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Stress-Reduction Therapy May Improve Breast Cancer Survival Rates

By Anne Krueger | November 17, 2008
paper-people-pink-ribbon

(Istockphoto/Health)

A breast cancer diagnosis and stress—you can pretty much count on the two going hand in hand. Now, a new study is raising hopes about the effects of group therapy and relaxation techniques on the well-being and survival rates of women with breast cancer. Learning how to handle the stress of a diagnosis and treatment in the first year may help such women live better and longer, researchers said today. Read more about this compelling news in this week’s post in Health.com’s Breast Cancer Journey.


Good News: My Migraines May Be Good for My Breasts

By Anne Krueger | November 11, 2008
mirgraine-good-breast-cancer

Getty Images

Unbelievably, recent research reveals that women who get migraines (even just once in their lives) may be less likely to get some kinds of breast cancer. This is huge, and such an unexpected gift—kind of like finding out that cheese and eggs are good for your heart. To get the whole story and learn how Bob Geldof caused my migraines, read this week’s post in Health.com’s Breast Cancer Journey.


Is the Sick Economy Hurting Your Breasts? You Tell Us

By Anne Krueger | November 4, 2008
bra-negative-chart

Istockphoto/Health

You’ve probably been reading about how a sick economy affects your health in numerous depressing ways, and how consumers are reacting by skimping on medications and skipping doctor visits. Unfortunately, your breasts may be pinched by a recession too. Here, a few ways that Lucy and Ethel may suffer.

Skipped mammos
One of the best ways to prevent breast cancer is with a mammogram. You know you should follow the American Cancer Society recommendation to get one every year after the age of 40. But a recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that 31% of Americans skipped a health screening test this year—perhaps due to ballooning medical bills. Missing a mammogram puts your breasts—and overall health—at risk. Please let us know if you’ve skipped a breast health exam for financial reasons. Read More


Can You Think Your Boobs Bigger?

By Anne Krueger | October 28, 2008

As the resident boob blogger at Health magazine, I get all sorts of interesting email, complete with questionable grammar. Last week’s winner was a press release titled, “Larger Breast without surgery, creams, vitamins or herbs, is it possible?” Well, apparently, it is possible to boost your boobs by hypnotizing them, according to William Schneider, DC, a holistic physician and acupuncturist who founded the company AcuAids.

Interesting. I’d like to hypnotize my rack to clean the house and do the shopping while I’m sleeping (you can see how mundane my dreams are), but that’s about as likely to happen as a jump in cup size. Or is it? Read More


3 Nice Things I’m Going to Do for My Boobs Today

By Anne Krueger | October 21, 2008

1. I’m going to join the army. The Army of Women, that is. It’s a partnership between Avon and the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, designed to help women and scientists unite to find ways to prevent and cure breast cancer.

“Over and over I’ve heard scientists lament how difficult it is for them to find the volunteers they need for research studies. By responding to this need, the Army of Women will change the face of breast cancer research,” says founder Susan Love, MD.

I love this idea because it gives me a chance to help beyond just sending in a tax-deductible donation. I’ll fill out a questionnaire, and if the Army needs me to be part of a study on healthy women, they’ll let me know. I may be called upon to contribute a blood or urine sample, or fill out a survey. My volunteering will help researchers learn more about how cancer starts and how to prevent it. Read More


Want to Plump Up Your Pancake Boobs?

By Anne Krueger | October 14, 2008

Later this month at an annual meeting, experts from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) will present a new procedure that they say will correct “severely deflated, sagging breasts.” The new surgery fixes so-called pancake boobs without the use of breast implants.

Almost all of us could tell tales about how the passing of time has ravaged our breasts. Aging, breast-feeding, weight loss, or, you know, the earth’s gravitational pull—all of these elements can leave your breasts a shadow of their teenage selves. Some of us buy more supportive bras, others opt to go under the knife.

