February 2014

Communication: From Professionals to the Public

Screen Shot 2014-02-18 at 10.23.36 AMWe live in a digital age where more information is available at our fingertips than ever before.  We now have access to information in a matter of seconds that used to take weeks to locate through time intensive literature reviews at the library.  Chapter 12 of Oncofertility Communication: Sharing Information and Building Relationships across Disciplines is devoted to the unique set of challenges presented through these new and varying methods of communication.

Earlier Menopause with Smoking

New research proves yet another reason for women to quit smoking: smoking may cause earlier signs of menopause. Heavier smokers may enter menopause up to nine years earlier compared to nonsmokers.

In the United States, the average age for menopause is 51. Previous studies have already showed that smoking can hasten menopause by one to two years, regardless of race or genetic background. New research shows that menopause can happen much quicker specifically in white female smokers who are carriers of two different gene variants.

Tomorrow is International Childhood Cancer Day

Screen Shot 2014-02-14 at 2.04.05 PMTomorrow, February 15, 2014, is International Childhood Cancer Day.  A day devoted to the strength, courage and resiliency of children with cancer and their families.  The International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) and the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations (ICCCOI) represent pediatric oncologists and childhood cancer parents’ organizations from countries around the world coming together for a common goal.

Biggest Loser Sheds Light on What it Means to Lose Weight Safely

With the recent controversy surrounding Rachel Frederickson’s extreme weight loss on The Biggest Loser, it’s time to shed light on the proper (and safe) way to lose weight. For those unfamiliar with reality television, The Biggest Loser centers around overweight contestants attempting to lose weight to win a cash prize. The winner, whoever loses the highest percentage of weight, is given the title “the Biggest Loser,” along with a cool cash prize of a quarter million dollars.

The Olympics: selling sexiness

In the late 1800′s there was a growing interest among women in sport, especially cycling, actually leading to some modification in clothing (bloomers!).   However, then and even now, there is an undercurrent of discrimination in sport.  For example, 19th and 20th century physicians linked athletics to childbirth complications, infertility, mannish characteristics and “heterosexual failure” (lesbianism).  In 2009, the  International Ski Federation voted against the inclusion of women in the 2010 Winter Olympics because the sport could cause “damage to their uteri or lead to infertility”.  (what about male fertility?!!)  Today, women are still not