Take a Moment To Reflect; Don't Delay Testing

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Yesterday, I attended the funeral of a woman who passed away from colorectal cancer.  She  40 years old and left behind her 2 small children and a loving husband.  Sad is an understatement to describe the scene.  So, today, I'm just going to be brief and ask all of you to take a minute and remember this young woman in your thoughts as well as her family.  I will also ask you to ensure you are tested regularly for any familial cancers.  It might save your life - you never know....

Breast Cancer Health

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Ladies, be vigilant and do a monthly self-examination, and see your ob/gyn at least once a year; twice if you are taking birth control pills or have an IUD. Self examination includes checking forany changes in the shape of your breasts, changes in skin color and texture, and  discharges.

Wake Up To Life

Many of us walk around with blinders or 'tunnelvision'.  We only see and perceive a very small percentage of what's going on in our world.  This is due to ignorance, fear or apathy in general.  The same goes for health.  Putting blinders on to your health can be detrimental to your well being and mortality.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you are experiencing a general feeling of malaise, don't ignore the early signs of what could be a life-threatening or life-changing disease.  Go get checked out.  What can be just something very simple to deal with today could become a very serious condition in a few months if not addressed in the present.

BPA Linked to Prostate and Breast Cancer

BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical used to manufacture hard plastics.  Food containers, reusable water bottles and some baby bottles are found to contain BPA.  But BPA can permeate into the foods in these containers (especially acidic foods); particularly when the containers are scratched or heated.  BPA recently has been possibly linked with prostate and breast cancer, infertility, diabetes and heart disease.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  use only reusable bottles made of glass, stainless steel or BPA-free plastic.  A plastic bottles labeled with a '7' recycling code and not marked "BPA FREE" can contain the chemical.  Aluminum bottles can be lined with BPA as well.  Another caveat:  acupuncture can greatly reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.  Contact my office today for more information.

It's October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Ok folks....I don't know about you but say 'breast cancer' and the hairs on the back of my neck start to prickle.  Breast cancer not only affects women, but men as well.  It doesn't discriminate age, race, religion or socioeconomic strata.  It kills, it deforms, it stinks!  Let me introduce to you a wonderful organization that will help ANY woman out there today, tomorrow and the next day.  I'm a member of this great group that makes a difference in women's lives everyday:
Women At Risk is the breast cancer program of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center whose mission is to enhance the lives of women at high risk for, or with, breast cancer through research, education and support. For more information, visit us at http://www.womenatrisknyc.org/  or
http://www.womenatriskblog.com/.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Whether you like your boobs or not, make certain you take good care of your breast health.  Regular breast examinations by you or your partner (many times, lumps are found by a sexual partner) can help keep you healthy.  Get your regularly scheduled mammogram....I don't care what anyone says; a little bit of radiation today beats the hell out of losing a breast next year.

Come Clean Inside and Out

It never ceases to baffle me how fear stops so many people from living their lives fully and with happiness.  Inertia not only prevents us from moving forward, but it stops all relationships around us from growing,  In fact, over time, fear becomes a 'cancer'.  It spreads...manifesting itself via emotional and physical maladies.  It shows on the outside as well - skin eruptions, weight gain/loss, fatigue-induced injuries, limp hair; the list goes on and on.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Whatever it is that stops you from doing your life, stop IT!  Change your motis operandum, look at the 'beast' directly in the eyes, and just kill it....before it tries to kill you.  You'll sleep better, your life will be happier - more fulfilled, and the relationships in your life will flourish.

Side Effects of Tamoxifen Reduced with Acupuncture Treatment

Per the Society of Acupuncture Research:
Side Effects of Tamoxifen and Acupuncture

In a single arm, observational study, fifty participants with early breast cancer received eight traditional acupuncture treatments from one acupuncturist to manage side effects from Tamoxifen...Participants reported hot flashes and night sweats were significantly reduced.[Source: De Valois BA, Young TE, Robinson N, McCourt C, Maher EJ. Using traditional acupuncture for breast cancer-related hot flashes and night sweats. J Altern Complement Med. 2010. 16(10):1047-57. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20954961

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you are experiencing side effects of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and particularly tamoxifen, contact my office today.  You will experience relief from the symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  Together, we will form a partnership to optimize your journey to wellness.

