Archive for July, 2009

Surgeon Travels to Find Answers to Agressive Breast Cancer

When an African American female surgeon noticed that she kept seeing a trend of young black women come into the clinic where she worked that already had advanced cases of invasive breast cancer, she knew that there had to be answers and help, she just had to know where to start, and why these younger black women were so much more statistically susceptible to advanced breast cancer, or what’s called “triple negative breast cancer”.

So, what’d this surgeon do? Well, she’s recently packed her bags and is going to Ghana to help figure out the common thread and perhaps help to treat and even eventually cure this agressive form of breast cancer that hits the black community so much harder than any other ethnic background.

Why is it called triple negative breast cancer?  Well, there are three genetic markers that can help oncologists determine how best to treat the breast cancer by telling them what genes need to be targeted.  This greatly helps in successfully treating all kinds of breast cancer.  However, what makes triple negative breast cancer so hard to treat is that, like it’s name, it does not show any one of these three genetic markers to target, therefore it is much more difficult to treat since the markers that need to be targeted are not there.

The reason the oncologist specailizing surgeon chose Ghana is a good one.  Apparently, about 60% of the breast cancer cases reported in Ghana are of the triple negative sort, so it’s the perfect place to have plenty of subjects to study.  Here in the US, it only accounts for a total of about 15% of cases, but keep in mind, that’s also with a much larger melting pot of ethinicities being treated, so it doesn’t really adequately reflect the ethnic background tendencies of the disease.

While it is of course terrible to see so many advanced cases of suffering in Ghana, the country offers great avenues for research since the pool is large for patients to study and put in clinical trials if necessary.  Hopefully they can gain some insight from this cross country study and bring it over here into other breast cancer cases as well.

Overtreatment Common in Breast Cancer

Apparently undertreatment isn’t so much a problem in breast cancer patients as over treatment of the cancer and it’s effects.  The interesting part of the new study that identified this statistic is that it said that one in three women identified with breast cancer did not need any treatment at all, perhaps not beyond a simple biopsy, and instead were treated more extensively, perhaps with drugs and other treatments, when they didn’t even need them.  Obviously that’s a problem since every breast cancer treatment except for simple surgery is toxic to the system and can, in itself, make one sick and weaken the immune system.

Amazingly enough, and I must admit that I did not know this either, there are some cancers that are extremely slow growing that are not life threatening and apparently do not need treatment, in fact, treatment is considered to be worse than the cancer itself in these cases.  This is where that sounds odd to me, so please double check your references before you take that at face value. It’s the cancers that are invasive and spread quickly that need treatment, and many times those with the slow cancer get treated when they should not, creating emotional and psychological trauma.

Hansen Sues Plastic Surgeon Over Breast Implant Photos

A beautiful blond, skinny model who models frequently for Maxim magazine named Monica Hansen, is suing her plastic surgeon, claiming that he used photos of her breast implant work that he had performed on his website to help promote his business.  I’m assuming that this has merit and she did not sign off on an agreement to have her pictures posted, or else she would have no basis for litigation, but that information wasn’t to be found in what I read.  The model has gained somewhat of a notoriety by being one of Maxim’s models, what that means, I’m not really sure.

I saw a picture of her and she is beautiful.  Her breasts weren’t overdone either, so much credit to her and her plastic surgeon for doing a tasteful and believable job on them instead of something that looks like it should be on the pages of Jugs magazine, or something that looks like large balloons that are ready to pop, ala porn star breasts.

The model was actually crowned as Ms. Norway, but apparently did not go on to compete in the Trump-backed Miss Universe pageant.  Monica Hansen is quite a tall stunner, clocking in at just over six feet tall.  We’ll see where this lawsuit goes, apparently the doctor used her photos quite extensively throughout his website. I wonder how they thought this was ok if they did not get some sort of release?  I’m sure there’s more to the story, we’ll see….

Speaking of suing, I guess that JLo and Marc Anthony were suing a baby carriage company over using their images to promote their product.  I had not heard whether they were keeping up with this lawsuit or not after getting heat for just being plain old divas about it.  If anyone knows anything about that one, let me know…

Breastfeeding Drunk an Arrestable Offense?

