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Angelina Jolie’s Mastectomy: ‘There’s a Lot of Pain Behind That’

Julie Silver, MD — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:30:29 +0000

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Angelina Jolie has everyone talking about cancer. The award-winning actress and humanitarian told the world this week that she has spent the past few months recovering from a double mastectomy after learning she is a carrier of a dangerous cancer-causing gene. After losing her mom to cancer, Jolie wasn’t taking any chances – and she wants women everywhere to stand up to cancer with courage. The news has once again sparked the conversation about the importance of screening, prevention, and recovery.

genConnect and cancer expert Dr. Julie Silver of Harvard Medical School – a breast cancer survivor herself – hosted a Google Hangout on Wednesday, May 15 to talk about Angelina Jolie’s news, mastectomies, the importance of cancer rehab and support groups, and prehabilitation – a cutting-edge approach Dr. Silver says should be considered “in anticipation of” upcoming surgery and other cancer treatments.

Missed the Hangout? No worries! You can watch the video below:

Dr. Julie Silver, MD, is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and an award-winning author of many books, including: You Can Heal Yourself; After Cancer Treatment: Heal Faster, Better, Stronger; and What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope. She is the Chief Editor of Books at Harvard Health Publications, the consumer health publishing branch of Harvard Medical School, and is the co-founder of Oncology Rehab Partners, which has developed the STAR Program® Certifications – a best practices and evidence-based model for oncology rehabilitation care. Her work in cancer rehabilitation has been recognized by the American Cancer Society, and she was awarded the prestigious Lane Adams Quality of Life Award. She was also chosen by Massachusetts General Hospital for THE ONE HUNDRED award that is given to 100 people in the United States who are making a significant difference in cancer care.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, and one of the leading causes of death. Ovarian cancer affects about 20,000 women in the United States, and is the eighth most common cancer.

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Angelina Jolie on Mastectomy: ‘I Feel Empowered’ (VIDEO)

Julie Silver, MD — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:45:32 +0000

Angelina Jolie

Women’s Health News: Angelina Jolie has spent the past few months recovering from a double mastectomy to slash her chances of contracting breast cancer; cancer expert Dr. Julie Silver of Harvard talks to genConnect about the importance of rehab, support networks

Actress Angelina Jolie has had a double mastectomy after learning she carries a mutation of the BRCA1 gene, which greatly increased her risk of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Jolie’s mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer in 2007 at the age of 56; Jolie is 37.

“My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman,” Jolie wrote in an op-ed in The New York Times entitled, “My Medical Choice.” “Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy.”

“On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered,” Jolie added.

Dr. Julie Silver, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and award-winning author of many books including You Can Heal Yourself, After Cancer Treatment: Heal Faster, Better, Stronger and What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope, stresses the importance of cancer rehab, even if one doesn’t actually get the disease.

“Women who elect to undergo preventative mastectomies should receive cancer rehabilitation services from a well-trained team of healthcare professionals,” Dr. Silver says. “Despite the fact that research shows that physical and emotional outcomes are closely linked – the better someone feels physically after a mastectomy, the better she will likely feel emotionally – many people who need cancer rehab don’t get it at all or only receive a little bit that doesn’t help them as much as it could if it was offered in a best practices team approach like in stroke care.”

Watch Dr. Julie Silver talk about the importance of cancer rehab, below:

WATCH: Breast Cancer Survivor Dana Cowin on Staying Positive

A mastectomy removes all or part of the breast. More women are undergoing double mastectomies to reduce the chances of cancer spreading, or to greatly reduce their chances of getting cancer in the first place if they carry mutations of the cancer-causing genes.

Lamenting the fact that her children will never truly know their grandmother, who died from cancer, Jolie says she has had a difficult time explaining this health issue to her children. “We often speak of ‘Mommy’s mommy,’ and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us,” Jolie writes. “They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a ‘faulty’ gene, BRCA1.”

Jolie-Pitt family

Jolie says she wrote the op-ed to send a message to other women that while the decision to have a mastectomy is not easy, it’s the right choice – and one that needs to be made with courage.

WATCH: Dr. Julie Silver – How to Cope With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

“I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action,” she says. “I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.”

