Lymphland's lymphedema in the news 2010 (2024)

Everyday people do have a voice in the
government - Richmond County Daily Journal - by Larry Kissell -
Monday,
January 25, 2010 -
We
hear a lot about the people not having a role in their government. There is a
feeling that laws aren’t
written
with the average person in mind.

I
want to share the stories behind three pieces of legislation I have or will
introduce in the coming weeks.
Each
one of these bills was born out of ideas presented by constituents right here
at home. I am proud to
introduce
the legislation and even prouder to represent the folks who brought these
issues to my attention.

The
first bill would have an impact on veterans across this country. My staff and I
were contacted by a 100
percent
permanently disabled American veteran who voiced his concerns about the vast
difference in
benefits
offered by states to 100 percent permanently disabled veterans. While some
states provide a very
robust
package of benefits, demonstrating its commitment and appreciation for its
disabled veterans, other
states’
benefits packages are lacking in comparison.

The
most bothersome is that despite North Carolina’s large veteran population, our
state’s benefit package
is
far from what our veterans deserve. Our veterans have answered our nation’s
call for duty and served this
country
with honor and distinction. They deserve the very best benefit package we can
offer.

After
hearing this concern, I am sponsoring a bill to create a commission to review
each state’s current
disabled
veterans benefits package, compare the packages and rank each state based on
the benefits it
offers
to 100 percent permanently disabled veterans. This commission will provide
recommendations to
Congress
and each state on how to make each state’s package comparable across the
country.

The
second bill came about when a constituent visited our office to voice her
concerns about lymphedema
and
the denial of coverage for treatment of this devastating disease. Her son
suffers from the disease, and
she
had fought to see that he receives the treatment he needs.

Lymphedema
is a chronic disease caused by a weakened lymphatic system, and can be
hereditary or
caused
by a secondary reason such as injury to the lymph nodes. Many cancer patients
suffer from
lymphedema
which causes lymphatic fluid to collect in the limbs and cause swelling. The
swelling can
become
permanent if not treated.

Yet,
coverage for treatment is routinely denied by insurance companies as well as
Medicare and Medicaid.
Complications
from the disease if left untreated can range from severe deformity, disability,
pain and can
even
lead to death. Luckily, treatment is covered for breast cancer patients under
the Women’s Health and
Cancer
Act, but others suffering from the disease fight an uphill battle just to get
coverage for treatment.

Our
constituent has already worked with the state to mandate insurance companies to
provide coverage for
lymphedema
treatment in North Carolina with the help of Representative Tricia Cotham, but
her concern is
the thousands
of people across the country that fight on a daily basis to get their insurance
companies to
cover
this badly-needed treatment. States which have mandated the coverage have
proven that covering the
treatment
leads to lower medical expenses caused by complications of the
disease.

We
must right that wrong, and make sure that people living with this disease are
granted access to the
treatments
they need. We hope to introduce this important legislation to mandate coverage
for lymphedema
treatment
in the coming weeks.

The third piece of legislation came straight from a couple in Stanly County. This couple trains service dogs,
and
they wanted to voice their concerns about allowing service dogs in training
access to the areas where
normally
only service dogs at work would be allowed. This would allow service dogs to
receive the best
training
in the areas where they will actually be working.

Service
dogs provide invaluable help to those they serve, allowing individuals freedoms
that their disability
might
not afford them otherwise. It is critical that these animals receive the best
training in any and all areas
they
will go while working.

I
introduced H.R. 4378 which would amend the Americans with Disabilities Act to
require that the access to
transportation
and public accommodations be afforded to trainers and handlers of service
animals as is
afforded
under the ADA to individuals with disabilities who use such service animals.
This gives the trainers
and
handlers the ability to better train and prepares service dogs for their future
uses.

These
extraordinary folks saw a need and petitioned their government and I am doing
all I can to make sure
that
their idea becomes law. Their causes aren’t just about what they need, but
about helping thousands of
others
who are living with the same problem or facing the same challenges.

I
am making sure their voices and yours are heard in Washington.

Congressman
Larry Kissell (D-N.C. -8) offices include Rockingham: 230 East Franklin St.,
Rockingham,
NC
28379, Phone: 997-2070; Concord number (704) 786-1612; Fayetteville number
(910) 920-2070;
Washington
office: 512 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; phone (202)
225-3715.
Web
site, kissell.house.gov

ImmunoGen
cancer treatment receives 'orphan drug' status from US ... - Gaea Times -
Monday, March 8,
2010
ImmunoGen
cancer drug gets ‘orphan drug’ status
WALTHAM,
Mass. — ImmunoGen Inc. said Monday the Food and Drug Administration and
European
regulators
gave the company’s potential cancer drug IMGN901 “orphan drug”
status.
Orphan
drug status is given to drugs aimed at rare conditions or conditions that have
a lack of treatments on
the
market. Incentives in the U.S. include seven years of market exclusivity
following FDA approval,
assistance
in clinical trial design, a reduction in user fees, and tax credits. European
incentives include similar
benefits,
with 10 years of market exclusivity.
The
special designation covers IMGN901’s use as a treatment for Merkel cell
carcinoma, which is a rare
type
of aggressive cancer that develops beneath the skin.
Shares
of Immunogen rose 38 cents, or 5.2 percent, to $7.75 in after-hours trading
after rising 27 cents, or
3.8
percent, to close at $7.37 during the regular trading session.

`Sentinel'
First Defence Against Breast Cancer - Bru Direct - Monday, March 8, 2010
-
Zareena
Amiruddin
Bandar
Seri Begawan - A less-drastic option than the traditional surgery undertaken in
the diagnosis and
treatment
of early-stage breast cancer is now available, a guest speaker said at the
recently-held Malaysian
Healthcare
Seminar at the International Convention Centre.Dr Harjit Kaur, a breast and
endocrine
consultant
and surgeon front the Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC) in Kuala Lumpur,
explained to The
Brunei
Times that PCMC was the first and is still the only hospital in Malaysia to
perform sentinel lymph
node
(SLN) biopsy.
A
lymph node is an organ of the immune system which traps cancer cells, bacteria
or other harmful antigens.
Groups
of lymph nodes are found in the neck, armpits, chest, abdomen and
groin.
The
SLN, Dr Kaur explained, is what doctors call the first lymph node to trap
cancer cells that are
spreading
from the primary tumour.
"Breast
cancer surgery is not just the breast surgery, the most important part is the
axillary (armpit) lymph
node
surgery," explained Dr Kaur.
Axillary
surgery is important in determining whether the cancer has spread to the lymph
nodes and for
determining
whether the cancer is stage one, two, three or four, she added.
"Traditionally
axillary surgery requires removing about two-thirds of lymph nodes in the
armpit. That's quite a
radical
dissection in the armpit," she said.
Dr
Kaur said that doing this exposes patients to many complications, including
stiff shoulders, pain,
numbness,
loss of efficiency of the arm and, most dreaded, lymphedema, the swelling
caused by excess fluid
buildup,
which is experienced by 20 per cent of women who undergo the surgery.
"When
you are able to identify the first lymph node that 'drains the breast' (starts
trapping cancer cells from
the
breast), you are able to determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
So the principle is: if the
lymph
node is cancer-free, one need not have the full axillary surgery," she
said.
"This
spares a large number of women from undergoing unnecessary (surgery) and ending
up with
problems,"
she added.
Dr
Kaur said that most women who have undergone traditional axillary surgery have
found the lymph nodes
removed
to be free of cancer.
By
delivering her presentation in Brunei, Dr Kaur said she hoped to give the
public more options for their
medical
Cart Asked about cost, Dr Kaur said the simplest of surgeries to the most
complicated could range
from
around RM12,000 (about $5,000) to RM20,000 (about $8,300).-- Courtesy of The
Brunei Times

MU
Researchers Collaborate to Develop Standard of Care for Breast ... -
Healthcanal.com - , Thursday,
February
11, 2010,

MU
Researchers Collaborate to Develop Standard of Care for Breast Cancer Survivors
with
LymphedemaMU
Researchers Collaborate to Develop Standard of Care for Breast Cancer Survivors
with
Lymphedema

COLUMBIA,
Mo. – Lymphedema, a chronic swelling condition that can appear after breast
cancer
surgery,
is a risk for 1.3 million breast cancer survivors. Although lymphedema can
cause lifelong swelling in
the
arms, back, neck and chest, there is no national standard of diagnosis or care.
Now, University of
Missouri
researchers are leading the American Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP), a
national, multi-
disciplinary
collaboration to develop comprehensive guidelines for the assessment,
treatment, and
management
of lymphedema.

“We
can’t cure lymphedema today – we can only manage it,” said Jane Armer, MU
nursing professor and
director
of the project at the MU Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. “Lymphedema is a complex,
chronic
condition.
Currently, there are inconsistent approaches to care for lymphedema, and often
the most common
form
of self-management is to not treat it at all.”
The
ALFP, established in 2008, has two main goals: establish a best practices
document with evidence-
based
lymphedema treatment guidelines for health practitioners, and create a minimum
data set of all
available
lymphedema research and clinical data. The ALFP researchers plan to publish the
best practices
document
in 2011.
“Part
of why there isn’t a standard of care is the lack of reliance on current
evidence by health practitioners
and
third party payers, which in turn causes problems with reimbursem*nt from
health insurance companies.
Many
people with lymphedema have to pay out-of-pocket for care,” Armer said. “There
isn’t a clear,
national
consensus for how to diagnose lymphedema and when to start treating it. The
ALFP collaborators
aim
to document a standard of care reflecting a consensus on best practices that
will help solve these
problems.”
Researchers,
including those at MU, have found that the most effective method of care for
lymphedema is
complete
decongestive physiotherapy, in which therapists use specialized lymphatic
massage techniques to
reduce
protein-rich fluid buildup. Bandages and compression garments also help to
reduce swelling.
One of Armer’s
innovations at MU is measuring patients’ arms with a perometer, a machine that
was first
used
to fit garments for swollen limbs. First implemented in a research setting at
MU, the machine has a large
optoelectric
frame that glides over a patient’s arm, scans its image and records an
estimated limb volume
reading.
Perometer measurement is as, or more, accurate than several previous methods to
measure arm
circumference
and volume. The machine is now used in about 20 sites across the
country.
Highlights
of MU Sinclair School of Nursing research from the past 10 years reveal that
there is a 40
percent
higher risk of developing lymphedema in women with a body mass index (BMI)
classified as
overweight
or obese compared to normal-weight women. The researchers also found that
younger patients
may
have less occurrence of the condition but tend to report more symptoms, which
could be a result of
psychological
and aging-related factors.
“In
addition to our previous findings, we’re currently studying whether there are
any genetic factors that
increase
the risk of lymphedema,” Armer said. “A pilot study now underway and a proposed
multi-site
research
study will look at the possibility of genetic predisposition for secondary
lymphedema. The results
could
be applied to cancer treatment in which surgery and radiation affect the
lymphatic system.”
In
recognition of the leadership in lymphedema research at MU, the ALFP is housed
at the MU Ellis Fischel
Cancer
Center. Armer’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is
published in several
journals,
including the Journal of Lymphoedema; Lymphology; Lymphatic Research and
Biology; and the
Journal
of Cancer Survivorship, and presented at conferences throughout the world. The
activities of the
ALFP
have been funded by industry partnerships and grants from the American Cancer
Society through The
Longaberger
Company, a direct-selling company offering home products, and the Longaberger
Horizon of
Hope
Campaign, which provided a grant for breast cancer research and
education

Breast
cancer survivor, advocate honored - Quad City Times - Wednesday, February 17,
2010, - Deirdre
Cox
Baker
Shortly
after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy, Roxanne
Kramer found
herself
shivering in a department store fitting room, a slew of brassiere boxes stacked
at her feet.
There
was no place to sit, and the store’s personal fitter had the day off. Kramer
was alone, scared and a
little
angry.
“I
had no idea how to proceed,” she said. “It was so, so hard to figure all this
out by myself.”
That
was in 1980, when Kramer was 34 years old and the mother of four small
children. Doctors had found
a
large tumor and excised one breast in an effort to prevent the cancer from
spreading.
At
that time, there was no place in the Quad-Cities for breast cancer survivors to
buy specially fitted bras or
prosthetics.
So, Kramer founded a breast cancer support group with and for women in similar

circ*mstances.
After a few years, she and a partner started the Always A Woman boutique in
downtown
Moline
that caters to breast cancer survivors.
Now
63, she will be celebrated for her vision and service with a new honor — the
Roxanne Kramer Award
—
established in her name by the Trinity Health Foundation’s Stylin’ Against
Breast Cancer planning
committee.
The creation of the award will be announced at a news conference today, and
nominations are
being
taken by the foundation until March 12.
“We
have an icon right here in our community,” said Berlinda Tyler-Jamison, the
president of the Trinity
Health
Foundation. “It just seems like the right thing to do.”

Something
to be talked about
Kramer
knew that breast cancer was not something openly discussed in polite society
during the 1980s, but
she
scoffed at convention. “I didn’t care that it was a closet disease,” she
said.
She
had no time to rest while mothering her four children, all of whom were younger
than 10 years old at the
time.
Yet she found little solace for her personal pain. That’s when a friend called
to talk about how she also
had
breast cancer and went to the same doctor as Kramer. The two chatted for
hours.
Then
they learned of two other survivors and the group of four gathered for coffee.
“We talked, shared
concerns
and laughed. Cancer jokes are funny to us, but not to people who haven’t had
the disease,” she
said.
Some
publicity followed, and the group quickly increased to 90 members. Today, the
Quad-City Breast
Cancer
& Lymphedema Support Group is comprised of almost 2,000 area
women.
Kramer
also is involved with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, Race for the
Cure events and,
most
visibly, the annual fundraising fashion show called Stylin’ Against Breast
Cancer. “Our community is
very
lucky to have all these events to promote cancer awareness,” she
said.

Loyal
survivors
A
celebration at Kramer’s boutique gave Tyler-Jamison the idea for the Roxanne
Kramer Award.
“I
went to the open house for the 25th anniversary of Always A Woman, and I was
just stunned by the
number
of people who were there,” Tyler-Jamison said. “The women filled the shop and
sidewalk, and they
were
all survivors. All had been helped by the shop, and all were there to honor
Roxanne.”
Kramer
started small with her business. In 1984, it was part of a pharmacy. In 1989,
she and JoAnn
Wandry
launched Always A Woman at the Moline location on 17th Street near 4th Avenue.
Kramer bought
out
Wandry in 1995, but the two remain friends.
Always
A Women sells specialty bras and support lingerie, wigs, head wear, swimsuits
and prostheses.
Kramer’s
own 1980 experience has not been forgotten: The boutique includes spacious and
comfortable
fitting
rooms with tables and chairs. All employees are certified fitters, and their
certification is renewed
regularly.
One
of the store’s loyal customers is Pat Steffe of Colona, Ill. She lost both
breasts to surgery as she battled
cancer
about 20 years ago. A nurse told her about Always A Woman, and Steffe found
great support from
the
store’s employees.
“It’s
a place where they know what they are talking about, and about what you need.
They also know how
you
feel,” she said. “You start out feeling like a deformed person, but then you
find out how many women
are
just like you.”
Tyler-Jamison
admires Kramer’s energy and can-do attitude. “Roxanne Kramer is a force of
nature,” she
said.
Kramer
is humbled by the implications of the new award. The store and its focus are a
lasting reflection of
her
life. “It is a very fulfilling career,” she said. “You help someone and then
they hug you and thank you.
That’s
very therapeutic to me.”
Steffe
was not surprised to learn about the honor being bestowed. “Such an award for
Roxanne Kramer is
long
overdue,” she said.

Lakeshore
update - Herald Times Reporter - Saturday, February 13, 2010 -
Lakeshore
update
Leibham
holding input sessions

Herald
Times Reporter - Manitowoc, Wis.
Date:
Feb 13, 2010
Start
Page: A.2
Section:
MAN
Text
Word Count: 464

Abstract
(Document Summary)
Holy Family
Memorial's lymphedema therapy program has moved from the health network's
Harbor Town
Campus
to its medical center, 2300 Western Ave. Becky Blanke, a certified lymphedema
therapist will be
available
three days a week

'Race
for the cure': Susan G. Komen walk a major breast cancer ... - North Fort Myers
Neighbor -
Saturday,
February 13, 2010 - By MCKENZIE CASSIDY -
‘Race
for the cure’: Susan G. Komen walk a major breast cancer fund raiser
Each
year Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure raises hundreds of thousands of dollars
in local funding to
support
breast cancer initiatives in Southwest Florida. One of the largest cancer
fund-raising events in the
five
counties, the race includes more than 8,000 runners and 700 breast cancer
survivors who walk or run 5-
kilometers
or close to 3 miles. The 2010 event is scheduled for March 13 at Coconut Point
in Estero and
organizers
are hoping to raise more than last year’s $914,000. “Unfortunately, the need in
the community
has
risen and we have had more request than ever for financial support from our
partners,” said Miriam
Ross,
executive director of Komen for the Cure in Southwest Florida. “I hope the
community will come out
and
be supportive and help us raise the money necessary.” The organization has come
along way since its
inception
in 2002 when they gave out $5,000 worth of grants in their first year. Now they
are raising close
to
$1 million per event and funnel the proceeds to local organizations working
with people who are
diagnosed
with breast cancer. Ross said that requests from agencies have steadily
increased each year. Last
year
there were $1.8 million worth of grant requests and the organization gave out
its largest amount ever,
$963,000.
The Susan G. Komen affiliate has contributed more than $3 million to the
community and put $1
million
to new research in the field. Susan G. Komen has affiliates across the nation
also raising money to
help
both women and men. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women,
according to the
American
Cancer Society, and although it is rare in men, cases do exist. The ACS
estimates that 192,370
new
cases of female breast cancer were diagnosed across the United States in 2009.
In Florida that
amounts
to 11,850 new cases with an estimated 2,760 who likely will lose their battle.
Leesa Crapa, 48,
moved
to Cape Coral two years ago from Memphis, Tenn. Last June she found a lump in
her breast and
even
though she didn’t have health insurance, she contacted Lee County’s Partners
for Breast Cancer Care.
This
organization pays for breast cancer screening and treatment for men or women
who don’t have health
insurance
or are underinsured. “I found a lump and, not having any insurance, I went to
Partners for Breast
Cancer
Care and they told me about Dara Leichter,” said Crapa. Besides paying for her
healthcare needs,
Partners
for Breast Cancer Care connected Crapa with a breast health navigator named
Dara Leichter.
Working
for Lee Memorial Health System’s Breast C.A.R.E. (Cancer Assistance Resource
Expansion)
Program,
she assists patients with paperwork, and filing for assistance, as well as
education, guidance and
counseling.
“She had all of the paperwork ready and when it came back as malignant, it was a
matter of like
24
hours, and I was covered retroactively,” said Crapa. Leichter is the only
navigator in Lee County, said
Crapa,
and is typically busy assisting patients across the county. Months later she
helped Crapa through the
challenging
process of undergoing a mastectomy. Finding out she had breast cancer has
brought Crapa’s life
“to
a halt.” She takes intravenous drips of treatment once every week and has seven
weeks to go. Even
after
that round of medication she is unclear when she’ll be able to work again or
return to the life she had
before
finding the lump. But, she is grateful to the local organizations for their
help. “They saved my life,” she
said.
Partners for Breast Cancer Care and the Breast C.A.R.E. Program both receive
funding from Susan
G.
Komen. Leichter’s organization received $209,350 in grant money last year while
Partners for Breast
Cancer
Care was given $207,100. This year’s race features honorary chair James Denton,
an actor who
stars
on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.” Southwest Florida Ford dealers are also
offering a free 2010
Ford
Fusion Hybrid to the winner of “Think Pink, Drive Green” sweepstakes. Local
residents can enter the
drawing
at one of the regional dealerships and the drawing will be at the race. Ford
dealers are also donating
$20
for every sweepstakes entrant, with a maximum of $20,000, to the Race for the
Cure. For more
information
about the race or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, visit
www.komenswfl.org.