A new mom has recently made headlines for being arrested for coming to the door after reporting a domestic disturbance, while an infant was suckling her breasts, and she was apparently drunk.  It is known that you should not breast feed a child directly after drinking alcohol, but alcohol is permitted in moderation during breast feeding, it’s just recommended the mother wait a few hours for the alcohol to pass out of the system satisfactorily enough that the milk will not be affected and the infant is still getting “safe” milk.  Alcohol passed on to an infant can cause side effects, the most well known being abnormal weight gain.

However, the arrest causes some concerns and raises some questions that may surpass the legal boundaries and get into one’s morals, which is supposed to not be a line that is crossed when it comes to the law.  Should mothers who have been suspected of drinking and then breastfeeding soon after or even during the drinking, be arrested? Is this something that crosses the lines into a person’s life too much?  I think that’s a difficult call.

The woman was arrested on child endangerment charges, which had nothing to do with the domestic disturbance complaint she had called the police for.  She actually came to the door feeding the infant, apparently inebriated, with obvious signs of physical abuse ot her face from her boyfriend, however she ended up being arrested because of what the police viewed to be endangerment of the child.

This may be one of those clear cut cases where she was crossing the line of acceptability, however, does this pave the way for mothers to be prosecuted after they’ve had a few drinks and wait the accepted amount of time to breastfeed their infants?  The line can get blurred if you ask me.  Sure, this woman should not have been breastfeeding her infant while she was completely drunk, clearly she should have waited for the alcohol to come out of her system to breast feed, however, one does wonder whether this is the law meddling in someone’s personal affairs a bit too much.

Also, there is the question on whether she may make more serious errors of judgement with this child, which I’m sure is why she was arrested in the first place, perhaps to set a precedent that observation of that serious of an infraction of being drunk while breastfeeding is unacceptable by societal standards.  What do you think? I’m a little torn, I know it’s wrong, however I worry that this could cross over into a grey area with other cases.

Raquel Welch, Brit Eckland and Brigitte Bardot Icons of the Busty Movement

If envisioning Raquel Welch or Brigitte Bardot in a low slung bikini, covered in sand, with their hair all big in the back, breasts falling out of a skimpy top (at least skimpy for the time) heavy black cat eyeliner and muted pink lipstick isn’t a vision of the sixities and early seventies, then I don’t know what it is.  Part of me absolutely loves those times.  I love the styles, the hair, the makeup and the clothes, and part of me appreciates how women’s styles and shape appreciations have changed over time.

However, the hourglass figure is still one that is coveted today, although some of those ideals have been replaced by rail thin bottom halves with unrealistic top halves that have been surgically altered, which makes it a little more difficult for women to emulate and strive for this kind of look.  I loved that back then, it was desirable to have a figure, to have a little bit of a but and thighs, and to have a hefty bustline as well.  Sure, not all women could live up to that at the time either, but that’s what thin, waiflike icons like Twiggy were for.

I  came across an article about Raquel Welch, who didn’t really have much of a movie career, except for the fact that her signature latin looks with tawny skin, great bone structure and curvy physique complete with huge heaving bosoms, had a great legacy as far as her pinup status and her multitude of branding products where her face sold everything from wigs to makeup.  She is still an icon of beauty and also is known for still maintaining that beauty flawlessly even through a more advanced age.

She credits that with getting little nips and tucks along the way since the sixties, she says that you should get procedures before you actually need them, and that’s the key to staying looking young, instead of getting them done after the “damage is done” so to speak, but rather doing a sort of maintenance on the body and the face before it becomes a hopeless situation. You’d never know she had work done either, so she’s entrusted herself to a doctor who is no doubt skilled and makes for natural results.  Wonder if she’s ever had her breasts done yet?

Kim Kardashian : Breasts and Butt Equals Bodacious

I really like the fact that Kim Kardashian is gaining some popularity and following.  Sure, I have no idea whether she actually has any talent in the world of acting or of entertainment, and she’s really only been in a reality show and was Paris Hilton’s buddy for a while, which are her only real claims to fame, but she is a beautiful girl regardless, and I like that she’s proud to be on the more voluptuous side when it comes to Hollywood stereotypes anyways, and flaunts her gorgeous curvy figure whenever she gets the chance.