Other celebrities who have experienced breast cancer heralded Jolie for telling her story.

“Proud of her for using her incredible platform to educate women,” Tweeted TV personality Giuliana Rancic.

“I commend Angelina Jolie for her courage and thoughtfulness in sharing her story today regarding her mastectomy. So brave!” Tweeted singer Sheryl Crow.

CNN anchor Zoraida Sambolin also said Tuesday she has breast cancer and is getting a double mastectomy.

Sambolin, who anchors CNN’s “Early Start” morning show, talked about her condition on the show Tuesday while discussing Jolie’s decision.

Dr. Silver noted that nearly 100 hospitals and cancer centers in the U.S. that have adopted the best practices model for cancer rehab called the STAR Program are currently particpating in a campaign called Strength in Numbers that is designed to help decrease the gap between the need for these services and the delivery of them to patients. This 12-week boot camp campaign started in late April and will run through July 2013 to improve outcomes for anyone who has surgery or other treatments in a cancer center.

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Angelina Jolie & Cancer: Watch Our Google Hangout

Julie Silver, MD — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:45:03 +0000

Angelina Jolie

Join genConnect and cancer expert Dr. Julie Silver of Harvard Medical School on Wednesday, May 15 at 4:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m. EST for a Google Hangout to talk about Angelina Jolie’s news, mastectomies, the importance of cancer rehab and support groups, and prehabilitation – a cutting-edge approach Dr. Silver says should be considered “in anticipation of” upcoming surgery and other cancer treatments.

Get on your computer to ask Dr. Silver questions on these topics and more. Google+ hangout on May 15 can host a total of 10 (the moderator and 9 others) via video who can interact within the hangout, as long as they have a computer with a video camera and a microphone. Participants must be approved by the genConnect moderator, who will facilitate the conversation. Click here to RSVP for the hangout and to learn more about how it works.

An unlimited number of viewers can watch the conversation and ask questions of Dr. Silver or comment through posts in Google+ or Twitter via the hashtag #CancerSurvivorGC. Or, you can email your questions to gCLive@genConnect.com. Can’t make the conversation live? Once the hangout is over, the video will be available online.

Watch the entire Google Hangout with Dr. Julie Silver here

Dr. Julie Silver

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Dr. Julie Silver: How to Cope With Breast Cancer Diagnosis (VIDEO)

Julie Silver, MD — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:52:05 +0000

If you are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, find ways to decrease stress, don’t agonize over your diet, and stay as active as possible, says Harvard Medical School’s Julie Silver, who developed the Survivorship Training and Rehab (STAR) program. “When you’re diagnosed with breast cancer you start worrying about everything, and then you become stressed about being stressed,” Silver says. Watch Dr. Julie Silver, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Back Pain!: How to Handle Flare-Ups, Injuries, and Everyday Back Health, offer tips for coping with diagnosis:
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Watch: Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cancer Rehab (VIDEOS)

Dr. Julie Silver

Silver offers the following tips for those newly diagnosed with breast cancer:

Don’t worry about worrying

“Try to implement things, strategies during your day that actually decrease stress,” Silver says. “Go for a walk, listen to music, meditate, whatever decreases your stress.”

Don’t worry about every single thing you eat

“Obviously it’s really important to change your diet and try to eat as well as you possibly can, but worrying about every single thing that you eat is not very helpful,” Silver says.

Exercise as much as you can

“Even before cancer treatment starts, during chemo and so on, as much as you possibly can, be active,” Silver says. “If it means walking and pacing your house, that’s great, that’s enough. Just try to stay as active as you can.”

Watch: Katie Couric on Cancer Awareness, Her New Talk Show (VIDEO)

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Flu Ravages U.S.; How to Protect Yourself This Flu Season

Julie Silver, MD — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:30:53 +0000

The flu. If you haven’t fallen victim to it yet this flu season, don’t by any means think you’re immune.

