Here's a new way to avoid colon cancer

Is Your Doctor Keeping This
Life-Saving DNA Test From You?

    Scientists have said for years that DNA tests will change the face of medicine. And these days, genetic testing is cheaper and more common than ever. But doctor ignorance and the profit motive continue to rank higher than patient health — even though genetic tests could save you and your family members from cancer.

    That's why I'm writing you today. I want to make sure you know about the DNA screening that provides early detection of colon cancer. Sadly, you can't count on your doctor to tell you about it.

Continued below. . .

Video of the Week: "Shocking Confessions of a Drug Company Insider"     In this exposé, a top executive of a major pharmaceutical company spills the naked truth about the drugs you and your family take... which drugs heal, and which ones KILL... what doctors turn to when they don't know the cure... what they do when they themselves or their loved ones are stricken with disease or illness... what life-saving resource they insist should be in every home. Watch this must-see video now because your life -- or the life of your loved ones -- may depend on it.

Ever heard of Lynch syndrome?

    Right behind lung cancer, colon cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the U.S. But here's something you may not know: your genes can predispose you to get colon cancer.

    Geneticists call the disorder "Lynch syndrome," after Henry T. Lynch. It was fifty years ago when Lynch, then a young medical resident, started tracking families with a high colon cancer incidence.

    During the mid-1990's, geneticists confirmed Lynch's initial findings. Research showed as many as three percent of all colon cancer cases are the result of genetics. Alaska Natives in particular are twice as likely to die from colon cancer as most other people, and Lynch syndrome is at the heart of it.

    Lynch syndrome speeds up tumor growth. It's seen in families with a high incidence of colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. So if one family member is diagnosed with one of those cancers, it could be a lifesaving measure for that person to be screened for Lynch syndrome.

    Once a patient tests positive for Lynch syndrome, it's a clue to other family members to either get screened or take preventive measures. A hysterectomy is one way to prevent tumor growth for those at risk. So, once they've had children, women prone to Lynch syndrome may choose to have their ovaries and uterus removed in order to prevent endometrial or ovarian cancer. Lynch syndrome patients are also instructed to have annual colonoscopies, since polyps in the colon are more likely to turn deadly for them, and quickly.

    Credit for developing the DNA screening test goes to the Mayo Clinic's Dr. Ahlquist. The test is extremely accurate, finding at least 85 percent of colon cancers and over 50 percent of pre-cancerous polyps. It measures changes in DNA that are shed from the surface of a cancerous or pre-cancerous tumor into the stool. Those changes act like a cancer signature.

Colon cancer revolution

    Plenty of folks think genetic testing will bring us a new era of cancer treatment. It's certainly becoming more common, and cheaper.

    The test for Lynch syndrome can cost as little as $300. But of the 800,000 people likely to be afflicted, only 50,000 have been diagnosed. As Dr. Lynch puts it (at 84, he now directs the Hereditary Cancer Center at the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha), "There are people dying needlessly."

    According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer killed 50,000 people last year. And this is a cancer with no symptoms in the early stages.

    In 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation that anyone diagnosed with colon cancer get tested for Lynch syndrome. They also recommended testing for relatives of those patients as a preventive measure.

    Despite that, less than half of all hospitals with cancer programs offer routine screening for the condition. A study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed only 5 percent of patients diagnosed with colon cancer were also given genetic tests for Lynch syndrome.

    Dr. Ahlquist, original developer of the Lynch syndrome test, is now working with both the Mayo Clinic and a company called Exact Science to develop a commercial test. Ahlquist predicts a revolution in colon cancer screening, much like the effect the Pap smear had for cervical cancer fifty years ago.

    Importantly, both the Mayo Clinic and Exact Sciences are likely to profit from development of this commercial test … which means they'll have a motive to get the word out to doctors who could make a difference.

The doctor-education problem

    So why haven't doctors been taking advantage of this powerful test? Too often, the problem lies with overworked primary care docs who have little background in genetics. They don't recognize the warning signs across family health histories. Many doctors don't even know about Lynch syndrome. So they don't send their at-risk patients to a genetics counselor.

    Even if they did know about it, busy physicians don't have a lot of time to invest in what it takes to get a genetic test recommended. Part of the work involves figuring out whether other family members had related cancers, collecting tissue samples, and setting up the genetic test.

    The doctors who treat colon tumors and related cancers tend to focus on treatment first, not family history or genetics.

    Then there's the profit problem. Tests for the BRCA breast cancer genes bring in a lot of money. Tests for colon cancer? Not so much. Maybe that's why doctors refer twice as many patients for inherited breast cancer genes as they do for hereditary colon cancer, despite the fact both diseases are equally common. Colon cancer just lacks the awareness that breast cancer has, thanks in part to well-known charities like Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

    It's also an establishment problem. The medical system just doesn't know how to efficiently use genetic knowledge as preventative treatment.

Not a cure, but still pretty good

    Knowledge about Lynch syndrome gives doctors and hospitals a terrific opportunity to educate patients and prevent many cases of colon cancer. But patients continue to slip through the cracks. Sometimes multiple family members are diagnosed with colon cancer or related cancers, yet nobody links the disease to Lynch syndrome.

    Like too many of the things we write about here, it all comes back to money. No single company has rights to gene testing for Lynch syndrome, so few bother to market it. Several companies offer the test, but because none of them command enough market share to invest in both doctor and patient education, nobody does it.

