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Bellisse® E-Newsletter )
January 2006
In This Issue
  • Wise Words
  • HappyNews.com - All The News That’s Fun To Print
  • Is Happiness A By-Product Of Our Actions?
  • Good News! New Targeted Treatments For Breast Cancer
  • Wise Words
  • Exercise & Cancer by Lesli Bell PT/CLT-LANA
  • Susan Says by Susan Tessier
  • Alternative Healing by Lisa Lindahl
  • Wise Words
  • Update Your User Profile
  •   

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    This ubiquitous New Year's greeting got us thinking here at Bellisse - that commandment for a HAPPY New Year. Many sources cite the importance of a positive mental attitude in the healing process; indeed, in the process of experiencing "happiness" itself. But it can be hard to cultivate and sustain an upbeat attitude in the environment we live in, one which has been dubbed the "culture of fear" by one pundit.

    Lisa's pet peeve is the news media that has somehow come to define "news" as only those events which are tragic or horrifying. We hear of murders, robberies, every kind of scandal and depravity, but only very rarely of uplifting or happy events.

    Well, we think a lot of people are tiring of all the "bad news." So we are focusing this Bellisse newsletter on some resources and sites that buck the trend and offer alternatives to misery-and-suffering stories. For even in the face of the very real suffering that occurs in the world, there are the heroes and heroines who are working to alleviate it; those who are rising above their challenges, and those that have learned how to overcome some cruel circumstances that have befallen them. Sometimes, it is good to hear those stories - dare we say inspiring?

    So, in this newly born year of 2006, Bellisse brings you Happy News - literally. Check it out below.

    PS: And our own very happy news! We have initiated a Bellisse Discussion Board! Its mission is to help create community and a forum for info-sharing opportunities around and about Truncal Lymphedema (breast chest and back lymphedema), to the benefit of patients, their families, and associated medical practitioners and suppliers. We encourage you to check it out and read what others have contributed and maybe even post your own thoughts.

    With best wishes for a fulfilling and, ah, happy 2006!


    Wise Words

    Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.
    - Denis Waitley (American psychologist)

    If you want others to be happy, practice compassion; if you want to be happy, practice compassion.
    -The 14th Dalai Lama

    HappyNews.com - All The News That’s Fun To Print

    We were delighted to come across this site, www.HappyNews. com. Evidently its founder felt exactly as Lisa does, only he did something about it. One of our favorite sections here at Bellisse is the one focused on Science news. Enjoy!

    Is Happiness A By-Product Of Our Actions?

    A member of the Bellisse team found this interesting New York Times article ["In The Pursuit of Unhappiness" by Darrin M. McMahon Published: December 29, 2005] discussing the perception and position of happiness in our American culture. Is it a state to pursue, really, in and of itself, as implied in our nation's Declaration of Independence ("the pursuit of happiness")? Or is happiness simply a by-product of our actions? Click here to read the article.

    Please note: You will have to register (free) with the site to access the article!

    Good News! New Targeted Treatments For Breast Cancer

    Recent advances in breast cancer treatments have allowed doctors and patients to create targeted treatments that increase efficacy and reduce side effects.

    Researchers are beginning to understand breast cancer at a molecular level, which has helped them appreciate that it is actually many diseases. New tests and new drugs are allowing doctors to create targeted therapies with improved outcomes and reduced side effects.

    Herceptin
    Herceptin is a new drug designed to act against breast cancer cells that are genetically programmed to overproduce a protein called Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2). Generally, cancers with HER2-positive cells have a poor prognosis, even with chemotherapy. But Herceptin has had astounding results in some women with HER2-positive cancers, with tumors completely disappearing in some cases. Researchers are now working to determine in exactly what combination Herceptin should be used with chemotherapy drugs.

    Avastin
    Another targeted drug, Avastin counters aggressive cancers by working against Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, a substance that stimulates the growth of the blood vessels that cancers use to feed themselves. Avastin is suitable for HER2-negative cancers that have metastasized. In a clinical trial with 700 women, Avastin in combination with other drugs nearly doubled survival time compared to the other drugs alone.