What Daughters of Breast Cancer Patients Should Know

A repost from the WSJ Health Online. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2011/06/13/what-daughters-of-women-with-breast-cancer-should-know/
"...General advice for lowering breast-cancer risk also applies to the prevention of many chronic diseases: eat a healthful diet, reach and stay at a healthy weight, get regular exercise, cap alcohol consumption at five drinks a week (for those of legal age) and don’t smoke. (other advice includes minimizing exposure to chemicals and hormones that may be associated with a higher risk.)  Young women with a relative who has a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation or who have a strong family history of the disease should talk to a physician or a genetic counselor about getting tested or about starting regular mammograms earlier. The National Cancer Institute says criteria for considering genetic testing include two first-degree relatives — meaning a mother or sister — who have the disease (one first-degree relative for women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent) and other patterns of different types of cancer in the family tree.  Relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at an early age — under 50 and particularly under 40 — are more relevant than those diagnosed at 70 or 80.   ...Eeven a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation only raises the risk of developing breast cancer — it doesn’t guarantee it. “The wear and tear of living,” lifestyle choices, and environmental factors also play a role, making advice on that point relevant for everyone."

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Pass on this blog to everyone you know and educate someone today about some breast cancer facts.  You could be saving some young or older woman's life.

Have you had your Pap Smear and Mammogram Recently?

Yesterday, I went for my annual mammogram and thought I would repost this blog today for you:


This one is for the ladies today. It occurred to me that many of you are lax in getting your pap smears and mammograms. Here's some info you definitely SHOULD read! And for you girls out there who don't like to touch yourselves, THAT'S WHAT YOUR GUY IS THERE FOR!! HAVE SOME FUN AND LET YOUR MAN EXAMINE YOUR BREASTS! Seriously, did you know that it is usually the sex partner who initially detects breast lumps? Think about it...who better knows your breasts than the one who plays most with them???
The 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines on mammography and breast examination are controversial and the following facts should be seriously considered.
Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Breast cancer claims more than 40,000 lives each year. Only lung cancer reigns as the number one cancer killer. The mammography has been highly effective in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Historically, the USPSTF has recommended mammograms every 1-2 years for women who turn 40 years of age. Recently, the new guidelines recommend commencing mammography screening at age 50 until reaching the age of 74 and only one test every two years.
The USPSTF has determined that early screening adds only 2 lives saved per 1000 women screened. Screening women in their 50s averts "only" 1 death in every 1300 women screened, and screening women in their 40s prevents only 1 death in every 1900. Only one death might not seem so bad….unless that statistic is you, your mother, sister, wife, friend or significant other!
The American Cancer Society has stated that "The new guidelines are essentially telling women that mammography age 40 to 49 saves lives...just not enough of them”. 22% of breast cancer deaths occur in women in their 50s, 17% occur in women in their 40s.
The 2009 guidelines discourage teaching breast self-exam to patients, stating that this practice leads to more procedures, false alarms and unneeded biopsies, and doesn't reduce breast cancer mortality. They cite no conclusions on the value of clinical breast exam.
There is no recommendation for the preferable screening method (plain film, digital mammography, or MRI).
The USPSTF disclaimer reads: "This recommendation applies to women age 40 and older who are not at increased risk (of breast cancer) by virtue of a known genetic mutation or a history of chest radiation."
Healthcare reform is a priority of the national agenda presently, and these new guidelines could very well be used as fodder by insurance companies to use as a baseline to limit or restrict screening and testing that have been proven to be very effective tools in early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Of course, mammography is not a perfect tool, but as a woman, I’d rather be safe now than sorry later on.
The American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology say starting mammograms at age 40 is still the way to go. As a healthcare professional, I stand with this statement and I hope all who read this will agree. Go get the squeeze... please!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day: For more information on breast cancer, examinations and all other questions, please log onto the following NCI (National Cancer Institute) website: http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/screening/breast