The Centers for Disease Control says this is going to be one of the worst flu seasons the nation has seen in several years. Although the flu is ravaging states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, Minnesota, and other states, the spread of the flu has slowed in portions of five states in the South and Southeast, although a National Institutes of Health director warned of the onset of “a classic flu epidemic.” The CDC is expected to release information Friday showing that the number of flu-related deaths for kids climbed by two last week, bringing to 20 the number of deaths under the age of 18 since the outbreak of the flu.

WATCH: You Are What You Eat, Food As Medicine, With Chef Ming Tsai

We asked Dr. Julie Silver, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and the author of multiple books, including You Can Heal Yourself: A Guide to Physical and Emotional Recovery After Injury or Illness" target="_blank">You Can Heal Yourself: A Guide to Physical and Emotional Recovery After Injury or Illness, for tips on how to protect yourself – and your children – from the flu, at home, and at work. Here’s what she said…

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I actually had this conversation with my kids this week. There are really two ways to avoid getting the flu – get the vaccine or stay away from someone who has the flu.

Let’s talk about the first one first. The advice for “everyone” to get the vaccine doesn’t always work. For example, I have one child who has life-threatening allergies (egg is one of them), so she is not able to get the flu vaccine. This means that she’s always unvaccinated. Our family circles around her by getting the vaccine and providing one layer of protection. We all got the vaccine right when it came out in order to protect ourselves and her.

Now, for the second part. One of the most important things to understand is how the flu spreads. Despite all that people read about the flu, there are still so many misunderstandings about how it spreads.

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The #1 thing that people should know is that it usually spreads by respiratory droplets coming from someone who is sick. The next most important thing to know is that if you keep your distance, you are much less likely to become infected. How much distance? At least six feet or so. Which isn’t all that much, but it’s enough to really think about lots of different things. Usually take an elevator? Try the stairs. Usually go grocery shopping at work when it’s crowded? Try getting up early and going when the store is nearly empty. There are so many little adjustments that you can make to avoid being in situations where you are physically really close to people -especially strangers.

What about at work? Bosses should encourage people who are sick to stay home untill they are completely well. Try conference calls and webinars and Skype to connect for meetings. If someone is sick and you’re not, try working in the empty conference room upstairs or some other location. If there is no closed office, aim for a cubicle or an area that is at least six feet away from the sniffling soul. If he/she won’t move, you can.

At home whenever my kids are sick, I designate one bathroom and that’s the one they use and only that one. No one else is allowed to use it. I disinfect it when they are well, and they get a new toothbrush and toothpaste. During meals, the sick person sits alone. I know that sounds lonely, but he or she can see the rest of the family in the next room. But you can make this situation family-friendly … Snuggle your sick child up in a warm blanket and give him or her some hot chocolate or other treat that is not usually served at dinner. Keep him/her involved in the family’s dinner conversation or use another distraction such as letting him/her watch TV. If you make it special, when he’s/she’s older (s)he’ll say, “My mom used to make me sit alone during dinner when I was sick, but she made it really fun and gave me special treats and privileges!”

WATCH: Women Are ‘Chief Health Officers’ of the Household

Keep in mind that the goal of never coming in to close contact with someone who is sick is impossible. So, what you are trying to do is to limit the time that you are close. Passing by your sister in the hallway when she’s sick is a lot different than sitting across from her at the dinner table for 30 minutes.

Handwashing definitely helps, and so do other tips. But, it’s important to know that the main thing to avoid is close contact, within six feet or so, of a respiratory droplet from someone else landing in your mouth!

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In New Jersey alone, thousands have been hospitalized and two children have died, according to the state’s health commissioner. During the last week of 2012, there were more than twice the reported number of emergency room visits in New Jersey blamed on influenza as there were during the same week in 2011, according to the CDC.

The CDC recommends influenza vaccination and antiviral treatment when appropriate at this time; flu vaccine manufacturers project 135 million doses of flu vaccine to be produced this season. This is particularly important for the elderly, the young and pregnant women, as well as people with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, liver disorders, or a weakened immune systems. It offers other actions to protect yourself and your kids from the flu, including:

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1.) Take everyday actions to protect yourself – This includes avoiding contact with sick people; staying home for at least 24 hours after your flu fever is gone; washing your hands frequently with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub; avoid touching your eyes and ears; clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated.

