What My Patients Are Asking: Should I Avoid Fish Oil While I’m Getting Chemotherapy?

Several news stories, including one in Time magazine, are saying that people diagnosed with cancer should avoid fish oil supplements, as well as eating mackerel and herring, while being treated with chemotherapy.

The study these news stories are based on, “Increased Plasma Levels of Chemoresistance-Inducing Fatty Acid 16:4(n-3) After Consumption of Fish and Fish Oil,” was published online on April 2, 2015 by the …

Choosing No Reconstruction — Are You the Only One?

If you’re facing a mastectomy, you may be surprised to find that virtually everyone expects you to have reconstruction. Your doctors, your friends, and even your family may believe that without reconstruction you won’t be happy and you won’t feel whole or feminine. But what if you don’t share these concerns? What if you don’t think reconstruction is right for you?

Perhaps you want to …

Like Mother (in Law), Like Daughter (in Law)

When I was facing a bilateral mastectomy, I had a wonderful role model — my mother-in-law, Reggie, who lived without breasts (and without reconstruction) for over 50 years. Reggie was a striking woman with dark wavy hair and flawless skin. She wore loose, flowing apparel, often accented by colorful scarves. The loose clothes were necessitated by severe lymphedema that developed in one arm after surgery …

Living a Breast-Free Life

When I first met my mother-in-law, in 1972, she had recently recovered from her second mastectomy. She was only 46 at the time. She’d had her prior mastectomy at age 31. Reconstruction wasn’t an option back then. I remember feeling sorry for her, but also marveling at her positive attitude. She looked great — she wore breast forms and, had I not known about her …

Hot Topic: Chilling the Hot Flashes

I hear the term “excessive heat warning” from our local weathercasters and think they are talking about me. My hot flashes are so intense I can raise the temperature in a room a few degrees simply by standing in it. If you have never experienced a hot flash, think of feeling — without warning — of suddenly standing outside on a blistering summer day dressed …