Who is Libre Clothing? By Guest Blogger Megan Stengel

Hi readers, I’m Megan from Libre! I was honored and excited when Cancer Shop USA asked us to be their FIRST guest bloggers! We happily accepted.

Libre is a clothing line made specifically for chemotherapy, dialysis, and other infusion patients. Our clothing is an everyday staple in your wardrobe, BUT has discreet areas of access specifically for a patient’s treatment site. This makes it easier to wear easily accessible clothing, keeps you warm, and makes it easier on the nurses. You just zip open when you get there, and zip it up when you’re done.

This idea came about from my own mother’s problems. She was a dialysis patient for three years and during that time she would cut holes in her clothing so that the nurses could get to her fistula, but she would also be able to keep warm during the treacherous 4 hours. It would get so cold in the center sometimes, that she wanted to bring a blanked but couldn’t. Nothing was allowed to cover any part of the access at any time during treatment. Because of those problems, the solution was brought forth by Libre. Stylish, comfy, and warm clothing that made treatment easier for patients and nurses.

Libre was initially formed at Miami University in the fall of 2008. Myself, along with the 3 other co-founders (Mandy Eckman, Tess Schuster, & Bethany Skaff) were in a senior entrepreneurship class where each member of the class had to pitch an idea, then we chose our top ideas and formed teams for the business competition that was at the end of the semester. Each of us felt a strong tie to Libre’s purpose, since we’d personally watched family and friends had been through this, and decided that this is what we wanted to pursue after graduation. It’s been a long, hard, tough road but we are so happy with how far we’ve come in just 3 short years.

        

                                      
After starting with just 2 products (both being shirts), we have now expanded to 5 products, some of which include chest access as well as leg access, with multiple color options. We’ve began partnering with other organizations whose mission and purpose is right on course with ours, and that we believe in. We’re very excited that Cancer Shop USA has started to carry Libre products and are looking forward to seeing them on our blog shortly!

Thanks again to Cancer Shop USA! For more information you can e-mail us at Info@LibreClothing.com. You can also see our products on Cancer Shop USA’s site by clicking here.

Megan Stengel
Co-Founder; Libre, LLC

Stengel@LibreClothing.com

Answers to six common questions about cancer

Dr. Bone's Cancer Quiz:

1. What is the most common kind of cancer worldwide?

The most common cancer worldwide is lung cancer, causing over 1.2 million deaths each year. While 85 percent of the patients with lung cancer are or were smokers, more and more lung cancer is occurring that is unrelated to smoking.

In developing countries where smoking is more common and pollution is not as well regulated as in the United States, the incidence of lung cancer is rising.

2. Which cancer is considered the most curable?

Many cancers are curable at an early stage. Skin cancers, breast cancer, testicular cancer, and prostate cancer all have excellent prognoses when detected early. Skin cancer is easy to detect and treat if you are having regular skin checks. This has earned it the reputation of most curable.

3. Which causes more deaths in the United States: cancer or heart attack and stroke?

Though they are neck-and-neck, the combination of heart disease and stroke causes more deaths than cancer in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

4. Which cancers are most preventable?

Lung cancer is highly preventable by avoiding smoking. Having regular colonoscopies should reduce the diagnosis of colon cancer dramatically because precancerous growths can be removed before they turn into cancer. Cervical cancer, a major worldwide risk in developing countries, could be reduced dramatically by the HPV vaccine and by implementation of global screening for this sexually transmitted virus.

5. What percentage of cancer is probably preventable?

A full 3 percent of cancer could be prevented by not smoking, eating fruits and vegetables, and maintaining a normal body weight through regular vigorous physical activity. Unfortunately there are many socioeconomic barriers to attaining these goals.

6. What is the biggest risk factor for cancer?

Tobacco smoking is the highest risk for cancer.

These answers may seem obvious, but I was amazed at the number of people who thought that breast cancer was the most common and most deadly worldwide. We take it for granted that people all over the world know the dangers of cigarette-smoking, but data show that people living in other countries are unaware of the health hazards of smoking.

Few people realized how rare some cancers are in the U.S. For example, there are only about 11,000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in the U.S. annually, but this cancer is a leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Again, lack of effective public health education about the risks of HPV along with lack of easy access to health care, pose an enormous obstacle to prevention, early diagnosis and virtual elimination of this cancer.
I used to think cancer was an equal-opportunity disease, but I am beginning to see that it isn't. Members of the lowest socioeconomic class are more likely to get cancer and to die of it. A large portion of the population worldwide can't afford fruits and vegetables, let alone organic ones. They survive on a starch staple like rice. If they eat vegetables, they are not a variety of bright-colored ones, but rather whatever they can afford. Regular exercise is a luxury; millions of people who work 16- to 18-hour days just to eke out an existence will never jog or go to the gym. For those of us naive enough to think that poverty alone was bad, now we have to add susceptibility to cancer to really appreciate how fortunate we are.

 For a variety of products that can help you maintain a well balanced diet visit the nutritional section at Cancer Shop USA.

