CURE Media Group’s Post

Definition of Resiliency! We'll, mine was tested physically and emotionally for the past few months and now I have a deeper understanding of what it means to be resilient. We found out I had cancer of the esophageal right before Christmas, and this makes cancer number three. The two previous cancers were colon and mesothelioma, which occurred eight years ago. And, due to previous surgeries, the surgical treatment options are limited in my case. So, the treatment protocol includes: 1) Five weeks (M-F) of daily three chemotherapies and one radiation. 2) If #1 results in the tumor reducing in size, a resection can be performed to remove the tumor. 3) However, if #1 resulted in no changes to the tumor, then a procedure called Gastrectomy would have to be considered. This procedure involves the removal of the stomach and then attaching the esophagus to the intestines. This is the least preferred treatment path. I am now recovering from chemotherapy and radiation treatments and has gone from 155lbs to 136lbs. Please keep yourself in good physical condition, as radiation and chemotherapy will literally take you out if you're not ready. I have never fought against anything this tough before. Radiation is like getting a 3rd degree burn every day for 25 minutes for 5 weeks. Swallowing water feels like having salt water poured on opened wounds. I couldn't have made it through chemotherapy and radiation treatments without the love, support and encouragements from my wife, our children, family-friends, the Care-Team at MD Anderson, and the HP family.

Around 10% of women have a breast density measurement of BI-RADS a. Women in this category have breasts that are almost entirely fatty tissue, with only a small amount of fibrous or glandular tissue. Women with breasts in this category are classified as having the lowest breast density. On a screening mammogram (pictured), fat appears dark and glandular tissue appears white, so a mammogram of breasts with lower breast density can more easily show abnormal findings, including breast cancer which typically shows up as white. Women who have a breast density of BI-RADS a are unlikely to have their breast density change, as breasts become less dense as women get older. If you have a breast density measurement of BI-RADS a it is still important that you have your regular breast screen (every 2 years) and be breast aware between screening appointments. All women who screen at #BreastScreenSA receive information about their breast density in their results letter. Find out more about breast density on our website: https://lnkd.in/gesQePnN

New Month, New week, New chapter. This was me just one year ago amid 6 months of chemotherapy after my 2nd breast cancer diagnosis and just last week I got to let out a sigh of utter relief and joy when I got my biopsy results back after feeling more changes in my breast, just 6 months after radiation. If there is one thing you do today, tomorrow this week, please check yourself. Get to know what is your normal and any changes go and get it checked out. How to get started: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1. Pick the same time each month. #feelitonthefirst makes it an easy day to remember 2. Examine your breasts in front of a mirror. Look for signs of swelling, redness, dimpling of the skin, contouring and changes in the nipples. Raise your arms overhead and repeat. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 3. Feel for unusual changes in the shower. Check the entire breast and armpit area by pressing down with light, medium, and firm pressure looking for any lumps, hardened knots, or any other changes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 4. Repeat self-exam lying down. Begin by placing your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast and armpit. Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Repeat these steps for your left breast and look for changes in the nipples, including discharge. Some gentle and healing glide always helps, and it was my own breast exam rituals using my Chilean Rosehip Seed Body Oil that I discovered changes in my breast and ultimately saved my life through early detection. To help you with your own monthly self-breast exam rituals we’re offering 25% off your first Chilean Rosehip Seed Body Oil. Just use code: FEELITONTHEFIRST or click on link: https://lnkd.in/ga__y7ak ***IF YOU'VE DONE YOUR EXAM LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS***

Breast thermography gives you the power to check the physiological health of your breast tissue whenever you want, without compression or radiation. From as little as £130 for a set of thermograms of the breast, with the report written by US MD Thermologists, you can monitor your breast tissue health. When an abnormality is found it can be investigated and dealt with swiftly. Mammograms cannot see tumours in dense breast tissue which many women have, but can see well established inactive DCIS ( which thermograms cannot see, as thermograms see active tumours). No imaging modality alone is 100%- they all compliment each other . Ultrasounds, available on the NHS, are a great tool to image the abnormality seen on the thermogram. Whats not to like? Its a no brainer in my veiw but then I am a Thermographer who lost my mother to breast cancer which is why I invested thousands of pounds and thousands of hours to offer the service at my clinic www.theroseclinic.co.uk

