Imaginis.com is used in over 105 countries worldwide. Thousands of breast cancer patients, survivors and healthcare professionals receive the Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter, which is published by email every two weeks. If you would like to add the email addresses of your friends and family to the newsletter mailing list, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/newsletter/. They will begin receiving the newsletter with our next edition.

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IMAGINIS.COM WINS PRESTIGIOUS WWW HEALTH AWARD

Imaginis.com was designated the top Patient Education Website, Private Sector Division, at the Spring 2000 World Wide Web Health Awards. The World Wide Web Health Awards recognize the world's best health information being published on the Internet and are designed to assist consumers and health professionals in deciding which sites offer accurate, up-to-date health information.
Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/about/press/press8.1.00.asp

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BREAST HEALTH NEWS

1. MINIMIZING PAIN AND DISCOMFORT DURING MAMMOGRAPHY...
Mammography is currently the only exam approved by the FDA to screen for breast cancer and is considered by physicians to be the “gold standard” in breast cancer detection. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the discomfort some women feel during a mammogram can deter them from receiving future mammograms. This article summarizes recent studies that pinpoint the causes of mammogram discomfort and explains how discomfort during mammography can be minimized.
Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news7.26b.00.asp

2. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS GREATLY INFLUENCE CANCER RISK...
Factors such as diet, smoking, alcohol, exposure to chemicals and radiation, and lack of exercise can significantly influence a person’s likelihood of developing many types of cancer, according to a study of nearly 45,000 pairs of twins in three countries. However, the study also found that genes played a role in over one-fourth of breast cancer cases, suggesting that scientists still lack an understanding of many of the genetic components involved with breast cancer.
Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news7.26a.00.asp

3. BREAST-CONSERVING THERAPY VIABLE OPTION FOR WOMEN WITH LARGE TUMORS...
Several studies have shown that women with small breast tumors have an equal chance of surviving breast cancer regardless of whether they have a mastectomy (breast removal) or breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy). Now researchers have found that the same may be true for women with larger breast tumors (2.1 centimeters to 5 centimeters). In a newly published study, researchers found that women with Stage II breast cancer could be treated effectively with lumpectomy and radiation instead of mastectomy.
Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news7.21.00.asp  

4. STUDY ADDS TO DEBATE ON LYMPH NODE REMOVAL IN PATIENTS WITH SMALL BREAST TUMORS...
An ongoing debate in breast cancer research involves deciding which patients should have their axillary (underarm) lymph nodes surgically removed and examined for evidence that their cancer has spread past the breast. In a recent study on the subject, researchers say that even women with small breast tumors (one centimeter or less in diameter) should have their lymph nodes evaluated. According to the researchers, age, increasing tumor size, and the aggressiveness of the cancer are all factors that may determine which patients are likely to have cancerous lymph nodes.
Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news8.1.00.asp

5. BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS SET TO CLIMB JAPAN'S MOUNT FUJI...
A team of 55 American climbers including breast cancer survivors, physicians, researchers, activists, and women and men who have lost loved ones to breast cancer will attempt to climb Mount Fuji (12,388 feet) in Japan this August. The group will join a team of 150 Japanese breast cancer patients and advocates, led by Jinroh Itami, MD, a respected Japanese oncologist who heads a cancer support group called Meaningful Life Therapy. The team will fly prayer flags at each campsite as they make their way up the mountain. Prayer flags in honor or memory of loved ones who have faced cancer may be ordered from the Breast Cancer Fund.
Click here to read more or to learn how to order a prayer flag: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news7.24.00.asp

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IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH FORUM

The Imaginis.com Breast Health Forum has been designed to help promote the discussion of breast health topics and bring women together who have shared similar experiences. Breast cancer patients, survivors, and women of all ages who are concerned about breast health issues, both cancerous and benign, are encouraged to post and reply to messages at http://www.imaginis.com/forums

Registration on the Imaginis.com forums is simple and free. Though registration is not required to post or reply to messages, those who do register will receive email notifications when others have posted responses to their questions.

Recent topics have included: experiences with breast biopsy, painful breasts, nipple discharge, and what foods to avoid during chemotherapy.

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BREAST HEALTH/BREAST CANCER INFORMATION  

1. TAMOXIFEN - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS...
Tamoxifen is the most common drug used to treat breast cancer and prevent the disease in women at high risk. This article explains how tamoxifen works, who is a candidate for tamoxifen, possible side effects of tamoxifen, how long women should take tamoxifen, and more.
Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/tamoxifen.asp

2. BREAST CANCER AND BREAST HEALTH DURING PREGNANCY...
Detecting a breast lump can be worrisome, especially if the woman is pregnant at the time of the discovery. This article describes breast changes and breast health guidelines to follow during pregnancy. Topics include evaluating a worrisome breast lump during pregnancy or breast-feeding, diagnosing and treating breast cancer during pregnancy, and pregnancy after breast cancer.
Click here to read more: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/pregnancy.asp

3. WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!

If you have questions, comments or suggestions regarding any topics we have discussed or future topics you would like to see, email us at mailto:breasthealth@imaginis.com. In addition, help us spread the word about breast health and breast cancer. Visit http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/sendusnews.asp to send us information or comments on new books, news, press releases, television specials, or major events associated with breast cancer awareness or research.

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IMAGINIS.COM BOOKSTORE - CURRENT FEATURE

Visit our Breast Health Bookstore at http://www.imaginis.com/bookstore/breasthealth/ for one of the Imaginis.com current features. "Just Get Me Through This! The Practical Guide to Breast Cancer" by Deborah A. Cohen and Robert M. Gelfand, MD (Contributor) is a “roadmap” for patients and their families/friends to help manage all of the day-in, day-out decisions and ups-and-downs of breast cancer.

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HAVING TROUBLE ACCESSING THE LINKS IN THIS NEWSLETTER?

To view the full articles, click on the hyper-links following each summary. AOL (America Online) users may need to copy and paste the hyper-links in this newsletter into a web browser to view them. In some cases, the hyper-links following the summaries may not successfully retrieve the webpages if the address extends to more than one line. If this occurs, please copy the full text of the address and paste it into the address box in a web browser. This newsletter is also available at http://www.imaginis.com/newsletter/2000/aug-03-00.asp

Please note, Imaginis.com does not send "spam" email and will unsubscribe anyone upon request (see link below). For questions or comments, please email us at mailto:comments@imaginis.com 

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