Category Archives: Sedation Dentistry Chicago

Doc suspected in wife’s death freed on fraud case

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah –  a prominent Utah doctor suspected in his wife’s 2007 death was released from a federal prison in Texas late last week after serving time for fraud.

Dr. Martin MacNeill was freed Friday but remains on three years of probation as part of his sentence.

“It’s really sickening to me,” daughter Alexis Somers told the Deseret News (http://bit.ly/MY3vT3 ) Monday. “I am back to this panic feeling, just really nervous knowing what he is capable of doing and now he is out.”

Somers, other family members and Utah County investigators believe MacNeill killed his wife in April 2007 then covered it up — charges the doctor has denied. he claims he had nothing to do with his wife’s death. Telephone messages left Tuesday for two of his attorneys weren’t returned.

Michele MacNeill’s body was found in a bathtub in the couple’s Pleasant Grove home, about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City.

An autopsy indicated she died of natural causes, but a 2010 addendum to that report questioned the manner of death. Authorities now say they believe Michele MacNeill was drugged by her husband, but they haven’t been able to prove it.

Martin MacNeill has never been charged in her death.

He served time after pleading guilty to fraudulently trying to obtain military, banking and Utah identification documents for another woman.

Investigators and family members claim MacNeill had been having an affair with Gypsy Jyll Willis, the very woman who landed him in prison for fraud. when he applied for a military identification card for a woman he called his wife, he listed April 14, 2007, as their wedding day — the very day his real wife was buried and just three days after police say he killed her.

A search warrant filed in March 2011 said MacNeill had the perfect motive — to cover up his affair. Willis also was convicted in the fraud case involving the ID card and served a year in federal prison.

“Martin had motive to kill his wife as he was attempting to hide his affair with Gypsy Willis and his continued contact with her,” the search warrant states. “Ultimately Martin intentionally overdosed Michele with the medications.”

Michele MacNeill underwent plastic surgery on April 3, 2007 — just eight days before her death and shortly after confronting her husband about an affair that had been going on for the last three years, the search warrant affidavit states. It further said Michele MacNeill told her daughter that her husband had her take medications throughout the night even though they made her sick. She was found the next morning unresponsive and remained in that state throughout the day.

Chief investigator Jeff Robinson wrote that the doctor had access to the drugs and “admitted overdosing her a few days prior to her death as if he was going through a practice run.”

Chad Grunander, the Utah County prosecutor assigned to the case, said although MacNeill is out of prison the homicide investigation is still ongoing. MacNeill is required to stay in Utah as terms of his probation.

Authorities say Martin MacNeill spent a lifetime spinning lies. Utah County investigators say he used falsified records to get into medical schools in Mexico and California and later, Brigham Young University.

In 2009, while facing the federal fraud charges, he pleaded guilty to three felonies for lying to investigators.

Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com

Doc suspected in wife’s death freed on fraud case

Doc suspected in wife’s death freed on fraud case

Celebrities and Cosmetic Surgery to Consider

Celebrities and cosmetic surgery are on many people’s minds today. Did they have work done? who may have had a certain procedure? it is very difficult to tell most times. There may be many perfect examples of cosmetic surgery that no one knows about. With some celebrities, it may be obvious. however, most celebrities will not reveal that information. here are some cosmetic surgeries and famous people involved.

Rhinoplasty is often called a nose job. when done properly, it can make a big difference in facial appearance. the results can be dramatic. it is also done for medical reasons. Improved breathing is a good example. Britney Spears recently had a rhinoplasty procedure. her nose is a little smaller now. the shape of it has not changed. Public opinion is favorable on her decision.

Breast Augmentation surgery is commonly done today. when Pamela Anderson’s breasts enlarged, she became a famous centerfold model. most breast implants are not as dramatic today. the quality of the surgery makes it almost impossible to tell at times. People wonder how breasts enlarge. however, there may be no way to be certain that is was from cosmetic surgery. In a few cases, they are made smaller. Dolly Parton had this done for back problems.

Facial implant surgery

When you wish to enhance a particular facial feature, you can use implants. They are also used for medical purposes like reconstructive surgery. it can help someone’s return to his or her previous lifestyle, after a terrible accident. Roseanne Barr’s cheek implants are an example of good facial implant surgery. however, she remains one of the few that will admit to such procedures.

