Links on "Connecticut Challenge"
Connecticut Challenge
Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery
Many studies have shown that women are likely to have long-lasting
pain after surgery for breast cancer, but a recent study is suggesting
that some groups of women are more likely than others to experience
pain. Specifically, younger women (women under 40) and women who
undergo radiation are... more likely to experience chronic pain. The study
also suggests that if surgery includes dissection of the underarm lymph
nodes, the patient is more likely to experience chronic pain.Regardless
of whether a survivor falls into one of the high risk categories or
not, one's doctor should be consulted regarding post-treatment chronic
pain management. And as always, when reading a information from a study
like this, it is important to remember that cancer is a complicated
disease. Its combination causes and associated symptoms are unique to
each survivor. This is why it is so important for a survivor to have a
great relationship with his or her doctor; the doctor is best suited to
help the survivor develop strategies for dealing with the many
challenges that cancer presents.
by Christian McEvoy, MPH, Director of Survivorship Information Connecticut Challenge
Breast Cancer May Be Gone, But Pain Lingers - Cancer Information (Cancers, Symptoms, Treatment) on M
www.medicinenet.com
TUESDAY, Nov. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Even three years after finishing treatment for breast cancer, almost 50% of women report long-term pain, a new Danish study finds.
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Connecticut Challenge
Confusing Article in NYT about Cancer
If you have been reading Gina Kolata's series on the war against
cancer here in the U.S., you might be confused. Ms Kolata's articles
are surely dramatic, and the evidence she quotes sounds convincing, but
you could walk away from her article have a very confused outlook.
For example, ...Ms Kolata suggests that the evidence that eating a diet
rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat is associated with lower
cancer risk (i.e., eating healthy foods helps to prevent cancer) is
weak and inconclusive. She goes on to explain that while some experts
certainly believe that obesity is associated with cancer, others are
not so convinced.
Ms Kolata is describing the nuance of epidemiology (the study of the
factors affecting the health of a population). Epidemiology is a mix of
biology and statistics, and experts try to understand how diseases like
cancer are caused, and to do that, the experts seperate the suspect
factors (like obesity) and study how those factors affect the risk of
developing disease. This is a tried and true way to study diseases like
cancer; researchers seperate the factors, study them, and then put them
back together to understand the interaction and interplay of many many
many complicated factors. In explaining the abiguity regarding the
cancer treatments and causes, Ms Kolata fails to explain adequetely
that researchers are still at the point in which they are seperating
and studying factors; we have not yet been able to put all the pieces
back together to understand fully the interplay between factors like
healthy eating and obesity.
Kolata's article addresses the effectiveness of some medications
versus other medications, and she cites some large studies and the
evidence provided by those studies. Again, the choice to take certain
medications is between you and your doctor. The treatment of cancer is
complicated and unique to each case. Broad sweeping statements like the
ones that Ms Kolata makes are almost impossible to apply to each
individual case, and THIS is what makes the study of cancer so very
difficult.
Ms Kolata's article is a good read IF you read it with the intention
of understanding exactly where we are in process of studying cancer. IT
IS NOT something you should read to make judgements on what treatments
and lifestyle choices are best for you. You should reserve those
important decisions for conversations with your doctors and other
health care providers.
www.nytimes.com
The few drugs proved to deter cancer are widely ignored, researchers say, while ineffective supplements are used.
Connecticut Challenge
Helpful Tips for Accessing Complementary and Alternative Treatments
November 15, 2009
A
recent article from the New York Times Health Section details some
helpful tips for those interested in complementary or alternative
medicines (CAMs). It also explains that these therapies are being used
more widely. One of the ma...jor issues that arises when a patient
considers complementary treatments provided by a naturopathic doctor or
similar expert is cost. There are some cases when one's health
insurance will not cover the cost. There are other cases in which
insurance will cover the entire cost. The NYT article gives helpful
tips to the patient interested in CAMs, so the patient can save on cost
regardless of how much or how little is absorbed by insurance. This is
a fantastic article about the practical issues associated with CAMs; it
does not delve into the debate over the effectiveness of the treatments.
Read the NYT Article Here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/health
by Christian McEvoy, MPH, Director of Survivorship Information The Connecticut Challenge
www.nytimes.com
Trying unconventional remedies is a bold move, let alone trying to get an insurer to cover the expense and knowing what pills to buy.
Connecticut Challenge
Read this article from USA Today about Holiday Giving (http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/
http://bike.ctchallenge.org/holidaygifts
www.usatoday.com
In the downturn, many entrepreneurs have ended holiday bonuses and have significantly slashed gift giving to customers and workers.
Connecticut Challenge
Instead of gifts people don’t need
or plain greeting cards, make a
donation in the name of your
clients, family members or friends and you’ll be sharing your gift with 120,000 cancer survivors.
http://bike.ctchallenge.org/holidaygifts
bike.ctchallenge.org
Connecticut Challenge You guys need to check out our new website at www.ctchallenge.org. We have spent a ton of time on developing functionality and assembling content for CT survivors as well as the medical community. Tell your friends!
www.ctchallenge.org
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Connecticut Challenge Great new blog post from Christian McEvoy - http://ctchallenge.org/blog/?p=96
ctchallenge.org
Why I ride?When I joined the first Connecticut Challenge in 2005, I was a twenty-two year-old high school teacher and an avid cyclist, runner, and swimmer. I had no special connection to cancer, and I ...
Connecticut Challenge Thanks to everyone for a great event! Some great blogs, photos, and stories have turned up. Keep an eye here, on twitter, and on our blog for more!
ctchallenge.org
Many more stories will come from Saturday’s ride and we will try to relay them in this space, but here are two that you might enjoy, one from the beginning of the day and one from the end:
Lisa Connecticut Challenge:
I've blogged about my experience yesterday at the Challenge; please feel free to read it! What a wonderful day. See you all next year. "The Business of Living"
http://www.lisabonchekadams.com/Site/Blo
www.lisabonchekadams.com
The following is taken from my experience at yesterday’s Connecticut Challenge, a cycling event that raises money for cancer survivorship in our state. Riders choose a course of 12, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles. ...