Archive - December 2018

A recent landmark study has found that women who receive annual breast cancer screenings will have a lower mortality rate and will benefit more from therapy when they are diagnosed with breast cancer. The researchers analyzed data from over 52,000 women who either did or did not participate in cancer screenings for nearly 40 years. They found that those who chose to participate had a 60% lower mortality risk within 10 years of diagnosis and 47% lower mortality risk within 20 years of diagnosis. Read

By: Miriam Lieber, Lieber Consulting This time of year we are all busy running our business and searching for more hours in the day. In running a small business, it often feels like most of your time is spent putting out fires, addressing the most pressing needs of the moment. At some point, you have to stop and say, when is it time for me? The answer is simple: You have to take care of yourself to be able to take care of others. In business, you are always looking for the return on investment.

In April 2018, CMS released their latest drafts of DMEPOS templates and suggested Clinical Data Elements (CDE) for clinical providers. These templates provide all required elements CMS is looking for related to coverage criteria and standard documentation requirements. These CDE templates include orders, lab test results and face to face encounter notes.Templates/CDEs included various DME and respiratory items, power mobility devices (PMDs) and diabetic shoes.  For more information, visit

When Susie Schmitt, a new mother, was unable to produce enough milk for her newborn, she thought that she would have to purchase formula. After running into Kelly Brennan, an elementary school friend, while shopping for formula, Schmitt shared her experience. Her friend actually was producing too much milk and was willing to donate it to Schmitt. After Brennan experienced the same issue of not having enough milk supply for her child, she posted about it on Facebook. A college friend responded to

For years, experts have warned middle-aged women that being overweight or obese could increase the risk of breast cancer. A healthy body mass index (BMI) would remove that risk factor. However, a new study now shows that if a woman has a normal BMI but has excess belly fat, the woman has nearly twice the risk of developing invasive breast cancer compared to those with the least amount of fat. These findings help explain how women with no known risk factors might develop breast cancer. Read the

Cellphones do emit radiation that can be absorbed by humans. However, does this mean it causes cancer? As cellphone technology changes, research hasn't fully kept up. Cellphones emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which does not cause DNA damage, like ionizing radiation from an X-ray would.  Studies have not shown a consistent link between cellphone use and cancers of the brain, nerves or other tissues of the head or neck; however, the evidence is inconclusive.  Read

A new breast reconstruction procedure has been recently developed that will help women who need a tissue expander. A new technology, Aeroform, uses a remote control to release air from a tiny embedded capsule to enlarge the expander. Aeroform does not require the use of needles or the need for doctor's office visits.  Read about one woman's experience from CBS2 New York.

According to a new study in the Journal of Women's Health, breastfeeding for more than 6 months was found to be independently associated with small waist circumference in the decade after delivery. The study analyzed waist circumference data from 678 participants who were 7 to 15 years post-delivery and self-reported information on the duration of breastfeeding.  Read the article from Medical Xpress here

A study released December 10, 2018 found that the current guidelines for genetic testing of breast cancer patients actually limit the number of women who can get tested. Because of the restrictions on genetic testing, the tests miss as many patients with hereditary cancers as they find.  Patients without genetic test results may not receive the appropriate treatment for their cancer, which could be a matter of life or death. Guidelines for genetic testing were first established 20 years

A new website has been launched that provides up to date information on risk factors for breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and is the most common cancer in women in the United States. However, in Australia, at least 1 in 4 of the cases are preventable.  Family history or age cannot change, but the consumption of alcohol, exercise, and obesity are examples of risk factors that can potentially be changed. Even though the risk factor website was