Catherine Morgan's blog http://www.blogher.com/blog/9949/atom/feed 2009-09-19T09:52:49-05:00 Raising HIV/AIDS Awareness http://www.blogher.com/raising-hiv-aids-awareness 2009-11-06T23:38:58-06:00 2009-11-06T23:38:58-06:00 Catherine Morgan Did you know that one in four Americans living with HIV are women?  It's true.  HIV/AIDS is affecting more and more women, specifically African American women.  It's actually become the leading cause of death in African American women between the ages of 25-34.

Women and HIV/AIDS...

]]> Did you know that one in four Americans living with HIV are women?  It's true.  HIV/AIDS is affecting more and more women, specifically African American women.  It's actually become the leading cause of death in African American women between the ages of 25-34.

Women and HIV/AIDS...

The statistics are alarming. But there is good news. Taking some simple steps can protect women from getting HIV — or prevent women from passing it to others, including their children. Also, while there is no cure yet, many women with HIV and AIDS are living longer and stronger lives thanks to a number of new treatments. A wide variety of government resources also are in place to help people living with HIV.

Here is a link to statistics from the CDC on Women and HIV/AIDS...

Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Women of color are especially affected by HIV infection and AIDS.

Many women are using their blogs to bring more attention to the need for HIV/AIDS awareness.

From Feministing - New Campaign for HIV Testing Excludes Women...

Photos feature young gay African American men with the caption "Status is Everything," and the ad campaign will refer viewers to a hotline and website where they can schedule free HIV testing at local clinics.

Not found in this campaign, however, is the need for a cogent campaign that's inclusive of young women of color. In 2007, blacks accounted for 44% of the 455,636 people living with AIDS in the 50 states and District of Columbia.

From Diane - Women Living with HIV...

I'm writing this blog to help other women living with HIV to tell you that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

From The Common Wealth Times - HIV/AIDS Awareness Rally Steers Student Focus...

Deirdre Johnson, 34, said that when she was diagnosed with HIV in 2000 she could only sum up her reaction in one word, shock.

Johnson now works to raise HIV and AIDS awareness among students and communities across the state. She has worked with Richmond City Hall, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, University of Richmond and VCU, sharing her story as a person living with HIV.

From Lori - Mid-Life Women Contracting HIV...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but while unintended pregnancy may
not be an issue anymore, there's a new kid in town and it's called
HIV. Old news, you say? Not a problem for middle-aged, monogamists
like yourself? If you really believe that, do yourself a favor and
keep reading. Also, you might want to dig that box of condoms back out
of the garbage, you're gonna need them.

From the National Youth Advocacy Coalition - National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness...

At the end of last month President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act.

On October 21st, the House passed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act (S.1793), reauthorizing the Ryan White program for four years. The Ryan White program has been serving people with AIDS and HIV for nearly two decades. Today, the program provides care, treatment and support services to nearly half a million people – most of whom are low-income. Without this critical safety net, some of our nation’s most vulnerable populations would not receive the care and treatment they need and rightfully deserve. There are more than 50,000 new HIV/AIDS infections reported each year and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.1 million Americans are currently living with HIV/AIDS. All parts of the Ryan White program have been in desperate need of increased funding for the past three years. Modern medical advancements have made it possible for more individuals to live full lives with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, which means there are more individuals living with the disease and in need of services.

From The White House - Honoring the Legacy of Ryan White...

Today, President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. It represents our ongoing commitment to ensuring access to needed HIV/AIDS care and treatment. The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked very closely with Congress on this bipartisan legislation, and the consensus document developed by the HIV/AIDS advocacy community was an important part of the process. We were so pleased that Jeanne White-Ginder, Ryan White’s mother, was here at the bill signing.

From Pam's House Blend - President Obama Signs Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension...

THE PRESIDENT: We often speak about AIDS as if it's going on somewhere else. And for good reason -- this is a virus that has touched lives and decimated communities around the world, particularly in Africa. But often overlooked is the fact that we face a serious HIV/AIDS epidemic of our own -- right here in Washington, D.C., and right here in the United States of America. And today, we are taking two important steps forward in the fight that we face here at home.

Also from Pam's House Blend - Why HIV/AIDS Awareness and Testing Should Be A Priority Every Day

From Renee   - Every Day Should Be National HIV Testing Day...

It is my belief that most Americans think that HIV/AIDS is now a global problem and almost eradicated in the United States. Sadly, this is far from the truth. According to the CDC, in 2006 approximately 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV and 1 in 5 are undiagnosed. Twenty-one percent!

A staggering 232,700 individuals living with HIV and are unaware of their status. Keep in mind that this number is from 2006, one can only guess what these numbers look like today.

Also See:

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> November Is Epilepsy Awareness Month http://www.blogher.com/november-epilepsy-awareness-month 2009-11-03T01:25:39-06:00 2009-11-03T01:25:39-06:00 Catherine Morgan November is Epilepsy Awareness Month.  I hope this post will provide information and facts about epilepsy, while also showcasing women blogging about life with seizures.

Here are some epilepsy facts from CURE Epilepsy...

]]> November is Epilepsy Awareness Month.  I hope this post will provide information and facts about epilepsy, while also showcasing women blogging about life with seizures.

Here are some epilepsy facts from CURE Epilepsy...

  • Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages – more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease combined. Almost 500 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed every day in the United States. Epilepsy affects 50,000,000 people worldwide.
  • In two-thirds of patients diagnosed with epilepsy, the cause is unknown.
  • Epilepsy can develop at any age and can be a result of genetics, stroke, head injury, and many other factors.
  • In over thirty percent of patients, seizures cannot be controlled with treatment. Uncontrolled seizures may lead to brain damage and death. Many more have only partial control of their seizures.
  • The severe epilepsy syndromes of childhood can cause developmental delay and brain damage, leading to a lifetime of dependency and continually accruing costs—both medical and societal.
  • It is estimated that up to 50,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. from status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and other seizure-related causes such as drowning and other accidents.
  • The mortality rate among people with epilepsy is two to three times higher than the general population and the risk of sudden death is twenty-four times greater.
  • Recurring seizures are also a burden for those living with brain tumors and other disorders such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, tuberous sclerosis, and a variety of genetic syndromes.

I found this video on a blog called My 3 Peanuts - It is a very informative video that explains exactly what happens during a seizure.

Understanding Epilepsy...


From The Epilepsy Foundation - Women and Epilepsy...

More than one million women and girls in the United States are living with seizure disorders. They face many unique challenges, from changes during the monthly cycle which may trigger seizures to concerns regarding pregnancy. Social factors leave them vulnerable to discrimination and abuse. Yet their plight and the manner in which they are affected has been largely ignored. As an important part of the Epilepsy Foundation's role in advocating for all people with epilepsy, we are committed to addressing the unique health concerns of women with epilepsy with our Special Initiative.

  • Depression is a major risk for about one in three women with epilepsy.
  • Women with epilepsy face epilepsy-related reproductive difficulties throughout their lives, including increased rates of sexual dysfunction, infertility and seizures related to the menstrual cycle.
  • Despite risks, successful pregnancy is possible, but often inappropriately discouraged by health care providers.
  • Long-term use of some antiepileptic drugs negatively affects bone health in women.

Women diagnosed with epilepsy face unique health issues that include reproductive problems, osteoporosis, excessive weight gain, and sexual dysfunction.

From Reagan Leigh - NEAM...

I thought I'd take a few moments to talk about how Epilepsy has affected our life. Well, it's pretty obvious after reading only a few posts, epilepsy affects every minute of every day for us. Since Reagan was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms at only 5 months old, our lives have completely changed. We essentially knew nothing about seizures or epilepsy and had NO clue the damage it could do to a newly developing brain. It's been challenging and frustrating and there's no doubt we HATE seizures but strangely enough there are ways in which Reagan's diagnosis has affected us in a positive way.

From Little Ladybug - Excuse me while I rant...

Just over a year ago we lost our only child, Karissa Renae, to Epilepsy. She was three and a half years old. The reason for this blog is three-fold. First, it is in memory of my sweet angel, Karissa, who is healed and complete and is in the presence of Jesus. Second, it is a place for me to express the many feelings and emotions that come with grieving the tragic loss of a child. Lastly, I hope to bring awareness to Epilepsy, a condition that effects over 3 million Americans and causes up to 50,000 deaths each year.

From Winda's Blog - Making it Through...

I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was five years old, caused by scar tissue on the left side of my brain after a difficult birth. It started with complex-partial seizures, where my right eye would twitch and I was incoherent. But after I was put on medication, the seizures stopped and I felt normal again.

Unfortunately, as my age increased, so did my seizures. Once I got to high school, my stress levels rose and I started getting less sleep—a horrible combination for anybody, but especially for someone with epilepsy. By the end of my freshman year, I began experiencing breakthrough seizures. Basically, baby seizures where the right side of my body would become numb for a couple of minutes. When those occurred, no one would notice, but it terrified me because that was the feeling I’d have before a tonic-clonic or convulsive seizure.

In the average day I would have about two to three breakthrough seizures.

From Take Five - November - Epilepsy Awareness...

My daughter has epilepsy. Although we're fortunate she doesn't have 100 a day like so many children. But when she does have an episode, it's a grand mal seizure. The kind that brings me to my knees and takes my breath away. As a parent with a child with epilepsy, it's the most helpless feeling when there isn't anything we can do to make it better. It's maddening that we can't comfort our children while they scream during a seizure.

From BlogHer Kelly Curran - November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month...

For young infants and children with epilepsy, the parents are their only warriors. Sometimes the parents need to face their own fears in order to help their child. If you lose the parent, you lose the child. Epilepsy plays hard, and often learning about it is a trial by fire. While the war is hard, there is no time for self pity as every parent needs to keep up the good fight. Every moment lost to seizures, is a moment lost in development. There is no time for fear.

When most people think of epilepsy or seizures, they think of "tonic/clonic seizures" aka "generalized seizures" aka "grand mal seizures." These are the scary ones. Where the child is convulsing, shaking and often screaming or making strange sounds uncontrollably. Witnessing this type of seizure is truly frightening. Unfortunately, most of the general public feel that this is the only type of seizure. I myself thought that long ago when our good friend first suggested my Jenelle was having seizures. I thought to myself, "It's so obvious, I would know when I see it, right?" Not necessarily.

It usually takes a long time for most individuals and even some doctors to learn to recognize the other seizure types. The most difficult to control seizures for my Jenelle, who literally has each and every type of seizure there is, are the absence seizures, often called staring seizures.

From BlogHer Mia - A Yellow Missile Victory...

I haven’t written much about Alex as of yet, but he has moderate Cerebral Palsy. Most of the affects are global: developmental, speech and cognitive delays, sensory integration dysfunction, possibly ADHD, epilepsy, and mild to moderate physical impairments of spasticity of his muscles on his right side (arm and leg). He has a full AFO on his right leg and a shorter ankle brace (or schmo) on his left. He can walk and run, slowly climb some things, certainly walk up steps of the bus and sit in a seat….so, needless to say, we were shocked that she would say no, and that she would be so adamant about it. Especially, she said, because of his epilepsy and what if something happened on the bus….