Thoughts and instructions from our founder on #feelitonthefirst

Even though we know breast screening is one of the key ways to diagnose breast cancer early and get better treatment outcomes, it's normal to be nervous about getting a mammogram. Let's talk about what happens during a breast screening appointment:  ◾your mammogram will be done by a female health professional called a radiographer ◾ at the start of the appointment your radiographer will talk you through what to expect ◾ you will then go into a private x-ray room and be asked to remove clothing from the waist up ◾ the radiographer will place one breast at a time between 2 plates on the x-ray machine. The machine will press firmly on your breast for about 10 seconds to take the image ◾ it may be a little uncomfortable but it's a quick process. The whole appointment is usually only around 20 minutes! Getting a mammogram is a really easy way to protect yourself by finding breast cancer early, even before you notice signs or symptoms. After diagnosis of invasive breast cancer, 92 out of 100 women survive 5 years or more, but early detection is crucial.   Women aged 50-74 are recommended to get a breast screen every 2 years and can do this for free through BreastScreenNT. For more information about free testing visit: https://lnkd.in/gnPBMdT4

https://a.co/d/8K2piCm Sharing the Amazon link to my guidebook, Empathetic Connections: A Guide to Patient-Centered Care During Radiation Therapy Empathetic care for our patients is the beacon of comfort, understanding, and empowerment on their healing journey. This guide is a useful tool for all professionals in cancer care, offering practical insights to enrich empathetic connections with their patients. It is super easy to read, not text booky with long paragraphs, and easily digestible with each chapter being broken down into short sections. The outline of it is formatted in a way that healthcare leaders can take some sections and turn it into an in-service, handout or a presentation for their staff. I have always been passionate about patient care and am super excited that I was able to create something that can help us all elevate compassionate care together. #EmpathyInCancerCare #PatientCenteredCare #AvailableOnAmazon #RadiationTherapy #Cancercare #cancercaregiver #radiationoncology

Day 15: The Hulk, Spider-Man and other superheroes got their powers from radiation. In my mind, this was very funny as I was going through radiation treatment. I would flip my wrist like Spiderman and say no web yet. Family would roll their eyes. Friends would shake their heads. Medical people didn’t get it. My radiation oncologist didn’t understand it. When asked how I was doing, I would flick my wrist and say that I was expecting a web 🕸️ and I don’t have one yet. I would always have to explain – you know like Spider-Man – Spider-Man got his powers through radiation. He would look at me like is this woman serious – do we need to get her some additional meds. Then, they would catch on to my joking and perhaps smile. Radiation Oncologists are very serious people. Radiation kills cells – lots of them – even the good ones. You can die from radiation – it’s radiation poisoning. I didn’t gain any superpowers from radiation treatment. The only time that radiation produces superpowers is through Stan Lee’s stories in Marvel. It’s a shame though. I REALLY would have used those superpowers for good – just like winning the lottery… 🤣 What I did gain was perspective and peace of mind which in and of themselves are superpowers. As I worked through the treatment process, I studied about the world and my life and realized the following: What annoys you teaches you patience. What abandons you teaches you autonomy. What angers you is teaching you forgiveness and compassion. What judges you is teaching you acceptance. What has power over you is teaching you how to take your power back. What you fear teaches you courage. What you can’t control teaches you how to let go. During the journey, I swore, yelled, sobbed and cussed. Sometimes, all at once. I would allow myself a certain amount of time to be angry, lose it and pull myself together. My favorite - yelling at the top of my lungs I don’t want to do this —— anymore! I didn’t live there in that place; however, I think you need to go there. It allows you to vent and take away the pressure. My current status: No sign of cancer.

ECIBC Guideline update For asymptomatic women with high mammographic breast density detected in a previous screening exam, the ECIBC's Guidelines Development Group (GDG) suggests using digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) over digital mammography (DM) in the context of an organised population-based screening programme. STILL NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INFORMING WOMEN ❓ https://lnkd.in/eAh7nyjm The Radiologist who reads your Mammogram will know if you have #DenseBreasts #TellMeMyBreastDensity

Around 40% of women have a breast density measurement of BI-RADS b. Women in this category have breasts with a lot of fatty tissue and scattered areas of fibroglandular tissue. Women with breasts in this category are classified as having low breast density. On a screening mammogram (pictured), fat appears dark and glandular tissue appears white, so a mammogram of breasts with low breast density can more easily show abnormal findings, including breast cancer which typically shows up as white. A breast density category of BI-RADS b is more common in older women, as breasts become less dense with age. If you have a breast density measurement of BI-RADS b - it is still important that you have your regular breast screen (every 2 years) and be breast aware between screening appointments. All women who screen at #BreastScreenSA receive information about their breast density in their results letter. Find out more about breast density on our website: https://lnkd.in/gesQePnN