    Also, remember — we're talking about DNA here. There's still a lot of apprehension associated with DNA tests, and people from families known to carry Lynch syndrome sometimes skip the test because they're afraid of the stigma, or even possible discrimination from insurers and employers (yes, in spite of the law).

    For now, we have to wait for FDA approval of the Mayo Clinic/Exact Sciences test, which probably won't happen till early next year. DNA tests are also in the works right now for several other cancers, including brain cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Experts say these tests have the potential to transform the way we diagnose and treat cancer.

    So it's not a cure, but at least DNA screening means early detection, and early detection means a much better survival rate.

Kindest regards,

AUGUSTA STATE OPENS SEASON WITH 91-86 VICTORY OVER STRUGGLING BOWIE STATE

AUGUSTA STATE OPENS SEASON WITH 91-86 VICTORY OVER STRUGGLING BOWIE STATE

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Bulldogs’ early season struggles continue as Bowie State drops fourth in a row, losing 91-86 to the Jaguars of Augusta State. With the loss, Bowie State’s record dips to 0-4 and marks the first time the Bulldogs have lost four straight games to start a season since 1999.

Senior Byron Westmorland poured in a career-high 37 points and fellow senior Bryan Wilson added 12 points to pace Bowie State. Westmorland went 10-for-10 from the free throw line and hit 7-of-10 shots behind the arc. Senior Dameatric Scott chipped in nine points and grabbed a team-high five rebounds.

Harold Doby recorded a double-double for the victorious Jaguars, pumping in a team-high 25 points to go along with 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Augusta State was led on the glass by Chad July with game-highs of 11 rebounds and three blocks. Devonte Thomas and Devon Wright-Nelson also scored in double figures adding 24 and 13 points respectively.

Bowie State junior Carlos Smith scored the first two points of the game via the free throw line, but Augusta State ran off the next seven points. The ASU Jaguars held a 13-7 advantage at the 12:09 mark of the first half only to have a Westmorland 3-pointer pull the Bulldogs within one (28-27) with just under five minutes left in the opening period.

A pair of free throws by Bowie State senior Najee White shifted the advantage over to the Bulldogs at 32-31, but the lead was brief. Augusta State closed out the final 3:23 with a 10-6 run to take a 41-38 lead into halftime.

The Jaguars and Bulldogs played pretty even in the first half, but the Augusta State bench outscored the Bowie State bench 14-0 in the first 20 minutes. ASU hit 15-of-32 from the field and BSU hit 12-of-31 from the field with both teams making five 3-pointers each.

Augusta State (1-0) began the second half with a 9-0 run behind the play of Thomas and Doby. The Jaguars lead grew to a game-high 14 points at the 17:02 mark on a Thomas triple.

The Bulldogs cut the deficit to one at 60-59 on a pair of free throws by junior Ray Gatling less than four minutes later. Westmorland drained a deep 3-pointer at the 9:16 mark of the second half, giving Bowie State its third, but final lead (70-68) of the game.

A jumper by Augusta State’s Wright-Nelson with 7:02 remaining gave the home team the lead for good.  The Jaguars torched the Christenberry Fieldhouse nets at a 70.4 percent clip in the final period of play, knocking down 19-of-27 field goals.

Augusta State out-rebounded Bowie State 39-34 but the Jaguars committed 19 turnovers, compared to a season-low 10 turnovers for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs will break for Thanksgiving and then return to the hardwood on Friday (November 23) against NAIA member Florida Memorial University in the first game of the Chick-fil-A Classic hosted by Virginia State University. Game time for the Bulldogs and Lions is set for 3 pm in VSU’s Daniel Gymnasium.

GRAND VALLEY STATE STOPS BOWIE STATE WIN STREAK WITH 75-57 VICTORY

GRAND VALLEY STATE STOPS BOWIE STATE WIN STREAK WITH 75-57 VICTORY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bowie State University dropped its first game of the season falling 75-57 to the Lakers of Grand Valley State University in a non-conference matchup at the Firebirds Classic hosted by the University of the District of Columbia. The setback sets the Bowie State overall record at 2-1.

Leading the way for the Lady Bulldogs was junior Brooke Miles with 12 points and sophomore Channell Mackey with 10 points. Mackey tied for game-high assists honors with three and was named to the All-Classic Team. BSU junior Moriah Goodman pulled down a team-high six rebounds and sophomore Bria Robinson added nine points. 

Grand Valley State (3-0) was led by Briauna Taylor’s game-high double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds. Alex Stelfox just missed a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Lauren Stodola scored in double figures as well, contributing 13 points for the Lakers.

The Lakers jumped out to a comfortable 41-28 halftime advantage on 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) shooting from the floor and 16-of-18 (88.9 percent) from the free throw line.

GVSU began pulling away near the mid-point of the first half, as the Lakers, already up 16-12, went on a nine-point run that ended with a three-pointer by Breanna Kellogg to give the Lakers a 25-12 advantage.

The Lakers went on another run near the end of the first half, scoring the last seven points of the opening stanza, including a lay-up and three free throws by Taylor, to go in to the locker room up 41-26.

