Women Blog

Leading breast oncologists warn of dangers of Task Force recommendations

“The recommendation to change breast screening is a huge step backwards,” says Dr. Marisa Weiss, a leading breast oncologist and founder and president of Breastcancer.org.

The proposed new guidelines call for mammograms to start at age 50 and to be done every other year instead of every year starting at age 40, as recommended by current guidelines.

“The data simply does not account for the human perspective. It would be an enormous mistake to allow outdated data using older technology provided by computer-generated analysis to dictate how health care professionals screen women for early detection of breast cancer. These are real people with their lives at stake … for whom mammography has a proven survival benefit.”

The letter to the Breastcancer.org community follows:

Dear Breastcancer.org Member:

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended dramatic changes to current breast cancer screening guidelines. Breastcancer.org is strongly opposed to these recommendations.

The proposed new guidelines recommend starting regular screening mammograms at age 50, rather than at age 40 as current guidelines recommend. They recommend screening before age 50 only for women with a much-higher-than-average risk of breast cancer. The proposed new guidelines also call for mammograms to be done every other year instead of every year, as recommended by current guidelines.

The proposed new guidelines are based on research that looks at the effect of breast cancer screening on society from a public health perspective. This means the researchers were looking at how changing breast cancer screening guidelines would affect the overall public, rather than individual women. In proposing the changes, the task force members said that starting mammograms later in life and doing mammograms less often would save a large amount of money. It also means that about 3% more women would die from breast cancer each year. The task force members felt that the amount of money saved (from fewer mammograms and side effects of extra biopsies and treatment) was greater than the value of more lives saved (3% fewer women surviving breast cancer).

At Breastcancer.org, we are deeply troubled by both the analysis that led to these proposed guideline changes and the effect these proposed changes would have on the health and lives of women. Our specific concerns:

• The analysis was based on older mammography techniques, meaning the researchers mostly looked at results from film mammograms instead of digital mammograms.

• The analysis was based on some inaccurate assumptions about optimal treatment after breast cancer is diagnosed. For example, it assumed that women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer would receive and benefit from hormonal therapy but not chemotherapy, even though we know that many of these women do receive and benefit from chemotherapy after surgery. Inaccurate assumptions like this may have caused the researchers to underestimate the number of lives that would be lost should the proposed changes in screening be adopted.

• The analysis did not adequately consider the combined benefit of early detection (with current screening guidelines) and new treatments that have resulted in steadily improving survival rates in recent years. Screening cannot be looked at in isolation as a snapshot. Screening happens as we continue to improve both diagnosis and treatment. But we can’t treat what isn’t diagnosed.

• The proposed guideline changes would mean that many breast cancers would be diagnosed at a later stage, making it harder to become cancer-free. Later-stage diagnoses result in more women with metastatic disease (that has spread to other parts of the body) and more women with large or multiple cancers requiring mastectomy (too late for breast-conserving treatments).

• The proposed guideline changes would mean that younger women would be diagnosed later. Breast cancer in younger women tends to be more aggressive, so early diagnosis and treatment is more critical for them. It is the lives and futures of younger women that would be lost if the proposed changes are adopted.

Expressed as nameless, faceless numbers, the 3% decrease in breast cancer survival might seem like an acceptable trade-off when compared to the economic benefits of changing breast cancer screening policies. But breast cancer affects a very large number of women, so 3% of that number is not insignificant. The reality is that more women — mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, and aunts — will die each year from breast cancer, which is neither reasonable nor acceptable.

We at Breastcancer.org encourage medical professionals and everyone affected in any way by breast cancer to raise their voices against these surprising and dramatic proposed changes in the guidelines for breast cancer screening. Our belief is that lives should be saved, not lost, and our commitment to you is that we will continue to strongly advocate for policies that support this fundamental mission.

Source: Breastcancer.org

Universal Services of America, the largest provider of security services to the commercial real estate market in Arizona, California, Colorado and Washington, is offering tips to consumers regarding holiday shopping safety and security at stores and online.

Economic woes and job uncertainly will undoubtedly make this holiday season more stressful and increase the potential for crime, theft and other fraud. Millions of Americans will be hitting the stores during the next two months, starting with the busiest shopping day of the year – the Friday after Thanksgiving. To help keep your holidays safe and happy, Universal offers the following tips for mall and online shoppers.

