Paint Virginia Pink

Acupuncture can help breast cancer patients deal with the side effects of their treatment, according to a new study.

In fact, researchers said, acupuncture does more than just treat hot flashes and sweating; they said it also increases a sense of well-being, gives more energy and a higher sex drive.  Those benefits were not seen in traditional medications, which can also carry negative side effects such as insomnia, dizziness and nausea, according to a news release on the study.  “The effect is more durable than a drug commonly used to treat these (excessive sweating) and, ultimately, is more cost-effective for insurance companies,” said lead author Dr. Eleanor Walker, a radiation oncologist at the Henry Ford Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology in Detroit.

The reduction in hot flashes lasted longer for those breast cancer patients after completing their acupuncture treatment, compared to patients after stopping their drug therapy plan.  Eighty percent of women treated for breast cancer suffer from hot flashes after being treated with chemotherapy and/or anti-estrogen hormones, such as Tamoxifen and Arimidex.  The news release said the study was based on a randomized trial with 47 patients who had either acupuncture or Venlafixine. Results showed that acupuncture reduced hot flashes as effectively as venlafaxine, with no side effects.

Breast Cancer
and Latino Women

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among Latino women, even though more white women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Only 38% of Latino women age 40 and over have regular mammograms. This means Latino women are often diagnosed at later, harder-to-treat stages of breast cancer. Access to top-quality care and genetics may contribute to increased risk. Learn more about your personal risk for breast cancer.

Title: 2009 Avon 3-Day Walk
Location: Boston
Link out: Click here
Description: The Breast Cancer 3-Day journey will continue next year in 15 cities across the country, including our newest destination - Denver, Colorado!
Start Date: 2009-07-24
End Date: 2009-07-26

Latinas Unhappy with Breast Cancer Decisions

Dr. Sarah Hawley of the University of Michigan recently reported that Latina breast cancer patients are more likely than black or white breast cancer patients to be unhappy with the decision-making process in choosing whether to have a mastectomy or lumpectomy. Latinas who primarily speak Spanish in daily life were much more dissatisfied than those who were more comfortable with speaking English. Satisfaction with the process of making decisions is linked with quality of life later on.

Dr. Hawley and colleagues looked at a group of 877 women; 24.5% Spanish-speaking Latinas, 20.5% English-speaking Latinas, 24% African-American, and 26.6% Caucasian. They found stark differences in satisfaction among the groups, with Spanish-speaking Latinas 5.5 times more likely to be dissatisfied with the decision-making process than Caucasian women, and 4.1 times more likely to regret their decision. Spanish-speaking Latinas also had a lower overall health literacy than the women in the other groups. However, that lower health literacy accounted fro only a small part of their greater dissatisfaction with decision-making.

Hawley concluded that their findings “suggest that additional effort may be needed by clinicians to ensure that information is understandable and culturally appropriate….”

Decisions about our cancer care are difficult, especially for breast cancer patients chosing between mastectomy and lumpectomy. This shows, once again, that more needs to be done to make sure that all people get adequate, appropriate information and care.

A good resource for Latinos and Latinas is Redes en Accion: National Latino Cancer Research Network (www.redesenaccion.org). They work with the National Institutes of Health to promote research and support for Latinos. Included on their website is a Latino Cancer Experts Directory.

Thanks Julie for sharing this information.

Julie Goodale is a certified Personal Trainer, American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM); certified Cancer Exercise Specialist, Cancer Exercise Training Institute as well as a musician performing at Wintergreen, Virginia’s music festivals.  In addition, Julie speaks from the experience of being a breast cancer survivor.

Greetings,

If this is the first time you have visited Paint Virginia Pink, welcome.  I hope you will page through to see what we are about and what we are doing.

Our “Paint The Valley Pink©” campaign is still going strong.  In fact, many of the merchants decided that our cause was so worthwhile, they are continuing to help throughout the coming year.  We could not fund mammograms for women who are uninsured and/or not eligible for local and state funded programs.  You’d be amazed at how many women in your local communities fall into this category.

Since the campaign launched in October, 2008, we have collected four wigs, over $300.00 and one local business has prepaid for one mammogram in our name.

If you would like to “Paint Your Town Pink©” let us know.  We are starting up chapters across the United States.

Please let your friends and family know about us and I encourage you to share your story with us.

Have a blessed Holiday Season!

Fran