Carcinogens Have Infiltrated the Generic Drug Supply in the U.S.

The chemical N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, is a yellow liquid that dissolves in water. It doesn’t have an odor or much of a taste. It’s known to cause cancer in animals and is classified as a probable carcinogen in humans—it’s most toxic to the liver. A single dose of less than a milligram can mutate mice cells and stimulate tumors, and 2 grams can kill a person in days. An Oklahoma man poisoned the family of an ex-girlfriend in 1978 by pouring a small vial of NDMA into a pitcher of lemonade. In 2018 a graduate student in Canada sickened a colleague by injecting the chemical into his apple pie.

NDMA no longer has industrial uses—it was once added to rocket fuel—but it can form during industrial processes at tanneries and foundries as well as at pesticide, dye, and tire makers. It can be found in drinking water disinfected with chloramine. It’s in tobacco smoke, which is one reason secondhand smoke is dangerous, and it’s what makes eating a lot of cured and grilled meat potentially risky. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it’s reasonably safe to consume as much as one microgram—one millionth of a gram—of NDMA a day. read more

3-D Mammography Advantages ~ Breast Tomosynthesis

by Dr. Robin Hape, General Surgeon, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, Polson, MT 

Editor’s note: I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in-situ in my right breast after a 3-D mammogram detected an early-stage cancer in February 2019. I was called back for a second screening. When I told the medical technician that I could not feel anything, she laughed and responded “it is like trying to feel a grain of sand in a bowl of jello.” Since February I’ve had a lumpectomy and the sentinel node removed plus five days of high-dose radiation. I was finished by June 5. I am totally SOLD on 3-D mammography. I asked Dr. Robin Hape, general surgeon at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, who performed my lumpectomy,  to talk about his experience with 3-D Mammography.      Valerie Lindstrom

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There are several advantages to Breast Tomosynthesis or more commonly referred to as 3-D Mammography.  We have had this technology in Polson for a little over a year.

Earlier detection of breast cancer.  It is not uncommon for us to find breast cancers very very early now.  Several of the new breast cancer patients I have cared for in the last year have cancers in the range of 3 – 4 mm.  That is much better than the old machine
Fewer call-backs.   With the old technology it was not uncommon for women to be called back for additional views.  Skin folds or dense breast tissue was harder to see through with the old machine resulting in call backs for compression views which were uncomfortable for women.  Call backs are about 40 percent less with the Tomosynthesis machine.  That reduces cost, pain and anxiety.

Works better for women with dense breast.  Standard mammograms have trouble “seeing through” dense breast tissue. This is common in younger women and about 30 percent of all women.  It is possible for a breast cancer to “hide” in these women and women with very dense breasts are also about 1.5X higher risk for developing breast cancer.  Tomosynthesis does a much better job for younger women and women with dense breasts.

Radiation exposure.  The radiation exposure, time for the exam and compression are about the same for Tomosynthesis as for a standard mammogram.  The tomosynthesis machine has heated paddles so it is a little more comfortable.  The amount of radiation from a mammogram is minimal.

Breast cancer screening recommendations for women

There is a lot of confusion about the standard breast cancer screening recommendations.  Here are the recommendations made by almost every reputable medical society in America.

• Average risk women should get their first mammogram at age 40 and annually as long as they are healthy.

• If a women has a strong family history of breast cancer they should start getting mammograms 10 years before the age of their youngest relative’s diagnosis.  For example, if a patient’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45, the patient should start getting mammograms at age 35. 

• Considering all risk factors a physician may recommend more aggressive screening such as mammograms twice per year or breast MRI’s.

Cancer Support Group update ~ Thanks to Linda and Sheila for leadership

Linda Roberts and Sheila Connor have spearheaded the Cancer Support Group for several years. Both women have moved on and Cheerful Heart thanks them for their time, energy and dedication leading the group. Leadership is now in several hands. John Payne, Chaplain at St. Joseph Medical Center, Marcy Rice, cancer patient with a deep background in healthcare training and Coy Theobalt and Charlie Davis of Goat Peak Ranch Retreat for cancer patients also with many years of experience leading groups, will help keep the group healthy.

The group meets at noon on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at the First United Methodist Church located at 301 16th Ave. E. in Polson.  Participants can bring a brown-bag lunch.
The group welcomes those recently diagnosed, those undergoing treatment, cancer survivors, and/or family members. The aim is to provide a safe place for members to share, learn, support, and encourage members after a cancer diagnosis; and, to conquer the fear in themselves and others.

Confidentiality is practiced, anything spoken in group stays with the group. Gatherings are informal allowing folks to drop-in when schedules and life permits.

Kristi Gough maintains a list of folks who have attended and sends a reminder text to cell phones before each gathering.

To be added to the reminder list or if you have questions, leave a message at 883-3070.