Shopping in Stores:
– Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings
– Carry your purse close to your body and your wallet in an inside or zippered pocket
– Never leave your purse unattended in a shopping cart, on a countertop or in your car
– Don’t carry large amounts of cash and minimize the number of debit or credit cards you carry
– Pay by credit card, rather than check/debit card, to reduce the risk of funds being taken from your bank account; keep all receipts and compare them to your monthly credit card statements
– Park your car close to your destination and hide any packages in the trunk
– Try to shop during daylight hours and if you do shop at night, park in a well-lit area
– When returning to your vehicle, keep your keys out and lock your doors as soon as you’re inside
– Shop with others whenever possible; if shopping with children, make sure they know what to do if they become separated from you
– Report suspicious activity to store/mall security or law enforcement

Online Shopping:
– Research businesses regarding their past performances and financial stability
– Obtain a phone number, address and/or other contact information to resolve problems
– Never provide any personal information not necessary to make your purchase
– Conduct transactions on a secure server only: look for the pad-lock device on the browser’s status bar. Also, the URL should change from http to https when asked for payment information
– Have packages delivered to an address where they won’t be left unattended
– Read the site’s privacy policy to learn how it uses and shares your personal information
– Understand return policies, shipping costs and other policies before you buy; only shop with companies that offer a guarantee and/or warranty
– Secure your computer with anti-virus/spyware software and firewalls that are updated regularly
– Save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, online receipt and copies of any emails you exchange with the seller
– Review your credit card statements to make sure there aren’t any unauthorized charges

More security tips, visit: http://www.universalpro.com/SecurityUpdates.html

Positive Thinking Activities

Who would have thought the recession would drag on for so long. But here it is the holiday season and things are still a bit grim for us and the economy. So here is some advice from some successful women entrepreneurs:

1. Take on new projects- From coming up with new cost-cutting initiatives to volunteering to head up a project, one of the best things you can do to lift your spirits is to pitch in where help is needed. Taking action will give you a sense of control over your work life, while increasing your skill set will keep you motivated.

2. Don’t engage in pity parties – Coffee-break chatter about layoffs or pay cuts will only make you feel worse. Save your complaints for outside the office – with your non-office friends or spouse. Keep the conversation with office buddies neutral.

3. Create you own mini-goals – Come in early one day a week or set up a brainstorming session with your supervisor. Creating goals energizes you and gives you a sense of accomplishment, which will help you stay on track when work is slow.

4. Invest in yourself – attend a networking event or take a class. While these activities may not have an immediate payoff, expanding your business network and learning new skills will keep you inspired and might help you get hired when the economy gets better.

5. Find fun outside of work – Find one non-work-related activity that is exciting to you. Take a pottery class, a yoga class, volunteer somewhere – whatever sound fun. The important thing is that you get engrossed in this activity and forget about stress at work.

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Positive Thinking Activities

Who would have thought the recession would drag on for so long. But here it is the holiday season and things are still a bit grim for us and the economy. So here is some advice from some successful women entrepreneurs:

1. Take on new projects- From coming up with new cost-cutting initiatives to volunteering to head up a project, one of the best things you can do to lift your spirits is to pitch in where help is needed. Taking action will give you a sense of control over your work life, while increasing your skill set will keep you motivated.

2. Don’t engage in pity parties – Coffee-break chatter about layoffs or pay cuts will only make you feel worse. Save your complaints for outside the office – with your non-office friends or spouse. Keep the conversation with office buddies neutral.

3. Create you own mini-goals – Come in early one day a week or set up a brainstorming session with your supervisor. Creating goals energizes you and gives you a sense of accomplishment, which will help you stay on track when work is slow.

4. Invest in yourself – attend a networking event or take a class. While these activities may not have an immediate payoff, expanding your business network and learning new skills will keep you inspired and might help you get hired when the economy gets better.

5. Find fun outside of work – Find one non-work-related activity that is exciting to you. Take a pottery class, a yoga class, volunteer somewhere – whatever sound fun. The important thing is that you get engrossed in this activity and forget about stress at work.

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New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will soon distribute the Female Health Company’s (FHC) second-generation FC2 Female Condom®, which received approval for the U.S. market from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year.

New York City is already the nation’s single largest FC1 female condom distributor. In 2008, the city’s Health Department provided more than 900,000 FC1 female condoms to hospitals, health clinics, community-based organizations, and local screening centers for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Assistant Commissioner Dr. Monica Sweeney of the Health Department’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control says that the availability of a more cost-effective female condom for the U.S. market will help New York City ensure affordable access to methods for the prevention of pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs.

