But since it’s an abortion drug, since it weathered a congressional investigation two years ago–and since it’s in short supply–researchers have yet to test its full potential.

That, says Amy Allina, program director of the Washington-based National Women’s Health Network, is the story on mifepristone. “This drug has the potential to make women healthier in many ways,” says Allina. “But the politics surrounding it have made it difficult to secure funding for more research, and scientists are shying away from studying the drug because they fear getting research protocols approved will be difficult.”

A 2006 paper in the medical journal Gynecological Endocrinology agreed, saying “association with abortion limits the clinical applications of mifepristone.”

Susan Wood, former director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office on Women’s Health and now a research professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services in Washington, D.C., says Election Day might make a big difference.

“A new presidential administration could change the atmosphere at the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research, and the FDA, which oversees it,” says Wood, who resigned from the FDA in 2005 to protest delays in granting emergency contraceptives over-the-counter status. “A new administration has the potential to reduce the hesitancy that government and private funders might have about mifepristone.”

Short Supplies

Kevin Fiscella, an associate professor at New York’s University of Rochester Medical Center, says studies on mifepristone’s applications beyond abortion have been limited by a shortage of the drug.

“For more than a decade, it was difficult for American researchers to get their hands on mifepristone because there wasn’t a U.S. supplier,” says Fiscella. “Now it’s available through Danco Laboratories, a relatively small supplier that may not be able to produce quantities needed for larger studies.”

Mifespristone was the subject of congressional hearings in 2006 that followed the deaths of six U.S. women and one Canadian who took it to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

All the women died of bacterial infections, and the FDA strengthened the drug’s warning label to stress the risk, though it was never withdrawn for use in medical abortion.

In the two years since the hearing, authorities have not established a definitive link between those fatalities and the use of mifepristone to induce abortions, but widespread research into the drug remains sidelined by an anti-choice federal government.

More than 900,000 U.S. women and more than 2 million women in 37 other countries have used mifepristone in medical abortions, according to its New York-based manufacturer, Danco.

More than 97 percent of users surveyed would recommend the method to a friend, according to the New York-based Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Even so, the FDA has received reports of more than 950 problems (mostly hemorrhaging and infection) associated with mifepristone’s use for abortions.

Higher Risk for Medical Abortion

Though only 0.016 percent of users experience these side effects, medical abortion still carries 10 times the risk of death associated with surgical abortion, according to Planned Parenthood.

Mifepristone is offered by 60 percent of U.S. abortion providers and accounts for 13 percent of all abortions and 22 percent of those before nine weeks’ gestation, according to the New York-based Guttmacher Institute.

In 2006, Ohio legislators passed a measure that would restrict the drug’s use for abortions and as a research subject in the state but the law was struck down by a federal court.

In 2007, two mifepristone researchers in Canada reportedly received death threats from anti-choice activists, but nevertheless moved forward with their research.

Mifepristone was in various stages of research investigation before the scare in 2006.

Fiscella, at the University of Rochester Medical Center, is investigating the drug’s potential to treat fibroids. His research shows taking mifepristone can lead to a 40 percent reduction in the size of fibroids, noncancerous uterine growths that can impair fertility and cause pelvic pain and anemia.

“In small doses, mifepristone blocks the reproductive hormone progesterone, which is why it may help with progesterone-affected conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, breast cancer and ovarian cancers,” says Fiscella. “In larger doses, mifepristone blocks glucocorticoid hormones released during stress, which is why it may help treat conditions affected by these hormones, such as depression and Cushing’s syndrome.”

Studies Showed Promise

Mifepristone studies underway before the 2006 congressional hearings include ones related to breast cancer (the University of California); depression (Stanford University); ovarian cancer (the University of South Dakota); and endometriosis, or the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus (the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine). All these studies showed positive outcomes before 2006.

Although rarely prescribed this way, mifepristone can work as an emergency contraceptive if taken within five days of unprotected sex, though it is a different drug from Plan B, also called the “morning-after” pill.

“Mifepristone can serve as emergency contraception as safely and effectively as it terminates early pregnancy,” says Beverly Winikoff, president of the New York-based Gynuity Health Projects.

Other studies have found possible applications of the drug for Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma, ulcers, meningiomas (tumors that arise from the membranes lining the brain and spinal cord) and Cushing’s syndrome (a condition in which prolonged exposure to stress hormones causes stretch marks, high blood pressure and other health problems).

If patients want to try mifepristone for other applications besides its FDA-approved use to induce abortion, doctors may prescribe it “off label,” a common practice in which physicians can write prescriptions for a drug approved for one purpose for that drug’s use in a second purpose.

