When breast cancer fights back Updated: Wed, Sep 14, 2011 We've all heard about the fight against breast cancer -- but did you know that breast cancer fights back? Breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, is found in 1.3 million women throughout the world each year. Early detection and improved treatments have decreased death rates, but the... Read More

Cancer treatments Published: Mon, Apr 28, 2008 Cancer treatments have progressed as understanding of the disease’s foundation has evolved. The classic way of doing things has been to remove the tumor and then blast the patient with radiation, chemotherapy or both to kill stray cells. Now, some drugs attack cancer at its molecular soft spots, an... Read More

Tammy Padgett Published: Mon, Apr 28, 2008 Name: Tammy Padgett Age: 45 Type of cancer: Breast Date diagnosed: Dec.14, 2001 Where in treatment: Recovering Treatment center: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. When Tammy Padgett of Edmond was diagnosed with “invasive ductal carcinoma” in late 2001, she was told the... Read More

My Experience - M.J. Van Deventer Published: Mon, Apr 28, 2008 When my surgeon asked me on Dec. 23, 2005, “Did you come alone?” I knew instinctively what she was going to tell me. After five mammograms and two needle biopsies, I wasn’t hopeful about the verdict. When she said, “You have breast cancer,” it sent a chill through my body, as if the finger of death had... Read More

Tonya Hughes Published: Mon, Apr 28, 2008 “Of course it’s very scary because the first thing that you think is that you’re going to die,” Tonya Hughes said before excusing herself from the phone in a breaking voice to close her office door. Read More

Understanding Cancer Terminology Published: Mon, Apr 28, 2008 Acute: Symptoms or signs that begin and worsen quickly; not chronic. Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs and that have gland-like (secretory) properties. Adjuvant therapy: Treatment given after the primary treatment to increase the chances of a cure. May include... Read More

Laura Geyer Published: Mon, Apr 28, 2008 Name: Laura Geyer Age: 52 Type: Stage IIIA breast cancer Diagnosis: Nov. 28, 2000 Progress: Geyer is living like she’s in remission but still takes medication that blocks the uptake of estrogen Treatment center: OU Health Sciences Center Laura Geyer had her first surgery, a modified radical mastectomy, in... Read More

Linda Gatewood Published: Mon, Apr 28, 2008 Gatewood said she cried uncontrollably when she was told she had breast cancer following a routine mammogram and follow-up ultrasound. “At that point, I thought, ‘OK, my life is over,’ ” she said. “I’m thinking it’s a death sentence. I got really hysterical.” Gatewood called her daughter, who... Read More

Test may determine who can skip chemotherapy Updated: Tue, Jun 13, 2006 WASHINGTON - Claudia Lowry had a scary decision: Could she safely skip chemotherapy after surgeons removed her breast cancer? Tens of thousands of women undergo chemo for breast cancer every year when they don't really need it, but doctors don't have an easy way to tell who can gamble on skipping the harsh drugs.... Read More

Treatment for cancer in last days of life rises Updated: Sat, Jun 3, 2006 ATLANTA - Doctors are reporting a disturbing rise in the number of cancer patients getting chemo and other aggressive but futile treatment in the last days of their lives. Critics of the practice say doctors instead should be concentrating on helping these patients die with dignity and in comfort, perhaps in a... Read More

Evacuee gives thanks for Katrina Updated: Fri, Oct 14, 2005 Wanda Richardson was two days from possibly losing a breast to cancer when Hurricane Katrina struck. After a torturous four days at the Louisiana Superdome, Richardson found herself living in a bunkhouse with dozens of other evacuees at Camp Gruber near Muskogee. Richardson's plight caught the attention of media... Read More