Teresa Heinz (Kerry) says she's fighting breast cancer

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press

BOSTON – Teresa Heinz says she is being treated for breast cancer discovered through mammography and argues that younger women should continue undergoing the tests despite a federal panel's recent recommendation to reduce their frequency.

The 71-year-old wife of the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry, of Massachusetts, told The Associated Press that the cost of mammography is far lower than the physical and personal tolls women ages 40 to 60 face if their cancer goes undetected early and they later have to be treated with aggressive chemotherapy.

"Chemotherapy is serious. It also costs a lot of money. It's very painful. And it's very destructive of people's — most people's — lives for a while, anyway. So why put people through that instead of just having a test that's done, and it's done?" Heinz told the AP during an interview this week. "So that's why I was so upset about that decision of this panel."

She recalled nurses in a hospital where she was receiving a magnetic resonance imaging procedure, or MRI, being "so livid" when they heard the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend last month that women start receiving mammograms at age 50, rather than the long-standing practice of 40.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091223/ap_on_re_us/us_teresa_heinz_cancer?_ylt=ApNcVN_Omt.RZvGgre1U.Udv24cA?_ylu=X3oDMTNiY25vOGZ2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjIzL3VzX3RlcmVzYV9oZWluel9jYW5jZXIEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM0BHBvcwM0BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRz

[Odin2005]

1. (((GOOD VIBES))) to Teresa

[Barack_America]

2. I admire her pluck and wish her all the best, but...

Mammograms are a diagnostic and not therapeutic tool. They are not designed to spare anyone surgery or chemo, quite the opposite, in fact. She also makes it sound like a clean mammogram puts a woman in the clear, which is a very dangerous piece of misinformation. Mammography may be the best tool we currently have, but it frequently comes up short.

[karynnj]

18. I assume that she means that by catching it earlier,

it will likely not require the far more aggressive chemos used when it is caught at a later stage. I don't think she meant that it was fool proof either.

For over a dozen years THK has hosted medical forums on woman's health, cancer and environmental toxins annually in both Boston and Pittsburgh.

[TwilightGardener]

23. That's the way I read her comments too--that if caught at an early stage, maybe

only surgery would be necessary.

[Berry Cool]

35. Yes, but one needs to be cautious when saying that.

She quotes the nurses who became "livid" about the new guidelines as having claimed to have advocated mammograms for years as "preventive." That's just nonsense; nurses should know better than to think or spread the belief that mammograms "prevent" breast cancer itself.

ed. typo

[pleah]

3. Best wishes for a full recovery.

k&r

[TwilightGardener]

4. Best wishes to her.

[MissDeeds]

5. Best wishes to Teresa

Fortunately, she'll be able to have the best health care.

:hug:

[WriteDown]

6. How dare she question the federal panel!

Doesn't she know that mammograms cause breast cancer? :sarcasm:

[Berry Cool]

36. Sometimes they may. Don't belittle or snark at the possibility.

That said, I wish her all the best for a full recovery, no recurrences.

[WriteDown]

39. Doubtful.....

And the fed panel made a ridiculous recommendation.

[Zoeisright]

51. You're right. Exposure to radiation can be cancer-causing.

I can't believe I even had to type that sentence. Of course exposure to more radiation is carcinogenic. I don't think it's a coincidence that the incidence of breast cancer has increased with the increased use of mammograms. And, it's increased because of the number of non-lethal cancers that show up in the mammogram, which cause untold anguish.

The federal panel recommendation was reasoned and sound.

[WriteDown]

56. Haha...

And you're typing that while sitting in front of a computer monitor right? :shrug:

Your post is an excellent illustration of the causation vs. correlation.

Please tell us about these non-lethal cancers.

[Berry Cool]

66. Look up non-lethal cancers yourself. There is such a thing.

Mammograms have found lazy tumors so slow in growing and so un-aggressive in pathology that they are never likely to metastasize or imperil the life of a person at all (or at least not before that person, if of an advanced age, would die of something else). The question is whether those tumors are not being needlessly and expensively removed.

Educate yourself some more, and you'll understand what others are referring to. "Cancer" is not just a single monolithic, always fatal disease.

[WriteDown]

70. Once again...

are you sitting in front a computer monitor while typing these?

Any cancer can be non-lethal if found early enough. The problem with cancer is that it can change in a heartbeat. Ask my friend who's melanoma turned into lymphoma almost overnight.