Off-label use is considered safe if it is supported by research. In fact, many drugs prescribed to women for pregnancy-related conditions are prescribed off-label. Drugs developed specifically to treat pregnant women are rarely developed by pharmaceutical companies and no new classes of drugs for pregnancy-related treatments have been developed in the past two decades, according to a study published in January.

However, health advocates say mifepristone’s widespread use for emergency contraception and for the treatment of endometriosis, fibroids, cancer and other illnesses will only come with more study and with official FDA approval for these uses. Off-label prescriptions are not encouraged until research on a drug is definitive.

“The Bush administration has been staunchly opposed to reproductive choice in general and to the use of mifepristone in particular,” Allina says. “But having a new administration after the 2008 election could result in less stigma, more federal and private funding and eventual FDA approval for more uses.”

By Molly M. Ginty – WeNews correspondent

Molly is a freelance writer based in New York City.

Reprinted with Permission:

Copyright 2008 Women’s eNews. The information contained in this Women’s eNews report may–with the prior written authorization of Women’s eNews–be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. To obtain permission, go to http://www.copyright.com/ccc/do/showConfigurator?WT.mc_id=PubLink and provide the publication or broadcast date and the name of the newspaper, magazine, radio or television station, cable network, Web site, newsletter or list serve where it will be replicated. Please include the approximate size of the audience you intend to reach. Answers to your most frequently asked questions about permissions to reprint or repost Women’s eNews content are available here: http://www.womensenews.org/reprint_faq.cfm

©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.

Many believe the worst day at work can be curbed by inhaling a big tub of ice cream, but now scientists have found new evidence suggesting that bingeing isn’t our fault — it’s biology.

A new study shows that bingeing when stressed might be biological.

Researchers studying the diet choices made by monkeys say the results may explain why some humans binge after a tough day at work. They say that bingeing may not be entirely the fault of all those tantalizing food commercials that draw people to fatty foods.Researchers at the Yerkes Primate Research Center in Atlanta found that stressed monkeys ate more fat and sugar than those who weren’t under stress.There are two classes of monkeys: the dominant ones and the subordinate ones. By studying these two varieties, researchers have learned why some

Surprisingly, dominant monkeys normally ate slightly more of the low-fat, high-fiber food than subordinate monkeys. Apparently, the constant bowing to their superiors curbed the subordinates’ appetite.

But things changed when researchers replaced the healthy food the monkeys normally eat with fatty, sugary banana pellets. While the dominant monkeys dabbled in the new food, the subordinates started bingeing on the tasty cuisine after dark.

“We found the subordinate animals were indeed going out at night and feeding,” said neuroscientist Mark Wilson, a researcher at the center.

Researchers believe the monkeys that are harassed all day long by high-ranking monkeys may just be contemplating the days’ events and coping.

“Eating high-fat, high-caloric foods … they increase … dopamine levels, they increase serotonin and endorphins, all chemicals that make us feel good,” said psychiatrist Julie Holland.

Even so, research shows that while monkeys felt better after their late-night binges, humans tended to feel guilt. But maybe the 72 million Americans on a diet will feel better knowing that binge eating has something to do with biology.

Source: Good Morning America SHARYN ALFONSI, KIRAN KHALID and STEPHANIE DAHLE

©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.

Researchers found patients given the drugs were a third more likely to die within a month of surgery than those given a dummy pill.

Those on the blood pressure-lowering drugs also had double the risk of having a stroke.

The study, by Canada’s McMaster University, appears in The Lancet.

“There is a real potential that beta blockers are causing serious harm in the surgical setting”

— Dr PJ Devereaux, McMaster University

Although use of the drugs did reduce the risk of a heart attack following surgery, the researchers concluded that on balance they did more harm than good.

They estimate use of the drugs before surgery may have contributed to at least 800,000 deaths worldwide in the past decade.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said the research emphasised the importance of undertaking large clinical trials, rather than assuming that drugs will only do what is expected of them.

“Fortunately, the practice of giving beta blockers to all patients at risk of vascular disease before surgery is not widespread in the UK.”

“Also, the results of this trial – of a relatively high dose of a beta blocker given before surgery – do not mean patients stabilized on long-term beta blocker therapy will be at increased risk if they have surgery.”

Researcher Dr PJ Devereaux said: “There is a real potential that beta blockers are causing serious harm in the surgical setting.”

“If my mother was undergoing surgery and given a beta blocker, I would be extremely upset based on this evidence.”

