Before You Donate
Think very seriously before donating to any breastcancer organization, or fundraising program until you read their Annual Report to see who their top contributors are, and if they have a product that appears frequently in the message the organization sends to the public. That would be unethical and its illegal. The same applies to a request that the public buys products, but does not receive a "donor receipt" for tax-deductible purpose. Read any and all food labels that breastcancer "non-profits" are promoting to raise money. Some organizations tell the public to help them raise money by asking you to visit their websites, but that only gives them "hits" to increase their sponsors.
Another tip, "signing" an online Petition is not acceptable, so don't fall for such antics. An ethical non-profit, or professional will not request your visit to their website, nor use "cookies" placed on your computer when you visit their site.
Purchase the Breastcancer Postage Stamp, the Post Office will always give you your charitable deduction receipt. Its a valid form of fund raising.
ONE OF MY TEAM EXPLAINS FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES IN THE BREAST
This e-mail was copied to me. It was a reply to someone who contacted me. As busy as this pathologist is, she is supporting the work I am attempting to accomplish.
"Dear _______,I'll try to explain what fibrocystic changes are, but if I am not clear just let me know and I'll try again.
Our breast is made of ducts (think of hoses) and these ducts are covered by a thin layer of cells (only two). These cells are in charged and programmed to make milk during pregnancy, but when there is no pregnancy they can still produce some fluid.
If the hose (our ducts) gets too much water pressure and the exit hole is too small; the hose gets dilated or distended. The same thing happens to our ducts, when they produce too much fluid, they dilate and form cysts. Now, Fibrocystic changes are primarily dilated ducts (hoses) full of fluid that can be aspirated and the cyst collapses. Sometimes, the two cell layer that covers the ducts may increase under a variety of stimulus (estrogens) and then instead of 2 cell layers, there may be 3, 4 or more.
We look at those cells carefully, to make sure there is no atypia, what means that the normal cell gets a bit unhappy and have a larger nucleus.
The "Fibrous" means deposits of more dense breast tissue and change because it is a change from what was normal. It is a benign change, and the most common one in young women. It is understandable that you are worried since you have a strong family history of cancer, but remember that does not mean that you will get cancer for sure.
If it will make you feel better. . .You can always send (the slides/biopsy) them to me at:
Maria J. Merino, M.D.,
National Cancer Institute, Laboratory of
Pathology, Bldg. 10, Room 2N212. Bethesda, MD, 20892If you want, I can request the material, you will just need to tell me
which hospital you had the procedure done. And, there is no charge because
we are the government. (Your tax dollars at work).LINKS
Home Page
IMPORTANT UPDATES
Table of Contents
Questions to Ask Your Physicians
Forming Your TeamQuestions? Send a e-mail. Many people care.
Doctors care! You're never alone!