Self Help Solutions to Comfort, Heal and Re-Energize YOU!!

* 20% of Americans claim to have fatigue intense enough to interfere with their having a normal life. (Is this you?)

* 80% of American women will suffer from Adrenal Fatigue.
(Could this be you?)

* In brief, 50% of adults who seek medical treatment complain of feeling tired all the time. MOST ARE Women. (This was me. How about YOU?)

Most women just “tough it out.” They blame their tiredness on their age, hormones, work, spouse and kids. They keep their lack of energy a secret from even their best friends. Today is your day to stop blaming, hiding out and hoping “things” will change. You’ve come to the right place to help yourself feel better and get your groove back!

Heart break is a universal pain everyone experiences at some point in their life. It can stem from a lost love, the loss of a family member or friend, or the loss of a beloved pet. A broken heart can lead to depression, insomnia, fatigue, loss of appetite, and a host of other health problems.

Viveca Stone-Berry was all too familiar with heartbreak. After years of unhealthy relationships, she transformed her achy breaky broken heart experience into interviews with relationship experts and created a favorite watering hole for love and relationship advice —

www.GetReadyForLove.com.

Her website offers a plethora of recorded interviews with best-selling love advice and self-help authors including Dr. Harriet Lerner and Sonia Choquette, and renowned medical intuit, Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat.

If you, or someone you love, are suffering from heart break or fatigue, I recommend you devour the following:

Fatigue Be Gone by Viveca Stone-Berry

Fatigue Be Gone! Jumpstart e-Guide!

This is Viveca’s 8-step self-discovery and recovery blueprint for women. It’s easy, effective, affordable and guaranteed to re-energize all of you… your heart, body and spirit.

“Fatigue Be Gone! Jumpstart e-Guide”

Save time, Save money, Save energy - it has what you need in just
8 Simple Steps …

1) Inventory your health & life style & uncover your fatigue factors Adrenal Fatigue? Anxiety? Depression? Anemia? Grief? What’s driving your energy down?

2) Learn easy-does-it ways to heal yourself and boost your energy. Share them with your partner and children.

3) Find out what critical information you need to gather for your doctor (save time, money and frustration.)

4) Ask your doc to perform tests - which ones & why. And, what to do if they deny or belittle your requests …

5) Includes Free Home Tests & access to hundreds of essential
Women’s Health – Wahm and, SAHM Health Products & Services.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!

Listen to the interview done by Heal Yourself Talk Radio with Viveca Stone-Berry all you have to do is click here!

Academy Award winner Kathy Bates comes forward to talk about her battle with Ovarian Cancer that was diagnosed in 2003.

Many symptoms of ovarian cancer can be masked by what we as call “normal” Kathy stresses that you need to really pay attention to what your body is saying…

For more information about Ovarian Cancer go to:

http://www.ovariancancer.org/

There are many theories about the causes of ovarian cancer. Some of them came from looking at the things that change the risk of ovarian cancer. For example, pregnancy and taking birth control pills both lower the risk of ovarian cancer. Since both of these things reduce the number of times the ovary releases an egg, some researchers think that there may be a link between the release of eggs and the risk of getting ovarian cancer.

Also, we know that women who have had their tubes tied or who have had a hysterectomy have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. One theory to explain this is that some cancer-causing substances may enter the body through the vagina and pass through the uterus and fallopian tubes to reach the ovaries. This would explain the effect of removing the uterus or blocking the fallopian tubes on ovarian cancer risk.

Another theory is that male hormones (androgens) can cause ovarian cancer.

While we do not yet know the exact causes ovarian cancer, we do know some of the risk factors involved. A risk factor is something that changes a person’s chance of getting a disease. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person’s age or race, can’t be changed.

But risk factors don’t tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, does not mean that you will get the disease. And many people who get the disease may not have had any known risk factors. Even if a woman with ovarian cancer has a risk factor, it is very hard to know how much that risk factor may have contributed to the cancer.

Risk factors for ovarian cancer

Some of the risk factors for the most common type of ovarian cancer (epithelial ovarian cancer) are listed below.

Age: Most ovarian cancers happen after change of life (menopause). Half of all these cancers are found in women over the age of 63.

Obesity: It appears that obese women have a higher risk of getting ovarian cancer. One ACS study found a higher rate of death from ovarian cancer in women who were overweight. The risk went up by 50% in the heaviest women.

Having children: A woman who has had children has a lower risk of ovarian cancer than women who have no children. The risk gets even lower with each pregnancy. Breast feeding may lower the risk even further. Using birth control pills (”the pill’) also lowers the risk of ovarian cancer.

Female surgery: Having your “tubes tied” (tubal ligation) may reduce the chance of developing ovarian cancer. A hysterectomy (removal of the uterus without removing the ovaries) also seems to reduce the risk of getting ovarian cancer..

