Breast Cancer Blog

You might think that if you were diagnosed with breast cancer, then the first course of action would be to determine your treatment options and get started right away. But for some patients, the treatment of choice may be no treatment at all. Learn about decision-making and alternative therapies.

• Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
• Treatments for Breast Cancer
• Radiation Treatment
• Chemotherapy
• Opting Out of Breast Cancer Treatment

Pink Ribbon Photo © Chad Baker / Getty Images

For Mother's Day or any day, the Orawave "Pink Ribbon" 2-Minute TwinSpin Power Toothbrush helps clean teeth as well as donating funds to breast cancer research. For each $6.99 toothbrush purchased, Orawave will donate 10% of the sales price to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to help fund breast cancer research, education, treatment and screening. These electric toothbrushes come in pink and white, and have the pink ribbon symbol on the handle. As a bonus, you can receive a pink ribbon pin if you participate in the mail-in offer.

• All About Dental Health
• Which Toothbrush is Really Better - Manual or Electric?
• Top 10 Mother's Day Gifts to Find the Cure

Power Walking Photo © National Cancer Institute

As women make the journey through breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and post treatment, exercise can provide energy, a sense of self-worth and relief from treatment side effects. There is even evidence that exercise has a positive impact on recovery and survival. Learn about the benefits of exercise, how to get started and when to hold back.

Marks & Spencer Bikini Photo © Breakthrough Breast Cancer UK

Bikini's for breast cancer awareness? Well, Ralph Lauren started it in 1994, with the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer worldwide campaign. This year, Anna Friel, star of the TV drama Pushing Daisies, will help advertise the campaign. Fashions purchased from Marks & Spencer (such as the Bandeaux Bikini) will help raise funds - every designated item will create a 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer UK. Want to learn more? There's also gifts for Mother's Day!

• Marks & Spencer Targets Breast Cancer
• Top 10 Gifts for Mom That Also Give Support for Breast Cancer Research

Cytori Celution System Illustration © Pam Stephan

When you've had a lumpectomy, you lose the tumor but wind up with a breast that is no longer smooth and curvy. It may have a dimple or divot in the surface, marking the former location of the tumor, a thing you might like to forget. Now Cytori Therapeutics is working on a solution - this is still investigational - which is really appealing. Using the Celution™ System, you can actually have unwanted fat (think tummy, thighs, hips) liposuctioned off, and then transplanted into your lumpectomy area. This liposuctioned fat contains your own stem cells and regenerative cells. When these are injected into your breast, you won't have an instant lumpectomy repair, but when these cells settle in (about a month) they will fill out that dip or dimple. In a Japanese study, patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with the results, and even after 18 months, no ill effects were found.

• Cell-Enhanced Lumpectomy Repair
• Lumpectomy for Breast Cancer

Robin Roberts Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Samantha was my favorite wig during chemo. She always looked perfect, was easy to shampoo and style, and once she almost fooled a cosmetic expert! But a year after my chemo was complete, I felt I could part with "Sam", so I recycled her! Here's what you can do with your wigs and hairpieces after you complete treatment for breast cancer:

• Donate gently used wigs to the American Cancer Society - they will give these out to women who can't afford to buy wigs.
• Give your wigs and accessories (wig stand, shampoo, brushes) to your local breast cancer support group - these can be given to women who are in immediate need.
• Sell your wigs online, and donate the money to a breast cancer support organization.
• Recycling Wigs, Breast Cancer, and Robin Roberts - See How a Celebrity Survivor is Recycling Her Wig!

Knitted Boob By Marte

After a mastectomy or lumpectomy for the treatment of breast cancer, you can achieve a symmetrical appearance again by using a breast prosthesis. These come in silicone, form rubber, fiberfill or cotton. But if you can knit, you can create a breast prosthesis yourself - or knit one for a friend that is recovering from a mastectomy. Learn about breast prostheses options.

• Breast Prosthesis: Manufactured and Crafted Designs
• Great Falls woman knits breast prostheses for cancer survivors

Dame Maggie Smith Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Dame Maggie Smith goes on with the show while fighting breast cancer. Diagnosed at age 73, she has undergone surgery, chemo, and radiation treatments while still working at her craft. Fans of Harry Potter schoolmistress Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince will admire her fortitude for having radiation therapy during filming. One of her friends remarked, "The last thing she wants to do is to make a fuss about it." Having worked on stage and screen for 50 years, Dame Maggie has been recognized with Oscars and Bafta Awards, and describes herself as "spiky." Perhaps this explains her determination to keep working during breast cancer treatments. She said, "It's true I don't tolerate fools, but then they don't tolerate me, so I am spiky. Maybe that's why I'm quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies."

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Photos and Interviews
• Harry Potter 6: What Makes This Book Hot

Getting a diagnosis of breast cancer is bad enough, but what if you had cancer in both breasts, and it wasn't found until after you completed treatments? A new study on women showed that 10% of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients do have contralateral (opposite side) breast cancer, which doesn't always show up during clinical breast exams and mammograms. Having a breast MRI at the time of diagnosis will accurately show whether or not your other breast has abnormalities, and can help distinguish between benign and malignant lumps. The study also found that breast MRI worked well despite breast density, menopausal status, or type of breast cancer. Constance Lehman published results of the study in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2007. Dr. William Gradishar reviewed the study for Projects In Knowledge.