Depression in Women with Breast Cancer

April 30, 2015

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: The most talk about type of cancer

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer is realistic and must be addressed timely if we have to keep the beauty and health of our loved ones breast.

Of all the cancer types, breast cancer is the one most studied more so when it comes to the psychosocial effects. It therefore goes without mention that of all the studies done, most of them are focusing on women and breast cancer. This is what the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury are going to help us understand. Remember that doctor Akoury is also the founder of this facility and ever since she has been of great help to many people across the globe. You can be among the many that have been treated and are now enjoying their lives to the fullest by seeking an audience with her today through a phone call and you will not regret it. In the meantime, let us settle into the discussion focusing on the depression in women with breast cancer.

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: Longitudinal studies of depression in women with breast cancer

Like I had said before, this has become a great point of concern to researchers and a lot is being done in this direction. Like for instance and according to one of the prospective study where 160 women with breast cancer and were schedule for breast surgery, it was established that about 22% prevalence of depression in women who had a mastectomy for breast cancer. In relation to those with initial stages of cancer this prevalence was consistent for two years. During this period a 30% rate of anxiety in a study of 58 ambulatory women who were 5 years post treatment for breast cancer. Nonetheless women who had partial mastectomy followed by radiation had better body image but similar amount of anxiety and depression symptoms and fear of recurrence as did women who had modified radical mastectomy.

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: Depression in breast cancer patients by surgical procedure

Of the many studies conducted, when the specialist were analyzing the various findings and in comparison with the psychological outcomes of the women undergoing different surgical procedures, it was established some low levels of depression but higher levels of anxiety in 133 ambulatory breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy after mastectomy or lumpectomy. The end result of this study shows clear evidence that in a cutoff score of 10 on HADS only two mastectomy patients were considered significantly depressed. And on the other hand if a HADS cutoff score of 8 was applied, then 6.7% were depressed. In contrast, in a study of 123 women with breast cancer, there was a clear evidence of high prevalence of depression (50% in mastectomy, 50% in lumpectomy with radiation versus 41% in lumpectomy only). These high percentages may have resulted from a use of a self-report depression scale (Center for Epidemiology Self-report Depression Scale [CES-D]) rather than a DSM-IIIR criteria-based clinical interview.

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: Prior History of Depression in Women with Breast Cancer

Few researchers have noted the time of onset of depression or correlated patients’ history of depression with current depression or functioning. Notably, researchers reported findings on a homogenous sample of 79 women evaluated with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and CES-D 3–7 months after their diagnosis of breast cancer. Nearly 18% of this sample had a past or current history of depression according to DSM-IIIR criteria. Women with elevated depressive symptoms had more physical symptom distress and more impaired functioning than subjects with depressive disorders and without depression.

In a cross-sectional study of 303 relatively young (mean age 46 years) women with early (stage I or II) breast cancer at 3 months after breast surgery using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and HADS, it was again established that a past history of depression was associated with depression. It was also noted that women with few psychological symptoms and good emotional adjustment to cancer may have refused participation in this study because these women were also being recruited into an intervention study.

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: Hormones and Depression in Women with Breast Cancer

In one of the studies involving 257 women with lymph node-negative breast cancer, 155 of who were treated with tamoxifen and 102 who were not. On the basis of clinical interview, 15% of the tamoxifen-treated group had depression compared with 3% of those not taking tamoxifen. Of the 23 women with depression, eight had mild symptoms and no change in tamoxifen dose was made, eight had significant depression requiring a dose reduction to relieve symptoms, and seven had to discontinue tamoxifen secondary to depression.

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: Prevalence of Depression in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer

Studies evaluating the correlation of depression with disease progression in women with breast cancer have shown inconsistent results. Experts have found less depression in women with advanced breast cancer (4.5%) than in those with recurrent disease (15%). Physical disability did not relate to emotional disturbance. And yet in another study experts reported that ambulatory advanced breast cancer patients had a 20% depression prevalence in one study and 9% depression in another. Still again other studies found a 32% prevalence of depression in 22 women with local recurrence comparable with rates found with mastectomy. And in yet another research experts found a 13% prevalence of depression in advanced breast cancer patients (N = 139); increased levels of depression were found in those with lowest socioeconomic status, poorest performance status, and closer proximity to death.

In view of all these studies, researches and their findings it is becoming clearer that depression in women with breast cancer is realistically a problem that we cannot just wish away. It will take a consolidated effort from all us (medical professionals, government authorities, the general public and all interested parties) to pool together in the fight against these life threatening conditions. On her part as a medical expert, doctor Akoury made a decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. I strongly believe that you want your life to be transformed for the best of the very best. If this describes your interest, then you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today and being the life transformation journey with the best in the medical practice.