Okay. We thought she had a good point, however, we are his parents and we feel comfortable with him riding a regular school bus with regular kids (and any others that have special needs that may eventually win their right to ride the regular bus)

From Our Family of 4...

My mom was watching Kade for the morning and she was getting him ready for a nap. He was just about asleep when he got a strange look on his face and his hands started to twitch. My mom couldn't make his hands stop twitching and she could get him to react to stimulus. She called me, thinking he might have had a seizure. I quickly called Kade's Dr, and he wanted to see him right away. We saw the Dr. and he told us to goto Children's hospital right away because he thought Kade did infact have a seizure.

Over the course of the next 3 weeks we were students of the human brain, genetics, and became fluent with medical terminology. None of which I wanted to do, but we were thrown into this without choice. Kade had more tests done on him in a 3 week period than most people have done in a LIFETIME. At the age of 5 months he was having a MRI, CT, and multiple EEG's done. All the while still having seizures, uncontrollable seizures, that might last 2 minutes, and the longest lasting 15 minutes.

From Seven Swans A Swimming - Epilepsy Awareness Month...

There are so many myths about epilepsy and a lot of confusion about what to do, what it is, and how to deal with it. In partnering with the Epilepsy Foundation I am going to be sharing facts here all month long. On top of that Brendan and I are going to be raising money for Epilepsy Research and for families experiencing the financial burden of Epilepsy. Now many of you may be thinking, "it's just a seizure, no big deal right?" Wrong! You couldn't be more wrong. My first fact is very sobering! The same number of people die each year from epilepsy as do people from breast cancer and people from car accidents! Pretty crazy when you think about it. On top of that more than 60% of those who die from epilepsy are children under the age of 15! So, now do you see why we need to get the word out?

Does Music Impact Epilepsy For Bad or Good?

Music has also been found to have a profoundly positive effect on individuals with epilepsy as well. One research study even found that when epileptic patients are treated with music therapy as well as conventional epileptic medicines as many as eighty percent of their patients had the frequency of their epileptic seizures reduced by seventy five percent! Likewise, eighty percent of epileptic patients experienced at least some reduction in the intensity of their epileptic seizures.

The reason for this, it has been suggested, may be found in the fact that the brain does not have any single center for processing music. Instead, the areas of the brain that process music are scattered widely across the brain.

Why Funding Epilepsy Research Is So Important...

Last night, Frances Jensen, MD, senior associate in Neurology, was featured in a piece on 60 Minutes about the prevalence of epilepsy and the importance of funding research into its cure. Watch the piece here, then keep reading below as Jensen describes how epilepsy is often overlooked as a public health problem and how researchers like her are trying to stop it in its tracks.

Also See:

Do you know someone who struggles with this disorder?  Do you have a story about how epilepsy has touched your life?  If so, please share with us in comments.  And if you're posting about Epilepsy Awareness Month, I hope you will leave links in comments.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Is It Possible To Lose Weight on The Cookie Diet? http://www.blogher.com/it-possible-lose-weight-cookie-diet 2009-10-31T01:12:25-05:00 2009-10-31T10:55:12-05:00 Catherine Morgan Is it possible to eat cookies and lose weight?  Well, Dr. Sanford Siegal would certainly like you to think so.  After all, at $56 for a week's supply, Dr. Siegal is going to make an estimated $18 million this year selling his weight-loss cookies.   It's called The Cookie Diet, and if you like cookies it may sound like a great way to lose weight.  But is it?

]]> Is it possible to eat cookies and lose weight?  Well, Dr. Sanford Siegal would certainly like you to think so.  After all, at $56 for a week's supply, Dr. Siegal is going to make an estimated $18 million this year selling his weight-loss cookies.   It's called The Cookie Diet, and if you like cookies it may sound like a great way to lose weight.  But is it?

Usually, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.  And apparently the first deception about this diet is calling it a cookie.  The word "cookie" implies that it's a yummy treat, but it seems everyone agrees they don't taste very good.  Also, the meal-plan for the cookie diet restricts the dieter to only one meal a day, and less than 1000 calories.  Anytime you restrict calories that low, weight-loss is inevitable (with or without the cookie).

A friend of mine tried these cookies because someone she worked with seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight using them.  But she told me the cookies were very dry and not tasty at all.  She also said she would never buy them again, because they didn't work.  When I asked her about the co-worker that had lost so much weight using the cookies, she mentioned that she saw the guy recently, and he had gained all the weight back.

Here is more about The Cookie Diet...

From The New York Times - A Few Cookies a Day to Keep The Pounds Away...

Ms. Kane is one of an estimated 500,000 people who have lost weight on Dr. Sanford Siegal’s diet — at least according to Dr. Siegal. The gist of it is simple: Eat cookies and lose up to 10 pounds a month.

But not everyone is on-board with the cookie diet...

Critics of cookie diets are not convinced. Weight-loss plans that center around a diet of below 1,000 calories do not, they say, lead to long-lasting weight loss and can result in potassium deficiency, gallstones, heart palpitations, weakened kidney function and dizziness. The cookie diet particularly concerns eating disorder activists, who have long criticized fad diets, such as the grapefruit diet, Master Cleanse and Optifast shakes. “Generally speaking, fad diets misinform the public and fuel a fire of continued curiosity with this dieting mentality, which we know gets us nowhere,” said Dr. Ovidio Bermudez, medical director of Laureate Eating Disorders Program in Tulsa, Okla.

From That's Fit - The Cookie Diet:  Does It Work?

What is so special about these cookies? They're certainly not your chocolate chip variety. Instead, they are a lumpy looking batch whose secret is in the batter. Ingredients include an amino-acid mixture that blends various protein substances which are thought to control hunger -- and hunger is the number one factor that wrecks a diet, according to Siegal.

Critics claim the Cookie Diet is half-baked though. In addition to being very low in calories, the diet may not contribute to long-term weight loss because users aren't learning healthy eating habits. There is also fear that dieters are missing out on proper nutrition by not eating enough "real" food during the day.

Toback:  Cookie Diet and lose-weight quick methods not so sweet...

Though the Cookie Diet sounds tempting, the faux cookies become sickening after awhile, and the thought of having six a day becomes repulsive, or at least it did to me. Short-term diets like this are often not a good idea because although you quickly lose weight, it is easier to gain it back if you stop dieting.

"These diets may work for a short period and result in weight loss, but the problem, aside from no dietary variety, is that people cannot maintain this kind of eating pattern for long," Brann said. "It's not realistic. When people start eating regular food again, then they tend to overeat and gain back the weight plus more."

Eating Disorders Blogs - Beware of The Cooking Diet...

I have in jest called my Food Plan “the dessert diet” because I recommend that my patients eat dessert with lunch and dinner whether they are anorexic, bulimic, or binge eaters. Desserts, or fun food, as I like to call them, are foods eaten just for pleasure at the end of a meal to truly end the meal, not leave the door open for snacking or bingeing later on in the evening. The desserts I refer to need to taste good and sate the appetite, which generally means they have to contain fat and sugar in some satisfying combination.

What I recommend to my patients is a far cry from the Cookie Diet. Dr. Siegel’s diet is dangerously low in total calories, which means that eventually the dieter is going to snap and fall off the wagon. His diet also creates a dependence on his "cookies.” A week’s worth of these snacks costs $56, and enough people are doing the diet for Dr. Siegel’s company to project earnings of $18 million this year.

From Kelly Logan - The Cookie Diet:  Does it Work?

The cookie diet seems to me like yet another diet that causes rapid weight loss simply because it is extremely low in calories. But we already explained that a quick weight loss is not such a good idea.

In addition, if you follow this diet long-term, and some people do, you might suffer nutritional deficiencies.

I also object to the idea behind this diet because I think people who want to lose weight need to learn to eat regular foods in moderation rather than relying on special diet foods. While I can see the appeal for people who "hate veggies," I think that in the long term, it's extremely important for people to develop their palates and learn to enjoy the taste and texture of healthy foods.

Fad diets are never a good idea.  The best way to lose weight (and keep it off), is to stop eating junk and start eating healthy foods.  Let me know what you think about The Cookie Diet in comments.  Would you try it?  Have you tried it? 

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Depression: Do the benefits of anti-depressants outweigh the risks? http://www.blogher.com/depression-do-benefits-anti-depressants-outweigh-risks 2009-10-27T02:58:13-05:00 2009-10-27T02:58:13-05:00 Catherine Morgan Anti-depressants have been in the news a lot recently.  There are new questions about anti-depressant use and the risk of suicide.  Questions about why anti-depressant use seems to be on the rise.  Questions about the risks of using anti-depressants during pregnancy.  And questions about the safety of using anti-depressants in adolescence.  Unfortunately, there are more questions than answers.

]]> Anti-depressants have been in the news a lot recently.  There are new questions about anti-depressant use and the risk of suicide.  Questions about why anti-depressant use seems to be on the rise.  Questions about the risks of using anti-depressants during pregnancy.  And questions about the safety of using anti-depressants in adolescence.  Unfortunately, there are more questions than answers.

For me, these types of questions boil down to...Do the benefits outweigh the risks? And there is no right or wrong answer, I believe these questions need to be addressed on a case by case basis.

As with everything in life - Knowledge is power.  So in this post we will take a look at the latest news surrounding anti-depressant use, as well as links to information on diagnosis and treatment of depression.

From NPR - FDA Considers Fresh Warning on Anti-Depressants...

We know depression can cause suicide, but can antidepressants do the same thing? Today the Food and Drug Administration is taking up one of the toughest questions facing the agency, whether certain types of anti-depressants known as SSRIs are dangerous.

NPR's Joanne Silberner reports that a panel convened by the FDA may have a hard time making a recommendation on what to do about this class of popular drugs, which includes Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil.

From USA Today - Depression Diagnoses Fell After FDA Antidepressant Warnings...

It was already known that antidepressant use among young people had fallen since the drugs began carrying a so-called "black box" warning about risks. But the data showing an extended decline in the level of depression diagnoses are new.

In some cases, untreated depression can be more dangerous than suicidal feelings when starting antidepressants and a spike in teenage suicides in 2004 worried some experts that could be another unintended result of the FDA warnings. Then, teen suicides fell slightly the following year, offering hope that the suicide increase was just a blip.

From The Examiner - Are Antidepressants Linked to Suicide...

There has been a long standing debate on the safety of antidepressants since the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its "black box" alert in 2004. This alert was printed on all antidepressant packaging warning patients and parents that children and adolescents have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. (www.webmd.com)

Since then, depression diagnoses have fallen in all age groups and people who need help are not receiving treatment because they are afraid of treatment. When the warning came out, the public overreacted thus keeping people from seeking help and possibly committing suicide. Depression is not only a serious illness but it is also fatal.

From L.A. Times Health - Older Antidepressant Spurs More Suicidal Thinking In Men Than Newer Medications...

The largest clinical trial to date comparing an older, tricyclic antidepressant with a newer antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class has found that the emergence of suicidal thinking was almost 10 times more common in men taking the older drug than in those taking the newer medication.