Bowie State appeared to be making a comeback midway through the second half. With Grand Valley State leading 56-37, Bowie State forced a Lakers timeout after going on a six-point run to make it a 56-43 advantage. Following the timeout, however, Stelfox hit a jumper but Bowie State kept coming hard, cutting the deficit to only 10 at 58-48 with eight minutes to play.

A 10-2 run by the Lakers in the next couple minutes put the game away, including six straight points from Stodola. Up 68-50, Grand Valley State was able to hold on the rest of the way, taking the game by a 75-57 score.

As a team, the Lakers dominated at the charity stripe, going 34-for-38 (89.5-percent) from the line. GVSU had a huge advantage in rebounds (41-27) and forced Bowie State in to 26 fouls compared to the Lakers' 15. A solid defensive effort by Grand Valley State forced Bowie State in to shooting only 26.2-percent (17-for-65) from the field on the game.

Bowie State returns to action Friday (November 23) in non-conference action at Howard University. The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Bison get underway at 7 pm in HU’s Burr Gymnasium.

A cancer that targets young people

The Nasty Cancer Surprise for Young People     They're young… vibrant… and have no hint there's anything wrong -- until the shocking diagnosis that they have cancer…     It hits many young men in their teens, twenties and thirties -- people who think cancer is decades away for them, if they ever get it at all. But this particular cancer affects men under 40 almost exclusively. It's NOT an old person's disease.     In fact, this is the most common cancer in American males ages 15 to 34.     What's more, this cancer is becoming more common, which may be due to increasing exposure to environmental toxins.     Worse yet, it has few symptoms that would give you any hint you have a problem. That makes it especially risky, considering most men at this stage of life aren't on the lookout for cancer symptoms.     Read on for the few warning signs to watch for. They could help you save a son or grandson who doesn't know better. Continued below. . . The Biggest Nutritional Secret Of All     Forget nutritional deficiencies; for us in the West the number one beneficial nutritional change is to stop eating damaging foods. People have cured lifelong complaints, stepped out of wheelchairs and totally transformed their lives, just by avoiding inflammatory foods.     The trouble is there are no set inflammatory foods. Everyone is different.     You need a system to work out your own personal hostile foods. Now one of the world's leading MDs, a pioneer in the food allergy movement for the last 40 years, has written a book to help you do just that.     Keith Scott-Mumby MD is author of the best-selling manual "Diet Wise".     It contains, in full detail, every step you need to take to identify and eliminate the foods that are secretly harming you.     If you don't leap out of bed with boundless energy every day, you need this book!     Become "Diet Wise"! Mystery pain in your lower back? It could be a hint…     More than 90 percent of men with testicular cancer have no noticeable symptoms, not even pain. So if a man has any of the following symptoms, he should pay special attention. They give a clue…     A young man with unexplained lower back pain should have it checked out. Right away. It could actually be a sign that he's got cancer and it's already spread to the lymph nodes in his abdomen. Of course, back pain is pretty common so this isn't the most effective warning signal.     And I wouldn't be surprised if the typical doctor tells the young man to just go home and take an aspirin.     My advice: Don't let them put you off. If a young man has reason to believe his back pain is unusual and unexplained, he should insist on a proper testicular exam.     Weak clues like this are about all you have to go on. Three out of four victims of testicular cancer have NO symptoms until the cancer is well advanced.     Of the few symptoms that do exist, most could also be caused by a virus or an injury. But since testicular cancer gives so few warning signs, a man should get any of the symptoms checked out immediately.     Now, there's no need to be TOO alarmed. Only about 7,500 to 8,000 cases are found in the United States each year, and about 2,000 in the UK. It's a pretty rare cancer. It's also pretty curable. Conventional medicine claims a cure rate of almost 100 percent if the cancer hasn't spread, and 80% even if it has spread.     All the same, who needs this problem? Young men under 40 should keep an eye out for the symptoms. Besides paying attention to back discomfort… Conduct a monthly self-exam…     Just as women are urged to do a breast self-exam, men are also urged to do a testicular self-examination monthly. It could turn out to be the only early warning signal.     After a warm shower or bath, when the scrotum skin is relaxed, check for any lumps or abnormalities. Hold the penis out of the way and examine each testicle separately. Next, hold the testicle between the thumbs and fingers with both hands and roll it gently between the fingers. You're looking and feeling for any hard lumps or nodules (smooth rounded masses). Or any changes in the size, shape, or consistency of the testes.     Be aware that a normal testis has an epididymis which may feel like a small bump on the upper or middle outside of the testis. Normal testicles contain blood vessels, supporting tissues, and tubes that conduct sperm, also. It is easy to confuse these with cancer at first. So ask your doctor if you have concerns.     A lump may be very tiny, the size of a pea or smaller. It could be painless or could cause a dull ache. Don't discredit a painless lump! And don't ignore these other trivial clues, either     Any collection of fluid in the scrotum, feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, enlargement or swelling in a testicle, or discomfort or pain should also be checked out immediately.     Men should also pay attention to any enlargement or tenderness of their breasts. Certain types of testicular cancers — called germ cell tumors — can secrete high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG), which stimulates breast development. Blood tests can measure HCH levels, and are an important diagnostic tool. So if you notice enlarged or sensitive breasts, ask your doctor to perform this blood test.     During the diagnostic process, your doctor will also take a medical history to assess risk factors and conduct a physical exam, in addition to the blood test for HCG and others.     Plus, the doctor will probably order an ultrasound (no radiation involved), and may also want a CT scan or MRI to determine the stage of cancer and whether it has spread. Does your age, family, or race put you at risk?     Nearly everyone is born into a family with some sort of health issue. That doesn't mean you should throw up your hands and give up. It does suggest you should go the extra mile to control the things you can — especially if you already face a disadvantage in age, heredity, race, etc.     