Study unpicks gene changes behind breast cancer -Breast Cancer ...

? Breast Cancer news ? May 17, 2012

Scientists have mapped the complete genetic codes of 21 breast cancers and created a catalogue of the mutations that accumulate in breast cells, raising hopes that the disease may be able to be spotted earlier and treated more effectively in future.

The research, the first of its kind, untangles the genetic history of how cancer evolves, allowing scientists to identify mutational patterns that fuel the growth of breast tumors, and start to work out the processes behind them.

?These findings have implications for our understanding of how breast cancers develop over the decades before diagnosis in adults and might help to find possible targets for improved diagnosis or therapeutic intervention in the future,? said Mike Stratton, who led the research team.

Breast cancer kills more than 450,000 women a year worldwide and is the most common cancer among women, accounting for 16 percent of all cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

A study last year by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in the United States found that global breast cancer cases have more than doubled in just three decades, from 641,000 cases in 1980 to 1.6 million cases in 2010 - a pace that far exceeds global population growth.

U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics
- About 1 in 8 U.S. women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.

- In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.

- About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2011. A man?s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.

- From 1999 to 2005, breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. decreased by about 2% per year. The decrease was seen only in women aged 50 and older. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women?s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.

- About 39,520 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2011 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1990 - especially in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.

- For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.

?This is the first time we?ve been able to delve fully into breast cancer genomes in such a thorough way,? said Peter Campbell, head of cancer genetics and genomics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, where the studies were led.

The work had given scientists ?a full panoramic view of the cancer genome? and helped them identify ?mutational patterns rather than individual mutations in specific genes?, he added.

DNA MUTATIONS

?We?ve known for many years now that all cancers are due to abnormalities of DNA...that occur in every single cell of the body over the course of a lifetime,? said Stratton.

?But although we?ve known that, it?s remarkable how rudimentary our knowledge is about what the processes are that cause these abnormalities, these mutations in our DNA.?

Stratton?s team sequenced the genomes of the 21 breast cancers and catalogued all the mutations. They found five major processes that cause one letter of code to be changed to another letter. Genetic code comes in four DNA letters, A,C,G and T.

U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics
- Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just under 30% of cancers in women are breast cancers.

- White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women. However, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women. Overall, African-American women are more llkely to die of breast cancer. Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.

- In 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the US.

- A woman?s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.

- About 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations (abnormal changes) inherited from one?s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age (before menopause). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations.

- In men, about 1 in 10 breast cancers are believed to be due to BRCA2 mutations, and even fewer cases to BRCA1 mutations.

- About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.

- The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).

Stratton said one of the most exciting findings was that one of these processes is characterized by small pockets of massively mutated regions of the genome.

This sudden ?storm? of mutations is often seen in breast cancers, he explained in an audio briefing.

Provided by ArmMed Media


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Domestic Violence Counseling Wichita: The Way To Resolve And ...

Each day there are thousands of people suffering from violence and or abuse. In many cases these types of problems are often overlooked or even denied. If you or someone you know is being abused while in a relationship, and are looking for a solution, then domestic violence counseling Wichita can offer their services in regard to helping families resolve this issue through their joint sessions.

The goal of the professional therapist is to offer a way to help those who are being abused and the ones who are abusing, so to recover from this kind of violent relationship. With the expert advice and assistance of these therapist, couples who are experiencing these types of relationships are live a normal life that is filled with love and happiness.

The benefits for those who live with this type of life of abuse can get professional help from these therapist, who can offer a way for them to restore the hope of keeping their love together, as it was meant to be from the start of their relationship.

If you do still care about your partner and want the relationship to continue, then with the help of these professional therapist, this can be achieved. The challenges are quite difficult, as the abuser will need to come and understand his or her faults in regard to abusing the other person in the relationship.

When you are living with an abuser who is very controlling, manipulative, and or threatening, then this is when professional therapy will be important. With the assistance of a good therapist, this violent cases can be resolved and is very possible to make it a reality for the couple to once again live with each other complete harmony.

Getting professional help for this matter is so very important, as this shall have a scary affect on the one who is being abused. The domestic violence counseling wichita can provide the best route towards healing, and moving on and growing past the abuse with their joint sessions that are a powerful tool for these types of issues.

