Breast Cancer

Women under age 30 who are diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy are more than three times as likely to die from the disease as breast-cancer patients who have never been pregnant, Texas researchers report.The study of 407 women ages 20 to 29 also showed an adverse effect of recent pregnancy on breast-cancer survival.The shorter the time between a pregnancy and a cancer diagnosis, the greater the risk of dying from the disease, researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Can cer Center in Houston reported in this week's issue of the medical jour nal Lancet.

Eileen M. O'Hagan, a homemaker and advocate for children with cleft lips and cleft palates, died of cancer May 18 at her Cockeysville home. She was 73. Born Eileen Gayo in Baltimore and raised on Eierman Avenue, she attended the Shrine of the Little Flower School and was a 1956 Catholic High School graduate. She was active in the schools' alumnae groups. She worked briefly for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. before her marriage to John P. O'Hagan, a civil engineer she met in 1957 at a square dance at the downtown YWCA.

Some Maryland hospitals have shied away from a state program to make low-cost breast-cancer screening widely available, apparently fearing they could not afford to continue it when the program is over.The newly formed Governor's Cancer Control Council yesterday discussed ways of improving the participation in a state that leads the country in cancer death rates.The council has set a premium on extending the availability of mammography to more Maryland women, because the technique will detect many breast cancers at an early stage when they are more curable than after the cancer has spread.

Alan Gross, the Potomac man serving 15 years in Cuba after carrying communications equipment into the communist island nation, continues to communicate with supporters from the military hospital where he is held. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington said Monday that Gross called to express his gratitude for the efforts of the Jewish community to push for his release. "I worked many years to reinforce the concept of community and I really feel it," Gross, 63, said during the telephone call last week, according to the council.

Women who gain weight in adulthood -- particularly when they LTC are in their 30s -- face an increased risk of breast cancer, Florida researchers have found.Their study of 218 newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients found that more than 63 percent of the women had gained at least 15 pounds since they turned 30, compared to 50 percent of those in a control group of healthy women.More than 48 percent of the breast-cancer patients had gained 15 pounds or more since age 16, compared to 37 percent of the control group, according to the study, published in the current issue of the journal Cancer.

Decades of government research on breast cancer have done nothing to improve women's odds of surviving or avoiding the disease.Although hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on research since the National Cancer Act declared war against malignancies in 1971, the breast-cancer death rate has increased slightly and prevalence has steadily climbed.A Newsday examination of federal research spending shows a number of factors converged to stymie progress against the disease. Women's health research was a low priority and women were routinely excluded from general health studies.

Late last year, an international team of researchers forged a breakthrough in the fight against breast cancer, with its discovery of two genes -- BRCA1 and BRCA2 -- that are linked to an inherited form of breast and ovarian cancer.Although for most cancer patients the news will have little direct significance, it is hoped that the discovery of the aberrant genes TC will lead scientists to genes that play a critical role in causing more common forms of the disease. Breast cancer kills 46,000 women each year in the United States alone.

SEATTLE -- Women who don't have a strong family history of breast cancer should not worry about being tested for one of the major breast-cancer genes, University of Washington researchers reported yesterday.In the study, only 2.6 percent of women who already had the disease were found to have a defective BRCA1 gene, linked to breast and ovarian cancer.Statistically, one in eight women in the United States develops breast cancer; experts estimate the disease will kill more than 43,500 this year.

By now, most women are familiar with the benefits of regular exercise in preventing heart disease, strengthening bones, lessening back pain and warding off other chronic diseases. What isn't well-known is something researchers have suspected for years: that exercise plays a strong role in preventing certain types of cancer, including breast cancer.Recent research from the University of Southern California School of Medicine indicates that women who exercise regularly during childbearing years can significantly reduce their risk of developing malignant breast tumors.

The Ward Center at St. Paul's School was in the pink for the American Cancer Society's "With One Voice" celebration to fight breast cancer. There were bunches of pink balloons, pink tablecloths, pink centerpieces and pink roses on the lapels of breast-cancer survivors.Some 125 people gathered for a buffet dinner, including Barbara Little and Jeanne Tsakalos, event committee members; Sam Miller, ACS Mid-Atlantic board president; Dr. Mark J. Brenner and Jacqueline Chambers, board members; Harriet Legum, 1998 One Voice honoree; Charlie Leiss, chief operating officer of ACS Mid-Atlantic division; Dr. William Dooley, director of the Johns Hopkins Breast Center; Ellen McCallum, breast-cancer survivor; and A. Michael Jackson, partner in Greenspring Ventures.