Yahoo!
Alerts
MU
Researchers Collaborate to Develop Standard of Care for Breast Cancer Survivors
with Lymphedema
-
Kansas City InfoZine Fri, 12 Feb 2010 -
Lymphedema,
a chronic swelling condition that can appear after breast cancer surgery, is a
risk for 1.3
million
breast cancer survivors.

Columbia,
MO - infoZine - Although lymphedema can cause lifelong swelling in the arms,
back, neck and
chest,
there is no national standard of diagnosis or care. Now, University of Missouri
researchers are leading
the
American Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP), a national, multi-disciplinary
collaboration to
develop
comprehensive guidelines for the assessment, treatment, and management of
lymphedema.

The
ALFP, established in 2008, has two main goals: establish a best practices
document with evidence-
based
lymphedema treatment guidelines for health practitioners, and create a minimum
data set of all
available
lymphedema research and clinical data. The ALFP researchers plan to publish the
best practices
document
in 2011.

“Part
of why there isn’t a standard of care is the lack of reliance on current
evidence by health practitioners
and
third party payers, which in turn causes problems with reimbursem*nt from
health insurance companies.
Many
people with lymphedema have to pay out-of-pocket for care,” Armer said. “There
isn’t a clear,
national
consensus for how to diagnose lymphedema and when to start treating it. The
ALFP collaborators
aim
to document a standard of care reflecting a consensus on best practices that
will help solve these
problems.”

Researchers,
including those at MU, have found that the most effective method of care for
lymphedema is
complete
decongestive physiotherapy, in which therapists use specialized lymphatic
massage techniques to
reduce
protein-rich fluid buildup. Bandages and compression garments also help to
reduce swelling.

One
of Armer’s innovations at MU is measuring patients’ arms with a perometer, a
machine that was first
used
to fit garments for swollen limbs. First implemented in a research setting at
MU, the machine has a large
optoelectric
frame that glides over a patient’s arm, scans its image and records an
estimated limb volume
reading.
Perometer measurement is as, or more, accurate than several previous methods to
measure arm
circumference
and volume. The machine is now used in about 20 sites across the
country.

Highlights
of MU Sinclair School of Nursing research from the past 10 years reveal that
there is a 40
percent
higher risk of developing lymphedema in women with a body mass index (BMI)
classified as
overweight
or obese compared to normal-weight women. The researchers also found that
younger patients
may
have less occurrence of the condition but tend to report more symptoms, which
could be a result of
psychological
and aging-related factors.

“In
addition to our previous findings, we’re currently studying whether there are
any genetic factors that
increase
the risk of lymphedema,” Armer said. “A pilot study now underway and a proposed
multi-site
research
study will look at the possibility of genetic predisposition for secondary
lymphedema. The results
could
be applied to cancer treatment in which surgery and radiation affect the
lymphatic system.”

SCC
alum writes 'Plus- Sized' hit - Solano Tempest - Wednesday, February 10, 2010
-By Kris Jones -
Voluptuous,
curvaceous, stacked: When it comes to finding words to describe the
full-figured woman,
Kamane
Malvo Marshall believes a rose by any other name smells just as sweet. For
Marshall, however,
the
road to redemption and acceptance has not been the easiest to travel.

In
her new book, “Praise Be to the Plus-Sized Sister: Stories of Redemption for
Full-Figured Women with
Modern-Day
Issues,” Marshall, the self-proclaimed president of the Plus-Sized Sister
Movement, tells the
story
of seven full-figured African American women--her way.

“I
kept seeing these images about big black women on television that I didn’t
agree with,” said Marshall.
“Either
we had to be the buffoon or were somebody evil.”

For
Marshall, who graduated from Solano Community College with an English degree
and Cal State
University
Hayward with a degree in communications, writing was a passion. Over the years
she had
written
short stories about full-figured African American women and the tribulations
they faced with others
and
within themselves.
She
decided she would make a book out of the stories in one of the most unlikely of
places, an Emergency
Room
hospital bed.

In
April 2008, Marshall received emergency care for stage two lymphedema, a
condition in which the body
retains
extra fluid and causes swelling. Marshall had been undergoing treatment due to
Grave’s disease, also
known
as hyperthyroidism.
However,
her lymphedema, caused by the treatment, had been misdiagnosed by her
physicians. By the time
doctors
realized what was actually occurring, Marshall’s condition had caused
congestive heart failure.

“They
kept wanting to say, ‘Oh, you’re fat,” said Marshall. As she laid on what had
almost become her
death
bed, she had an out of body experience, and a conversation with God.

“I
said, ‘Lord God, there are so many things that I have yet to do.’ And I said,
’If you give me a second
chance,
I won’t run from you no more, I’ll get out them streets, and I’ll stop running
from my destiny and
from
you.”

For
a full year Marshall began to pull from the characters of her previously
written short stories and even
added
some of her own story to her book. Each character, though connected through
friendship or family
ties,
was at a different stage in her life, and each took the journey of spiritual
discovery and self healing.
After
completion of the book,Marshall decided to take the Plus-Sized Women Movement
to the next step.
She
began motivational speaking and even a comedy routine for her alter-ego,
Queenie TT. On stage she is
both
energetic and unapologetic about her true self, from the inside out.

“I
have so much to say and so much to give because I’ve suffered,” said Marshall.
“But to suffer is to gain,
and
suffering makes you very creative.”

Of
all the lessons Marshall has learned and shared, she says the most important is
self love, no matter one’s
physical
features. Marshall believes that learning how to accept ourselves teaches us to
accept others. We
might
even learn from each other.

“Barbie
can teach me to eat a salad,” said Marshall. “But I can teach Barbie how to
love herself even if she
can’t
fit into that size six!”

Marshall’s
book can be found at Barnes and Noble Bookstores or online at amazon.com and
xlibris.com

Marshall’s
stand-up comedy routines can be seen at numerous venues around the Bay Area, as
well as on
youtube.com
at http://www.youtube.com/user/kamanemarshall1

Integrated
dance program for kids - The Suburban - Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - By Mike
Cohen -
A
new program of integrated dance will be offered for free at the Westmount YMCA
starting March 28.
The
program, a first in Montreal, is designed to promote social interaction between
six to nine-year old
children
with physical special needs, and children who do not have special needs in the
context of dance.
On
Sunday, March 21 (3 p.m.), Michelle Zitomer, a dance educator who initiated the
pilot project, will give
an
information session at the Y (4585 Sherbrooke St. West) for parents.
Michelle
holds an undergraduate degree in dance education and a Quebec teaching permit
for dance. She is
currently
a graduate student in the department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at
McGill University,
focusing
on dance, and has been teaching ballet, contemporary dance, jazz and creative
movement for a
number
of years. The integrated dance program is part of her thesis
requirements.
Integrated
dance is a program in which students with a disability participate alongside
typically developing
peers.
It is based on the idea that each member has an equal opportunity to
participate and contribute to the
group
activities. The program will run every Sunday between 3 and 4 p.m. ending June
13. For further
information,
contact Michelle at 514-812-4184, or email [emailprotected].

TIGHT
‘N BRIGHT: The Lymphedema Association of Quebec (LAQ) has a “Tight n’ Bright”
event
planned
for this Friday, March 12 (10 p.m.) at Club 3519 (3519 St. Laurent Blvd.). LAQ
raises funds for
those
who suffer from Lymphedema, a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue
swelling caused by a
compromised
lymphatic system. Friday’s event will be “club” themed, with drinks, music a
raffle and many
prizes.
Event chair Jamie Tajfel, whose mother’s battle with the disease motivated her
to become involved
with
the LAQ, says that everyone is encouraged to come “in tight, bright, and wacky
clothing.” Tickets are
available
in advance or at the door. Info: 514-582-2728 or
[emailprotected].
LITERARY
AWARDS: CBC/Radio-Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts and Air Canada’s
enRoute
magazine
have announced that there are 80 English finalists for the CBC Literary Awards.
They were
chosen
from more than 6,000 submissions in French and English from across the country,
in the Creative
Non-fiction,
Poetry and Short Story categories. The winners will be unveiled on March 18 (11
a.m.) by host
Shelagh
Rogers on CBC Radio One (88.5 FM in Montreal). French-language victors will be
announced
later
that same day.
Have
you got something for the Public Eye? Email [emailprotected] or call
514-484-9203, ext.
307.

Lymph
Node Transplant after Breast Cancer - Ivanhoe Broadcast News - Tuesday, March
9, 2010 -
CHARLESTON,
S.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women
in
the
United States. One in eight will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime,
and it will claim the lives of
more
than 40,000 this year alone. But for those who beat the disease, sometimes the
battle isn't always over
after
treatment ends.

After
surviving breast cancer, Jane Dinnan thought her troubles were over.

"You
wanted to feel good about the fact that the cancer is gone, but I couldn't feel
that way," Dinnan told
Ivanhoe.

As
part of her treatment, doctors removed 17 lymph nodes from Dinnan's arm; tiny
organs that help the
immune
system fight off infection. But without the lymph nodes, body fluid couldn't
drain from the limb.

"It
felt like I had a lead weight on my arm all the time," Dinnan
recalled.

Her
arm swelled to more than twice its normal size.

"It
just was miserable," Dinnan said. "I was miserable. I wanted, I mean the arm
could go and I'd be
happier."

She spent
almost all of her time wearing a compression sleeve or using a machine to try
to push the lymph up
her
arm so it could get into her immune system.

"The
treatment of lymphedema for the most part in the United States is management or
conservative
management
of lymphedema," Marga Massey, M.D., a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at
Roper St.
Francis
Hospital in Charleston, S.C., explained.

After
being told there was no other option, Dinnan found Dr. Massey, who's brought a
new surgery to the U.
S.
Dr. Massey removed three lymph nodes from the inside wall of Dinnan's
abdomen.

"Blood
vessels are harvested in order to keep the lymph nodes alive," Dr. Massey
explained.

She
then transplanted them under Dinnan's arm, into the area missing lymph nodes.
Dinnan spent just one
night
in the hospital and the swelling went down almost immediately.

"I
would say overwhelmingly the majority, somewhere even in the range of perhaps
maybe 90 percent of
patients, show relief from their symptoms,"
Dr. Massey said.

It's
given Dinnan a chance to celebrate life cancer-free.

"I'm
back to normal. I feel like my life is back," Dinnan said. "So I never felt the
elation that I feel now that
I've
beat this."

Dr.
Massey says the condition lymphedema occurs in up to 30 percent of breast
cancer patients who've had
lymph
nodes removed as part of their treatment. Dinnan had the lymph node transplant
surgery at the same
time
she was having breast reconstruction surgery.

Tickets
on-sale for Trinity Stylin Against Breast Cancer events - Friday, March 26,
2010, 3:12 PM -
Quad-Cities
Online

Press
release submitted by Trinity Regional Health System.

Tickets
are now on-sale for the two 2010 Stylin' Against Breast Cancer events. The
winner of the Roxanne
Kramer
Award will be honored during the fifth annual Stylin' against Breast Cancer
luncheon and fashion
show
that features local breast cancer survivors modeling clothing from area stores,
Thursday, April 22, at
the
Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf. One hundred percent of
the proceeds from
this
charitable fundraiser benefit local breast cancer survivors and promote
education about breast cancer
and
breast health.

Doors
open at 11 a.m. with the luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Trinity Health
Foundation, in partnership
with
Always a Woman, Midwest Hope and Healing, The American Cancer Society, the
Trinity Cancer
Center
and women who do not represent an organization but who are advocates of breast
health and
survivors,
are presenting the event. Tickets are $25 per person.

In
addition to the luncheon, the group will again host a wine and cheese party
from 6:30-8 p.m.,
Wednesday,
April 21, also at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center. Proceeds also
benefit area
breast
cancer education and awareness projects. Tickets for the wine and cheese party
are $15 per person.

To
reserve tickets, call the Trinity Health Foundation at (563) 355-0746 or visit
www.trinityhealthfoundation.
com.

About
the Roxanne Kramer Award:The Roxanne Kramer Award is an annual honor to be
given to an
outstanding
individual(s), organization or business that has tirelessly contributed to the
quality of life of breast
cancer
survivors and which through deed, word and ongoing advocacy, has helped educate
the community
about
breast cancer and breast health. The award winner will be honored during the
Stylin' Against Breast
Cancer
luncheon and style show in April.

"This
award honors the persons or entity that most closely exemplifies the standards
of compassionate care,
integrity,
courage and vigor set by Roxanne Kramer in her service to breast cancer
survivors, their families
and
the community," said Berlinda Tyler-Jamison, President of the Trinity Health
Foundation.

Kramer,
a breast cancer survivor herself, owns "Always a Woman" boutique in Moline that
specializes in
wigs,
head wear, specialty bras and fits breast prostheses for breast cancer
survivors. She also co-founded
the
Quad City Breast Cancer & Lymphedema Support Group, made up of almost 2,000
area women, and
devotes
countless hours coordinating survivor models for and emceeing the style show
fundraiser.

2.
Lymphedema Depot Announces Spring Discounts - Saturday, March 27, 2010, 2:17 PM
- PR-USA.
net (press
release)

Lymphedema
Depot Announces Spring Discounts

The
discounts were announced to the professional lymphedema-care community. The
information is also
available
to the public on the Lymphedema Depot website at
http://www.LymphedemaDepot.com.

“Our
company was formed out of a sincere desire to help advance lymphedema care in
Canada by
introducing
new, quality products and by providing expert, professional but personal
service to match,” said
company
vice-president and clinical specialist John Mulligan. “We feel that offering
discounts is a way we
can
help introduce these life-changing products to a broader client
base.”

Solaris
products include the Solaris Tribute, a soft, quilted compression garment that
is meant to be worn
overnight,
providing a comfortable and effective treatment to the lymphedema patient while
they sleep.

“We
feel that the Solaris Tribute is a breakthrough product that directly improves
the quality of life of the
lymphedema
patient,” says Mulligan.
Lymphedema
is a condition of chronic swelling of a limb or body part. It can be caused by
damage to the
lymphatic
system such as the removal of lymph nodes in diagnostic procedures for cancer
patients, among
other
causes.

Lymphedema
patients are required to wear a compression garment on their affected limb
during the day.
The
standard treatment protocol also recommends wearing multilayer compression
bandaging at night while
the
patient is sleeping.

“Mastering
the technique for self-application of multi-layer compression bandaging before
going to bed each
night
is difficult, tedious and possibly counter-productive. It is very difficult to
do it correctly and safely. The
Solaris
Tribute is a wonderful alternative to nighttime bandaging because it is custom
made for each patient
and
it slips on and off easily and quickly. It is very simple and strikingly
effective in helping to manage your
lymphedema
successfully while you sleep,” according to Mulligan.

Other
Solaris lymphedema care products include the Caresia bandage liner, Swell Spot
edema and fibrosis
reduction
pads, and ReadyWrap inelastic medical binders for the legs. More information is
available at http:
//www.LymphedemaDepot.com.

Lymphedema
Depot is a Canadian company dedicated to bringing new options in lymphedema
care
products
to Canada. We are the exclusive Canadian distributor of the Solaris line of
medical compression
garments
for the management of lymphatic and venous edemas.

Lymphedema
Depot and Solaris both strive for continuous improvement to make the management
of
lymphedema
less complex, more effective, and ultimately easier for patients.

3.
Cancer patients can find Serenity - Thursday, March 25, 2010, 3:24 AM - The
Desert Sun - by Maggie
Downs
-

Are
you an underinsured or uninsured woman who has had breast cancer? Then Serenity
in Rancho Mirage
is
looking for you.
The
shop — which specializes in products for women with breast cancer — recently
received funding to
provide
some free products for women who need them.That includes lymphedema garments,
breast
prosthesis
and specialty bras.Grant money was provided from the Kommah Seray Inflammatory
Breast
Cancer
Foundation to pay for these items, which are usually not covered by
insurance.Owner Dori LaLanne
is
currently taking appointments for March 30. Call (760) 699-8685.Serenity is
located at 35800 Bob
Hope
Drive, Rancho Mirage.
4.
A 'dream day' for a local cancer survivor - Thursday, March 25, 2010, 3:10 AM -
Baltimore Sun - By
Jessica
Anderson

Tamara
Leak-Jones traded her green heels for rubber boots from the National Aquarium
in Baltimore.

The
Randallstown woman did not know she would be getting her feet wet next to the
28-year-old Atlantic
bottlenose
dolphin named Chinook.

Leak-Jones,
33, started her day Wednesday at a BMW dealership in Towson, where she had been
told she
would
talk to reporters about her four-year battle with breast cancer. Instead, she
was greeted by an
unexpected
guest with other plans.

5.
Rep. Kissell breaks ranks over health care - Monday, March 22, 2010, 9:50 PM -
Richmond County
Daily
Journal - by Philip D. Brown
A
majority of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are now on the same
page on health care
reform,
and President Obama is expected to sign the bill he’s been waiting for since
taking office.

The
U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate’s version of health care reform
by seven votes
Sunday
evening - 219-212 - meaning a Senate reconciliation vote is all that remains
between health care
reform
and the president’s signature. The bill needed 216 votes to pass.

The
topic has been a hot-button issue throughout the country, but even more so in
North Carolina’s Eighth
District
where U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell broke ranks with the Democratic leadership to
oppose the plan.

The
move earned him support from some of the district’s more conservative voters,
while raising the ire of
many
in the liberal base that helped him in his consecutive campaigns against
former-U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes.

Fayetteville
activist Nancy Shakur even signed up to face Kissell in the May primary, citing
his opposition to
the
Democrats’ plan.

In
a Monday statement, Kissell said he didn’t vote for the bill because of the
nearly $500 billion in Medicare
cuts
that will be needed over the next 10 years to pay for it.

“I
promised to protect Medicare,” Kissell said. “While I believe we need health
care reform and was proud
to
be an original co-sponsor of the bill to end the anti-trust exemption for
insurance companies, I gave my
word
to the citizens of the Eighth District that I would protect Medicare ... I am a
man of my word, and I
have
kept my word to protect Medicare.”

Kissell
pointed out that while he isn’t opposed to health care reform, he is opposed to
doing it this way.

Aside
from his bill to end anti-trust exemptions for health insurance companies,
Kissell has also voted to
expand
health insurance for children, introduced legislation that would require
Medicare to offer coverage
for
citizens with lymphedema, voted to repeal a payment reduction to physicians
from Medicare and voted
to
support home health care during this session of Congress.

Kissell
was joined by North Carolina Democrats Mike McIntyre and Heath Shuler in
opposing the bill. All
of
North Carolina’s Republican delegation opposed it.

For
Richmond County Democratic Party Chairman Antonio Blue, Sunday’s vote felt like
a victory, and “a
good
start.”

“I
think it’s a very good thing, because people need health care,” Blue said.
“Hopefully, we’ll work on
getting
whatever needs to be fixed fixed, and people who need to be seen or need
treatment can get it.”

Blue
said he’d only had the opportunity to talk to a few county Democrats since the
passage of the bill, but
there
was a lot of support in the party heading up to the vote.

“I
think the majority of the people were for health care reform,” Blue said.
“There was a lot of support here
in
the county, and just like anything else, there were some that were against
it.”

Now
that health care reform has passed all its major hurdles, the details of what
it actually does should
become
more clear.

In
the lead up to the vote, advocacy groups on both sides of the coin spun the
facts to support their own
positions.

According
to the Associated Press, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the
legislation will
extend
coverage to 32 million Americans, ban insurers from denying coverage based on
pre-existing
conditions
and cut deficits by an estimated $138 billion in the next decade.