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: The most talk about type of cancer

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer

April 27, 2015

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Ask questions

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer marks the beginning point towards successful cancer treatment

It is always said that it is the sick that needs the doctor and not the other way round. This statement is very significant in the quest to finding all the information you need to make the best decision about your cancer treatment. Understanding the emotional side effects of cancer will only be possible when you ask question. This way you will be getting answers to all your concerns and avoiding making mistakes. Says doctor Dalal Akoury. Doctors and nurses are professionals making them to be the best sources of information when you have medical questions. Therefore, before you book for that appointment with doctor Akoury in her office at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource center, and for memory purposes, write down all the questions you may have about things disease. The questions may include: your type of cancer, treatment, side effects, and limits on activity you might have during treatment. Remember that other members of your health care team, like pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, physical therapists, and radiation therapists are also experts in their different areas of discipline and can also help you with your questions. Doctor Akoury emphases that it is your life we are talking about and therefore you need not to be afraid to ask those questions.

Asking questions shows you want to learn and take an active role in your treatment. If a health care team member doesn’t have time to answer all of your questions, and don’t be surprised about that because it do happens due to their schedule of work. You can ask when a good time for them is so that you would be to finish your conversation or ask about other ways to get the answers you need. Besides the known questions you have off head, you can also research on the other questions to ask from various sources like going online so that you can find more conclusive list of questions to ask your doctor. The objective of this is starting right; therefore no question is too small or too silly to ask. I encourage patients never to be afraid to call the doctors or other medical staffs with questions about anything including even questions about their bills and insurance. If you were to visit our facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) it will interest you to find out that our doctors and his staffs are all trained and experienced professionals who will be willing to answer any question you may ask. You can also have an opportunity to speak to our pharmacist who will help you in making special arrangements when we needed to get prescriptions, especially pain medicine, filled after our regular business hours.

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Know how to reach your doctor any time

In the quest to understanding the emotional side effects of cancer, consistency is very important. People with cancer must know when they need to call their doctor. Ask which side effects or unusual problems that needs to be reported right away. Some things can wait until the next office visit, or until regular office hours when you can call and speak to a nurse. But if you’re having severe or unexpected side effects, you need to know how to reach a doctor even when the regular office hour is closed. In this case, patients’ needs to be sure that they have a hot line phone number and that your loved ones have it, too. Nonetheless if your doctor isn’t available after hours, find out what you should do if you have problems.

And because it is a collective responsibility, some family members may also wish to speak with members of your health care team. This is very important as it can help them get answers to their questions and find support to deal with their feelings as well. Remember that by doing all these you are not in any way disturbing. Your health care team is bound by law to keep information about your health confidential. They will not discuss your health with family members and friends unless you give your permission for them to do so. Let your doctors and nurses know which family members and friends may be contacting them and with whom they can share information. You may have to sign forms giving your permission for these discussions.

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Feel comfortable with your health care team

It is a common practice across the globe that all health care professionals would be patient, understanding and have all the time in the world to answer questions, and know how to explain things to you so you could easily understand. This is and will always be the practice as it is entailed in the ethical guidelines. However, these professionals are also humans and occasionally finding all of these qualities in one person is rare. Even if you find some little discomfort it is still worth it for you to trust your doctor and other members of the health care team. Nonetheless if you feel growing discomfort and that lack of trust and open communication is keeping you from getting good medical care, you are at liberty to ask for a referral to another doctor with whom you feel more comfortable. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor for a referral for a second opinion. You need to be an active member of your health care team. As an active team member, you will need to do things like keep your scheduled appointments, take medicines as prescribed, and report side effects timely.

Finally with determination there is not obstacle that you cannot overcome. With the right experts and professionals around you, you will be on top of your health and beating all the obstacles as they may come. One of the ways of eliminating those obstacles is by consistently being in touch with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Doctor Akoury who is also the founder of the facility will handle your individual case professionally and with a lot of confidentiality. So don’t be afraid go ahead and schedule for that appointment today.

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Ask questions

Emotional Side Effects of Cancer

April 27, 2015

Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Coping with Cancer in Everyday Life

Emotional Side Effects of Cancer can be the reason why your treatment is not progressing effectively

Anything which is affecting the good health of your life qualifies to be called side effects. When dealing with chronic conditions like cancer, it doesn’t matter whether it is emotional side effects of cancer or physical effects. The bottom line is that there is a problem which needs to be fixed. In this article doctor Dalal Akoury is sharing with us more about the types of feelings people with cancer commonly experience while on treatment and even after treatment. The first thing we ask is “how do people cope with cancer in everyday life?”

Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Coping with your emotions

There are several ways through which you can effectively cope with cancer problems in your daily life. Communication is very important and so telling your family and friends about what you are going through is very necessary. There will also be a time for you to make certain decisions about the condition you are going through. Treatment and wellbeing will greatly depend on how well informed your decision will be.

Emotional complications often make cancer patients feel that the sooner they get rid of the cancer, the better. They may feel like they need to make decisions and start treatment right away. They may worry that extra tests and appointments with other doctors will take time that could be spent treating the cancer. These feelings are mutual and are and this brings us to the second question in management of emotional side effects of cancer, and we ask how long is really too long for commencement of treatment?

In response to this, it is important to appreciate that cancer disease grows at different rates. In many cases various types of cancers do not grow very quickly. This gives the patient an opportunity to gather quality information about the disease. You can talk to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care. Doctor Akoury is also the founder of this facility and talking to her will give you the professional insight you need to make very informed decision about cancer treatment. Most cancer survivors will tell you that taking time to step back and see the big picture is very beneficial. Accumulating information from the relevant professionals will help you address all your concerns and cause you to making the best decision not just for you alone but also for your family. With the right thing done, you will live life beyond your expectations and desires doing things that make you feel much comfortable.

Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Getting cancer information

When you’re looking for information about any type of cancer, you first need to know exactly what type of cancer you have. Talk with your health care team. Ask them for information about your specific type of cancer, including the cell type and the stage (extent) of your cancer. Your cancer treatment will be planned just for you, and knowing these specifics will help you find the best information for your situation. The stage and type of cancer, along with other factors, will help determine the goal of treatment. In most cases, many types of cancer treatment will have any of the three goals:

Cure the cancer
Control the cancer
Ease symptoms of the cancer and help make the patient comfortable

Even with these three main goals, it is important to note that sometimes the treatment goal may change after treatment commencement of treatment. The journey of cancer treatment will require you to be in very close contact with your doctor all the time. Before you make that very important decision, it is necessary that you understand properly what your treatment options are and what the goals are. This helps you make the best decisions for you and your family.

Due to the nature of the disease we are talking about, your source of information must be above board. The packaging of your information must be helpful in all dimensions. Remember that cancer messages can be very complex and confusing; therefore to find reliable, accurate and up to date information, desire only to use reliable sources, such as journals or websites from well-respected cancer centers, national cancer organizations, health professional organizations, and government agencies like the National Cancer Institute. The information from websites, message boards, and online support groups can be very helpful, but it varies widely in quality and accuracy.

Look for information that has been reviewed by medical experts, is updated often, and states the purpose of the information. When you get information, discuss it with your health care team to find out if and how it applies to you. Remember that general information cannot take the place of medical advice from your doctor or cancer care team says doctor Akoury. The communication in that is that the services of your doctor remain paramount at all times.

Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Getting information from your health care team

Like I have already mentioned that talking to your doctor consistently is very important, therefore when you visit your doctor’s office, the first thing they will do is to run certain test in order to evaluate your condition professionally. The evaluation will consist of carrying out a biopsy and other lab tests, physical exams, and imaging tests will also be done to figure out the stage (extent) of your cancer. From the findings based on these tests, your doctor uses all of this information to narrow down options and recommend treatment. He can also consult with other medical practitioners to assist in the planning of your treatment. In this kind of treatment doctor Akoury says that you have the freedom to seek for a second opinion may be from another doctor or at another treatment center. Getting a second opinion may help you feel more comfortable when deciding on your best treatment option. We have not exhausted the emotional side effects of cancer and so we are doing to continue with the same in the next article. Keep on the link for the full version of information about cancer treatment. However in the meantime, if you have any concerns that you would want to be addressed, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today to help you in making the right decision for your treatment.

Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Coping with Cancer in Everyday Life

How does heroin use affect pregnant women

April 24, 2015

How does heroin use affect pregnant women: Protecting the Unborn Babies from Drug Abuse?

How does heroin use affect pregnant women. It increase in premature delivery, low birth weight and death around the time of delivery.

Life begins at conception and protection of that life begins even before conception. That is why getting it is important that when one is planning to get a baby they must make sure that they are free from any kind of drug. Just like the young children should be brought up in a drug free environment, the unborn babies should also find the environment where they are going to dwell in on conception to be free from drugs. One may be wondering how heroin or any other drug can affect the child in the womb, if this concerns you, then you are at the right place because that is what we are going to discuss under the topic “how does heroin use affect pregnant women.” Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care are explaining certain points for our understanding as follows.