The study also found that for men and women taking either medication, suicidal thinking was spread over the first six weeks of treatment, but peaked at roughly the fifth week before declining significantly after week six. Taking place at academic medical institutions across Europe, the trial, called Genome-Based Therapeutic Drugs for Depression--or GENDEP--gauged the responses to antidepressants of 811 persons ranging from 18 to 72 with depression.

From World News - Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Linked With Some Adverse Outcomes In Newborn...

Exposure to a certain class of antidepressant medications during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, a low five-minute Apgar score (a measure of overall health of the baby) and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. More than one in ten pregnant women are estimated to have depression,...

From Furious Seasons - Study: SSRIs Linked To Pre-Term Deliveries...

A Danish study out in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine asserts that women taking an SSRI anti-depressant while pregnant had double the risk of having a pre-term baby and had almost two and one-half times the risk of having their baby wind up admitted to a neo-natal ICU.

The study comes on the heels of an earlier study this year linking anti-depressant use during pregnancy to premature births.

From Neuroskeptic - U.S. Antidepressant Use Doubled In A Decade...

That means about 15 million more Americans were medicated in '05 than a decade previously. A huge increase in anyone's book. But the doubling in antidepressant use is not the only interesting result in this paper. In no particular order, here are some other fun facts -

Women are twice as likely to use antidepressants as men (female 13.4% vs male 6.7% in 2005); the ratio was the same in 1996. Studies consistently find that Western women are about twice as likely to report suffering from depression and anxiety disorders as men are. But these kinds of studies rely on self-report so this could merely mean that women are more willing to talk about their problems. This data suggests that they also seek treatment about twice as often.

From Dr. Andrew Weil - Are You Depressed, Or Just Human?

It's possible that more people today are truly depressed than they were a decade ago. Urbanized, sedentary lifestyles; nutrient-poor processed food; synthetic but unsatisfying entertainments and other negative trends, all of which are accelerating, may be driving up the rate of true depression. But I doubt the impact of these trends has nearly doubled in just ten years.

So here's another possibility. The pharmaceutical industry is cashing in.

In 1996, the industry spent $32 million on direct-to-consumer (DTC) antidepressant advertising. By 2005, that nearly quadrupled, to $122 million. It seems to have worked. More than 164 million antidepressant prescriptions were written in 2008, totaling $9.6 billion in U.S. sales. Today, the television commercial is ubiquitous:

. . .

The message -- all sadness is depression, depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, this pill will make you happy, your doctor will get it for you -- could not be clearer. The fact that the ad appears on television, the ultimate mass medium, also implies that depression is extremely common.

I totally agree that it is a bad idea to allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise anti-depressants (or any prescription medications) on television. Doctors need to address a patient's medical history and symptoms to make a proper diagnosis...Only then should the doctor recommend a particular medication.  It's never a good idea for a patient to walk into their doctor's office and insist they be prescribed a medication because they saw it in a commercial.  Seriously.  Do you tell your plumber how to fix your sink?  Do you tell your mechanic how to fix your car?  Do you tell your vet how to heal your pet? 

From Coping With Life - Testing for Depression...

An influential government-appointed medical panel is urging doctors to routinely screen all American teens for depression — a bold step that acknowledges that nearly 2 million teens are affected by this debilitating condition, according to The Associated Press.

Most are undiagnosed and untreated, said the panel, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which sets guidelines for doctors on a host of health issues.

From Postpartum Progress - Did Research Find Taking Antidepressants In Pregnancy Really Cause 500% Increase In Heart Defects?

The researchers also broke the data down further by taking a look at the increase in risk for specific SSRI antidepressants. They found no increase at all in risk for septal heart defects for women taking fluoxetine (Prozac) or paroxetine (Paxil). The risk went up one-half of a percentage point for those taking citalopram (Celexa), and one percentage point for those taking sertraline (Zoloft).

Is there an increase in risk of septal heart defect with certain medications? Yes. Do the researchers know why? No.

Links to Depression Information and Support:

From WebMD - Symptoms of Depression...

* persistently sad, anxious, or empty moods
* loss of pleasure in usual activities (anhedonia)
* feelings of helplessness, guilt, or worthlessness
* crying, hopelessness, or persistent pessimism
* fatigue or decreased energy
* loss of memory, concentration, or decision-making capability
* restlessness, irritability
* sleep disturbances
* change in appetite or weight
* physical symptoms that defy diagnosis and do not respond to treatment (especially pain and gastrointestinal complaints)
* thoughts of suicide or death, or suicide attempts
* poor self-image or self-esteem (as illustrated, for example, by verbal self-reproach)

About.com has a Teen Depression Quiz...

This teen depression quiz, although it uses accurate teen depression symptoms, should only be a start. If you really feel your teen is depressed, please take him/her to his/her doctor as soon as possible.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry...

The AACAP developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.

American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry...

The American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry has served the psychiatric profession since 1967. Focusing on teen, adolescence, and young adult issues, ASAP acts both as a professional network for its members and a specialized community dedicated to education development and advocacy of adolescents and the adolescent psychiatric field.

Teen Depression - A Guide For Parents and Teachers...

Teenage depression isn’t just bad moods and occasional melancholy. Depression is a serious problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s life. Left untreated, teen depression can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse, self-loathing—even irreversible tragedy such as homicidal violence or suicide. Fortunately, teenage depression can be treated, and as a concerned parent, teacher, or friend, there are many things you can do to help.

From iVillage - Don't Miss Signs of Teen Depression...

All teens can be irritable, want to be secretive, and appear and even act alien- like. But when should a parent worry--really worry about their child? Did you know that one in 12 teens suffered at least one episode of major depression in the last year? Of those, a full 60 percent are not getting treatment.

That question has caused many a sleepless night for moms and dads. The more you understand typical adolescent behavior and the signs of depression, the better you'll be at tailoring your parenting to this "new tenant" of yours and getting your teen the help he or she may need.

Also See:

How do you feel about anti-depressant use?  Let me know in comments.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Researchers Link Cancer-Causing Retrovirus To Chronic Fatigue Syndrome http://www.blogher.com/researchers-link-cancer-causing-retrovirus-chronic-fatigue-syndrome 2009-10-23T12:47:24-05:00 2009-10-23T14:08:30-05:00 Catherine Morgan Last week I was reading a lot about the latest research linking Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) to the XMRV Retrovirus.  Some of the articles even implied that people suffering with CFS (like myself) should be excited at the possibility that this news could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of CFS.  But, it's not exactly good news for CFS patients, especially for patients hoping for a cure.  Here's why...

]]> Last week I was reading a lot about the latest research linking Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) to the XMRV Retrovirus.  Some of the articles even implied that people suffering with CFS (like myself) should be excited at the possibility that this news could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of CFS.  But, it's not exactly good news for CFS patients, especially for patients hoping for a cure.  Here's why...

While finding a virus linked to CFS may sound promising - Just cure the virus and you cure the disease.  It's much more complicated than that.  The virus being linked to CFS is a retrovirus, it's not the sort of virus we can just throw some anti-viral medicine at to get rid of it.   It's a complicated process, but it goes something like this - Ordinary viruses attack a cell and eventually kill it during it's process of spreading to other cells.  Retroviruses don't just spread they also mutate the cell (without killing it), so mutated cells go on to replicate and spread the virus as well as the cell mutations.  So the cell mutation part is what makes this type of virus more difficult, and why we are hearing it compared to the HIV virus (another retrovirus).  But this is only one study, there will need to be many, many more studies before we have any definitive answers.

While I appreciate the fact that CFS is finally getting the attention it deserves, there is still a lot of research to be done.  This retrovirus finding is a very important "key" to unlocking the truth about this debilitating disease.  However, I don't necessarily see it as the smoking gun.   Granted, I'm not a scientist, but I do have my personal experience with this disease (and the medical background of a nurse), and this is my first impression about these latest findings...

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a disease that (among other things) weakens a person's immune system.  So this finding of a specific retrovirus being found in a large number of CFS patients is a classic "what came first the chicken or the egg" scenario.  Did the weakened immune system create the perfect petri-dish for this virus to exist?  Or did this virus contribute to the weakened immune system?   The bottom line is - There is much more research that needs to be done before we can get the answers we are looking for.  I do hope that these new findings can at least put to rest any idea that CFS is "all in the head" of the patient.

I actually had a neurologist tell me a few years ago (to my face) that he did not believe in my diagnosis.  If that's not bad enough, when I called him on it, and asked if he thought my symptoms were all in my head...He told me that I probably had MS (multiple sclerosis) and it just hadn't been able to be diagnosed yet.  What?  This "so called" medical specialist was so against acknowledging that chronic fatigue syndrome could exist, that he actually had the nerve to "pre" diagnose me with a condition that I had already been tested for and told I did not have.  Explaining that "if" my symptoms were real, then I would have to eventually be diagnosed with a "real" disease.   I'm not a violent person, but I REALLY wanted to punch this man freak in the face...I think he graduated from the Doctors for Dummies School of Medicine (and that's all I'll say about that).

OK...Sorry for the rant, I'll get back to my feelings on this latest research now.

Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic that there is finally some actual scientific research being done on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  I was beginning to wonder just how long doctors would be allowed to get away with making personal judgments on whether or not to "believe" in a CFS diagnosis (a diagnosis that is already accepted by the AMA and CDC).

I hope these latest finding will (at the very least) help educate both the public and the medical community, that this is a real disease with real symptoms that need to be treated--not ignored.  This is from a statement I wrote for the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee that met in Washington D.C.  (in May of 2007), and I believe it is still relevant today...

Being a single mother is not easy under any circumstances, but being a single mother with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been particularly difficult. I have been suffering with this insidious cluster of debilitating symptoms (referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), for over ten years. But it has only been more recently that I have come to accept that this condition isn’t going away. The funny thing is, even though I am caught in the middle of mourning for the person I might have been, and accepting the person I am, I’ve begun to feel hopeful. Hopeful because, by letting go of the burden of needing to be cured, I am also letting go of the idea that if I just got more sleep, or got more exercise, or took the right combination of medications, or found the right doctor, that somehow I would be better. This thought process is exactly what keeps someone with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome down. It puts a judgment on them, that they are somehow responsible and this is not true. So, letting go of this type of destructive thinking is half the battle with this disease. And I think that is why this type of awareness (that is being done here today) is so important.

I believe we can all agree on the importance of research so that a diagnostic tool can be found, and a treatment developed. However, what is equally important, but continues to be overlooked, is the acceptance by doctors that this is a “real” medical condition and not an “emotional” problem.

Are many people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome depressed? Of course they are. Anyone suffering from a chronic debilitating medical condition, is most likely going to have some degree of sadness, anxiety, or depression associated with it. A physician wouldn’t dream of telling a patient with Lupus that depression is the cause of their disease, but surely there are many patients with Lupus who are also depressed. And by all means, depression, whether associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or any other medical condition, needs to be addressed and treated. Depression is a symptom associated with this disease, not the cause of this disease. By “blaming” this disease on depression, or any other “emotional” disorder…Well, that is simply “blaming” the patient for their disease, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

The truth is, doctors become doctors for the same reason I became a nurse, so they can help people. And, I think doctors feel helpless when they have a patient that they can’t “fix."  Herein lies the problem. Patients can not, and should not have to WAIT to receive compassion and treatment from their doctors, until scientific research has found a way to cure them. Just as I have come to accept my condition, doctors must come to accept this condition and treat the patients and their symptoms accordingly.

There is so much a doctor can do to help a patient with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The most important is to accept them and their diagnosis. Don’t tell them you don’t believe in the diagnosis. What purpose does that serve, other than to degrade them? Second, do not pass judgment on the patient for their condition. Treat patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome the same way you would treat anyone else with a chronic medical condition, with respect and dignity. We are not just patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, we are human beings. Third, work together with the patient to address the specific symptoms of their disease. It doesn’t matter what you call this disease, a physician CAN treat the patient and their symptoms regardless of what the name of the disease is. A physician CAN treat the patient and their symptoms regardless of whether research has found a cause or cure for the disease.

These are simple things, that could be implemented right now. Today is what matters to us. Today is all any of us have. Help us get through today, then tomorrow, and then help us take one day at a time towards being as well as we can be, given our disease. If you can do that, you will be making a huge difference in our lives… Anything less, is tantamount to “doing harm”. So please – Do No Harm – that is all I ask.

So...That's what I think about it, and I'll step off of my soap-box now.  I would love to know what you think in comments.

Here is a video from the 2006 Awareness Campaign by the CDC designed to inform physicians on the treatment of patients with CFS (obviously my neurologist wasn't in attendance)...

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

*I'm also at Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

]]> How do you feel about chiropractors? Would you see one to treat a headache? http://www.blogher.com/how-do-you-feel-about-chiropractors-would-you-see-one-treat-headache 2009-10-20T00:32:17-05:00 2009-10-20T00:32:17-05:00 Catherine Morgan October is National Chiropractic Month, and the American Chiropractic Association is encouraging families to consider trying chiropractic care as a treatment for several types of headaches.

How do you feel about chiropractic health care?  Is it something you would consider for yourself and family?  Did you realize that seeing a chiropractor could be helpful for people who suffer with migraines and other types of headaches?

]]> October is National Chiropractic Month, and the American Chiropractic Association is encouraging families to consider trying chiropractic care as a treatment for several types of headaches.

How do you feel about chiropractic health care?  Is it something you would consider for yourself and family?  Did you realize that seeing a chiropractor could be helpful for people who suffer with migraines and other types of headaches?

Headache Tips During National Chiropractic Month...

While many people associate chiropractic care as a treatment for bad backs, there is growing documentation that chiropractic is also effective in the treatment of cervicogenic headaches, migraines and cluster headaches.

“Research shows that spinal manipulation is an effective treatment option for headaches,” says Dr. Michael P. Griffin of Lakeville Chiropractic in Lakeville, and a member of the. American Chiropractic Association.

“Not only does drug-free, conservative chiropractic care provide almost immediate relief from pain, but it has significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief than many commonly prescribed medications.”

Although I know many people who go to chiropractors on a regular basis, I have never actually gone to one myself.  It's not that I wouldn't be open to trying a chiropractor, it's just that I've never had health insurance that covered one.

Lets take a look at what some women of the blogosphere are writing about their experiences with chiropractors.

From McCathy's Tub - Chiropractors are weird...

So, when I had that awful cold I mentioned it to my chiropractor during one of my visits to fix my neck the guy pulled my ears.

I mean, he literally pulled on my ears.

He said something about how it'll open up my sinuses to help them drain better. My friend thought that maybe he was pulling my legs instead of my ears. Ha!

But it did seem to help. I mean, my ears were popping all day long.

From Candles, Crafts and Whatnot - Okay, the Chiropractor Visits...

I thought that with everything going on with me and my health, and the fact that I still don't have a definite answer as to what is wrong with me, or if it will happen again, I was doing some research on WebMD, and found a very interesting article that said that if you have been to numerous doctors and had all the necessary tests, and you still don't have a diagnosis, that perhaps chiropractic treatments can help you...... huh?

Really?? So, I called my health insurance, to see if I was covered, and they said I was covered for 12 visits per calendar year, so I booked an appointment with a local chiropractor.

From The Pilates Body - Heidi's Blog...

So, one day I was doing a forward hamstring stretch, i.e. leaning forward with my chest towards on thighs. When I came back up, the pain is/was indescribable! It was horrible! The pain was like an electric shock that went from my low back, in my glutes, and down my leg. It was so bad I was flat on my back, couldn't walk, and my big brother had to carry me into the car and up to the Chiropractor's office. Praise God, my mom believed in Chiropractic care, after the first adjustment, I felt some release. The chiropractor told me, if I wanted to continue dancing I better learn how to use my core, (my pelvic floor) to support myself.

From Live Journal - I Love My Chiropractor...

Oy vey...the back pain I have had this pregnancy has been killer. One day I could not even walk! I know it's partly due to having a toddler to chase around and not being able to "take it easy" when I feel I should.

So I bit the bullet and paid a lump sum for a chiropractic package. I found someone who deals with pregnancy and would even come out to the home birth to do adjustments to help along labor! And basically, she has a pregnancy package so that I don't pay the standard rate each time I come in....I get 8 adjustments during the 2nd trimester and 12 during the 3rd. (Which may end up carrying over to post-baby?)

And while I have never been to a chiro before and my hubby thinks it's a bunch of quackery, I could not be happier. I basically told hubby to stuff it because he doesn't know what it feels like and this woman has magic hands. (There were days I was seriously having trouble breathing and she did an adjustment and I felt like my lungs gained an extra 50% capacity...awesome!)

From Everything Order - Wondering What A Gentle Chiropractic Adjustment Is Like?

My chiropractor, Dr. Goffe, let me bring my flip video camera in his office today so I could show my friends what a gentle chiropractic adjustment is like. He’s awesome. If you’ve ever wondered where I get so much energy, he is one of the reasons. When I leave his office after an adjustment, it’s like a flip inside has been switched. If I didn’t get adjustments from him, I would definitely be on pain killers. I love the fact that the root of the problem is put into alignment, instead of the pain just being covered up.

From Faith & Family Live - Align Me Up, Doc!

This time, though, since it seemed to me that my neck/back pain was obviously alignment related, I decided to try something different. There’s a chiropractic office near my house. I called them. They told me that they could fit me in half an hour later. I went.

I thought they’d just start lining up my spine - or whatever chiropractors call it - but they did x-rays and a bunch of other tests. I had to wait to go back that evening and get all the information about what they think is causing my pain. Apparently my neck is all messed up, but it’s fixable, at least according to the chiropractors.

I know a lot of people are skeptical about chiropractors. I believe the term my punk little brother used was “witch doctors” (although obviously he likes hyperbole). I myself prefer to approach any unknown entity with a healthy dose of skepticism, so I’m reserving judgment on the chiropractic treatment until I see if it works for me.

I’m hopeful, because my first two adjustments appear to have caused my pain to diminish considerably. Long term, who knows? We’ll see.

And some women even bring their children to pediatric chiropractors.

From Momma's June Bugs - Not One For Conforming...

I tell her, "I brought her to the Pediatric chiropractor because she was only turning towards her LEFT and seemed like she was in pain. I also bring her for her reflux". She huffs and puffs and says (as expected), " What is a chiropractor going to do for her reflux?". I calmly tell her that it was a miracle worker for Rylan's severe reflux, and that we thought it wouldn't hurt to give it another try. She hastily responds, "he probably just grew out of it at the same time you brought him". I kept thinking is this really happening, is the doctor playing tit for tat with me on everything.

Also See:

Let me know your thoughts on chiropractic care in comments.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Will Healthcare Reform Help or Hurt Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment? http://www.blogher.com/will-healthcare-reform-help-or-hurt-breast-cancer-diagnosis-and-treatment 2009-10-17T02:08:21-05:00 2009-10-17T02:08:21-05:00 Catherine Morgan Where do you stand on healthcare reform?  It's a hot-button political issue that has strong opinions on both sides.  And with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it seems appropriate to address how healthcare reform could affect the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

The question is...Will it help or hurt?

From The American Cancer Society...

]]> Where do you stand on healthcare reform?  It's a hot-button political issue that has strong opinions on both sides.  And with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it seems appropriate to address how healthcare reform could affect the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

The question is...Will it help or hurt?

From The American Cancer Society...

Continued progress in the fight against cancer requires early diagnosis and timely access to medical care that gives all cancer patients an equal opportunity to battle this disease. Meaningful health care reform that promotes prevention and wellness and ensures quality of life throughout disease-directed treatment into survivorship will help change these statistics.

“We believe that a health system that works well for cancer patients, survivors and those at risk for cancer, will also work well for all Americans who may one day be faced with a serious medical condition,” Brawley said. “Continued progress in the fight against cancer requires early diagnosis and timely access to medical care that gives all cancer patients an equal opportunity to battle this disease. To help accomplish this, health care reform must happen now.”

It seems hard for me to believe that insuring the uninsured could hurt breast cancer treatment or diagnosis.  But that is exactly what some would like us to believe.

Breast Cancer Awareness - Will More Women Die of Breast Cancer with Health Care Reform?

Three hundred thousand more women will die of breast cancer each year in the US if proposed health care reform takes place, according to a multi-million dollar television ad campaign running in several states this week. The ads, sponsored by the Independent Women’s Forum, cite as evidence a report from Lancet Oncology that shows “England’s breast cancer survival rate is much lower than in the US.”

What’s the truth? The truth is LESS women will die of breast cancer in the US if every woman has access to screening and treatment for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society looked at insurance status and cancer outcomes in 2005 and 2006. Not surprisingly, only 38% of women between 40-64 years with no insurance had had a mammogram in the previous two years, compared to 75% of those with private insurance. More importantly, patients with no insurance were more likely to be diagnosed with Stage III or Stage IV breast cancer, and less likely to be diagnosed with a Stage I cancer.

And survival from breast cancer? The 5-year survival rate was 76% for all uninsured patients, and 65% for uninsured African American women, compared to 89% for White women with private insurance. We may have some of the best breast cancer care available in the world, but unfortunately, it’s just not universally available to all US women.

From The Examiner - We Want A System That Will Cure Breast Cancer...

The Obama administration’s plans call for the establishment of a Health Benefits Advisory Committee to determine the coverage that Americans must have, creating a one-size-fits-all health insurance marketplace. The government’s “Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research” would be charged with analyzing available treatments to determine which are “efficient” and which are not.

As government tries to reduce health care costs, it will do more than just limit the treatments available. Officials will also limit what doctors, hospitals and companies get paid. This means that, as is the case with Medicare and Medicaid, many reimbursement rates will be below cost. As a result, many people will leave (or never enter) the medical profession, again damaging the quality of care.

From Physicians News (with video) - What Obama Isn't Saying About Breast Cancer Success in America...