Counter to stress

It has long been thought that using beta blockers before major surgery protects the heart against the stress of the procedure.

Surgery often raises levels of stress hormones known as catecholamines, which drive up a person’s blood pressure and heart rate.

Beta blockers block the effects of increased catecholamines.

However, the body can also go into a state of shock after surgery during which blood pressure falls. The researchers suspect that beta blockers may amplify this state.

The McMaster team studied more than 8,000 patients in 23 countries who were undergoing major surgery unrelated to the heart, but who had or were at risk of clogged arteries.

Half were given the beta blocker metoprolol two to four hours before and 30 days after their surgery. The other half got a placebo.

The results suggests that the use of beta blockers could prevent 15 out of every 1,000 people with similar risks undergoing similar surgery from having a heart attack.

However, eight more people would die, five more would have a stroke, 53% would have abnormally low blood pressure and 42% would have an abnormally slow heart beat.

Overall, the risk of death rose from 2.3% for the placebo group to 3.1% for those given beta blockers in the 30 days after their operation.

Source: BBC NEWS and The Lancet

©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.

The prescribing information for the Ortho Evra Contraceptive Transdermal Patch is being updated with results of a new study on the risk of venous thromboembolism. This study found that women aged 15-44 who used the birth control patch were at higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism than women using birth control pills.

These findings support an earlier study that also concluded that women in this group were at higher risk of venous thromboembolism. Another earlier study found that women using the patch did not have a greater risk.

However, the results from the two positive studies support concerns that the patch could increase the risk of blood clots in some women. The label continues to recommend that women with concerns or risk factors for thromboembolic events talk with their healthcare provider about using Ortho Evra versus other contraceptives.

Additional Information:

FDA MedWatch Safety Alert. Ortho Evra Contraceptive Transdermal Patch.

©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.

©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.

©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.

©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.

1. AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome — AIDS is a syndrome, or group of diseases, that can be fatal. HIV infection becomes AIDS when a person’s T-cell count goes below 200 and she or he becomes ill with one of the health problems common in people with AIDS. HIV/AIDS infection is life-long, there is no cure as of yet.

2. allergen

a foreign substance to the body’s immune system that may cause an allergic reaction.

3. allergies

disorders that involve an immune response in the body. Allergies are reactions to allergens such as plant pollen, other grasses and weeds, certain foods, rubber latex, insect bites, or certain drugs.

4. alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

AFP is protein made by the fetus’ liver, in the fetal gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the yolk sac. During pregnancy, AFP crosses into the mother’s blood. The level of AFP in the mother’s blood can be measured to screen for disorders such as neural tube defects and Down Syndrome. The mother’s AFP levels tend to be high with neural tube defects such as anencephaly and Spina bifida, and low with Down Syndrome.

5. alpha-fetoprotein screening (AFP)

This blood test measures the levels of a substance called alpha-fetoprotein in the mother’s blood. Abnormal levels can indicate a brain or spinal cord defect, the presence of twins, a miscalculated due date, or an increased risk of Down Syndrome.

6. alveoli cells

tiny glands in the breast that produce milk

7. amenorrhea

(pronounced: a-meh-nuh-ree-uh), when a girl hasn’t started her period by the time she is 16 years old or 3 years after starting puberty, has not developed signs of puberty by age 14, or has had normal periods but has stopped menstruating for some reason other than pregnancy.

8. amniocentesis

If necessary, this test is performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and can indicate chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome, or genetic disorders such as Tay Sachs disease, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and others. It also can detect the baby’s sex and risk of spina bifida (a condition in which the brain or spine do not develop properly).

9. amniotic fluid

clear, slightly yellowish liquid that surrounds the unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy. It is contained in the amniotic sac.

10. amniotic sac

During pregnancy, the amniotic sac is formed within the uterus and encloses the fetus. This sac bursts normally during the birthing process, releasing the amniotic fluid. A popular term for the amniotic sac with the amniotic fluid is the bag of waters.

11. amputation

removal of part or all of a body part, except for organs in the body. It usually takes place during surgery in a hospital operating room. It is done because of injury to the body part or problems from diabetes, hardening of the arteries, or any other illness that impairs blood circulation. It is also done to prevent the spread of bone cancer. Many amputees are able to be fitted with an artificial limb.

12. anemia

when the amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin (the substance in the blood that carries oxygen to organs) becomes reduced, causing fatigue that can be severe.

13. aneurysm

a thin or weak spot in an artery that balloons out and can burst.