This
would expand health coverage to 95 percent of everyone who is eligible under
65.

According
to the leadership of the Richmond County Republican Party, that’s not all it
will do.

“What
many Americans don’t realize is that what happened last night was the Trojan
Horse for the
government
takeover of the country,” said Lee Butler, Richmond County Republican Party
chairman. “The
problem
is that on the Left, they’re hiding behind the slogan of health care reform.
Everybody on both sides
of
the aisle want health care reform, meaning they want health care to be
affordable. But this bill is the
vehicle
by which government will expand its control over our everyday lives.”

Butler
said those who believe they will now “have free health care and live in a
utopian society,” are in for a
rude
awakening once doctors and nurses become government employees.

“They
are going to be caught in the nuance, the technicality, the red tape that is
government,” Butler said.
“And
their everyday health care decisions will now be dictated by a government
bureaucrat.”

He
said he has one question for those who suggest the government won’t be involved
in the health care
decisions
of its citizens.

“Can
you prove it with what’s written in the bill,” Butler asked. “Most people don’t
know what’s in the bill,
and
when you have (U.S. Speaker of the House) Nancy Pelosi saying point blank that
you’ll see what’s in
the
bill after we pass it, we know it’s a bad piece of legislation.”

The
bill must now be reconciled in the Senate, then will move on to President
Obama’s desk to be signed.

Staff
Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail
at
[emailprotected].

6.
Scavenger Hunt for a Good Cause - Friday, March 19, 2010, 1:22 PM - Newsday -
By Joie Tyrrell

Bethpage
High School senior Jordan Schessler twice exceeded her goal to raise funds for
the education and
cure
of Lymphedema. With the help of school social worker Christine Kennedy and 15
members of the
teaching
staff, Jordan raised $2,000 for the National Lymphedema Network by hosting a
schoolwide
scavenger
hunt.

Approximately
85 students participated in the activity, during which they
searched...

Tina,
for the full article for this II would have to be a subscriber to Newsday and I
do not subscribe to
things,
ss, I copied as much of the article as I could, I guess the only way to do the
rest of it would be if you
gave
me your logon info to Newsday if you are a subscriber to it.

7.
A celebration of women in the 111th Congress - Monday, March 15, 2010, 10:24 PM
- Richmond
County
Daily Journal - by Larry Kissell
In
honor of all the women of the 8th Congressional district, and in celebration of
the Women’s History
Month,
I want to tell you a little bit about some of what I’ve done to address women’s
issues in the 111th
Congress.

As
your Congressman, I get the opportunity to meet remarkable people like Heather
Ferguson, a Charlotte
mom
fighting to help her three-year-old son, and others like him, to get critical
treatment for lymphedema.
Heather
struggled to get her health insurance to pay for the relatively-inexpensive
treatment to help her son
live
a normal life without the serious complications of untreated lymphedema. She
knew if she didn’t do
something,
she would be fighting with this issue her entire life. So she took the issue to
her state
representative,
another great woman, Tricia Cotham, and then, brought her issue to me.
Together, we
introduced
legislation to ensure Medicare covers treatment for lymphedema
sufferers.

One
of the largest groups of lymphedema sufferers are cancer patients. The
condition can be caused by
cancer
treatments that affect the lymphatic system. Breast cancer patients are
especially susceptible to
lymphedema.

Breast
cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54. As we all
know too well, one in
eight
of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. Yet, more than 60 percent
of breast cancer
occurrences
are detected in early stages. If detected early, 96 percent of women are
cancer-free after five
years.
Breast cancer can strike at any age.

As
we know, educating our daughters about early detection is one of the most
critical things we can do. In
an
effort to promote early detection, I have joined my colleagues in sponsoring a
bill to increase breast
cancer
awareness in young women and provide support for young women diagnosed with
breast cancer.

I
am putting an emphasis on holding insurance companies more accountable for
minimum hospital stays for
breast
cancer treatment. I have sponsored a bill to require minimum stays for
mastectomies, lumpectomies
and
lymph node dissections in the course of breast cancer treatment. It would also
require coverage for
secondary
consultations. Unfortunately, many rural medical facilities aren’t equipped
with the necessary
mammogram
systems. I have supported a bill to help address this need by expanding mobile
mammography
vehicle
access, to help bring the necessary technologies and treatment to those that
need it.

This
week, I proudly joined with my colleagues to support an appropriation for the
Department of Defense
Peer-Reviewed
Breast Cancer Research Program. I also voted to expand and improve health care
services
from
the Department of Veterans Affairs available to women veterans, especially
those serving in Operation
Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our brave female service members deserve
to have their
needs
taken into consideration when receiving medical treatment.

Back
in January, I sponsored a resolution recognizing the importance of cervical
health and the early
detection
of cervical cancer. It was a resolution I was honored to sponsor. We are also
working on diabetes
research,
treatment and education as well as fighting Sickle Cell Disease. I am a strong
supporter and
sponsor
of H.R. 1032 which improves prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart
disease, stroke and
other
cardiovascular diseases in women. Heart disease is the number one killer of
women in our country. It
is
vital that we continue to educate on ways to prevent heart disease in all of
us.

Health
issues are of course not the only issues important to women. One of the first
bills I voted for was the
Lily
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. I was so proud to support this bill, which is designed
to ensure equal pay for
equal
work. It overturned a 2007 Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult
for women and others
to
pursue claims of pay discrimination. It is important to close the pay gap for
women who work just as hard
as
their male counterparts.

In
November, I voted to modify the Small Business Act to improve women’s business
centers. We need to
continue
encouraging female entrepreneurs, who are helping to create the small
businesses which are driving
our
economic recovery.

I
have been blessed in many ways during my life. Not the least of which is the
four amazing women who help
shape
my view of the world - my mother Virene, my wonderful wife Tina and my amazing
daughters Jenny
and
Aspen.

My
94-year-old mother is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She is a
retired mathematics teacher
and
instilled in me a deep sense of community. She inspired me to pursue a career
in teaching and helped
give
me the strength to run for Congress. My wife and daughters are my rock. These
three generations of
Kissell
women amaze me every day.

I
hope you will take a moment this month to thank the women in your life for
everything they do.

8
(a). Demystifying Lymphedema - Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 12:57 PM - Orland
Park Prairie -

Tina,
for this one when I click on the link itself I only get a calendar, and when I
click on the link that says
"See
all stories on this topic" it goes to a page with an error message saying "No
related articles were
found."
I tried searching on the website too and did not find this article
there.

8(b).
New Treatment Relieves Arm Lymphedema After Breast Cancer - Wednesday, March
17, 2010, 12:
57
PM - About - News & Issues (blog) - By Pam Stephan
Sandi
Johnson went for a routine mammogram and came out with a diagnosis of
Inflammatory Breast
Cancer.
She endured a range of treatments: chemotherapy, surgery, radiation. Sandi is
dealing with bone
metastasis
and the loss of her husband's job. She's also raising two sons and managing a
gym. Refusing to
gripe
(not much anyway) and still searching for hope and answers, she decided to work
on her life and
health
instead of giving in to despair.
She
developed arm lymphedema soon after her first surgery, as a result of axillary
lymph node dissection -
the
removal of several underarm lymph nodes - a test for metastasis. Without the
full number of lymph
nodes
to process and clean lymphatic fluid, the lymph builds up near your surgery
site and causes swelling.
Sometimes
it's just in the upper arm, but Sandi's lymphedema extended clear down to her
fingertips and was
very
debilitating. This was so bad that it caused her some trouble with getting
dressed and it actually caused
her
pain. She had tried therapeutic massage, a pump, a compression sleeve, and
special arm exercises.
Accustomed
to being very fit, slim, and shapely, Sandi decided to try a new procedure
which offered her
some
hope for relief from lymphedema.
Lymph
nodes make immune cells to help fight infection, and filter out bacteria or
cancer. When nodes near
your
ears or throat swell, you know that you've got an infection. We have lymph
nodes throughout our
bodies
and all of them work the same way. A new microsurgery technique takes lymph
nodes from your
groin
or abdomen and transplants them into your armpit area. Microsurgery is the
same surgical specialty
used
in free-flap breast reconstruction. Your surgeon will use a high-powered
microscope to see the tiny
vessels
which need to be connected with your existing lymph system. Once the
transferred lymph nodes
begin
functioning in your armpit, 90% of patients experience rapid relief from
lymphedema symptoms. This
procedure
is done by a plastic surgeon that specializes in microsurgery, and must be done
in a facility with
the
proper equipment. Choose a very experienced surgeon for your lymph node
transplant, and ask to
speak
with other patients who have had this surgery.

9.
War declared on breast cancer - Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 8:01 PM - Arab News -
by K.S.
RAMKUMAR
-
JEDDAH:
Breast cancer is one of the world’s most dreaded diseases and accounts for a
majority of deaths
among
women cancer patients all over the world. In light of this, local health
experts, doctors and
educationists
have launched a new campaign to raise awareness about it, showing people how to
prevent
and
treat it.
“In
fact, breast cancer has entered a new era and an intensive campaign is
continuing with the projects
undertaken
at King Abdulaziz University (KAU),” said Dr. Samia Al-Amoudi, associate
professor,
consultant
obstetrician, gynecologist and head of Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi Breast
Cancer
Chair
at KAU, in her presentation on Sunday.
Dr.
Benjamin O. Anderson, chair and director of Breast Health Global Initiative
(BHGI) and full member of
epidemiology
at the public health sciences division of the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research
Center,
delivered a presentation on breast health.
“The
key to breast cancer’s new era includes the various programs and projects
undertaken at KAU,” said
Dr.
Samia. The university’s education and training unit is involved in integrating
the breast- health program
into
the existing health-care system with the involvement of health-care providers
and medical students.
A
screening center with a mobile unit is in operation, she said, adding that with
the cooperation of the
Ministry
of Health a national program has also been launched with the involvement of a
psychosocial support
group
and a breast-counseling unit.
A
long-term follow up program for survivors includes the establishment of a
lymphedema clinic,
implementing
an education program through postgraduate studies at KAU, oncology nursing and
psycho-
social
oncology programs, nutrition for cancer patients, and a research center with
evidence-based studies.
Several
key initiatives have been accomplished or have seen substantial progress.
Faculty support is strong
and
the dean and department chairs are committed, she said.
She
added: “Let us commit ourselves to address the breast cancer issue for my
daughter, your daughters
and
every daughter in the world.”

-------

Ski
for a Cure raises $40000 plus for cancer research - March 29, 2010 - Montreal
Gazette by SUSAN
SCHWARTZ

Event
in memory of Rob Lutterman
Shortly
after Montrealer Rob Lutterman died of pancreatic cancer in 1999 at age 63, his
family and a group
of
friends created an annual ski event in his name to celebrate his passion for
skiing and to raise money for
research into a
cure for this deadly cancer: No effective treatment for cancer of the pancreas
has yet been
found.
The
Rob Lutterman Memorial Fund of the Cancer Research Society was created in his
memory, with the
goal
of promoting and funding pancreatic cancer research.
This
year the 11th Annual Rob Lutterman Ski for a Cure day, held March 13 at Mont
Sutton in the Eastern
Townships,
raised more than $40,000 for the Cancer Research Society.
The
second Cancer Research Society/Rob Lutterman Pancreatic Cancer Research Grant
has been
awarded,
to a team from McGill University. The three-year, $300,000 grant will go to Dr.
Michel L.
Tremblay
and his McGill University team, Dr. Bruno Gagnon and Dr. Neil McDonald. The
first research
grant
was awarded in 2007 to an Alberta researcher.
One
reason that cancer of the pancreas has so poor a prognosis is that it is
difficult to detect early, before it
has spread to
other parts of the body. The metastatic process, as it is called, is especially
aggressive in
pancreatic
cancer.
Tremblay's
team has collected a blood bank and urine samples from cancer patients to
permit them to
identify
early markers of pancreatic cancer, with a view toward improving
survival.
The
mission of the Canadian Cancer Research Society, a national not-for-profit
organization founded in
1945,
is to fund basic cancer research and to provide seed money for promising
original ideas, projects and
researchers
across Canada.
Tight
'n Bright, a club-themed event held March 12 at Club 3519 on St. Laurent Blvd.,
raised $6,000 for
the
Lymphedema Association of Quebec. Guests were encouraged to wear - you guessed
it - tight, bright,
wacky
clothing.
Another
goal of the event, in addition to fundraising, was to raise awareness about
lymphedema - a
progressive
disorder caused by damage to the body's lymphatic vessels; it can occur near
the site where
lymph
nodes have been damaged or removed. In severe cases, lymphedema causes
unsightly swelling, most
often
in limbs. It occurs most commonly as a result of cancer treatment; between 20
and 30 per cent of
people
with breast cancer, for instance, are affected.
The
Lymphedema Association of Quebec is a volunteer-run charity, based in Montreal;
it relies on
donations
to help people with lymphedema.
Visit
www.infolympho.ca for more information.
Bengala,
a charity dinner and party held Feb. 25 at the Parisian Laundry, raised
$100,000 for Haitian relief.
About
180 people attended the dinner/auction portion, including Montreal mayor Gerald
Tremblay and his
wife,
Suzanne Tailleur; Lise Watier; Peter Svoboda, a former player with the Montreal
Canadiens and
Quebec
business leaders. About 400 people turned up later for a party which lasted
into the wee hours.
The
event was a fundraiser for MAÂT, an independent, not-for-profit organization
founded in 2007 to
improve
the quality of life and opportunities for young single women and their
children. Main event partners
were
Belvedere vodka, the Velvet Speakeasy, La Porte Rouge on Mount Royal Ave. E.,
Hype Energy
Drink
and Boréale.MAÂT has been in Haiti for several months; following the Jan. 12
earthquake, the
kindergarten
and training centre for young women it was funding became a shelter for
orphaned children.
For
more information, go to www.maatworld.org.
Brenda
Fahey-DeJean, a Grade 6 teacher at Wilder Penfield Elementary School, says the
best thing about
fundraising
efforts for Haiti relief by the 72 Grade 6 students at the Dollard des Ormeaux
school was that
they
were a result of the kids' own interest and initiative. "In teaching, we do not
always see the results of the
seeds
we have planted," she wrote in an email. "The school community at Wilder has a
culture of generosity
and
has often supported various causes; sometimes we answer to a specific situation
and sometimes it has
been
an ongoing commitment."
The
school, part of the Lester B. Pearson School Board, holds fundraising days
called Wilder Days; this
time,
the Grade 6 students chose four themes for days dedicated to raising money for
Haiti relief: on Bubble
Gum
Day, for instance, students brought 25 cents to be able to chew bubble gum in
class. On Extreme Hair
Day,
they paid 50 cents to curl, colour or otherwise decorate their hair for the
day.
On
Feb. 12, Wear Canada Day, held in honour of the opening of the Olympics,
children were encouraged
to
wear red and white or anything representing Canada and donate $1. For the
fourth Wilder Day, Wear the
Colours
of Haiti's Flag Day, students donated $2 apiece.
The
children raised a total of $2,444.95. Much of that amount, $1,600, will be
matched by a federal
government
program that was in place until Feb. 12.
"We
are very proud of the actions of our sixth graders," Fahey-DeJean wrote. "They
saw a problem and
took
an action. If we have young people who are paying attention to the plight of
their community, both local
and
global, and doing something about it, we feel that true education has taken
place - and that bodes well
for
the future."
By
mid-March, English Montreal School Board schools and centres had raised close
to $108,750 for Haiti
relief.
The EMSB has decided not to publicize their totals individually, said EMSB
Chairman Angela
Mancini,
so as not to give the impression the schools were competing with each
other.
Westmount
High School Principal Michael Cristofaro said in a message to his students:
"One of the greatest
acts
of charity is to give without expectation, without promise of something in
return and with the notion that
our
giving will assist a human being less fortunate than ourselves. Perhaps some of
you gave up a snack at
recess
or a drink at the depanneur and instead gave that loonie or toonie to a greater
good. Because of your
actions
you have put rice into empty bowls, water in thirsty mouths, and blankets
around shivering children."
Funds
are being directed to the Canadian Red Cross Society, World Vision, UNICEF,
Canada Care, New
Missions,
Oxfam and the Centre canadien d'études et de coopération
internationale.
Among
many highlights of the EMSB efforts: Nesbitt Elementary School in Rosemount has
decided to assist
families
from Haiti who have settled in Montreal following the earthquake and need basic
items to start a
new
home. Each grade level, from kindergarten to Grade 6, will adopt one family
each and determine their
needs.
Michelangelo
Elementary School in Rivière-des-Prairies held a drum-a-thon: students
participated in a
continuous
drum circle through the school day. "Haiti took a beating and we are beating
for Haiti," was the
slogan
used.
Staff
and students of Haitian background at John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel
manned a donation
table
during two lunch periods and showed images of the devastation; money was also
raised through
classroom
collections and a dress-down day.
Also
in St. Michel, Perspectives Alternative High School students collected funds
the day after the
earthquake
and walked them over to the Haitian Community Centre a few doors
away.
Honoré-Mercier
Elementary School in St. Léonard held a Pennies for Haiti program involving
students in
Grades
1 through 6. Kindergarten students held a Hearts for Haiti campaign: they
designed magnetic hearts
by
colouring, gluing and painting them, then took them home to family or gave them
to friends, with a letter
explaining
the project.

[emailprotected]

The
Montreal Gazette
Read more:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Cure+raises+plus+cancer+research/2738001/story.
html#ixzz0jbSl0h1Z
2. Free Post-Surgery Breast Cancer Garments - March 29, 2010 - KPSP Local 2

News
-
Breast
cancer surivors who are under-insured or uninsured can schedule an appointment
to get free post-
surgery
garments Tuesday.On March 30, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Kommah
Seray
Inflammatory
Breast Cancer Foundation (KSIBCF) is partnering with Serenity: A Fitting Place
for Women,
to
offer free Mastectomy Bras, Prosthesis, Lymphedema Sleeves, and Gauntlets for
the uninsured, Medi-
Cal,
Medi-Care, and underinsured residents in the desert.
Serenity
is located at 35-800 Bob Hope Drive, Suite 245 in Rancho Mirage.
"As
a survivor, I understand firsthand how expensive these garments could be for
survivors," said Kommah
McDowell,
Executive Director of KSIBCF.
Unfortunately,
for the community we serve, these garments are more of a privilege, and that
shouldn't be.
No
one should have to walk around feeling uncomfortable just because they had or
have breast cancer,"
said
McDowell.
Interested
people are encouraged to make an appointment. Call (760) 699-8685 to schedule
an
appointment
for Tuesday.

=======================

Eema
treatment demonstrated - Victoria Times Colonist - Thursday, March 4, 2010
-
A
special demonstration event for those needing treatment for lymphedema and
other chronic edemas,
caused
by cancer surgery and other conditions, will be held tomorrow from 12:20 to
5:30 p.m. at the Emily
Carr
Branch of the Greater Victoria Library, 3500 Blanshard St.
During
this free presentation, compression garments will be shown and their use
demonstrated by garment
fitters.
Everyone is welcome including therapists, medical professionals and patients.
Experts will also be on
hand
to answer questions. For more information call 905-687-8500.