Your risk factors for testicular cancer may include: Youth. If you're between ages 15 and 39, you're at the greatest risk. Family history. Your risk is greater if your father, brother, or other close relative has had testicular cancer. Previous testicular cancer. If you've already had it, you're at greater risk of developing it in the other testicle. Race. Testicular cancer is more common among white men, especially those of Scandinavian descent. This cancer rate for Caucasians has more than tripled during the past 50 years — but has recently begun to increase among black men too. The reasons for the racial disparities are unknown. DNA-damaging radiation exposure before birth. A study on mice at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, published in PLoS ONE, found a link between baby boys exposed to radiation during early pregnancy and increased risk of testicular cancer. It is the first study to find an environmental cause of testicular germ cell tumors, the most common cancer in young Caucasian men. Congenital abnormalities. You may be at increased risk if you have an abnormality of the testicles, penis, or kidneys, or a hernia in the groin area. Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism). Your testicles should descend from inside your abdomen into your scrotum before birth. Your risk of testicular cancer increases if you had a testicle that did not move into the scrotum on its own, and even surgery to move it does not negate that risk. The increased risk applies to both testicles, not just to the one that didn't descend.     But be encouraged — here are two factors you have a great deal more control over… Is this fashion statement worth the cancer risk?     Unhealthy fashion statements are nothing new. While many of these relate to women's health issues, this latest is a guy thing. And a health menace… skinny jeans. And it's caught on big in certain cultures.     They may seem harmless enough, but wait…     Scientists now warn that they can cause bladder problems and testicular torsion (twisting).     A recent study of 2,000 British men showed that one in ten men wearing skinny jeans experienced testicular torsion from their skinny jeans. Yet others had serious bladder problems and chronic urinary tract infections.     The testicular problems occur because the jeans constrict free movement of the spermatic cord… which then gets twisted, causing testicular torsion. This cuts off blood supply and can lead to gangrene, low sperm counts, and possibly cancer. Until scientists know for sure, ask yourself if this fashion statement is worth the cancer risk. And then there's this recreational pursuit…     A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) in September, 2012, found a link between use of recreational (and medicinal) marijuana and increased risk of the types of testicular cancer with the poorest prognosis, as reported in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.     Scientists think that recreational marijuana use may be in part responsible for increasing testicular cancer rates. The researchers looked at the self-reported history of use of recreational drugs in 163 young men diagnosed with testicular cancer… compared to the rates of 292 healthy men of the same age, race, and ethnicity.     They discovered that the marijuana users were twice as likely to have testicular cancer subtypes called non-seminoma and mixed germ cell tumors. These subtypes carry a worse prognosis than the seminoma subtype.     This study confirms the findings from two earlier studies in Cancer on the potential link between marijuana and testicular cancer. Is the treatment for this cancer worse than the disease?     As we recently reported about prostate cancer, the treatment for testicular cancer can involve serious and long-term repercussions, as shown by a study published in the journalBJUI, and conducted at the University of Oslo.     Researchers reviewed 40 studies published between 1990 and 2008. They found drastic side effects that should give any man pause about conventional treatments. A staggering 30 percent who got chemotherapy suffered damage to their sensory nerves. Twenty percent of those undergoing chemotherapy suffered from long term hearing loss and ringing in their ears (tinnitus). A full 17 percent suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome — twice as high as the general population. Testicular cancer survivors endure 1.8 times the general risk of developing another form of cancer. Gastro-intestinal side effects are common to both chemo and radiotherapy. Chemo carries added risks such as infections and blood clots. Long term problems include secondary cancer, heart problems, and conditions linked to low hormone levels.     Cancer treatments can increase your risk of pulmonary complications, death from heart complications, fertility reduction and dry ejaculation.     All these complications can last for a lifetime (whether or not your doctor follows up that long).     Lead author Sophie D. Fossa stressed, "It is important to focus on reducing risks through healthy lifestyle choices and consider important issues like preserving future fertility…"     She adds that the best way to slash your risk is to maintain an active lifestyle and healthy weight, avoid tobacco, (and for doctors to "provide adequate follow-up for patients who could develop life-threatening toxicity"). Sounds like she could become an advocate for these alternatives… Consider alternative treatments     The full range of cancer treatments we write about in Cancer Defeated can help you overcome almost any cancer, including testicular cancer. There's little need for a special treatment for this type of cancer.     But we've learned of one approach that IS specific to testicular cancer: Heat treatments.     Researchers at Johns Hopkins University think that heat therapy might be a viable treatment for cancer.     The testes are always a few degrees cooler than the rest of your body, making them an ideal location for cancer cells. This led Professor Robert Getzenberg and his colleagues to speculate that testicular cancer cells would respond well to heat treatment. They are now experimenting with heat-based methods of weakening cancer cells.     However, as health advocate Mike Adams points out, "You don't need nanotechnology or other technical hocus pocus to generate heat and destroy cancer cells. Just engage in regular physical exercise that makes you hot and produces a healthy sweat."     Simple. Are you doing it?     In our last issue, we talked about some exciting new tests and treatments for breast cancer — including a test that should soon replace mammograms. If you missed this important news, please scroll down and read it now. The Beginning of the End for Mammography and Other Invasive Treatments By Mindy Tyson McHorse, Contributing Editor     Recent progress on the breast cancer front tells me we're moving closer to more effective, gentler cancer tests and treatments. It may even be the beginning of a movement away from radiation-heavy screening tests and invasive techniques like biopsies.     