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Posts with tag pattern
Posted Sep 5th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Prevention
I'm a fan of journaling and over the years, I've done lots of it. I've mostly journaled my thoughts, feelings, and emotions, though. I'm thinking I need to start journaling my symptoms.
I'm always at a loss when I finally talk to a doctor about symptoms. "How long have you felt like this?" my doctor might say. "Oh, I don't know, maybe a few days," would be a typical response."
Once I've been sick for a few days, the timing and longevity of my symptoms just blur into one another. But they really are important and tracking them in writing can help chart the course for diagnosis, especially when it comes to disease. Take ovarian cancer. Symptoms can include bloating, pressure, even pelvic and abdominal pain, all of which may seem pretty benign if temporary. But jot them down -- be sure to include dates of occurrence -- and you may see that trends begin to surface.
Continue reading Feeling under the weather? Start a symptom journal
Posted May 8th 2007 10:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Pancreatic Cancer, Research, Daily news
New research may one one day help in the diagnosis and prognosis of the nation's number four cancer killer of men and number five cancer killer of women. The killer: pancreatic cancer.
Findings from an Ohio State University study show pancreatic cancer cells may leave signs in gene-related molecules called microRNAs.
Published in
The Journal of the American Medical Association, this study examined pancreatic tissue from 65 people with the disease and 42 people with chronic inflammation of the pancreas, called chronic pancreatitis.
Continue reading Molecule pattern may serve as pancreatic cancer marker
Posted May 1st 2007 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Research, Daily news, Thought for the Day
It only takes two bottles of wine consumed over the course of one weekend to more than double the risk of breast cancer, according to a Danish study of 17,647 women which breaks down like this: women who drank 22-27 drinks per week had twice the risk for the disease compared to those who drank only one to three drinks.
Think about this:
More than a quarter of participants, age 44 and older, drank more than the recommended 14 drinks per week. One in 10 were binge drinkers -- they had more than four drinks per day. Thirteen percent were weekend bingers -- they had more than 10 drinks between Friday and Sunday. A drink is considered one bottle of beer, wine, or spirit. In Denmark, each unit translate into 12g of alcohol.
Published in the European Journal of Public Health, this study found breast cancer risk is greatest when drinks are consumed in a short period of time. This is because the concentration of alcohol in the blood peaks, making it more harmful to the body.
"What our study suggests is that the total amount of alcohol consumed has a detrimental effect on the risk of breast cancer, but also the drinking pattern seems to have an impact," says lead researcher Dr. Lina Morch.
The bottom line: to reduce the risk of breast cancer, women must limit the amount of alcohol they drink.Posted Mar 16th 2007 1:00PM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Cancer Survivors
The doctor who read my mammogram and ultrasound results today is the same doctor who detected in my recent MRI something of
unknown significance. Today, the unknown remains. But the significance is not so significant.
This doctor saw an unusual pattern of tissue in my right breast when she viewed my Friday MRI results, some sort of enhancement she didn't see in the left breast or on the MRI I had a year ago. But today's mammogram looked good and today's ultrasound did too. So I guess if three different imaging tests don't turn up anything truly suspicious and there doesn't appear to be anything to biopsy, then all is well. For now.
All that must be determined now is when I will report back for more screening to chart the state of the dense breast tissue that keeps me on my toes.
Another bullet dodged. Another day in the life of a worried breast cancer girl.
Posted Jun 23rd 2006 2:30PM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Pink products
I have a Vera Bradley purse -- a backpack, actually -- that is black with pink ribbons and little multi-colored flowers sprinkled all over the fabric. The print is called
New Hope and a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of this bag go toward breast cancer research. Now there is a second print available that also carries hope for a cure.
Hope Toile is the name of this bright, cheery, perfect-for-summer, pink bag -- and like the purse I have, part of the sales will benefit the
Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. Since 1994, Vera Bradley has raised more than four million dollars for breast cancer research and this pattern -- which also shows up on accessories such as umbrellas, wallets, belts, eyeglass cases, and watches -- symbolizes renewed hope for a cure. And while I don't have this purse yet, it is on my wish list for a time when I need something new and fresh and hopeful.
Triple-negative breast cancer means that the pathology report has shown the cancer to be estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative, and HER2 negative.