You strike me as someone who reads:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Cures_%22They%22_Don%27t_Want_You_to_Know_About

Of course authored by:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Trudeau

[goclark]

7. Best wishes to a national treasure ~ nt

[bigwillq]

8. All the best, Teresa.

Good luck with your treatment. Wow, she's 71?!?!?! Looking good.

[avaistheone1]

9. Good luck Teresa.

[pnwmom]

10. We're pulling for you, Teresa. n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. best wishes to a wonderful person

[Deep13]

12. Jesus, not another one.

:(
Best wishing for recovery.

[closeupready]

13. No! Get better, Mom!

:hug:

[joeybee12]

14. Here's hoping she makes a full recovery!

:grouphug:

[madmax]

15. Best Wishes and Best of Luck n/t

[Maestro]

16. I too hope for full recovery!

:hug:

[Enthusiast]

17. This is heart breaking.

[defendandprotect]

19. Very much like Teresa Heinz and wonder why she didn't take her husband's Senate seat?

Thought she was a tremendous assest to the Kerry campaign --

and, again, like Edwards -- I thought both of the women would have made

the better candidates!!!

This Cancer thing sucks -- Obviously we're having trouble with our immune systems --

and it would be nice to see some wiser less invasive and damaging treatments than we

have now.

Reality is that we have thousands of cancer cells in our bodies at any time --

the pollution of our environment has to be questioned. THIS can only be accomplished when we

come to terms with health care which is based on a human right -- and on prevention.

In fact, today, Howard Dean was talking about some discussing the concept of ENDING FEE

FOR SERVICE in medical care.

My sympathies and admiration to Teresa Heinz and her family --

[WriteDown]

20. What reality is this again?

"Reality is that we have thousands of cancer cells in our bodies at any time --"

[Berry Cool]

67. You really do need to read up and learn more about cancer.

I hope and pray you will end up doing so out of curiosity, and not out of necessity.

[WriteDown]

71. See post 70. nt

[valerief]

49. Ah, we just can't get enough of those PCBs and dioxin and mercury and BPA, can we?

:grr:

[earcandle]

21. Thanks Teresa, but no thanks. Might not be true, but I tried it once and my conclusion is that

those steel clamps can cause trauma and trauma causes
cancer... intuitive hit for me. Not to sway you all.
You all probably will save your lives from this action.  I
would get traumatized.  

[WriteDown]

27. I hear breathing causes cancer too. Try to breathe as little as possible...

:eyes:

[earcandle]

60. that is surely a petty and idiotic response meant to bait me, but I am not biting.

[WriteDown]

75. No, breathing causes oxidation which in fact cause death among other things....

Breathing as little as possible will extend your life. Of course there is a balance to these things. :)

[defendandprotect]

33. Agree with you . . .

I also question the damage done by repeated mammographies . . .

Think the Boston Women's Health Collective does, as well!!!

What treatments we have are often "slash and burn" --

Public needs to understand power of prevention -- and overturn capitalism!!!

[mnhtnbb]

43. I recently had a physical and told my GP: no thanks, mammogram

and no thanks, statins.

I'll hope that the breastfeeding I did with my sons will be positive; I'll hope that the genes
of two parents who both lived to 91 will be positive.

Lots of people with low cholesterol have heart attacks and lots of people with high cholesterol
never have heart attacks.

I'll take my chances.

Best wishes to Teresa for a full recovery.

[WriteDown]

45. Ugh, more anti-statin propaganda....

They've literally saved my life and would have saved the life of many of my family. Not everyone needs them, but people who have high "sticky" cholesterol can be tested quite easily and that can be determined.

[SharonAnn]

59. My stepson died at 40 of massive heart attack. Needed statins badly, didn't know.

Didn't take them. Had strong family history on both sides of very high cholesterol and the associated deaths, disease, etc. But, he hated doctors and thought he was invulnerable.

[earcandle]

61. I get my blood examined every year for all cell salts and for creatine, cholesterol and everything

else under the sun. Prevention is key.  Information is
invaluable. 

[WriteDown]

63. But if you tested high and your doctors recommended statins, would you take them?

:shrug:

[earcandle]

73. No. I would change my diet and exercise more.

The body reinvents itself regularly if you keep shit out of
it.