Here's the first round of good news: In September, the FDA officially approved use of ABUS — the Automated Breast Ultrasound System. What's that? If you're a woman you need to know, because it can DOUBLE your chance of finding breast cancer early. So keep reading. . . Continued below. . . 3 Steps to Younger Skin     Every day, your skin is under attack from pollution, environmental toxins, lack of nutrients — even your skin care products are poisons. And with all the conflicting information out there about skin care, it's almost impossible to figure out the right thing to do.     But I have good news. Dr. Sears developed a simple way you can keep your complexion looking younger, longer without harmful products or intrusive procedures.     This simple, three-step "prescription" works naturally to: Help your skin retain moisture, so you can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Feed your skin the nutrition it needs so it can stay supple, healthy and radiant. Slow down the appearance of aging.     Why struggle with ordinary beauty products that add to the effects of time? Start looking the age you feel... or even younger. Click here to find out more about Dr. Sears' uniquely simple Ultimate Skin Care Regimen today!     We first told you about ABUS in Issue #198 of this newsletter, pointing out it's a lifesaver for women with dense breast tissue (that's about 40 percent of women in the U.S.).     Mammograms are useless for detecting tumors in dense tissue, and women with dense breast tissue are four to six times more likely to develop breast cancer. So the test is of little use to the women who need it most. Mammograms aren't even that useful for screening normal tissue, missing up to 15 percent of all cancerous lumps.     ABUS is important because it doubles the rate of early detection for women with dense breast tissue and triples the rate of detection for cancers smaller than 10 mm.And since early detection means a survival rate of 96%, ABUS just makes sense.     Now of course, the FDA only approved use of ABUS for women with dense breasts. And they haven't completely kicked mammograms to the curb. The first sentence of their official approval statement is that they support ABUS "in combination with a standard mammography." Even then, they say ABUS should be for women with dense breast tissues who've had a "negative" mammogram.     It's a little ridiculous because ABUS can screen tissue of any type. The best information we have indicates it's a better solution for almost any woman, because ABUS means no painful breast compression, no radiation exposure, and a more thorough exam than a mammogram.     Still, the FDA's new stance represents progress. It even gives me hope the FDA will someday sever its ties with the radiology industry. At least we can hope.     Just note that ABUS approval doesn't override the longstanding best way to find breast lumps: consistent breast exams from competent physicians. It's been proven that the more time a physician spends conducting the exam, the more thorough the results.     In fact, one study showed that OB/GYN physicians found fewer lumps when compared to family practitioners, internists, and other physicians who conduct longer exams (and by "long" I only mean 10-15 minutes).     But lumps smaller than 1 cm across are tough for physicians to feel, no matter how long the exam lasts. That's why the ABUS news is important. Plus, it takes a physician about five seconds to examine a woman's breasts and tell her if the tissue is dense. And if that's the case, an ABUS test is crucial. The mechanical palpation that "reads" tumors     Another technique to keep your eye on: Elastography. It's used by ultrasound technicians to spot malignant tumors. That translates into fewer biopsies, because it means you're dealing with fewer false positives.     This is good news. Biopsies are invasive, cost as much as $1,000, and getting back results can take as long as two weeks. Worse, the pathway through the skin created by the needle makes it potentially easier for diseased cells to spread.     Elastography avoids all that. It's one step up from traditional ultrasound because it actually takes two ultrasound images and combines them. The first image uses basic ultrasound techniques to penetrate the body with sound waves. The result is a fuzzy image (called a sonogram) of what's inside your body.     Step two is where the ultrasound technician takes what's called a compression image. If a breast tumor is suspected, the tech pushes slightly on the breast with the ultrasound emitter. This compresses the breast tissue while sound waves go through it. Because healthy breast tissue and benign tumors are more elastic, or softer, than malignancies, they'll depress easily. Malignant tumors don't depress at all. They can be anywhere from five to 100 times stiffer than a benign growth.     It's the equivalent of a mechanical "palpation," providing information on the flexibility of a tumor.     Once the two images are combined, the resulting two-part computer-generated picture tells us a lot more than a basic sonogram.     But here's where it gets interesting — in 2006, an elastography study correctly differentiated between benign and malignant tumors with nearly a 100 percent success rate.     On top of that, doctors can read the results right away instead of making you wait weeks to learn whether a tumor is cancerous or not. The cost is only $100 or $200 per procedure and doesn't require a pricey follow-up visit. And given that it's non-invasive ... there's not really a good reason not to use it.     Elastography also shows incredible promise for diagnosing prostate cancer and a few other diseases, like cirrhosis of the liver (a disease where the liver hardens). Cryogenics kill cancer cells     Elastography isn't the only way to avoid biopsies. IceCure Medical, a company in Israel, is now marketing what it calls "IceSense3" to kill breast cancer tumors.     The procedure is like a nearly non-invasive biopsy. It uses ultrasound imaging to guide a hollow, extremely thin needle into a tumor. Liquid nitrogen is then used to inject radically cold temperatures through the needle to destroy the tumor.     The method only works on tumors that are detected early, but if you pass that hurdle it has several other advantages. It requires just a local anesthetic and can be done in 10-15 minutes. More importantly, it doesn't leave women disfigured and with insanely large hospital bills.     It remains to be seen whether this method can prevent widespread metastases, since there's always the risk a cancer has spread by the time it's visible on a scan. But it's better than a lot of the procedures out there. Cancer recovery now in reach     It's enough to make future breast cancer regimens look appealing: Easy tumor detection with ABUS. Clarification on whether a tumor is benign or cancerous through elastography. And then non-invasive cryogenic treatment on the tumors with cancer cells.     My advice? Ask about these treatments. Push for them. Demand them. The FDA is cumbersome in getting anything done, but who knows? Maybe the ABUS opinion is a sign that this beast of an organization will someday get on board with the future of cancer treatment.