She represents a “bigger size” in Hollywood, which if you think about it is ludicrous considering she is of a great, healthy weight, and looks fantastic in her jeans, and I’m sure out of them too.  She’s got great curves and looks really womanly and curvaceous – very vavavoom, and also takes pride in that curvaceousness, which I think adds to her appeal both to men and women (my boyfriend loves her, and he acknowledges that it’s because of her curves and her pretty face). Are Kim Kardashians breasts real?  Well, it’s anyone’s guess. She may have had surgical augmentation to get them done, but regardless of how they are the size they are, they look fantastic, and her whole body looks very in balance.

I like that she really stuck up for Jessica Simpson when she got all that flack about her weight gain, which was totally ridiculous.  What, a girl can’t enjoy a little bit of enjoyment of her food?  By the way, Jessica Simpson’s breasts lately are HUGE, so the extra weight is really flattering to her, and she must be one of those girls that puts it on in her breasts first and the rest of the body later – lucky B!  I agree though, the media needs to lay off of women in entertainment, and all we do as the public that feeds into it and buys into the crap is make it ok for media outlets to lash out at actresses and belittle them for any weight gain.

Shoot, I’d probably be considered large in Hollywood, and I range from a size 4 to a size 6, which is small by most standards, but just because it’s not a size 2 or zero, that probably wouldn’t be considered cool at all in Hollywood.

Bar Rafaeli – Real or Fake Breasts?

The gorgeous swimsuit model Bar Rafaeli, and I believe still Leonardo DiCaprio’s main squeeze, has a dynamite body, there’s no denying that.  Not only is she thin, but she’s also very muscular looking, with a body that is both curvy, muscular, and lithe, which is the current golden standard for models and Hollywood glamour bods.  So, why would I think she might have fake breasts?  Well, precisely because of how small she is everywhere else, and how large her breasts are in proportion to the rest of her body.  Sure, there are definitely some women who are naturally blessed with this anomaly of a body type, but let’s face it, it’s usually the work of a skilled plastic surgeon that accounts for these types of curves.

I just saw a video of her on TMZ rolling around on a couch or bed naked. It was actually quite artily done, in black and white, and she did look terrific, although I have to wonder how ridiculous she felt no doubt having to role around seductively on a bed for a few hours to capture just the right footage of her cradling her ginormous breasts while looking at the camera with a slightly come hither but also shy bedroom look.  I know I would have felt pretty silly.  But enough “hating”, she really is a beautiful girl, and if her curves are all real, then all the more power to her.

I like the fact that she’s thin, but not anemic looking or sickly looking like some of the other un-musclular, I just Starve myself to look this way, models that tend to grace runways.  Good for Sports Illustrated for showing models that have dynamite bodies with muscle tone, not some washed out, unhealthy thin look that used to be in.  There’s a time and place for that, and I think these days it’s more about looking strong and sexy.

Triangle Bikinis Most Flattering to Breasts

You know, each season that passes by (swimsuit season, that is), I keep thinking that I’m going to try something different with my swimsuit.  I think maybe I’ll try a cute halter style, one piece, or some other variation of the typical “string” bikini that comes with the triangle top that I love that I usually wear.  However, I’ve noticed that the triangle tops on bikinis are usually the most flattering to a woman’s breasts, no matter what size breasts they have, whether they are natural or surgically enhanced, so that’s usually what I end up buying.

This year’s string bikini I purchased at Old Navy, who actually had a great selection of breast flattering suit styles that had matching bottoms and were only about $17 per piece, which means your whole swimsuit could be bought for about $35 total, a genuine bargain when it comes to a flattering swimsuit – ask any girl.  I find that they are also the most comfortable types of swimsuits for me, and that the tops are easily adjustable, and don’t feel like they’re restraining the breasts too badly, but also don’t look too loose or baggy since they’re easy to adjust to exactly the right tightness and comfort level.

This year I ended up with a bright green top and bottom from Old Navy, and I really love it.  Like I said, it was cheap and cute, and they had tons of styles left even though I bought mine in mid June, which is usually when they are all picked over and you can’t find anything you need or want.  If you are the type of gal that needs a lot more support though, the triangle top probably isn’t for you.  Instead, you may want to go with something that has an underwire or more support and padding if you are heavy up top or you just think you need more of a definite, snug fit to hold those puppies in there securely.

