FDA OK’s Cooling Caps to Reduce Hair Loss from Chemotherapy

In the article by Stacey Simon called “FDA OK’s Cooling Caps to Reduce Hair Loss from Chemotherapy,” it explains how using these new cooling caps can decrease the amount of hair loss in chemotherapy. In chemotherapy, the loss of hair is a very common side effect, and after treatment, hair takes long to grow back. The coding caps are said to tighten up the blood vessels in the scalp, reducing the amount of chemo that reaches the hair follicles. But, some doctors see this as a problem. They believe that the cooling caps get in the way of treating the cancer cells that might be in the scalp area, not eliminating the cancer cells.

I believe that the cooling caps are a good way of helping many patients. I know that they feel a certain way about losing their hair during treatment, and the cooling caps can help. Though there are risks of not being able to treat all of the cancer, it’s still an effort to help many. There are a few side effects to the cooling caps, such as, headaches, chills and pain, but nothing non-treatable.
In this article I learned that there is a way to keep most of your hair even after treatment. I know that many women are really happy to learn of this new option. I encourage doctors to inform their patients about the cooling caps so hair loss can be reduced to a minimum. This is just one of the problems that should be focused on and it seems it got the attention.

Many Breast Cancer Patients Uninformed About Options

The article, “Many Breast Cancer Patients Uninformed About Options,” by Madonna Behen, is about how doctors’ neglect to tell the patients about better treatment options. These doctors neglect to inform their patients about the stage of breast cancer they may have, leaving them in the dark. There was a study by Dr. Clara Lee, an associate professor of surgery, which studied 746 women by sending surveys to them after they had undergone stage one or two surgery. About 440 patients responded and out of all that number about 46% local recurrence is higher after breast conserving surgery than masectomy and about 56% knew that the survival rate is equivalent to both. This means that the knowledge that should be distributed isn’t being given as much as it should.

I believe that doctors should try more to inform their patients. Though the numbers of people who didn’t know weren’t as high, the information should still be given. It’s not fair that the doctors keep away this kind of information because these women could use that information to look for better ways to get treated. They wouldn’t have to undergo painful surgery and expensive surgery, because they would know how to handle it.

From this article, I understood that there is even a lack of awareness even from doctors. They don’t provide the patients with as much information as it’s needed. Not saying that every doctor is this way, but they should try harder for their patients. Every day a life can be saved and given a new path to walk.

Poorer Women More Likely to Die From Breast Cancer

The article by Allan Moses called “Poorer Women More Likely to Die From Breast Cancer,” is about how women with little to no money will die from breast cancer, than women with a higher income had a higher death rate. But due to the new development of cancers, the treatment needed costs more, so the condition reversed and poorer women began to have a higher death rate. In the year 2011, more than 230,000 women will get breast cancer and about 40,000 will die. Most of the women in that 40,000 will be the death of a poor woman.

I believe that this is an issue that should not be overlooked. The government should not just allow innocent lives to die because they come from low income homes. The treatment for breast cancer is costing more and not everyone can pay. Dr. Rachel A. Freedman, a Boston-based oncologist, goes on to say, “Women from lower economic status have less access to resources, have suboptimal insurance coverage, may receive substandard care and often present with more advanced cancer diagnosis,” meaning that there isn’t really much of a surprise as to why low income women can’t get appropriate treatment.

I think that there should be an easier way for low-income women to receive treatment. Maybe even providing free treatment for women who are at a much higher risk to prevent death. Though I don’t see much change being done towards this problem because of the new treatments being made and the growing cost. It would be nice to see that there is a change being made to save these women’s lives.

Cancer Rates Jump Worldwide

In the article, “Cancer Rates Jump Worldwide,” which was created by Steven Reinberg, it explains that all over different countries, there happens to be an increase of cases of breast cancer. The number has grown from 640,000 in 1980 to more than 1.6 million in 2016. Though the number of deaths has not been increasing as much as the new cases, because of available treatment. But, the new cases of breast cancer happen to be growing in developing countries than developed countries, so were the deaths.