You can visit the website http://www.recovery-unlimited.com for more helpful information about domestic violence counseling wichita

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Sony applies for wireless power patent, wants to daisy-chain your energy

Sony wireless power patent

As much as we're familiar with wireless power, we know developing a truly contact-free form of charging has a whole raft of extra challenges, such as getting into the sweet spot for power delivery and the potential traffic jam caused by throwing another device into the mix. Sony thinks it has these problems licked through a newly-published patent application. Its method uses location-finding to steer users until they're close enough for the wireless power source to reliably do its job. In some cases, it can use one mobile device to relay power to another, keeping everything fed even if the main power hub is tied up. Multiple power sources next to each other can go so far as to decide which of them should be the one to send power. The patent isn't a certain sign that your VAIO or Xperia is about to cut the cord altogether -- Sony first submitted this vision of the future in 2009. Even so, it gives us hope that our gadgets will one day start charging themselves instead of making us hunt down a wire or charging plate.

Sony applies for wireless power patent, wants to daisy-chain your energy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 21:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top shopping streets around the globe

Travelscape Images / Alamy

Orchard Road in Singapore gets its name from the plantations that lined it throughout the 19th century. Nowadays, it's a singular shopping destination, with 22 malls and six department stores.

By Marnie Hanel, Departures.com

For the seasoned traveler, few things are as gratifying as when someone notices an object you bought during your journeys, be it from Paris, Tokyo or S?o Paulo. The thrill isn?t just in the nod to a jet-setting lifestyle ? it?s also in the chance to reminisce about a past adventure.

Slideshow: 10 of the world?s top shopping streets

People shop abroad for different reasons. Some hit the tarmac ready to hunt for that next souvenir to add to a collection. (After all, one rarely sees a lone tribal mask.) Others delight in snagging whatever a country does best, be it knitwear in Iceland or watches in Switzerland. Still others rejoice in finding favorite luxury designers wherever they go, reveling in, say, an Herm?s bangle bought in Qatar as much as one snapped up in Arizona. Then there are those who shop simply for shopping?s sake. For these folks, even sourcing the necessities is a joy.

No matter which type of shopper you are, perusing a country?s wares is an essential part of traveling ? not just because of what you might buy, but also because of the experience you?ll have while doing it: discovering a store, falling in love with something fantastic, interacting with a salesperson and walking out with a treasure.

More from Departures.com

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Saudi Business Consulting - Saudi Stock Market

6:00 PM By Article Directory

'; div.innerHTML = summary; } //]]> Saudi Business Consulting - Saudi Stock Market Saudi Business Consulting - Saudi Stock Market

Article by Hadi Al-Beshri

The Saudi stock market is one of the biggest stock markets in the region, The region also have the Kuwaiti stock market, Bahraini Stock Market, Qatari Stock market, Abu Dhabi stock market in UAE an d Dubai Stock market which is also in UAE.

It is relatively young when compared with other stock markets. It is an OTC stock market.

The highest level for the Saudi stock market was 20,634 points which it hit on 25/02/2006 before it crashed that year. The lowest point the Saudi stock market reached was 4,130 point which was on 11/03/2009.The Saudi stock market currently trades in the range of 6,000-6,500 points for most of the 2010. As of this article it is near the yearly high at 6,440 point.

The Saudi stock market has a total of 144 listed companies, which are listed in 15 sectors, These sectors are:Banks & Financial Services, Petrochemical Industries, Cement, Retail, Energy & Utilities, Agriculture & Food Industries, Telecommunication & Information Technology, Insurance, Multi-Investment, Industrial Investment, Building & Construction, Real Estate Development, Transport, Media and Publishing, Hotel & Tourism.

With the Petrochemical Industries sector having about 23.73% of the total value traded in the market

Some facts about the Saudi Stock Market:The largest company listed by market cap is SABIC which is in the Petrochemical Industries sector, Its market cap is SAR 247,500,000,000 (3,000,000,000 shares X SAR 82.50 price/share)

The next company with related to market cap has about half the value. The rank belongs to Al Rajhi Bank with a total market cap of SAR 106,875,000,000 (1,500,000,000 shares X SAR 71.25 price/share)

Total stock shares that have been traded for the year ended 2009 are57,269,078,110 sharesWith value of SAR 1,262,148,800,618.10

All information is taken from the 2009 yearly stock report.

-------------------------Megwar Innovative Consulting: Sa udi Business Consulting 2010http://www.megwarinnovativeconsulting.com

Hadi Al-Beshri is a Saudi entrepreneur and owner of Megwar Innovative Consulting.

