31 Days of “Little Known” FACTS — For Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Day 8 — Overdiagnosis Devastates Lives

Did you know… Overdiagnosis of DCIS Devastates the Lives of Tens of Thousands of Healthy Women Every Year. In this country, the huge jump in D.C.I.S. diagnoses potentially transforms some 50,000 healthy people a year into “cancer survivors” and contributes to the larger sense that breast cancer is “everywhere,” happening to “everyone.” That, in turn, […]

Thankful for PCORI & Patient-Centered Research

I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of  PCORI — Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Three days of presentations and panel discussions all focused on one recurring theme: Patient voices, preferences, values, experiences, and outcomes matter. I felt like I was in patient advocate heaven. Suzannah Fox, former Chief Technology Officer of the […]

Why the “Standard of Care” Must Change

Despite clear evidence from the most extensive study to date on DCIS — that there is no benefit to surgery, radiation and drugs (“standard of care” treatment for DCIS) — and despite significant harms of these treatments — doctors will most likely not be making any protocol changes. During a KPBS interview, Dr Reema Batra, stated the “standard […]

48 and Feeling Great… Great… Grateful!

Today is my 48th Birthday! My 10 year old son Cody said to me, “there is no way you are 48. Maybe low – mid 30s!” Thanks Cody for reminding me that age is just a #.  What’s most important is how we feel… and how we feel on the inside can’t help but shine […]