Archive - February 2018

Lymphedema is fluid retention in the tissue caused by damage to the lymphatic system and is one of the most serious side-effects of cancer operations. The problems caused by the swelling can range from severe pain or skin infections right through to loss of limb function and they detract greatly from a patient's quality of life. The conventional forms of treatment are only partially effective and the results temporary. Researchers at the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) at MedUni Vienna/Vienna

Most breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive, meaning that signals received from estrogen, a hormone, promote the growth of the tumors. To stop these cancers from spreading, estrogen inhibitors are usually prescribed. But what happens when tumors develop treatment resistance? Studies suggest that "approximately 70 percent" of all breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive). These types of cancer are typically treated with drugs

How many certified mastectomy fitters does your organization have on staff? Have you ever thought about “what would happen if my fitter were to leave?” Whether your fitter retires, moves on to another career, etc. We hear all too often – “I am closing or ending my mastectomy business because I cannot find a certified mastectomy fitter.” We are encouraging you to bring your mastectomy fitter in training with you to VGM Heartland’s Conference; not only can they

Every business has the capability to be a successful retail location in addition to their current services/products offered; it just takes a little education to get there. Join our experts with VGM Retail as they break retail down to three core areas: marketing, product and experience. Marketing: No matter how well designed your business is, you cannot expect customers to visit out of thin air. This section of the workshop will discuss the old DME/HME industry trend that once looked at customers

Members have been asking – “What is the Essential Meet Up?” Here is the short of the long and resources to find out the rest! Who: The Essential Meet Up is open to all Essentially Women members and geared towards your women’s health staff – whether it is your mastectomy fitter or business operations staff – there is something for everyone! What: This is a one-day educational and networking event. Attendees who are interested in learning more about retail

A new optical imaging system which utilizes red and near-infrared light could identify breast cancer patients who might respond to chemotherapy, according to a study carried out by researchers at the Columbia University Irving Medical Centre. The new imaging system, which is a noninvasive method of measuring blood flow dynamics in response to a single breath hold, might enable doctors to predict responses to chemotherapy as early as two weeks post the initiation of the treatment, according to

Researchers from Stanford University used stem cells to create a vaccine that has proven effective against breast, lung, and skin cancer in mice. To produce the vaccine, the scientists turned to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), or stem cells that are generated from adult cells. Over a decade ago, Japanese-based scientists showed for the first time that adult cells can be genetically reprogrammed to behave in the same way as pluripotent stem cells. These cells can

WASHINGTON – National health expenditure growth is expected to average 5.5% annually over 2017-2026, according to a report published this week by the Office of the Actuary at CMS. Growth in national health spending is projected to be faster than projected growth in gross domestic product by 1% point during 2017-2026. As a result, health share of GDP is expected to rise from 17.9% in 2016 to 19.7% by 2026, the report says. Drivers of growth: trends in disposable personal income,

Triple-negative breast cancer has poor survival rates. However, the results of a new study — in which researchers discovered a stem cell pathway that may promote the disease — may lead to new treatments. A need to improve low survival rates Experts now know that hormone therapy prevents breast cancer cells from binding to hormones that promote their growth, such as estrogen and progesterone. However, the main problem when it comes to treating triple-negative breast

Breast cancer patients could be encouraged to cut asparagus and other foods from their diets in the future to reduce the risk of the disease spreading, scientists say. Researchers are investigating whether a change in diet could help patients with breast tumours after studies in mice showed that asparagine, a compound first identified in asparagus but present in many other foods, drives the spread of the disease to other organs. When scientists reduced asparagine in animals with breast cancer,