Healthy Women Today. A Newsletter from the National Women's Health Information Center (www.4woman.gov, 1-800-994-9662). The Office on Women's Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services

September 2001 edition

FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

September is the month for getting back to business in our lives...vacations are over, school is back in session, many professional conferences are planned, commuter traffic thickens, and farm families can take advantage of the harvest moon. It's also a good time to get serious about scheduling your check-ups and screenings. As you will see in our September newsletter, it's Gynecologic Cancer Awareness month, and the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation reminds you to do a personal inventory of your gynecologic cancer risk. One recommendation is to get to know your medical family tree. I want to remind our readers that medical family histories are often not obvious or clear, and might need interpretation by a health professional who specializes in hereditary disease, such as a genetic counselor.

This is an issue of great personal importance to me, because I come from a family with an extensive history of cancer. I was lucky to find good professionals to evaluate my family tree and was advised to have screenings for several cancers at a relatively young age. I was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 40, and breast cancer at age 43. Both cancers were caught very early, and I have now passed my 50th birthday! I am living proof that knowing your medical family history can literally save your life. Make plans to ask family members about the health histories of their parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles. I can't think of a better way to start a new autumn season.

Carol Krause

 

Public Comments about the National Women's Health Information Center

Each month, NWHIC will feature comments from people like you in our newsletter. These comments are sent to us through the on-line feedback form found at: www.4woman.gov/search/contact.cfm We want to hear how the NWHIC web site or call center has made a difference in your health or health lifestyle! Here's what two of our users had to say about our Information Specialists:

I cannot thank you enough for the wealth of information that you sent me and also for the assistance you provided me. I really appreciate it. As a volunteer resource person I am asking for assistance a lot, and I have received all kinds of replies. When someone really goes out of their way to be helpful, I think that it should be recognized. We often get the complaints, but the praise does not come quite as frequently. I just wanted you to know that your help is appreciated. Any assistance that we will be able to give others, and any lives that may be changed by that, are because of people like you who help us plant the seeds of wellness!

Thanks again,

Janet Pittsburg, Kansas


I called your organization today in search of information relevant to my work as a writer and health professional. Your Information Specialist was personable, patient, helpful and professional. She made suggestions that were useful to help me use your web site in a more effective manner. Whatever she was able to supply me in "hard-copy" form she did. When people like her provide assistance to someone like myself who is charged with informing the public, not only does she impact on my work, she in effect has a hand in helping me to more effectively reach my readers and patients.

Thank you.

Victoria RDH, MS New York City, New York

 

SEPTEMBER FEATURED HEALTH ARTICLE

WOMEN'S CANCERS ARE PREVENTABLE

This article is provided by the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation to increase awareness during Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. The statistics are staggering. Every hour, 10 women in this country are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer--mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and significant others.

Equally alarming is the number of women dying from gynecologic cancers. This year, more than 260,000 women will be diagnosed with breast and gynecologic cancer, and over 67,000 will succumb to these undiscriminating diseases.

Many of these deaths can be prevented with early detection and by understanding a woman's risk factors.

Gynecologic cancers are the fourth most common cancers in American women. They include cancers of the female reproductive tract, such as ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal, vulva, and fallopian tube cancers. These diseases don't have to be fatal. Research has shown that with early detection and education, many of these cancers can be cured and even prevented. September is national Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM). What a perfect time to follow these simple steps to help protect your health and your life.

G-Get to know your "medical family tree.

It is important for women to learn about their maternal and paternal family histories of breast, ovarian, uterine, colon and prostate cancer. Although thought of as women's cancers, the genetic risk for ovarian and breast cancers can be transmitted through either the mother or the father, making both family histories equally important. A family history of prostate cancer is important because this has been linked with a history of breast and ovarian cancer. Inherited predisposition to cancer, as a result of your family's history, is the most significant risk factor for ovarian cancer. Alert your gynecologist to your family history of cancer so preventative steps can be taken. There are new treatment recommendations aimed at reducing cancer risks that may be appropriate for you. For instance, taking birth control pills for more than five years has been shown to reduce ovarian and uterine cancer by 50 percent.

C-Conduct an online cancer assessment at www.wcn.org

Take 15 minutes out of your day to determine your risk for developing gynecologic and breast cancer by logging onto the Internet at the Women's Cancer Network (WCN) web site, www.wcn.org. You will receive a free, personalized and confidential assessment of your risk for developing cervical, ovarian, uterine and breast cancer after completing a brief individualized health survey. The WCN web site also has in-depth information on female cancers, resources for women who have been diagnosed with cancer, and information on gynecological oncologists, experts who specialize in treating cancers of the reproductive organs.

A-Ask questions and educate yourself about gynecologic cancers.

Learn the warning signs of reproductive cancers and know your body. This knowledge is an important step to being proactive about your health and well being. Some of these warning signs include:

A woman with any of these symptoms should seek medical attention to determine whether or not she needs to see a gynecologic oncologist, a cancer specialist with training in the area of gynecologic cancers.

M-Make an appointment for your annual gynecologic exam and Pap smear.