Yahoo!
AlertsTaking action to better their own health - Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Mon, 01 Mar
2010
- By Auren Ruvinsky Parksville’s Lynn Holloway is one of the founders of the BC
Lymphedema
Association
and suffers with the condition (below).
Sufferers
of lymphedema growing grass roots awareness of their condition and their
hopes
People
suffering with lymphedema don’t have a lot of hope treatment will be covered by
the medicare
system
any time soon, so they are pushing for grassroots awareness, education and
support.
Parksville’s
Lynn Holloway has suffered with the debilitating condition since she survived
her second battle
with
cancer in 2002.
Lymphedema
is not the best-known medical condition, despite the fact that it afflicts 20
to 40 per cent of
people
who survive cancer in the breast or groin areas.
“It
effects every person differently depending on the level and location of the
lymph system destruction from
radiation
and surgery,” Holloway said.
She
explained damage to the lymph system causes secondary lymphedema, while some
people are born
with
what is called primary lymphedema.
It
occurs when the lymphatic system doesn’t function properly, causing protein and
enzyme fluids to collect
in
the limbs.
The
often dramatically swollen limbs can become painful and difficult to move and
can lead to severe
infections
and other complications requiring hospitalization.
While
cancer treatments are the most common cause it can also come from any physical
trauma to the areas
including
burns and surgery.
When
cancer returned to Holloway’s groin area in 2002, after surviving a 1995 bout
with it, doctors told her
lymphedema
was a strong possibility after treatment, but she didn’t think much of
it.
“I
could live with swollen ankles if I could be cancer free,” she said, but the
condition that followed has also
changed
her life.
There
is no cure, but she said it can be managed with special massages to move the
fluids around manually
and
with expensive compression garments.
“Treatment
can be extremely expensive and isn’t often covered by health plans,” she
said.
“Compression
garments have to be replaced every four to six months at a cost of $450 to
$1,000 at a time.”
She
also said it would be useful to get the massages daily, but at $70 or more per
treatment, most people
are
lucky if they can afford one a week. They also require extensive treatment
before they get re-fitted for
the
compression garments at least once a year.
To
help support the unknown number of people suffering with lymphedema Holloway
was one of the
founding
members of the provincial association four years ago, along with some of the
limited number of
experts
in the province including a registered massage therapist and doctor.
Because
lymphedema is an effect that comes after cancer has been treated, it isn’t
covered by the
considerable
support services that exist for people suffering with things like breast
cancer, she pointed out.
She
said that while they do need more government support, their more immediate hope
is developing public
awareness
and moral support to help cut down on some of the reclusion and depression they
often suffer.
“Our
best hope is people living with the condition are educated about it and when
they need psychological
or
social support they can reach out to us and find someone who feels their
pain.”
The
association is also developing a system of best practices for medical
professionals and hoping to
develop
some better estimates of the number of people suffering with it in the
province.
To
raise awareness, Saturday, March 6 has been declared Lymphedema Awareness Day
in many B.C.
communities,
including Parksville, and the provincial association is holding their annual
general meeting and
an
educational event in Burnaby.
Holloway
thanked the City of Parksville and Parksville Pharmasave for their ongoing
support of the
association.
The
association is staging Tuesdays with Morrie as a fundraiser, featuring
award-winning 90-year-young
Antony
Holland from Gabriola Island.
There
are only two shows, at 2 and 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11 at Knox United Church,
with tickets $20 at
the
door or $15 in advance, available from the association.
For
more information visit www.bclymph.org or call Holloway at 1-866-991-2252 or
e-mail mlholloway@.
shaw.caw.ca.
MHNCS:
Lymphedema Common in Head and Neck Cancer - MedPage Today - Tuesday, March 2,
2010
-
By Charles Bankhead
PHOENIX
-- Treatment of head and neck cancer causes potentially severe lymphedema,
which responds
to
complete decongestive therapy in most cases, a retrospective chart review
showed.
The
most severe lymphedema occurred in patients treated with surgery and radiation
therapy, followed by
definitive
surgery alone. Complete decongestive therapy led to clinical improvement in a
majority of the
patients,
including 83% of those treated with surgery alone.
"Lymphedema
is vastly under-recognized and under-reported in patients with head and neck
cancer," Jan S.
Lewin,
PhD, of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said in an interview at the
Multidisciplinary
Head
and Neck Cancer Symposium.
"The
lymphedema can be just as severe as what's seen after treatment of breast and
other types of cancer.
Lymphedema
in patients with head and neck cancer can be terribly disfiguring and cause
severe functional
problems."
"Complete
decongestive therapy leads to clinically significant improvement in most
patients, whether it's
performed
in a clinic or at home," she added.
Available
evidence suggests that fewer than half of patients with head and neck cancer
develop lymphedema
after
treatment. However, cosmetic and functional sequelae can be severe, including
problems with
speaking,
eating, airway obstruction, and drooling, as well as self-image.
As
compared with lymphedema in other cancers, a paucity of information exists
about the presentation and
treatment
of the condition in patients with head and neck cancer, said Lewin.
In
an effort to add to the information base, she and her colleagues
retrospectively reviewed records of
patients
referred for evaluation of lymphedema following treatment of head and neck
cancer.
Data
collection included patient and disease characteristics, site and severity of
lymphedema, and the type of
complete
decongestive therapy each patient received (outpatient or at home).
Investigators
stratified patients by type of cancer treatment and decongestive therapy
regimen. Outcomes
were
assessed by clinical examination, and improvement was defined as a reduction in
lymphedema stage,
resolution
of the lymphedema site, or =2% decrease in total surface area
affected.
Complete
decongestive therapy conformed to recognized standards and consisted of manual
lymphatic
drainage
massage, use of compression bandages, physical exercise, and a skin-care
regimen.
Outpatient
therapy was performed by a certified therapist and consisted of an intensive
phase of three to five
sessions
weekly for two to four weeks, followed by maintenance home therapy. Patients
who were unwilling
or
unable to complete the outpatient regimen were assigned to a self-administered
home-based regimen.
The
study population consisted of 270 patients, 30% of whom were treated with
definitive external beam
radiation
therapy, 9% with surgery alone, and 61% with surgery and radiation
therapy.
The
neck was the most common site of lymphedema (89%), followed by the submental
(84%), facial
(32%),
and intraoral (6%) areas. Some patients had more than one affected
area.
Lewin
reported that 53% of the patients had moderately severe lymphedema, defined as
M.D. Anderson
stage
1b (reversible, pitting edema). Combined therapy resulted in significantly
worse lymphedema (P=0.
001).
Overall,
161 (60%) patients reported functional problems related to lymphedema,
including difficulty
swallowing
in 80 patients (30%) and speech problems in 31 (11%).
Outcome
data were available for 152 patients who received complete decongestive therapy
and returned
for
follow-up evaluation (an average of 10.7 weeks after initial
evaluation).
Lewin
and colleagues found that 54% (82 of 152) of patients had improved clinically
at follow-up (15 of 20
who
had outpatient therapy and 67 of 132 who had home-based therapy).
Improvement
was observed in 83% of patients treated by surgery alone, 55% of patients
treated with
definitive
radiation therapy, and 49% of patients treated with surgery and
radiation.
Evaluation
of functional outcomes is ongoing, said Lewin.
Lewin
and her co-investigators had no disclosures Making sure those with breast
cancer get help -
9NEWS.com
- Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - DENVER - When Wendy Newman was 27 years old, she
was
starting
her own business and trying to save some money. Since she was healthy and had
no family history of
serious
illnesses, she decided to let her health insurance lapse. Then, she found a
lump in her breast.Newman
learned
she had stage III breast cancer. With the help of two tenacious doctors Newman
was able to get
treatment
through grant programs for the uninsured.
Still,
she became aware of the many women and men who may not meet the specific
requirements for this
type
of treatment.

Newman
is the founder of the Breast and Women's Reproductive Cancers Fund. In 2008,
the BWRC Fund
was
created to expand cancer education, screening and treatment throughout
Colorado.

Competitive
grants are awarded to organizations across the state to increase survival rates
and improve the
quality
of life of Coloradans affected by these cancers. Two past grantees include the
Klose Lymphedema
Care
Center and the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance.

Every
year in Colorado, nearly 1,000 women are diagnosed with reproductive cancers
and more than 2,800
men
and women are diagnosed with breast cancer. An estimated 17 percent of
Coloradans are uninsured
and
many others have inadequate insurance coverage.

Last
month, with the help of the BWRC Fund, breast cancer survivor Sharon Farnsworth
acquired a
compression
garment to control her lymphedema, a chronic and sometimes debilitating
condition
characterized
by swelling in the arms or chest, affecting approximately 20 percent of breast
and other
reproductive
cancer patients that have undergone surgery or radiation treatment.

Farnsworth was
diagnosed with stage III breast cancer when she was 33 years old and after
undergoing a
radical
mastectomy, she started experiencing signs of lymphedema. In order to control
the swelling in her
arm
and hand, Farnsworth needs to wear compression garments 24 hours a
day.

The
BWRC Fund has also helped expand cancer education programs across the state.
Survivors Teaching
Students,
a program sponsored by the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA), brings
ovarian cancer
survivors
into the lives of medical students with the goal of helping them become more
sensitive to the
symptoms
of and risk factors for ovarian cancer.

"The
majority of ovarian cancer cases are not diagnosed until the disease is
advanced and women's survival
is
compromised, so the key to treatment is early diagnosis," said Lucy Trujillo,
COCA executive director
and
ovarian cancer survivor. "We have the unique opportunity to connect with health
practitioners, and with
the
help of the Breast & Women's Reproductive Cancers Fund, we've been able to
expand the program
statewide."

In
2009, the BWRC Fund awarded more than $24,000 in grants. Colorado tax filers
may have any amount
of
their refund check directed toward the BWRC Fund.

Colorado
taxpayers can show their support in the fight against breast cancer and other
reproductive cancers
by
checking off line 38 on their 2009 income tax forms. All donations will go
toward the Breast and
Women's
Reproductive Cancers (BWRC) Fund.

For
more information about the BWRC Fund, visit www.coloradocancercheckoff.org or
contact Wendy
Newman,
BWRC Fund project director, at [emailprotected] or
1-800-511-4998.

To
learn more about lymphedema, visit www.lymphnet.org.

To
learn more about the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance, visit
www.colo-ovariancancer.org.

(KUSA-TV
© 2010 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

What
Is Lymphedema? What Causes Lymphedema? - Medical News Today - Tuesday, March 2,
2010 -
by
Christian Nordqvist
Lymphedema,
lymphoedema, or lymphatic obstruction is a chronic (long-term) condition in
which excess
fluid
(lymph) collects in tissues causing edema (swelling). Lymphedema can be very
debilitating. In short,
lymphedema
is edema due to lymphatic fluid; a blockage of the lymphatic system. The
lymphatic system is
an
important part of our immune and circulatory systems.

Lymphedema
commonly affects one of the arms or legs. In some cases, both arms or both legs
may be
affected.
Some patients may experience swelling in the head, genitals or chest. It is
often a consequence of
surgically
removing the lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla) or groin, or their damage
caused by radiotherapy.
The
normal drainage of lymphatic fluid is faulty. Lymphedema can also be caused by
a tumor which presses
on
lymphatic vessels.

According
to Medilexicon's medical dictionary:

Lymphedema
is "Swelling (especially in subcutaneous tissues) as a result of obstruction of
lymphatic vessels
or
lymph nodes and the accumulation of large amounts of lymph in the affected
region."

Lymphedema
is incurable. However, with diligent care it can be controlled.
What
is the lymphatic system?
The
lymphatic system consists of the tissues and organs that produce and store
cells that fight disease and
infection.
They include the bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes and spleen, as well as the
channels that carry
lymph.

Most
of us know about the circulation system that pumps blood from the heart to the
rest of the body. A
significant
number of individuals, however, are not aware that the body also has a second
circulation system
-
the lymphatic system.

There
is a series of vessels and glands (lymph nodes) that comprise the lymphatic
system. They are spread
throughout
the body, in a similar way to blood vessels.

The
lymphatic system has three main functions:
•Fighting
infection - the lymphatic system transports a watery, clear fluid full of
lymphocytes. Lymphocytes
are
infection-fighting cells. The white fluid is known as lymph.

•Draining
excess fluid - after blood has circulated through tissues it leaves fluids and
proteins behind; these
are
waste products. The excess fluid is drained through tiny capillaries and into
the lymphatic system. After
filtering
out bacteria, viruses and other undesirable substances or organisms, the clean
fluid is then returned
to
the blood. This filtering is done by the lymphatic system.

•Lipid
(fat) absorption - the lymphatic system also absorbs lipids from the intestine
and transports them to
the
blood.
A
disruption to the lymphatic system can eventually undermine its ability to
drain fluid properly, resulting in
excess
fluid (swelling) in parts of the body. Patients with lymphoma have a higher
risk of infection
complications
because their lymphocytes cannot reach parts of the body where swelling occurs.
Cellulitis, a
type
of bacterial skin infection, is a common infection for patients with
lymphedema.

There
are two main types of lymphedema:

Primary
lymphedema - often called congenital lymphedema. The lymphedema is evident at
birth or shortly
after
puberty. It is caused by a congenital malformation (faulty genes) of the
lymphatic system. This type of
lymphedema
is rare; affecting approximately 1 in every 10,000 people.

Secondary
lymphedema - the lymphedema occurs as a result of something else, such as an
infection, injury,
trauma
or cancer which affects the lymphatic system. Lymphedema may be a side effect
of cancer treatment,
such
as radiotherapy or the removal of some lymph nodes, which may damage the
lymphatic system. This
type
of lymphedema is more common. According to the National Health Service, UK,
approximately
100,000
British people have secondary lymphedema. More women are affected than
men.
What
are the signs and symptoms of lymphedema?
A
symptom is something the patient feels and reports, while a sign is something
other people, such as the
doctor
detect. For example, pain may be a symptom while a rash may be a sign.
Lymphedema signs and
symptoms
include:
•Swelling
of either part or the whole leg or arm, may include the fingers or toes. Some
patients experience
just
slight changes in limb size, while others have severe swelling. Some people may
find it difficult to wear
jewelry,
watches or fit into clothes or shoes.

•Sometimes
the head or neck may swell
•The
arm or leg feels heavy

•The
arm or leg feels tight

•The
range of motion of the limb is restricted (affected limb loses some of its
mobility)

•Discomfort
in the affected limb

•The
affected limb may ache
•There
may be a tingling sensation in the affected limb, much like pins and
needles

•Recurring
skin infections in the affected limb

•The
skin may thicken and harden on the affected limb; blisters or wart-like growths
may develop on the skin

•Severe
fatigue

What
are the causes of lymphedema?
Causes
of primary lymphedema - experts say it is caused by mutations in some of the
genes that are
involved
in the development of the lymphatic system. These faulty genes interfere with
the lymphatic system's
development,
undermining its ability to drain fluid properly.

A
significant number of patients with primary lymphedema have a close relative
who has/had the same
condition.
However, this does not necessarily mean that the offspring of somebody with
lymphedema will
develop
the disorder themselves. Primary lymphedema is more common in females than
males.

Causes
of secondary lymphedema - this type of lymphedema has several possible causes,
including:
•Cancer
surgery - cancer may spread through the body through the lymphatic system.
Sometimes surgeons
remove
lymph nodes to stop the spread. There is a risk the lymphatic system may be
affected, leading to
lymphedema.
Surgery for breast cancer, skin cancer, vulval cancer, cervical cancer, some
other female
cancers,
bladder cancer and penile cancer carry a significant risk of subsequent
lymphedema.

•Radiation
therapy (radiotherapy) - the use of radiation to destroy cancerous tissue can
sometimes damage
nearby
healthy tissue as well. When radiotherapy is used to destroy cancerous cells
that are or may be
present
in the lymph nodes or vessels, there is a risk of node/vessel damage, with
subsequent damage to the
lymphatic
system, resulting in lymphedema.

•Infections -
severe cellulitis infection, a type of skin infection, may damage tissue around
the lymph nodes or
vessels.
This may lead to scarring, increasing the risk of lymphedema. Some parasite
infections which occur
in
tropical parts of the world can also increase the risk of lymphedema.

•Inflammatory
conditions - some conditions which cause tissue to swell (become inflamed) may
permanently
damage
the lymphatic system, such as rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis or
eczema.

•Cardiovascular
diseases - these are diseases that affect blood flow. Some patients with
cardiovascular
diseases
have a higher risk of developing lymphedema, such as those with DVT (deep vein
thrombosis),
venous
leg ulcers and varicose veins (very rare).

•Injury
and trauma - more rarely, severe skin burns or anything which results in
excessive scarring may raise
the
risk of developing lymphedema.
Diagnosing
lymphedema
Patients
who undergo cancer treatment are commonly offered lymphedema assessment as part
of their after-
care
treatment program.

When
diagnosing lymphedema the doctor may try to rule out other possible causes of
swelling, including a
blood
clot or an infection that does not involve the lymph nodes. If the patient is
at risk of lymphedema, e.g.
recently
had cancer surgery or treatment involving the lymph nodes, the doctor may
diagnose lymphedema
based
on the signs and symptoms.

If
there isn't an obvious cause for the lymphedema, some imaging tests may be
ordered to find out what is
causing
the swelling, and other signs and symptoms. The following imaging techniques
may be used to have a
better look at
the lymphatic system:
•MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging) scan - this device uses a magnetic field and radio
waves to create
detailed
3-D images of the inside of the body. The doctor can get a better look at the
limb tissues, and
possibly
identify characteristics of lymphedema. MRI and some other scans are also
useful in ruling out
lipedemia;
another condition in which the limbs swell due to abnormal fat
deposits.

•CT
(computerized tomography) scan - this device employs tomography. Tomography is
the process of
generating
a two-dimensional image of a slice or section through a 3-dimensional object (a
tomogram). The
medical
device (the machine) is called a CTG scanner; it is a large machine and uses
X-rays. This type of
scan
can reveal areas in the lymphatic system that may be blocked.

•Doppler
ultrasound scan - this is a variation of the conventional ultrasound. This type
of scan may help
identify
obstructions, if any are present.

•Lymphoscintigraphy
- a radioactive dye is injected into the lymphatic system. This dye shows up in
a
special
scanner, which can follow the dye's movement through the lymphatic system and
identify any
blockages.
Determining
the extent and severity of the swelling:
•Water
displacement method - the patient places the affected limb in water. The amount
of water displaced
is
measured. The doctor then knows what the volume of the limb is.

•Perometery
- this is a device that uses infra-red light to measure the volume of the
affected body part.

•Bioimpedance
test - this test can determine how much fluid there is in tissue. Electrodes
are placed in
different
parts of the patient's body. The electrodes release a small electrical charge,
which is measured using
a
hand-held device. The procedure is painless.
What
are the treatment options for lymphedema?
Lymphedema
is incurable. However, there is treatment which can help reduce swelling and
pain.

Complex
Decongestive Therapy (CDT) - this is known as the recommended treatment for
lymphedema and
has
four components (listed after the end of this paragraph). It starts with an
intensive therapy phase, during
which
the patient receives daily treatment and training which may be six weeks long.
This is followed by the
maintenance
phase, when the patient is encouraged to take over their own care using
techniques that have
been
taught to them. This will be followed by regular six monthly follow-up
meetings.

The
four CDT components are:
•MLD
(manual lymphatic drainage) - the lymphedema therapist uses special massage
techniques to move
fluid
into working lymph nodes, where they are drained. It is crucial that this is
done by a fully trained
lymphedema
therapist, and not just a regular masseur. The therapist needs a thorough
knowledge of the
lymphatic
system for this to work.

The
lymphedema therapist also teaches several massage techniques that can be used
during the maintenance
phase.

Patients
who have a history of heart disease, deep vein thrombosis or kidney disease may
not be suitable for
MLD.

•MLLB
(multilayer lymphedema bandaging) - muscles surrounding lymph vessels and nodes
move the fluid
through
the lymphatic system. Unlike the circulation of blood there is no central pump
(heart). The aim here
of
bandages and compression garments is to support the muscles and encourage them
to move fluid out of
the
affected body part. MMLB is utilized after MLD to stop fluid from building up
again in the limbs.

Patients
will also be taught how to apply their own bandages and compression garments
correctly so that
MLLB
can continue during the maintenance period.

