Get Your Girls Ready for Their Close-up

New research finds that getting regular mammograms before you’re 50 just might save your life.

Remember that recommendation that women put off getting their first mammogram until age 50? Well, many experts believe it’s bad advice -- especially since a new study has found that women in their 40s with no family history of breast cancer are just as likely to get breast cancer as those with the disease on the family tree.

That means that if you wait until you’re 50 to get your first mammogram, as recommended, your breast cancer might not be caught until it’s “larger, more difficult to treat and more likely to have spread,” says researcher Stamatia V. Destounis, a radiologist at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care LLC in Rochester, N.Y., who revealed the findings of her study at the recent annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Destounis and her colleagues looked at a decade’s worth of the mammograms of women between 40 and 49 with -- and without -- a history of breast cancer. When they compared the number of new cancers, as well as how many were invasive and had spread, they found that 63.2 percent of women with a family history had developed the disease, as well as a strikingly similar 64 percent of those who had no family history. In addition, an almost identical number in both groups had developed metastatic cancer, meaning the cancer had spread to their lymph nodes.

Cut Your Risk of Death in Half

The American Cancer Society calls for a yearly mammogram starting at age 40. In fact, a study just published in December 2011 found that having just three mammograms reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer by 49 percent. But in 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) -- a group of health experts that has reviewed hundreds of medical studies -- claimed that mammograms before 50 were unnecessary and got widespread press coverage, confusing women.

The USPSTF acknowledged that mammograms save lives. But their expert opinion was that the benefits didn’t outweigh the risks, which include unnecessary biopsies and treatment for non-life-threatening tumors.

Increased risk of death versus an annoying, unnecessary test? Like Destounis, you may think that the task force is “not dealing with reality.” Mammography among 40-somethings has always been spotty and by 2008 was already taking a downward swing, according to statistics gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Applying these new numbers to the equation could lead to an uptick in breast cancer deaths in women who develop cancer in their 40s but don’t discover it until it is literally too late.

My advice: Don’t wait.

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The Checkups Every Guy Should Get

What you don’t know can hurt you. A new study finds that men are more likely to die from cancer but less likely to be tested for it

New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady took the field in pink cleats last October as one of many NFL players wearing the penultimate girly color to raise awareness for breast cancer. But brand-new research from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., suggests that NFL players might want to consider switching to a more manly blue all year long.

Light blue is the official color of prostate cancer awareness month. But any blue will do if it reminds men that they need to get screened for not only prostate cancer, but other cancers as well. That’s because Moffitt researchers, in a study published in November 2011 in the American Journal of Men’s Health, found that even though men are more likely than women to die of cancer, they’re less likely to get checked for it.

One reason: There are far more public-awareness campaigns aimed at women -- particularly for breast cancer -- than at men. Another reason: Men don’t see their primary care doctors as often as women do. So they can miss an opportunity for both education and a little nudge in the right direction.

Knowledge = Power

Knowledge and prodding can help, says Moffitt research coordinator Jenna L. Davis, who has a master’s degree in public health. In her study, she and her colleagues found that men who learn details about cancer screening are actually more willing than women to take a test. Those who’ve already been screened for one kind of cancer are also more willing to get screened for another. For example, she says, “men who have already undergone a screening for prostate cancer are more likely to participate in a colorectal cancer screening.”

Confusion over whether to get that prostate screening could be an obstacle, admits Davis. Experts are divided over the value of the PSA blood test, which measures levels of a specific chemical (prostate-specific antigen) that’s higher in men with cancer. Like mammograms for women, the PSA test isn’t foolproof and can lead to unnecessary and more invasive testing. This year, a government panel recommended against routine PSA screenings.

“This is really an area where physicians and health educators need to actively educate men about prostate cancer screenings,” says Davis. “Men need to be aware of the risks and benefits of the screening and they need to know their family history so, in agreement with their physician, they can make an informed decision about participating.”

What Men Need and When They Need It

To help, here’s a little education about when men need cancer screenings:

·      For colon cancer: Beginning at age 50, you should have a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years or a colonoscopy every 10 years, with a yearly fecal occult blood test.

·      For prostate cancer: Starting at age 50, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of testing. If you have a close relative who’s had the disease, start the chat at 45.

·      For skin cancer: Do self-exams once a month and look for any new or unusual moles, freckles, blemishes or marks on your skin. Use a handheld mirror for hard-to-see areas or ask a spouse or close friend to help. See your doctor once a year for a skin exam.

·      For testicular cancer: Some doctors recommend that all men do monthly testicular self-exams after puberty, looking for any unusual lumps or bumps. See your doctor once a year for a testicular exam during your regular checkup.

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Gum Disease: A New Case for Weight Loss

Gum disease can lead to a host of serious diseases. To protect yourself, brush and floss twice a day -- and take weight loss seriously.

Gum disease is much more dangerous than most people think. For one, it can lead to tooth loss, thanks to bacteria eroding the bone anchoring your teeth. But what’s even worse, that same bacteria can sneak into your bloodstream, doubling your risk of heart disease and diabetes -- and if you’re pregnant, it can even lead to a premature or low-birth-weight baby.

So it’s no wonder dentists like to drive the point home about brushing and flossing regularly at every visit. Now, they may have a new bit of advice for certain patients: weight loss.

Here’s the surprising news: A new study from Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine found that whittling away fat can actually help improve gum health. A group of obese people with gum disease who’d lost weight (the new-fashioned way, through gastric bypass surgery, which removed some of their abdominal fat cells) had less bleeding, lower levels of plaque and less ligament loss in the tissues supporting the teeth after gum treatment than a similar group who didn’t lose weight. They also had lower blood sugar levels, a bonus if you have or are on the road to diabetes, which boosts your risk for gum disease.

What’s the connection? One theory: It’s all about inflammation. Excessive fat cells produce inflammatory chemicals -- the same ones that contribute to bone erosion and tooth loss -- which impair your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. They also damage gums, and then dangerous bacteria can seep into your bloodstream, where they trigger even more inflammation throughout your body.

To steer clear of the dangers of gum disease, brush your teeth twice a day and floss. And the next time you’re in the bathroom brushing your teeth, step on the scale -- if you’re well over your ideal weight, add diet and exercise to your oral care regimen.

Should dentists tell (some of) their patients to lose weight? Share your opinion below or tweet at me @Completely_You
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More chocolate = Less risk of stroke

As if we needed a reason to eat more chocolate!

“Women reporting the highest amount of chocolate consumption -- equivalent to about two chocolate bars a week -- had a significantly reduced risk of stroke, suggesting that higher intakes are necessary for a potentially protective effect."

-- Dr. Susanna Larsson, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm

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Got Gum Disease?

Here’s how your dentist can tell if you have gum disease:

Best way to lose weight

New study find: Start exercising and your brain will want to help you lose weight!
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/exercise-modifies-brain-weight-loss-study-finds-article-1.983400?localLinksEnabled=false

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