Acupuncture is Effective for Breast Cancer Hot Flashes

The Journal of Complementary Medicine 2010 Oct:16(10):1047-57 has reported that "traditional acupuncture (TA) offers an effective, non-pharmaceutical method of managing the hot flushes and night sweats...associated with taking tamoxifen for breast cancer". 
Acupuncture is also highly effective in the treatment of dry mouth (xerostoma), fatigue, nausea and general malaise associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Courtesy:  Journal of Chinese Medicine, No 95, Feb 2011

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Major medical institutions, such as Memorial Sloan Kettering and NY Presbyterian don't offer acupuncture to their cancer patients for kicks...it really does work!  For more information, please contact me at k@kmondesire.com.  If you know someone who is going through this life struggle, pass this blog on to them, so they may obtain a referral for a practitioner in their area.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Drug-Free Method And The Treatment of Menopause

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Drug-Free Method And The Treatment of Menopause

Part One of a Two Part Blog
In 2002, a government-funded study called the Women's Health Initiative raised grave and serious concerns about HRT's (Hormone Replacement Therapy) benefits and risks. These concerns led to nearly two-thirds of women who were on HRT to cease treatment. HRT is a hormonal replacement treatment that will increase a woman’s natural hormone levels. Estrogen-alone therapy (ET) is prescribed for women who have had a hysterectomy. Estrogen with progesterone therapy (EPT) is prescribed for women who experience menopause naturally.
So, What Happens During Menopause? Estrogen (working with progesterone) helps the body to process calcium (important for bone strength), helps to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and a healthy vagina. When menopause begins, the levels of natural estrogen and progesterone decrease rapidly and drastically. This is what causes the symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, mood changes, and insomnia. It is at this time that there can also be the risk of osteoporosis. Women who are experiencing a naturally occurring menopause should not take estrogen replacement, because can increase the risk of developing cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). Unnaturally high amounts of estrogen at this time of life can cause an overgrowth of uterine cells, which can lead to cancer. The addition of progesterone therapy decreases the risk of endometrial cancer by causing the endometrium to shed each month – but should a woman really be playing with nature in this manner? Nature has a very strange way of repelling and battling against anything foreign to it, and HRT can be deemed foreign to the immune system.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Stay Tuned for Tomorrow’s Blog: Learn how you can overcome the symptoms of menopause …naturally and drug-free with acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy. Learn how you could eliminate hot flashes, night sweats and a dry vagina in just a few weeks with Chinese Medicine.

Tuesday Timeout

Seaweeds on the Northern California Coast

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Take a timeout today for 5 to 10 minutes and just relax.  The long weekend was chock-full of fun, food and friends. As you shovel through all those unread emails of the past 3 to 4 days, go back to this photo and wonder at the beauty of nature.  Tomorrow, I'll tell you all about the edible seaweeds and while they are as buttery and delicate as field greens, they are even better for your health!
Happy Tuesday!

Why Some of Us Should Not Eat Soy

Some of us are meat eaters, some of us are vegetarians/vegans and any variation of diet that's out there today.  But, why can't some of us tolerate soy?  Here are some facts on soy that you may not know about.  As always, everything in moderation is fine in the diet and soy should be viewed in the same manner by which one would moderate alcohols, fats, meats, etc.  Here we go:  
"...

