Hope For Cancer Patients Nearer Than Ever — at Medical College of Wisconsin

Scientists in Southeast Wisconsin's major medical research center are teasing out the fundamental functions of cancer cells and learning how to defeat them.

The hallways on the fourth floor of the Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin are lined with freezers and refrigerators and big tanks of liquid nitrogen. The laboratories have spilled over with culture samples and specimens, and you go through gaps in the appliances to find the offices of lead researchers. Those offices, not really spacious to begin with, are made less so by the piles of data printouts and stacks of draft studies being conducted at a near-frenetic pace. This is the Cancer Center. It fairly hums, and not just with the white noise of lab equipment but also with the pink noise of conversation, of researchers talking to one another, constantly, excitedly, if in low tones, about discovery — talking about the …

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Not Your Average Mammogram

When it comes to mammograms, some medical centers are turning this uncomfortable medical test into an excuse to throw a party.

It's no secret why women dread mammograms: the paper gown, the technician grabbing your "girls" to fit them onto the cold, metal X-ray plate, and then of course, there is the squishing of the breasts while you hold your breath. It may be a life-saving screening process, but not the most fun you can have in an hour. But lately, some health professionals have come up with some ways to make the process less heinous. It all starts with some wine and cheese... Breast cancer survivor and Patch editor Ronni Newton of Connecticut went to her first mammogram party two years ago at an imaging center in her town of West Hartford. The party was the brainchild of two women, one of whom worked for the center and had been procrastinating her own exam …

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Caledonia Scientist Helps Fight Cancer Naturally

Derek Johnson, a senior research associate and lab manager a the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, has focused his life's work on pairing science, traditional medicine and naturopathic nutritional supplements.

Caledonia resident Derek Johnson was a science nerd while growing up in Nebraska, especially since his mother is a professor of nursing. So making his life's work researching naturopathic nutritional supplements, and studying their ability to prevent and help cure cancer, seemed, well, a natural fit. Johnson manages the research lab for Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and is the senior research associate in their Zion Illinois facility. He takes care of the day-to-day research in the lab and finds new directions to go with their research. The lab studies the functional aspect of cancer cells, the genetic and genomic aspect of cancer cells, and the relationship between the tumor cell and the immune cell. “We’re trying to find agents …

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Male Breast Cancer Survivor Supports Others by Phone

Breast cancer does not strike women only. This 73-year-old man fields phone calls from around the country from men diagnosed with the disease.

William Woodfill's habit of not using a washcloth in the shower may have saved his life.  "I felt this lump one day ... underneath my left breast," he said. "I knew it shouldn't have been there."  For the next month, he checked the lump, monitoring its progression as it grew from the size of a pea to the size of a lima bean.   "He couldn't stick anything in it, so he said that we had to take it out," he said of the surgeon who attempted to biopsy the growth with a syringe.  It was breast cancer.  "I went back fully expecting not to have cancer," said Woodfill, who noted that about 1,500 men a year are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. "And that was the big stunner … it flipped the switch from things are normal to things …

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Outer Beauty Tips Lead to Inner Strength for Women with Breast Cancer

Resources for women fighting breast cancer that your doctor doesn't offer.

By the nature of its side effects, cancer treatment can make a private battle a very public affair. For a woman with cancer, having a bald head, pale skin or a missing breast can make her feel like she's being targeted by a bright spotlight and a banner that says, "Cancer patient." But now more than ever, there are resources for women that will put the spotlight back on their work, their accomplishments and their life—and change that banner to simply read, "Woman." The American Cancer Society's Look Good Feel Better program provides many tools for survivors of breast cancer. Their website has how-to techniques and guides, plus information on where to get additional help.  The following healthcare facilities are part of that program in …

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SHARE: Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors in Wisconsin

"Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors" shares the wisdom of breast cancer survivors with the newly diagnosed. What's your story?

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One of the greatest challenges for those who have been newly diagnosed is finding sources of support. Patients are eager for information on everything from enduring surgery and chemotherapy to how to deal with hair loss. Support groups are valuable resources for that, but there is sometimes a need for—and comfort in—something that can be carried with you anywhere and accessed at any time. Best selling author and breast cancer survivor Barbara Delinsky has gathered the wisdom of hundreds of breast cancer survivors who are eager to inspire those who are new to the “breast cancer sisterhood.” She shares all of the stories and tidbits she found in her book "Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood …

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Healthy Living Can Prevent Breast Cancer: Wauwatosa Resources

Research shows good nutrition and exercise can help prevent breast cancer. Here are some resources around Wauwatosa to help you stay healthy.

  You might be able to find help fighting breast cancer and other types of cancers at your local grocery store and fitness centers, according to the research findings of Dr. Marian Neuhouser, Ph.D, RD.  Dr. Neuhouser is a nutritional epidemiologist with a background in nutritional sciences. She is an investigator at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Her research is focused on lifestyle factors such as nutrition and physical activity. Some factors may prevent breast and prostate cancer and improve survivorship in those diagnosed with cancer.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, more than 200,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 American women will die …

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Where to Get a Breast Exam in Milwaukee County

http://wauwatosa.patch.com/articles/where-to-get-a-breast-examination-in-milwaukee-county

Where to Get a Breast Examination in Milwaukee County

Early detection of breast cancer through routine exams saves thousands of lives every year.

Studies have shown that early detection of breast cancer improves the chances of a cure. That in itself is the most important reason to make an appointment today for a breast exam or mammogram. For women who are low income or have no insurance, the Wisconsin Well Woman Program is an excellent resource offered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Visit their website at http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/womenshealth/WWWP/index.htm. They will work with the patient to find the best location for a screening. Contact the Milwaukee County coordinator, Kim Melcher, at 414-328-7407. Going for an exam can be nerve-wracking. To better understand the importance of exams, here's helpful information that explains the process, when you should go …

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