[WriteDown]

74. No, it doesn't....

And that kind of thinking is dangerous. The same kind of thinking has people taking ionic silver for cancer, autism, and bird flu.

A lot of disorders are genetic. Something I know first hand. You wouldn't happen to be the one who kept her little boy from getting chemo for treatable cancer would you? :shrug:

[earcandle]

76. I took biology and chemistry and got pretty good grades. Cells die and are manufactured regularly

inside the body dependent on the nutrition in the blood.  

We don't have the same cells from beginning to end.  If you
think
that, go take a course in biology.  Cell growth and
destruction 
slows down as we get older, but continue to follow a life and
death pattern
much like any other organic life.  

Health is determined by the nutritive content of the blood
(through what we ingest) 
that feeds the various components of the body.  The blood is a
soup of inorganic 
and organic materials the grow new cells and flush old dead
cells.  If we don't have
the proper mix of nutrition in the blood, we get all sorts of
ugly bumps and growths both 
inside the body and outside on the skin.

So we are one fifth live protoplasm, four fifths degenerating
materials in the process of decay, much like
as leaves on a tree are green when live and as they lose life
turn gold, red, brown and blackened
as soil when fully decayed as laid on the ground.  Our feces
is our brown state. 

Genetic disorders are mechanical in design, but biological
processes are the same for everyone
as a general rule throughout the organic kingdom.  Take food
in, build pulpy structures, break down,
waste goes out, energy is released and the cycle repeats
itself until the body dies. 

Regarding your question, no, your projection is out of fear. 
Fear is probably the greatest cause
of biological problems.  It causes the body to contract rather
than release.  It jams you up.

May your new year bring you peace. 

[WriteDown]

62. Sorry to hear that...

Cholesterolemia is rampant in my family. A lot of deaths before me. It's natural though and has nothing to do with my diet.

[Berry Cool]

68. My mother died of a heart attack while on statins. One and done.

For years it was very hard to watch the TV commercials for the statin she was on when she died--Zocor--because its slogan was "Be there." As in, "Take Zocor and you'll be there for your family." Well, she took Zocor and it did absolutely zero to keep her with us.

This does not mean all statins are bad or that no one should take them. It just means that nothing is guaranteed in this world. Statins do not guarantee heart attack prevention and mammograms do not guarantee breast cancer survival--no matter what anyone says.

[WriteDown]

72. They are not cures..

They are just preventatives and no drug is 100% unless its a cure. Still does not negate their usefulness.

[progressoid]

22. ...

:hug:

[RamboLiberal]

24. Best Wishes Teresa and hope for Full Recovery

And how gallant of her to speak up on the inane recommendation that women delay mammograms.

[Blue Diadem]

25. Best wishes for her recovery.

This stood out to me:

Snip from article: In early October, she underwent lumpectomies on both breasts at a Washington hospital after doctors also discovered what they thought was a benign growth on her right breast.

That diagnosis was initially confirmed in postoperative pathology, but two other doctors later found it to be malignant. In November, Heinz had another pair of lumpectomies performed at Massachusetts General Hospital

-----------
Bold print done by me.

I am seeing this happen more often. My own situation was originally a negative biopsy that turned out to be precancerous. We also know someone who was told cancer wasn't in his lymph nodes. He found out a few weeks later that it is.

[sandnsea]

58. How does that work

How do you get a negative biopsy that is later changed to precancerous. Is there some further testing, or what exactly happens?

[Blue Diadem]

65. I had further testing, my Dr. said some stop at the negative biopsy.

I agreed to a surgical procedure and that's when they found it was precancerous. I'm not sure about the relative of our friend. All I know is that they were told it wasn't in his lymph nodes during his hospital stay after his surgery. Two weeks later they found out it is.

[Berry Cool]

69. Doctors are human and make mistakes.

That's how.

[politicasista]

26. Best wishes to Momma T.

:grouphug: :patriot:

[Neecy]

28. Best wishes for a quick recovery

I really like Teresa. In 2004 I liked her more than I did her husband. I'm glad they caught it early.

[kestrel91316]

29. When I had medical insurance, before I had to drop it because it was eating up my entire

disposable income (take-home after rent and nothing else) it DIDN'T cover mammograms until I ran through the $7500 or $10k deductible, plus copays above that. I was charged $600 for the mammogram. It took two years to pay it off. Insurance premiums ate up every penny I had.