LADY BULLDOGS HOLD ON DOWN THE STRETCH TO DEFEAT FLORIDA SOUTHERN MOCCASINS

LADY BULLDOGS HOLD ON DOWN THE STRETCH TO DEFEAT FLORIDA SOUTHERN MOCCASINS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida Southern’s bid for win number one on the season came down to the final two minutes against Bowie State, but the Lady Bulldogs had just enough to hold off the Moccasins and claim victory number two. In a game where neither team ever led by more than seven points, Bowie State pulled away in the closing moments for a 57-54 victory at the University of District of Columbia Classic.

Florida Southern (0-2) led 26-23 at halftime behind eight points from Kirstin McIntyre and 45 percent shooting from the floor. Bowie State (2-0) was shooting just 33 percent at that point, but the Lady Bulldogs turned it around in the second half when they shot 52 percent while the Moccasins slipped to 37 percent in the final 20 minutes of action. 

The first seven minutes of the second half saw four lead changes and two ties, with Bowie State freshman Sandra Davis putting the Lady Bulldogs ahead 34-33 at the 12:40 mark. As it turned out, that basket gave the Lady Bulldogs the lead for good, but it was never comfortable. Even when sophomore Jasmine McIntosh and junior Brooke Miles pushed the lead up to 40-33 with back-to-back 3-pointers, the Moccasins came right back with baskets by Mariah Harris and Taylor Maldonadoto trim the gap to three.

Behind four free throws by Florida Southern’s Morgan Lamberg and a bucket by McIntyre, the Moccasins twice got within two points, and when Tracy Fosterlinglaid one in with 2:40 remaining, the Moccasins were within one at 48-47. From there, however, the Lady Bulldogs scored on four straight possessions, including three straight field goals. That pushed the BSU lead back to seven (56-49) with 36 seconds to play. 

Fosterling kept Florida Southern in the game though when she knocked down a 3-pointer moments after Bowie State had re-claimed its seven-point advantage. When the Lady Bulldogs turned the ball over, the Moccasins had a chance to score again right away, but this time missed two shots, and was forced to foul when McIntosh got the second rebound for Bowie State. McIntosh made one-of-two free throws to make it 57-52, and Alexis Hochstetler made a final basket for Florida Southern to provide the final margin.

Earlier in the game, Bowie State had scored on its first three possessions to take a 6-3 lead two minutes into the game, but scored just two points over the next 4:45. Maldonado tied the game at eight with a three-point play, and FSC’s Ali Sanders gave the Moccasins its first lead at the 10:02 mark of the first half. 

Bowie State eventually went ahead 23-20 before going cold again and missing 10 straight shots to end the half. During that time, Hochstetler helped Florida Southern grab the lead with four points and an assist on a basket by Lamberg. The 6-0 spurt to close out the first half gave the Moccasins their 26-23 lead at the break.

McIntyre led Florida Southern with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Fosterling and Lamberg each had 10 points and eight boards. Fosterling made Florida Southern’s only 3-pointer and was 4-for-5 from the floor, and Lamberg was 6-for-6 from the free throw line. 

Sophomore Bria Robinson of Bowie State led all scorers in the game with 13 points, with the Lady Bulldogs also getting 11 points from fellow sophomores Channell Mackey and Jasmine McIntosh. The Bulldogs shot 42 percent overall compared to the Moccasins’ 40 percent, but the Bulldogs also had eight fewer turnovers.

Junior Moriah Goodman led the Lady Bulldogs on the glass, grabbing a team-high six rebounds and Mackey handed out a game-high four assists for Bowie State. BSU will take on Grand Valley State, a 73-67 winner against the host of the University of the District of Columbia. Tip-off for the Lady Bulldogs and Lakers is set for 1 pm.

Bowie State 57 - Florida Southern 54 (WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bowie State University held on down the stretch and was led by sophomore Bria Robinson with 13 points to defeat Florida Southern College in the first game of the University of D.C. Firebirds Classic. (Complete story to come later).

Doctor ARRESTED for Revealing The TRUTH About Chronic Pain

You know what I really can't stand? When the medical establishment and government "authorities" persecute an expert because their solutions DARE defy their drug-and-surgery health "care" model (and their GREED!)...

