In Resistant Breast Cancer, Two Antibodies Are Better Than One

In In The News by Barbara Jacoby

Israeli-devised ‘double whammy’ antibody is a promising approach to a deadly aggressive form of breast cancer. By Rivka Borochov Breast cancer is often thought of as a curable disease if caught early. But there is an aggressive type with poor prognosis because existing drugs don’t seem to work. Called triple negative breast cancer, it occurs in about one in six …

Time On Fire

In Breast Cancer, Recent Posts by Barbara Jacoby

For anyone who has ever needed inspiration, Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors by Evan Handler is a must read.  But that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to perhaps the most outstanding book that I have ever read.  For those who have faced a major medical problem and have had to fight their way …

Husband and Wife Battled Breast Cancer-HE Had Mastectomy

In In The News by Barbara Jacoby

A man has told how he and his wife battled breast cancer at the same time, and adding to the unusual turn of events, he was the one to undergo a mastectomy. Ron Bush, from Fort Mill, South Carolina, explained to WBTV that he was focused on looking after his wife, Phyllis, who was diagnosed with Paget’s disease – a …

TissuGlu® Surgical Adhesive Has the Potential to Eliminate Drains, Improving Patient Recovery

In In The News by Barbara Jacoby

PITTSBURGH, Pa., May 14, 2013 – Cohera Medical, Inc.®, a leading innovator and developer of absorbable surgical adhesives and sealants, announced it has completed a series of mastectomy procedures in Munich and Berlin, Germany using TissuGlu® Surgical Adhesive without drain placement. With this innovative adhesive technology, surgeons were able to eliminate the need for closed-suction drains on breast cancer patients …

Why We Don’t Want to Be Our Own Patient Advocates

In Breast Cancer, Creating Happiness, Recent Posts by Barbara Jacoby

Let’s be honest about it.  If you asked others if they want to become involved in their own medical health and treatment, most people would probably respond that they have no medical background so they prefer to leave it to the professionals. They would probably feel that it was irresponsible to even consider becoming involved in such a thing.  Such …

Doctors Motivating Patients

In Breast Cancer, Creating Happiness, Recent Posts by Barbara Jacoby

I recently read an article about the different ways in which doctors try to motivate their patients to engage in some sort of behavior modification.  Different techniques were discussed that can be utilized to prod patients into losing weight, to quit smoking, to exercise more, etc.  The more that I read that story, the sadder I became.  What in heaven’s …

The Power of Patient Stories: Learning Moments in Medicine

In Breast Cancer, Recent Posts by Barbara Jacoby

When I was introduced to this book, I was immediately drawn to it by the title and I knew that I had to read it.  Although it was written for those in the medical field, the idea that the author, Paul F. Griner, MD, was sharing specific patient stories as thought-provoking scenarios, was exciting.  Each story (chapter) ends with questions …

Happy 5th Anniversary to Let Life Happen

In Breast Cancer, Creating Happiness, Recent Posts by Barbara Jacoby

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Let Life Happen.  We are 260 weekly blogs on the site mostly addressing breast cancer and domestic abuse but covering a rather wide range of subjects.  As I contemplated what I should write about on this auspicious occasion, I started to wonder what I wrote about in that very first blog.  I can’t tell …