental causes of the disease.  Susan Bailis was a Trustee of Brandeis University and was Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Simmons College, among other her public and private services that benefited her communities.

Susan Bailis was a friend of Imaginis.com and will be sorely missed by all who knew of her professional and charitable works. Susan lived for many years in the Boston area and was eulogized by an article in The Boston Globe on September 28, 2000.

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WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!

If you have questions, comments or suggestions regarding this newsletter or about your subscription status, please email us at mailto:breasthealth@imaginis.com.

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