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Early Detection
We do regularly try to detect some cancers early through mammograms, colonoscopies, and PSA tests. I think most of us (meaning the general public) are comfortable with these tests as we age. But what if there was a genetic test available which you could have done regularly, every few years or whatever time frame, to test you for several different cancers before they had a chance to spread.A new test,CancerSEEK, has been tested on more than 1000 patients and seems very hopeful." The CancerSEEK test looks for mutations in 16 genes that regularly arise in cancer and eight proteins that are often released.It was trialled on 1,...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - January 20, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: cancer detection cancer diagnosis medical tests Source Type: blogs

A Sort of Medical Vacation
I can ' t drive for the next three weeks - until November 8. I was concerned about all the doctor appointments I booked for myself after this week ' s surgery follow up when I thought I would be given permission to drive again.Then I got a bright idea. I am going to take a ' medical vacation ' and not go to the doctor until after my next surgical follow up. I mean why not? A mental medical vacation is a great thing to do several times a year. I was talking to a friend who ' s husband had gone through colon cancer. She talked about having a week off as being a sorely wanted break. I want three weeks off. Because I am whiney...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 18, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: doctor appointments stress vacation Source Type: blogs

A Post for Every Oncology Medical Practitioner
I have often spoke about how nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners just don ' t ' ' get it ' because they have never been through it themselves. They also don ' t understand what they do not understand, because they haven ' t been there.It has been my greatest desire to have medical practitioners who have had the ailment they are treating. Especially oncology medical practitioners.An oncology nurse recentlywrote an apology letter to all her patients. She had not ' gotten it ' in all her dealings with patients in her care. Now she knows what she did not get because she has now been diagnosed with a stage III colon...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - January 4, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: education nurses oncologist sharing Source Type: blogs

Pain and Suffering
Yesterday was not a good day. Some how I did too much (who me) and ran out of steam by the end of the day. And I got some bad news.First off, even though its been over a week since I fell, I am still not right. I run out of steam too soon and end up feeling a bit ' off ' each day. I did ask Dr Google about concussion recovery and found out it usually takes a week or more to fully recover and if you are older or have health issues, it can take longer. Drat.I want that magic wand to make me better as always.Second, I called a friend yesterday to see how she was doing. Her husband was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer near...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - November 10, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: cancer death sadness stupid me Source Type: blogs

I ' m Losing My Friends
Right now I have two friends in hospice care. One I have known for only about six months but we have gotten pretty close. She was in my knitting group and when I met her she was on palliative care only for pancreatic and other cancers that she has been treated for over 20 years. She is on hospice care at home and no longer goes to knitting. We have talked on the phone and skyped regularly over the past four weeks but it is unclear how much longer this will go on.The other friend is the husband of a very old friend (friends for more than 40 years) and has been treated for stage IV colon cancer for nearly seven years. His di...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - November 2, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: cancer death friends hospice Source Type: blogs

Genetic Testing
So if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, there is a strong chance you have one of the two BRCA genes. And now if you have BRCA1, there is a significantly increased risk of uterine cancer - 22 times higher in a recent small study.I read that and said 'wow!'. I am somewhat surprised this was never figured out before.Earlier this week I was talking with a friend and she was tested for BRCA back in the early 2000's when the testing was just starting. She told me that the testing is now done differently as technology has changed. And the test now includes several other genes including ones for colon cancer. ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - July 2, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: coping genetic testing Source Type: blogs

Cancer death rates down but...
Cancer death rates are down for the more 'popular' cancers in general in the last few decades. But then the old 80/20 rule kicks in and these cancers get most of the research and as a result the 'unpopular' cancer death rates aren't really going anywhere.So here's an article on how colon cancer rates are down. It used to be the most common cancer killer in the US. Now it is dramatically down because of screening - those lovely colonoscopies that we all love so much.However as this Australian article points out the cancers that are not as common, don't have ribbon decorated walks, runs, months, etc, often don't get as much ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - March 19, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: cancer cure cancer research death news Source Type: blogs

Weight gain is a side effect of cancer.
Weight gain is the side effect of everything these days - even breathing. I am on too many medications which have a side effect of weight gain.... So here I sit in my slightly tight clothes two sizes larger than I used to wear in dire need of a drastic deflabbification project."People with certain cancers – such as breast, prostate and colon cancer – are more likely to gain weight during treatment due to the therapies used to combat their disease. Hormone therapy, some chemotherapy regimens and medications such as steroids  all can cause weight gain, as well as water retention."THEY  DIDN'T TELL ME THIS ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - February 20, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: cancer diagnosis side effects weight Source Type: blogs

New Breast Cancer Guidelines
The St Gallen International Breast Cancer Guidelines were recently updated to include the Oncotype DX test for breast cancer as the only screening tool for women with early stage ER+/Her2- breast cancer to determine the benefit of chemotherapy.On some levels this is great news but again it is not for all women. The criteria for the Oncotype DX test for breast cancer are:"You may be a candidate for the Oncotype DX breast cancer test if you are medically eligible for chemotherapy and:You have been diagnosed with stage I,II or IIIa invasive breast cancer.* Your breast cancer is estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) and Human Epide...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - August 23, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: chemotherapy testing breast cancer treatment Source Type: blogs

Recovering after a very long week
In the past months, six or so, my energy levels are significantly down. I need to make sure I have enough down time and time to stay home and do nothing. I can tire myself out quite easily and then pay the price for days.I had a three day work week this week but am exhausted. I tried to sleep late this morning but the cat sat on me because he wants food and the sun was streaming in from the room across the hall. Note to self evict the cat and close the other shades. I will try again tomorrow.Emotionally and physically it was a tough week. I came back home after a 380 mile to visit my brother on Monday. Tuesday was another ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - March 23, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: sleep fatigue pain cancer Source Type: blogs