Women of all ages (starting at age 18 or at the onset of sexual activity) should have an annual gynecologic exam and Pap smear. Some of the most common gynecologic cancers have no specific symptoms and can only be detected by regular visits to your gynecologist. A regular health care routine is essential to maintaining your health and to early cancer detection.

Don't let yourself become a victim!

Dr. Karlan is director of gynecologic oncology, at the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine.

For more information on gynecologic cancers, call NWHIC at 1-800-994-9662, or visit our web site at www.4woman.gov

 

SEPTEMBER NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES

 

IMPORTANT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMING SOON to NWHIC!! - "Living Long ...Living Well" Women's Health Weekly Organizer, 2002. Call our toll-free call center at: (800) 994-9662 to reserve your individual copy today.

Spanish Language Materials

Did you know you can order Spanish Language Materials from NWHIC? Call our toll-free information center at: (800) 994-9662 and speak to a Spanish Information Specialist to learn how and receive a free magnet as well as Spanish Language Materials!

NWHIC has added two new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on:

 

COOKING HEALTHY IS EASY - START EATING RIGHT TODAY!

In celebration of National 5 A Day Week (September 10-16), sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the Better Health Foundation (www.5aday.gov), NWHIC is featuring recipes to keep you cool during the summer heat from the National Cancer Institute.

 

OWH NEWS, INITIATIVES & CAMPAIGNS

The Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the HHS Working Group on Female Genital Cutting presented new information on the relationship between female genital cutting and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the 2001 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, on August 13, 2001. For more information, see the media advisory. A Presentation on Female Genital Cutting: A Risk Factor for HIV? (www.4woman.gov/owh/pr/2001%20Press%20Releases/10Aug01.htm)

The Office on Women's Health has released a new publication for health professionals. The "Compendium on Physician Retraining Initiatives" was developed to provide current information on physician retraining programs. While there are many short-term continuing medical education (CME) programs that may include re-entry components, this publication includes information on long-term initiatives that are primarily devoted to physician re-entry issues. (www.4woman.gov/owh/retrain)

Recently released was the monograph, "Advancing Women's Health: Health Plans' Innovative Programs in Breastfeeding Promotion". It explains why health plans have such a vital role to play in increasing the number of women who successfully breastfeed their babies. As the case studies in this monograph compellingly demonstrate, health plans are promoting breastfeeding through a range of educational, support, and case management programs. This new publication is available in HTML format from the Office on Women's Health (www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/breastfeeding/), or for download in PDF format from the American Association of Health Plans (www.aahp.org).

Starting September 13th, the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services will launch the National Bone Health Campaign (NBHC), Powerful Bones. Powerful Girls. This campaign is a unique public/nonprofit partnership among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Service's Office on Women's Health (OWH) and the National Osteoporosis Foundation. The event is a multiyear national campaign to promote optimal bone health with behaviors that begin at age 9, and thus reduce their risk of osteoporosis later in life. The goal is to educate and encourage girls to establish lifelong healthy habits, especially increased calcium consumption and physical activity to build and maintain strong bones. In addition to a focus on young women, the campaign will target adults who influence them, including parents, teachers, coaches, youth group leaders, and health care professionals. To help extend the reach and impact of its messages, the NBHC is creating a national partnership network of Federal, state, and local government allies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit entities. The goal of this network is to facilitate resource and information sharing among a broad range of partner organizations across the country. Partners will be encouraged to incorporate bone health messages and activities into their existing programs and to share lessons learned.

 

PICK YOUR PATH TO HEALTH CAMPAIGN...

(www.4woman.gov/PYPTH/) helps women take simple and time-sensitive steps to improve their health, and provides tools for local communities to promote practical, culturally relevant action steps to wellness.

SEPTEMBER PICK YOUR PATH TO HEALTH THEME - Immunization: Shots Aren't Only for Kids. Get Yours!!!

SEPTEMBER PICK YOUR PATH TO HEALTH PERSONAL ACTION STEPS:

For additional information on immunizations see:
Why Should I Worry about Immunizations? www.4woman.gov/faq/immunizations.htm

Call our Information Center at: (800) 994-9662 to place your order for the PYPTH Community Action Kit and Posters, while supplies last!

You can also join the PYPTH listserve for regular updates and community action steps. Visit our home page for details: www.4woman.gov

 

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS FOR YOUR HEALTH

For publications on over 800 health topics, check out our health topic search at http://www.4woman.gov/search/search.cfm, or call 1-800-994-WOMAN!

 

WHO IS USING NWHIC's SERVICES?

Last month, the NWHIC web site had a whopping 219,443 visitors and received an astonishing 3,851,205 hits to the site!

Our toll-free Information and referral line received the most calls from New York this month, followed closely by Virginia. Help your state become our "number one" state by encouraging your friends, colleagues and family members to call our toll-free services if they need information on women's health topics!

The most popular NWHIC web pages in July were:

Our most frequently asked topics were about: Cancer, Pregnancy, Disabilities, Exercise and Physical Activity, and Breast Cancer

Mention the "Healthy Woman Today" Newsletter when calling our toll-free Information Center at: (800) 994-9662 and receive a free gift!

 

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