Blepharoplasty may be done by itself. it may also be part of an entire face-lift. You may look years younger after an eyelid surgery. the upper or lower eyelids may be done. when you age, your eyelids get fatty deposits under them. the skin also loses flexibility. You may develop bags under your eyes. Your eyelids may droop. This can make you look tired as well as old. A good eye job can drastically improve your appearance. A good example is Jane Fonda.

Your forehead skin can gradually move down your face. You may look very tired and weary. Forehead wrinkles are a sign of age. A brow lift will bring the skin back in place. the face will appear young and alert. Some people elect to have eyelid surgery with this procedure. You will not hear of many brow lift surgeries. one can only speculate, most times. many people think that Debbie Harry’s recent procedure was a success.

Celebrities and cosmetic surgery continually makes headlines. how do they continue to look young? Did they have it done? We may never know about most famous people. They reason may be simple. the good work is hard to tell. Few people want to admit to surgery. Unfortunately, the cosmetic surgery horror stories make news frequently. This casts a shadow on all the good work that is being done. A few celebrities like Jane Fonda and Britney Spears will admit to it.

Celebrities and Cosmetic Surgery to Consider

Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery

Have they or haven’t they? this is the question that fills copious amounts of magazine pages and inspires countless television shows. the British media loves to speculate about which of our stars may have had a bit of help to improve upon mother nature.

The British public generally enjoys playing this game alongside the media. Discussing the one time girl band member who denies having breast implants yet has implausibly large breasts considering her tiny frame. the aging stars who appear on UK chat shows looking as young as they did 20 years ago. Have they had help? or are they one of the lucky few who don’t appear to age like the rest of us. this is what they would like us to believe.

Cosmetic surgery can look subtle and refresh the face in a natural way. It can slim the hips and enhance and lift the bust. in fact the shape and size of the body can be increased, decreased, nipped and tucked to an ideal perfection that one generally naturally can only aspire to in the twenties.

In the last six years plastic surgery has increased six-fold in Britain. Compared to our American counterparts the British prefer subtle work to be done and are far more discreet about having had cosmetic surgery. to the contrary, Americans will openly ask who did your face for you? and this will be viewed as a compliment, Or your breasts look amazing, can I touch them doesn’t phase the Americans.

In Britain, the preferred look is natural. A preference to look less tired or more refreshed is the look we are generally after.

A discreet manner in which to have surgery performed is to take a holiday and have your cosmetic surgery whilst away from home. It is highly plausible to return from your holidays looking more relaxed and refreshed, more youthful. your cosmetic surgery needn’t be disclosed if you feel uncomfortable about sharing the details of the work you have had done.

This is the British way, we don’t tend to like the brash American tendencies. We prefer understated and discreet, subtle and natural.

Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery

Plastic Surgery Gone Mad: Ariel The Little Mermaid Gets A Makeover – No Fairy Tale Character Is Untouched (Photos)

Ariel The little Mermaid was the go-to Disney princess for an entire generation of kids back in the 90’s. This fictional character received more endorsement deals than the entire Kardashian tribe put together and often times she is referred to as “princess who got it all this morning”. okay, no, that’s Kelloggs’ all Bran Flakes, isn’t it? Isn’t it?

However, this innocent little singer under the sea has received a make-over from Clinica Dempere – a plastic surgery centre in Venezuela, or Infectionville, however which way you look at it. The ads show Ariel resting her head on her one hand, smiling like a drunken girl after a night of binge drinking. The slogan of the ad reads, “We make fairytales come true!” Uh, didn’t anyone tell you that you’re scarring a fictional princess? Behind Ariel’s resting booty, a part of her tail is seen lying on an operating table, with a surgeon cutting away the excess junk. Oh, did we mention that her tail has been removed also? (How jealous would this have made Darryl Hannah in Splash?) She escapes the evil Ursula in the background, but the poor girl’s fate is left up to a plastic surgeon whose head looks like a dying cupcake.

Another ad shows the witch from Sleeping Beauty worked on by these American Horror Story surgeons.  her transformed face and figure is presented in colorful fun, reminding us of a crack head after rehab. almost no fairy tale character is left “untouched” as the ads even include the frog from Princess and the Frog.

Is this a form of vile social commentary? has society become so obsessed with beauty and beauty products that no area of marketing is left untouched? Yes, we admit, the advertisements are quite catchy and extremely original, but this still does not make up for the fact that our childhood hero is being cut up by bad men wearing green masks. Imagine the poor girls who experience the nostalgia of Ariel on DVD (we experienced it on Beta Max and VHS) and then pop onto the internet to play Dora The Explorer, but are stopped by an advertisement, no, not the free desktop stripper one or the Russian girls waiting for you to call, but the one of the girl they want to be one day, morphed and cut into an entirely different woman.

