http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/This is the Pacific Breast Care BlogCopyright (c) 2012 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:36:17 ESTWed, 22 Feb 2012 11:36:17 EST5Although we encourage year round awareness, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which starts October 1st, strides and remains dedicated to educating, making aware and empowering women about breast cancer.   Their goal involves educating and informing women to take control of their breast health and ways in which to do so.  Preventing, finding, diagnosing and treating breast cancer are all important stages that should not be overlooked in a woman’s life.  Stressed is the importance of regular self-breast exams; these allow women to take action at home.  By checking your breasts regularly you are often able to catch something early on....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/october-is-breast-cancer-awareness-month.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/october-is-breast-cancer-awareness-month.htmlWed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:00 ESTCheck out Pacific Breast Care on Facebook for a photo tour of the center and pictures of our staff.  Also meet our recently added dietary support with Exclusive Dietitians through our web site....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/facebook-page-for-pacific-breast-care-and-nutritional-support.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/facebook-page-for-pacific-breast-care-and-nutritional-support.htmlWed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:00 ESTLast week at a meeting called ASCO or the American Society of Clinical Oncologists some very important data was presented on radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer.   Did you know that you can now have your breast cancer surgery and get your radiation treatment in one dose while you are asleep in the operating room? You can potentially wake up and be completely finished with your breast cancer treatment if you are a suitable candidate....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/intraoperative-radiation-therapy-iort.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/intraoperative-radiation-therapy-iort.htmlMon, 21 Jun 2010 02:06:00 ESTIn today's world, it is very important to be aware of all the signs and best practices of dealing with cancer.  I have compiled a list of tips regarding breast cancer awareness:   1. Do Not Panic!!! Breast cancer IS a very common disease in North America but the 5 year survival rate for stage 1 and 2 disease approaches 100% and overall cure rates are around 90%!! 2. Do get your yearly mammogram if you are over 40 years old and earlier if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. This is still the best way to catch early breast cancer and early is the best way for a cure. 3. Do learn and perform breast self examination....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/10-tips-about-breast-cancer-awareness.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/10-tips-about-breast-cancer-awareness.htmlTue, 20 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST Dr. Lynda Frye and myself are proud to announce that we have a poster presentation that has been accepted by the American Society of Breast Surgeons for their annual meeting. We have been following a group of high risk patients identified by the HALO test by finding abnormal cells in their nipple aspirate fluid. The device non-invasively extracts cells for analysis and can identify a high risk patient years before regular imaging would show a problem. We will be presenting our poster at the annual meeting in Las Vegas on April 30th at the Bellagio Hotel. Stay tuned for the complete poster to be placed on our website and learn about this test....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/asbs-poster-presentation.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/asbs-poster-presentation.htmlSun, 11 Apr 2010 08:59:00 EST  I have been asked about thermograms for breast cancer detection many times in the last few years. The number of queries has increased recently as the news media reports that multiple cat scans can cause genetic damage over time and possibly cause cancer. This has made some patients very concerned about mammograms as they use radiation to look at breast tissue. They are essentially xrays of the breast and a good digital mammogram is still the very best way to detect early breast cancer in most women. The amount of radiation is very tiny and has been equated to the amount you can get in an office under fluorescent lights....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/thermograms-for-breast-cancer-detection.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/thermograms-for-breast-cancer-detection.htmlSun, 11 Apr 2010 08:45:00 EST  Breasts come in all sizes and asymmetry is normal! If your breasts are not the same size they will probably even out by age 21. If they do not you are not alone. Most people have some asymmetry. Severe asymmetry can be treated with plastic surgery but this is rarely necessary. Breast pain or “mastalgia” is very common and almost always of a benign origin. It is usually caused by a change in your hormones. Certain points in your menstrual cycle or gaining or losing weight are common causes. So is changing your type of contraception. You should see your doctor if you have severe pain on one side only....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/10-things-to-know-about-your-breasts-if-you-re-under-40.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/10-things-to-know-about-your-breasts-if-you-re-under-40.htmlThu, 18 Mar 2010 08:53:00 ESTKelly is 2 wks after bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and lymph node sampling in this photo and just accomplished an 8 mile hike to the shoulder of Half Dome in Yosemite CA. She was an accomplished athlete prior to her diagnosis and credits that wih helping her get well faster. She was fortunate enough to not need chemotherapy or radiation therapy to be cured....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/meet-a-patient-11.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/meet-a-patient-11.htmlThu, 11 Feb 2010 03:22:00 ESTWe all know that exercise makes us look better and feel better! We also know how hard it can be to fit it into a busy schedule, especially if your definition of exercise requires special equipment or a gym membership. It doesnt have to be that hard when you realize that the best form of exercise for you both physically and mentally is just to have some good shoes and go for a walk!    Pilates and weight training are fashionable and very good for you but can be expensive and hard to fit into a day. Open the door and go for a walk!! Those of us who live in temperate climates have very few excuses....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/exercise-and-breast-cancer-prevention.