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To Your Health, Freedom, and Happiness.

LADY BULLDOGS BASKETBALL OPENS SEASON WITH 67-50 WIN AT WASHINGTON ADVENTIST

LADY BULLDOGS BASKETBALL OPENS SEASON WITH 67-50 WIN AT WASHINGTON ADVENTIST

TAKOMA PARK, Md. – The Bowie State University women’s basketball team had little trouble in their season opener, using a 22-4 second half burst to defeat Washington Adventist 67-50. BSU is 1-0 in the overall standings, while the Lady Shock drop to 0-3 overall.

The Lady Bulldogs struggled throughout the first half of play but managed to take a 26-23 lead into halftime after trailing most of the first 20 minutes of non-conference action. BSU sophomore Bria Robinson opened the game with a triple but WAU’s Quianna Tiggle answered with a 3-point field goal of her own. Washington Adventist went on a 17-9 run to take a 20-12 advantage at the 5:22 mark.

Following a Bowie State timeout, the Lady Bulldogs outscored the Lady Shock 14-3 to close out the half.  BSU made 11-of-32 field goals (34.4 percent) in the first period compared to 9-of-35 (25.7 percent) for Washington Adventist.

Angelica Nevarez began the second half with a layup to pull Washington Adventist within one (26-25), but the Lady Shock would get no closer. The Bowie State lead quickly grew to double-digits on another 3-pointer by Robinson at the 15:08 mark and the rout was on.

The Lady Bulldogs lead ballooned to as much as 22 points late in the second half with second-year head coach Renard Smith substituting at will. “Everyone played and everyone scored … A win is a win, no matter how ugly it was”, said Smith.

BSU’s Robinson led all scorers with a game-high 22 points in her Lady Bulldogs debut, hitting 7-of-10 field goals, which included three 3-pointers. Robinson also tied for team-high rebound honors with seven and added 5-of-6 free throws. Sophomore Jasmine McIntosh contributed nine points to go along with five rebounds and senior Jasmine McIntosh added seven rebounds and seven points.

Tiggle paced the Lady Shock with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds and Briana McClain scored nine points that included 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Bowie State will have one day off before playing back-to-back neutral site games against Florida Southern on Saturday (November 17) and Glenville State on Sunday (November 18) as part of the University of D.C. Classic.

HOT SECOND HALF SHOOTING HELPS INDIANA (PA) TO 75-72 WIN OVER BOWIE STATE

HOT SECOND HALF SHOOTING HELPS INDIANA (PA) TO 75-72 WIN OVER BOWIE STATE

INDIANA, Pa. – The ever-elusive victory No. 1 evaded the Bulldogs, who fell 75-72 on the road against Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The loss drops the Bowie State record to 0-3.

“I thought we played a terrific first half … We defended, rebounded well and played with a lot of energy, but in the second half we took some quick shots and bad shots which gave them some easy baskets”, said Bulldogs head coach Darrell Brooks.

Tonight, IUP’s Mathis Keita scored the game’s final 10 points as the Bulldogs’ could not hang on to seven-point lead. Bowie State senior Byron Westmorland paced the Bulldogs with 22 points and five rebounds. Senior Najee White had a productive evening, scoring 20 points and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.

On the other side, IUP’s Marcel Souberbielle (19 points, six rebounds), Devante Chance (12 points, four eight rebounds and four assists) and Blake Vedder (12 points, three rebounds and three blocks) proved to be the Bulldogs nemesis.

The IUP Crimson Hawks (2-0) also ensured the victory from the free throw line shooting 80 percent (20-25) on the evening. IUP torched the Kovalchick Complex twine at 69.6 percent in the final period, knocking down 16-of-23 shots from the floor and 18-of-21 free throws over the final 20 minutes.

The Bulldogs held their own on the night from the charity stripe, shooting 83 percent (15-18) but shot just 38.8 percent from the floor while IUP shot 50 percent on the night.

The Bulldogs got help from senior Dameatric Scott who chipped in his own 11 points and four rebounds but his team could not close the game out at the end. Scott was charged with a late technical foul that shifted the momentum from the Bulldogs to IUP.

But in the end, the Bulldogs could have sealed their own fate but junior guard Ray Gatling failed to sink the second of two free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining that may have sent the game into overtime.

Closing out tight games has proven difficult for the Bulldogs, as their first two games of the season (both losses) came by a combined eight points.

“I feel we kind of found ourselves again … Sometimes you learn a lesson but you don’t get a win, but I felt it was important tonight that we re-learned who Bowie State is, what we’re all about and I truly feel this team will be a dangerous team as we move forward”, said Brooks.

The Bulldogs get a needed week off before they have to face Augusta State University Nov. 21 in Augusta, Ga. for their next game.  After the Chic-Fil-A Classic hosted by Virginia State University - Nov. 23 and 24, the Bulldogs will open their home schedule with a showdown against Cheyney University (Pa.) Nov. 27 in the A.C. Jordan Arena at the Leonidas S. James Complex.

New breast test is twice as good as mammograms

The Beginning of the End for Mammography
and Other Invasive Treatments
By Mindy Tyson McHorse, Contributing Editor

    Recent progress on the breast cancer front tells me we're moving closer to more effective, gentler cancer tests and treatments. It may even be the beginning of a movement away from radiation-heavy screening tests and invasive techniques like biopsies.