“This is a boost for HIV and STI prevention efforts in New York City,” said Dr. Sweeney. “It is important to find cost-effective ways to ensure access to safe and effective HIV prevention. The new FDA-approved female condom will expand access to woman-initiated HIV and STI prevention, and it will help us make continued progress in reducing New York City’s HIV infection rate.”

To assist New York City in introducing the second-generation female condom, FHC is participating in a one-day education seminar in lower Manhattan on November 16. The training workshop will include approximately 200 health educators from across the five boroughs who will use the venue to discuss how to introduce FC2 to clients who are currently using FC1, the differences between FC2 and FC1, and frequently asked questions about female condoms. The event will include a lecture by Sandra Mapemba of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), who recently led Malawi’s national transition from FC1 to FC2.

“The evidence is clear that when women and men have access to the female condom and education on its use, it becomes a product they demand and use,” said Ms. Mapemba. “As with any new health product, we need support from government agencies that recognize the importance of education programs that raise awareness of prevention methods that work. UNFPA is excited to work with New York City to share the lessons that we have learned internationally.”

“FHC invested in the development of FC2 as part of our corporate commitment to expand affordable access to the only method of HIV prevention that women can initiate and negotiate with their partners,” said Mary Ann Leeper, Female Health Company’s senior strategic adviser. “We’re thrilled to be working with New York City to ensure that people living at risk for HIV have access to FC2.

“The statistics show that HIV is becoming a women’s pandemic around the world, and it has become a leading cause of death among African American and Hispanic women in the United States,” Leeper said. “CDC statistics indicate that African American women account for 61% of HIV infections among women in the United States, and Latino women are four times more likely to be infected with HIV than white women. We are focused on providing women at risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections with access to a prevention method that they can initiate and negotiate with their partners.”

FC2 has been available internationally since 2005, and more than 90 countries currently distribute it as part of their national HIV prevention programs. Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe recently became the first countries to scale up distribution to the national level with the support of training programs that teach women how to use the female condom and discuss it with their partners. In fiscal year 2008, global distribution of FC female condoms (FC1 & FC2) reached an all-time high of nearly 35 million units.

The second-generation FC2 Female Condom is made with a synthetic rubber polymer called nitrile, while the first-generation FC1 Female Condom is made with polyurethane. Research has demonstrated that FC2 and FC1 are comparable in performance, and the introduction of nitrile allows FC2 to be manufactured via a cost-efficient dipping process. The change in manufacturing process has helped FHC to reduce the cost of FC2 by 30 percent relative to FC1, and the company projects that significant increases in global volume will allow further price reductions.

The FC female condom (FC1 and FC2) remains the only FDA approved, female-initiated method of HIV prevention introduced since the start of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic in the early 1980s. Because the female condom can be initiated by women and inserted before sex, it provides women and men at risk of HIV with a safe alternative when a partner refuses to wear a male condom. More than 70 reproductive health advocacy organizations in the United States have endorsed expanded access to the FC female condom as an essential step toward enhancing HIV prevention for women.

Source: Female Health Company

It’s been a very challenging week for us in the home office when the internet connection starts to play up. I can hardly get my work done and it’s very frustrating for any work at home mom, especially if you are managing an internet business.

On the home front, I have a list of things to do and they involve the use of the internet! Can you imagine the desperation that is surmounting in the home office. Plus, I’m due for a 2 weeks vacation in a week’s time so I do need to get all my things done before that. In case you wonder why I can still do my posting. I’m in Starbucks right now while my son keeps himself busy in Borders. I feel bad to be doing this to him on a Sunday mid day but I do need to get some things done. I promise to help my Dh with some rackmount lcd research for the home theater and I promise to order a couple of hard to find books for my son.

Then I have some more transport bookings to make before I take off from the home office. I have to admit that I’m becoming more and more dependent on the internet these days. Perhaps I need to go back to the basics and reflect on how I used to get things done without technology. I must not subject myself to the limitations of technology and be crippled of its downfalls. Are you one of them too?

Plastics Make it Possible(SM) Unveils Surprising Information about Americans’ Recycling Habits with America Recycles Day Survey

November 15 is America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. The effort is working; according to a recent survey conducted by Plastics Make it Possible(SM), an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council, nearly 70 percent of households make an effort to recycle at home. Of those homes that make recycling a priority, more than two out of three rely on the women of the house to serve as the “recycling enforcers.” One out of four families shares the responsibility while only 10 percent put their kids in charge of recycling duty.