• Soy is the second-most genetically modified crop in the United States.  Only corn beats soy in this arena.
• Soy never neutralizes its 'anti-nutrients' (phytates, protease inhibitors, lectins and saponins).  These 'anti-nutrients' are the elements that are contained in the soy to protect the seed and plant and this is a huge reason why many of us cannot digest soy (usually the same folks who cannot digest corn as well). 
• For most of us, having soy in moderation in our diet is not a problem, but too much soy can lead to damage of the stomach lining and some other digestive ailments.
• If we ate fermented soy, there would be fewer digestive problems involved with the ingestion of this protein.  Most Americans ingest soy through soy milk, tofu, additive to other foods or as a textured vegetable protein (TVP).
• Feeding soy milk to babies may not be the best idea.  Soy milk has been linked to autoimmune thyroid and pediatric problems, aluminum toxicity and early puberty (because of its high estrogen content).  It affects protein digestion and pancreatic function.  It lacks vitamin D and reduces the bioavailability of zinc, iron and lacks cholesterol (necessary for nerves, hormones and brain development).  Soy is a huge comoponent of baby formula...another 'health' food on the market for the second largest crop..."
• For the breast cancer patient...if your cancer cell is estrogen/progesterone receptive and you eat soy; you are feeding the cancer cells!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  be smart!  Read more about soy online and educate yourselves about this food as you would read up on any other food source.  Just because  you hear 'it's good for you' on the television, doesn't mean it's good for you in particular! 
Today's material was provided to you via the hard work and research of Dr. Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, Can and the complete article 'Food Myths:  Bamboozled By The Soy Hype', can be found at www.acupuncturetoday.com January 2011, volume 12, Number 1.

An Aspirin a Day Keeps the Cancer Away

The Financial Times reported just a few days ago that taking an aspirin a day can cut your risk of dying from cancer by 25%.
The British medical journal, The Lancet, showed a drop in long term mortality from all kinds of cancer among patients who took small doses daily for five years.  It is thought that aspirin can help to prevent cancer by enhancing the ability of celss to repair damage to DNA.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  this doesn't mean that all adults should run out tomorrow and buy bottles of aspirin, but consult with your primary care physician first and discuss the benefits of a daily dose of aspirin.

On Commitment and Letting Go

As many of you know, my lovely little Golden Retriever, Sooki has been diagnosed with a mass in her abdominal cavity.  At this time, we are waiting for the results from a full body CT scan performed yesterday.  Only a clear diagnosis will tell me what path we will take....yes, WE.  Sooki is 14 years old and we have been in a most committed relationship for over 12 years since she adopted me.  Sooki took me under her care on one of the most darkest days of my life and has been with me through thick and thin, fun and not so fun times, been my guinea pig while in med school (ever look up a dog's nose with a magnifying glass?  Fascinating!), letting me test her reflexes and practicing acupuncture on her.  She's run 5 miles every morning with me for years while I trained for my fights.   In return, I've let Sooki chase squirrels, rabbits, eat everything and more or less do anything else her little heart pleases.  In the past few years, she graduated from Therapy Dog School just so she could assist me in my practice by making sick patients smile or just sharing her love. 
Now, after all these years of her taking care of me, it's time for me to take care of Sooki.  I will make sure she has normalcy and great quality of life and we will continue to do what we always do everyday until she tells me it's time to go onto her next adventure.  We have no regrets, we only have happy memories of all the crazy things we've done together.  And when her time comes to retire from her present job, I will certainly miss her physically, but she will always be next to me.
Sooki is one of God's lesser angels.  They come into our lives when we need them most; they take care of us and show us what love is.  They only leave us when they are certain their job is done.  Sooki has led me to the path of knowing true love for humans and has led me to the loving arms of one very special human in particular.  That has been her job.  She's certainly worked very hard all these years and I know she's already planning her next adventure.
So, if you're around our downtown office, feel free to stop by and say hello...all treats gladly accepted (Auntie Felicitas has already sent her goodies...thank you!) and thank her for the fun and laughter she's given to you.
Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Life can be short, life can be long.  It's all relative.  Do your lives with no regrets and remember, it's YOUR LIFE AND NO ONE ELSE'S.  Don't allow other people's rules or opinions steer you away from doing what you know is going to give you a full life.  No one else walks in your skin and no one has a right to tell you how to do your life, so don't fall into the trap of false guilt ; this is unhealthy and leads to stress-related physical disease.
If they love you, they will stay committed to you, love you and allow the winds of life dance between you.

