the googled boob

Hi Michele -

I thought it might help to organize the info and resources I'm gathering on breast cancer so it's ready if/when you need it. Let me know if you want me to look for anything in particular--I can make you an author, too, so you can add stuff yourself if you want.

Thought you might want to take a look at this book for children:

Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer...a hopeful, helpful book for kids

And there's more info on how to lessen the impact of breast cancer on your children on the Free Resources page, too.

Luv,
K

P.S. You can even subscribe to get an email whenever there's something new here. =^)

Financial help for cancer patients

Saw a report on CNN this morning about what to do when diagnosed with cancer, and they mentioned some helpful financial links -

Cancer Care Assist - Grant funding for cancer patients. This is from their website:

Below is a description of our programs available to people nationwide. Please   contact CancerCare at 1-800-813-HOPE (4673) for more information.

Breast Cancer

• AVONCares: Limited financial assistance for homecare, childcare     and transportation. A program in partnership with the Avon Foundation.
• Linking A.R.M.S.™: Limited financial assistance     for hormonal and  oral chemotherapy, pain and anti-nausea medication, lymphedema     supplies and  durable medical equipment. A program in partnership with the     Susan G. Komen  Breast Cancer Foundation.

NeedyMeds.com - a site devoted to medical cost assisting programs

RxHope.com - type in your meds to find out what kind of patient assistance programs are available.

CaringBridge.com

Just came across www.caringbridge.com, which provides "free, personalized websites that support and connect loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery." Thought I'd post a link here in case someone wants to put up a site like the Googled Boob for another family member or friend, like we did for Michele (this was done on TypePad, but CaringBridge might be even easier to set up -- plus, it's free.)

Cancer Coaches Sway Treatment Choices

Found a great article about how some coaches are helping cancer patients sort out their decision-making process around treatment options and how to deal with the emotional and spiritual impact of cancer.

The American Cancer Society started a patient navigator program a few years ago that now operates in 87 locations and is planning to expand. The National Breast Cancer Coalition also trains coaches, and big treatment hospitals like the University of Texas' M.D. Anderson Cancer Center are increasingly using them for breast, prostate, lung and other types of cancer.

Attendance set records in December at one of the top training programs, held during the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. More than 240 breast cancer survivors spent late nights at the convention center, taking notes as scientists schooled them on the latest research.

These women go home to volunteer in hospitals and support groups where they staff hotlines, meet with new patients and teach other coaches what they learned. Demand for this training is so great that the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation gets grants from the Avon Foundation and nine drug companies to subsidize some attendees, but still can't meet the need. Dozens are turned down each year.

Michele, this is exactly what Linda Resca does (although not through the ACS's program). Don't forget that you essentially have a blank check to work with her if/when you're ready.

Holistic Health Books

A few of my favorite, all-purpose holistic health books with sections on breast cancer (and other cancers):

Healing with Whole Foods: Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford. (This book has helped pull me out of illnesses or improved my health many times.)

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christiane Northrup, M.D. (A favorite.)

Prescription for Nutritional Healing by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

The first three books are on the Seattle Public Library database. The last book is not in their system, but another book on essential oils and spirituality by Valerie Ann Worwood is. Amazon has The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy (here). Of course, I was thrilled to see Worwood has several books out that I haven't read. They may also be helpful: The Fragrant Mind: Aromatherapy for Personality, Mind, Mood and Emotion, The Fragrant Heavens, Aromatherapy for the Soul: Healing the Spirit with Fragrance and Essential Oils, Fragrant Pharmacy

Breast Books

Hi, Michele,

A friend of mine recommended the book bOObs: A Guide To Your Girls (Amazon link here) as a fun and informative "general" breast book. The author does events around Seattle from time to time. I have not read the book, and it may not be the exact book for this moment in your life, but an informative breast book is good for all us women to have.

On that note, a more standard "white coat" breast book is: Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, (the 2005 copyright). Dr. Love also has a book titled Breast cancer : society shapes an epidemic. The library should have both.

Has anyone read any of these to comment on their helpfulness firsthand?

CoQ10 and Breast Cancer

If your oncologist hasn't mentioned Co-enzyme Q10 or CoQ10 already, it might be worth asking about it as adjuvant therapy.

The National Cancer Institute has some basic background information on CoQ10 here at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/coenzymeQ10/patient/20.cdr

The Cancer Commentary Blog

Hey Michele – I came across the Cancer Commentary blog today and found several good articles on breast cancer, including Other Info Revealed by Breast MRI Will Change Treatment Plan.

This blog is not your typical cancer blog – the focus is on news and therapies, rather than a personal perspective on one person's experience. I'll keep checking it and pulling links for stuff you might be interested in.

Cancer Survivial and Depression

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse...I was reading a blog that points to an article that spreads the "good news" cancer survivors are 3.5 times likely to get depression.  Geez just sign me up for more drugs.

Get Information on Clinical Trials

Sometimes standard treatment protocols are the way to go and sometimes clinical trials can be a helpful resource worthy of investigation.

The National Cancer Institute maintains a list of active and planned clinical trials as well as useful information about trial results, understanding clinical trials, and clinical trials that are particularly noteworthy.

The page linking to all this information and more is at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials

Information on Stages of Breast Cancer

Good detail about the definitions of different stages of breast cancer can be found at
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page2

And there are also other helpful links there, such as treatment options by stage
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page6