14. angina

a recurring pain or discomfort in the chest that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood. It is a common symptom of coronary heart disease, which occurs when vessels that carry blood to the heart become narrowed and blocked due to atherosclerosis. Angina feels like a pressing or squeezing pain, usually in the chest under the breast bone, but sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaws, or back. Angina is usually is brought on by exertion, and relieved within a few minutes by resting or by taking prescribed angina medicine.

15. anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder caused by a person having a distorted body image and not consuming the appropriate calorie intake resulting in severe weight loss.

16. anovulation

absence of ovulation.

17. antibiotics

drugs used to fight many infections caused by bacteria. Some antibiotics are effective against only certain types of bacteria; others can effectively fight a wide range of bacteria. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections.

18. antibodies

proteins made by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance (antigen). Antibodies neutralize or destroy antigens.

19. antidepressants

a name for a category of medications used to treat depression.

20. antihistamines

drugs that are used to prevent or relieve the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies by preventing the action of a substance called histamine, which is produced by the body. Histamine can cause itching, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and sometimes can make breathing difficult. Some of these drugs are also used to prevent motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Since they may cause drowsiness as a side effect, some of them may be used to help people go to sleep.

21. antimetabolites

anticancer drugs that can stop or slow down biochemical reactions in cells.

22. anxiety disorder

serious medical illness that fills people’s lives with anxiety and fear. Some anxiety disorders include panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobia (or social anxiety disorder), specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.

23. apnea

temporary interruption or cessation of breathing.

24. areola

the dark-colored skin on the breast that surrounds the nipple.

25. arteries

blood vessels that carry oxygen and blood to the heart, brain and other parts of the body

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©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.

Legislation Watch

Tracking Federal legislation that effect women and girls

The Library of Congress — THOMAS was launched in January of 1995. The leadership of the 104th Congress directed the Library of Congress to make federal legislative information freely available to the public. Since that time THOMAS has expanded the scope of its offerings to include the features and content listed below.

• Bills, Resolutions
• Activity in Congress
• Congressional Record
• Schedules, Calendars
• Committee Information
• Presidential Nominations
• Government Resources

Let Your Representatives Know What You Think

This is the Home Page for the United States House of Representatives.The site is speech enabled and available in a Large-Print format.

The site also provides information concerning Representatives’ home offices, committee membership, and any leadership positions of interest. It also provides additional helpful resources for the citizen activist: Educational Resources; Government Resources; House Rules; Legislative Archive; Media Resources and of course, how to contact the: Speaker of the House.

Additionally the site gives you the ability to search all house members by State map, search Member sites to identify and email your Representative or send correspondence to Representative Offices of interest:

U.S. House of Representatives,

Washington, DC 20515

202.224.3121

TTY: 202.225.1904

Nonpartisan Political Information

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, has fought since 1920 to improve our systems of government and impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy. The League’s enduring vitality and resonance comes from its unique decentralized structure. The League is a grassroots organization, working at the national, state and local levels.

Health Advocacy

The Nutritional Health Alliance is one of the most active political organizations in the nutritional health community, founded in 1992 in Santa Ynez, California. Organized by consumers, health care professionals, retailers, distributors, supplement manufacturers, mail order and multilevel marketing firms, and industry trade and consumer publications, the NHA became the much-needed umbrella organization to bring together the various constituents of the natural products industry in a single, powerful voice that would be heard by Washington policymakers and regulators.

The following Web sites provide additional information on vaccines and vaccine safety:

Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a cooperative program for vaccine safety of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS is a post-marketing safety surveillance program, collecting information about adverse events (possible side effects) that occur after the administration of US licensed vaccines. This site provides a nationwide mechanism by which adverse events following immunization, (AEFI) may be reported, analyzed and made available to the public. The VAERS Web site also provides a vehicle for disseminating vaccine safety-related information to parents/guardians, healthcare providers, vaccine manufacturers, state vaccine programs, and other constituencies. Call VAERS at1-800-822-7967

CDC National Immunization Program (NIP)

CDC National Vaccine Program Office

FDA Freedom of Information Office

FDA MedWatch

HRSA National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)

American Academy of Pediatrics Immunization Information

Immunization Action Coalition

HealthFinder

National Technical Information Service

Vaccine Education Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

The following web sites provide additional information concerning Breast Cancer:

Inconvenient Women gather as much information as possible to educate ourselves about any disease we face.