Compression
garments may include long sleeves or stockings which compress to encourage the
flow of the
lymph
fluid out of the affected limb. Even when swelling is reduced, the doctor may
recommend that the
patient
continues wearing them to prevent recurrence of swelling. It is important to
get garments that fit
properly.

•Remedial
exercises - these are light exercise aimed at encouraging movement of the lymph
fluid out of the
limb.
The exercises involve moving the affected limb. It is important that the
exercise not be strenuous or
tiring.
They should focus on gentle muscle contractions. Each patient is given his/her
own personalized
exercise plan.
This is done with a fully qualified physical therapist (UK:
physiotherapist).

•Skin
care - good skin care reduces the risks of skin infections, such as cellulitis.
Patients are taught how to
keep
their skin clean, and also how to check for cuts, abrasions and signs of
infection.
Surgery
- surgery has historically had disappointing results, compared to non-surgical
therapies for
lymphedema.
However, a new surgical technique using liposuction has proved more successful.
It removes
fat
form the affected limb, resulting in less swelling. Patients have to wear a
compression garment for at least
one
year after the procedure is done.

NICE
(National Institute for Clinical Excellence), the body that approves therapies
for the National Health
Service
(NHS), UK, says this procedure is acceptable in terms of clinical safety, but
adds there is no
evidence
about its long term effectiveness.
What
are the possible complications of lymphedema?
Skin
infections - repeated episodes of cellulitis are common in patients with
lymphedema. Cellulitis is a
bacterial
infection of the dermis - the deep layer of skin - as well as the subcutaneous
tissues (fat and soft
tissue
layer) that are under the skin. Cellulitis is treated with antibiotics.
However, if the bacteria manage to
get
into the bloodstream the patient has a higher risk of developing septicemia
(sepsis). Patients who are
particularly
vulnerable to repeated episodes of cellulitis may be given an emergency supply
of antibiotics, to
be
taken as soon as signs and symptoms appear.

Lymphangitis
- this is an infection of the lymph vessels, usually caused by Streptococcus, a
type of bacteria.
If
left untreated it can spread to the skin, causing cellulitis, or into the
bloodstream, causing septicemia
(sepsis).

Psychological
effects - lymphedema can affect the way the patient looks, which in turn can
have a
psychological
impact, especially among patients who have been coping with the stresses of
living with
cancer.
Some patients with lymphedema have a higher risk of developing
depression.

Patients
who notice signs and symptoms of depression, such as feeling particularly down,
or no longer
enjoying
things in a way they used to, should tell their doctor immediately. Depression
can usually be treated
effectively.
Prevention
Looking
after your skin - the affected limb is more vulnerable to skin infections as
the supply of lymphocytes
(which
fight infection) is lower than it should be. If the patient takes measures to
minimize the risk of cuts and
grazes
to the skin, his/her risk of subsequent infections may be significantly
reduced. The following measures
may
help:
•After
cancer treatment avoid heavy activity with that limb; rest it while
recovering.
•Avoid
sun beds, steam rooms and saunas
•Do
not let the affected area be used for infections or blood pressure readings. If
possible, avoid medical
procedures
on the affected limb
•Do
not take very hot baths or showers
•Do
not wear tight fitting clothes
•Do
not wear tight fitting jewelry
•Don't
go barefoot outdoors
•Keep
a watch for changes or breaks in your skin
•Keep
your skin supple by moisturizing it every day (ask your doctor about
this)
•Make
sure your footwear fits properly
•The
risk of cuts with an electric razor is much lower
•To
prevent developing athlete's foot use an anti-fungal foot powder
•Use
a thimble when you sew
•Use
gloves when gardening
•Use
nail clippers to keep your nails short, or see a chiropodist for foot and nail
care
•When
going outside in an area where they may be insects, use insect
repellent
•When
out in the sun use a high factor sun block
•When
you have a cut, treat it straight away with an antiseptic cream. And keep the
area clean
•Whenever
you can, raise the affected limb above the level of your heart
Diet
and bodyweight - the heavier a patient with lymphedema is the higher the strain
is on the areas that are
swollen.
A healthy diet, aiming for an ideal body weight, may help alleviate the signs
and symptoms of
lymphedema.
Some patients report that spicy foods make swellings worse.

==========================

LYMPHATIC
SYSTEM: Regulator of lymph vessel growth uncovered

In
addition to our network of blood vessels, humans have a network of vessels
known as lymphatic vessels.
These
vessels have a role in many processes in the body, including regulating fluid
levels in tissues and
immune
surveillance. Although dysfunction in the lymphatic system contributes to human
diseases such as the
spread
of cancer to other sites and lymphademas (localized fluid retention and tissue
swelling), little is known
about
the molecules that regulate the formation of new lymphatic vessels, a process
known as
lymphangiogenesis.
However, a team of researchers, led by Sophia Tsai and Ming-Jer Tsai, at
Baylor
College
of Medicine, Houston, has now identified a role for the gene regulatory protein
COUP-TFII in
lymphangiogenesis
in mouse embryonic development and tumor lymphangiogenesis in adult mice. The

authors
therefore suggest that COUP-TFII might be an effective molecular target in
pro-lymphangiogenic
treatment
of lymphedemas or in antilymphangiogenic therapy targeting tumor spreading via
the lymphatic
vessels.

TITLE:
Direct transcriptional regulation of neuropilin-2 by COUP-TFII modulates
multiple steps in murine
lymphatic
vessel development

Source:
Karen
Honey
Journal
of Clinical Investigation

------------------------------

Ski
for a Cure raises $40000 plus for cancer research - March 29, 2010 - Montreal
Gazette by SUSAN
SCHWARTZ

Event
in memory of Rob Lutterman
Shortly
after Montrealer Rob Lutterman died of pancreatic cancer in 1999 at age 63, his
family and a group
of
friends created an annual ski event in his name to celebrate his passion for
skiing and to raise money for
research
into a cure for this deadly cancer: No effective treatment for cancer of the
pancreas has yet been
found.
The
Rob Lutterman Memorial Fund of the Cancer Research Society was created in his
memory, with the
goal
of promoting and funding pancreatic cancer research.
This
year the 11th Annual Rob Lutterman Ski for a Cure day, held March 13 at Mont
Sutton in the Eastern
Townships,
raised more than $40,000 for the Cancer Research Society.
The
second Cancer Research Society/Rob Lutterman Pancreatic Cancer Research Grant
has been
awarded,
to a team from McGill University. The three-year, $300,000 grant will go to Dr.
Michel L.
Tremblay
and his McGill University team, Dr. Bruno Gagnon and Dr. Neil McDonald. The
first research
grant
was awarded in 2007 to an Alberta researcher.
One
reason that cancer of the pancreas has so poor a prognosis is that it is
difficult to detect early, before it
has
spread to other parts of the body. The metastatic process, as it is called, is
especially aggressive in
pancreatic
cancer.
Tremblay's
team has collected a blood bank and urine samples from cancer patients to
permit them to
identify
early markers of pancreatic cancer, with a view toward improving
survival.
The
mission of the Canadian Cancer Research Society, a national not-for-profit
organization founded in
1945,
is to fund basic cancer research and to provide seed money for promising
original ideas, projects and
researchers
across Canada.
Tight
'n Bright, a club-themed event held March 12 at Club 3519 on St. Laurent Blvd.,
raised $6,000 for
the
Lymphedema Association of Quebec. Guests were encouraged to wear - you guessed
it - tight, bright,
wacky
clothing.
Another
goal of the event, in addition to fundraising, was to raise awareness about
lymphedema - a
progressive
disorder caused by damage to the body's lymphatic vessels; it can occur near
the site where
lymph
nodes have been damaged or removed. In severe cases, lymphedema causes
unsightly swelling, most
often
in limbs. It occurs most commonly as a result of cancer treatment; between 20
and 30 per cent of
people
with breast cancer, for instance, are affected.
The
Lymphedema Association of Quebec is a volunteer-run charity, based in Montreal;
it relies on
donations
to help people with lymphedema.
Visit
www.infolympho.ca for more information.
Bengala,
a charity dinner and party held Feb. 25 at the Parisian Laundry, raised
$100,000 for Haitian relief.
About
180 people attended the dinner/auction portion, including Montreal mayor Gerald
Tremblay and his
wife,
Suzanne Tailleur; Lise Watier; Peter Svoboda, a former player with the Montreal
Canadiens and
Quebec
business leaders. About 400 people turned up later for a party which lasted
into the wee hours.
The
event was a fundraiser for MAÂT, an independent, not-for-profit organization
founded in 2007 to
improve
the quality of life and opportunities for young single women and their
children. Main event partners
were
Belvedere vodka, the Velvet Speakeasy, La Porte Rouge on Mount Royal Ave. E.,
Hype Energy
Drink
and Boréale.MAÂT has been in Haiti for several months; following the Jan. 12
earthquake, the
kindergarten
and training centre for young women it was funding became a shelter for
orphaned children.
For
more information, go to www.maatworld.org.
Brenda
Fahey-DeJean, a Grade 6 teacher at Wilder Penfield Elementary School, says the
best thing about
fundraising
efforts for Haiti relief by the 72 Grade 6 students at the Dollard des Ormeaux
school was that
they
were a result of the kids' own interest and initiative. "In teaching, we do not
always see the results of the
seeds
we have planted," she wrote in an email. "The school community at Wilder has a
culture of generosity
and
has often supported various causes; sometimes we answer to a specific situation
and sometimes it has
been
an ongoing commitment."
The
school, part of the Lester B. Pearson School Board, holds fundraising days
called Wilder Days; this
time,
the Grade 6 students chose four themes for days dedicated to raising money for
Haiti relief: on Bubble
Gum Day, for
instance, students brought 25 cents to be able to chew bubble gum in class. On
Extreme Hair
Day,
they paid 50 cents to curl, colour or otherwise decorate their hair for the
day.
On
Feb. 12, Wear Canada Day, held in honour of the opening of the Olympics,
children were encouraged
to
wear red and white or anything representing Canada and donate $1. For the
fourth Wilder Day, Wear the
Colours
of Haiti's Flag Day, students donated $2 apiece.
The
children raised a total of $2,444.95. Much of that amount, $1,600, will be
matched by a federal
government
program that was in place until Feb. 12.
"We
are very proud of the actions of our sixth graders," Fahey-DeJean wrote. "They
saw a problem and
took
an action. If we have young people who are paying attention to the plight of
their community, both local
and
global, and doing something about it, we feel that true education has taken
place - and that bodes well
for
the future."
By
mid-March, English Montreal School Board schools and centres had raised close
to $108,750 for Haiti
relief.
The EMSB has decided not to publicize their totals individually, said EMSB
Chairman Angela
Mancini,
so as not to give the impression the schools were competing with each
other.
Westmount
High School Principal Michael Cristofaro said in a message to his students:
"One of the greatest
acts
of charity is to give without expectation, without promise of something in
return and with the notion that
our
giving will assist a human being less fortunate than ourselves. Perhaps some of
you gave up a snack at
recess
or a drink at the depanneur and instead gave that loonie or toonie to a greater
good. Because of your
actions
you have put rice into empty bowls, water in thirsty mouths, and blankets
around shivering children."
Funds
are being directed to the Canadian Red Cross Society, World Vision, UNICEF,
Canada Care, New
Missions,
Oxfam and the Centre canadien d'études et de coopération
internationale.
Among
many highlights of the EMSB efforts: Nesbitt Elementary School in Rosemount has
decided to assist
families
from Haiti who have settled in Montreal following the earthquake and need basic
items to start a
new
home. Each grade level, from kindergarten to Grade 6, will adopt one family
each and determine their
needs.
Michelangelo
Elementary School in Rivière-des-Prairies held a drum-a-thon: students
participated in a
continuous
drum circle through the school day. "Haiti took a beating and we are beating
for Haiti," was the
slogan
used.
Staff
and students of Haitian background at John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel
manned a donation
table
during two lunch periods and showed images of the devastation; money was also
raised through
classroom
collections and a dress-down day.
Also
in St. Michel, Perspectives Alternative High School students collected funds
the day after the
earthquake
and walked them over to the Haitian Community Centre a few doors
away.
Honoré-Mercier
Elementary School in St. Léonard held a Pennies for Haiti program involving
students in
Grades
1 through 6. Kindergarten students held a Hearts for Haiti campaign: they
designed magnetic hearts
by
colouring, gluing and painting them, then took them home to family or gave them
to friends, with a letter
explaining
the project.

[emailprotected]

======================

ASCO
GU: Extensive Node Dissection Key for High-Risk Penile Cancer - MedPage Today -
Monday,
March
8, 2010 - By Crystal Phend
SAN
FRANCISCO -- Thorough lymph node dissection improves survival in high-risk
penile cancer but is
vastly
underused, researchers said.
For
high-grade tumors, excision of at least eight lymph nodes was associated with
86.4% higher multivariate-
adjusted
odds of survival at five years than less complete dissection (P=0.002),
according to Viraj A.
Master,
MD, PhD, of Emory University in Atlanta, and colleagues.
However,
only 18.0% of men with high-risk penile cancer received extensive inguinal
lymphadenectomy in
the
analysis of a national cancer registry database.
In
fact, nearly three-quarters got no lymph node dissection at all, the
investigators reported here at the
Genitourinary
Cancers Symposium.
No
American physician groups have guidelines for treatment of this relatively rare
cancer, but textbooks
generally
agree with European guidelines recommending that high-risk patients get
modified or radical
lymphadenectomy,
Master noted.
Fear
of complications appears to undermine this apparent standard of care, which has
the potential to be
curative
for those harboring microscopic disease in their nodes, commented Nicholas J.
Vogelzang, MD,
medical
director of the Developmental Therapeutics Committee of US Oncology, who was
not involved in
the
study.
"When
you have a rare disease and a sexually-charged disease like this, patients
often don't think logically
and
doctors are not always forceful," he told MedPage Today.
Complications
affect up to about half of patients, according to some clinical series.
Lymphedema can be a
lifelong
consequence, leading to skin infections or ulceration, a poor cosmetic
appearance, and need for
compression
stockings.
But
the rationale for the procedure is clear, since penile cancer metastasizes in
an orderly fashion through
embolization
into the lymphatic system, starting with inguinal nodes and spreading outward,
Master
explained.
His
group analyzed the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database
of men with a single
primary
penile tumor of grade 3 or pT2-4 diagnosed from 1988 through 2005.
Among
the 593 men in this group, adequate lymph node dissection defined by 8 or more
nodes removed
was
second only to tumor grade as a predictor of five-year survival.
For
grade 3 tumors, excision of at least eight lymph nodes was associated with
66.3% five-year survival
compared
with 49.2% with less complete dissection (P=0.0100 for trend).
For
grade pT2-4 tumors, eight or more lymph node dissection improved five-year
survival to 70.2%
compared
with 53.6% for less extensive lymphadenectomy (P=0.004).
Independent
predictors of receiving any lymph node dissection included:
•Age
under 65 (P<0.001)
•Being
widowed or separated (P=0.002)
•Higher
T-stage tumor (P=0.004)
•Higher
grade tumor (P=0.046 to P=0.031)
The
researchers cautioned that their study was limited by the limitations of the
SEER database, including
lack
of data on comorbidities, vascular invasion, laterality of lymph nodes, and
complications and morbidity
associated
with extensive inguinal lymphadenectomy.
One
solution to underutilization might be minimally invasive approaches, Master
said.
His
group has successfully attempted laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy in a few
dozen patients and
seen
complications in only 19%, suggesting it is not only feasible, but may also
lower morbidity, he said.

The
researchers reported no conflicts of interest.
Vogelzang
reported conflicts of interest with Allos Therapeutics, Ambit, Amgen, Bayer,
Celgene,
Genentech,
Keryx, Novartis, Onyx, Pfizer, Wilex, ArQule, Clinical Care Options, Cougar
Biotechnology,
Imedex,
Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Novartis, Wyeth, Argos Therapeutics,
AstraZeneca, Endocyte,
GlaxoSmithKline,
and Medarex.

Primary
source: ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium
Source
reference:
Master
VA, et al "Extensive inguinal lymphadenectomy in high-risk penile cancer and
overall five-year
survival:
A SEER study" ASCO GU 2010; Abstract 248.

Putting
her best face forward, all the time - AsiaOne - Monday, March 8, 2010 - By Joan
Chew

FOR
cancer patients undergoing treatment, looking good is not always a
priority.
But
this is not the case for Ms Susan Ginsberg, 53, who was diagnosed with
gynaecological cancer 12 years
ago.
An
operation to remove her lymph nodes resulted in lymphedema, which caused her
right leg to swell. Even
then,
the nurses at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) rarely saw Ms Ginsberg
without makeup
on.

"My
husband brought me my lipstick at the hospital," she recounted with a
laugh.
"I
believe that when you look good, you feel good," she added.
This
was also the message Ms Ginsberg shared with other patients at the Women's
Cancer Support Group
at
KKH: to keep up with their looks despite their illnesses.
Each
time she visits them at the hospital, she takes along bottles of nail polish
and gives them free manicures.
For
patients undergoing chemotherapy, she shows them how to tie a scarf to conceal
their thinning hair.
Ms
Ginsberg said: "A little nail art will really perk them up, and they keep
coming back for more."
Besides
visiting patients in their wards and talking to their families, Ms Ginsberg
helps to organise events and
bakes
cakes to raise funds for the support group.
Ms
Chew Sen Mei, a nurse clinician from KKH who nominated Ms Ginsberg for the
award, said: "It is
Susan's
commitment and dedication in volunteerism that motivates and inspires me to
think positively while
dealing
with cancer patients."
Ms
Ginsberg has since recovered from her cancer, and remains actively involved in
the hospital's support
group.

In
brief: AHP revenues drop, Walgreens reorganizes - HME News - Friday, March 5,
2010
Lymphedema
bill introduced

WASHINGTON
- A bill that seeks to improve Medicare coverage for lymphedema diagnosis and

treatment
was introduced Feb. 23 by Rep. Larry Kissell, D-N.C. The Lymphedema Diagnosis
and Cost
Saving
Act of 2010 would, among other things, establish therapist qualification
requirements and require
Medicare
to pay for compression garments, compression bandage systems and other devices
used in the
treatment
of lymphedema.

Yahoo!
Alerts
House
Calls with Dr. Peter Gott: Should reader seek a new physician? - The Scranton
Times-Tribune Fri,
05
Mar 2010 -
Q:
My doctor has told me that I have lymphedema and should take a water pill. When
the 20 milligrams
wasn't
sufficient, she put me on 40 milligrams. Because I wanted to know more about my
condition to better
educate
myself about things to do and not do, I looked online. It appeared to me that
my doctor should be
looking
for the cause of the swelling, not just treating it. So I pressed her into
doing more. She ordered a CT
scan
of my pelvis, a heart echo and a venous Doppler. My CT scan showed a lesion on
my liver and no
abnormalities
of the kidneys. The Doppler was negative, and I don't have the results of the
echo, even
though
it was done more than a month ago.
Because
my doctor didn't discuss my lab work with me, I requested a copy from the front
office of the
clinic.
I then looked up each value online and became concerned over several of the
numbers. My GFR was
71.
My BUN and bili totals were high. When I asked her about these numbers, she
said she wasn't
concerned.
When I pointed out that the National Kidney Foundation says my GFR level
indicates stage 2
kidney
failure, she told me that she doesn't look at that number, and I shouldn't
worry because I was
probably
just dehydrated on the day of the blood drawing.
Should
I be concerned about the results and continue to press my doctor into ordering
more tests? Or
should
I just take her word for it that those numbers don't really matter?
A:
I have reduced the size of your letter owing to space restrictions but will
attempt to cover all your
concerns.
In my opinion, your physician is failing to provide adequate, timely medical
advice. You should
discuss
your concerns and disappointments regarding how she is handling your medical
care. If she is
unwilling
to change her habits, seek out a new primary-care physician who meets your
standards.
As
to your stomach pain, I am inclined to agree that it was a spontaneously
resolved ulcer, but because of
the
delay in getting proper testing, you may never know. If your physician was
truly concerned about your
symptoms,
she should have gotten into testing sooner.
Bilirubin
is caused by the normal breakdown of red blood cells in the liver. You claim to
have a lesion on
your
liver and an elevated bilirubin, which may indicate liver damage. This is
reason enough for referral to a
specialist
or at least further testing to determine what the abnormality is.
In my opinion, you should not wait to see
if your numbers resolve on their own, because both kidney and
liver
damage can be extremely detrimental to health. The sooner a proper diagnosis
and, if necessary,
appropriate
treatment are received, the better the outcome is likely to be.
PETER
GOTT, M.D., is a retired general internist and the author of "Dr. Gott's No
Flour, No Sugar
Cookbook."
Send questions to Dr. Gott, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th Floor, New
York, NY
10016
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lymphedema news partial
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 8:03
PM

From:

This sender is
DomainKeys verified

"Lymphedemalady"
< [emailprotected]>

Add sender to
Contacts

To:
"Tina personal lymphedema"
<[emailprotected]>

April
2010
1.
Eileen Rhodes, 86, to take part in Jane Tomlinson York 10K - The Press, York -
By Jennifer Bell -
Thursday, 1 April 2010
A DEDICATED fundraiser who
suffers from an incurable condition that leaves her barely able to walk
is
set to take part in the York 10k to help suffers of the disease which robbed
her of two husbands.

