Submitted By: Dr. Shenin Sachedina, The Central Florida Breast Center With statistics as compelling as 1 in 8 women expecting to develop breast cancer sometime in their lives, the numbers speak for themselves. But what do we hear? Women who do have breast cancer or who have faced breast cancer have shared their information through a variety of mediums. Their stories have been heard, and their fears have been acknowledged. But what we do not hear about are the children of these women, their concerns, and their fears. In this article, Dr. Sachedina discusses her new book and how to talk to children about breast cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the drug Gemzar (generic name, gemcitabine) for use in women whose ovarian cancer has returned after treatment. The drug is approved to be given in combination with another chemotherapy drug, carboplatin. Gemzar is already FDA-approved for treating non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and metastatic breast cancer. However, it has serious side effects, such low blood cell counts, which can put women at risk for infections and bleeding. Women eligible for treating with Gemzar should
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the drug with their cancer treatment team.

Cervical cancer occurs when cells in the cervix grow erratically and multiply out of control. Cervical cancer cells and pre-cancerous changes can be detected with a Pap smear. Approximately 50 million Pap smears are performed each year in the United States. If cervical cancer is detected before it has invaded any surrounding tissues, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. However, deaths from cervical cancer are most common in underdeveloped countries where routine screening is not available. This article provides an overview of cervical cancer including preventive, screening, diagnostic, and treatment information. It also provides links to more in-depth articles on a variety of issues affecting cervical cancer.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) refers to a sharp increase in the number, appearance, and abnormal behavior of cells contained in the milk-producing lobules of the breast. Though categorized as a stage 0 breast cancer (the earliest stage), LCIS is not considered a cancer. Rather, it is "marker" (a signal) that breast cancer may develop. In fact, LCIS has recently been renamed lobular neoplasia to signify this belief. This article provides detailed information about LCIS, focusing
on treatment options.