Fertility drugs: Some studies have found that use of the fertility drug Clomid® for longer than 1 year, especially if no pregnancy took place, may increase the risk of LMP tumors. But not having children also increases the risk, even without the use of fertility drugs. Research in this area is now going on. If you are taking this drug, you should talk to your doctor about the possible risks.

Male hormones: Androgens are male hormones. A recent study found a link between the drug danazol (used to treat endometriosis) and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Further studies are planned to look at this.

Estrogen replacement therapy and hormone replacement therapy: Some recent studies suggest women using estrogens after change of life have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. The risk seems to be higher in women taking estrogen alone (without progesterone) for many years (at least 5 or 10). The increased risk is less certain for women taking both estrogen and progesterone.

Family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer: Ovarian cancer can run in families. Your ovarian cancer risk is higher if your mother, sister, or daughter has or had ovarian cancer. The younger your family member was when she got ovarian cancer, the higher your risk. The risk also gets higher the more relatives you have with ovarian cancer. Increased risk for ovarian cancer does not have to come from your mother’s side of the family - it can also come from your father’s side.

Having a family member with breast cancer can increase your risk of ovarian cancer. And women who have colon cancer in their families may have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

About 1 in 10 cases of ovarian cancers are linked to gene changes that can be found with certain tests. These changes are also linked to an increased risk of breast and colorectal cancer. Please see the section on prevention to learn about genetic counseling and testing.

Breast cancer: Women who have had breast cancer also have a higher risk of ovarian cancer.

Talcum powder: Some studies have shown a slight increase in risk of ovarian cancer among women who used talcum powder on the genital area. Asbestos in the powder may explain the link. But these products have been free of asbestos for more than 20 years. Proving the safety of newer products will require further follow-up studies.

Diet: A recent study of women who followed a low-fat diet for at least 4 years showed a lower risk of ovarian cancer. Some studies have shown a reduced rate of ovarian cancer in women who ate a diet high in vegetables, but other studies disagree.

Smoking and alcohol use: Some studies have found an increased risk for one type of ovarian cancer (mucinous).
Last Revised: 02/06/2008-From http://www.cancer.org

Become a member already!

Join us as a member of the Cancer Schmancer Movement so that you can help us become a million member movement that will revolutionize women’s health history and ensure that all women are diagnosed with cancer in Stage 1!
http://www.cancerschmancer.org

Mary Olson Kelly, breast cancer survivor and founder of The Breast Wishes Institute, acknowledges that many people tend to want to give unsolicited advice to loved ones who have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  An approach like this may not be therapeutic for you, or your loved one. Olson recommends taking the approach of being as supportive as possible.

Being supportive means many different things.  It can mean being available to listen to your loved one and discussing some of the choices they have made about their treatment, or choice of doctors.  It can mean being willing to be mostly a good listener, and not undermining your loved ones choices about treatment, diet, or any other issues related to their diagnosis and treatment. It can also mean offering help when needed with daily chores like cleaning, cooking, and errands.

Read more

While preparing for today’s Boston Radio show (Friday January 16, 2009) about cancer an online friend emailed me about IBC. I had no idea what IBC was…she sent me a link to some You Tube Videos that helped explained one of the least known breast cancers that are usually NOT DIAGNOSED till the women are in Stage 4!

I will be posting a video at the end of this post as well so you can listen to some important information about IBC.

I wanted to help spread the word about IBC, I lost two aunts to breast cancer several years ago and the gene runs in our family. But this term was new to me so I did some more research and here is what I found out:

Taken from Cancer.gov

• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but very aggressive type of breast cancer (see Question 1).
• IBC usually grows rapidly and often spreads to other parts of the body; symptoms include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast (see Questions 2 and 3).
• Treatment for IBC usually starts with chemotherapy, which is generally followed by surgery, radiation, targeted therapy, and/or hormone therapy (see Question 4).
• People with IBC are encouraged to enroll in clinical trials (research studies with people) that explore new treatments (see Question 5).

1. What is inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)?

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but very aggressive type of breast cancer in which the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or “inflamed.” IBC accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States (1). It tends to be diagnosed in younger women compared to non-IBC breast cancer. It occurs more frequently and at a younger age in African Americans than in Whites. Like other types of breast cancer, IBC can occur in men, but usually at an older age than in women. Some studies have shown an association between family history of breast cancer and IBC, but more studies are needed to draw firm conclusions (2).

2. What are the symptoms of IBC?

Symptoms of IBC may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d’orange), which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema (swelling) in the breast. Other symptoms include heaviness, burning, aching, increase in breast size, tenderness, or a nipple that is inverted (facing inward) (3). These symptoms usually develop quickly—over a period of weeks or months. Swollen lymph nodes may also be present under the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. However, it is important to note that these symptoms may also be signs of other conditions such as infection, injury, or other types of cancer (1).