It will be the second consecutive year that Eileen
Rhodes, 86, will line up alongside thousands of
runners in the Jane
Tomlinson York 10K to raise money for cancer sufferers.

Eileen, of
Prior’s Walk, in Poppleton, lost her first husband of 40 years, Jim Smart, in
1983, when he
died of prostate cancer.

Two years later,
Eileen was remarried, to Cliff Rhodes, only eight weeks after meeting him. But
once
again she had to deal with losing a husband when he fell ill with
leukaemia and died in 1994.

Eileen began fundraising to help cancer
sufferers and last year won praise and admiration when she
battled her way
around the 10K course despite suffering from lymphedema.

The condition
causes Eileen’s legs to swell due to the abnormal retention of lymph fluid in
her body
tissues – and it means she often struggles to walk.

Eileen
raised £4,000 for St Leonard’s Hospice, in York, where Cliff spent his final
days.
Eileen, who has two daughters, and a grandson, said: “I couldn’t have
done it last time without the help
of my daughter, Kath, who came with
me.

“A friend lent me a pram and I pushed it round with a
teddy.

“I couldn’t run it – but I could walk it.”

Now
inspirational Eileen is once again set to take part in the Race For All event
on August 1 and hopes
to raise a similar amount of cash for Jane’s
Appeal.

Eileen, who met Jane Tomlinson during a charity event in York,
said: “I’m really looking forward taking
part in the race again.

“I
had to get the permission of my GP and he has given me the
go-ahead.

“I’m going to do my best and I have already got several
sponsors.

“I admire Jane so much. In spite of having cancer she cycled
and ran for charity and raised an enormous
amount of money and the Jane’s
Appeal carries on the work she did.”

To enter the race, visit
runforall.com

2. Too much radiation? The FDA wants to know - By Steven
Reinberg - TUESDAY, March 30
(HealthDay News)
Fears that Americans are
being exposed to too much radiation will get a public airing this week as the
U.
S. Food and Drug Administration holds two days of meetings on what should
be done to increase the
safety of increasingly popular imaging
procedures.
Specifically, the agency is seeking ideas to get manufacturers
of the devices used for CT scans and
fluoroscopy to set higher standards
for their equipment and increase the amount of training they offer
those
who use the equipment.

The aim is to "help reduce unnecessary patient
exposure to ionizing radiation" during these procedures,
the FDA said in
announcing the Tuesday and Wednesday sessions. The imaging techniques, which
are
two of the top three contributors to total radiation exposure among
Americans, use much higher
radiation doses than standard X-rays, dental
X-rays and mammography, potentially increasing the
lifetime risk for
cancer.
In addition, accidental radiation exposure can result in injuries,
such as burns, hair loss and cataracts.

Dr. Jorge Guerra Jr., a
professor of radiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine,

agreed that manufacturers need to "give us the best equipment [and] teach
us how to use it properly."
Scanning should only be done by trained
professionals, he stressed.

But, Guerra, said, "it's the overuse of CT
that's really killing it." There need to be clearer guidelines for
the use
of CT and other radiological devices, he said, including specific criteria on
who should be getting
scans for what particular conditions.

"Yes,
there is an increased risk of cancer in the general population from the overuse
of radiation," he
said. "Let's work on cutting down on the overuse of
radiation -- not cutting out the technology."

According to the U.S.
National Cancer Institute, about 70 million CT scans are now done in the
United
States each year. In the early 1980s, only 3 million were done
annually. The institute also estimates that
up to 14,000 people die every
year from radiation-induced cancers.

"The amount of radiation Americans
are exposed to from medical imaging has dramatically increased
over the
past 20 years," Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices
and Radiological
Health, said in a statement released in February when the
agency unveiled a plan to increase
communication between doctors and
patients about the pros and cons of medical imaging. "The goal of
FDA's
initiative is to support the benefits associated with medical imaging while
minimizing the risks."

Though the extent of a cancer risk remains a
topic of debate, most experts agree that exposure to
unnecessary radiation
from these devices should be reduced. The radiation from a CT scan of the

abdomen equals that of about 400 chest X-rays, and a dental X-ray has about
half the radiation of a
chest X-ray, according to the FDA.

An
article in the March 28 edition of The New York Times reported that the FDA
ignored warnings
from its scientists about the risks of routinely using CT
scans to screen people for colon cancer, a
procedure sometimes called a
virtual colonoscopy.

After an FDA official recommended approving the
application for a device made by General Electric,
Dr. Julian Nicholas, a
gastroenterologist who worked under contract with the FDA, said he felt
strongly
that approving the application could "expose a number of Americans
to a risk of radiation that is
unwarranted and may lead to instances of
solid organ abdominal cancer," according to the Times report.

Nicholas
told The Times that he was later urged to change his view: "I was first
ignored, then pressured
to change my scientific opinion, and when I refused
to do that, I was intimidated and ultimately
terminated. And I'm going to
tell the committee exactly that at this meeting."

Guerra, however, has a
different view of the situation involving virtual colonoscopy. He described it
as
"mostly a turf battle."

Radiologists, he says, tend to like the
newer "virtual" procedure, contending that the dose of radiation is
a
minimal risk, compared with the benefit. Gastroenterologists, on the other
hand, tend to still see the
traditional colonoscopy as the diagnostic gold
standard.
Guerra noted that the two procedures find about the same number of
colorectal cancers and, if a CT
colonoscopy was done at age 50 and nothing
was found, the person wouldn't need another one for 10
years. "You are not
going to do more than three or four in a lifetime," he said.

In
February, the FDA noted that the benefits of medical imaging were considerable
because they've led
to disease being diagnosed earlier, allowing better
treatment options, including "image-guided therapies
that help save lives
every day."
But to keep radiation exposure to a minimum, the agency asked
that doctors and patients keep two
principles in mind: that each procedure
must be justified and that the radiation be given at the minimum
dose
required.

More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
more on radiation from CT scans.

----

Komen drive tops $1M
By
David Pittman

The Amarillo affiliate of Susan G. Komen for
the Cure topped $1 million in local giving and recently
announced its
latest round of grants to four cancer programs.

Susan G. Komen for the
Cure grants
Susan G. Komen for the Cure recently announced it distributed
$275,000 in grants to four cancer
programs:

$228,000 - The Don &
Sybil Harrington Cancer Center's breast cancer detection and treatment

program. Will cover screening, detection and some treatment for medically
underserved women.

$30,000 - Moore County Hospital District's breast
cancer screening and education program. Provides
breast cancer screening
and treatment to underserved women in Moore County.

$10,000 - Amarillo
Area Breast Health Coalition's WISE (Women Inspiring, Serving and Educating)

Woman program. Increase's general knowledge about positive breast health
practices and merits of
early detection of breast cancer.

$7,000-
American Cancer Society's breast prosthesis and lymphedema accessory program.
Trained
volunteers visit newly diagnosed patients, giving the patient
emotional support and information.

The Amarillo chapter of the breast
cancer advocacy group doled out $275,000 this year and presented
its
largest single grant - $228,000 - to the Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer
Center. The money will be
used for screening and treating uninsured and
underinsured women.
"We have tremendous community support," Executive
Director Lisa Hoff Davis said. "I think the
Panhandle takes care of their
people."

Harrington expects to help more than 500 women this year with
the grant money.

"Without the Komen grant, there would be so many people
we couldn't take care of; it would be
unjust," said Harrington Breast
Center Director Aneta Younger.

Komen awarded a $30,000 grant to the
Moore County Hospital District for similar efforts in that
county. In all,
$47,000 went to three programs other than Harrington.

"Dumas can do that
out in the Panhandle where people are less likely to come to Amarillo for
medical
services," Davis said.

A group of Amarillo medical
professionals, community leaders and businessmen rank the grant

applications based on how well they fit the affiliate's needs assessment.
The affiliate's board of directors
approves or rejects the slate and funds
projects with money from that year.

"We're always looking for new and
innovative programs to fund," Davis said.

The chapter raises money
through its September road race, the Race for the Cure, its March In the

Pink Luncheon and other third-party events.

The Amarillo chapter
formally started in 2003 and began giving grant money the following
year.

Local Komen officials say they're proud that nearly 75 percent of
the money raised locally stays in the
Panhandle, with the remainder funding
national breast cancer research.

Yahoo! Alerts
Lymphedema: Risk
Reduction and Management Strategies - Newswise - 18 Feb 2010 -
Newswise —
There are no scientific studies showing that lymphedema can be prevented, but
there are
ways to lower your risk of developing this treatment side effect.
During the 10th Annual Conference for
Young Women Affected by Breast
Cancer, we will explore the myths and recent scientific evidence
about
lymphedema, learn about risk reduction techniques and discuss approaches to
lymphedema
management, including exercise, physical therapy, lymphatic
drainage, massage and other treatment
methods.
The 10th Annual
Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer is the only international

conference dedicated to the critical issues of young breast cancer
survivors and those who care about
them. Nearly 1,000 young breast cancer
survivors, caregivers and medical professionals from around
the world are
expected to attend the Conference, to be held Friday, Feb. 26-Sunday, Feb. 28
at the
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, Ga.
The Lymphedema: Risk
Reduction and Management Strategies workshop will take place from 3:30 -
5:
00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26 , and will be led by physical therapist Jill
Binkley, PT, MSc, FAAOMPT,
executive director of TurningPoint Women's
Healthcare in Alpharetta, Ga.
To learn more about the Conference and for a
complete list of workshops, visit
www.
youngsurvivorsconference.org.
Editors Note: Complimentary press
registration is available. Please contact Yarissa Reyes at (484) 708-
1547
or [emailprotected], or Dana Griffin at (646) 257-3006 or
[emailprotected].
****
About Living Beyond Breast Cancer
(LBBC)
Living Beyond Breast Cancer, based outside Philadelphia, is a
national nonprofit organization dedicated
to empowering all women affected
by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of
life.
Programs and services include: conferences; teleconferences; the toll-free
Survivors’ Helpline (888-
753-5222); a website, lbbc.org; free quarterly
newsletters; publications for African-American and
Latina women;
recordings; networking programs for young survivors and women of color;
healthcare-
provider trainings; and the Paula A. Seidman Library and
Resource Center. For more information about
Living Beyond Breast Cancer,
visit lbbc.org or call (610) 645-4567.
About The Young Survival Coalition
(YSC)
The Young Survival Coalition, based in New York with 26 national
affiliates, is the premier international
organization dedicated to the
critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer. YSC offer

resources, connections, and outreach so women feel supported, empowered and
hopeful. Through
action, advocacy and awareness, YSC seeks to educate and
influence the medical, research, breast
cancer and legislative communities
to address breast cancer in young women, and to ensure that no
women
diagnosed under 40 faces breast cancer alone. For more information about the
Young Survival
Coalition, visit youngsurvival.org or call (877)
YSC-1011.

Researchers develop guidelines for assessment, treatment and
management of lymphedema - News-
Medical-Net - 17 Feb 2010
Lymphedema, a
chronic swelling condition that can appear after breast cancer surgery, is a
risk for 1.3
million breast cancer survivors. Although lymphedema can cause
lifelong swelling in the arms, back,
neck and chest, there is no national
standard of diagnosis or care. Now, University of Missouri
researchers are
leading the American Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP), a national,
multi-
disciplinary collaboration to develop comprehensive guidelines for
the assessment, treatment, and
management of lymphedema.
"We can't cure
lymphedema today - we can only manage it," said Jane Armer, MU nursing
professor
and director of the project at the MU Ellis Fischel Cancer
Center. "Lymphedema is a complex, chronic
condition. Currently, there are
inconsistent approaches to care for lymphedema, and often the most
common
form of self-management is to not treat it at all."
The ALFP, established in
2008, has two main goals: establish a best practices document with
evidence-
based lymphedema treatment guidelines for health practitioners,
and create a minimum data set of all
available lymphedema research and
clinical data. The ALFP researchers plan to publish the best
practices
document in 2011.
"Part of why there isn't a standard of care is the lack of
reliance on current evidence by health
practitioners and third party
payers, which in turn causes problems with reimbursem*nt from health

insurance companies. Many people with lymphedema have to pay out-of-pocket
for care," Armer said.
"There isn't a clear, national consensus for how to
diagnose lymphedema and when to start treating it.
The ALFP collaborators
aim to document a standard of care reflecting a consensus on best practices

that will help solve these problems."
Researchers, including those at
MU, have found that the most effective method of care for lymphedema
is
complete decongestive physiotherapy, in which therapists use specialized
lymphatic massage
techniques to reduce protein-rich fluid buildup. Bandages
and compression garments also help to
reduce swelling.
One of Armer's
innovations at MU is measuring patients' arms with a perometer, a machine that
was
first used to fit garments for swollen limbs. First implemented in a
research setting at MU, the machine
has a large optoelectric frame that
glides over a patient's arm, scans its image and records an estimated
limb
volume reading. Perometer measurement is as, or more, accurate than several
previous methods to
measure arm circumference and volume. The machine is
now used in about 20 sites across the country.
Highlights of MU Sinclair
School of Nursing research from the past 10 years reveal that there is a 40

percent higher risk of developing lymphedema in women with a body mass
index (BMI) classified as
overweight or obese compared to normal-weight
women. The researchers also found that younger
patients may have less
occurrence of the condition but tend to report more symptoms, which could be a

result of psychological and aging-related factors.
"In addition to our
previous findings, we're currently studying whether there are any genetic
factors that
increase the risk of lymphedema," Armer said. "A pilot study
now underway and a proposed multi-site
research study will look at the
possibility of genetic predisposition for secondary lymphedema. The
results
could be applied to cancer treatment in which surgery and radiation affect the
lymphatic system."
Source: University of
Missouri-Columbia

Lymphedema: Risk Reduction And Management
Strategies - Medical News Today = 19 Feb 2010
There are no scientific
studies showing that lymphedema can be prevented, but there are ways to lower

your risk of developing this treatment side effect. During the 10th Annual
Conference for Young
Women Affected by Breast Cancer, we will explore the
myths and recent scientific evidence about
lymphedema, learn about risk
reduction techniques and discuss approaches to lymphedema
management,
including exercise, physical therapy, lymphatic drainage, massage and other
treatment
methods.

The 10th Annual Conference for Young Women
Affected by Breast Cancer is the only international
conference dedicated to
the critical issues of young breast cancer survivors and those who care about

them. Nearly 1,000 young breast cancer survivors, caregivers and medical
professionals from around
the world are expected to attend the Conference,
to be held Friday, Feb. 26-Sunday, Feb. 28 at the
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel in
Atlanta, Ga.

The Lymphedema: Risk Reduction and Management Strategies
workshop will take place from 3:30 - 5:
00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26 , and
will be led by physical therapist Jill Binkley, PT, MSc, FAAOMPT,
executive
director of TurningPoint Women's Healthcare in Alpharetta, Ga.

To learn
more about the Conference and for a complete list of workshops, visit
http://www.
youngsurvivorsconference.org.

MU Researchers Collaborate
To Develop Standard Of Care For Breast Cancer Survivors With
Lymphedema -
Medical News Today - 19 Feb 2010
Lymphedema, a chronic swelling condition
that can appear after breast cancer surgery, is a risk for 1.3
million
breast cancer survivors. Although lymphedema can cause lifelong swelling in the
arms, back,
neck and chest, there is no national standard of diagnosis or
care. Now, University of Missouri
researchers are leading the American
Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP), a national, multi-
disciplinary
collaboration to develop comprehensive guidelines for the assessment,
treatment, and
management of lymphedema.
"We can't cure lymphedema today
- we can only manage it," said Jane Armer, MU nursing professor
and
director of the project at the MU Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. "Lymphedema is a
complex, chronic
condition. Currently, there are inconsistent approaches to
care for lymphedema, and often the most
common form of self-management is
to not treat it at all."

The ALFP, established in 2008, has two main
goals: establish a best practices document with evidence-
based lymphedema
treatment guidelines for health practitioners, and create a minimum data set of
all
available lymphedema research and clinical data. The ALFP researchers
plan to publish the best
practices document in 2011.

"Part of why
there isn't a standard of care is the lack of reliance on current evidence by
health
practitioners and third party payers, which in turn causes problems
with reimbursem*nt from health
insurance companies. Many people with
lymphedema have to pay out-of-pocket for care," Armer said.
"There isn't a
clear, national consensus for how to diagnose lymphedema and when to start
treating it.
The ALFP collaborators aim to document a standard of care
reflecting a consensus on best practices
that will help solve these
problems."

Researchers, including those at MU, have found that the most
effective method of care for lymphedema
is complete decongestive
physiotherapy, in which therapists use specialized lymphatic massage

techniques to reduce protein-rich fluid buildup. Bandages and compression
garments also help to
reduce swelling.

One of Armer's innovations at
MU is measuring patients' arms with a perometer, a machine that was
first
used to fit garments for swollen limbs. First implemented in a research setting
at MU, the machine
has a large optoelectric frame that glides over a
patient's arm, scans its image and records an estimated
limb volume
reading. Perometer measurement is as, or more, accurate than several previous
methods to
measure arm circumference and volume. The machine is now used in
about 20 sites across the country.

Highlights of MU Sinclair School of
Nursing research from the past 10 years reveal that there is a 40
percent
higher risk of developing lymphedema in women with a body mass index (BMI)
classified as
overweight or obese compared to normal-weight women. The
researchers also found that younger
patients may have less occurrence of
the condition but tend to report more symptoms, which could be a
result of
psychological and aging-related factors.

"In addition to our previous
findings, we're currently studying whether there are any genetic factors that

increase the risk of lymphedema," Armer said. "A pilot study now underway
and a proposed multi-site
research study will look at the possibility of
genetic predisposition for secondary lymphedema. The
results could be
applied to cancer treatment in which surgery and radiation affect the lymphatic
system."

In recognition of the leadership in lymphedema research at MU,
the ALFP is housed at the MU Ellis
Fischel Cancer Center. Armer's research
is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is published
in several
journals, including the Journal of Lymphoedema; Lymphology; Lymphatic Research
and
Biology; and the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, and presented at
conferences throughout the world.
The activities of the ALFP have been
funded by industry partnerships and grants from the American
Cancer Society
through The Longaberger Company, a direct-selling company offering home
products,
and the Longaberger Horizon of Hope Campaign, which provided a
grant for breast cancer research
and education.