    Oncotype DX
    For women with early- stage cancers that are not HER2-positive or aggressive, a new diagnostic test called Oncotype DX may help minimize the number of unnecessary treatments (and side effects). Oncotype DX analyzes tumor samples for the presence of 16 genes that are linked to breast cancer recurrence. The data is then translated into a score between 0 and 100. Women with low scores have a low likelihood of recurrence, and would likely receive hormonal therapy alone (and would not have to endure chemotherapy side effects). Women with higher scores would receive both hormonal therapy and chemotherapy to help reduce the risk of recurrence.

    MammoSite Radiation Therapy System
    Lumpectomies are typically paired with radiation treatment to kill any leftover malignant cells. However, the schedule for radiation treatments can be onerous – five days a week for six to seven weeks – making it a difficult option for women who have to work or who live in rural areas. Some women even end up choosing mastectomies instead of lumpectomies because they cannot get to so many treatments.

    The MammoSite Radiation Therapy System utilizes a technology called balloon brachytherapy to help minimize the number of radiation treatments. In the treatment, a catheter is inserted into the breast and delivers radioactive “seeds” directly into the space once occupied by the tumor. The treatment exposes much less healthy tissue to radiation, which reduces cosmetic damage. Even more importantly, doctors are able to use bigger doses of radiation for a shorter time – in some cases only five days – which means that more women will be able to take advantage of radiation treatments.

    The MammoSite system was approved by the FDA in 2002, and in a study of 43 women using the treatment, none has relapsed. Based on this initial success, a larger clinical trial of 3,000 women will be conducted at 150 sites in the USA and Canada.

    Wise Words

    We have been taught to believe that negative equals realistic and positive equals unrealistic.
    - Susan Jeffers

    Exercise & Cancer by Lesli Bell PT/CLT-LANA

    At the beginning of this New Year we all think of resolutions we are trying to begin or stick to. One in most of our books is to start or continue with a regular exercise program. It is doubly hard to start an exercise program in the midst of recovering from cancer surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. Gyms can definitely be intimidating places especially if this has not been part of your routine in the past. Where does one start?

    It is well documented that cancer-related side effects such as decreased energy level, muscle weakness, and decline in functional status affect many people recovering from cancer treatment.

    In a recent literature search, I went looking for up to date information about exercise after cancer. While there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of research out there about the relationship between cancer and exercise, some interesting facts came to light:

    1. In a large well respected US study of nurses, it was found that breast cancer patients who walk or do other kinds of moderate exercise for 3 to 5 hours per week are about 50% less likely to die from the disease than sedentary women. [Read more here]
    2. Several studies suggest that walking or moderate cycling throughout cancer treatment had positive effects such as a higher quality of life, reduced nausea and fatigue, less muscle loss, sleep disturbance, and depression and anxiety. [Read more here]
    3. Experts say that exercise helps women feel in control of their disease and can help them lose weight gained as a result of chemotherapy or other treatment.
    4. Women should aim for half an hour’s gentle exercise three times per week to aid their recovery from breast cancer according to early results revealed at a University of Briston conference on exercise and cancer rehabilitation today.

    So where do you start? First consult with your physician and make sure it is safe to begin an exercise program and make sure it is the right time to start upper extremity activity after surgery. If the OK has been given, make sure to start slow. Don’t get over fatigued and make yourself more tired than when you started. Consider an every other day regime. Start slowly and progress slowly. Remember this should make you feel better!

    Also remember there are many well trained physical therapists with specialties in lymphedema and post cancer treatment that may be able to guide you in a safe and effective progression of your program. Ask your doctor or breast care center for names of well qualified therapists that will be happy to help you.

    And if anyone out there has any sources, literature, comments or success stories to share regarding exercise and lymphedema and/or cancer, please go to our new discussion board and share them by posting the info. We would love to hear your thoughts, and the community needs more information on this important topic!

    So let’s think about the New Year and what we can do to improve our quality of life and health!

    Susan Says by Susan Tessier

    There are many different types of dealers, offering many different levels of service, through which the Bellisse Compressure Comfort bra can be obtained. We feel the best ones are those who carry some Bellisse product on site (like our Bellisse Fit Kit) as well as the ones who also fit the garment on the patient and submit to insurance for the patient. Here’s a descriptive sampling:

    Full Service Dealer: From Fit To Submit!
    Usually a specialty boutique (i.e., post breast cancer, O&P Shop or Medical Supply store) sometimes located in a local Breast Care Center or hospital. Many of these Dealers prefer to fit garments using their own on-staff fitter and generally have some Bellisse stock on hand for that purpose ( preferably the Bellisse 7 Piece Fit Kit, available in our Preferred Dealer Program).