12 Food Additives You Should Avoid

Jean Weiss for MSN Health & Fitness has written a great piece on the 12 food additives we should avoid.

She writes,  "Whoever coined the term food additives had it all wrong. Including something new in a food doesn't always add up to more, at least when it comes to your health. Studies that test the safety of additives are based on animal trials. It is difficult to deduce whether the results of an animal study equate to human health, though many of these studies show that some additives could be cancer-causing. "

Read all about these food additives on my nutrition page and bookmark it in your blackberry.  The next time you go food shopping, you'll have the list at your fingertips, and you can avoid purchasing foods containing these additives.
Here's your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Better Education Leads to Better Health!  And, let's not forget to say 'thank you' to Jean for sharing!!
http://www.kmondesire.com/nutrition.html

Acupuncture Demystified via The Wall St Journal

Acupuncture has long baffled medical experts and no wonder: It holds that an invisible life force called qi (pronounced chee) travels up and down the body in 14 meridians. Illness and pain are due to blockages and imbalances in qi. Inserting thin needles into the body at precise points can unblock the meridians, practitioners believe, and treat everything from arthritis and asthma to anxiety, acne and infertility.
· Arthritis of the Knee: Acupuncture significantly reduced pain and restored function, according to a 2004 government study.

· Headaches: Two 2009 reviews found that acupuncture cut both tension and migraine headaches.

· Lower Back Pain: Acupuncture eased it in a big study last year, but so did a sham treatment where needles didn't penetrate the skin.

· Cancer: Has proven effective in reducing nausea and fatigue caused by chemotherapy.

· Infertility: Improves the odds of pregnancy for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization, according to a 2008 review of seven clinical trials.

· Addiction: Often used to help quit smoking, drinking, drug use and overeating.

After decades of cynicism, Western medical experts are using high-tech tools to unravel the ancient mysteries of how acupuncture works.
WSJ HEALTH JOURNAL MARCH 22, 2010


http://www.kmondesire.com/whatsnewsthismonth.html

Community Service - Give Back and Feel Good

Today,  I'm volunteering my time and talents to the Women At Risk luncheon committee.  It makes me feel good to give something of my Self to others.  The annual fundraising luncheon is May 10th at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan.  What's Women At Risk?
Women At Risk (WAR®) is the breast cancer program of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center whose mission is to enhance the lives of women who are at high risk for the development of breast cancer and women with breast cancer through research, education and support. WAR was founded in 1991 by a grassroots partnership of physicians, patients and volunteers and since then, has been funding and conducting innovative breast cancer research and implementing successful support and education programs in the New York Metropolitan Area.

What does Women At Risk do?
High-Risk Program
WAR recognizes that addressing risk is one of the most effective ways to reduce breast cancer occurrence and mortality. Women enrolled in the high-risk program gain access to long-term monitoring and care as well as high-risk resources and support. They are also enrolled in the WAR Registry Database which offers researchers the opportunity to access data for use in studies concerning breast cancer risk.

How can you get involved?
Attend an Event- Attend the annual symposium, art exhibit or other events.
Volunteer- Help out at the symposium or a free screening day, or volunteer in the office.
Help WAR fund its programs and services
- Register on One Cause (www.onecause.com), Choose “Women At Risk” as your cause, and participating retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Target, Amazon, Dell, and hundreds more will donate a percentage of your purchases to WAR.
- Own a business? Host an “October Promotion” for WAR during Breast-Cancer Awareness Month
- Make a tax-deductible contribution.
Sign up to join the mailing list to receive the latest updates on WAR activities and events!
For more info, visit www.womenatrisknyc.org or www.womenatrisknyc.blogspot.com.
To contact, call (212) 305-9525 or send inquiries to info@womenatrisknyc.org.