Source:
Emily
Martin
University of Missouri-Columbia

Google News Alert for:
lymphedema
UAW Local 651 to host benefit for woman who needs kidney
transplant
The Flint Journal - MLive.com -
FLINT, Michigan — Cynthia
Powser was born with Down Syndrome 22 years ago and hasn’t had an
easy life
since.

“She got diabetes when she was 1 years old,” said her mother,
Tina Kollek, 39, of Shiawassee County’
s Venice Township. “We almost lost
her then.”

Powser’s had problems with congenital heart failure and
lymphedema in her arm. And about a year ago,
her kidneys failed and she
needs a kidney transplant.

With medical bills piling up, Kollek taking
time off to care for Powser and Kollek’s husband currently
laid off,
Kollek’s friends and co-workers at the General Motors Service and Parts
Operations Davison
Road Packaging Center in Burton are stepping up to
help.

“I’m behind on everything,” Kollek said. “The house went for
foreclosure. The Consumers (bill) is
outrageous. I’m trying to do what I
can do.”

Kollek’s co-workers have organized a benefit spaghetti dinner
5-7 p.m. Saturday for Powser at UAW
Local 651, 3518 Longway
Blvd.

The benefit also will include a raffle and a live auction
beginning at 7 p.m., said Art Reyes, UAW Local
651 president.

Among
the donated items include a teeth whitening kit and auto detailing, Reyes
said.

“I’m so glad to see people have come together to help this
family,” he said.

Tricia Sermeno and about 10 other people have been
working on pulling the event together for the past
several
weeks.

Sermeno, 27, of Burton said that Powser’s character, spirit and
courage inspired the group to help.

“She always has a smile on her face
and is constantly battling and going through all these surgeries,”
Sermeno
said of Powser.

Management at the Davison Road SPO plant recently held
an employee raffle for a special parking
space at the plant, matching what
employees raised dollar-for-dollar.

And Sermeno said they plan to
present the family with about $1,400 on Saturday.

“Everybody has just
really jumped on board to help, from the people on the floor to the management
to
our local leadership,” Sermeno said.

Kollek said she is working
on getting family — including Powser’s two brothers — tested to see if they

are matches to donate a kidney.

She said she is overwhelmed by the
outpouring from her co-workers and is hoping her daughter —
whom she
described as strong through it all — will be well enough to attend the
benefit.

“You just don’t know how many people care until they do
something like this,” Kollek said.

Benefit

• Who: Cynthia Powser,
22, of Shiawassee County’s Venice Township, has Down Syndrome and
needs a
kidney transplant.

• When: A spaghetti dinner fundraiser is 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, with a live auction to follow at 7 p.m.

• Where: UAW Local
651, 3518 Longway Blvd., Flint.

• Cost: Dinner is $10 for adults, $5 for
children and donations also can be left for the family at UAW
Local
651

A battle she's determined to win - Miami County Republic = February
17, 2010
Beverly Nuessen pulls out a drawer from the table beside her
chair.

It’s full of pills. Filled to the brim. Some of the more than 30
bottles in the drawer cost $80, $100 or
more.

But instead of looking
down at the pills, Beverly, or “Bev” for short, looks out through the glass door
in
front of her — out to the pasture, where her horses are.

Before
the pills, before the chemotherapy and radiation, before the tears, prayers and
pain — there
were her horses.

She pulls out a picture she keeps
close to her, close to her heart, a photo from the ‘60s of her and her
dad
at a rodeo.

She was young then, a teenager, and a lot has changed since
then, but her love for her horses and her
father will never
falter.

Proudly wearing a large belt buckle and cowgirl hat in the
picture, one may not recognize Bev now. Her
hair is short and a bit
thinner, her skin is pale, and one arm is larger than the other. She can hardly
walk,
which keeps her from enjoying the company of her horses.

But
that’s what cancer does to some.

“I call it the silent killer,” Bev
said. “Cancer is the worst disease, killer there is.”

IN THE
BEGINNING

Bev was diagnosed in March of 1991 with breast cancer. Just a
regular check-up to her OBGYN lead
to the discovery that would change her
life and the lives of those closest to her.

She was 36, and the doctors
couldn’t believe it.

“I don’t know how many times I heard, ‘You don’t
have cancer, you’re too young,’” she said.

But that was just the
beginning. Since 1991, Bev has had four major surgeries, if you don’t include
the
one to put in her portacath, or port, used for injecting chemotherapy
so it can be dispersed throughout
the body without damaging the skin and
veins.

She’s had a complete mastectomy, with doctors going down at least
three inches below the surface of
her skin to make sure the cancer didn’t
return a third time, after it had returned in 2004 or 2005.
Sometimes the
years run together, along with the treatments.

She’s undergone a
hysterectomy to remove her uterus and a lymphedema surgery to remove a portion

of her lymph nodes.
“I call them ‘ectomy’ diseases,” Bev said with a
laugh.

The lymphedema is what has caused her arm and legs to swell,
retaining fluid that shouldn’t be there,
which in turn has given her
problems walking.

Then there’s the bone cancer. In 2002, Bev complained
of a pain in her right side by her hip that would
move down her leg. She
thought she’d pinched a nerve.

Instead, the cancer had started in her
hip and crossed her lower lumbar into her pelvis. Two to three
years later,
the breast cancer
would return, and in 2007, despite the thousands of visits
to the hospital, the endless days of being
treated with chemo and radiation
visits, every single day, Bev began to hurt on the left side.

A bone
scan was conducted, which Bev said was the worst one she’s had to endure yet,
and a tumor
was discovered on her hip joint the size of a
baseball.

Radiation treatments began again in September of
2007.

“It was the worst imaginable pain,” she said. She became horribly
sick seven days after starting
treatment, an abnormal kind of sick,
if
there is such a thing for cancer patients.
The radiation was not only
hitting her tumor, but also her bowels and the top of her leg, which caused

the fluid to build up in her leg.
She recalled there was at least 20
pounds of extra fluid in her leg.

Bev had planned to make a trip to Las
Vegas with her family for the National Finals Rodeo, but she
couldn’t walk
down the hallway after the treatments. Needless to say, they didn’t make it to
Vegas.

In January of 2008, Bev started three different kinds of
chemotherapy — she lost all of her hair within
the first two months of
treatments.

“People stare at you,” she said. “I bought everything, the
wigs, hats, but your skin color is pale.”

A ramp was built last summer
to help Bev make it into her own house. She also purchased a
scooter.

FAMILY TIES

Through all of this, Bev and her husband,
Richard or “Dick,” have raised three children. They’ve
already got one
grandchild and another to be born this July.

There’s Rick, her oldest,
Rodney and Becca, her youngest, who has always known her mother with

cancer.

It’s when thinking of her children that Bev chokes up, soon
she doesn’t hide it anymore, and the tears
fall freely.

“I feel that
it has taken a lot from my family. They’ll never say, ‘Mommy, because of you we
never got
to do anything.’ Because if you don’t have money, you don’t go
anywhere. You can’t buy groceries
sometimes because every month you’ve got
this medical bill that’s $10,000,” she said with a Kleenex
clutched in her
hand.

“Sometimes I think it’s really unfair — but with determination,
prayer — I’m still here.”

Bev had been fighting cancer for five years
when her own father passed away in 1996 from t-cell
leukemia. It hit her
like a ton of bricks.

“He told me I’d beat it,” she said. “He told me to
fight it. I guess I’m still fighting it.”

Although her father’s no
longer here, others are for Bev.

Rebecca, her youngest, has been
supportive through it all.

“She works her tail off for me,” Bev
said.

Although no one will take credit, a small group of Bev’s friends
and family members will host a dinner
and benefit auction at 5 p.m. Feb. 27
at the Miami County Fairgrounds in building No. 2. The Prairie
Wine Band
will perform, and a $10 donation per person will be accepted at the
door.

The event will include a chili dinner, silent auction and raffle.
Auction and raffle items will include several
things donated by the Kansas
City Royals baseball team, including 20 sets of tickets for the 2010

season.

Bev said her father, Merle Wood, worked as the vice
president of government affairs for Marion
Laboratories and knew Ewing
Kauffman, who formed the company after working as a pharmaceutical
salesman
and established the Royals.

The Major League Baseball team has also
donated shirts and autographed baseballs for the auction.
Merle and Bev were
both heavily involved with the American Quarter Horse Association, and Bev’s

children became involved as well.

The AQHA has donated a jacket for
the auction

“I’m totally amazed by it,” Bev said of the event. “I didn’t
think it would be this great. It’s
overwhelming.”

Alisha Williamson,
a close family friend, helped put the event together. Williamson said items
have been
donated, along with local business gift certificates, quilts and
photography packages that will be included
in the raffle and
auction.

“I enjoy volunteering my time and helping out others in any way
I can,” Williamson said. “That’s why
my heart’s in it. I know Bev would
step up and be there for me, too.”

Flexible Fitness: Swelling could be
lymphedema - Milford Daily News - February 16, 2010
Have you ever noticed a
difference in the size of one of your arms or legs? Does one arm or leg feel

heavy, and the clothes on that side of the body feel tight? If you have
certain risk factors, this could be
lymphedema.
The lymphatic system is
a series of vessels that carry a clear fluid that helps the body rid itself of

inflammation. Lymphedema is a condition in which the lymphatic system
becomes overwhelmed due to
injury or structural abnormalities. It then
cannot clear the body normally of lymph fluid.
Lymph fluid is a protein-rich
fluid which the circulatory system (capillaries) cannot reabsorb. The body

relies on the lymphatic system to pick up this fluid, filter it and deposit
it back into the circulatory
system. When this process breaks down,
swelling occurs because the fluid simply builds up in the
body's
tissues.
Lymphedema is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of
protein-rich fluid resulting in the swelling
of an extremity (arm or leg)
or the trunk. The neck, head or genitals could also be affected. It most

commonly occurs as a result of cancer treatment, such as a mastectomy,
lymph node removal and/or
radiation. However, lymphedema can also occur due
to trauma, liposuction, vein stripping, malignancies
and surgery, or even
due to a congenital abnormality in the lymph system. It can also occur in

combination with chronic venous insufficiency.
Risk factors for
lymphedema include obesity, history of trauma or injury to a limb, diagnosis of
breast
cancer at younger than 50 years old, having greater than 10 lymph
nodes removed, a history of
radiation treatment, and a history of upper
extremity infection after cancer treatment. Recent research
suggests there
is up to a 40 percent prevalence of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors over
a five-
year period, and onset usually occurs by the third year after
treatment.
How do you know if you have signs of lymphedema? Lymphedema
symptoms tend to have a slow,
progressive onset. Early signs might be
tighter shirt sleeves, rings and watches, and a heavy, fatigued or
achy
feeling in a limb. Later, a difference in size between one extremity and the
other may be noted, and
creases may appear where the toes connected to the
foot if the leg is affected. A fluid-filled hump on the
top of the foot or
back of the hand is common in later stages. Generally the fingers, hand and
lower arm
swell first (or toes and feet if the leg is affected) and the
lymphedema progresses upward. If it is
congenital, a person might notice a
size difference between the extremities since birth or, more
commonly,
since adolescence.
Lymphedema has four stages of progression. In stage zero,
or latent lymphedema, the patient has some
symptoms but insignificant
difference in limb size. Stage one lymphedema is reversible, transient

swelling. There is a small but measurable size difference between limbs,
but the swelling can be reduced
with elevation. An increase in swelling may
be present when an indentation remains when the skin in
pressed. It is best
to get treatment in these first stages to discourage progression of the
condition and
potentially reverse it, so noticing signs and symptoms early
is important.
Stage two involves noticeable swelling of a body part with a
more significant size difference. This is
considered permanent lymphedema.
There is less or no pitting type of swelling, and the affected area
may
feel hard or firm, due to a process called fibrosis.
Stage three lymphedema
consists of further swelling, skin changes, no pitting and possibly very large

limbs (elephantiasis). It is important to get treatment for stage two and
three lymphedema to prevent
further progression of the condition, to
decrease the risk of infection and to increase functional use of
the
extremity.
Treatment for lymphedema can be as easy as a light compression
sleeve for the earlier stages, to manual
lymph drainage (MLD), compression
wrapping and eventually compression sleeves/gloves at the end of
treatment
for later stages. It is important to seek out a therapist certified in complete
decongestive
therapy (CDT), which includes MLD, to ensure the best
treatment outcome. The good news is,
lymphedema usually responds well to
this treatment and the patient can get back to using his/her limb
with
fewer symptoms and effort.
Nicole Tomasino PT, DPT, CLT, is a certified
lymphedema therapist specializing in lymphedema
treatment and oncology
rehabilitation at the Spaulding Framingham Outpatient Center.

Solid
nursing background leads to executive spot -
DesMoinesRegister.com

Breast surgery only the beginning - Sunshine
Coast Daily -
CORAL Cross had a mastectomy eight months ago to save her
life, but every day since has been hell.
The 64-year-old Mount Coolum breast
cancer survivor is bravely speaking out about her journey to
draw attention
to the disease, which kills 2800 women a year in Australia.
She believes her
raw account of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery will help stop other women
in a
similar position from feeling alone.
Ms Cross discovered a lump on
her right breast in June last year.
The month soon became an emotional
roller coaster as normally foreign words such as mastectomy,
lumpectomy,
radiotherapy and chemotherapy became a normal part of her life.
“I was
shocked. I wasn’t prepared to loose my breast,” Ms Cross said.
“I was told
that if I didn’t have the surgery I would die a long, painful death and that I
would need ‘a
mental health evaluation’ if I refused.
“I believe there is
still a lot of work to be done in training doctors in communication skills when
it comes
to breast cancer.”
Coral said as she walked towards the
operating theatre on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, she had a knot in
her stomach
and a lump in her throat.
She spent two days in hospital and was then
discharged.
On the next Saturday night, the drains fell out.
“I had lymph
fluid pouring down my side,” she said.
“I had to sleep with a towel under my
arm until I could come to the hospital on Sunday morning.
“By Thursday I had
huge swelling under my arm, hot red and very painful.
“The doctor drained
300ml of lymph fluid.”
Ms Cross said she found out later she had an
infection that had triggered severe lymphedema – a
problem faced by many
women with breast cancer – which can be a disabling and distressing
condition.
“I made the choice to attend my local GP,” she said.
“He
drained lymph fluid every second or third day to prevent a recurrence of severe
discomfort.
“This draining went on for one month, it was painful,
frightening and distressing.”
Coral said two months after the surgery she
experienced a huge bleed across her chest.
“The bleed took three months to
resolve,” she said.
“I’ve gone through so many emotions since the
operation.
“I’ve been depressed, struggled with thoughts of suicide and now
I am angry,” she said.
“Before the operation I used to be a confident woman
who would power walk every morning and wear
beautiful clothes.
“I can
only wear a bra and prothesis for about an hour because of the deformation
under my arm
causing pain.
“I know the surgery saved my life but the
scar is tethered in two places.
“I have no armpit, just a folded mess and a
hole in my chest that I can put my finger into.”
Breast cancer treatment
does not always mean major, disfiguring surgery.
New knowledge from research
means specialists can treat many breast cancer cases by removing the
lump
itself, leaving the breast intact.
There are women, however, like Ms Cross,
who suffer complications.
She lodged an official complaint with the Health
Quality and Complaints Commission but has been told
the matter would not be
taken further.
A National Breast Cancer Foundation spokeswoman said breast
cancer survivors could experience
difficulties ranging from physical
limitations to psychosocial problems.
“A significant and enduring
complication of breast cancer treatment is in the reduction of upper body

strength and mobility,” she said.
“These issues are now emerging as new
targets for research.”
An Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
Incorporated spokesman said that when it came to breast
cancer, the first
surgery should be focused on curing the patient of the disease.
“That said,
patients need to know what options are available to them,” he said.
“If a
women is considering reconstruction, then a plastic surgeon should be involved
from the start.”
Fifteen per cent of all breast cancers are advanced at
diagnosis.
“Women whose cancer is diagnosed when it is contained in the
breast have a 90% chance of surviving
%five years, compared with 20%
five-year survival when the cancer has spread at diagnosis,” the
spokesman
said.

FINDING CHANGES IN YOUR BREAST
By knowing what is normal for
you at different times in the month and at different stages of your life, you

should be able to find any changes in your breast that are unusual for
you.
All women’s breasts are different, but you know better than anyone how
your breasts look and feel at
different times.
Women are advised
to:
Look at your breasts in the mirror – look at the shape, size and skin of
your breasts and nipples. Are
there differences between the two breasts or
nipples? If so, have they appeared in the last few months?
Feel your breasts
from time to time, perhaps while you are dressing, bathing or showering.
Remember
that your breasts extend to under your collarbone, up under the
armpit and include the area around the
nipples.
According to the
National Breast Cancer and Ovarian Centre some questions to ask about breast

surgery include:
What type of surgery is best for me?
What will
surgery involve?
Do you specialise in breast cancer surgery?
Can you
refer me to someone who specialises in breast cancer surgery?
Where will the
scars be and what will they look like?
How long will I be in
hospital?
How long will I take to recover?
What side effects can I
expect?
Who should I contact if side effects happen?
How much will the
surgery cost?
One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the
age of 85
Getting older is the most common risk factor: about 13% of new
cases are among women aged 20 to
44, 61% in women aged 45-69 and 26% among
women over 70. Women of all ages need to
understand the importance of
finding and treating breast cancer early.

Liposuction provides relief
for breast cancer patients - 10 Connects - March 10, 2010
Tampa, Florida --
Imagine not being able to lift your arm because it's so swollen and feels so
heavy,
you can't extend it all the way. Up to 25 percent of breast cancer
patients are at risk for arm
lymphedema, a life-altering side effect that
can even make your arm numb.
A new study may give breast cancer survivors a
new treatment option.
"I was diagnosed January of '08, and I had an
extensive number of lymph nodes removed as part of the
surgery. And as a
result, after the surgery, several months later, lymphedema developed," patient
Cheri
Wetzel said.
Wetzel survived breast cancer only to be confronted
with another debilitating side effect: lymphedema.
"The whole arm was, it
appeared to me to be, twice as large as the other arm ... I couldn't wear some

clothes because my clothing was getting so tight, and so I ended up with a
lot of tank tops and very
limited motion on the arm because it was feeling
so heavy to use it," Wetzel said.
Last fall, her doctor asked her to be part
of a small study at Moffitt Cancer Center using liposuction to
reduce the
lymphedema.
Dr. Christine Laronga explains how the surgery works, "When the
lymph channels are cut because of
the sugery to take the lymph nodes out,
those lymph channels have no place to go because they go to
the lymph nodes
that have now been cut. And so the fluid backs up and fluid is very protein
rich, and
then what it does as it leaks out of those little lymph channels
into the surrounding tissue, the fat cells
swell in reaction to this high
protein because it pulls water into the cell. So it's not that you increase
the
number of your fat cells, they just get bigger and that's why the arm
feels like it's full of fluid. So if you
can remove the number of fat
cells, you're not preventing the process because those that are left behind

can still swell but there's so many less of them."
"I had eight
incisions, eight spots where they went into the arm and took they essentially
drained the arm
of the lymphatic fluid... I went home like three hours
later. I was walking my dog in the afternoon, so it
was really no big deal
and my arm didn't bother me," Wetzel said.