    Here's the first round of good news: In September, the FDA officially approved use of ABUS — the Automated Breast Ultrasound System. What's that? If you're a woman you need to know, because it can DOUBLE your chance of finding breast cancer early. So keep reading. . .

Continued below. . .

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    We first told you about ABUS in Issue #198 of this newsletter, pointing out it's a lifesaver for women with dense breast tissue (that's about 40 percent of women in the U.S.).

    Mammograms are useless for detecting tumors in dense tissue, and women with dense breast tissue are four to six times more likely to develop breast cancer. So the test is of little use to the women who need it most. Mammograms aren't even that useful for screening normal tissue, missing up to 15 percent of all cancerous lumps.

    ABUS is important because it doubles the rate of early detection for women with dense breast tissue and triples the rate of detection for cancers smaller than 10 mm.And since early detection means a survival rate of 96%, ABUS just makes sense.

    Now of course, the FDA only approved use of ABUS for women with dense breasts. And they haven't completely kicked mammograms to the curb. The first sentence of their official approval statement is that they support ABUS "in combination with a standard mammography." Even then, they say ABUS should be for women with dense breast tissues who've had a "negative" mammogram.

    It's a little ridiculous because ABUS can screen tissue of any type. The best information we have indicates it's a better solution for almost any woman, because ABUS means no painful breast compression, no radiation exposure, and a more thorough exam than a mammogram.

    Still, the FDA's new stance represents progress. It even gives me hope the FDA will someday sever its ties with the radiology industry. At least we can hope.

    Just note that ABUS approval doesn't override the longstanding best way to find breast lumps: consistent breast exams from competent physicians. It's been proven that the more time a physician spends conducting the exam, the more thorough the results.

    In fact, one study showed that OB/GYN physicians found fewer lumps when compared to family practitioners, internists, and other physicians who conduct longer exams (and by "long" I only mean 10-15 minutes).

    But lumps smaller than 1 cm across are tough for physicians to feel, no matter how long the exam lasts. That's why the ABUS news is important. Plus, it takes a physician about five seconds to examine a woman's breasts and tell her if the tissue is dense. And if that's the case, an ABUS test is crucial.

The mechanical palpation that "reads" tumors

    Another technique to keep your eye on: Elastography. It's used by ultrasound technicians to spot malignant tumors. That translates into fewer biopsies, because it means you're dealing with fewer false positives.

    This is good news. Biopsies are invasive, cost as much as $1,000, and getting back results can take as long as two weeks. Worse, the pathway through the skin created by the needle makes it potentially easier for diseased cells to spread.

    Elastography avoids all that. It's one step up from traditional ultrasound because it actually takes two ultrasound images and combines them. The first image uses basic ultrasound techniques to penetrate the body with sound waves. The result is a fuzzy image (called a sonogram) of what's inside your body.

    Step two is where the ultrasound technician takes what's called a compression image. If a breast tumor is suspected, the tech pushes slightly on the breast with the ultrasound emitter. This compresses the breast tissue while sound waves go through it. Because healthy breast tissue and benign tumors are more elastic, or softer, than malignancies, they'll depress easily. Malignant tumors don't depress at all. They can be anywhere from five to 100 times stiffer than a benign growth.

    It's the equivalent of a mechanical "palpation," providing information on the flexibility of a tumor.

    Once the two images are combined, the resulting two-part computer-generated picture tells us a lot more than a basic sonogram.

    But here's where it gets interesting — in 2006, an elastography study correctly differentiated between benign and malignant tumors with nearly a 100 percent success rate.

    On top of that, doctors can read the results right away instead of making you wait weeks to learn whether a tumor is cancerous or not. The cost is only $100 or $200 per procedure and doesn't require a pricey follow-up visit. And given that it's non-invasive ... there's not really a good reason not to use it.

    Elastography also shows incredible promise for diagnosing prostate cancer and a few other diseases, like cirrhosis of the liver (a disease where the liver hardens).

Cryogenics kill cancer cells

    Elastography isn't the only way to avoid biopsies. IceCure Medical, a company in Israel, is now marketing what it calls "IceSense3" to kill breast cancer tumors.

    The procedure is like a nearly non-invasive biopsy. It uses ultrasound imaging to guide a hollow, extremely thin needle into a tumor. Liquid nitrogen is then used to inject radically cold temperatures through the needle to destroy the tumor.

    The method only works on tumors that are detected early, but if you pass that hurdle it has several other advantages. It requires just a local anesthetic and can be done in 10-15 minutes. More importantly, it doesn't leave women disfigured and with insanely large hospital bills.

    It remains to be seen whether this method can prevent widespread metastases, since there's always the risk a cancer has spread by the time it's visible on a scan. But it's better than a lot of the procedures out there.

Cancer recovery now in reach

    It's enough to make future breast cancer regimens look appealing: Easy tumor detection with ABUS. Clarification on whether a tumor is benign or cancerous through elastography. And then non-invasive cryogenic treatment on the tumors with cancer cells.

    My advice? Ask about these treatments. Push for them. Demand them. The FDA is cumbersome in getting anything done, but who knows? Maybe the ABUS opinion is a sign that this beast of an organization will someday get on board with the future of cancer treatment.