This past summer, a man in the business of helping smokers quit, was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Just months later, anti-smoking guru Allen Carr lost his battle with cancer. On November 29th, Carr died at his home in Malaga, Spain.

A heavy smoker for 33 years before quitting 23 years ago, Carr claimed to have found an easy way to quit smoking. From that discovery, he founded The Easy Way to Stop Smoking Program, which would eventually grow into 70 clinics in 30 countries. In addition, his company publishes how-to quit smoking books, CDs, tapes and DVDs.

Using cognitive therapy, Carr told smokers interested in quitting that they could do it without willpower, without suffering withdrawal and without gaining weight. The celebrity endorsements for his program include Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sean Bean, Marie Helvin, Johnny Cash, George Harrison, Lisa Stansfield, Sir Richard Branson, Britney Spears, Susannah York, Bruce Oldfield, Stefano Gabbana and Julie Christie.

Carr is credited with helping over 25 million people to quit smoking.

An Easy Way to Stop Smoking Program clinic spokesperson was quoted as saying, "Allen spent many years in smoke-filled rooms after he quit, while treating smokers for addiction. He is certain that had he not quit, he would have died 20 years ago." Near the time of his death, Carr wrote a letter to Tony Blair urging his government and NHS to accept the easy method program. Carr was 72.

The ultrasound technique called elasticity imaging might be able to reduce the amount breast biopsies given to patients. It works almost like a regular ultrasound examination of the breast except it is much more sensitive. The technique gauges how much tissue moves when pushed to detect how soft or stiff the mass is in the breast.

The study that was done showed that all 17 of the imaging studies thought to be malignant were found to be malignant after a biopsy was done. It also identified 105 out of the 106 benign lumps in the breast. From this study it suggests that elasticity imaging is 100 percent sensitive and 99 percent specific.

This could turn out be another useful tool used along with mammography and breast MRI's to detect a cancerous lesion in the breast. I, however, will always want a lump biopsied since I know that is the only way to know 100 percent whether it is malignant or benign.

(Thanks to Patti Anastasi for the tip)

More pink is popping up -- this time on the shelves of Yankee Candle stores where pretty pink candles are displayed with labels of pretty pink breast cancer ribbons. Yankee Candle is proud to support the fight against breast cancer and is featuring the scent Fresh Cut Roses in 14.5 oz. jars for this special cause. A portion of all proceeds will be donated for breast cancer research and awareness. This candle -- a special and limited edition -- costs $19.99 and can be purchased in retail stores or on-line.

Yankee Candle has always been active in charitable endeavors and seeks to make a strong, positive impact on the communities in which they do business. They support the United Way and the American Heart Association -- and now they support breast cancer initiatives too.

Susun Weed is an international authority on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Weed teaches herbal medicine, ethnobotany, pharmacognosy, psychology of healing, eco-herbalism, nutrition, and issues of women's health to medical schools, hospital wellness centers, breast cancer centers, midwifery schools, naturopathic colleges, and shamanic training centers, as well as speaking at many conferences. She is the author of four books, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year; Healing Wise; New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way; and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way.

Some chapters of Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way are published online. At Weed's site, she has a series of articles published, including Eight Steps for a Woman Dancing with Cancer. Here are a few of the steps she recommends for women facing breast cancer.

• Submit. Give up. Make room for the miracle.
• Inform yourself. Listen to your intuition. Examine all the options, but only use what feels right to you.
• Accept support. Surround yourself with loving friends, healing music, special colors, prayer and affirmation.
• Maximize the healthy qualities of your diet.
• Increase you exercise level. Take a yoga or tai chi class weekly. Walk daily. Get a weekly massage. Pamper yourself with activity.
  

To read more about the steps, and other articles, you can visit Susun Weed's comprehensive site of herbal information and psychology of healing for women's health.