2) At work, routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, including doorknobs, keyboards, and phones, to help remove germs.

3) Find out about plans your child’s school, child care program, or college has if an outbreak of flu or another illness occurs and whether flu vaccinations are offered on-site. Make sure your child’s school or program routinely cleans frequently touched objects and surfaces, and that they have a good supply of tissues, soap, paper towels, alcohol-based hand rubs, and disposable wipes on-site. Ask how sick students and staff are separated from others and who will care for them until they can go home.

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Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cancer Rehab (VIDEOS)

Julie Silver, MD — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:30:06 +0000

Too many women suffer from cancer – whether it be breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or other forms of cancer. And when they receive treatment, part of the rehabilitation is figuring out how to heal yourself. Watch Dr. Julie Silver, chief editor of books at Harvard Medical Publications and author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Back Pain!: How to Handle Flare-Ups, Injuries, and Everyday Back Health, talk about the importance of cancer rehabilitation for women:

For more from Dr. Silver, watch: Say Goodbye to Back Pain

“We need to help women heal faster, better and stronger,” says Dr. Silver, who herself suffered from breast cancer. ”I’m working actively with hospitals to help them implement best practices models for cancer rehabilitation. Ask your doctor if you need cancer rehab.”

Watch Dr. Silver explain where to find support during your rehabilitation:

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When one receives news of a cancer diagnoses, the news obviously can be shocking. Coping with one’s condition, then enduring the often painful cancer treatments – including chemotherapy – can be draining and leave one looking for people to lean on for support. Take advantage of the people who are there for you – both medically and emotionally, says Dr. Silver.

WATCH: Katie Couric on Cancer Awareness, Her New Talk Show

“One of the things I learned, is you really need to build your health-care team, as quickly and effectively as you can,” she said. “Your friends and family should be your support and your doctors and nurses should be your medical advisors.”

WATCH: Laurie McCaskill on Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

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Dr. Julie Silver: Brush & Floss Your Back (VIDEO)

Julie Silver, MD — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:38:23 +0000

We understand that daily brushing and flossing is a great way to keep our teeth healthy, so why not do the same with your back?

Take care of your back like you take care of your teeth, says Dr. Julie Silver, Chief Editor of Books at Harvard Health Publications and author of Say Goodbye to Back Pain! How to Handle Flare-Ups, Injuries, and Everyday Back Health. Watch Dr. Silver’s ”brushing & flossing” back tips below:

Dr. Julie Silver

For more from Dr. Silver, watch: Say Goodbye to Back Pain

Even diligent brushing and flossing won’t guarantee a cavity-free mouth, but it will go a long way in keeping your mouth healthy. The same goes for your back.

“My patients often ask me, ‘Please, what can you do to help me so I’ll never have back pain again?’ No one can promise you that,” Dr. Silver says. “But, brushing and flossing your back means you will have fewer problems. They won’t be as severe.”

Proper posture, a strong core and daily movement are all things you can do to prevent chronic back pain, Dr. Silver adds. For more preventive tips, pick up a copy of Dr. Silver’s book: Say Goodbye to Back Pain.

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Say Goodbye to Back Pain (VIDEO)

Julie Silver, MD — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:39:02 +0000

If you are in any way active, you’ve probably experienced back pain at some point in your life. Many suffer far more than they need to and are looking for help. Dr. Julie Silver, award-winning author and Chief Editor of Books at Harvard Health Publications, is helping you finally find relief with her new book, Say Goodbye to Back Pain! How to Handle Flare-Ups, Injuries, and Everyday Back Health. Watch below to find out what you need to know:

Dr. Julie Silver

The book, a collaborative effort between inspirational Chicken Soup for the Soul stories and leading-edge medical advice from Harvard Medical School professional Dr. Julie Silver, makes for a handy, personal, medical toolkit, whenever you need it.

“What I see a lot of my patients doing is surfing the Internet and drawing their own conclusions about what is bothering them in terms of their back pain or neck pain,” Dr. Silver told genConnect. They often come up with not only the wrong diagnosis, but one that is a lot worse than they think it is. I think it’s really important not only to get great medical advice but also to have things you can do at home to help you.”

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