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What is “Chemo Brain”?

“Chemo brain” is a side effect of cancer treatment. It mostly affects patients who receive chemotherapy, but it can affect other cancer patients as well. Patients describe it as a “fog” that makes it hard to think clearly. Fortunately, “chemo brain” only affects patients while they’re being treated for cancer. Symptoms appear when treatment starts and fades after it’s finished. Though sometimes these symptoms can linger for several months or several years following treatment, most patients make a full recovery and suffer no or very minimal long-term side effects.

What are the Symptoms of “Chemo Brain?”

“Chemo brain” impairs your ability to think. Some of the most common symptoms are:

  1. Difficulty […]
By | September 16, 2016|Categories: Breast Cancer|0 Comments
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Breastlink’s Marica Ray Center Provides Breast Cancer Screening in Glendale

For over 20 years, Breastlink has helped thousands of women all across southern California. Originally centered in Orange and Riverside Counties, Breastlink has recently expanded into Los Angeles with the opening of the Marcia Ray Breastlink Women’s Imaging Center in Glendale. The new location will make it easy for women to obtain mammograms and other diagnostic breast imaging from top radiologists without traveling far from their homes in Los Angeles or the San Fernando Valley.

How Breast Imaging Improves Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer affects more women than almost every other type of cancer. Breast imaging provides doctors with the information necessary to prevent, diagnose, and treat breast cancer early and effectively. […]

By | August 5, 2016|Categories: Cancer News, Press Releases|0 Comments
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BPA & It’s Effects

In recent years, more and more people have become more conscious about the foods they eat. Everyone expects their food to be healthy and safe for themselves and their families. Unfortunately, food packaging may be harboring hidden chemicals that many would like to avoid. One of the most well-known is the toxic chemical known as bisphenol A (BPA). This chemical is found almost everywhere, especially in common household products like water bottles and tin cans. A new report released by the Breast Cancer Fund found that 67% of nearly 200 food cans samples tested positive for BPA, a well-known hormone disruptor. Hormone disruptors are chemicals that, at certain doses, can […]

By | May 3, 2016|Categories: Breast Cancer Risks, Breastlink Thrive, Nutrition|Tags: |0 Comments
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When is Double Mastectomy Appropriate?

Most women have heard of mastectomy, which is commonly performed to treat or reduce risk for breast cancer. In the age of improved cancer treatment, improved screening tools, and emphasis on long-term survival and benefits, it is important to question exactly when and for who a double mastectomy is beneficial.

Risk-Reducing Prophylactic Mastectomy

Prophylactic mastectomy is the most commonly performed preventive surgery in women at very high risk for breast cancer. Prophylactic mastectomy involves the surgical removal of virtually all breast tissue. Some high-risk women with no previous breast cancer diagnoses may consider this option. Some women previously diagnosed with breast cancer may also consider prophylactic mastectomy in their unaffected breast to […]

By | April 7, 2016|Categories: Breast Surgery|4 Comments
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Breastlink Welcomes Dr. Shlomit Ein-gal

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Shlomit Ein-Gal, MD, a board-certified oncologist, recently joined Breastlink, where she will primarily work with patients out of our offices in Orange and Laguna Hills. Dr. Ein-Gal has been treating patients in Orange County since 2010 when she began fellowship training at University of California, Irvine (UCI). Her impressive academic background and clinical experience makes Dr. Ein-Gal a strong fit to join the Breastlink team.

 

Dr. Ein-Gal’s Academic Background

Prior to joining Breastlink, Dr. Ein-Gal worked with a private oncology practice in Laguna Niguel. She had previously completed a hematology-oncology fellowship at UCI. She also completed a UCLA Kennamer General Internal Medicine Fellowship.

A native […]

By | March 1, 2016|Categories: Press Releases|1 Comment
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Research Points to Benefits of 3D Mammography

Digital tomosynthesis, or 3D mammography, has emerged as an effective breast imaging tool. 3D mammography combines conventional 2-dimensional mammogram images with additional 3-dimensional views. This enables enhanced views of breast tissue and research suggests 3D mammography offers several benefits over conventional 2D mammography.