Keeping up with the Kardashians is bad enough for any little girl who wants to follow in the footsteps of “the woman with the big bum”, but these ads send the message of “it is okay to hate your mermaid tail, because we’ll cut you up quicker than the victims at Jason Voorhees’ house party.” The message is sickening. Why can’t we go back to the golden age of Atari and riding on bicycles and playing with pet rocks?

Now, where did we put that old Monopoly box where the scent of nostalgia is held within the perfectly chaotic bills?

Let us know in the comments below whether you approve or disapprove of these ads.

Just look at the marvels of modern medicine

Photo Credit: Clinica Dempere

Plastic Surgery Gone Mad: Ariel The Little Mermaid Gets A Makeover – No Fairy Tale Character Is Untouched (Photos)

Several Converse Methods Regarding The World Of Surgical Treatment

Nearly everyone is considering personal-enhancement. Specifically Converse Pas Cher in terms of the way you look. for a number of individuals, cosmetic plastic surgery can be a recommended way of boosting their look. In case you are contemplating this alternative, these article will help educate you on the topic with wise advice, and tips.

Keep the part of your cut nice and clean after your cosmetic process. just like with some other surgical procedures you could have, washing the incision site is crucial, as it prevents disease. after the site has healed, you may even be considering utilizing cocoa butter into it to aid fade the look of a scar.

Question your surgeon about charges for revision surgeries. these surgical procedures are similar to a “contact up,” and have to be carried out nearly a quarter of most beauty processes. Some Converse All Star surgeons offer them free of charge, however you need to ask your surgeon just what the coverage is on these surgical procedures so that you will will not be astonished if you require this type of treatment carried out.

Every single doctor has a specialty. you need to talk to the surgeon you are considering, to ensure that his area of expertise is the thing that matches your expections. While there are several medical professionals which do several varieties of methods, it might be the best option to possess your surgery performed by a person who has skilled information because distinct kind.

Surgical procedures are Converse Pas Cher expensive and it helps make doctors lots of money, that is why you should be very very careful about in which your cash is headed. Examine your doctor’s background read through some testimonials. Tend not to get lured into employing an operating specialist simply because they have a brochure which enables stuff appearance best.

Will not look for offers in terms of selecting the best physician for the cosmetic plastic surgery. you may reduce your cost, but you might also turn out resembling most of the superstars removed completely wrong. Price must just be among the numerous deciding elements which help you pick the best medical doctor.

Before you even Converse Pas Cher imagine acquiring a beauty process completed, make sure you are at the healthy body weight. Complications coming from a cosmetic treatment are elevated when you find yourself as well thin or overweight. try eating healthier and fitness at least a few months before you will find the treatment carried out.

Be sure and factor in post-op processes, and treatment prior to schedule your surgical treatment. it takes as much as a couple of weeks to recover from a number of surgical operations. you could possibly expertise scarring damage, or soreness,and become bandaged up. you need to avoid being forced to go to gatherings, or another stuff at the job. also, be sure and inquire your physician about Converse All Star undertaking typical things in your house. Such things as housework, and fitness.

Who wouldn’t like to increase the direction they appearance right here or there? Surgical treatment is a very gratifying selection for getting the seem you may have usually wanted, or nipping and tucking in the appropriate places. Use the information and facts out of this report to help your choice on plastic surgery.

Certified Converse Pas Cher Store provides you a lot of discounted Converse Basse shoes right away with Super fast Shipping, Tighten Checkout & Great Support Services.

Several Converse Methods Regarding The World Of Surgical Treatment

Pictures of WWI plastic surgery released – Rawnak 041987′s blog

While those considering plastic surgery today are used to viewing before and after photographs of patients who have had similar procedures, descendants of some World War I vets are getting a chance to view some pictures of early procedures performed by a pioneering British plastic surgeon.

According to the Telegraph, the surgical records of Dr. Harold Gillies, who performed some of the world’s first plastic surgery procedures and skin grafts during the great War, have been placed online. Gillies performed some 11,000 plastic surgery at the Queen’s Hospital in Sidcup, Kent, on more than 2,300 soldiers who were disfigured during battles between 1917 and 1925.

The records are available on the website FindMyPast.co.uk. In addition to amazing before and after photographs, the records also include information on the soldiers, such as their names, regiments and ranks.

