Show Title: Cancer Myths

Name of Guests: Barron Lerner & Dr. Carolyn Kaelin

Book Titles:

• Breast Cancer Wars - by Barron Lerner
  ISBN: 0195142616
• Living Through Breast Cancer - by Dr. Carolyn Kaelin (McGraw Hill 2005)
  ISBN: 0071444637
• The Breast Cancer Survivor's Guide To Fitness DVD - by Dr. Carolyn Kaelin (Dynamix, 2005)

What are the basic points Barron Lerner wants listeners to remember:

• A lot of the controversy surrounding breast cancer that women face to day are the same issues that were relevant in the past.
• Since women have struggled with these issues for a long time, there are a lot of stories that are relevant.
• You can’t study breast cancer without dealing with a lot of myths.
• I am an advocate for early detection. But screening test’s such as self examinations and mammography have been oversold. While they are of value, the people promoting them tell us they are more effective than they are.
• The notion that more is better in the treatment of breast cancer is false.
• For years and years there has been the complete removal of breasts and sometimes the rib cage in an effort to make sure all the cancer has been remove. This practice is still relevant to women.
• While both patients and Doctors feel more is better it is not always true.
• For example, with stem cell. There is the assumption that more replacement of cells is better but studies have showed that patients did not do better.
• Aggressive care is significant but not at the expense of quality of life and other side effects.
• All these treatments have side effects that must be taken into consideration.
• Women who have no treatment options should be encouraged to explore alternative options.
• There will always be patients seeking desperate cures. Alternative options must be evaluated just like traditional options.
• I am careful to read about Alternative Methods to see if there is vale and to evaluate them. They must be used in an informed way.
• Breast Cancer activism like early detection, race for the cure, and Revlon are fantastic for raising money for people who have breast cancer.
• Not enough money is being spent studying to find out why the rates of breast cancer are so high.
• There is not a lot of research being conducted on the connection between environmental toxins and breast cancer.
• When looking for an Oncologist, patients should make sure the Doctor is up on the current literature since it changes so fast Patients should also look for someone who is open to all treatments and who listens to you.
• Bed side manner is also very important to consider when choosing a Dr.

Contact Information for Barron Lerner: BHLl5@columbia.com

What are the basic points Dr. Kaelin wants listeners to remember:

1. There are now modifiable factors that can be implemented to optimize long-term survival.
2. Physicians, for example, are now coming to the point of understanding the variability of the genetic components of breast cancer.
3. We have made so much progress in understanding the fingerprints of breast cancer.
4. In the near future, we will be able to customize treatment based on each person's variables.
5. Breast Cancer is the hottest topic in research today.
6. Patients have modifiable factors that only they have control over such as the benefits of physical activity and the benefits of maintaining healthy weight.
7. Women treated for breast cancer are 5 times more likely to get Osteoporosis. Only the patients can modify those things.
8. I gained so much insight having been a doctor in the field then becoming a patient and survivor.
9. When diagnosed, I was caught off guard at the amount of fatigue I suffered.
10. My reaction to Chemotherapy also surprised me. I experienced a metallic taste, which I thought was an adverse reaction. It turned out that it is a common side effect to chemo that I was unaware of.
11. The goal of my book was to take as much mystery as I could away from breast cancer.
12. Through my diagnosis of breast cancer, I learned a lot about humanity. It was learning on many levels.
13. I was feeling wiped out and exhausted from the Chemotherapy. Shifting my focus to educate patients and survivors gave me a feeling of empowerment and satisfaction.
14. The fact that this book may have impacted people has been deeply gratifying.
15. Quality of life after breast cancer becomes a new normal- different than before. Re-craft a life that is valuable. It changes the way you see things and value things. It empowers you to become true to ones self.
16. Patients struggle with side effects after treatment such as cognitive changes. Some people do not feel as sharp as they were before.
17. The most shocking part of being diagnosed at 42 was that I was healthy, in shape and ate well. I was surprised at the diagnosis since I was healthy and took good care of myself.
18. Most people go about their lives not expecting a diagnosis.
19. When looking for a doctor, patients need to get second and third opinions.
20. Also get second opinions reviewing pathology slides.
21. When looking for a doctors, make sure that they not only keep up in the field but also that there is an emotional fit.
22. Also try to find a hospital that has been designated as a National Cancer Institute hospital. If there isn’t a designated hospital in the area look for a cancer institute or an academic medical center.
23. Look for a doctor who just works on breast cancer patients.
24. We can comfortably say now that the vast majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer live out their full life expectancy.
25. For some people their life expectancy may even be longer due to the modifications they make in their life.
26. Every year we have new medicines and treatments that didn’t exist five to ten years ago, which are truly impacting the survival rates.
27. Years ago, radical mastectomy was the norm. Now we know more and have more options.
28. Cat scan guidance, for example, helps avoid the heart to protect it. By planning the radiation fields, we continue to minimize side effects without compromising treatment of the breast cancer.

Contact Information for Dr. Kaelin:

• Living Through Breast Cancer - (Melissa Golner, McGraw Hill)
• The Breast Cancer Survivor's Guide To Fitness DVD - (Mark Hoffman, Dynamix)

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Broadcast Date: Monday October 3, 2005 at 9:00 A.M. Pacific / Noon Eastern

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