Femara, Breast Cancer Medication, Replacement Success!

After Femara was dropped from the Patient Assistance Program of Novartis and I found out that the generic, Letrozole, cost $446.00 for a 30 day supply, I thought I would have to stop taking it. I searched all over locally and on the web for a reasonable price for the generic replacement of Femara. Let me tell you some of the things I found out.

All the major Pharmacies in my area, even the local drug store, all were over priced. On the web you will find list after list of Canadian Pharmacies that sell in the U.S. The online prices ran for a 90 day supply anywhere from $72.00 to $320.00. I just received my 180 day supply and it only cost me $55.00. If you have no insurance or meet their income requirements and can not afford your medications see if you qualify at RX Outreach.

The forms can be downloaded from the site and they cover many medications (not just cancer medications). Perhaps you will find you can save money there.

I hope this information helps some of you with the cost of your medications.

To your health

Leigh

I’ve heard garlic is good for you, but what exactly does it do?

Are there any specific health benefits that come from eating a lot of garlic?

Ethnobotanist James Duke, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading experts in medicinal plants, places garlic among the best all-around plant medicines in the world. According to Dr. Duke’s seminal book, The Green Pharmacy, garlic is effective for alleviating conditions ranging from high cholesterol and high blood pressure to yeast infections and clotting disorders. Garlic compounds have the potential to help treat more than 200 ailments, Dr. Duke says. It’s the best overall plant for stimulating the immune system, the best anti-clotting herb, one of the best anti-fungals, and potentially useful for preventing heart disease and cancer.

How long has garlic been in the human medicine cabinet and what were its uses through the ages? Cultures throughout the world have recognized garlic’s healing abilities. The first-century Roman scholar Pliny the Elder cited uses for it from treating snakebites to dealing with dizziness and intestinal parasites. In China, records show garlic was used as early as the sixth century to treat conditions such as colds and digestive ailments.

For specific information on how much garlic is recommended for a particular condition, check out the articles at The Herb Companion, or read about garlic in The Green Pharmacy, a welcome addition to any home library.

Note: Because garlic is a powerful anti-coagulant (prevents blood clotting), don’t take it in large amounts if you have a clotting disorder, and consult with your health care practitioner if you take anti-coagulants, such as Coumadin, or therapeutic doses of aspirin. Stop using garlic two weeks before any scheduled surgery.

Even if garlic wasn’t healthy for you, my diet would still be full of the stuff considering that great aroma and flavor are part of what makes life worth living. Eat your garlic for health and enjoyment!

To you health and wealth, Leigh
Based on an article by K C Compton
Mother Earth News, 5-31-2011
Photo Credit: Fotolia

Scoping Out Colon Cancer!

It’s not likely to make anyone’s bucket list, but a colonoscopy could save you from needing to do everything on that list anytime soon.

A new study confirms that regular colonoscopy screening, which involves inserting a scope through the rectum and into the intestines to detect and sometimes remove growths, can lower the risk of colon cancer by 77%. That number changes depending on the exact site of tumors: risk is reduced just 56% if the growth is on the right side of the intestines (which is harder to reach with the scope), but that is still a big improvement over people who did not get routine screenings.

Common wisdom calls for a colonoscopy once every 10 years for anyone over age 50, but that advice has been questioned by recent studies suggesting that the invasive and relatively expensive procedure does not find more tumors than less expensive tests that analyze fecal blood or use a shorter scope. The reason for the varying results may be operator skill; proper preparation and thorough execution of the test could improve its effectiveness.

For patients, it may be worth seeking out such skilled physicians, since colonoscopy is one of the few screening tools that can both detect precancerous growths and remove them, preventing cancer in a single procedure.

This information is from Time Magazine Jan 17, 2011, Lab Report by Alice Park.

If you are over 50 please discuss with your doctor scheduling a colonoscopic screening for your health and life.

To your Health, Leigh

Use Music to Soothe Cancer Treatments

Listening to music can be good therapy for people undergoing cancer treatment, according to recent research. The American Cancer Society reports that music therapy can help reduce pain and relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Studies also have shown that listening to music can slow your heart and breathing rate, reduce blood pressure, improve mood and even help you sleep better.

Here are some easy ways to get your musical "dose":

Bring an iPod or CD player with a headset to medical appointments. Listen to classical music, instrumental arrangements or anything you find soothing in the waiting room or during chemo infusions.

Tune your car radio to easy-listening stations. Or, listen to favorite CDs while driving to or from the clinic or hospital. Avoid jarring tunes and downbeat news stations.

If you play a musical instrument, carve out time for personal jam sessions.

Sing along to your favorite tunes-don't by shy!

this article was in the Healthmonitor Magazine, Feb/Mar 2011.

Check for this magazine at your doctors office, they have some great articles.

Good health and wealth to all,

Leigh

Tips for Eating Healthy for Cancer Patients and Everyone!

Additional Tips for Eating Healthy!

Eat Breakfast: One of the best things anyone can do is to eat something nutritious at the beginning of the day. Having a good breakfast will help keep you from getting to hungry by lunchtime, a problem that often leads to overeating.

Order from the Kid’s Menu: If you want to cut down on the amount of calories you consume at lunch, the kid’s menu is a great place to start. Many restaurants will allow adults to order from the children’s menu, just ask.

Put another Shrimp on the Barbey: Ordering grilled items like chicken and fish are a much healthier choice than other protein sources at many restaurants. Try to consume fresh fish - grilled if possible- at least three days per week for more healthy benefits.

Downsizing: Portion sizes are out of control so be aware of how much food is put in front of you when you eat out. If possible, get a to-go box at the beginning of your meal and take half of your meal home or back to the office to eat another day.

Start bringing something from home: If people could do one thing to help them eat healthy, it is to prepare more meals at home. Fix a little extra to take for lunch the next day.

Healthy eating is one of the most important thing a cancer patient can do to help themselves.

Good health to us all!

Leigh

Research is Needed for Finding a Cure for Cancer

Cancer does not care if you are rich or poor. Money is not important to cancer cells.

Cancer does not care if you are famous, imfamous, or an everyday person. Look at Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcett, Cristine Applegate, and everyone else out there fighting with some form of cancer.

Research is the only way we will ever find a cure for cancer.

You can help, Give to:



The American Cancer Society: As the nation's largest private, not-for-profit source of funds for scientists studying cancer, the American Cancer Society (ACS) focuses its funding on investigator-initiated, peer-reviewed proposals. http://www.cancer.org/



Cancer Research Institute : The Cancer Research Institute is the recognized leader in supporting and coordinating the research of immunological approaches to preventing, controlling, or treating cancer. http://www.cancerresearch.org/

St Jude Children's Research Hospital: St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. Discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly.
St. Jude researchers are published and cited more often in high impact publications than any other private pediatric oncology research institution in America. St. Jude is a place where many doctors send some of their sickest patients and toughest cases. A place where cutting-edge research and revolutionary discoveries happen every day. We've built America's second-largest health-care charity so the science never stops. http://www.stjude.org/

City of Hope: On our park-like campus just northeast of Los Angeles, City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital brings groundbreaking research and compassionate care under one roof. It embodies our mission to deliver the newest, most promising therapies to patients without delay, while creating an environment that encourages open collaboration between physicians, caregivers and clinical researchers. City of Hope includes the Beckman Research Institute. http://www.cityofhop.org/

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure : The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Awards More Than $45 Million to Breast Cancer Research http://www.komen.org/


Each of these organizations does fantastic work in cancer research and there are more out there.
Please Help

Good Health and a good week to all,
Leigh