She'll still have to wear a
compressive sleeve to keep the lymphedema from coming back, but otherwise

her arm is back to normal.
"I can wear clothes again. I can use my arm.
My arm doesn't bother me. It's just like my other arm
again," Wetzel
said.
"They find that their arm is much more mobile, less heavy, more
comfortable for them, and their range of
motion in all their joints is just
tremendously better so their quality of life is just so much better for them,"

Dr. Laronga said.
The lipo isn't covered by insurance since it's
considered cosmetic, but Dr. Laronga hopes her study will
change that. For
now, she'll track the six patients' progress over the next year in her trial to
prove the
lipo can improve their quality of life for the long term. Then,
she'll apply for larger grants to enroll more
women for the $12,000 to
$17,000 procedure.
If you would like to make a donation to Dr. Laronga's
study, specify Lipo for Lymphedema on any
Moffitt donations.
To learn
more about lymphedema, click on these
links:
•BreastCancer.org
•Compression Sleeves

Komen grants help
ease breast cancer's financial toll - Florida Weekly - March 11, 2010
When
Leesa Crapa was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer, she felt immobilized
by the threat of
financial devastation.
“My insurance company dropped
me,” said the Cape Coral resident. “They said because I had family
history
and all this business that they just weren’t going to pay anything.”
Her
boyfriend got online to search for help, and they ultimately found it: the
means to pay for medical
tests, a mastectomy and ongoing care. Home from a
therapy session last week, the couple shared a
courageous laugh about her
bald head.
“We’re doing fine,” Ms. Crapa said. “We’re seeing light at the
end of the tunnel and it’s not a freight
train.”
Her treatment, along
with many other women who are uninsured or underinsured, was backed by

support from Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Southwest Florida affiliate. Ms.
Crapa is being cared for
through Lee Memorial Health System’s treatment and
referral program, Breast C.A.R.E., which
received a $209,350 Komen grant
last year. Naples Community Hospital has a similar program, Breast
Health
Patient Navigation, which received a $92,350 Komen grant in 2009.
“These
grants are saving women’s lives, especially in this economy,” said Dara
Leichter, breast health
navigator for the Breast C.A.R.E. program.
These
are two of 10 community programs to receive Komen grants last year, $963,000 in
all, which
aims to remove the financial hurdle in the fight against breast
cancer. That’s more than 13 times what
Komen raised six years ago, its
first full year of fundraising as a new Southwest Florida affiliate.
Komen’s
popular annual fundraising event, Race for the Cure, has made it the region’s
most visible and
muscular presence in promoting breast cancer education,
diagnoses and treatment. Last year the race
attracted 8,100 walkers and
runners. Organizers are hoping for another record turnout at this year’s

race, March 13 at Coconut Point mall in Estero.
Supporters of Komen’s
Southwest Florida affiliate have been exponentially more numerous and

generous, but the number of breast cancer patients who can’t afford
treatment in the aftermath of the
recession is outpacing that growth.
Groups are asking Komen of Southwest Florida for nearly twice as
much as
last year, a total of $1.8 million in grant requests for the coming fiscal
year, starting April 1.
“Because so many people are out of work and the way
the economy is, there is a huge increase in
need,” said Bonnie Olson, grant
chair for Komen of Southwest Florida.
One of the gaps Komen aims to fill is
the lack of medical resources for breast cancer patients in Hendry
and
Glades counties. Others include areas of breast cancer treatment and education
in Southwest
Florida that may be overlooked or poorly funded. For example,
lymphedema is a condition that breast
cancer patients could be at risk for,
even decades after their cancer has been in remission, if their lymph
nodes
are removed during surgery.
Lymphedema Resources in Estero was awarded a
$29,500 Komen grant last year to help cover
education and medical treatment
for uninsured or underinsured patients.
The Passionate Pinks of Charlotte
County was founded in 2007 to educate women about early
detection. Every
year, a contingent of the group arrives in Estero by bus to participate in the
Susan G.
Komen Race for the Cure. The group coordinates Project Hope in
Charlotte County, a Komen affiliate,
which is an educational initiative for
people recently diagnosed with breast cancer in Charlotte County.
Working
with Florida Cancer Specialists, the group provides a tote bag containing a
journal,
information and items for warmth and comfort. To learn more about
the Passionate Pinks, visit
passionatepinks. com or e-mail passionatepinks@
comcast.net.
Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida was able to assess
the risk of breast cancer and provide
screening services for 818 women last
year. Director Ena Mendez says that wouldn’t have been
possible without a
$157,453 Komen Grant.
Lynn Hurley, breast health navigator at Naples
Community Hospital, was recently approached by a
woman who didn’t have
health insurance.
“She was crying because I was telling
her about the
community resources
that are available,” Ms. Hurley said. “She said ‘I found
a lump two months ago and I couldn’t do
anything about it.’”
“They’re
saying ‘what if I get a mammogram and I do have cancer?’” Ms. Hurley said.
“‘What then? I
have no money.’
“We want them to come in. Even if they
don’t have money, that’s not an issue for us.”
North Fort Myers resident
Sharolyn Clayton had no insurance when she was diagnosed with breast
cancer
two years ago. The Breast C.A.R.E. program helped cover the financial costs of
tests like
mammograms, MRI’s and cat scans, as well as treatments like
chemotherapy, and medication.
“There are organizations that can help you to
pay for this stuff,” Ms. Clayton said. “So I would say that
for anyone with
breast cancer, do not ever give up.” ¦
.. in the know
>> What:
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
>> When: March 13 starting at 8 a.m.
The
registration tent opens at 6:30 a.m.
>> Where: Coconut Point
mall, Estero, at U.S.
41 and Coconut Point Road.
>> Details: 5 k
races and walks for youth and
adults, as well as a 1-mile Fun
Walk.
>> Cost: Late registration is available on the
day of the
race, $40 for adults and $20 for
under 18. Visit www.komenswfl.org for
more
information, directions, and to register online.
>> Grant
money allocated locally by
Susan G. Komen for the Cure of
Southwest
Florida in 2009:
(This number represents 75 percent of the total
grant
money raised each year, which is spent
locally. The other 25 percent goes to
national organizations
to research cures for breast cancer.)
2004-05:
$74,000
2005-06: $152,000
2006-07: $306,000
2007-08:
$448,000
2008-09: $823,000
2009-10: $963,000

Max Organises 'Breast
Cancer Support Group Meeting' - Express Healthcare Management
- March 11,
2010
Max Cancer Centre, Patparganj took the initiative of bringing all
breast cancer survivors on a common
platform on the occasion of 'World
Cancer Day' to support the cause. Over 60 breast cancer patients
attended
the meet along with entire team of Max Cancer Centre. An online blog called
'Pink Connect'
has also been started by Max Healthcare on leading social
networking website Facebook, where
various leading doctors, psychiatrists,
cancer patients and their peers can contribute stories, exchange

information and share experiences regarding this disease and its
cures.

Said Dr Geeta K, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, Max
Healthcare, "These meetings are a
learning experience for the caregivers as
well. There are several issues we are unable to address during
the course
of treatment and are brought to light by people who have lived through the
experience. What
is more amazing are the novel solutions that they come up
with for their problems."

Said Dr Vineeta Goel, Consultant Radiation
Oncologist, Max Healthcare, "These meetings are aimed at
empowering women
whose lives are temporarily disrupted by this disease. These meetings reinforce
the
message that they return to their normal lives and give back to the
community by influencing at least 10
other women to become breast aware.
This will go a long way in picking up disease early and expecting
better
outcomes in the long run."

Also present at the occasion was Mamta
Goenka, who spoke about her own story of victory against
breast cancer.
"After experiencing the ordeal of breast cancer and emerging victorious, I take
it as my
responsibility to give back to the society by educating breast
cancer sufferers about lymphedema
(swelling of arm) and encouraging and
motivating them to go on with their normal lives."

EH News
Bureau

Lymphedema Products Effectively Used For Treatment -
Release-news.com = March 11, 2010
Treatment of lymphedema involves manual
lymph drainage, use of compression garments, bandaging
and skin care, and
http://www.lymphaticdrainagetherapy.com/">lymphatic drainage
therapy.

Lymphedema can be effectively managed with treatment
that makes use of several
http://www.
lymphedema-products.com/">lymphedema products which include
compression garments, bandages,
footwear, foams and padding, accessories
like hooks and fasteners, donning aids, pneumatic pumps,
compression
devices, etc.

In order to maintain the edema reduction after
decongestive therapy, the patient is required to wear
elastic compression
garments at all times. You can have a custom-made compression garment or

purchase one over the counter. These are to be worn each day and replaced
at regular intervals.
Lymphedema garments for the upper extremities include
compression arm sleeves, bras, gloves and
gauntlets. Knee-high and
thigh-high stockings, compression pantyhose and compression devices for the

legs are also available. However, before purchasing the product, you must
consult your physician to find
out which garment is right for your
condition.

Bandaging or wrapping the affected body part is
essential so that lymphedema is reduced. Compression
bandaging provides a
resistance on the skin and the muscles underneath. This resistance helps the

tissues to re-absorb the fluid and prevents fluid retention in the limb.
Usually short stretch bandages give
a better result as they produce the
tension required to enhance the pumping action for the lymph vessels.
There
are various categories of bandages and they come in the form of tubular
stockinettes, finger and
toe bandages, tapes and adhesive bandages. The
patient can choose to use whatever is suitable.

Another lymphedema
product that plays a major role in the treatment of the condition is the

lymphedema pump. The Sequential Gradient Pump and the FlexiTouch Pump are
the two types of
pumps used for complete decongestive therapy. The
lymphedema pump can either be purchased or
rented from a surgical supply
store. Those who do not have access to a therapist can make use of the

lymphedema pump for their treatment. It is crucial for lymphedema patients
to maintain a meticulous
skin care routine. Various gels, creams, ointments
and lotions are available for cleansing and
moisturizing the skin.

For those suffering from lymphedema, compression therapy and a
life-long follow up on the treatment is
essential. New lymphedema products
are coming in the market and therapists are using them to take
care of
problem areas of tissue fibrosis and swelling. For instance, a special tape
known as the Elastic
Therapeutic tape is being used to soften the edemas.
Donning and doffing aids, special footwear and
accessories like bandage
rollers try to make life a bit easier for lymphedema patients. Due to the

convenience of online shopping, it is now possible to procure lymphedema
products quite easily. Many
online stores have trained therapists who can
assist you with the selection of a suitable lymphedema
product that you
might need.

Lymphedema Products Effectively Used For Treatment -
I-Newswire.com (press release)
(I-Newswire) March 11, 2010 -
(I-Newswire)
March 11, 2010 - Treatment of lymphedema involves manual lymph drainage, use of

compression garments, bandaging and skin care, and lymphatic drainage
therapy.

Lymphedema can be effectively managed with treatment that makes
use of several lymphedema
products which include compression garments,
bandages, footwear, foams and padding, accessories
like hooks and
fasteners, donning aids, pneumatic pumps, compression devices, etc.

In
order to maintain the edema reduction after decongestive therapy, the patient
is required to wear
elastic compression garments at all times. You can have
a custom-made compression garment or
purchase one over the counter. These
are to be worn each day and replaced at regular intervals.
Lymphedema
garments for the upper extremities include compression arm sleeves, bras,
gloves and
gauntlets. Knee-high and thigh-high stockings, compression
pantyhose and compression devices for the
legs are also available. However,
before purchasing the product, you must consult your physician to find
out
which garment is right for your condition.

Bandaging or wrapping the
affected body part is essential so that lymphedema is reduced. Compression

bandaging provides a resistance on the skin and the muscles underneath.
This resistance helps the
tissues to re-absorb the fluid and prevents fluid
retention in the limb. Usually short stretch bandages give
a better result
as they produce the tension required to enhance the pumping action for the
lymph vessels.
There are various categories of bandages and they come in
the form of tubular stockinettes, finger and
toe bandages, tapes and
adhesive bandages. The patient can choose to use whatever is
suitable.

Another lymphedema product that plays a major role in the
treatment of the condition is the
lymphedema pump. The Sequential Gradient
Pump and the FlexiTouch Pump are the two types of
pumps used for complete
decongestive therapy. The lymphedema pump can either be purchased or
rented
from a surgical supply store. Those who do not have access to a therapist can
make use of the
lymphedema pump for their treatment. It is crucial for
lymphedema patients to maintain a meticulous
skin care routine. Various
gels, creams, ointments and lotions are available for cleansing and

moisturizing the skin.

For those suffering from lymphedema,
compression therapy and a life-long follow up on the treatment is

essential. New lymphedema products are coming in the market and therapists
are using them to take
care of problem areas of tissue fibrosis and
swelling. For instance, a special tape known as the Elastic
Therapeutic
tape is being used to soften the edemas. Donning and doffing aids, special
footwear and
accessories like bandage rollers try to make life a bit easier
for lymphedema patients. Due to the
convenience of online shopping, it is
now possible to procure lymphedema products quite easily. Many
online
stores have trained therapists who can assist you with the selection of a
suitable lymphedema
product that you might need.

Bill
lobbies for compression garments - HME News - March 11, 2010
WASHINGTON - A
bill that would require Medicare to cover compression garments and other items

used to treat lymphedema began making the rounds in February, but some
industry stakeholders say it
needs some clarification.

Introduced
Feb. 23 by Rep. Larry Kissell, D-N.C., the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment
Cost
Saving Act of 2010, would improve the diagnosis and treatment of
lymphedema under the Medicare
program. Among other things, the bill, H. R.
4662, seeks to establish Medicare coverage for
compression bandage systems,
compression garments and compression devices.

"The garments are used
every day (by patients) and they are the backbone of the treatment," said

Robert Weiss, a volunteer advocate with grassroots organization National
Lymphedema Network, who
helped get the bill introduced.

The bill
also seeks to define who can provide the garments. The list includes nurses;
physicians and
physician assistants; chiropractors; licensed massage
therapists; licensed home health practitioners; and
licensed prosthetists
and orthotists. Also on the list: someone certified by the manufacturer of an
item to
provide that particular item.

That's where the bill gets a
little gray.

"The bill in many ways limits the provision of services to
those particular disciplines," said Rhonda
Turner, executive director of
the American Association of Breast Care Professionals. "It does have
some
language saying 'anyone else deemed appropriate by the DHHS secretary.' We want
to see if
they could have a little bit more definition of that provider
list."

The bill may simply need some tweaks, she
said.

Ultimately, Weiss said, the bill "attacks" a number of large
problems that prevent patients from getting
proper care, and proper care
would save the government money.

"If you treat the lymphedema, you are
avoiding very expensive and hard-to-treat cellulitis, which can
require
hospitalization," he said.

At the end of the day, the bill is a step in
the right direction, said stakeholders.

"While H.R. 4662 leaves many
unanswered questions and concerns, we are encouraged that the bill will

serve to raise awareness to the issue of lymphedema and the need for
services/items to be covered
without exception by commercial insurances and
Medicare/Medicaid," said Turner.

Breast cancer battle can continue after
treatment ends - WZVN-TV - March 11, 2010
FORT MYERS: Breast cancer is the
most common cancer among women in the U.S. and it will claim
the lives of
more than 40,000 this year alone. But for those who beat the disease, sometimes
the battle
isn't always over after treatment ends.
After surviving
breast cancer, Jane Dinnan thought her troubles were over.
"You wanted to
feel good about the fact that the cancer is gone, but I couldn't feel that
way," said
Dinnan.
As part of her treatment, doctors removed 17 lymph
nodes from Jane's arm - tiny organs that help the
immune system fight off
infection. But without them, body fluid couldn't drain from the limb.
"It
felt like I had a lead weight on my arm all the time," she said.
Her arm
swelled to more than twice its normal size.
"It just was miserable. I was
miserable. I wanted, I mean the arm could go and I'd be happier," she
said.
She spent almost all of her time wearing a compression sleeve or using
a machine that pushes the
lymphatic fluid up the arm so it can get into the
system.
"The treatment of lymphedema, for the most part in the United
States, is management or conservative
management of lymphedema," said Marga
Massey, a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.
After being told there was no
other option, Jane found plastic and reconstructive surgeon doctor
Massey,
who's brought a new surgery to the U.S. Dr. Massey removed three lymph nodes
from the
inside wall of Jane's abdomen.
"Blood vessels are harvested in
order to keep the lymph nodes alive," said Massey.
She then transplanted
them under Jane's arm, into the area missing lymph nodes. Jane spent just one

night in the hospital and the swelling went down almost immediately.
"I
would say overwhelmingly the majority, somewhere even in the range of perhaps
maybe 90 percent
of patients, show relief from their symptoms," said
Massey.
It's given Jane a chance to celebrate life cancer-free.
"So I
never felt the elation that I feel now that I've beat this," said Jane. "I'm
back to normal. I feel like
my life is back."

Dr. Gott: Should
reader find a new physician? - Northwest Herald - March 13, 2010
Archive
Search
Dear Dr. Gott: My doctor has told me that I have lymphedema and
should take a water pill. When the
20 milligrams wasn't sufficient, she put
me on 40 milligrams. Because I wanted to know more about my
condition to
better educate myself about things to do and not do, I looked online. It
appeared to me
that my doctor should be looking for the cause of the
swelling, not just treating it. So I pressed her into
doing
more.

She ordered a CT scan of my pelvis, a heart echo and a
venous...
Click here for complete article

TINA - I cant get the whole
article because I dont belong to the website that the link went to,
sorry

Kissell introduces health care bill - Salisbury Post - March 12,
2010
WASHINGTON – N.C. Rep. Larry Kissell has introduced legislation which
would require Medicare
to offer more treatment coverage for Americans
afflicted with primary and secondary lymphedema.

The Lymphedema
Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010, HR 4662, is designed to

improve patient care and reduce costs associated with complications related
to lymphedema.

Lymphedema, also known as lymphatic obstruction, is a
condition of localized fluid retention and tissue
swelling caused by a
compromised lymphatic system.

According to a press release, Kissell
introduced the legislation after meeting with constituent Heather
Ferguson,
whose son Dylan suffers from primary lymphedema. Ferguson, who lives in
Charlotte, has
been active in working to raise awareness of the disease and
to help alleviate the troubles lymphedema
sufferers have getting insurance
to cover treatment.

"I was moved by Heather's story, and all she has
gone through to ensure that her son receives this
important treatment. Her
dedication to helping others in the same situation has inspired me to help her
in
her quest to make sure lymphedema patients have an opportunity to
receive treatment," Kissell said in
the press release. "This preventative
treatment will help improve life for many people throughout this

country."

treatment, the disease can progressively worsen, causing severe
disfigurement, disability, pain and even
death. Not all components of the
treatment fall under the categories for which Medicare typically
provide
coverage.

Why Richmond, Why?!?: More Potholes - Richmond.com - March 15,
2010
...
And in lieu of a second Why Rich question, I have a follow up to
handicap spaces question from a few
weeks ago.
The question was,
basically: why does it seem like able-bodied people are using handicapped
decals?
You can read the full question and DMV's answer here, but I got
some feedback from readers in our
print edition on this one.
Phyllis
said:
"People that got handicap license years ago when they had surgery for
knee, back, hip or any operation
or problem … are allowed to renew these
for the rest of their lives. … I know this for a fact …
someone I knew
…told me, she had kept hers and she used it [because] it was easier and closer
to the
door."
Terri wrote in:
"I am not the type of person that
responds to articles, but this one got under my skin. I am one of those

people that don't look handicapped. I have Lymphedema in my left leg, and
do not always have good
balance. My leg swells with fluid and has been
known to give out on me. I am in my mid 40's, when I
get out of my vehicle
I try very hard not to limp. I also try very hard to keep my balance and not
"fall
out" in front of on coming traffic. That is the whole reason that I
have a handicapped sticker. I would
rather be "normal" and walk, skip or
run through the parking lot … People shouldn't judge/question
other people
or what that person is doing. You don't know someone else's story, and until
you do, you
should just worry about how to make life in "your own world"
better."

-------

Komen drive tops $1M
By David
Pittman

The Amarillo affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the
Cure topped $1 million in local giving and recently
announced its latest
round of grants to four cancer programs.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure
grants
Susan G. Komen for the Cure recently announced it distributed
$275,000 in grants to four cancer
programs: