Catherine Morgan's blog http://www.blogher.com/blog/9949/atom/feed 2009-10-06T00:58:04-05:00 Holiday Food Safety: How to reduce your risk of food-born illness. http://www.blogher.com/holiday-food-safety-how-reduce-your-risk-food-born-illness 2009-11-24T02:14:07-06:00 2009-11-24T02:14:07-06:00 Catherine Morgan The CDC estimates that there are 76 million cases of food-borne illnesses each year, and of that number more than 300,000 will be hospitalized and 5,000 will die.  Those are high numbers, especially considering these types of illnesses are very preventable.

On Thursday we will all be sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, and some of us will even contract one of these food-borne illnesses.  But there are things we can do to reduce our risk of of food-borne illness. 

]]> The CDC estimates that there are 76 million cases of food-borne illnesses each year, and of that number more than 300,000 will be hospitalized and 5,000 will die.  Those are high numbers, especially considering these types of illnesses are very preventable.

On Thursday we will all be sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, and some of us will even contract one of these food-borne illnesses.  But there are things we can do to reduce our risk of of food-borne illness. 

To start, here is a great video on Holiday Food Safety from the FDA website...

 

From Nourishing Thoughts - Holiday Food Safety Tips...

It’s food safety month. With all the holiday food preparations for large groups it is easy to forget some good food safety habits. We are defrosting foods, preparing some foods early, other foods are sitting out for periods of time. To help you keep your foods germ free, here is a list of some key reminders:

From Anne Louise's Edge On Health Blog - Spice Up Your Holiday Cooking...

Everyone wants a great tasting Thanksgiving feast. Isn’t it nice to know that seasoning with herbs and spices can also kill the bacteria, fungi, and viruses that cause food poisoning?

Better yet, some—like cayenne, cinnamon, garlic, and turmeric—offer well-documented benefits for autoimmune disease, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lung and neurological problems.

From Consumer Reports - Ask The Expert About Thanksgiving Food Safety...

Foodborne illnesses don't take a holiday just because we do. When you are cooking your turkey, use a meat thermometer to make sure it reaches a temperature high enough to kill bacteria. And remember to keep your cooking surfaces clean to avoid cross-contaminating foods.

Food safety is a big issue all year round, not just around the holidays.  Here are some reasons why.

Last month BlogHer contributing editor Kim Pearson wrote - Once Again, Food Safety is an Urgent Concern...

Let's get one thing straight; I love a good, juicy, flame-grilled burger, preferably with cheese. But I'm not dying for one.

Unfortunately, a story in today's New York Times reveals that after years of industry self-regulation, tens of thousands of people are sickened every year by E. Coli. a bacteria commonly found in animal feces. In a small percentage of those cases, people are sickened to the point of paralysis or death.

From The Congress Blog - Food Safety Bill Should Be Passed By End of Year...

Millions of Americans are sickened with food-related illnesses in the United States every year, with hundreds of thousands of people hospitalized and thousands more dying as a result.

Congress has a historic opportunity to address this critical issue. A food safety bill moving through the U.S. Senate this week has strong, bipartisan support. Lawmakers should act quickly to pass the bill by the end of the year and give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration enhanced authority to oversee the safety of the nation’s food supply.

From Elizabeth at Moms Rising - We Need Food Safety: Ashley's Story...

My five-year-old daughter Ashley loves to swim, go to ballet class and tag along after her big sister Isabella. To the world, Ashley is a picture of health and vitality. While she appears to be thriving, my husband and I struggle to deal with her multiple daily medications, a severely restricted diet and the near-certainty that she will undergo several kidney transplants – all because of contaminated spinach containing E. coli 0157:H7 she ate as a toddler.

Ashley was only two years old when, fighting a serious E. coli 0157:H7 infection, she spent six weeks in a hospital, and four months on dialysis. Today, her kidney function is estimated to be less than 25 percent.

From Eat. Drink. Better - Food Safety and School Lunch Programs...

If foods in school lunches came from local producers, growers, and processors, schools would be able to more easily trace food back if there was a problem. And eliminating the storage and transportation steps in the middle could cut down on the possibility for contaminants to get into food or for food to be stored improperly.

There are some people working on this issue. According to The National Farm to School Network, 42 states have operational farm to school programs which reach about 8,943 schools. I have to admit I don’t know the details about those programs or what other programs there are, but this investigation provides at least one other good example of why it should get looked at further.

Also See:

Are you worried about food-born illnesses this holiday season?  Are you taking precautions to prevent these types of illnesses?  Have you or a member of your family ever contracted a food-born illness?  How bad was is?

My Thanksgiving food safety tip is...Never stuff the turkey.  I stick onions, garlic and seasonings inside the turkey while it cooks just to add flavor, but I always make the stuffing separately.  What are your tips for holiday food safety?  Let us know in comments.

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

]]> Breast Cancer Screening: Are women just too emotional for mammograms before 50? http://www.blogher.com/breast-cancer-screening-are-women-just-too-emotional-mammograms-50 2009-11-21T02:43:53-06:00 2009-11-23T10:20:51-06:00 Catherine Morgan Unless you've been under a rock all week, you have probably heard about the government task force that has recommended new guidelines for breast cancer screening.  It goes something like this...

If you're younger than 50 or older than 75, you no longer have to worry your pretty little head about breast cancer, or getting those pesky boob squishing mammograms.

]]> Unless you've been under a rock all week, you have probably heard about the government task force that has recommended new guidelines for breast cancer screening.  It goes something like this...

If you're younger than 50 or older than 75, you no longer have to worry your pretty little head about breast cancer, or getting those pesky boob squishing mammograms.

Hallelujah!  I wonder how long it will be before we go back to giving women Valium for chest pain?  Who needs preventative care when it's not 100% effective anyway?  Hell, just go ahead and give us anti-anxiety meds for all of our ills...I'll betcha we save a bundle on healthcare costs. Women already outlive men by a bunch of years, maybe this will even things out a bit...Isn't equality what we've been cryin about all these years?

OK, I know, I went a little too far with my analogy.  But seriously, this is what's going on...

From Kaiser Health News - Guidelines on Cancer Screening Spark Debate...

On Monday, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended that routine mammograms start at age 50 instead of 40, that women receive the test every two years as opposed to annually, and that physicians no longer train women to perform breast self-examination.

Imaging centers saw cancellations for mammograms more than double since the news of these "recommendations" were announced.  I wonder how many of those women may actually have breast cancer right now and will miss the opportunity for early detection and treatment?

I have to admit, I've been having a lot of cynical thoughts running through my head since I heard this disturbing news.  Like...

I can't help but think that if the pharmaceutical companies were profiting from mammograms these recommendations would be suggesting that they begin ten years earlier rather than later.

And then there's this one...

If a healthcare reform bill is going to benefit the insurance industry (and it must - considering all their lobbying dollars), then insurance companies need guidelines that will allow them to reduce the amount of money they shell out for quality health care.

I know these are just thoughts, but when government panels are established to become corporate bean counters of women's health policy, it makes me a little angry.

The thing is, when it comes to healthcare for women - I want to see more choices for women, not less.

Check out this video, it really does a nice job of addressing the problems associated with these new guidelines...

Is healthcare for women under attack?

Was I the only one who was completely shocked to find out that this so called panel of experts had three representatives from insurance companies, but no experts in oncology or breast cancer?

From Feminist Legal Theory - How Many Women Does Breast Cancer Cost?

I am not naive to the fact that cost-benefit analysis plays a role in major agency decisions, particularly in allocation of resources, but this is disturbing. Dr. Otis Brawley, Chief Medical Office for the American Cancer Society, shares my concern. "With its new recommendations, the [task force] is essentially telling women that mammography at age 40 to 49 saves lives; just not enough of them.”

. . .

Dr. Cheryl B. Iglesia, the chairwoman of a panel that developed the guidelines, assured the New York Times the releases are not political. However, that certainly does not mean the application will not be. While a universal health care package can mean valuable screenings for the uninsured, continued release of materials like this could mean a reduction in coverage for preventative care.

Not everyone disagrees with these new guidelines...

From Our Bodies, Our Blog - New Mammogram Guidelines Make Sense...

The guidelines are in sync with international recommendations; the World Health Organization recommends starting screening at age 50, and in Europe, mammograms are given to post-menopausal women every other year and detection rates are similar to the United States. During an interview on MSNBC on Tuesday, breast cancer expert Dr. Susan Love said the government’s guidelines bring us into line with the rest of the world and with current research. (Read more at her blog.)

You might be thinking: Wait a moment, isn’t earlier better? Why would delaying detection be in my best interest? I’m going to explain why, but let’s first take a closer look at the guidelines, which were released by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care.

While I agree with much of the facts of this post, I don't agree with most of the conclusions.  In the end, if these guidelines are followed, women will die who might otherwise have lived.  Give women the facts and let them make an educated decision between themselves and their physician.  And if the anxiety of a false positive is too much for them at age 40, then they can wait till they are 50.  But don't establish new guidelines that will allow the insurance companies to deny women the opportunity for early breast cancer detection.  That's just wrong.

Julie Pippert from MOMocrats wrote - Et tu, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists?

As much as these organizations argue that this is about science and necessity, deconstruction of the logic reveals a more financially based reasoning.

Dr. Brawley said, "With its new recommendations, the USPSTF is essentially telling women that mammography at age 40 to 49 saves lives; just not enough of them. The task force says screening women in their 40s would reduce their risk of death from breast cancer by 15 percent, just as it does for women in their 50s. But because women in their 40s are at lower risk of the disease than women 50 and above, the USPSTF says the actual number of lives saved is not enough to recommend widespread screening."

ACOG has allegedly been working towards these new guidelines for the past decade. It's curious timing to me to release these new guidelines right now, as the health care reform debate rages and a major debate point is providing better equality in health care affordability and access for women.

From Karoli at odd time signatures - Before you get twisted about pap smears and mammograms...

Understand that the recent “news” about screening recommendations for them is being used as a tactic against health care reform.

The other issue I have with these guidelines is with the way older studies were used to come to these new conclusions.  It's my understanding that none of the studies used by this panel included the more accurate digital mammography.  And when it comes to the age group that the panel is excluding from mammograms (30-49), digital mammograms have been found to be much more beneficial.  It seems to me that if recommendations would be made for this group of women to have digital mammograms, even more lives could be saved.  But the panel believes no screening for this age group is better than improved screening?  It really makes no sense at all, unless of course, we consider the fragile emotional state of women.

And it's not just mammograms that are being questioned...

From New York Times - Guidelines Push Back Age For Cervical Cancer Testing

A few facts about cervical cancer...

Between 1955 and 1992, the number of cervical cancer deaths in the U.S. dropped by 74%. The main reason was the increased use of screening with Pap tests. The death rate continues to decline by almost 4% a year.

Nearly all cervical cancer can be prevented with routine Pap tests and by limiting exposure to risk factors.

Here are the mammogram guidelines from the American Cancer Society.

On a lighter note.  This is from Uppity Woman - Make vasectomies illegal and remove prostate exams from insurance coverage...

While we are on the subject of removing unnecessary procedures from health care coverage, we should remove prostate examinations from the health care bill after age 75 as well. Since women don’t need to have mammograms covered at age 75 because they are old, it stands to reason that men don’t need their prostates covered either. Obviously this is not all that important. Obviously, 75 is a perfectly respectable age at which to take what’s dealt to you and get the hell off the planet, just like women will be expected to do. If you insist on sticking around with your nasty old carbon footprint, your exam will “Not be reimbursable”. I will however agree that palliative care for you should be covered, since there will be plenty of women in palliative care now that mammograms won’t be covered between ages 40-49 and after age 75. Oh and by no means do you want to have a prostate evaluation before age 50. If you have any symptoms just stop worrying! I mean, women don’t even need to examine their breasts any longer. If they do and find a lump then they cost money! So just hold on with that drip and Start and Stop stuff guys, we will take care of you soon as you turn 50, mmmmmmkay? It will be much cheaper than saving your asses.

Now don’t be upset guys. Don’t be all emotional about this. Calm down. You’ll feel better about this later. Really, it’s no big deal. Stop with the hysterics. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Be rational. We want to be fair with you, you know? Please don’t be interfering with this wonderful health care reform over something silly. Don’t be selfish!

Also See:

Where do you stand on the mammogram issue?  Will you follow the new or old guidelines?  Do you think these new guidelines are politically motivated?  Should women make up there own minds about whether a mammogram is worth the risk before age 50?  Or are they just too emotional about this kind of stuff?  Let us know what you think in comments.

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

]]> The Great American Smokeout: Will you be trying to quit smoking? http://www.blogher.com/great-american-smokeout-will-you-be-trying-quit-smoking 2009-11-16T22:53:03-06:00 2009-11-16T22:53:03-06:00 Catherine Morgan The Great American Smokeout happens every year on the third Thursday in November, and it has been going on each year since 1977.  This is a day that smokers all across the country are encouraged to not smoke, or at least cut back on their smoking for one day.  Each year millions of smokers participate in the smokeout in the hope that this one step will be the catalyst to their quitting permanently.

]]> The Great American Smokeout happens every year on the third Thursday in November, and it has been going on each year since 1977.  This is a day that smokers all across the country are encouraged to not smoke, or at least cut back on their smoking for one day.  Each year millions of smokers participate in the smokeout in the hope that this one step will be the catalyst to their quitting permanently.

On the American Cancer Society's website you can find a lot of great information to help you with this challenge...

You can also read about the history of The Great American Smokeout here.

From Suite 101...

The American Cancer Society uses this yearly event to not only draw attention to the health issues and dangers that accompany smoking, but also to point smokers who struggle with quitting towards the many resources and tools available to them.

It has been proven that success in quitting smoking is greatly increased when smokers have support. This support can come in a number of ways. The ACS recommends that smokers eager to kick the habit employ one or more of these resources:

  • nicotine replacement products (such as the patch or gum);
  • counseling;
  • prescription medication to lessen nicotine cravings;
  • joining a stop smoking support group;
  • using telephone smoking cessation hotlines;
  • guide books;

Are you a smoker?  Will you be abstaining from smoking for the Great American Smoke Out?

Here's a look at some of what other women are blogging about quitting smoking...

From Healthy Moms - How Did You Quit Smoking?

According to the American Lung Association, In 2007, 19.8 million (17.4 percent) women smoked in the United States.

Below are some interesting facts about women and cigarettes from the American Lung Association.Smoking is directly responsible for 80 percent of lung cancer deaths in women in the U.S. each year.

  • Female smokers are nearly 13 times more likely to die from COPD (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) compared to women who have never smoked.
  • Annually, cigarette smoking kills an estimated 173,940 women in the United States.
  • Postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than women who never smoked.
  • Teenage girls often start to smoke to avoid weight gain and to identify themselves as independent and glamorous, which reflect images projected by tobacco ads.
  • In 2005, 10.7 percent of women smoked during pregnancy, down almost 42 percent from 1990. infants are more likely to develop colds, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases if secondhand smoke is present in the home or day care center. Maternal smoking has also been linked to asthma among infants and young children. The odds of developing asthma are twice as high among children whose mothers smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day.
  • Women who quit smoking greatly reduce their risk of developing smoking-related diseases and dying prematurely.
  • Women who quit smoking relapse for different reasons than men. Stress, weight control, and negative emotions, lead to relapse among women.

From Healthy Habits for Life - World No Tobacco Day...

Passive exposure to secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), puts young people at risk for serious health consequences, including low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma and ear infections. While the health consequences are devastating, the foundation's report also details the significant economic costs of treating children with smoking-related illnesses.

The foundation found that, in 2001, tobacco's effects on children included:

  • Nearly 300,000 pediatric asthma cases costing the nation more than $236 million
  • More than 99,000 cases of ear infections costing the nation nearly $49 million
  • support and encouragement from friends and loved ones.
  • More than 26,000 low birth weight births costing the nation more than $300 million

From Loser Moms - Double Shame...

I didn't want to talk about this but I'm not seeing a way around explaining the extra weight. I quit smoking about eight months ago.

Yes, I know. There is no reason that a grown woman with children should have been smoking cigarettes in the first place. I quit a long time ago before the twins were born. Then one thing led to another and I found myself sneaking smokes in my garage when the kids were napping.

Anyway, that is not the point. The point is that I quit.

In quitting smoking news today - A new study shows texting helps kick smoking...

Texting, besides dominating communication in the 21st century, may be good for helping stop the habit of smoking.

An experiment at the University of Auckland in New Zealand revealed an easier way to quit smoking may be right at your fingertips.

“It’s tactile,” said Tom Hall, director of education and training programs for UCF’s Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programming. “Smokers are used to doing things with their hands.”

Additional Resources:

Have you been a smoker in the past?  Do you have any tips or advice you could share for other women trying to quit?  If so, tell us in comments.

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

]]> World Diabetes Day: A Blog Roundup http://www.blogher.com/world-diabetes-day-blog-roundup 2009-11-13T16:21:57-06:00 2009-11-13T16:21:57-06:00 Catherine Morgan In honor of Word Diabetes Day I've decided to do a blog roundup of women blogging diabetes.  Most are blogs by women who are living with diabetes, and others are women blogging about parenting a child with diabetes.  I've also included several informative links and resources at the end of this post.

If you blog about living with diabetes or World Diabetes Day, please leave your link in comments.

World Diabetes Day...

]]> In honor of Word Diabetes Day I've decided to do a blog roundup of women blogging diabetes.  Most are blogs by women who are living with diabetes, and others are women blogging about parenting a child with diabetes.  I've also included several informative links and resources at the end of this post.

If you blog about living with diabetes or World Diabetes Day, please leave your link in comments.

World Diabetes Day...

Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013.  The campaign calls on all those responsible for diabetes care to understand diabetes and take control.  For people with diabetes, this is a message about empowerment through education.  For governments, it is a call to implement effective strategies and policies for the prevention and management of diabetes to safeguard the health of their citizens with and at risk of diabetes.  For healthcare professionals, it is a call to improve knowledge so that evidence-based recommendations are put into practice.  For the general public, it is a call to understand the serious impact of diabetes and know, where possible, how to avoid or delay diabetes and its complications.  The key messages of the campaign are:

  • Know the diabetes risks and know the warning signs
  • Know how to respond to diabetes and who to turn to
  • Know how to manage diabetes and take control

From Grace at Diabetes Daily...

I'm one of many brave young women living well with type 1 diabetes, just having marked 20 complication-free years...I went on a pump during college, and now sport a Minimed 522. There have been dark moments, but much light also. I'm a travel junkie, having traveled, worked, volunteered and studied abroad in over 25 countries. I'm a writer, teacher and poet living in Milwaukee, blessed and happy. And while I may have diabetes, diabetes will never have me. It has, however, gifted me with valuable qualities, beautiful friendships and community. Life is good.

From Lawyer Mama - Let's Talk About Diabetes...

I'm a diabetic. I allude to it frequently on this blog.   But I never really talk about living with diabetes.  Liz Henry has a wonderful post up at BlogHer about Invisible Illness Week, for people living with non-obvious disabilities or chronic illness.  Liz's post made me realize that, while I mention my diabetes often, I never talk about how it's affected me.  I guess it's time to change that.

The Butter Compartment - A Fraction of Happily Ever After...

Yesterday evening, I was in a pretty awful place with this whole how-diabetes-affects-my-family thing, which you likely surmised if you caught last night’s post. I’ll be the first to wax poetic about how diabetes is a “family disease”, but sharing the responsibility of it doesn’t necessarily make it less burdensome for all involved all the time. Sometimes it’s a relief to have someone with whom to share it. Sometimes it just seems to illuminate what a miserable disease it is to try and manage day in and day out for eternity.

For anyone who thought perhaps I’d gone cross-eyed, adding an extra zero to the amount of money that it will cost us to add me to Jason’s plan, that was the correct number. $1000 will be deducted from his paycheck every month. The hilarious thing is that he works for a home health care agency, one that sells the merits of taking care of people, but obviously doesn’t give a flying… uh, fig about the health of its employees and their families.

From Six Until Me - Pregnancy Progress...

I am now sporting my first baby bump, and it's becoming more and more pronounced every day. (Pronounced baaabeee buuuhmp.) Clothes don't fit, maternity jeans are necessary, and when I zip up my sweatshirt to head down to the gym, the zipper strains a bit over my belly.

But is it all baby? Or could it be some weight from treating all these lows?

From Trying To Be Human - Dblog Day 2009...

It is Dblog Day '09, and I am tired. Tired from being up all night treating stubborn lows, then the rebound high this morning that is still slowly floating down from the rafters. I am tired of Dex going off every ten minutes. Tired of pricking my fingers again and again, and taking shot after shot. Tired of looking at food like an adversary. Tired.

HealthCare Hacks - Apple Cider Vinegar and Diabetes...

In an article published in the journal, Diabetes Care, researchers found that apple cider vinegar was effective at tempering the rise in blood sugar after a high carbohydrate meal. In addition to the subjects who had fully diagnosed type-2 diabetes, the beneficial effects were seen in participants who had a pre-diabetic conditions (i.e., insulin resistance) as well as the control group.

From Diabetes Mine - Famous diabetes Friends on Heart Health (Vlogs)...

Ooh, lucky me. I ran into two of my diabetes heroes at the Diabetes Technology Society Meeting late last week. More soon on the new developments I heard about there. But for today, please enjoy these video testimonials on diabetes & heart health.

From Jill at Diabetes Sweeties...

This blog is for me to share my experiences as the mother parenting a daughter living with Type 1 diabetes and a teenager. Kacey was diagnosed with diabetes on July 15, 2008 at the age of 8. My other daughter, Kayleigh, has been tested for T1 and not showing any signs. I look forward to sharing my experiences and getting the support from others going through the same things.

Penny - My Son Has Diabetes...

I am a mom of 2 beautiful boys. They are 18 and 7. The 7 year old has diabetes. I talk about life in general, but mostly what life is like with diabetes in the mix.

Sara from Diabetes Daily...

After a series of misdiagnoses lasting over a year, I was finally diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the spring of 2003 at the age of 22. I managed my diabetes with multiple daily injections (MDI) for about a year, and started wearing an insulin pump in January of 2004. Other than a maternal grandmother with Type 2 diabetes, I am the only known diabetic in my family.

Also See:

Informative Websites:

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

]]> Alzheimer's: A devastating diagnosis for patients and loved ones. http://www.blogher.com/alzheimers-devastating-diagnosis-patients-and-loved-ones 2009-11-10T02:13:21-06:00 2009-11-10T02:13:21-06:00 Catherine Morgan Do you know someone who suffers with Alzheimer's disease?  Or someone who is a caregiver to a loved one with this devastating disease?  If so, you understand the heartache associated with an Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Who are we without our memories of past experiences?  For most of us, the though of losing our memories to Alzheimer's disease is horrifying.  But there is much more to Alzheimer's than memory loss.

]]> Do you know someone who suffers with Alzheimer's disease?  Or someone who is a caregiver to a loved one with this devastating disease?  If so, you understand the heartache associated with an Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Who are we without our memories of past experiences?  For most of us, the though of losing our memories to Alzheimer's disease is horrifying.  But there is much more to Alzheimer's than memory loss.

From Rocks In My Dryer - What I'd Like You To Know: Alzheimer's...

A lot of people mistakenly think of Alzheimer’s as “loss of memory” and leave it at that. Unfortunately, the disease progresses beyond the memory. The victim regresses verbally, mentally and physically to the state of an infant. Eventually, complications end their life. That’s the sugar-coated picture. Each person’s journey through the disease process is different, usually taking years to reach its inevitable and tragic end.

There is no cure. Nothing can prevent it. Nothing can stop it once it starts. There are drugs on the market that can slow down the progression, postponing the inevitable, drawing the entire process out longer than it would otherwise take.

There is no treatment. There is no surgery. There is no prevention. There is no cure. Nobody recovers. Nobody goes into remission. Nobody!

. . .

Here are a few things you should know about Alzheimer’s Disease:
• It is the 6th leading cause of adult death in the United States.
• Someone develops Alzheimer’s every 71 seconds.
• Approximately 5.2 million people in the United States currently live with Alzheimer’s.
• Hereditary Alzheimer’s Disease can develop in persons as young as 30 years old.
• More women develop Alzheimer’s than men.
• By age 65 years, you have a 1 in 10 chance of getting Alzheimer’s.
• By age 80 years, that chance goes up to 50/50.

From Karen at Midlife's a Trip - What You Don't Know About Alzheimer's...

For years what I knew about Alzheimer’s could fit on the head of a pin. I didn’t really understand how this disease ravages a brain. I even remember joking about Alzheimer’s and using the phrase “a little touch of Al” to describe a moment of forgetfulness. But now with a mother and best friend afflicted with this dreadful degenerative disease, there’s little room to be flip and uninformed.

From Dr. Ann Louise - If Someone I Loved Had Alzheimer's...

Someone develops Alzheimer’s disease (AD) every 70 seconds. Already more than 5 million Americans live with this memory-destroying disease—frustrating for them, tragic for those who love them.

A slow, progressive brain disease, Alzheimer’s impairs language, perception, planning skills, and reasoning as well as memory. Forgetting where you put your glasses doesn’t mean you have AD, but not realizing that you wear glasses does!

The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease doubles every 20 years. Women are more likely to develop AD—and not just because they outlive men. Recent studies suggest that estrogen contributes to this disease.

From Amanada - Get Involved!  November is "National Alzheimer's Awareness Month" and "National Caregivers Month" ...

Did you know Alzheimer's is known as the "family disease" because it so deeply affects a patient's entire family? It's true. In fact, 87% of all Alzheimer's caregivers are family members: children, spouses, or even grandchildren and brothers or sisters of the patient. Did you know that, in 2008 alone, there were 9.9 million Americans that acted as caregivers to an Alz patient, providing a combined total of 8.5 billion hours of care? These numbers alone allude to the serious nature of caregiving and the intense connection that family members have to their Alz relative.

But sometimes, even though we know how important it is to raise awareness or support a cause, we don't quite know how to get involved. This is especially true if we're already busy with other health communities and causes. So, to make it easier for you to get involved I compiled a list of really simple, quick ways to get involved with Alzheimer's this month and encourage those in your health communities to do the same. You don't have to be personally tied to Alzheimer's to use your Health Activist skills to help the cause.

HBO's The Alzheimer's Project...

One of the most devastating forms of memory loss is Alzheimer's disease, an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Today, Alzheimer's is the second most-feared illness in America, following cancer, and may affect as many as five million Americans. As the baby-boom generation moves through retirement, that number could soar to more than 11 million by 2040, and have a huge economic impact on America's already fragile healthcare system.

While there is no cure for the disease, THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT shows there is now genuine reason to be optimistic about the future.

From the Alzheimer's Association -10 Signs of Alzheimer's...

Memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. It may be a symptom of Alzheimer's, a fatal brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in different degrees. If you notice any of them, please see a doctor. Learn how Alzheimer's affects the brain and take the Brain Tour.

How is Alzheimer's Diagnosed?

At the present time an autopsy is the only test that can confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. The autopsy will show the typical signs of cerebral shrinkage and destruction of brain cells.

Alzheimer’s disease is therefore often diagnosed by a process of elimination. Your family doctor, or specialist neurologist or gerontologist, and their multidisciplinary teams include information from such things as:

  • A thorough medical history of the patient and their family history.
  • An assessment of the person’s mental and physical state.
  • Psychological assessment and testing.
  • A neurological examination and assessment.
  • Lab tests and brain scans.

Once a diagnosis is made it has it is usually 80% to 90% accurate. An autopsy is the only way in which the diagnosis can be confirmed.

Also See:

November is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month.  Has Alzheimer's touched your life?  How so?  Please share with us in comments.

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

]]> 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

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