As a women’s health specialist, I have many patients like Tracy Walsh who are 10, 20, and 30 year survivors of breast cancer because they had the benefits of the American health care system: early diagnosis, cutting edge treatments, and continued state of the art monitoring for recurrence. None of my patients have even considered going to England, Canada, or Cuba for treatment! I can confidently say that if I were facing breast cancer, the United States is where I would want to be.

Studies clearly show that breast cancer survival rates are higher for the earliest stages of cancer. In the United States, mammograms are typically done annually, and consequently breast cancers are detected earlier. Women in the United Kingdom under the National Health Service guidelines are only allowed a mammogram every 3 years. Britain’s death rate from breast cancer is consequently much higher than in the U.S.

From the Wellsphere Breast Cancer Community - Breast Cancer Reconstruction and Healthcare Reform...

In an enormous break with tradition, such cost considerations based on averages will be factored into medical practice guidelines. These will function as an invisible hand that puts a brake on the more expensive procedures even though they benefit certain patients.

Standardized practice guidelines will be evident everywhere, even embedded into your doctor's government-certified computer: as described in the Obama budget, computer pop-ups will appear to help your doctor make decisions. (And through the same systems, his or her choices can be monitored for consistency with the guidelines.)

What do you think?  Will healthcare reform help or hurt breast cancer treatment and diagnosis?  Let us know in comments.

Also See:

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Avoiding Candy Cravings During Halloween and Sticking To A Healthy Diet http://www.blogher.com/avoiding-candy-cravings-during-halloween-and-sticking-healthy-diet 2009-10-13T02:32:43-05:00 2009-10-19T18:07:17-05:00 Catherine Morgan I have been successfully off of sugar since my post Conquering Sugar Addiction:  The First Step Towards A Healthy Diet (and the toughest), but I know I am always just one bite of a brownie away from falling off the wagon.  And now there is another huge temptation - Halloween.  It seems like everywhere I go I am faced with those giant bags of Halloween candy.  The next few weeks are going to be a real test of my new-found willpower.

]]> I have been successfully off of sugar since my post Conquering Sugar Addiction:  The First Step Towards A Healthy Diet (and the toughest), but I know I am always just one bite of a brownie away from falling off the wagon.  And now there is another huge temptation - Halloween.  It seems like everywhere I go I am faced with those giant bags of Halloween candy.  The next few weeks are going to be a real test of my new-found willpower.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling with Halloween candy temptations.

From Demoiselles - Just bought Halloween candy...not sure if it's for me or the kids...

I bought a bag of Halloween candy (they had a combo pack of Skittles and M&M’s.. my favorites!!).. they are sitting in my pantry right now. We usually don’t buy Halloween candy until the week of Halloween, so I’m having a little trouble figuring out whether I bought it for me or the trick-or-treaters. I did have Sam put it on the very top shelf and in the back corner, so that I can’t reach it. (And if I do, at least I would have gotten some exercise getting up there!) So far, so good.

From the Suburban Life - I should have never bought that Halloween candy...

I made a big mistake. Huge. Humongous. I should have known better. I should have recognized my own weaknesses. I should have known when to say “no.”

I should have never bought that Halloween candy…the party pack, no less.

. . .

Moral of this story: DO NOT BUY HALLOWEEN CANDY ONE MONTH BEFORE ACTUAL HOLIDAY!! You will not save it, no matter how good your intentions are. It can be hazardous to your health…or at least the size of your thighs.

From Keeper of the Home - How Much Sugar Are You Really Consuming?

Ever wondered just how much sugar is in your favorite drink, snack or dessert? Wonder no more!

I just discovered the site Sugar Stacks today (hat tip to Local Nourishment), and was both appalled and thrilled to see such a vivid demonstration of the amount of sugar in a number of typical foods.

From The Parent Squad - Over Sugared and Under Nourished...

Let me say right at the forefront of this post, I love me some sugar. I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I've entirely eliminated sugar from my diet. But the more I read, the more I'm convinced that sugar, along with simple carbohydrates, is at the root of many of the rampant health problems in our culture, and I'm doing all I can to reduce the sugar I serve our family.

From Janis Taylor Living - The Holiday Diet: How to wake up thinner...

The holiday season is fast approaching as evidenced by the displays of Halloween Candy on each and every counter top in America. As we all know all too well, the holidays present a multitude of stresses that together can create the perfect ‘fat’ storm. Of course, front and center, the main event of the season is the food! Ever-present platters of holiday cheer in one form or another, enticing, calling your name day-in, day-out, morning, noon and night from Halloween through the New Year.

It won't be easy, but I think I can do it.  And you can too.  Here are my three tips to help anyone who is attempting to maintain a healthy diet through the Halloween season...

1.  Avoid the candy isles at all costs, and never go shopping on an empty stomach.  Because once you buy the candy and it is in your house, it's only a matter of time before you eat it.

2.  If you have to buy candy, only buy candy you do not like (at all).

3.  Do not buy your 'trick-or-treating' candy until the day you need it.  You could also consider non-candy options to hand out on Halloween.

What are your tips for avoiding candy cravings during the Halloween season?

Also See:

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

 

]]> Breast Cancer Survivors: Sharing Their Stories In Words and In Video http://www.blogher.com/breast-cancer-survivors-sharing-their-stories-words-and-video 2009-10-09T23:07:52-05:00 2009-10-09T23:11:43-05:00 Catherine Morgan This is a post in honor of breast cancer survivors. They are women sharing their stories of hope, struggle, determination, and survival. Some are in words and some are in video.

Midlife Breast Cancer Survivor Remembers Her First Day Back To Work...

]]> This is a post in honor of breast cancer survivors. They are women sharing their stories of hope, struggle, determination, and survival. Some are in words and some are in video.


Midlife Breast Cancer Survivor Remembers Her First Day Back To Work...

In October of 2006 I returned to the classroom following a six month leave for breast cancer treatments. My first day back to work presented many obstacles. One, I wasn’t ready to go back. Two, I needed to decide what type of fashion statement I intended to make with my fuzzy bald head. Three, I had to figure out how much I should share with the students about my illness. Four, it was the middle of the second quarter and I didn’t even know my students. Five, I wasn’t ready to go back to work. I’m sorry? Oh, I already listed that? Too bad. Let’s just make I WASN’T READY TO GO BACK TO WORK numbers five through ten.

Nicole from Throws Like a Girl...

My name is Nicole and I’m a hoopy frood who really knows where her towel’s at. I’m also a thirtyish (I’m refusing to use the phrase “thirtysomething”. It’s so 80s. I’m sure it’s copyrighted somewhere anyway.) SAHM and non-practicing musician/teacher who has become a knitting/crocheting fiber addict. I have been married to my wonderful DH for 8 years (yes we got married in 2000 JUST so it was easy to count.) I was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in January of 2008 and am now in the middle of reconstruction.

Darryle Pollack - I Never Signed Up For This - Good Hair Days...

I wore wigs and hats and scarves. And my hair did grow back. Even though at the beginning it was really curly and short, and my husband V. said I looked like George Clooney. I could live with that. I like George Clooney. And having my hair look like George Clooney's hair meant a good hair day. Because ever since I was bald, every day is a good hair day. A great hair day. And I am lucky enough to have had continuously great hair days for the past 13 years. And now whether it's age-inappropriate or not, there's a reason my hair is almost as long as it was 13 years ago. Because someday in the future I am going to sit in a chair in a hair salon and have a stylist cut it off again. Only this time I won't be making a wig for me. I'll be donating my hair to Locks of Love to make a wig for someone else . And I have a feeling that is going to be the best hair day I've ever had.

I Can't Complain Any More Than Usual...

Ironically, Danny first refused to nurse on my right breast in October 2005-- my first sign of cancer. It's appropriate that I ended my breast cancer treatments nearly three years ago during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It took me only five weeks to realize that something was wrong with my body. The last normal weeks of my life. It took another four weeks for a breast exam, mammogram, ultrasound, surgical appointments, fine needle aspiration and finally, a core needle biopsy, before my diagnosis on December 22. Merry Christmas. Nine weeks. And life is never the same again. Nine. Short. Weeks. And every month since has been Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Glenna's Breast Cancer Survival Story...

I found a lump on my left breast on April 11, 2003. I had just turned 35. I wasn’t sure if the lump had to do with my menstrual cycle because it was that time, so I waited a week to get through the cycle and then decided to go and have it checked. I decided to have the biopsy. It was a good thing I did because on May 19, 2003, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember getting off the phone and immediately calling my husband, but he did not answer his cell phone at the time so the next person I called was my mother. I told her I had received the results of the biopsy and then when I started to say that it was cancer, I found myself without a voice. It was hard to breathe. I started crying and finally got the words out. I spoke with my mom for awhile and then called my husband. I found myself in the same situation when I told him—no voice, no breath, bursting into tears. After getting off the phone with him, I remember sitting on the couch, crying, and praying. I took a deep breath and said to God, "Okay, I have this cancer now. What do I need to do with this?" That was the last time I cried for a long time about it.

Caryn Rosenberg - What Breast Cancer Survival Looks Like...

I want to live my life so that I leave a legacy that lives beyond me. I want to make a positive difference and help heal the world. And it’s so strange not knowing whether I’ll live months or years, or decades. It’s like I straddle two worlds – one that is the normal like everyone else and one that requires an urgency to get everything that I want to do in my life before it’s over. There is a difference in how even the breast cancer community interacts with those who have advanced breast cancer. They call it terminal and incurable and sort of write us off. I think many of them are scared. What we want the world to know is that we are still the feisty women we've always been and we are LIVING with breast cancer. Breast Cancer is not glamorous or pretty or PINK, and not everyone has just a 'speedbump' in life. For some of us, it becomes our lives. How do we LIVE with cancer until they find a cure? LET'S FIND A CURE ALREADY!

From Fit Sugar - 10 Celebrities Who Survived Breast Cancer...

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, FitSugar pays tribute to some of the celebrities who fought their breast cancer in a very public way. We applaud the courage of these women and the efforts they have made in speaking out for the cause.

From BeTwinned - Apparently, My Breast Cancer Is Traveling To The East Coast...

Now that I live in Pennsylvania, I have to find new oncologists, of course. Recently, I spent a stunning amount of time on the phone getting registered with the docs at the University of Pennsylvania. The doctors there in the breast cancer center are named “top docs” in a number of places, and they’re known for their cutting-edge research. I feel confident that I’ll be in good hands.

Mothers With Cancer...

We are twenty mothers with cancer. Each of us has a different cancer type, stage, and/or prognosis. Each of us has children, from babies to teenagers, and each of them has their own unique reaction to the cancer and the ensuing changes in our lives. We are very different, but we agree on one thing: this experience needs to be talked about, to be brought out of the shadows, and the whole family supported when one member is diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer. Our experience may not be your experience. However, it is experience, and we’re here to share one very important message: you are not alone. We invite you to come along on our journeys, share our stories, and help others who are even more newly diagnosed than you or your family.

Breast Cancer Survivors Show Off Their Beauty and Style...