Doctor Akoury who is also the founder of the facility states that parental drug misuse can have an effect on the development of the fetus and long-term consequences for growing children. Some effects may be physical, but the most important ones will occur during the development of the mind and brain of the child. It is important to appreciate that some of these effects may not be visible, and, in some cases, the impact on the child´s development and behavior may not be noticeable for some years.

Although damage to the fetus can occur at any stage of the pregnancy, the first three months are the most vulnerable period for congenital malformations, while brain growth is most rapid late in pregnancy. The effects on the unborn child include:

Chromosomal abnormalities
Structural malformations (e.g. cleft palate)
Intrauterine growth retardation
Functional impairment (e.g. deafness)
Behavioral abnormalities (e.g. hyperactivity) and
Learning difficulties.

In addition, a high proportion of newborn babies, especially those whose mother used heroin before conception, will suffer withdrawal symptoms which may last up to several months and which will include:

Tremors
High muscle tone
Irritability
Diarrhea
Vomiting and
Abnormal feeding and sleep patterns

How does heroin use affect pregnant women: Heroin?

Experts carrying out studies in various have not established any clear evidence that heroin causes malformations to the fetus, nonetheless there is an increase in premature delivery, low birth weight and death around the time of delivery. Forty to eighty per cent of babies will develop a withdrawal syndrome lasting from several days to several months. The children tend to grow normally afterwards, although small head circumference may persist. There is no clear evidence of abnormal brain development in most of the children studied. Although methadone can be substituted for heroin, it may be more beneficial for the mother, and more toxic for the newborn.

How does heroin use affect pregnant women: Cocaine, crack cocaine (coke, snow)

There is considerable disagreement amongst medical experts as to whether cocaine or crack causes congenital malformations, but small head size, intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, stillbirths, heart defects, abnormal bone development and neonatal withdrawal syndrome have been noted. Some studies have reported learning disorders and attention deficit at three years of age; however, longer-term follow up is needed to establish the importance of these effects.

How does heroin use affect pregnant women: Amphetamines?

They include methamphetamine, speed and Ecstasy, and are known to cause maternal anorexia, hypertension and reduced blood flow to the placenta. There is no conclusive evidence so far that amphetamines cause congenital malformations, but there is a risk of intrauterine growth retardation and premature delivery. It is thought that withdrawal symptoms may develop. There is no clear evidence that prenatal amphetamine exposure causes long-term effects on growth and development.

How does heroin use affect pregnant women: Cannabis (marijuana, Indian hemp, hashish?)

Cannabis is one of the most commonly used drugs in pregnant women, but little is known about its effects during pregnancy. There is conflicting data about the association of cannabis with congenital malformations and neonatal withdrawal syndrome. One long-term study found that the speech and memory performance among four-year olds whose mothers had consumed cannabis daily or several times a week during pregnancy was affected significantly

How does heroin use affect pregnant women: Looking forward for Diagnosis

Diagnosing babies and young children as affected by parental drug misuse and predicting likely outcomes is very hard to establish. This is partly due to the lack of conclusive research to date and to the fact that it is nearly impossible to accurately determine the type, amount and timing in pregnancy for each substance used especially as users often combine different drugs together, sometimes with alcohol.

Substance misuse is also frequently associated with poverty, physical or mental health issues, poor medical care and diet, which makes it even more difficult to clearly establish correlations between cause and effect. The most important thing to remember is that, by providing a stable, loving home for children affected by drugs and offering them good parenting, optimal nutrition, and appropriate stimulation, health care and educational opportunities, you can help them to reach their full potential.

Finally the innocent babies must not be subjected to such harsh toxic environment when there is something we can do to prevent this and be free from the harms of addiction. Doctor Akoury and her team of experts have been offering addiction solutions to many people and your condition will be handled professionally on if you can make that very important decision of scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today.

How does heroin use affect pregnant women: Protecting the Unborn Babies from Drug Abuse?