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NICB: 1 in 10 Corvettes Stolen Between 1981 and 2011 - Auto ...


In its second classic-car feature, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is highlighting the Chevrolet Corvette, a car that has seen more than 10 percent of its total production stolen in the past three decades. The 1984 model was the most-stolen Chevrolet variant, the NICB found, and California far outpaced others as the state where the car was stolen most often.

California a Hot Spot for Thefts of Corvettes, Cars Overall

An analysis of production and theft numbers between 1981 and 2011 showed that more than 1 in every 10 Corvettes were stolen during that time period, with 90,427 Corvettes reported stolen among 862,918 that were produced in the U.S.

Corvettes stolen during that time period were concentrated in 10 states, where 70 percent of all Corvette thefts occurred, according to the NICB. California led other states by far with 14,002 thefts; Florida and Texas followed with 8,731 and 8,198, respectively.

The year 1984 showed both the highest production and theft rates for Corvettes. During that year, 8,554 of the vehicles were stolen out of 51,547 that were built, according to the analysis.

The report was prepared as a part of NICB?s Hot Wheels Classics series, which profiles vintage cars and their theft rates. The Ford Mustang was profiled in January.

The latest full-fledged car theft report from the NICB, based on 2010 numbers, found that the total number of stolen vehicles in the U.S. has decreased over recent years. That report identified metro areas were thefts occurred the most, and 8 of the top 10 cities were in California. The Golden State had the highest number of auto thefts in 2009, according to the NICB.

Auto Theft Rates Carry Insurance Implications

Comprehensive coverage, which is optional, is the only kind of coverage compensating policyholders in instances of theft. Insurers usually lower comprehensive coverage prices when they pay fewer claims related to that type of coverage and when the car being insured has a lower-than-average theft rate.

Drops in a state?s car thefts don?t have an instant impact on costs because insurers mostly refer to local and internal claims statistics to calculate premiums, but long-term decreases in statewide theft rates could eventually be passed onto consumers in the form of lower comprehensive coverage costs.

For example, over time a driver might have an easier time getting cheap car insurance in Michigan to protect against theft, since the amount of cars stolen in the state dropped by more than 9 percent between 2009 and 2010, the fourth consecutive year with lower theft numbers, according to the Michigan Auto Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA).

Michigan motorists saved almost $51 per insured car because of fewer thefts in the state, where average comprehensive premiums fell 4.3 percent, according to the ATPA. Still, Michigan was ranked as having the sixth-highest number of total vehicle thefts in the U.S. in 2010, and the NCIB reported that Michigan had the fifth-highest statewide number of Corvette thefts.

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Traditional Food & Drink for a Cultural Wedding - Wedding Window

As I mentioned in a previous Wed Loft post about multicultural weddings, serving traditional food and drink is an easy way to honor culture and family at your wedding.? With our ever growing community of global caterers and restaurants, modern multicultural couples have a wide variety of reception options from which to choose. From simple appetizers to cocktail hour treats and even a full plated meal, food is the great mediator that brings families together and adds cultural flavor without overwhelming the entire wedding celebration. Here are some of my favorite dishes:

Ceviche is a popular seafood appetizer in the coastal regions of Latin America. Served cold, it is always fresh and relatively simple for caterers to create. The dish is perfect for a Latin inspired cocktail hour; add some gourmet chips, guacamole, and fresh farmer?s cheese for a fabulous appetizer plate.

Shrimp Ceviche

Photo Credit: ColonyWineMarket.com

Your Italian ancestors surely dined on traditional wedding soup, a perfect first course for a sit down reception meal. Follow up with various fresh pasta dishes served family style, ending with fruit, salad and a generous shot of Limonchello to cleanse your palette.

Italian-Wedding-Soup

Photo Credit: AdventurousFoodie.com

A Japanese sushi bar is an enticing addition to a cocktail hour. Remember to include vegetarian options for non-fish eaters.? Sushi can be a brave choice so be sure to research your caterers and check out comments on the various online review sites.