Blaire Kessler: Offering Natural Beauty -- "When you are battling cancer, your self-image sometimes takes a hit," says Blaire Kessler, breast cancer survivor and founder of Pristine Beauty, a line of all-natural cosmetics. Hers sure did, especially since she was working in the modeling industry, which relies so much on looks during the time she was diagnosed. "My double mastectomy left scars on my skin and my hair was very dried out and damaged from the treatment I was receiving."

Breast Cancer Survivors Tell Their Stories...

At age 31, breast cancer was the last thing newlywed Molly Fritch thought about. She regularly administered breast self-examinations, but didn’t realize this simple act would save her life. Fritch, professional counselor for the OU Cancer Institute and co-founder of a breast cancer survivor group called SHOUT, was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer after completing graduate school nearly three years ago. “My life changed in seconds and I feel like now it’s my mission to tell women about this,” Fritch told an audience of women Tuesday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Governors Room. “If you feel anything, you need to get it checked out. I stand here today and there is no detectable cancer in my body.”

Survivor's Story: A Young Mom's Battle With Breast Cancer...

The following is a personal interview between local breast cancer survivor, Audra Smith-Odum, and Melodie Willis, one of her best friends. Audra: I will never forget the rush of emotions that I experienced after being told that I had a very aggressive form of breast cancer. I was scared, shocked, numb, and in total disbelief of my diagnosis. I looked at my husband, Corky, and my two beautiful children, Harlie and Cole, and made the decision right then that I was going to beat this. There is no way that I will let a lump in my breast take me away from this wonderful family.

From Because I Must Blog - Celebrating My Favorite Breast Cancer Survivor...

As you may well know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I can't urge you enough to CHECK YOURSELF and/or get checked by a physician REGULARLY. But then you already know that right? In celebration of the month and in honor of my favorite breast cancer survivor, my mom, I'm reposting her story.

From RivkA at Coffee and Chemo...

I am a Red-Head (to know one, is to love one), Zionist (last of a dying breed), Idealist (can't help it, I still want to change the world), Enthusiastic People Person (love to meet you!), Mom (my kids are EVERYTHING to me), Wife (married to my best friend), and Cancer Survivor (read on!).

Lyn Kirby's Weblog

I’m a 30 year old mom of 2 young children, Chance is 3 years old and Sinclaire is 2 years. I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer in April 2009. This blog was started a few days after diagnosis, see my older posts to see how my cancer journey began. I’m married to Ken, 38, who is handling the new cancer diagnosis well, and is being as supportive as he can be. Noone in his family, not even his parents who are still around and in their 60’s have battled cancer, yet here is his 30 year old wife going through it. That has to be confusing and tough for him, I think it hit him harder than it did me actually. But he’s doing great and so am I:)

Laurie from Not Just About Cancer...

I am the mother of two beautiful boys who are a source of endless joy and amusement, as well as being quite different from each other. Great blog fodder. My spouse T. and I have been together for 16 years. I adore him. I am fortunate to have wonderful friends and family and a pretty good life. I am also in remission (but still in treatment) with breast cancer that has spread to my liver. I plan on defying the odds for a long time to come.

Here are some videos from breast cancer survivors...


 



Also See:


From Feminist Review - After the Cure: The Untold Stories of Breast Cancer Survivors


Toddler Planet - Inflammatory Breast Cancer


and


Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Let's talk about fear. Are You Afraid of Breast Cancer? http://www.blogher.com/lets-talk-about-fear-are-you-afraid-breast-cancer 2009-10-06T00:58:04-05:00 2009-10-06T00:58:04-05:00 Catherine Morgan Are You Afraid of Breast Cancer? If so, you're not alone. Cancer is a scary thing...And all the pink in the world can't change that. Sure, pink ribbons may be pretty, but breast cancer is ugly and scary. Here are some facts about breast cancer...

  • An estimated 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2000.
  • Approximately 42,200 deaths will occur in women from breast cancer in 2000.
  • One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
]]> Are You Afraid of Breast Cancer? If so, you're not alone. Cancer is a scary thing...And all the pink in the world can't change that. Sure, pink ribbons may be pretty, but breast cancer is ugly and scary. Here are some facts about breast cancer...

  • An estimated 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2000.
  • Approximately 42,200 deaths will occur in women from breast cancer in 2000.
  • One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
  • Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.
  • Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.
  • Seventy-seven percent of women with breast cancer are over 50.

Many women are blogging about their breast cancer fears. From little fears to big fears. They have fears of mammograms, fears of treatments, fears or recurrences, fears of dying...and on and on. What are your breast cancer fears?

From Womenonthefence - Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

I had my own scare when I was 22 years old. One day, I found a lump in my left breast. It was scary as hell. I have a history of breast cancer in my family, and until I saw the doctor and got some answers, I did not sleep. At all. Even my husband, (who was my boyfriend at the time) became so desensitized to “feeling me up.” I mean, he felt my left boob like twenty times, and said, “I don’t like the way that feels.”

From On The Road To Queendom - Mammo...what?

I was petrified at the thought of the big scary monster of a machine smashing the hell outta my little skittle titties.

See, there is also the little fact that my mother's sister, my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer about 6 years ago. They found it early and she was able to treat it and it has not come back. So, there was also that deep rooted fear that maybe, just maybe it had crept into my tiny little body too. That the big scary "C" monster would get me too.

From Battling Breast Cancer With Class - Fear of Recurrence...

I read the survival statistics for my particular stage of breast cancer at the five-year mark and they say I have a 49 percent to 67 percent chance of making it. Every once in awhile I'll get stuck in a mode of fear and start obsessing about these grim facts. Then I realize all I can do is pop a Tamoxifin pill every day that is supposed to suppress estrogen, cross my fingers and carry on. I reason that yes, cancer could come back at anytime. But right now, I have my health back and I will never take that for granted again. So why not enjoy feeling normal as much as I can? The seasons change this week. Nothing ever stays the same, so cease the day!

From Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer - My Pregnancy Fears Allayed...

I have mentioned before that the effect of chemotherapy on my fertility was the most devastating aspect of being diagnosed with breast cancer. For some women, the result is permanent infertility, others, like me, have complicated fertility issues post treatment. One of my chemo buddys did get pregnant post treatment with the help of IVF, but tragically developed a recurrence while pregnant. This brings up a lot of fears for me. If a miracle were to happen and I conceived, would this increase my own chances of recurrence. There is not enough statistical evidence as yet to answer this question satisfactorily. However, the latest research does show that pregant women who develop breast cancer do not have worse odds of death or of cancer returning than other young breast cancer patients.

From Thought from Mary Alice Monroe - Life At The End Of A Fishing Line...

"This was her body. She knew she should let go of her old self-image and make peace with the way her body was now... Mia closed her eyes and said a small prayer for strength. She had to let this fear of cancer go down the drain with the dirty water. To live fully, she had to believe she would live." (pg. 49, Time is a River)

From Susan Heim on Parenting - A Mother's Story of Breast Cancer...

Since the cancer had already spread, it was necessary to find out just how far it had gone. Did it travel through my nodes and bloodstream, finding a home someplace else in my body? Needless to say, the days and weeks that followed were filled with full body scans, tests, and anxiety about the unknown.

Let’s face it: my son was four years old at the time I was diagnosed. Every mother knows that the will to survive comes in part from wanting to be here for yourself, but in larger part because your child needs you to be here.

From Secret Agent L - Month of Missions...

She hopes this little journal will be an inspirational and safe place for a woman battling breast cancer to write her hopes and fears. And Secret Agent L sends loving thoughts to every woman battling this disease.

From My Breast Cancer Blog - Stand By Her: A Breast Cancer Guide For Men...

STAND BY HER is a step-by-step program targeted to men who want to become invaluable breast cancer caregivers to their loved ones, while at the same time helping them address and overcome their own personal fears, frustrations and anxieties caused by this disease.

From Weather Vane - Why I Wear Pink...

During the next thirty minutes these two strangers shared their personal story with me. I learned how their world had been turned upside down. He placed his arm around her shoulder, as she described how events had unfolded and he hugged her close when her voice began to tremble. It was apparent that they were both in it together and he was as scared as she was.

Six weeks prior she had been diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. She had already undergone a mastectomy. Staging revealed a large tumor which had spread beyond the original growth site. She was facing months of treatment and a questionable prognosis.

Because of new genetic testing, more and more women are finding that they are at an even greater risk for breast cancer (or a recurrence of breast cancer) than the average woman. It is called a BRCA, and it's done with a simple blood test. There is also something called LCIS which is diagnosed from a breast biopsy (although not cancerous, it does put the woman at a greater risk for breast cancer).

In some of these cases the woman makes the (what some believe is a controversial) decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy, rather than living in fear of breast cancer. What would you be willing to do to reduce your risk of breast cancer?

From WebMD - More Women Choosing To Remove Noncancerous Breast...

Greater social acceptance of double mastectomies and improved cosmetic surgery techniques are additional reasons for the growing numbers, says Simmons.

Of the 6,275 women who had prophylactic mastectomy in the study, 81% of them had been diagnosed with cancer in one breast. The rest had no personal history of breast cancer, suggesting they had high risk factors for breast cancer such strong family history and positive BRCA test results.

From Picture of Health - More Women Opting To Remove Health Breast...

"For some women, their quality of life is better with their breasts removed because you get rid of the concern, the anxiety" about recurrence, said Dr. Lisa Jacobs, a surgical oncologist with the Johns Hopkins Breast Center. "A lot of women come in and say, `I don't ever want to do this again.'"

Breast Cancer Mom is one of a number of women choosing to have a mastectomy before she develops cancer. Fear, Worry, Bargaining...

Here is an overview of my conversation last winter with my second opinion oncologsit:

ME: "I have LCIS and want to know what I should do"
Oncologist: "You should go home and come back if you get 'real' cancer."
ME: "But isn't LCIS something to worry about?"
Oncologist: "There are a number of things that could kill you before breast cancer."

There is nothing quite like waiting for the results of a biopsy and having those results take weeks to receive. You get to do alot of thinking during that time. Your options become pretty clear as you wait. You wait. You wonder. You worry. You bargain with God. You pray. You hold your children closer. You connect with those closest to you. You pray. You worry.

-----

Well, I will know in two days if my plan for DIEP reconstruction after a bilateral mastectomy will work for me. I am meeting with a plastic surgeon in Boston and hope she says that I am a 'great' candidate for the DIEP. I am excited, scared and even more scared, but I want to get this breast cancer monkey off my back and reduce my risk to less than 10% from 50+%.

One woman's story of Preventative Mastectomy and Reconstruction...

“But the doctors sat me down and said that my own breast health—having very dense fibrocystic breasts— combined with my family history suggested I needed a prophylactic double mastectomy,” she explained. Margee cautioned that this isn’t the solution for women who simply want to avoid breast cancer. However for someone like her, given her family history and personal tendencies, she was advised that it was a wise choice.

“Perhaps given the context of my sister’s prognosis, it was an easier decision,” she admitted. “There was an element of feeling a bit smug, as if I could outsmart the cancer by getting there first.”