Susan G. Komen for the Cureon Thursday announced $58 million in grants to support breast cancer research.  The 154 grants were given to researchers in 22 states, including Maryland, and 7 countries. The grants will cover a wide spectrum of breast cancer research, including prevention, environmental issues, more sensitive screening, personalized treatments and factors that lead to worse breast cancer outcomes in minorities and special populations. Maryland grants were given to: Dr. Preethi Korangath of John Hopkins University, $120,000 Angela Brodie of the University of Maryland, $250,000 Vered Stearns of Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, $175,000 Sarah Sukumar of John Hopkins University, $250,000 Antonio Wolff of John Hopkins University, 62,500 grant  

Sherry Stick has been to racetracks since her parents took their then 3-year-old daughter to one near the family's Delaware home. Going to Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness has been a regular activity for Stick since she graduated Salisbury in 2000 and moved to the Baltimore area. Stick was an accomplished middle- and long-distance runner in track and cross country in college, breaking the school record in the 800 meters and eventually being inducted into Salisbury's Athletic Hall of Fame.

The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center is hosting its annual Maryland Half Marathon this Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon in the Maple Lawn community of Howard County. This is the race made famous by Dozer the Dog, who ran much of the course along with about 1,200 other runners. Proceeds will be used by the cancer center for breast cancer and health disparities research. There will be activities for kids as well as the 13.1-mile race. But Dozer will likely be a big draw.

The mushroom in the recent Reader SunShots photograph ("Details winner," April 29) is a Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) shelf mushroom. It is non-toxic, but inedible as is; it has the texture of shoe leather. Some people grind it into a powder and make tea out of it as a homeopathic medicinal remedy for all kinds of ailments. It is also used significantly in medical research for cancer and even has some published scientific success in helping breast cancer . Steve Johnson, Monkton

Andrew Buerger thought he'd spend his life as the editor and publisher of Baltimore's Jewish Times -- someone in his family had held the job for nearly 100 years. But when he was pushed out of the publication by a new owner earlier this month, it didn't take Buerger long to find his Plan B: yogurt. The 47-year-old has joined his wife's fledgling business selling Icelandic-style yogurt. Called B'More Organic, the business just got a big break when Wegman's agreed to carry it in 50 of its supermarkets.

Nearly 3,600 people ran or walked in the rainy and slippery inaugural Susan G. Komen breast cancer race in Ocean City Sunday, despite early concerns that a controversy involving Planned Parenthood could hurt attendance. Breast cancer survivors, their families and supporters showed up on Ocean City 's boardwalk just after sunrise, ready to race in rain and cool temperatures. Pink was the color of the day, on everything from sneakers to bandannas and wigs. Planned Parenthood wasn't on most attendees' minds two months after Komen officials pulled funding from the national organization, then changed their minds after a public outcry.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month -- a time when many companies paint their products pink and donate a portion of sales to breast-cancer causes. Every year, it seems the list of pink products grows. This year there are pink Hershey's Kisses and pink Tic-Tacs. Red Envelope has pink wine openers and pink purses. Cross has pink pens, and equestrians can find pink cowboy hats and riding gloves. Here are some other pink products to help a worthy cause: 1. Dyson DC07 Vacuum Price: $399 Where to get it: Target Why we like it: The vacuum comes with a lifetime Hepa filter and a quick-empty system that means you don't have to touch the dust.

Boston.--So this is what we have been waiting for.When the first ''disease genes'' were identified and a few people had to decide if they wanted to know whether they were doomed by their DNA, ethicists would shake their heads and say, ''If you think these are tough issues, just wait till they find the breast-cancer gene.''When it was first clear that genetic tests could enable employers and insurers to screen for inherited, truly pre-existing, conditions, someone would say, ''Just wait till they find the breast-cancer gene.

Blood donations The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123. Calendar Spiritual reflections: Bon Secours Spiritual Center will offer spiritual enrichment programs at 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville. Information: http://www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org . Registration: 410-442-1320.