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/exercise-and-breast-cancer-prevention.htmlWed, 10 Feb 2010 10:31:00 ESTMeet Wilma. She is holding her firstborn child, a daughter. She conceived naturally a few years after finishing her breast cancer treatment....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/meet-a-patient.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/meet-a-patient.htmlMon, 25 Jan 2010 10:59:00 ESTThe young woman who walked into my office seemed anxious but friendly and determined.  "Hello" she said, "I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer and here is what we are going to do." I was surprised and a little taken aback as the newly diagnosed are usually shell-shocked and overwhelmed with decisions. "We are going to do a lumpectomy and sentinel node sampling, then I am going to get married as planned, go on my honeymoon, and then I am going to have fertility treatments and freeze my eggs. My chemotherapy can start right after my eggs are harvested and my sister-in-law is going to carry the baby for me....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/fertility-and-breast-cancer.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/fertility-and-breast-cancer.htmlMon, 25 Jan 2010 10:39:00 ESTBreast pain (also known as mastalgia) is very worrisome to women of all ages and sizes. We are all taught that pain is a warning sign of cancer. Interestingly enough, breast cancer rarely presents as pain alone, more commonly as a lump or an abnormality on a mammogram. However, it can present as a pain in a localized area in a breast and as such should be reported to your physician. He or she may recommend imaging studies such as a mammogram or an ultrasound depending on your age and your risk profile. Many patients come to our center for pain alone and we are happy to evaluate them based on what is appropriate for their situation....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/breast-pain.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/breast-pain.htmlMon, 18 Jan 2010 11:41:00 ESTIt is December 12th and the conference has 24 more hours. The range of topics today is enormous and I will discuss MRI of the breasts as it is very important to the informed consumer. Like chemotherapy there are myths about MRI of the breast that ought to be dispelled.   20 or 30 years ago the Canadians (no disrespect intended, I love Canada! Great skiing.) proved that technically poor mammograms with too few views of the breast used as a screening tool do not save lives. This of course was not what they were trying to prove, intent as they were to save some money by debunking large scale well woman screening....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri-in-high-risk-groups.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri-in-high-risk-groups.htmlSun, 27 Dec 2009 04:03:00 ESTIn my practice I hear about my patients biggest fears on a daily basis. No one wants chemotherapy and the thought is downright terrifying to many. I am here to assure you that the basic science community is well aware of the risks and complications of chemotherapy and is working overtime to find less toxic regimens and and more targeted therapies that attack tumor cells without damaging normal cells. Today at the symposium was all about making systemic therapies more specific and more tolerable.   To dispel a few myths:   1. Chemotherapy for breast cancer (you cannot compare treatments for other types of cancer) is generally very well tolerated today....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/the-benefits-of-chemotherapy-december-11th-2009.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/the-benefits-of-chemotherapy-december-11th-2009.htmlSun, 27 Dec 2009 03:14:00 ESTIt is day 2 of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. I went to dinner last night with a group of people from Neomatrix. They have a device called the HALO which collects nipple aspirate fluid for analysis to determine who belongs in a high risk group. This was a nice segue from the prevention data presented yesterday. Nipple aspirate fluid technology is fascinating and timely and I believe a valid screening test for women starting in their twenties as a adjunct to screening.   This morning we had a talk on the epidemiology of breast cancer....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/the-epidemiology-of-breast-cancer.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/the-epidemiology-of-breast-cancer.htmlSun, 27 Dec 2009 02:48:00 ESTDecember 10th in the afternoon was a little depressing since there is good data to suggest once again that women should not drink too much alcohol as this will increase their risk of developing breast cancer! This has been know for a while and has to do with alcohol and its effect on circulating estrogen levels. The question has always been how much is too much? There are various estimates but it is certainly less that 1 or 2 drinks a day. Drinking can also increase the risk of recurrence in women who have been treated for breast cancer in the past....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/alcohol-obesity-and-breast-cancer.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/alcohol-obesity-and-breast-cancer.htmlSun, 27 Dec 2009 02:45:00 ESTDecember 9th, 2009   The 32nd annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium starts today and I am here in San Antonio to learn and network and hopefully bring something of use home to my patients. This meeting provides state of the art information on breast cancer research from all over the world. The meeting started in a hotel room with local physicians and nurses in the 70's with the idea of a collaborative brainstorming approach to breast cancer. Now it has an attendance of over 10,000 people and there are typically 70 or 80 countries represented....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/breast-cancer-research.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/breast-cancer-research.htmlTue, 22 Dec 2009 11:16:00 ESTThe new mammogram screening guidelines are a step backwards instead of forwards in women's health. It has been known for a long time that yearly mammograms in the 40 to 50  age group saves lives! In our minds this offsets the long known but always less important "cost effectiveness" issue which simply suggests that the lives saved in this age group are unimportant (unless it is yours or one of your loved ones) due to inadequate numbers. Women in this age group are productive professionally and very expensive to replace, not to mention often mothers of young children. This economic impact was not considered in the new recommendations....

]]> http://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/mammograms-when-and-how-often.htmlhttp://www.pacificbreastcare.com/blog/posts/mammograms-when-and-how-often.htmlTue, 22 Dec 2009 10:57:00 EST