What would you do? Would you have a preventative mastectomy? Is your piece of mind more important than your breasts?

Also See:

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Breast Cancer: What if you can't afford a mammogram? http://www.blogher.com/breast-cancer-what-if-you-cant-afford-mammogram 2009-10-03T00:44:48-05:00 2009-10-03T00:51:59-05:00 Catherine Morgan I'm sure you've heard that October is breast cancer awareness month. The problem with breast cancer awareness is that being aware is only helpful if you can actually do something about it. And in the case of breast cancer, that something is getting a mammogram. Sadly, not every woman can afford to get a mammogram.

From Dr. Judith Rich at The Huffington Post - Breast Cancer Awareness: You and Your Boobies...

]]> I'm sure you've heard that October is breast cancer awareness month. The problem with breast cancer awareness is that being aware is only helpful if you can actually do something about it. And in the case of breast cancer, that something is getting a mammogram. Sadly, not every woman can afford to get a mammogram.

From Dr. Judith Rich at The Huffington Post - Breast Cancer Awareness: You and Your Boobies...

Every 13 minutes, a woman dies of breast cancer in the U.S. Women of all ages from 15-99 are at risk for developing the disease.

200,000 women will be diagnosed this year. Over 40,000 of them will die of the disease.

Breast cancer is the second only to heart disease as the leading cause of death in women.

From Voices In My Mind - Because Your Boobs Are Worth It...

The good news is that everything checked out just fine for me. Now that I have my baseline done, it will be much easier in the future to detect any changes that might occur. I’m glad that I got it done. The next time it won’t be so bad because I’ll know exactly what to expect.

The bad news is that so many women don’t get mammograms. Either they don’t have insurance and can’t afford it, or they just keep putting it off until it is too late. The reality is that mammograms don’t catch everything, but having regular mammograms does greatly increase the chances of a lump being caught in time to do something about it and possibly save your life. That makes the pain a little more worth it, don’t you think?

But what if you don't have insurance or you can't afford a mammogram? Well, this month there are a lot of fundraisers devoted to raising money for free mammograms for women who otherwise couldn't afford them.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has teamed with Ask.com to give free mammograms to underprivileged women.

The program is called ‘Search for a Cure’ and we think will help many of those calls and e-mails disappear because it is completely free and can be done in a very little amount of time while still allowing people the chance to really and truly make a difference just through the click of a mouse at home or work. We also love the idea of it because the ‘Q & A’ or ‘Searching’ aspect of it speaks to the first difficulty many women [and men] experience when they are diagnosed. That is, having a ton of questions they don’t necessarily want to talk about publicly, but desperately want answers to.

From My Pang's Official Website - Cancer Vixen...

The Cancer Vixen FUNd began as a personal story for Marisa Acocella Marchetto, a cancer survivor who was successfully treated at the Breast Center at St. Vincent’s Hospital’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Marisa then started the Cancer Vixen FUNd to help women who otherwise would not have the financial means to receive proper healthcare. She believes it is crucial that everyone, whether insured or not, receive the proper screening to catch breast cancer early to ensure they will have a greater chance of successfully kicking cancer. Women who have detected cancer early have a 98% survival rate.

More on free mammograms...

From Pin Ribbon Crusade - Kick of October, Pink Style...

This site was created in honor of my mom who lost the fight with breast cancer in December of 2007. The Pink Ribbon Crusade is dedicated to spreading awareness, supporting research, and connecting those currently battling breast cancer with the resources they need, in the hope that one day, breast cancer will be fully eradicated.

From Touched By Diabetes - The Story of My Dolly Partons as I fondly like to call them...

Back in my early 30's I experienced some problems with my left breast - and of course - the first reaction was "breast cancer". I was immediately seen by a breast surgeon to determine why my breast tissue was sinking in - along with the lumps (like many women - I have very dense breast tissue).

From Flickr - I Did A Lot Today...

I went to Planned Parent Hood for my yearly exam and to sched. a mammogram. I have no insurance anymore since I had gotten laid off last year and I couldnt afford to continue my cobra coverage. Yes, I am one of those people who need a public option when it comes to health care.

Also See:

Earlier today I blogged about the loss of my friend Becky to cancer. What I didn't mention was that she died from Inflammatory Breast Cancer...

Bloggers For More Birthdays: My Friend Becky

September was also childhood cancer awareness month and I never had a chance to post on it. But I did want to at least mention Carolyn Rubenstein's book Perseverance.

Can you imagine being in high school or college and suddenly learning you have cancer? You thought you had a lifetime ahead of you and the whole world at your feet, but suddenly you’re told… maybe not. How would you cope?

That’s the question the twenty young people in this book had to answer when they were diagnosed with childhood cancer. Perseverance shares life lessons learned through their stories and educates the reader on how to incorporate them into his/her life. It tells of their trials and tribulations, of their triumphs, and of the unique challenges that day-to-day life brings them. Perseverance also provides an intimate look at the lives and journeys of these young people and how their courage and strength have affected the lives of others.

Here is Carolyn Rubenstein on NBC's Today Show...


Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Will You Be Getting The Swine Flu Vaccine? http://www.blogher.com/will-you-be-getting-swine-flu-vaccine 2009-09-29T01:38:34-05:00 2009-09-29T11:42:40-05:00 Catherine Morgan The swine flu vaccine will be available very soon, but there is still skepticism surrounding its safety. Generally, I have a strong opinion about these types of things, but my feelings about this vaccine are still uncertain.

]]> The swine flu vaccine will be available very soon, but there is still skepticism surrounding its safety. Generally, I have a strong opinion about these types of things, but my feelings about this vaccine are still uncertain.

One thing I am sure about though...This vaccine should not be made mandatory for anyone (including health care workers). I do believe health care workers should be among the first to have access to this vaccine, since they will be the ones treating the sick. However, making it mandatory and threatening peoples' jobs (especially in this economy) is totally unacceptable. But that is exactly what is happening in some states.

Mandatory Flu Shots Hit Resistance...

With the H1N1 pandemic spreading rapidly, hundreds of thousands of doctors, nurses, orderlies and other U.S. health-care workers for the first time are being required to get flu shots, drawing praise from many public-health authorities but condemnation from some employees, unions and other critics who object to mandatory vaccination.

Get Vaccinated or Get Fired...

Despite a planned rally in Albany Tuesday to protest a state regulation requiring health care workers be vaccinated against influenza — both seasonal and swine flu — New York’s top public health official predicts dissenters will ultimately extinguish their anger and roll up their sleeves. The regulation, which was approved in August, comes with a stinging addendum: Get vaccinated or get fired. But some nurses and many other health care providers say the regulation violates their personal freedom and leaves them vulnerable to vaccine injury. And they cite deaths associated with the last federal government swine-flu vaccination program in 1976.

Personally, if I was still working in a hospital, I would probably be leaning more towards getting the vaccination at this point. Although, I would be furious if my choice was being taken out of the equation and I was being forced to get it.

It just seems like there are still too many unanswered questions for me to make a definitive decision on this. For one...How serious is this outbreak going to be? It seems like most people coming down with the H1N1 virus are about as sick as with the regular flu, and most are making complete recoveries. I don't get a regular flu shot, so why would I get the H1N1 vaccine?

The other thing that bothers me, is how the government has granted the drug companies complete immunity against vaccine liabilities. Now, I know there are perfectly good reasons for doing this, but it doesn't help me feel better about getting this vaccine. It just makes me think it would be a better idea to not be among the first to get this vaccine, and rather wait to see if any problems crop up.

Then there is the whole 1976 Swine Flu fiasco.

I was 10 years old, and attending Shelmire Elementary School. I have very few memories of elementary school, but I do remember lining up for a shot in the arm (from a black gun-like thing) as if it were yesterday. I remember kids crying (me too), I remember how it felt, and I remember the distinct sound that the vaccine gun made. Tell me this thing isn't scary to a 10 year old...

vaccine gun

I hadn't realized that it was a Swine Flu vaccine I had gotten, until my mother mentioned it to me the other day...it was the bicentennial year. The other thing I remember about that day, was how we were all lined up down the hall going towards the lobby of the school (where all the pictures that students had made for the bicentennial where hanging). It was a very long line, and I was scared to death.

In the end, there were more deaths due to the vaccination than from the Swine Flu.

As far as I know, they have retired that vaccine/torture device.

Obviously, this new vaccine will not be as traumatic for kids getting it today, as it was for us kids who got it in 1976. But the kids today will have to get two shots, not just one.

From Dr. Gwenn Is In -Swine Flu Vaccine: The Bottom Line (video)...

Kim Carrigan and I attempted to clear the air about this challenging topic recently on Fox News Boston...

So...I'm still undecided when it comes to this one. How about you? Are you going to rush to have you and your kids vaccinated the minute the vaccinations are available? Or, are you more likely to take a 'wait and see' approach? Let me know in comments.

Also See:

More on Swine Flu from BlogHer:

*photo credit - morning seditionists

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Gynecologic Cancers: Knowing the warning signs can save lives. http://www.blogher.com/gynecologic-cancers-knowing-warning-signs-can-save-lives 2009-09-25T20:31:32-05:00 2009-09-26T13:39:05-05:00 Catherine Morgan September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. But why do we need to have more awareness of gynecologic cancers? Well, there are many reasons, here are three.

1. We need to be reminded of the early warning signs of these types of cancers. Not just for ourselves, but for all the women in our lives.

You could someday be the one who tells a friend she needs to see a doctor for a particular symptom she is having. You could be the one who contributes to saving her life because she caught her cancer early.

]]> September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. But why do we need to have more awareness of gynecologic cancers? Well, there are many reasons, here are three.

1. We need to be reminded of the early warning signs of these types of cancers. Not just for ourselves, but for all the women in our lives.

You could someday be the one who tells a friend she needs to see a doctor for a particular symptom she is having. You could be the one who contributes to saving her life because she caught her cancer early.

2. We need to understand that even as we go about our days untouched by cancer, there are many other women who are not as fortunate...And we need to have compassion and empathy for those women.

3. Knowledge is power...And we do not have to be powerless in the face of gynecologic cancers.

I hope that this post will address each of these aspects of awareness.

From After Cancer, Now What – Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month…

According to the American Cancer Society, each year approximately 82,550 women in the United States are diagnosed with cancers affecting the reproductive organs.

We don’t often hear cancers described like this but gynecologic cancer is diagnosed every 7 minutes. It includes cancers of the cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina, uterus and vulva.

From Penn Medicine - Six Warning Signs of Gynecologic Cancer...

The six warning signs for gynecologic cancer are:

  1. Unusual bleeding or discharge from the vagina
  2. A sore in the genital area that doesn't heal
  3. Pain or pressure in the pelvic area
  4. A change in bowel or bladder habits that persists
  5. Frequent or constant indigestion or bloating of the abdomen
  6. A thickening or lump in the pelvic region that either causes pain or can be seen and felt

If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor right away.

There are many women blogging about Gynecological Cancers, here are just a few.

