We at The Maurer Foundation, as do most, understand that challenges come along with a cancer diagnosis. But what most people don’t realize is that cancer survivors have tremendous obstacles to overcome even after treatment ends. We recently came across a New York Times article called “Picture Your Life After Cancer,” and we knew that many of our supporters would benefit from its content. The article asks cancer survivors to share their post-cancer pictures and a brief description of their new lives. The Maurer Foundation understands that often times a newly cancer free person can experience physical and emotional side effects that they were not expecting. So if you or someone you love is a cancer survivor let the world hear the story! Here’s a link to the New York Times article that will allow our hero’s to shine a light on what 12 million people in the United States are currently going through.

Here’s the link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/picture-your-life-after-cancer/

Recently Dr. Oz did a show about Shocking Diseases Men Get. One of the topics he spoke about was Breast Cancer in Men. Breast cancer occurs in women because they have breast tissue. But men have breast tissue too, just much less of it. While less than 1% of breast cancers occur in men, the incidence is on the rise. So the same advice doctors give women – investigate any changes that occur in breast tissue – should also be extended to men.

See the full article http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/shocking-diseases-men-get

Donna

Did you know that there is a cleaning service that provides free housecleaning for women currently undergoing Chemotherapy?

Cleaning for a Reason is a new nonprofit that offers professional housecleaning and maid services to women undergoing treatment for any type of cancer.  All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Click on the link below to see if there’s a maid service in your area.

http://www.cleaningforareason.org/maidservice.php  

Once again this symposium delivered an outstanding cross section of topics all related to breast cancer. Almost 9,000 doctors, patient advocates and researchers gathered to hear the latest breast cancer research data and updates on many clinical trials including the benefits of the aromatase inhibitors (hormonal therapy for post-menopausal breast cancer). Two talks were of special interest to me as they emphasize just how important the work of The Maurer Foundation is with its educational programs.

The first talk, an epidemiological perspective on the causes and prevention of breast cancer was given by Dr. Valerie Beral, University of Oxford, Oxford U.K. Her talk discussed the areas of child bearing, lactation and nutrition.  She believes that cultural differences in these areas account for the international disparities in breast cancer incidents between the developed and developing countries.

Dr. Beral discussed alcohol, height, body mass and age at menarche and its relationships to breast cancer. She mentioned that there’s really nothing one can do about their height and menarche, however one has control over their alcohol intake and body mass. I happen to feel that the age of menarche may be altered by increasing the activity level of our children from the time they are able to walk which could possibly have an impact on the epidemic of childhood obesity we’re currently facing as well as impact heart cancer risks.

As far as child bearing is concerned, Dr. Beral introduced fascinating facts beyond age at first birth. She clearly stated that number of births and the length of breast feeding are also important factors. So the earlier the age at first birth, the more children one bears, and the longer one breast feeds potentially can reduce the risk of breast cancer.  This is why so many women in developed countries are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer.  We are at an older age when we give birth to our first child, we tend to have fewer children, and we breast feed for a shorter period of time.  She also said that while a woman is taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptive pills her risk for breast cancer is increased but this increased risk is lost approximately 4-5 years after a woman discontinues using HRT or birth control pills.

In summary Dr. Beral states “it is neither desirable nor feasible for women to revert to childbearing patterns of the past to prevent breast cancer. If we want sizable reductions in breast cancer incidence we need to develop an appropriate way of mimicking the effects of child bearing on the breasts.” Perhaps it will be possible to develop a short term “hormonal” vaccine to provide long term protection against breast cancer.

Virginia E. Maurer, MD
Diseases of the Breast

More interesting facts by Dr. Beral

• In developed countries 10% of women by the age of 80-85 will have breast cancer.
• In the USA this year 180,000 women developed breast cancer.
• To afford women a 20% reduction in breast cancer one would have to eliminate obesity, alcohol and hormone replacement therapy.

Stay tuned for more of Dr. Maurer’s thoughts on the 32nd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium…

Recently Dr. Oz did a show on foods that will help you reduce your risk of cancer.

By making smart decisions every time you visit the grocery store, you can greatly reduce your risk of hormone dependant cancers like breast, ovary, uterus and prostate. This simple daily diet contains foods rich in antioxidants, fiber and isoflavones.

 Berries, Yogurt and Green Tea-Blueberries are believed to be one of the most powerful antioxidants; they also contain ellagic acid, which prevents carcinogens from latching onto your DNA. Yogurt contains the healthy bacteria lactobacilli, which stops enzymes that turn healthy cells into cancer. Green tea is another powerful antioxidant that you should be drinking at least once a day.

 Quinoa-From Peru in the Andes, quinoa is a whole grain rich in fiber and antioxidants. Fiber stimulates the good bacteria in your colon to produce cancer-fighting compounds; it also lowers your risk for cancer by sweeping carcinogens through your colon.

 Flaxseeds-Flaxseeds contain lignans that block natural estrogen, which can feed certain cancers like breast and ovarian.

 Garlic & Onions-Garlic and onions, from a family of vegetables called allium, are powerful cancer-fighters. Studies have shown them to stop cancer growth in the stomach, colon, brain, lung, prostate and breasts. Additionally, one garlic component named diallyl disulfide was shown to kill Leukemia cells in the lab.

 Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Squash & Broccoli-are other cancer-fighting vegetables  that are packed with antioxidants. Broccoli detoxes the liver and beans are rich in fiber. Tumeric in curry has been found to suppress tumors.

Donna

Recently there has been much debate over The US Preventative Services Task Force’s new guidelines for mammography screening.  The Maurer Foundation, along with other organizations such as the American Cancer Society (ACS), firmly support that women go for annual mammogram screening beginning at the age of 40.  Understanding that this is a controversial subject, it should not deter women from being in control of their own health.

It is also important to incorporate a healthy diet and regular exercise into your lifestyle.  High levels of estrogen contribute to one’s risk of breast cancer.  A diet high in fat increases estrogen levels.  Therefore, maintaining a diet low in fat and exercising at least 30 minutes a day can significantly decrease your risk.  Studies show that there is also a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer.  Even one drink a day increases your risk when compared to non-drinkers.

Understanding that there is controversy over the mammography screening guidelines should not deter women from being in control of their own health.  It is important to reinforce that each person can reduce their risk of breast cancer by living a healthier lifestyle!

Naomi Cunningham

In a recent article in the New York Post  about Breast Regrowth, it speaks about  a surgical technique that could help cancer victims who had mastectomies regrow their breasts.

If the three-year trial of the experimental stem-cell technique called Neopec, is a success women could form a new breast in four to six months, the Herald Sun of  Melbourne reported.

The procedure uses stem cells of a patient’s own fat thereby enabling women to grow their natural breasts.

During the trial, surgeons from the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery in Melbourne will implant a breast-shaped, biodegradable, synthetic chamber under the skin on the patient’s chest as a scaffold for the new breast to grow in.

Doctors redirect a blood vessel from the underarm to the fat inside the chamber, which would grow and fill the fist-sized space and form a new breast during the next four to six months.

Donna