This might not be your 'cup of tea', but why not take the initiative and donate some of your time and talent today for a good cause.  Do it because it excites you, not because it is self-serving.  When you give service to others, you 'play it forward'.  Get involved today - you never know if and when YOU might need someone; and wouldn't it be nice if someone was there for you if need be?

Have you had your Pap Smear and Mammogram Recently?

Yesterday, I went for my annual mammogram and thought I would repost this blog today for you:

 This one is for the ladies today.  It occurred to me that many of you are lax in getting your pap smears and mammograms.  Here's some info you definitely SHOULD read!  And for you girls out there who don't like to touch yourselves, THAT'S WHAT YOUR GUY IS THERE FOR!!  HAVE SOME FUN AND LET YOUR MAN EXAMINE YOUR BREASTS!  Seriously, did you know that it is usually the sex partner who initially detects breast lumps?  Think about it...who better knows your breasts than the one who plays most with them???
The 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines on mammography and breast examination are controversial and the following facts should be seriously considered.
Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Breast cancer claims more than 40,000 lives each year. Only lung cancer reigns as the number one cancer killer. The mammography has been highly effective in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Historically, the USPSTF has recommended mammograms every 1-2 years for women who turn 40 years of age. Recently, the new guidelines recommend commencing mammography screening at age 50 until reaching the age of 74 and only one test every two years.
The USPSTF has determined that early screening adds only 2 lives saved per 1000 women screened. Screening women in their 50s averts "only" 1 death in every 1300 women screened, and screening women in their 40s prevents only 1 death in every 1900. Only one death might not seem so bad….unless that statistic is you, your mother, sister, wife, friend or significant other!
The American Cancer Society has stated that "The new guidelines are essentially telling women that mammography age 40 to 49 saves lives...just not enough of them”. 22% of breast cancer deaths occur in women in their 50s, 17% occur in women in their 40s.
The 2009 guidelines discourage teaching breast self-exam to patients, stating that this practice leads to more procedures, false alarms and unneeded biopsies, and doesn't reduce breast cancer mortality. They cite no conclusions on the value of clinical breast exam.
There is no recommendation for the preferable screening method (plain film, digital mammography, or MRI).
The USPSTF disclaimer reads: "This recommendation applies to women age 40 and older who are not at increased risk (of breast cancer) by virtue of a known genetic mutation or a history of chest radiation."
Healthcare reform is a priority of the national agenda presently, and these new guidelines could very well be used as fodder by insurance companies to use as a baseline to limit or restrict screening and testing that have been proven to be very effective tools in early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Of course, mammography is not a perfect tool, but as a woman, I’d rather be safe now than sorry later on.
The American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology say starting mammograms at age 40 is still the way to go. As a healthcare professional, I stand with this statement and I hope all who read this will agree. Go get the squeeze... please!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  For more information on breast cancer, examinations and all other questions, please log onto the following NCI (National Cancer Institute) website:  http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/screening/breast

Lecture on the Treatment of the Breast Cancer Patient/Survivor Tomorrow Evening

It's not too late to register for my lecture tomorrow evening at NY Presbyterian Hospital.  If you or someone you care about has breast cancer or is a breast cancer survivor, this is a MUST EVENT for all of you!

Learn how Traditional Chinese Medicine can help with the symptoms of chemotherapy and radiation.  It's short, sweet and the best part is....
IT'S FREE and open to all.
 
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
6p to 7p
W. Duane Todd Amphitheathre, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
630 W. 168th St. (between Broadway and Fort Washington)
16th Floor, Room 16-405

To RSVP, email lheld@womenatrisknyc.org or call (212)305-3269.