The Prevalence of Heroin Addiction Globally

April 23, 2015

The Prevalence of Heroin Addiction Globally: How Addicts get hooked up to Heroin

The Prevalence of Heroin Addiction Globally is becoming uncontrollable going by the rate at which young people are being hooked up to drugs

Until you get out and see for yourself or listen to people share their experience, you may not know the impact of heroin addiction in your neighborhood. The prevalence of heroin addiction globally is taking a new dimension. Currently heroin and other substance abuse are no longer drugs associated with the city centers but the net is widening even in to the local estates and neighborhoods. In the previous article we doctor Akoury shared with us the story of a young man named Felix and how he was progressively lured into drugs. From a simple experiment Felix was introduced to legal medications like the painkillers and before he knew he was an addict. In this article we are going to further on that discussion by focusing on some of the experiences other people have had an opportunity to witness. There are a lot of recordings that give us a clear picture of the prevalence of heroin addiction globally. Take for example according to recent report “Donna Holaday looks out the window of her city hall office in Newburyport, an affluent coastal city 37 miles north of Boston. Ms. Holaday has been mayor of the town the past four years and was recently reelected. Over that time, she has seen her share of municipal concerns come across her busy desk. But few have been as worrying as the growing use of heroin in her idyllic community.”

Although she knew of the drug’s presence in the city, the report continues, Holaday says that it wasn’t until police reports started surfacing and concerned residents began showing up in her office that she understood the depth of the problem and the emotional anguish it was causing. She continues to narrate that “I had a mother sitting in my office crying, telling me her story about how she pulled her son out of a trailer, just over the border in New Hampshire, and [how] he would have died [if she hadn’t intervened],” she says.

As if that was not enough other local parents also told her about finding needles and syringes in the leafy playgrounds where their children romped. Addicts were seen “shooting up” on the city’s Clipper City Rail Trail, a scenic biking and jogging path. Newburyport Police Marshal Thomas Howard says his department has responded to more than a dozen heroin overdoses in the past months. Without the use of Narcan, an overdose reversal drug, he says the number of deaths in the area “would be skyrocketing.”

The Prevalence of Heroin Addiction Globally: The trend of Heroin is affecting even the once drug Free states

Ideally, Newburyport isn’t the kind of town you’d expect to have any heroin footprint at all. It is one of those communities that seem to have everything including; beauty, wealth, a vibrant arts culture, and an enviable location. Straddling the banks of the Merrimack River and its outlet to the Atlantic Ocean, Newburyport has a storied seafaring heritage that is visible at every salt-scented turn.

Its harbor once bustled with clipper ships from around the world. The city’s High Street is a showcase of imposing Federal-style homes that trace their lineage to sea captains and speculators who plied the waters of the West Indies, trading molasses for rum in the 1700s. These same homes, once maintained by black and native American slaves, later became a means of escape as part of the Underground Railroad.

Now this city is trying to end a different kind of slavery. Mr. Pettigrew, of the DEA, lives in Newburyport. As a member of the agency’s regional office, he and his fellow agents track where the drugs flowing into New England are coming from – a trail that usually leads to cartels in Colombia and Mexico and the story continues in our next article

While heroin has always been available in the region, what’s changed recently is the purity of the drugs on the street. Pettigrew notes that the heroin that addicts used to shoot up with was 2 or 3 percent pure. Today, the street purity of the drug can be as high as 80 percent.

That potency helps explain both the drug’s wider appeal and its new danger. Heroin once had to be injected for users to get the high they were looking to achieve, but it is now concentrated enough that they can smoke or snort it to get a similar effect – methods that make heroin easier for people like Felix to use it without feeling like a junkie. The higher purity is also more likely to trigger an overdose for those who do inject it.

Like everything else, you’re trying to sell your product, so [dealers are] trying to pitch it as a more potent drug for you to take and get high off of.

Stronger heroin is only one reason behind the nation’s growing addiction problem. The other – and more prevalent cause, say police and medical experts – is the nation’s pill culture.

Felix’s route to addiction is a familiar one, according to addicts: a progression from alcohol to marijuana to painkillers to heroin. There are variations on that theme: a sports injury and a prescription for opioids that goes on far longer than it should; a peek inside the family medicine cabinet to find a trove of prescription pills – such as Percocet, OxyContin, Vicodin, codeine – that can be used as recreational drugs.

Often the introduction comes through friends who want to share a high they have discovered. Or it happens at a college party where a variety of drugs are being offered.

Finally irrespective of how this scourge begun the common denominator is that, it usually takes the same impulsive route. And once hooked, users look for doctors who will sell them prescription drugs, and when that fails, desperation sets in and the only available option is in the street. The painkiller drugs are often accessible to the street at an average cost. The condition will continue to deteriorate as sources of income gets depleted. When they can no longer finance their habits they turn to the very last resort which is fairly affordable and provide the same or better result than the painkillers. The most accessible in this case is the heroin which is much cheaper compared to other drugs we have mentioned.

The Prevalence of Heroin Addiction Globally: How Addicts get hooked up to Heroin

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