3. How is IBC diagnosed?

Diagnosis of IBC is based primarily on the results of a doctor’s clinical examination (1). Biopsy, mammogram, and breast ultrasound are used to confirm the diagnosis. IBC is classified as either stage IIIB or stage IV breast cancer (2). Stage IIIB breast cancers are locally advanced; stage IV breast cancer is cancer that has spread to other organs. IBC tends to grow rapidly, and the physical appearance of the breast of patients with IBC is different from that of patients with other stage III breast cancers. IBC is an especially aggressive, locally advanced breast cancer.

Cancer staging describes the extent or severity of an individual’s cancer. (More information on staging is available in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) fact sheet Staging: Questions and Answers at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/staging on the Internet.) Knowing a cancer’s stage helps the doctor develop a treatment plan and estimate prognosis (the likely outcome or course of the disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence).

4. How is IBC treated?

Treatment consisting of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy is used to treat IBC. Patients may also receive supportive care to help manage the side effects of the cancer and its treatment. Chemotherapy (anticancer drugs) is generally the first treatment for patients with IBC, and is called neoadjuvant therapy. Chemotherapy is systemic treatment, which means that it affects cells throughout the body. The purpose of chemotherapy is to control or kill cancer cells, including those that may have spread to other parts of the body.

After chemotherapy, patients with IBC may undergo surgery and radiation therapy to the chest wall. Both radiation and surgery are local treatments that affect only cells in the tumor and the immediately surrounding area. The purpose of surgery is to remove the tumor from the body, while the purpose of radiation therapy is to destroy remaining cancer cells. Surgery to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible) is called a mastectomy. Lymph node dissection (removal of the lymph nodes in the underarm area for examination under a microscope) is also done during this surgery.

After initial systemic and local treatment, patients with IBC may receive additional systemic treatments to reduce the risk of recurrence (cancer coming back). Such treatments may include additional chemotherapy, hormonal therapy (treatment that interferes with the effects of the female hormone estrogen, which can promote the growth of breast cancer cells), targeted therapy (such as trastuzumab, also known as Herceptin®), or all three. Trastuzumab is administered to patients whose tumors overexpress the HER–2 tumor protein. More information about Herceptin and the HER–2 protein is available in the NCI fact sheet Herceptin® (Trastuzumab): Questions and Answers, which can be found at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/therapy/herceptin on the Internet.

Supportive care is treatment given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer. It prevents or treats as early as possible the symptoms of the disease, side effects caused by treatment of the disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to the disease or its treatment. For example, compression garments may be used to treat lymphedema (swelling caused by excess fluid buildup) resulting from radiation therapy or the removal of lymph nodes. Additionally, meeting with a social worker, counselor, or member of the clergy can be helpful to those who want to talk about their feelings or discuss their concerns. A social worker can often suggest resources for help with recovery, emotional support, financial aid, transportation, or home care.

5. Are clinical trials (research studies with people) available? Where can people get more information about clinical trials?

Yes. The NCI is sponsoring clinical trials that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is a treatment option for many patients with IBC, and all patients with IBC are encouraged to consider treatment in a clinical trial.

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the NCI’s Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER and in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies, which is available at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet . This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. Further information about clinical trials is available at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials on the NCI’s Web site. The Web site offers detailed information about specific ongoing studies by linking to PDQ®, the NCI’s comprehensive cancer information database. The CIS also provides information from PDQ.

6. What is the prognosis for patients with IBC?

Prognosis describes the likely course and outcome of a disease—that is, the chance that a patient will recover or have a recurrence. IBC is more likely to have metastasized (spread to other areas of the body) at the time of diagnosis than non-IBC cases (3). As a result, the 5-year survival rate for patients with IBC is between 25 and 50 percent, which is significantly lower than the survival rate for patients with non-IBC breast cancer. It is important to keep in mind, however, that these statistics are averages based on large numbers of patients. Statistics cannot be used to predict what will happen to a particular patient because each person’s situation is unique. Patients are encouraged to talk to their doctors about their prognosis given their particular situation.

