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Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter


IMAGINIS.COM BREAST HEALTH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 22
OCTOBER 12, 2000

Thousands of breast cancer patients, survivors and healthcare professionals receive the Imaginis.com Breast Health Newsletter, which is published by email every two weeks (every week during October 2000). If you would like to add the email addresses of your friends and family to the newsletter mailing list, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/newsletter/

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SIEMENS AND IMAGINIS PROUDLY SUPPORT NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, OCTOBER 2000

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

Imaginis.com is proud to sponsor the Komen Race for the Cure in Miami on October 14, 2000. 5,000 people are expected to participate in the Miami Race. Proceeds from the Race will help raise breast cancer awareness and fund research. To learn more about the Miami Race, please visit
http://www.footworksmiami.com/races/Race_for_the_Cure_Home.htm

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BREAST HEALTH NEWS

1. TESTING NIPPLE FLUID MAY HELP DETERMINE WOMEN AT HIGH BREAST CANCER RISK
Breast surgeon Susan Love, MD and her colleagues are developing a procedure that samples cells from nipple fluid to target women at high risk of breast cancer.  The procedure, called ductal lavage, helps identify cancerous and pre-cancerous cells in the milk ducts of the breast and may be performed in a physician's office. Dubbed the "breast pap smear," Dr. Love believes the ductal lavage procedure can help physicians better understand how breast cancer develops and help identify women at high risk of the disease.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.04.00b.asp

2. LARGE STUDY FINDS NO LINK BETWEEN SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS AND BREAST
CANCER RISK
A large study conducted by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) finds no correlation between silicone-filled breast implants and breast cancer risk. Silicone implants had been on the market since 1962 but were banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992 after questions arose concerning the safety of silicone leakage in the breast tissue and other areas of the body. The NCI study, revealing no increased breast cancer risk from silicone implants, is the first part of an analysis ordered by the U.S. Congress to evaluate the long-term health effects of silicone implants.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.06.00b.asp

3. STUDY FINDS NO BENEFIT OF SHARK CARTILAGE FOR CANCER PATIENTS
Shark cartilage capsules are ineffective and cancer patients should stop taking them to treat their disease, said researchers at the Second European Breast Cancer Conference. Shark cartilage is an alternative therapy that became popular after the book, "Sharks Don't Get Cancer" by William Lance, was first published in 1993. Researchers have since found that sharks do develop cancer, and now, a new study shows that shark cartilage does not have any effect on cancer.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.06.00.asp

4. BIAFINE CREAM MAY REDUCE SKIN PROBLEMS FROM RADIATION THERAPY
A new study finds that biafine, a cosmetic skin cream, may reduce skin problems for cancer patients who undergo radiation as part of their treatment. While many breast cancer patients only experience minor, temporary side effects to radiation (such as tenderness or swelling), some patients experience burning, reddening, and peeling. According to the researchers, biafine may reduce disruptions and delays during radiation therapy due to skin problems.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.04.00a.asp

5. STUDY LINKS DEPRESSION TO BREAST CANCER RISK
A new study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health has found that a history of depression may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.   According to the researchers, depression may change the way the body works and produces disease. Further research on the connection between depression and breast cancer risk could eventually help with the prevention of breast cancer.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.09.00b.asp

6. STUDY FINDS VITAMIN A-LIKE DRUG BENEFICIAL FOR YOUNG WOMEN AT HIGH RISK OF BREAST CANCER RECURRENCE
According to a new study, young women with breast cancer may reduce their chances of developing the disease again with a drug based on a derivative of vitamin A. In the study, pre-menopausal women who took the drug fenretinide were less likely to develop breast cancer again in either breast. While fenretinide may be beneficial to young women, the researchers say that the drug does not appear to be effective in post-menopausal women.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.09.00a.asp

7. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE APPROVES EMAIL GREETING CARD VERSION OF BREAST CANCER RESEARCH STAMP
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has authorized BlueMountain Arts, an online greeting card company, to use the Breast Cancer Research stamp on an email greeting card. The electronic card features an illustration of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp and its "Fund the Fight, Find a Cure" logo. The card may be sent to others via email to help increase breast cancer awareness or serve as a reminder for women to perform monthly breast self- exams beginning at age 20 and receive annual screening mammograms once they reach 40 years of age.
Click here to read more:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.10.00.asp

8. IMAGINIS AND SHE SHE ME DEVELOP "BREAST HEALTH 101" TO HELP EDUCATE YOUNG WOMEN ABOUT BREAST CANCER
Imaginis and Sheshesheme.com have partnered to develop a "Breast Health 101" microsite, designed to inform women in their twenties and thirties about breast health and breast cancer. The microsite is meant to serve as introduction to topics related to breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Typical of she she me, who is the witty personality and purveyor of what is fashionable online, "Breast Health 101" is written in an entertaining and humorous tone to help younger women become more knowledgeable about this very important topic.
Click here to visit the "Breast Health 101" microsite:
http://www.imaginis.com/shesheme/

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

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IMAGINIS.COM PATIENT AND PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS

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

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