WIN Against Breast Cancer is hosting "The Winning Spirit^TM" Inaugural Awards Recognition Luncheon to benefit the WIN Against Breast Cancer organization.

 We invite you to join us on March 28, 2000. Luncheon 12:00 noon (Reception at 11:30 am) at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, California (Please allow plenty of time for valet parking)

Confirmed Honorees

CongressmanVic Fazio
United States Senator Dianne Feinstein
Oliver Goldsmith, M.D.,
Medical Director Kaiser Permanente Southern California
United States Postal Service
(Accepting the award will be William G. Henderson, United States Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service.)

 The above individuals and organizations have all contributed to bringing the issues of women's health, breast cancer research and education to the forefront of public awareness.

This event will be an exciting way to celebrate the accomplishments and highlight the efforts of these honorees. Please join us for this very special day, a day to rejoice in "The Winning Spirit^TM."

 Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. For vegetarian meals, or if you would like to participate and/or want to order tickets, contact us or click here for more info. 

Nearly half of all women experience fibrocystic breasts at some time. Although some people call it "fibrocystic breast disease", it is not a true disease. It is not cancerous, nor does it lead to cancer. Instead, it is a term that is used to group breast tissue abnormalities. Most women associate this condition with the menstrual cycle, but it is important to remember that breast irregularities can be palpable regardless of menses. This condition presents itself with breast pain, tenderness and sometimes the presence of cysts.

 The breast is stimulated by hormones increasing just before the menstrual period begins. Fluids build up in the breast tissue and feels tight. The tight tissue can block the flow of normal secretions throughout the ducts in the breasts and this can create cysts filled with fluid. This is what causes the breasts to feel tender and lumpy, often referred to as fibrocystic breasts. The discomfort usually decreases at the end of the menstrual cycle.

 Treatment plans are designed to alleviate breast pain, reduce or remove irregularity and to rule out the possibility of breast cancer. Non-surgical treatment can include: use of sex hormones like estrogen, progestin and androgen; pharmaceutical use of Vitamins A, B1 and E; diuretics; and, finally, tamoxifen (an anti-estrogen). It is important to remember that everyone is different and to discuss what treatment, if any, might be approved for you with your healthcare team.

 The role of surgery in fibrocystic breasts is to rule out the possibility that the palpable mass or abnormalities found in mammography are actually breast cancer. Any suspicious mass, generally one that is firm and unable to be aspirated, should be examined by a qualified physician. If a thickening of the breast tissue is noticed, your physician may choose to follow its presence over several menstrual cycles before deciding whether biopsy or lump removal is recommended.

 It is often found that some women are helped by altering their diets and avoiding things with caffeine such as coffee, tea, chocolate and some colas. Also, avoiding foods high in sodium may help to alleviate and/or decrease fluid retention.

 Non-prescription pain relievers are beneficial to decrease pain and inflammation. If your breasts do not improve over time, be sure to talk to your doctor and continue with monthly breast self-exams. Early detection is the best defense in the treatment of breast disease. 

You may have heard it called "the blue node technique", "selective node dissection" or "sentinel lymphadenectomy". For those individuals who have undergone a selective lymph node dissection, it is considered a "kinder, gentler breast surgery."

 Until recent years, metastatic breast cancer was determined by removing a significant sampling of lymph nodes from the axillary area of the underarm. This procedure helps the surgeon determine the extent of the disease and if the cancer had invaded lymph nodes in the axilla. Until recently this was the only surgical procedure considered to be the definitive way to stage breast cancer and help physicians determine the appropriate course for adjuvant treatment.

 Some doctors are now offering patients an option. The sentinel lymph node dissection is a high-tech surgical procedure used in detection of metastatic disease for breast cancer patients. This technique is easier to tolerate, speeds recovery and helps the patient return to their day-to-day routine sooner. A sentinel node biopsy spares patients from more extensive surgery to remove clusters of lymph nodes from under the arm. It is also an important procedure because it helps prevent the frequently troublesome side effect of lymphedema, caused from the standard axillary node dissection.

While attending the Breast cancer Symposium in San Antonio, Texas, we received reinforcement that the efficacy of the procedure is directly related to the experience of the surgeon as well as the age of the patient. It was found to be a more accurate means of detection in younger rather than older women as changes in the breast tissue affect the layout of the lymphatic vessels.

There are three methods to identifying the sentinel node for removal. The first method is strictly visual and is not proven to be accurate since nearby nodes may not be actually connected to the tumor. The second method involves injection of a radionuclide (done by a radiologist). The third method is with injection of a blue dye. The radionuclide actually requires a geiger counter to locate where the incision should be made to excise the lymph node. The second and third techniques alone have been effective in locating the sentinel node 90% of the time but both done together prove 98% effective in the hands of trained experts.

The pathologist then very carefully and meticulously examines all the cells in that sentinel node under a microscope. If the sentinel node is "negative" for cancer cells, that can accurately predict that the rest of the nodes are negative. This then would eliminate a second surgical procedure, which could have some side effects. If the sentinel node is positive, the patient may need a second surgery to remove a sampling of nodes in the axilla. In some cases, "positive" may mean just a few cells, or in other cases, it may mean cancer cells are throughout the entire node. Adjuvant treatment may be different in either case. Adapted from www.cancernews.com.  

Stretch! One, two, three, four! Get ready, warm up and dig out those running shoes. You know. The pair that has been stuffed in the back of your closet collecting dust. It's time to try them on again and sign up for the Revlon Run/Walk for Women. Bring your friends, your family and co-workers. Together WE can make a difference!

This event has been held annually every Saturday before Mother's Day since 1994. The Entertainment Industry Foundation and Revlon have raised nearly $12 million toward breast cancer research, education and early detection programs in the Los Angeles area alone.

The beneficiaries this year include: WIN Against Breast Cancer, Revlon/UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program, The Wellness Community, Watts Health Foundation Mobile Mammography Center, Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance, Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Program, Women of Color Breast Cancer Survivors Support Program and Little Company of Mary Hospital Coordinated Breast Cancer Care Project.