Accidental Mother is blogging about her experience with cervical cancer…

  • Cervical Cancer: A Diary – Part 1
  • Cervical Cancer: A Diary – Part 2
  • Cervical Cancer: A Diary – Part 3
  • Cervical Cancer: A Diary – Part 4

From Experience Project – Has Anyone Here Been Diagnosed With Cancer of the Uterus?

I had Uterine cancer. They discovered it right as my cells were changing, and it had not spread beyond my Uterus. I no longer have a Uterus or cervix, but I am cancer free, and have been 10+ years. Uterine cancer, if it has not spread is one of the better cancers to get, (as far as cancers go), because with a hysterectomy the probability that you can be completely free of cancer is very high. The hard part is dealing with the fact that you can no longer have children, and for me at the time of my diagnosis, in my early 30’s, I didn’t, and still don’t have any children yet in my life. That was very tough for me.

From Women’s E-News – Screening Raises Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates…

Jenn Sommermann never suspected that cancer lurked inside of her.

“When I was 42, I was running triathlons and in the best shape of my life,” said Sommermann, 45, of Freeport, N.Y. “But one day, I felt a lump in my belly and realized I’d been experiencing some bloating, weight gain and fatigue. To my surprise–and my shock–my doctor diagnosed me with advanced-stage ovarian cancer, which required an oophorectomy to remove my ovaries, a hysterectomy to remove my uterus and six months of grueling chemotherapy.”

There is an online community of people who blog about their cancer – It’s called Blog For A Cure (cancer sucks). Here are a few of the blogs by women with uterine and cervical cancer.

Women with Uterine Cancer…

Women with Cervical Cancer…

From Mandy Van Devon at The WIP – India’s Most Common Cancer is Preventable…

Taking the lives of 75,000 women each year, cervical cancer is the leading cause of death for women in India. This number accounts for a third of all cancers that affect women in India and a fifth of the total cervical cancer related deaths worldwide. With 132,000 new reported cases in India annually, this disease is having catastrophic effects on the developing world.

Informative Links on Gynecological Cancer:

Other Women Blogging Gynecological Cancers:

Earlier in the month I blogged about Ovarian Cancer Awareness and earlier this week I re-posted on my personal experience with Ovarian Cancer by making a Birthday Page at the American Cancer Society.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Birthdays: How do they make you feel? http://www.blogher.com/birthdays-how-do-they-make-you-feel 2009-09-22T00:37:01-05:00 2009-09-22T00:41:07-05:00 Catherine Morgan Today is my birthday. Should I be stressed because I'm getting (and looking) older? Or should I be grateful for the opportunity to have another year of life?

]]> Today is my birthday. Should I be stressed because I'm getting (and looking) older? Or should I be grateful for the opportunity to have another year of life?

I know the politically correct answer is - be grateful. But truthfully, it's more of a mixed bag for me. I admit that I like it when people tell me that I don't look my age (even when I know they are probably lying). But at the same time, I really am thankful for every day of my life. And overall, I'm more grateful for turning 23 33 43 than stressed about getting older.

This summer I was honored to be asked to become part of The American Cancer Society's Blogger Council. The American Cancer Society is trying to change the way women think about their birthdays through the More Birthdays Campaign...

To most people, birthdays are just a reminder that they're getting older. But at the American Cancer Society, "Happy Birthday" is a victory song, because a world with less cancer is a world with more birthdays. And that's definitely something to celebrate.

More than 11 million Americans who have survived cancer—and countless others who have avoided it—will celebrate a birthday this year, thanks to the progress we're making together to help people stay well and get well, to find cures, and fight back.

So I've declared The American Cancer Society the official sponsor of my birthday. Here is the link to my American Cancer Society Birthday Page...

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/catherinemorgan

Let me know what you think, and feel free to also leave a small donation to The American Cancer Society.

Women blogging about birthdays...

From 50-something Moms Blog - Celebrating More Birthdays...

To parents, birthdays are momentous occasions. We often find ourselves caught up in the craziness of planning birthday celebrations -- rounding up clowns and jumpy things, tracking down the perfect birthday cakes and presents, trying to decide how to celebrate our 29th birthday for the tenth time. But at the heart of it, birthdays represent very special milestones, important and often poignant markers of time in our families' and friends lives.

From Darryle Pollack - Birthday Season...

Not every woman welcomes growing older with open arms. Or an open mind. I wasn’t big on birthdays either. Until I had cancer.

As a cancer survivor, I embrace every year. Every month. Every day I have. And I urge everyone else to do the same.

Yet this approaching birthday was a little harder to embrace….harder to wrap my arms—or my brain– around the number: 60.

I don’t feel it and I sure hope I don’t look it. I certainly wasn’t planning to blog about it. And I wasn’t planning to celebrate in a BIG way.

But it turns out I am.

From Cranky Fitness - Birthdays: Love 'Em or Hate Em?

But even though I used to think birthday whiners were being silly, I too began to have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I think it has something to do with reaching those "how they hell did I get this old" years.

And it's really unfair; you try to adjust to a new preposterous, clearly-there's-some-mistake number, and then ... wham! About three weeks later, the number's bigger again.

However, despite the whining, there are a number of reasons I still love my birthday!

From The Magnolia Diaries, Volume II - The Feisty Side of Fifty...

Yep, I’m starting an entirely new and strangely scary process. I’m going to be a blogger! As with many baby boomers over fifty, the very thought of writing an Internet diary is a totally foreign concept. Although I enjoy writing stories, an ongoing confessional for all to see is a bit much. Nevertheless, I strongly advocate that my clients take appropriate risks and I’m growing the writing side of my career, so here goes…

I was one of those women who dreaded turning fifty. For months prior to that intimidating birthday, I was busy girding my loins for the formidable assault to my vanity and pride. There was absolutely no way I could kid myself and claim to be “forever young” any longer. I was, to say the very least, upset.

From Heidi's Heart - Feeling a Little Down on my Birthday...

Rasputin is chewing on a bone, and I'm putting off some editing that I've been putting off for weeks now. After completing this post, I have to get at it. That's how I'm spending this Friday night, which happens to be my birthday.

I am grateful to those friends who remembered the day, calling me with well wishes, posting Facebook comments, or sending a card. And dear Georgette, the Floridian pixie, Photoshopped me as a flirtatous faerie, which is now dangling from my living-room ceiling fan.

From A Merry Life - Hello, I Am 23 Years Old...

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday dear MEEEEEEE, Happy Birthday to Me!!

That’s right guys, it is my birthday today. Today I turn 23 years old. Despite the fact my mom has been saying I am 23 for the last several months (she does this every year), my birthday is today at 4:20 p.m. Central Time. Happy Birthday indeed.

Since birthdays are a wonderful chance to stop, smell the roses, and take stock of your life I am going to do just that.

Are you trying to eat healthy?

From A Life Less Sweet: Let Them Eat Trans Fat Free Cake...

We've had a couple of birthday to celebrate in the last month, and with birthdays comes birthday cake. Now, I know that I could actually make a cake from scratch, but I'm happy to admit that I like the convenience of a boxed cake mix. I especially like a boxed cake mix when I'm preparing for a party and don't really want to have to think about baking. I just want to dump, mix, and bake and know that it's going to come out consistently good.

So, perhaps you can imagine my dismay when I started scanning the ingredients on cake mix boxes early last month only to find that every single one (save one - more on that in a minute) had partially hydrogenated oil (in other words, contains some amount of trans fat) in it! Really, I was disgusted. Duncan Hines...Betty Crocker...you let me down!

The American Cancer Society sponsored a Healthy Birthday Cake Contest...


 

What does your birthday mean to you? Let us know in comments.

 

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan

at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

]]> Could I Be A Woman With Rheumatoid Arthritis? http://www.blogher.com/could-i-be-woman-rheumatoid-arthritis 2009-09-19T02:30:18-05:00 2009-09-19T09:52:49-05:00 Catherine Morgan Joint pain in my hands and wrists has been making typing on this laptop (and a lot of other things) somewhat problematic over the last few weeks. Usually when this kind of thing happens to me it only lasts a couple of days, and I generally try to ignore it. I'm not at all excited about the prospect of having any additional medical problems.

]]> Joint pain in my hands and wrists has been making typing on this laptop (and a lot of other things) somewhat problematic over the last few weeks. Usually when this kind of thing happens to me it only lasts a couple of days, and I generally try to ignore it. I'm not at all excited about the prospect of having any additional medical problems.

Although my doctor believes I may have Rheumatoid Arthritis and would like me to get the blood-work to confirm it...I'm resisting. Instead, I've agreed to at least use Tylenol and take other (non-medical) measures to reduce the pain and swelling. Obviously, if things get worse, I will follow my doctors advice and see a Rheumatologist.

Until then...

One thing I'm going to try is to incorporate more anti-inflammatory foods into my diet. A few weeks ago I wrote about the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet, and I think it's definitely something I should try.

I also plan on checking out a lot more blogs written by women with arthritis.

Sara from The Single Gal's Guide To Rheumatoid Arthritis...

Determined that there were other young, single women dealing with this awful disease on their own who were unwilling to let it take over their lives without a nasty fight, I sat down at my computer one day and began to tell my story.

Hence, The Single Gal's Guide to Rheumatoid Arthritis was born, and through it I have been able to connect with many others with RA who value standing up to this disease and trying to find some humor in the experiences it produces.

I am currently managing my RA successfully through several amazing medications and supplements and am figuring out how to make RA work with my life (and vice versa). In addition to writing this blog, I am the author of the comic strip, Single in the City....with Rheumatoid Arthritis, drawn by Jane Samborski, at MyRACentral.com

Angela from Never A Dull Moment...

Writer mama, wife of 15 years & bookkeeper for Carl's sole proprietorship. I developed RA at age 20, bringing new meaning to "life is what happens when you're making other plans."

Sheryl from Arthritis Friend...

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 25 years old. As a writer, and an avid seeker of health information and life hacks, I have launched ArthritisFriend.com as a means to share nuggets of wisdom I’ve gained over the years and to connect with others who battle arthritis or related diseases.

My goal is to create a cozy place where arthritis warriors of all ages can consume health hacks, wellness tips, gadget reviews, and more.

From angelawd...

Many people know I live with an illness; I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) last Christmas. So often when people ask about my disease, they immediately say, “Oh yeah, arthritis, my grandma had it real bad.” But

RA is not the same as osteoarthritis, the ‘wear and tear’ kind of joint problems that many people get later in life. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means your body is attacking itself. One of the first places attacked is the joints of your hands and feet, then larger joints like knees and shoulders, then it starts in on the important organs like heart, lungs, and liver.

Real Women Real Stories...

By Deborah Norville, Emmy award-winning journalist and host of Inside Edition

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is something very personal for me. My mom had RA. She was diagnosed when I was ten and the larger part of my childhood was colored by the stark reality that my mother had a chronic, debilitating disease.

Also See:

 

Are you a woman blogging about (or suffering with) Rheumatoid Arthritis? What advice do you have for someone newly diagnosed with RA? Has anyone had success treating this condition using methods other than prescription medications? All advice, information, and links welcome.

 

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan

at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

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