“It’s encouraging to see that more and more Americans are making an effort to recycle at home, but there is still a huge opportunity to educate and motivate the remaining third who don’t,” said Steve Russell, vice president, Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council. “Many plastics can be easily recycled in most communities and given a second life as carpet, clothing, furniture, backyard decks, new bottles and bags, and other products we use every day. By making it a practice to recycle, people can help make a difference on America Recycles Day and every day of the year.”

So just where do the plastic bottles you throw in the recycling bin and the plastic bags you take back to the grocery store end up? Though recycled plastics might be out-of-mind as soon as they are placed in a recycling bin, they are far from out-of-sight. Most people use “second life” plastics in their homes or cars everyday – and many of us may even be wearing them! According to the survey, eighty-two percent of Americans know that recycled plastic water bottles can be used to make a variety of items such as lumber for homes and decks, car bumpers, life jackets, sails for boats, rope and even fashionable t-shirts.

To encourage consumers to recycle more, Plastics Make it Possible(SM) provides the following tips for reusing and recycling everyday plastics.

1. Find out which plastics are accepted for recycling in your community and where they can be taken. Though recycling options vary, most community curbside programs collect plastic bottles and many grocery and retail chains now offer bins to collect used plastic bags and wraps for recycling. An increasing number of communities are also collecting rigid containers like yogurt and butter tubs.
2. Know what to recycle with your bottles. A “bottle” is any container with a neck or opening that’s smaller than its base and includes milk jugs; beverage containers; bottles from salad dressing, oil and other condiments; food jars for items like peanut butter and mayonnaise; and bottles from shampoo, toiletries, laundry detergent and household cleaners.
3. Know what to recycle with your bags at grocery stores. When you recycle your bags, include all plastic bags from grocery, retail and dry cleaning stores, plastic bags that cover newspapers, and product wraps from paper towels, napkins, bathroom tissue and diapers.
4. Clean and empty. Before tossing them in the recycle bin, make sure bottles are appropriately rinsed and that caps are removed.
5. Bring bottles back to the bin. When bottles are emptied away from home, store them in a backpack or briefcase, or simply leave them in the car until arriving home to place in a recycle bin.
6. Store bags in a bag. Storing plastic bags and wraps in a plastic bag offers neat, convenient storage. Simply knot the handles when you’re ready to drop them off at your local grocer or retailer.
7. Reuse those bags! From trash can liners to pet pick-up, plastic bags can be used dozens of ways.
8. Pitch in beyond the kitchen. While many recyclable bottles and bags come from the kitchen, don’t forget to check the bathrooms and laundry room for shampoo and detergent bottles and reuse your plastic bags as trash can liners throughout the house.
9. When in doubt, leave it out. Be careful not to contaminate your recyclables with garbage or items that aren’t recycled in your area.
10. Bridge the second generation gap. It’s important to remember that recycled plastics go on to become second generation products like carpet, fleece jackets and new bottles and bags.

The survey was conducted by Synovate in November 2009 to a nationally representative sample of 984 Americans adults aged 18+. ACC is a sponsor of America Recycles Day through Keep America Beautiful.

Source: Plastics Make it Possible

The risk of cancer can be dramatically reduced through everyday choices about diet, exercise and tobacco use, according to a Special Report on Cancer Prevention in the November issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource.

Evidence suggests that one-third of the more than 560,000 cancer deaths that occur in the United States annually are related to diet, exercise and weight. Another one-third of annual cancer deaths are related to tobacco exposure. The eight-page Special Report examines the science and latest findings on 10 approaches that can make a real difference in preventing cancer.

1. Don’t smoke: The risk of smoking-related cancers increases with the length of time a person has smoked and the number of cigarettes smoked. The most common cancer associated with smoking is lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death among American women and men. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung and other cancers — regardless of the number of years of smoking.

2. Eat fruits and vegetables: The American Cancer Society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily because they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other substances that lower the risk of cancer. In recent years, some studies have indicated that the association between eating fruits and vegetables and lower cancer risk isn’t as strong as once thought. Most experts still believe that a plant-based diet is one of the best ways to protect overall health.

3. Limit fat in the diet: Studies suggest that high-fat diets or high intakes of certain types of fat may be linked to several types of cancer, including colon, lung and postmenopausal breast cancer. The reason may be that high-fat diets tend to be higher in calories and increase the risk of obesity. More study is needed to better understand which types of fat should be avoided and how much of each alters cancer risk.

Current guidelines recommend keeping fat intake between 20 and 30 percent of total daily calories, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, such as fish, nuts and vegetable oils.

4. Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer as well as cancers of the colon, endometrium, esophagus and kidney. There’s evidence that obesity increases the risk of cancers of the prostate, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, ovary and cervix. Some studies estimate that excess weight is a factor in 14 to 20 percent of all cancer-related deaths in American adults.

