Editor's note: The following is the latest in a "Mammograms Save Lives" series from Project Self-Sufficiency. Susan Sacco did not have a happy 44th birthday. Instead of celebrating with her family, Sacco was on the phone with her physician, receiving the news that she had an aggressive form of breast cancer. The cancer was growing so rapidly that it had not shown up on the mammogram she had received only three months earlier. Sacco had found a pea-shaped lump in her breast during a self-exam, so she returned to her doctor after finding the lump and requested an additional mammogram. Once again, the exam showed nothing unusual, despite the fact that Sacco could feel the lump with her fingers. Sacco said, "I was among those women whose cancer is not found on a mammogram." Cancerous cells appear lighter than the surrounding tissue on a mammogram, which makes the test an effective diagnostic tool. However, a certain percentage of women have "dense" breast tissue, which also appears lighter on a mammogram. According to the National Cancer Institute, screening mammograms can miss up to 20 percent of breast cancers that are present at the time of the exam, and many of these … Continue reading →

It was a good week for the drug police. Lance Armstrong dropped his fight against the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and Oakland Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon was banned 50 games by Major League Baseball for a positive testosterone test. Bartolo Coln credits stem cell treatment for his return to Major League Baseball. (Getty)The enforcers should enjoy this moment while it lasts, because sports science is on the precipice of a potentially new era of performance enhancement: stem cell therapy, which could soon make testosterone injections as ancient as the typewriter and press enforcement agencies like USADA to play catch up once again. "Sports medicine will definitely see a revolution in the next 10 to 50 years," says Allston Stubbs, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Health. "We'll go from traditional scalpel surgery to biologic surgery. Now we operate with a knife, but we'll move to cells or growth factors." This is both thrilling and daunting in the performance-enhancement realm, because stem cell therapy is potentially both an avenue to better performance and a doorway to undetectable enhancement. Colon is an example of how both, if the science advances as some in the field of stem cell research believe … Continue reading →

By Fiachra Cionnaith Friday, August 24, 2012 More than 5,000 people suffering from conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinsons, and multiple sclerosis are facing up to four-year delays for public hospital care. Figures revealed by the Neurology Alliance of Ireland (NAI) show that the lengthy waits are occurring despite HSE attempts to beef up the nations neurological consultant numbers. The NAI represents 30 neurological charities and 700,000 people across the country facing debilitating conditions. The group has previously warned of the dangers posed by lengthy treatment delays. According to the group, 5,391 people have been waiting more than a year for outpatient neurology appointments with hospital consultants the first stage in specialised treatment. The figure, reported on irishhealth.com, includes 1,498 patients whose treatment has been delayed for at least three years despite the fact they are suffering from life-changing conditions A further 1,147 have been waiting between two and three years for initial outpatient neurology consultant appointments, while 2,746 have seen their care delayed by between one and two years. A HSE spokesperson confirmed the latest figures, adding that the systems 2012 budget allowed for 13 additional posts, 11 neurology posts and two neurophysiologists to be appointed. However, the NAI said … Continue reading →

Leading neuromodulation company, Cyberonics Inc. (CYBX) is scheduled to report its first quarter fiscal 2013 results before the market opens on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. The company expects earnings per share (EPS) of 36 cents on revenues of $58 million during the quarter, according to the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Cyberonics exceeded its expectations in the last four quarters. Over the past four quarters, average earnings surprise is a positive 15.73%. This implies that the company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by this magnitude over the last four quarters. Previous Quarter Highlights Cyberonics reported EPS of 38 cents in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, up 46% year over year and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents. For the full year, EPS came in at $1.28, a penny short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate but ahead of previous years adjusted EPS of $1.01. Revenues increased 13% year over year during the quarter to $58 million, marginally beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $57 million. Cyberonics recorded robust growth in U.S. epilepsy sales (up 10% to $48 million) and international sales (up 33% at constant exchange rate or CER to $9 million). The company provides the vagus nerve stimulation … Continue reading →

MUNICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Over 10,000 patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policy makers and the general public from 136 countries have signed the worlds only Global Atrial Fibrillation Patient Charter calling for government action to help prevent millions of people from dying or becoming disabled by a stroke caused by Atrial Fibrillation (AF). Atrial FibrillationMore Dangerous than Sometimes Thought Tens of millions of people around the world are affected by AF, an under-diagnosed, under-treated and potentially life threatening condition characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm. The irregular heartbeat of AF causes blood to pool and this can result in the development of blood clots these clots can potentially travel to the brain blocking the oxygen supply and triggering a major and often fatal stroke. The CharterOutlining Strategies to Prevent AF-Related Stroke The Global AF Patient Charter defines strategies and solutions to reduce the number of these preventable strokes. Support for the Charter and the Sign Against Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation campaign, has increased significantly since its launch just 18 weeks ago at the World Heart Federations World Congress of Cardiology in Dubai. In addition to the growing public support, 90 global, regional and national medical and patient organisations representing all regions of the … Continue reading →