“These records are an important source of information for historians, the medical world and those interested in learning about the reality and aftermath of World War I,” FindMyPast.co.uk’s Debra Chatfield said in a news release. “The medical world owes a great deal to Dr Gillies, as do those who were treated by him in the early twentieth century and anyone who has ever received plastic surgery treatment since then. Without his pioneering developments in this field, plastic surgery might not be as advanced as it is today.”

The records are not available for viewing by the general public because of their personal nature. However, anyone who believes one of their family members was treated by Dr. Gillies can view them online.

Gillies, who would have been 130 years old this year, is known as one of the fathers of modern plastic surgery. he was knighted in 1930 because of his contributions to the medical world.

“[He developed] innovative procedures to help reconstruct the faces of badly injured soldiers and airmen, whose facial injuries were caused by bullet wounds and flying shrapnel and needed extensive bone, muscle and skin grafting to restore their appearance,” Dr. Sam Alberti, Director of Museums & Archives at the Royal College of Surgeons, said in a news release. “Most notably, Gillies introduced the tubed pedicle which used the patients’ own tissue to aid reconstructive surgery and reduce the chance of rejection. the files associated with his work are an unparalleled resource for the study of this important branch of medicine and family history.”

Pictures of WWI plastic surgery released – Rawnak 041987′s blog

Operation Beauty

FEATURE FROM ISSUE # 200 (August 2012) | IN THIS ISSUE REFER TO FRIEND PRINT THIS ARTICLE

 

Dr Raju Raj Pandey's clinic looks like any regular clinic from the outside, however, once inside you are greeted by photographs of Nepali noses, eyes, foreheads and other body parts, before and after surgery. Pandey is a cosmetic surgeon.

All over the world cosmetic surgery is an emerging business. especially in Western countries, celebrities are getting older by looking younger. Noses are shrinking, breasts are growing, wrinkles are vanishing, the skin is tightening, and the tabloids keep us up-to-date about which super star tried out the latest facelift method. In Nepal, however, cosmetic surgery is still in its infancy. “We do about three to four upper eyelid surgeries per week,” says Pandey who is the founder of the Nepal Plastic Surgery Hospital. “In centres in Bangkok they performed about 50 to 100 eyelid surgeries per day.”

Although in Nepal cosmetic surgery is still an unknown concept to many, demand is gradually growing. especially young girls knock at Pandey's door, asking for bigger eyes and smaller noses. “It takes time, but slowly people are coming,” Pandey says.

 

Plastic surgery can be divided into two broad categories: reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery helps after accidents, for example to treat burn injuries. In Nepali villages, where open fire cooking is common, children playing around open fire often become victims. Reconstructive surgery is sometimes necessary for survival.

Cosmetic surgery, on the other hand, is a surgical intervention based on the patients' wish to modify a part of their body for aesthetic reasons and usually unnecessary for survival.

Insurance plans in Nepal don't cover cosmetic surgery and patients need to pay out of their own pockets. some hospitals financed by aid organisations provide reconstructive surgery for people in Nepal who cannot afford the treatment. the Sushma Koirala Memorial Hopsital in Salambutar, Sankhu, is one example.   

The most popular among cosmetic surgeries in Nepal is the 'Mongolian eyelid surgery', says Pandey, who studied medicine in India, earned a master in surgery in Nepal and went to Bangkok for special training in plastic surgery. During the surgery, fat, excess skin and muscle from the eyelid are removed to make the eyes appear bigger.

Dr Jaswan Shakya (pictured left) earned a bachelor in medicine and a master in surgery in Russia and got special plastic surgery training from South Korea. he works part-time at the Nepal Skin Hospital, where certain types of cosmetic surgery are offered. Shakya says Nepalis living abroad in the UK or US come back to Nepal for the surgery. “It is more than five times cheaper here in Nepal than in Europe or the US,” he says.

 

Costing between Rs 20,000 and 30,000, the Mongolian eyelid surgery is not only the most popular but also the cheapest surgery in Nepal. it is considered a very simple surgery. Lasting about one hour, the patient can walk normally home on the same day. 

Botox, in turn, a very popular method in Western countries to reduce wrinkles, is very uncommon in Nepal. Instead of a surgery, it requires the injection of expensive medicine. a botox injection costs Rs 10,000 to 12,000 and needs to be repeated every three to five months. “For celebrities, it is okay, they earn for their faces, but from normal people, it is too expensive,” Shakya says.