Sushi

Photo Credit: JillGordonCelebrate.com

A home style Brazilian BBQ is sure to please any grilling fanatic with its wide variety of meats, salads, and vegetables. Know for its simple yet flavorful seasoning, Brazilian BBQ and the accompanying side dishes are perfect for a buffet style reception.

samba

Photo Credit: Samba via EthnicEats.ca

Of Greek decent? Fill a dessert table with traditional cakes and pastries. An old country family sweets recipe would make a perfect favor for your guests. Remember to include the instructions so they can pass on the tradition with their families.

aressana-hotel_014

Photo Credit: GreekIslandWeddingInspirations.com

Here are some of my favorite drinks:

Mead, a homemade wine-like drink, is common at Irish weddings. Easy to make at home, mead is a thoughtful, unique gift for guests.

wine-harvest-wedding-invitations8

Photo Credit: Emily Foran / Three Little Words

Beautifully colored and deliciously tasting, Sangria is the drink of choice at weddings with a Latin flair. Simple to make and serve, it is a perfect summer wedding signature drink.

200508493-001

Photo Credit: DelizieDelizie.com

Sake is a Japanese rice wine served at special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and holidays. Served chilled or warm, sake etiquette, pouring for others and receiving in specific movements, is a common custom in Japan. Advice from sake experts: sip slowly and never let a cup go dry.

Saki

Photo Credit: found on WeddingbyColor.com

I hope you?ve enjoyed our little global tour of traditional wedding food and drink. No matter how you choose to add culture your wedding, this special touch is sure to connect with your families and guests and provide happy memories for you newlyweds for years to come.

Happy Planning!

Mellissa

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Lady Gaga: Banned in Indonesia!


Indonesia's Little Monsters, revolt!

Lady Gaga, who is scheduled to perform in Jakarta next month, has just been banned by the nation following protests from hardline Islamic critics.

The concert drew vehement opposition from many in the world's most populous Muslim nation, due to her controversial persona and racy getups.

A spokesman for the Indonesian national police has confirmed that the singer has been denied a permit for her June 3 show, thus negging the show.

Lady Gaga's Rainbow Hair

It would have been the biggest stop on her Asian tour, having been set to take place at the 52,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta.

The Islamic Defenders Front trashed the global pop superstar for her "Satanic lyrics" that threaten to "destroy the children's sense of morality."

Other protesters, equally enraged, even vowed to physically block the singer from setting foot on Indonesian soil if the show wasn't cancelled.

Local law enforcement reportedly requested that the permit be denied after fearing that officers wouldn't able to contain a massive on-site protest.

Earlier this spring, Gaga's tour drew protests from South Korean Christian groups decrying that her "pornographic" performances promoted homosexuality.

No word if the Lady Gaga hermaphrodite rumors also make the protesters uneasy, or if they're even allowed to read such things on the Internet.

[Photo: WENN.com]

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First of its kind 'menopause map' helps women navigate treatment

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 1-May-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Aaron Lohr
alohr@endo-society.org
240-482-1380

Dionne Dougall-Bass
dionne@burnesscommunications.com
301-961-5803
Burness Communications

Nationwide Poll found 7 out of 10 women suffering from menopausal symptoms are not treated; Majority not talking to their doctors about various relief options

May 1, 2012 (Chevy Chase, MD) Women going through menopause now have a first-of-its-kind interactive guide to help them better understand their menu of treatment options, including whether hormone therapy may be right for them. The Endocrine Society and its Hormone Health Network today released the "Menopause Map," an online tool to help women and their doctors discuss which hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options would be most effective and safe to relieve the sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause. A new accompanying survey found that the majority of women facing challenging symptoms are concerned about hormone treatment and are not discussing it, or other non-hormonal options, with their doctor. The Map was developed by Endocrine Society physician experts who specialize in menopause management.

The tool is based on the latest unbiased research and is intended to jumpstart conversations between women and their doctors about the choices available to them as they approach and experience menopause.

Hormone therapy has been under intense scrutiny since 2002, when a large government study called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) reported that hormone therapyspecifically the combination of estrogen and progestin togetherincreased the risk for blood clots, stroke, breast cancer and heart attacks. The researchers halted the study and concluded that the risks of hormone therapy outweighed the benefits. Although the study was designed to evaluate the role of hormone therapy in the prevention of diseases related to aging, many women and their doctors also abandoned it as therapy for menopausal symptoms.

Over the past 10 years, additional research has found that the level of risk depends on the individual woman, her health history, age, and the number of years since her menopause began. In general, younger women (under 60) who have recently started menopause are at a lower risk than older women when taking low doses of hormone therapy.

"Left with the false impression that hormone therapy isn't a safe option, far too many women have suffered in silence thinking their options for symptom relief were limited or non-existent," says Cynthia Stuenkel, MD, a member of The Endocrine Society and an endocrinologist specializing in menopause at the University of California, San Diego. "We know that for some women, hormonal therapy provides the only relief for severe menopausal symptoms. Women deserve some clear answers and helpful tools to engage their doctors in meaningful conversations about the multiple choices available to improve their menopausal symptoms."