For the latter group, this new rescue operation involves lifting and restoring breasts to a more natural, full shape and position—as in back up where they belong and standing at attention. This is something different from the nearly 348,000 breast augmentations and 104,000 breast lifts performed last year. Read More


Breast Cancer’s Dirty Little Secret: Fertility Loss

By Anne Krueger | October 8, 2008

I recently edited a story for Health magazine about what it’s really like to have breast cancer. The survivor stories were both inspiring and heartbreaking. But the women who haunted me the most were those who were not only worrying about staying alive, but about whether they could still get pregnant.

“Learning that I may not be able to have a baby was the hardest thing I had to deal with,” says Stephanie Gensler, a 39-year-old ad exec who was diagnosed with stage II aggressive breast cancer at age 34. She underwent a lumpectomy, six months of chemo, and 36 radiation treatments. “My doctor says it’s possible,” says Gensler, “but I’m not sure it is.”

That kind of uncertainty drove many women to a recent Web seminar hosted by BreastCancer.org on breast cancer and fertility. To learn the wide-ranging questions women asked, the answers they got, and the latest advancements in preserving fertility after breast cancer treatment, read my latest post in Health.com’s Breast Cancer Journey.

(PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES)

Read all of Anne’s past Boob Blogs here.


It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Should You Think Before You Pink?

By Anne Krueger | October 1, 2008

Even though my favorite color is green, I’ve picked up a lot of pink products over the years—dozens of pink-lidded cartons of yogurt, a pink chopping knife, pink breath mints, pink lipstick, and even a pair of pink boxing gloves, all in the name of breast cancer research. I’ve always felt satisfaction snapping up pink-ribbon products, believing that I was helping to raise a significant amount of money to help prevent or cure a disease that will strike 250,000 women this year alone.

But these days I don’t have a lot of money to give to charity (hello, recession) or spend on things I don’t need, so when I do buy a “breast cancer product,” I want to make sure that a good chunk of my purchase is going to the actual cause and not to some foundation’s overpaid president, or to a manufacturer more interested in cashing in on a disease than actually funding its cure.

So I did a little research. To learn how to pick the pink products with the most impact (and figure out which organizations to support), please read this week’s post in Health.com’s Breast Cancer Journey.

(PHOTO: INVENTORSPOT.COM)

Read all of Anne’s past Boob Blog posts here.


Christina Applegate Chose Breast Reconstruction, So How Come Other Women Don’t?

By Anne Krueger | September 24, 2008

Sunday night, actress Christina Applegate stood in front of a crowd of her peers and millions of viewers at the 60th annual Emmy Awards. And I couldn’t help wondering, how many of them were looking at her chest?

After the 36-year-old star of Samantha Who? had a prophylactic double mastectomy, she told Good Morning America that she would be undergoing reconstruction over the next several months.

I sat in on a Web seminar last week to learn about the latest developments in breast reconstruction, and I was surprised to learn how few women actually choose it even though the technique is improving all the time.

To find out about Christina’s surgery, the latest breast reconstruction advances, and why some women don’t opt for it, please read this week’s post in Health.com’s Breast Cancer Journey.

Read all of Anne’s past Boob Blog posts here.

(PHOTO: THEINSIDER.COM)


Should Women With Breast Cancer Be Guinea Pigs?

By Anne Krueger | September 17, 2008

If you’re a reader of this blog, you know I’m all for women’s rights, whether it’s the right to go braless or even topless. This week I’m standing up for an even more serious subject: a woman’s right to be a guinea pig.

To learn about the important role of clinical trials in breast cancer treatment, please read this week’s post in Health.com’s Breast Cancer Journey, where you can also find comprehensive breast cancer information on everything from getting the correct diagnosis to minimizing the effects of treatment on your appearance.

Go to this week’s post on clinical trials and breast cancer treatment.

Read all of Anne’s past Boob Blog posts here.

(PHOTO: FOTOLIA)

 




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