    Using this type of full service dealer (one who fits and submits to insurance) makes it so simple for both the treating health care provider and the patient. All they need to do is to refer the patient to the Dealer for fitting. The Dealer then fits the patient, orders from Bellisse and submits to her insurance for the appropriate reimbursement. This is the fastest way for a patient to get her product!

    Many of these dealers are a Bellisse Preferred Dealer - look for them listed in our dealer locator by the purple butterfly symbol. That means they have a core of our sizes and can use our Fit Kit for getting the right fit the first time. If you don't have a Bellisse Preferred Dealer in your area, please call us 1-877-273-1683 or email us at to assist you in setting one up. Or call your local medical supplier and ask them to become a Bellisse Preferred Dealer today!

    Medical Biller Dealer
    These Dealers are medical billers ONLY. They do not usually fit the garments. They are the experts on how to get optimum results from insurance reimbursements. The Health Care Provider does the fitting in most of these cases. Remember optimal fitting results are obtained by using a Bellisse Fit Kit with the aid of our sizing chart.

    In this circumstance, the Health Care Provider orders the product from the Medical Biller and they order from Bellisse directly and then submit to the patient’s insurance for reimbursement. The product is then usually shipped directly to the Health Care Provider so they can fit the compression garment on the patient, while explaining how best to wear and use this garment for optimal therapeutic treatment results.

    Health Care Providers who have a Bellisse Fit Kit in their Clinics:
    * A great solution for long distance Patients who are far from any fitting Dealers
    * A great solution for Health Care Providers who prefer to do all own fitting of garments
    * A great solution for Dealers who don’t have a fitting area or fitter on staff

    There are some dealers who don't have a fitter on staff -- or are too far away -- who actually have 'provided' a Bellisse Fit Kit to the referring doctors and therapists to use for fitting in their clinics!

    Health Care Provider Dealers:
    There are hospitals and some private practice lymphedema providers that have purchased their own Bellisse Fit Kit and/or some inventory so they are able to fit their patients themselves and also submit to the patients insurance. Ask your practitioner if they offer this type of service.

    In the most ideal situation, a patient will be in an area with a Breast Cancer Care Center with personnel that understands and recognizes truncal lymphedema as a common breast cancer treatment side effect and routinely refers patients for treatment to certified lymphedema therapists.

    Alternative Healing by Lisa Lindahl

    Dr. Deepak Chopra’s book, Perfect Health, has been instrumental for many in the healing process beyond the standard allopathic methodologies. A prolific writer and dynamic teacher, Deepak has a holistic healing and teaching center in San Diego, California, that I recently visited.

    One of Dr. Chopra's most recent books, The Book of Secrets - Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life is currently on the New York Times best seller list. One of my favorites, it was this book that inspired me to go meet Deepak last October.

    An earlier work, The Deeper Wound, may be of special interest to some patients or their family members. Written by Dr. Chopra after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, it focuses on grief and dealing with loss. The book incorporates 100 different daily affirmations to help move one through and forward. We are told it is especially effective in its audio version. Click Here to Search Amazon.com for Deepak Chopra

    Deepak Chopra is recognized as one of the world’s great leaders in the field of mind-body medicine. He is the founder of the Chopra Center at La Costa in Carlsbad, California, where he integrates the best of Western medicine with natural healing traditions. The prolific author of more than 40 books and 100 audio, video, and CD titles, his most recent book is Peace Is the Way. Some of his best-sellers include The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life; Grow Younger, Live Longer: 10 Steps to Reverse Aging; The Deeper Wound; The Path to Love; and Perfect Health. Chopra is a popular international presenter, keynote speaker, and a founding director of Alliance for the New Humanity.

    You can learn more about Deepak’s philosophies and the Chopra Center resources at www.chopra.com .

    Wise Words

    I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.
    - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

    Update Your User Profile

    This newsletter contains articles that we believe will be of general interest to the Bellisse community of lymphedema patients, their family and friends, and their health care providers. Sometimes, however, we have news and links that are of interest to only one of these groups.

    To be sure that you are you are in all the categories that interest you, please click on the "Update my profile" link at the very bottom of this newsletter.

    As always, Bellisse will not share your information with anyone else.

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