The following resource lists can help you get the information and support you need:

Toll-free Hotlines

• American Cancer Society: 1-800-ACS-2345
• Cancer Care: 1-800-813-HOPE
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer Hotline: 1-888-753-LBBC
• National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service: 1-800-4-CANCER
• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Helpline: 1-800-IM-AWARE Online support and community
• Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization: 1-800-221-2141

Informational Web Sites

• http://www.breastcancer.org

  Click on “Support and Community.”

• http://www.canceradvocacy.org

  Click on “Listen” to access “Cancer Survival Toolbox.”

• http://www.cancercare.org

  Learn about free counseling, education, and financial assistance information.

• http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org

  Offers support and networking groups, lectures, workshops, and social events.

• http://www.y-me.org

  Click on “I’m looking for Y-ME support and services.”

• http://www.cancer.net/portal/site/patient

  Click on ‘Cancer Net Library’ designed to help patients learn more about their disease, provides weekly articles, illustrations, drug information resources, and advocacy and legislative information.

• http://www.cancer.org

  Click on “Support Programs & Services.”

Online treatment information

• http://www.cancer.org

  Explore treatment options.

• http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment.html

  Find out about breast cancer treatment.

• http://www.komen.org

  Click on “About Breast Cancer” and then “Treatment” to learn about the benefits and risks of each treatment option.

• http://www.Visions-of-Hope.com

  View the Visions of Hope traveling exhibit, with information on detection, treatment choices, and patient/health care professional messages of hope.

• http://www.lbbc.org

  Read transcripts of teleconferences about breast-cancer-related topics.

• http://www.canceradvocacy.org

  Find helpful information on coping with side effects, health insurance, and communicating effectively with your physician.

• http://www.breastcancer.org/blth.html

  Get easy-to-follow tips to help you remember to take your medication.

Breast cancer organizations

• BreastCancer.org
• National Lymphedema Network

  1-800-541-3259

• Sisters Network

  1-866-781-1808

• The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

  Phone: 1-972-855-1600 or 1-800-IM-AWARE

• Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization

  Phone: 1-800-221-2141 / Fax: 1-312-294-8598

Other Cancer Organizations

• American Cancer Society

  Phone: 1-212-664-9176 or 1-800-227-2345

• Cancer Care, Inc.

  Phone: 1-800-813-HOPE /Fax: 1-212-719-0263

• Cancer Research Foundation of America

  Phone: 1-800-227-CRFA

• The Mautner Project for Lesbians With Cancer

  Phone: 1-202-332-5536

• National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

  Phone: 1-877-NCCS-YES or 1-877-622-7937

Medical Associations and Governmental Agencies

Discussions and /or explanations concerning cancer can involve a whole new vocabulary. Don’t let new technical terms stop you. Make a list of the issues you don’t yet understand and ask your doctor or health care professional about the terminology or statistics you may gather from these support organizations.

• American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession

  Phone: 1-312-988-5715

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

  Washington, DC 20090

  Phone: 1-202-638-5577

• American College of Radiology

  Phone: 1-800-ACR-LINE

• American Medical Women’s Association

  Phone: 1-703-838-0500

  Fax: 1-703-549-3864

• American Society of Clinical Oncology

  Phone: 1-703-299-0150

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cancer Prevention and Control

  Atlanta, GA 30341-3717

  Phone: 1-770-488-4751

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

  Phone: 1-877-267-2323

• National Cancer Institute

  Phone: 1-800-422-6237

  Fax: 1-301-402-0894

• National Medical Association

  Phone: 1-202-347-1895

• Oncology Nursing Society

  Phone: 1-412-921-7373

• Social Security

  Phone: 1-800-772-1213

Clinical Trial Information

• ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of The National Institutes of Health and developed by the National Library of Medicine
• The National Cancer Institute
• CenterWatch

Books and Publications

• 100 Questions and

  Answers About Breast Cancer

  by Zora Brown and LeSalle D. Leffall, Jr., M.D. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2003.

  A breast cancer survivor and a practicing oncologist give both the patient’s and the doctor’s perspective in answering questions related to breast cancer, including treatment decisions and physical and emotional issues.

• Be Prepared: The Complete Financial, Legal, and Practical Guide for Living with a Life-Challenging Condition

  by David S. Landay. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2001.

  Offers advice on practical issues for anyone facing a life-challenging illness.

• Cancer Has Its Privileges:

  Stories of Hope and Laughter

  by Christine Clifford and Jack Lindstrom.

• Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book

  by Susan M. Love, M.D., and Karen Lindsay. 3rd edition. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing, 2000.