Maybe after HCR reform passes I will be able to buy a Kaiser plan that does cover a doctor visit and a little preventive/screening stuff right up front.........but they wouldn't sell a policy to me a few years ago because my doctor's office didn't send them a copy of my record (since it had been years since I had been in and the file wasn't handy).

Sigh.

[defendandprotect]

34. $600 for a mammography isn't health care, it's a crime wave !!!

[kestrel91316]

42. Yeah. That's why I laugh when people suggest just going out and getting one,

insurance or no. And that was the SPECIAL PRICE FOR INSURED PEOPLE. I assume that it's 2-3x that if you have no insurer to negotiate the price down.

[defendandprotect]

44. Howard Dean was on a show early this morning and mentioned that

some of those thinking about health care are wanting to go to NO FEE FOR SERVICE ...

I didn't get to hear anything else but that --

Don't know if this means salaried doctors?

Have you heard of this before --

I'd do a search but I'm having some difficulty with my computer --

:)

[kestrel91316]

47. I'd LOVE Single Payer/No Fee For Service. Instead we are getting

insurance that I can't afford to pay up front for, therefore can't take advantage of the after-the-fact tax credits for it.

[cadmium]

77. Just so everyone knows: I work on the next floor

from where Teresa is receiving state of the art breast cancer care. When one of my patients --homeless, poor, undocumented need equivalent treatment at the MGH Breast Clinic. they GET it. No questions asked --except to make sure that they show up for appointments. The great care she gets is not just because of who she is or because she has money, it is the way that clinic functions as a matter of principle. I will walk my homeless patient upstairs to the specialized Breast Clinic and they get the care. That is the same clinic that Teresa uses. When good things are a matter of routine practice they don"t get a lot of credit. Teresa is getting no bargains except for the state of the art care that every one else at this clinic gets. This is a testament to the MGH Clinic and the way it ought to be at all special clinics.

[wicket]

30. Kick that cancer's ass Teresa!

I know you can do it! :hug:

[David Zephyr]

31. Pulling for Teresa! My mom and aunt both are breast cancer survivors.

Lots of love for Teresa and John and their family. Teresa is a courageous woman. Her life story is a story of courage and character. I admire her. She's going to come through this.

And here's lots of love to Chris, Andre, John and to Alexandra and Vanessa!

Chris, if you still venture here, I saw your mom with John in 2004 at the Disney Concert Hall here in Los Angeles. Neil Diamond performed sweet Caroline and your mom rocked from left to right in the audience caught up in the moment. She's a beautiful lady and, like my mom, she will make it through this.

[politicasista]

32. Kick for optimism

She and Michelle O. rock. :fistbump: :kick:


On edit: Glad to hear your aunt and mom beat the disease. :hi:

[YvonneCa]

38. What a nice post...

...and sentiment. I agree completely. Hugs to THK. :grouphug:

[havocmom]

37. Good energy for healing for a good woman, who uses life's set-backs constructively

She is a very gracious and wise advocate, teacher, humane human being.

May she experience full recovery and know many wish her well.

[Mad_Dem_X]

40. Good vibes and prayers for Teresa...

She is a strong woman; I know she'll get through this.

[OhioChick]

41. I wish her the best. n/t

[Island Blue]

46. Best wishes for a full recovery.

:hug:

[Blasphemer]

48. I wish her the best... my mother is a decade long survivor.... nt

[patrice]

50. Blessings to Teresa from my sister, Therese, who is beyond "here"

and "now" because of her cancer.

[bdamomma]

52. all the best to her to fight this disgusting disease,

she is a wonderful woman.

[superconnected]

53. Very best to Teresa Heinz. I always liked that woman!

It's sad to see she's going through this.

[me b zola]

54. Sending my best wishes and positive thoughts for a full recovery

Beat the cancer, Teresa, we're all pulling for you. :grouphug:

[Vidar]

55. Best wishes for her recovery.

[BlueIris]

57. ((((( THK )))))

One of my personal heroes.

[Garam_Masala]

64. I will be praying for your complete recovery, Teresa n/t

[gauguin57]

78. Prayers for Mama T.

Now both wives on the 2004 Democratic ticket are fighting breast cancer. Clearly shows how this disease can strike anyone -- be she rich or poor, famous or anonymous.

Prayers for them both.