When a woman enters menopause, she stops menstruating and her body produces less of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. The process of menopause takes years. During that time, women may experience moderate to severe symptoms, including hot flashes, interrupted sleep, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms that affect her quality of life.

The survey found that 72 percent of women currently experiencing symptoms have not received any treatment for them. Other findings include:

  • Majorities of menopausal women experiencing symptoms have not talked to their primary health care provider or OB/GYN about hormone therapy (62%) or non-hormone options (61%), and half of them have not talked about lifestyle changes;
  • Nearly half (49%) of menopausal women experiencing symptoms have a negative impression of hormone therapy; and
  • While the sample sizes of African Americans and Latinas in the survey are small, only 17 percent of African-American respondents say they have talked to their doctors about hormone therapy, compared to 39 percent of white women and 35 percent of Latinas, suggesting that disparities may exist.

"Unfortunately, as in many health care issues, significant disparities exist. Add to that, many primary care doctors don't have enough information about the latest research or what to prescribe," Dr. Stuenkel says. "We want to make health care providers across the nation aware of this tool so that they can facilitate better discussions with their patients."

The "Menopause Map" is an online interactive tool that guides a woman through the different options available to get relief from her symptoms through a series of prompting questions about those symptoms and her personal health history. The Map also has links to questionnaires that help assess current risk for breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. The tool weighs hormonal and non-hormonal therapies against the risks based on individual symptoms and medical history.

The Map was not designed to be a self-diagnostic tool. It's recommended that women print out their results along with a list of provided questions to discuss the best treatment options for them with their provider. Women should revisit this tool to check their symptoms and have a continuous, informed dialogue with their provider.

The important facts to know about hormone therapy are:

  • Women 60 years and older should not use menopausal hormone therapy.
  • Women 50-59 years or younger, with no family or personal history of breast cancer, no history of heart disease or stroke, and with moderate to severe menopausal symptoms are the best candidates for hormone therapy.
  • If considering hormone therapy, women should talk with their health care provider to determine a plan that is right for them.
  • In addition, lifestyle approach also helps alleviate symptoms and benefit long-term health.
  • For those who decide on hormone therapy, this is an ongoing process and might require a period of trial and error to find the right fit for each individual woman.
  • For those who decide on non-hormonal options, there are several proven therapies available that may help with symptoms. It is important women share information about all medications they are using, including over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements, to make sure the choice of therapy doesn't interact with other medications.

###

The Menopause Map can be found at www.hormone.org/MenopauseMap.

About the Survey: The Endocrine Society commissioned Lake Research Partners to conduct a nationally representative survey of 810 women ages 45-60 years old, April 13 -17, 2012. The margin of sampling error is + 4.3 percentage points.

Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 15,000 physicians, scientists, educators, nurses and students in more than 100 countries. Society members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, MD. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org.

The Hormone Health Network works to join Endocrine Society physicians, primary care providers, patients and the public in meaningful, informed discussions about hormones and health. The Network offers patients and their providers free, on-line resources that are based on the Society's most advanced clinical and scientific knowledge of endocrine-related diseases and conditions. Join the Hormone Health Network today by visiting www.hormone.org and subscribing to Hormone Hotline, our monthly e-update on hormones and health.



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 1-May-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Aaron Lohr
alohr@endo-society.org
240-482-1380

Dionne Dougall-Bass
dionne@burnesscommunications.com
301-961-5803
Burness Communications

Nationwide Poll found 7 out of 10 women suffering from menopausal symptoms are not treated; Majority not talking to their doctors about various relief options

May 1, 2012 (Chevy Chase, MD) Women going through menopause now have a first-of-its-kind interactive guide to help them better understand their menu of treatment options, including whether hormone therapy may be right for them. The Endocrine Society and its Hormone Health Network today released the "Menopause Map," an online tool to help women and their doctors discuss which hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options would be most effective and safe to relieve the sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause. A new accompanying survey found that the majority of women facing challenging symptoms are concerned about hormone treatment and are not discussing it, or other non-hormonal options, with their doctor. The Map was developed by Endocrine Society physician experts who specialize in menopause management.

The tool is based on the latest unbiased research and is intended to jumpstart conversations between women and their doctors about the choices available to them as they approach and experience menopause.