Other cosmetic surgeries in Nepal, mainly offered at Nepal Skin Hospital are nose surgery, hair transplantation, face lift, breast implants, ear surgery, scar revision or tattoo removal.

Pandey says the reasons why patients want cosmetic surgery are manifold. those coming for a Mongolian eyelid correction are often young girls around 20 or 22. he says some of them want to work as stewardess and think they need the correction. “New eyelids doesn't mean that they will automatically get the air hostess job,” Pandey warns.

However, he agrees that for some jobs, a little correction can be helpful. “You might apply for a job and the employers might tell you that you are too old for the job, because of your receding hairline. In such cases we offer hair transplantations,” Pandey says.

 

Some girls even bring pictures of models to his office. “They tell me 'make me look like this model',” Pandey says. “But I usually tell them that it is not possible. Everyone has a unique face structure that we cannot change.”

But it isn't just young girls who are rushing to cosmetic surgery clinics. Men are interested in nose corrections or hair transplantations. Both men and women above 50 perform upper eyelid corrections because of their age. “For them it's functional,” Pandey says.

Based on his experience with patients, Shakya says cosmetic surgery patients in Nepal are still not under as much societal pressure to look a certain way as people in the West. “This is the difference between Europe and Nepal,” he says. “In Nepal they do the surgery out of their own will, in the US or in Europe, they are pressurised to follow certain trends and look like celebrities. but I am sure this obsession to look like celebrities will soon be felt in Nepal.”

Both Pandey and Shakya have had patients who had second thoughts about surgery. Every surgery entails risks such as bleeding or swellings and Shakya says he meets patients at least three or four times where he talks to them in detail about the procedure and side-effects and precaution. “Cosmetic surgery is not an emergency surgery. the patient must understand the situation,” he says.

 

Shakya recommends his patients to watch videos and read articles about cosmetic surgeries first before making a decision they might regret later on. “If there are complications after breast surgery, we might have to remove the implant, and the patient loses 2000 Euros,” he says.

Pandey also tells his patients to reconsider cosmetic surgery and 25 per cent of them eventually change their mind.

Despite being a plastic surgeon, Pandey still believes in natural beauty. “I believe that it is the nature which makes you who you are,” he says. “You can't challenge nature, you can only modify things.”

Operation Beauty

KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffExperts: Mayas may have used chocolate as spice

By MARK STEVENSONAssociated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Archaeologists say they have found traces of 2,500-year-old chocolate on a plate in the Yucatan peninsula, the first time they have found ancient chocolate residue on a plate rather than a cup, suggesting it may have been used as a condiment or sauce with solid food.

Experts have long thought cacao beans and pods were mainly used in pre-Hispanic cultures as a beverage, made either by crushing the beans and mixing them with liquids or fermenting the pulp that surrounds the beans in the pod. such a drink was believed to have been reserved for the elite.

But the discovery announced this week by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History expands the envelope of how chocolate may have been used in ancient Mexico.

It would also suggest that there may be ancient roots for traditional dishes eaten in today's Mexico, such as mole, the chocolate-based sauce often served with meats.

“This is the first time it has been found on a plate used for serving food,” archaeologist Tomas Gallareta said. “It is unlikely that it was ground there (on the plate), because for that they probably used metates (grinding stones).”

The traces of chemical substances considered “markers” for chocolate were found on fragments of plates uncovered at the Paso del Macho archaeological site in Yucatan in 2001.

The fragments were later subjected to tests with the help of experts at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, as part of a joint project. the tests revealed a “ratio of theobromine and caffeine compounds that provide a strong indicator of cacao usage,” according to a statement by the university.

“These are certainly interesting results,” John S. Henderson, a Cornell University professor of Anthropology and one of the foremost experts on ancient chocolate, said in an email Thursday.

Henderson, who was not involved in the Paso del Macho project, wrote that “the presence of cacao residues on plates is even more interesting … the important thing is that it was on flat serving vessels and so presented or served in some other way than as a beverage.”

“I think their inference that cacao was being used in a sauce is likely correct, though I can imagine other possibilities,” he added, citing possibilities like “addition to a beverage (cacao-based or other) as a condiment or garnish.”

The plate fragments date to about 500 B.C., and are not the oldest chocolate traces found in Mexico. Beverage vessels found in excavations of Gulf coast sites of the Olmec culture, to the west of the Yucatan, and other sites in Chiapas, to the south, have yielded traces around 1,000 years older.

But it does extend the roots of Mexican cuisine, and the importance of chocolate, further back into the past.