7. Where can a person find more information about breast cancer and its treatment?
   • NCI’s Breast Cancer Home Page (http://www.cancer.gov/breast/)
   • Breast Cancer (PDQ®): Treatment (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/patient/)
   • Understanding Breast Changes: A Health Guide for All Women (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understanding-breast-changes)
   • What You Need To Know About™ Breast Cancer (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/breast)

To learn more about IBC, other types of breast cancer, and breast health in general, please refer to the following resources:

Related NCI materials and Web pages:

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 2.1, Cancer Information Sources
  (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Information/sources)
• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 5.32, Staging: Questions and Answers
  (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/staging)
• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 7.1, Radiation Therapy for Cancer: Questions and Answers
  (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/radiation)
• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 7.2, Biological Therapies for Cancer: Questions and Answers
  (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/biological)
• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 7.45, Herceptin® (Trastuzumab): Questions and Answers
  (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/therapy/herceptin)
• Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/chemotherapy-and-you)
• Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies (http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/Taking-Part-in-Cancer-Treatment-Research-Studies)

For more help, contact:

NCI’s Cancer Information Service
Telephone (toll-free): 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237)
TTY (toll-free): 1–800–332–8615
LiveHelp^® online chat: https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp

Taken from Cancer.gov

You Tube Videos from news casts about IBC:

News Cast on IBC Symptoms

For those who are survivors or who are family members of breast care patients, surviors or lost someone to breast cancer I urge you to join Fran Drescher’s Organization Cancer Schmancer and become an advocate for women’s rights in health care!

It is time we stand up for our health! No one else is going to do this but us!

It is free to join, and to help spread the word!

Go to http://www.cancerschmancer.org today and register to become an advocate, recieve news updates and more from Cancer Schmancer.

It is time we women stand up, fight and have our voices heard once again! This time it IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH!!

by Fran Drescher from her Blog found at CancerSchmancer.org

Hi All,

We start off 2009 on the right foot by recognizing January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. And honey, there’s nothing more important than your health!  Last year, over 11,000 women in the US were diagnosed with cervical cancer.  The good news is that with the proper screening tools and early detection, almost 100% of cervical cancer cases can be prevented. Over the last 50 years, routine PAP test screening has reduced cervical cancer deaths by 74% in the United States.

This month and every month, here are the ways to protect yourself:

• Learn about cervical cancer– Education is key and what we don’t know is killing us! Learn about the risks and warning signs of cervical cancer and make sure all the women in your life are educated too. Make a list of questions for your physician before going to your gynecologic appointment so you are always in control of your body!

• Have a regular PAP test – The PAP test is a simple and effective screening tool for cervical cancer. Women should begin having PAP tests and pelvic exams yearly at age 18 or within 3 years of the start of sexual activity, in addition to scheduled check-ups with their physicians.

• Minimize your risk of HPV–You can prevent most pre-cancerous cells of the cervix by avoiding exposure to HPV, a group of viruses commonly transmitted through sexual contact. Remember a person can have HPV without symptoms and pass it on without any knowledge - so ask for an HPV test at your next gynecologic exam.

• Be vaccinated – The HPV vaccine is recommended for women ages 9-26 and protects against the virus that causes almost all cervical cancers and other less common genital cancers like cancers of the anus, vagina, and vulva. Vaccination plus routine PAP tests will be your best protection against cervical cancer.

Stop smoking – Smoking truly affects all aspects of your health and should always be avoided.  When it comes to cervical cancer, the answer is no different.  Women who smoke are twice as likely to get cervical cancer.  So be a good mama to your lungs - they’re trying to do a good job for you!

Five minutes is all it takes!

Through education, legislation, and social reform, the Cancer Schmancer Movement will alert our elected officials that the collective female vote is more powerful than that of the richest corporate lobbyist.

Five minutes is all it takes to raise your voice to ensure our government makes early cancer detection a priority.

Join the Cancer Schmancer Movement by going to Cancer Schmancer

From CancerSchmancer.org

In the United States there are more than 78,000 newly diagnosed cases of uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancer annually, the three most common gynecologic cancers. Each cancer may have a variety of symptoms and associated risk factors.

Risk Factors for Gynecological Cancers

• I am not getting screened regularly with a Pap test
• I am at high-risk for human papillomaviruses (HPV)
• I smoke
• I am very overweight
• I eat a diet high in fat.
• I am a woman older than age 60
• I started menstruating at an early age—before age 12
• I take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs

Warning Symptoms for Gynecologic Cancers

• Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, or gas
• Abdominal swelling or discomfort
• Pelvic pain or cramping
• Bloating or a sense of fullness, even after small meals
• Backache
• Painful, frequent, or burning urination with no infection
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Loss of appetite or unintentional weight loss or gain
• Vaginal bleeding or irregular periods
• Pain during intercourse

If symptoms last more than 2-3 weeks, schedule a gynecologic exam right away. Request a Pap test, CA 125 blood test, and a transvaginal ultrasound. Remember: Early detection equals survival!

Contact The National Women’s Health Information Center for information on health insurance coverage or free clinics. Visit www.womenshealth.gov or call 1-800-994-9662.

According to The American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease causes the death of more than 500,000 women every year.  It is reported that high cholesterol levels pose a big risk to women’s health in the form of heart disease and stroke.  Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the human body.  Another important statistic drawn from The American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke statistics 2006 Update, shows that more than 51 million American women have very high cholesterol levels.

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