Hormone therapy has been under intense scrutiny since 2002, when a large government study called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) reported that hormone therapyspecifically the combination of estrogen and progestin togetherincreased the risk for blood clots, stroke, breast cancer and heart attacks. The researchers halted the study and concluded that the risks of hormone therapy outweighed the benefits. Although the study was designed to evaluate the role of hormone therapy in the prevention of diseases related to aging, many women and their doctors also abandoned it as therapy for menopausal symptoms.

Over the past 10 years, additional research has found that the level of risk depends on the individual woman, her health history, age, and the number of years since her menopause began. In general, younger women (under 60) who have recently started menopause are at a lower risk than older women when taking low doses of hormone therapy.

"Left with the false impression that hormone therapy isn't a safe option, far too many women have suffered in silence thinking their options for symptom relief were limited or non-existent," says Cynthia Stuenkel, MD, a member of The Endocrine Society and an endocrinologist specializing in menopause at the University of California, San Diego. "We know that for some women, hormonal therapy provides the only relief for severe menopausal symptoms. Women deserve some clear answers and helpful tools to engage their doctors in meaningful conversations about the multiple choices available to improve their menopausal symptoms."

When a woman enters menopause, she stops menstruating and her body produces less of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. The process of menopause takes years. During that time, women may experience moderate to severe symptoms, including hot flashes, interrupted sleep, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms that affect her quality of life.

The survey found that 72 percent of women currently experiencing symptoms have not received any treatment for them. Other findings include:

  • Majorities of menopausal women experiencing symptoms have not talked to their primary health care provider or OB/GYN about hormone therapy (62%) or non-hormone options (61%), and half of them have not talked about lifestyle changes;
  • Nearly half (49%) of menopausal women experiencing symptoms have a negative impression of hormone therapy; and
  • While the sample sizes of African Americans and Latinas in the survey are small, only 17 percent of African-American respondents say they have talked to their doctors about hormone therapy, compared to 39 percent of white women and 35 percent of Latinas, suggesting that disparities may exist.

"Unfortunately, as in many health care issues, significant disparities exist. Add to that, many primary care doctors don't have enough information about the latest research or what to prescribe," Dr. Stuenkel says. "We want to make health care providers across the nation aware of this tool so that they can facilitate better discussions with their patients."

The "Menopause Map" is an online interactive tool that guides a woman through the different options available to get relief from her symptoms through a series of prompting questions about those symptoms and her personal health history. The Map also has links to questionnaires that help assess current risk for breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. The tool weighs hormonal and non-hormonal therapies against the risks based on individual symptoms and medical history.

The Map was not designed to be a self-diagnostic tool. It's recommended that women print out their results along with a list of provided questions to discuss the best treatment options for them with their provider. Women should revisit this tool to check their symptoms and have a continuous, informed dialogue with their provider.

The important facts to know about hormone therapy are:

  • Women 60 years and older should not use menopausal hormone therapy.
  • Women 50-59 years or younger, with no family or personal history of breast cancer, no history of heart disease or stroke, and with moderate to severe menopausal symptoms are the best candidates for hormone therapy.
  • If considering hormone therapy, women should talk with their health care provider to determine a plan that is right for them.
  • In addition, lifestyle approach also helps alleviate symptoms and benefit long-term health.
  • For those who decide on hormone therapy, this is an ongoing process and might require a period of trial and error to find the right fit for each individual woman.
  • For those who decide on non-hormonal options, there are several proven therapies available that may help with symptoms. It is important women share information about all medications they are using, including over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements, to make sure the choice of therapy doesn't interact with other medications.

###

The Menopause Map can be found at www.hormone.org/MenopauseMap.

About the Survey: The Endocrine Society commissioned Lake Research Partners to conduct a nationally representative survey of 810 women ages 45-60 years old, April 13 -17, 2012. The margin of sampling error is + 4.3 percentage points.

Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 15,000 physicians, scientists, educators, nurses and students in more than 100 countries. Society members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, MD. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org.

The Hormone Health Network works to join Endocrine Society physicians, primary care providers, patients and the public in meaningful, informed discussions about hormones and health. The Network offers patients and their providers free, on-line resources that are based on the Society's most advanced clinical and scientific knowledge of endocrine-related diseases and conditions. Join the Hormone Health Network today by visiting www.hormone.org and subscribing to Hormone Hotline, our monthly e-update on hormones and health.



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