“This indicates that the pre-Hispanic Maya may have eaten foods with cacao sauce, similar to mole,” the anthropology institute said in a statement.

Copyright 2012 the associated Press. All rights reserved. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffExperts: Mayas may have used chocolate as spice

Tempus Hair Restoration makes it easier for Floridians to tackle hair loss

PORT ORANGE, Fla., Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Marco Barusco and Tempus Hair Restoration are making it even easier for people to feel better about their hair. People can tackle their hair loss problems with a consultation in these new Tempus locations across Florida: Orlando, Lake Mary, Tampa, Jacksonville and Maitland.

Consultations are encouraged for anyone who notices any significant changes in his or her hair. there are many reasons for hair loss. Genetic hair loss is one of the most common causes but health problems, like thyroid issues, weight loss or even stress, can lead to hair loss.

“for every situation, the earlier you start treating hair loss, the better,” Dr. Barusco, chairman of American Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ASHRS), said. “if you allow it to get so bad, that you have a lot of baldness or bald spots, it limits the amount of recovery or the options you can offer the patient.”

The free consultation will feature a scalp analysis with a video microscope that allows patients to take a closer look at their problem areas. the consultation also allows those affected by hair loss to have their questions answered by Jose Schmidt – Patient Education Director and a pivotal member of the expanded consultations – and Dr. Barusco.

After the analysis, patients are offered a diagnosis and a treatment plan by Dr. Barusco. “unlike some other practices where the patient will see a consultant and only see the doctor on the day of the procedure,” Dr. Barusco said.

Dr. Barusco’s dedication to being with the patient from the start is another benefit of having Tempus on your side. the Tempus Hair Restoration team continually strives to educate people about hair loss, to provide practical solutions and to provide the best experience so the best decisions can be made.

The consultation is also offered at the main Tempus office in Port Orange. Those interested in setting up a free consultation can do so by calling 877-877-5200.

About Tempus Hair Restoration: Tempus Hair was founded by hair transplant surgeon Dr. Marco Barusco and offers hair restoration solutions from medication to surgical procedures. our main priority is to provide clients with education about their hair loss and the best course of action to achieve the client’s goals.

SOURCE Tempus Hair Restoration

Tempus Hair Restoration makes it easier for Floridians to tackle hair loss

Stage 1 Breast Cancer Successfully Treated

My surgeon kept saying how young I was (46) and how tiny my tumor was (1 cm) and what a good thing it was that we caught it early. I had just gotten my breast biopsy report, and he could see how scared I felt, so he was being encouraging. My diagnosis was Stage 1 breast cancer, a low-grade, slow-moving tumor that seemed to have stayed all in one place. I didn’t feel so young and at that point any tumor felt huge – but the thought of having a very early stage of breast cancer did help me calm down. We discussed a lumpectomy, which was to be followed by 6 weeks of radiation, and 5 years of Tamoxifen. I was thinking, “Cancer in six weeks! Beat that! Let’s just get this done!” that was 10 years ago, and I’m still here. Treatments have changed and improved, as have survival rates. Early stage breast cancer can be survived, and the earlier the better!

Once you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you start learning so much about the world of oncology. new terms get thrown at you – sometimes with explanations, sometimes not – and many decisions await you. Staging of your tumor is just one facet of your comprehensive diagnosis, but it’s an important one. The stage of your cancer affects your options for surgery and other treatments. The bottom line on tumor staging is this: the smaller the number, the less rigorous the treatments. that makes it well worth your while to find it early, deal with it promptly, and get the best treatment for your particular case. Often, getting a second opinion is helpful, as different oncologists may suggest different means of treatments, or even a clinical trial. With early stage breast cancer, there may not be a big rush to begin treatments, so weigh your options before you commit to any life-changing plans.

In my case, my lumpectomy revealed a larger tumor with invasive cells in the surgical margins, so back I went for a mastectomy. Breast-conserving surgery didn’t work in my case, but I did find a good plastic surgeon who did my reconstruction. I was finally diagnosed with Stage 2 – the tumor was larger than we thought and the invasive cells pushed me into a higher stage. My daydream of having just 6 weeks of cancer did not materialize, and I went on to take almost a full year of surgeries and chemo. That’s how much difference there can be between stages of breast cancer. So when I say, “Don’t skip your breast self exam!” I really mean it. Catch it early and get it over with, if at all possible.

Sign up for my Free 8-day E-course for Newly Diagnosed.

Stage 1 Breast Cancer Successfully Treated