Improved Cancer Detection Rate & Reduced Recall Rate

Numerous studies have shown the benefit of 3D mammography over conventional 2D mammography.  Both prospective and retrospective trials have shown a significant increase in cancer detection and a decrease in recall rate with 3D mammography.

One prospective randomized trial, published April 2013 in Radiology by Skaane et al.[1] compared 3D and 2D mammography in more than 12,000 patients. Researchers […]

By | February 25, 2016|Categories: Breast Cancer Screening, Cancer Research|0 Comments
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Takeaways from the 2016 ASCO Cancer Survivorship Symposium

On January 15, the American Society of Clinical Oncologists hosted the inaugural Survivorship Symposium in San Francisco. More than 800 doctors from numerous disciplines, researchers, patients and patient advocates gathered for the event focused on advancing cancer survivorship care issues. I recently wrote a joint article for Breast Cancer Social Media Community about the 2016 ASCO Survivorship Symposium with Stacey Tinianov, a breast cancer survivor and patient advocate.

Personalized Care for Cancer Survivors

One theme at the 2016 ASCO Survivorship Symposium was “One Size Fits No One.” There are more than 14 million cancer survivors in the United States and their needs vary. Several presentations revolved around the need for a […]

By | February 21, 2016|Categories: Cancer Research, Oncology|0 Comments
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Developments in Multi-Gene Panel Tests for Breast Cancer

Numerous genetic mutations are linked to increased risk for breast cancer. Genetic testing can identify these mutations and guide patient management decisions. Over the past decade, multi-gene panel tests have gained traction in clinical settings. These evaluate up to 43 breast cancer-related genes, compared with limited BRCA 1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) tests. In a recent review for World Journal of Surgical Procedures, I discussed whether multi-gene panel testing should replace limited BRCA1/2 testing.

Background to Genetic Testing

Since the mid-1990s, we have known about the link between BRCA1/2 and risk for breast cancer, which account for 30 to 50 percent of breast cancers. There are now well-established clinical guidelines for the […]

By | February 9, 2016|Categories: Breast Cancer Screening, Cancer Research, Oncology|0 Comments
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Congress Passes Breast Cancer Patient Education Act

The Breast Cancer Patient Education Act (BCPEA), passed by Congress in December 2015, is federal legislation aimed at improving awareness of certain rights afforded to breast cancer patients. The Women’s Health Care and Cancer Rights Act, enacted in 1998, requires health plans that provide coverage for breast cancer care to include coverage for breast reconstruction. However, many patients remain unaware of this right. The goal of the  BCPEA is to help spread this information to breast cancer patients.

Patients Often Uninformed About Breast Reconstruction

Around 42 percent of women who undergo mastectomy subsequently undergo breast reconstruction, according to a study published August 2014 in JAMA […]

By | January 25, 2016|Categories: Breast Surgery, Cancer News|0 Comments
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Response to the U.S. Government’s Latest Dietary Guidelines

Last week the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020. (1) This publication contains important information that affects all of us so let’s take a quick look to see what it’s all about.

Every 5 years our government reviews and revises the Dietary Guidelines for Americans based on new research findings or “evidence” as well as new information collected about the current health and health habits of people like you and me from across America. This is an enormous task requiring a 2-year commitment (unpaid!) by a select committee of nutrition and health professionals who […]

By | January 21, 2016|Categories: Breastlink Thrive, Nutrition|0 Comments
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Authors

Breastlink
John Link, M.D.
John West, M.D.
June Chen, M.D.
Nancy Link, R.D.N.
Nimmi Kapoor M.D.
Tchaiko Parris, M.D., Ph.D.

Disclaimer

All information provided by Breastlink on this blog is of a general nature and is not intended to be and cannot substitute medical treatment or personal advice. The information is intended only for general purposes. Many patients have different needs, reactions or forms of treatment. If you have questions regarding your own or a loved one’s treatment or care you must consult with your own physician or seek the guidance of a treating physician.