Surviving Life: Iodine may help reduce risk of breast cancer

By Dr. Melanie Bone.

"Doctor, please check my hormones. I am sure there is a problem. I'm tired. My weight keeps going up and up no matter what I do, and my hair is getting thinner. It must be my hormones. I'm so frustrated by people telling me it's 'nothing.' "

"Doctor, I have the lumpiest breasts. I can't examine them because everything I feel is a lump. I always need to have a sonogram with my mammogram because they are so dense. Am I at higher risk for breast cancer because of this?"

Thyroid disease. Breast cancer. Both are common, hormonal complaints seen in menopausal women. Are they related? How? If you'd asked me right out of medical school or residency, I'd have told you that they are mostly female problems, but not that they were causally related. Now, I am not so sure.
Facts: Postmenopausal women with goiters (enlarged thyroid glands) have more than 2 times the risk of developing breast cancer.

Women with fibrocystic breast changes have been treated successfully with iodine, the main molecule found in the thyroid gland.

Women in the "Goiter Belt" of America, where the soil is deficient in iodine, have a higher rate of breast cancer.

Japanese women who consume a large amount of iodine in comparison with Americans have a much lower rate of breast cancer.

The thyroid gland sits in front of the trachea (windpipe) at the bottom of the neck. Most people cannot feel or see their thyroid gland. The gland serves to regulate metabolism, hence the reason women who feel tired and have weight gain think it may be due to an under-active thyroid. Iodine ingested in food is concentrated in the thyroid gland and thyroid hormone is produced. T4 or thyroxine, contains 4 iodine molecules. T3, triiodothyronine, contains only 3 iodine molecules, and is made by the conversion of T4 outside of the gland. T3 is the active form of the hormone. It gets much more complicated, but suffice to say that the gland sequesters almost all the iodine in the body.

The recommended daily allowance of iodine is 0.15mg (milligrams) or 15 mcg (micrograms). In the United States, iodized salt has always been a major source of iodine along with other fortified foods. A requirement so tiny should be easily met, and yet it is not. With a shift away from using salt in our diet, there has been a drop in the average iodine consumption. Increased consumption of bromides in flour, soda, medications as well as increased fluoride in water and toothpaste/mouthwash both block the effect of iodine and worsen the problem. Lack of iodine is the primary cause of an enlarged, nodular thyroid gland called a goiter. The incidence of goiter is increasing over the past few decades because of the decline in iodine consumption.

Breast tissue is made up of glands, fibers and fatty components. Fibrocystic breast disease is a very common condition in the United States associated with painful, lumpy breasts. Fibrocystic changes are a risk factor for developing breast cancer. Women are advised to avoid caffeine, which promotes these changes, but it might be helpful to advise them to add iodine. Breast cells are sensitive to iodine. The milk-producing glandular cells of the breast concentrate iodine in breast milk in order to help assure that breastfed babies are not at risk for the complications of iodine deficiency. Studies show that iodine supplementation in the lab reverses precancerous changes in breast cells and improves fibrocystic changes in the breasts of rats. Likewise, women treated with iodine may feel less tenderness and few lumps.

Breast cancer is more common in areas where iodine consumption is lowest. The highest incidence of breast cancer in the U.S. is in the "Goiter Belt," an area inland in the region of the Great Lakes. The land in the region has iodine-poor soil and there is no native, iodine-rich seafood to consume. In contrast, Japanese women consume 25 times more iodine than American women and their risk of breast cancer is reduced. Think how often this statistic is attributed to soy consumption or lack of red meat. Perhaps it has nothing to do with soy or fat, but rather with iodine?


How much iodine is the "right" amount to keep breasts and thyroid glands healthy? This is a hotly debated topic. It appears that up to 1 milligram a day is considered safe, even though this is more than 6 times the recommended daily allowance. Doctors who are proponents of iodine therapy advocate up to 50 milligrams per day. This is more than 333 times the recommended daily allowance! The theory behind this level of supplementation is to replenish the gland and leave extra to be taken up by other cells in the body. Advocates of this regimen suggest that women be tested to see if they need higher dose iodine by challenging them with a 50 mg dose and then collecting their urine for 24 hours. If their body has sufficient iodine, 90 percent of the dose should be excreted. If they are holding on to more than 10 percent, they are labeled as iodine-deficient and advised to go on a high-dose supplementation protocol for months followed by lifelong lower-dose daily dose.


The caveat: There are not too many mainstream doctors in agreement about the value of iodine. Those advocating it, do the testing at proprietary labs and also sell the supplements. Luckily, you would have to take a bath in iodine before toxicity sets in. I wonder, though.

As a middle-of-the-roader, I believe that high-dose iodine may not be necessary. Up to 1 milligram of iodine may be very helpful, especially for women suffering thyroid goiter and/or lumpy breasts.

Seaweed salad and sushi for dinner?

CancerShopUSA can provide you with products that can help you maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Better yet, these products are approved by Dr. Bone. Check out the nutritional supplements section here.