I believe that this happens to be a big issue in the world. There seems to be a growth of new cases of breast cancer that we just can’t stop. Though there is treatment for these new cases, not every country has those treatments, so the risk for death in that country is higher. But to truly stop this disease there needs to be more ways to receive treatment than just living or going to high income countries.

The awareness of breast cancer needs to be spread. Ahmedin Jemal, the vice president for surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, believes in the awareness of breast cancer. He says, “...More awareness of early detection and access to care is needed. Also, women should be encouraged to reduce the known risk. Factors for the disease, such as obesity.” I agree with his statement because there are many women who need the treatment, but get to it due to not being able to offer it.

Tamoxifen Wards Off Breast Cancer’s Return for More than a Decade

The article, “Tamoxifen Wards Off Breast Cancer’s Return for More than a Decade,” which was written by Jenifer Goodwin, is about the health benefits from Tamoxifen in women with breast cancer. It is shown that Tamoxifen can cause women with breast cancer to live longer and can cause a small indication of a breast cancer tumor to be eliminated. After 15 years of Tamoxifen, 33 percent of women had their breast cancer come back, compared to 46 percent of women who did not. Tamoxifen is very inexpensive and a whole 5 years’ worth only costs $150, so it’s easy to get.

I believe that Tamoxifen is very helpful to women with breast cancer. Though there are some side effects, such as loss of sex drive and life threatening blood clots, but the good outweighs the bad in this case. Women who are taking Tamoxifen get a few extra years of life added on in comparison to women who don/t take it and that is a wonderful thing. In addition, though there is a risk to end up with uterus cancer, the risk for older women is small and for younger women, the risk wasn’t even hardly there.

So to say Tamoxifen can either add or save a few lives means I think women who don’t receive treatment should push to do so because of how much it would help. I know there is going to be complications and difficulties, but this is all to benefit them. This is an easy and affordable way to get help. I think that this is something that they need because their lives matter.

Elizabeth Edwards- article

There was an article published by Everyday Health, called "Elizabeth Edwards succumbs to breast cancer", and it's about a women named Elizabeth Edwards who had a case of breast cancer. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died in 2004 because of the disease and the article talks about her last fight with breast cancer. She was 61- year-old and the wife of the presidential candidate John Edwards. Before her death she thanked the people who that supported her and even went on to say this: 
     "The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. But, I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And I am grateful for that."

I believe that Mrs. Edwards happens to be one of the many women who fights but doesn't give up hope because of challenge. I love the spirit that she had and the guidance that she gave to others. She was strong and when it was time, she didn't place blame nor did she get angry, she accepted. Accepted the fact that this was apart of human nature and there will be others who will also experience this.

I hope that women who hears of her story will understand that giving up should not be an option. There are ways to cope and find support even if think it's not there. The people who supported her, helped to give her strength that should could pass on to others. They should follow in her steps and push for a better life because there is so much to accomplish.

“Don’t let breast cancer take away the motivation to achieve your dreams.”

 Diana Cohen

For breast cancer, there are ways that people can support people with breast cancer. From October 1 to October 31 is breast cancer awareness month. Within this month people raise the awareness to breast cancer and if people don't remember or cannot take the necessary steps to get early detection or treatment, their are people who encourage them to do so. The World Health Organization is an organization that helps to provide the support that some people may need it. They promote strategies to early detection for low income and middle income countries by clinical breast examination. They give help to many countries who may need it within the time of breast cancer awareness month.

Breast Cancer is a tough topic to touch at but, very much important. People with breast cancer would doubt God or either blame themselves for the reason for getting this disease. They lose their faith and hope in God because they were given such a life threatening disease. But, there are people who would try their best and not let that get in the way of their life. Some people would eat better, exercise, and pray more because they have the courage and strength to beat this disease. Events, like the breast cancer walk, is a way for people to support people with breast cancer and for people with breast cancer to show that they are not giving up their fight. These events also help to provide money for treatment and in 2011 there were 1 million walkers who managed to collect 60 million dollars to fight this disease, according to the American Cancer society. The fight to end breast cancer is still going and the money that people manage to get during these events, makes the process and faster and having a strong and brave heart will make the journey easier.