A new test developed at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London would help the other three-fourths of breast cancer patients avoid needless chemotherapy with the stress and side effects that accompany it.

The test may also predict whether ovarian cancer patients will respond to chemotherapy and could be adapted for other forms of the disease.

Usually breast cancer patients find out after a three-month course of treatment they are not benefiting from Anthracycline.

With the new test, they can find out in 24 hours and move on to more effective treatment options.

I hope the new 24-hour test to determine the effectiveness of breast cancer treatment with Anthracycline will soon be standard procedure all over the world and will also be able to determine the effectiveness of other types of chemotherapy.

The National Tour of Gowns travels to almost 50 cities from California to Florida. It carries truckloads of wedding gowns for sale.

Imagine being able to buy a wedding gown at a 35-75% discount.

The tour of gowns raises money to grant wishes including memory-making events to men and women who are battling terminal breast cancer. The tour hopes to grant at least one wish weekly to someone fighting the disease.

The money is also used to support, educate and increase resource awareness and to increase breast cancer awareness among women in their 20s and 30s.

In 1998, Fran Hanson was in the bridal business and wanted to help a friend who had breast cancer. She got together with a group of women and the gown tour was born.

The worldwide support of designers, manufacturers, bridal shops and individuals who donate their gowns makes the Nationwide Tour of Gowns possible.

Thank you to all of you who make the tour possible and help to grant wishes to those with terminal breast cancer.

They sold almost 600 wrist bands in one day. The pink wrist bands are also on sale for $1.00 each at the University Bookstore on campus, the Volume Two Bookstore at University Mall and at the Hokie Stadium Shops in Lane Stadium.

This wonderful football team has designated their October 9 game as Breast Cancer Awareness Day when they host Central Michigan at Lane Stadium.

If you plan to go to the game, buy a wrist band and know that all the money raised will go directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Go Hokies.

Imagine standing at the door of a beautiful hotel conference room. You are a breast cancer survivor, and an American Cancer Society volunteer pins a pink carnation on you. That is what happened to me.

I had the opportunity to attend the Kick-off Breakfast of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The tables had white linen tablecloths and a centerpiece of pink flowers.

Many of us women wore various shades of pink. Some of the Making Strides teams wore their team Tee shirts.

One of the speakers was a male breast cancer survivor—a reminder that men can get breast cancer too.

I would like to thank the flagship sponsors for Tidewater Virginia: 7-11, Bon Secours Virginia, Dominion, Farm Fresh, Grove Church, Sun Trust, and Walmart.

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will be in October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

If you would like to participate in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, go to the American Cancer Society Web site at http://www.cancer.org/Invovled/index . Check Making Strides and put in your zip code to find out about local events in your area.

You can also call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Until I read about the study, I never imagined that scientists were working on a new portable device, “an electronic nose,” with sensors that can detect chemicals from the above four types of cancer. It can distinguish between healthy and malignant breath.

A team at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel did the research. The team worked with only 177 volunteers of both healthy participants and patients with different cancers.

Much more research and larger studies need to be done. It will probably be several years before the breath test is available for use. I hope I’m around to see it happen. I would love to have a doctor hold that device to my nose and say, “Yvonne, congratulations. You have healthy breath.”

Cec Murphey has a talent for being down-to-earth and transparent. He has lived up to his reputation in this gift book.

Cec has made the book of Ecclesiastes come alive with examples from his life and through his humble prayers.

In a gentle way, he helps the readers understand that for everything there is a season whether it be a time to tear down and a time to build up, or a time to embrace and a time to turn away.

I highly recommend this book for those going through some of life’s changes, such as divorce, death of a loved one, a life-threatening illness, a job change, a move to another city or aging.

Nancy J. Locke provided exquisite photographs that add to the hope and comfort of each chapter

Pastors, parents, chaplains, Bible teachers, counselors, doctors and nurses will find this gift book a wonderful addition to their library and a book they can share with others.

A CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Those in a cancer support group are in all stages of recovery. Those who have been in remission ten, fifteen or twenty years provide encouragement and support. Because of them, we newcomers don’t feel alone or misunderstood in the midst of cancer.

FAITH

When we face a life-threatening disease, God can become our strength, our comforter, and our dearest friend if we let him. We can memorize Scriptures that bring us hope and cling to them. Church friends and activities can remain or become a part of our lives.

FRIENDS

After surgery and during cancer treatment, some of us can’t socialize as much as before. However, we can talk with friends on the phone, enjoy short visits, and go to lunch or dinner with them.

JOURNALING

We can journal our thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or rejection. We can write to heal on paper or at the computer.

LAUGHTER

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Daily doses of this good medicine include watching comedies, reading joke books and asking family and friends to send us humorous cards.

MUSIC

Music calms the heart and soul. I like classical music, especially violin and piano and therefore, listened to it. Praise & worship music can be especially soothing and uplifting. It helps us keep a proper perspective and focus on God.

PROPER REST AND NUTRITION

We can sleep eight hours at night and feel better in the daytime. If we need a nap, we take it without guilt and shame. A balanced diet of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and grains helps more than we can imagine. Some of us do better without fried foods, shell fish, and pork, and so we avoid them.

 If anyone has any other suggestions for hanging onto hope in the midst of cancer, please feel free to comment.

 Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega July 30, 2010

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer:

• A lump or swelling, which is usually, but not always, painless
• Skin dimpling or puckering
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Discharge from the nipple.

 Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:

• Older age-most common in men ages 60-70
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Exposure to estrogen
• Family history of breast cancer
• Klinefelter’s Syndrome-more than one copy of the X chromosome which causes abnormal development of the testicles. A male will produce lower levels of certain male hormones (androgens) and more female hormones (estrogens).
• Liver disease-such as cirrhosis of the liver
• Obesity
• Radiation exposure.

 Please listen to Interview #19 at www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey for further discussion of breast cancer in men.

 Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega July 6, 2010

 La obediencia es crucial para nuestra vida con Dios. Los israelitas sabían esto and se unió todo el pueblo para comprometer, bajo juramiento, a obedecer los mandamientos de Dios. Fíjense que el versículo 29 dice la palabra, “todos.” No dice algunos mandamientos. En inglés el versículo también incluye la frase, “cuidadosamente.” Los israelitas comprometieron a obedecer cuidadosamente todos los mandamientos, normas y estatutos de nuestro Señor. Para obedecer cuidadosamente, nosotros, como los israelitas, estudiaríamos la Palabra de Dios para saber sus mandamientos, normas y estatutos. ¿Por qué no sugiere usted que su familia y su iglesia se unan y comprometan, bajo juramiento, a obedecer a Dios cuidadosamente? ¿Por qué no sugiere usted que usted y los cristianos en su lugar de empleo se unan y se comprometan, bajo juramiento, a obedecer todos los mandamientos, normas y estatutos de nuestro Señor? Si usted está en recobro de la fármaco-dependencia, favor de sugerir que se unan y se comprometan, bajo juramiento, usted y sus amigos en recobro a obedecer la palabra de Dios cuidadosamente.

Amado Dios, ayúdame a obedecer todos tus mandamientos, normas y estatutos. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Aplicación: ¿Cuándo se comprometerá, bajo juramiento, a obedecer cuidadosamente?

Derecho de propiedad literaria © Yvonne Ortega el 22 de junio de 2010

Revell publicará la segunda edición de mi libro, Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer en septiembre de 2010.

Mi programa de blogtalkradio, “Hope for the Journey,” empieza a las 10:00 de la mañana los martes en www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey. Hay archivos.

Por favor visite mi sitio Web nuevo y mi blog en mi sitio Web,  www.yvonneortega.com Favor de leer mi libro, Hope for the Journey through Cancer, Revell.

Si usted no desea recibir más de estos breves devocionales, por favor pulse “reply” y escriba “unsubscribe” en la línea del sujeto. Muchas gracias.

 ¡Qué Dios le bendiga!