Lord knows it’s all of our nightmares to be the one who goes into the tide and comes out with no top on, baring our breasts for the whole beach to see unknowingly.  I know I’ve been there before, or emerging from a wave only to find that one of your breasts has popped out.  How embarrassing!

New Silicone Implant Alternative Trials Announced

Someone forwarded this to me from the company that is releasing this new information soon on a new breast implant that very well may replace the current silicone implant, if the trials go well.  Since a lot of women are looking for alternatives that are softer, more natural looking and less likely to cause issues like hardening, this may be the answer – the trial will tell!  I’ve pasted in the press release following – enjoy!

NEW BREAST IMPLANT DESIGNED AS ALTERNATIVE TO SILICONE GEL

FDA Clinical Trial Announced for IDEAL IMPLANT

DALLAS – At a time when breast augmentation tops the list for U.S. cosmetic surgical procedures, women are still left choosing between either the safety of saline or the natural result of silicone gel. Plastic surgeons are now looking to offer the best features of both in the revolutionary new technology of the IDEAL IMPLANT® Saline-filled Breast Implant. A clinical trial is launching this month in select markets nationwide, giving some women the opportunity to be among the first to have this new implant.

The first major new breast implant technology in over 20 years, the IDEAL IMPLANT is designed to offer the natural result of silicone gel, but with only saline inside to give peace of mind. Its novel yet simple design was developed by a noted plastic surgeon expert and consists of a series of implant shells of increasing size nested together. The internal perforated shells control saline movement to reduce “sloshing and bouncing.” The IDEAL IMPLANT is also engineered to conform to the chest wall with the edge low, to minimize the unattractive wrinkling on the sides often associated with standard saline implants.

Despite recent FDA approval of silicone gel implants, standard saline implants represent about 60 percent of all breast augmentations, reflecting women’s desire for the benefits and safety of saline. The IDEAL IMPLANT looks to provide natural results similar to silicone gel implants, but without the safety concerns, such as difficulty detecting silent ruptures requiring MRI scans, diffusion of small silicone compounds into the tissues, and possible long-term side effects.

“With advances in healthcare technology and an awakening of environmental consciousness, Americans are more aware of what we put into our bodies than ever before – we eat organic food, avoid pesticides, and scrutinize labels,” explains Dr. Robert S. Hamas, M.D., the plastic surgeon inventor of the IDEAL IMPLANT.  “Women seeking breast augmentation are increasingly informed about the potential risks and benefits. I designed the IDEAL IMPLANT to meet the needs of today’s women, who want a natural result but prefer the safety of saline.”


The selected plastic surgeons in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Southeast Florida (Miami and Fort Lauderdale area), and Southern California (Los Angeles and Orange County area), will enroll a total of 500 women in the clinical trial, set to provide the FDA with the data needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of the IDEAL IMPLANT. The trial is open to healthy women who are undergoing a first breast augmentation or the replacement of their existing augmentation implants.

Women interested in the IDEAL IMPLANT are encouraged to make a consultation appointment with one of the plastic surgeon investigators to get acquainted and learn about both the benefits and risks of breast augmentation. Ideal Implant Incorporated is offering a unique follow-up incentive plan to patients who complete all required follow-up visits for the trial. For a full list of participating surgeons and contact information, please see the “To Enroll” section of the Web site at Idealimplant.com

About Ideal Implant Incorporated
Ideal Implant Incorporated was founded in 2006 by Dallas-based plastic surgeon Robert S. Hamas, M.D., to develop, manufacture and market a breast implant with the first new technology in over 20 years.  Plastic surgeons are the majority owners of the company and have been actively involved with the IDEAL IMPLANT design. The company touts an extensive list of experts as part of its scientific advisory board, corporate advisors, and engineering and scientific consultants. Inventor of the IDEAL IMPLANT, Dr. Hamas is a practicing, board certified plastic surgeon, past president of the Dallas Society of Plastic Surgeons, and has appeared with national media outlets including Oprah and CNN.  He is the inventor of a surface treatment for breast implants and is a recognized expert in breast implants, including award-winning studies of teardrop-shaped implants.