Essential News

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

A research team from the Universities of Hartford and Connecticut has devised a new biosensor to diagnose breast cancer less invasively as compared to the current approach. A new biosensor chip has been designed to identify a breast cancer biomarker in the blood within 15 minutes. During the test, the patient's blood sample flows through the biosensor chip, which captures and immobilizes specific proteins present in the blood sample.  Read the full article here. 

A new study published found that about 10-15.5% of breast cancer patients who undergo mastectomy require subsequent imaging and about 6-8% undergo biopsy. The rate of malignancy is low; however, the need for biopsy and imaging is not eliminated. This information is critical with setting patient expectations and surgical decision-making. Even though the patient may have a mastectomy, there is a chance that they may have to complete future imaging or an additional biopsy. Read the full article from

Radiation is a common treatment for breast cancer, but it comes with its own risks. A report by CBS2’s Max Gomez finds that there is a new technique that may help protect women’s hearts. The new technique has patients wear a snorkel-like device during radiation. They take a deep breath and hold it; increasing the distance between the heart and the area of the breast getting the radiation. Find the full article on CBSNewYork here.

The Office of Civil Rights recently audited “covered entities” and found that ZERO fully complied with HIPAA requirements. In recent article in HME News entitled, “HIPAA compliance: Providers have homework to do,” Wayne van Halem, president of VGM’s The van Halem Group, says this is a “wake-up call” for HME providers. Van Halem goes on to say, “Our industry is really vulnerable here. This is an opportune time for providers to say, ‘This

Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in some advocacy training; I learned a lot! (And, that might be the biggest understatement of the year!) The recurring theme of this workshop was "One person can make a difference!" And, that is so true, especially with the Make Me Whole Again campaign.  So far, we have 625 letters sent to members of Congress; we have reached 146 lawmakers across 45 states. Thus far, we have three officially signed onto H.R. 6980. All three of these lawmakers signed

Air Force Mom Pumps Breast Milk While Running An Ironman Triathlon Jaime Sloan was on pace to set a personal record in the 70.3-mile race, so she decided to multitask. Jaime Sloan can seemingly do anything. The 34-year-old mother of two participated in the Ironman 70.3 in Tempe, Arizona, on Oct. 21. This is a half Ironman triathlon, in which athletes swim 1.2 miles, bike for 56 miles and then run 13.1 miles. Sloan, an active-duty Air Force airman, gave birth to a second child in