5. Be physically active: Evidence increasingly suggests that people who are physically active have lower risk of some cancers than those who are more sedentary. From 45 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day, on most days of the week, is considered optimal to reduce the risk of breast and colorectal cancers.

6. Curb alcohol consumption: Alcohol consumption increases the risks of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum. Women should limit themselves to no more than one alcoholic beverage a day. Men should have no more than two.

7. Limit exposure to radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which comes from the sun, sunlamps or commercial tanning beds, is the primary cause of skin cancer, the most common of all cancers.

8. Protect against infection: Infections caused by viruses are recognized as risk factors for several types of cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease, is the most common cause of cervical cancer. Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C increase the risk of liver cancer. They are most often spread through contact with contaminated blood, from contaminated needles or by having unprotected sex. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, also increases the risk of several types of cancer. It’s most commonly transmitted by unprotected sex or sharing of needles.

9. Consider chemoprevention: Chemoprevention is the use of natural or synthetic compounds to reduce the risk of cancer or its recurrence. Tamoxifen, prescribed to prevent breast cancer in high-risk women, is the best known chemoprevention agent. A caution: chemoprevention drugs can have serious side effects.

10. Get recommended screening exams: Pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopies and other routine screenings can’t prevent cancer. But screenings can help find cancers early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Women’s Health Weekly recently reported that America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are working on nearly 1,000 life-changing medicines for diseases affecting women, according to a new report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The medicines are awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or are in human clinical trials.

In the U.S., diseases that disproportionately affect women include diabetes, which has reached epidemic proportions and affects 11 million women nationwide. Autoimmune diseases strike women three times more and anxiety and depression two times more women than men. The number one killer of American women is heart disease.

The report lists 969 new medicines in development. They include 112 new treatments for breast cancer, 86 new treatments for obstetric/gynecologic conditions, 76 for asthma, 114 for autoimmune diseases, 155 for diabetes, 131 for arthritis, and 80 for Alzheimer’s disease.

“America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies continue making exciting progress in the search for new cures and treatments for diseases of special concern to women,” said PhRMA Senior Vice President Ken Johnson in his remarks at the press briefing at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, New York. “We live in an era of medical discovery in which we understand more and more about the unique biological and behavioral differences between men and women and their respective health care needs. This knowledge is inspiring a continuing medical revolution that is bringing new hope to women around the world in the form of promising new treatments and cures.”

New York Biotechnology Association Executive Director Nathan Tinker noted that incredible progress is being made by America’s biotechnology and pharmaceutical research companies in developing new and more effective treatments for the wide range of diseases that affect women. “Cooperation between the country’s educational facilities, research hospitals, laboratories, and innovative biopharmaceutical companies has proven critical to this success,” said Tinker.

Source: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

24-hour channel to broadcast in-depth coverage of The Women’s Conference 2009 including key speeches, panels and exclusive interviews Speakers at The Women’s Conference 2009 included Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Katie Couric, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie B. Jarrett, Caroline Kennedy, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Robin Roberts

SIRIUS XM Radio today announced that for the fourth consecutive year it will launch Women’s Conference Radio, a channel created to broadcast in-depth coverage of The Women’s Conference 2009 hosted by California’s First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the annual event designed to empower women of all ages and backgrounds to be “Architects of Change” in their lives, within the communities and around the world.

Hosted by Maria Shriver, Women’s Conference Radio will feature key speeches and panels from The Women’s Conference 2009 in their entirety, as well as behind-the-scenes interviews with speakers and attendees. Women’s Conference Radio is a 24-hour channel and will air November 15 beginning at 12:00 am ET on SIRIUS channel 117 and XM channel 163.

The Women’s Conference 2009 featured its signature “once-in-a-lifetime conversations” led by a distinguished roster of more than 100 speakers and participants including former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Sir Richard Branson, Katie Couric, Elizabeth Edwards, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie B. Jarrett, Caroline Kennedy, Annie Leibovitz, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Robin Roberts and others.

The Women’s Conference is produced by the non-profit, non-partisan organization, the California Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women, which was established more than twenty years ago. Under First Lady Shriver and Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership, the annual event has blossomed into the nation’s premier forum for women.

SIRIUS XM Radio is home to a diverse, powerful and exclusive lineup of programming for women including Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Cosmo Radio, Rosie O’Donnell’s Rosie Radio and Barbara Walters’ Here’s Barbara.

Soure: www.xmradio.com