  Candid, up-to-date, and reassuring information to help you make sense of your cancer diagnosis and treatment options.

• Every Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer

  Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, 2000.

  Available online at www.y-me.org/coping/daytoday/everywomansguide.php.

  Practical guidance and emotional support for coping with breast cancer, from diagnosis through recovery.

• Everyone’s Guide to Cancer Therapy

  by Malin Dollinger, M.D., Ernest H. Rosenbaum, M.D., Margaret Tempero, and Sean Mulvihill. 4th edition. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel, 2002.

  An authoritative and thorough resource written for the general public explaining how cancer is diagnosed, treated, and managed day to day.

• Humor After the Tumor

  by Patty Gelman and Leslie Zemsky, Illustrator.

• I’d Rather Do Chemo Than Clean Out the Garage

  by Fran Di Giacomo.

• Informed Decisions

  by Harmon J. Eyre, M.D., Dianne Partie Lange, and Lois B. Morris. 2nd edition. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society, 2001.

  A comprehensive guide from the American Cancer Society providing an excellent overview of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

• Not Now…I’m Having a No Hair Day: Humor and Healing for People with Cancer

  by Christine Clifford.

• Sexuality for Women and Their Partners

  American Cancer Society, 2001.

  Available online at www.cancer.org.

  Candid advice and information on how to restore and maintain intimacy during and after cancer treatment.

• Spinning Straw into Gold: Your Emotional Recovery from Breast Cancer

  by Ronnie Kaye. New York, NY: Fireside, 1991.

  Straightforward advice from a psychotherapist and breast cancer survivor on dealing with emotional issues that may arise following your diagnosis.

• Thanks for the Mammogram!

  by Laura Jensen Walker.

• The Human Side of Cancer: Living with Hope, Coping with Uncertainty

  by Jimmie C. Holland, M.D., and Sheldon Lewis. New York, NY: Quill, 2001.

  Compassionate advice on coping with cancer from a pioneer in the field of psycho-oncology.

• When the Woman You Love Has Breast Cancer

  Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, 2000.

  This booklet offers guidance to your partner on how to support your emotional needs during every stage of your breast cancer experience.

Women’s Health Resources

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the nation’s leading women’s health care provider, educator, and advocate, serving women, men, teens, and families. For more than 90 years, we’ve done more than any other organization in the United States to improve women’s health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible choices.

The Hormone Foundation, the public education affiliate of The Endocrine Society, is a leading source of hormone-related health information for the public, physicians, allied health professionals and the media. Our mission is to serve as a resource for the public by promoting the prevention, treatment and cure of hormone-related conditions through outreach and education.

The Hormone Foundation works directly with the Society, and its experts in the field of endocrinology, to translate science for the benefit of patients with endocrine disorders and raise the general public’s awareness about emerging endocrine system diseases. Through its website, free educational materials, public forums, physician referral service, presence at medical meetings, and media education campaigns, the Foundation has reached more than 200 million people with important health information.

The Endocrine Society works to foster a greater understanding of endocrinology amongst the general public and practitioners of complementary medical disciplines and to promote the interests of all endocrinologists at the national scientific research and health policy levels of government. Society members represent the full range of disciplines associated with endocrinologists: clinicians, researchers, educators, fellows and students, industry professionals and health professionals who are involved in the field of endocrinology. These professionals are dedicated to the research and treatment of the full range of endocrine disorders: diabetes, reproduction, infertility, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, obesity/lipids, growth hormone, pituitary tumors, and adrenal insufficiency.

WrongDiagnosis.com is one of the world’s leading providers of online medical health information. The site is an independent, objective source of factual, mainstream health information for both consumers and health professionals. It provides a free health-information service to help people understand their health better, offering crucial and factual health information that is otherwise difficult to find. The objective of the site is to encourage consumers to be informed and interested in managing their health, and to know what questions to ask their doctors to help ensure they are getting the best healthcare possible.

Environmental Protection Agency

Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States

Organic Trade Association

Natural Products Association

Initiatives that Support the Wellness of Women and Girls

The Hunger Project

Women Thrive World Wide

Shaping US Policies that help women lift themselves and their families out of poverty

Doctors Without Borders is an independent international medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in nearly 60 countries.

The Department of Peace

If you have resource information you want to share, email to resources@iconicwoman.com.

This list of resources is provided merely as a convenience. Iconic Woman takes no responsibility for the content of or services provided by the resources and makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information provided and shall have no liability for any damages or injuries of any kind arising from the information provided.

©2012 An Inconvenient Woman. All Rights Reserved.