Dr Hoosain chats to Voice of the Cape about her special interests - breast and thyroid health. She goes into detail on breast health management as well as breast cancer itself. Questions are also taken from listeners.
Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation with their plentiful significant side-effects should be administered only after careful deliberation of the potential benefit they can have for the patient. Selection criteria for radiotherapy after surgery in the elderly have been refined and subgroups identified, in whom radiotherapy may safely be avoided. This article provides an insight into treatment considerations for older patients.
Does it really hurt to have a mammogram and are drinkers really at a higher risk of developing breast cancer? With so many myths and preconceived ideas on the internet and in our minds, it is often difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. Breast, thyroid, and parathyroid specialists Dr Justus Apffelstaedt and Dr Fatima Hoosain help to debunk some common misconceptions about breast health.
An estimated 64% of sexually active women in their reproductive years (between the ages of 15 and 49) make use of contraception worldwide. Hormonal contraceptives have well-known side effects such as venous thrombo-embolism, migraines, dizziness and fatigue. A study performed in Denmark and published in the NEJM(New England Journal of Medicine) in 2017 found its way into media and seemed to also draw a correlation between increased breast cancer risk and the use of hormonal contraceptives. This article unpacks those findings.
A topic that is not frequently discussed is that of intimacy and sexual health post a breast cancer diagnosis. Whilst these conversations do take place between patients and medical practitioners, there is often hesitation about raising questions and discussing the reality of intimate relationships. This article sensitively delves into this topic.
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women. A comprehensive research effort stretching back more than half a century makes breast cancer the most well-understood cancer, with advanced screening and treatment therapies available. Women are surviving longer, have increased remission rates and, in many cases, live as long as their cancer-free counterparts. Consequently, life after breast cancer is an increasingly important topic due to the negative effects of life-saving breast cancer treatments such as cardiovascular toxicity, bone loss and more. This article focuses on bone loss.
Although seen as a predominantly female disease, breast cancer affects men too. The risk is low, particularly in comparison to other common cancers. The National Cancer Registry states that the lifetime risk of suffering breast cancer in males is between 1 in 500 to 1 in 1000, depending on race. Men at any age may develop breast cancer, but it is usually detected in men between 60 and 80 years of age. The significance of early detection is stressed, as that vastly improves the chances of surviving any type of cancer. In this article are some of the most crucial facts about breast cancer in men.
The thyroid is one of those glands that you don't really think about. Small as it is, it is crucial. It affects, directly or indirectly, almost every function in our bodies, including our temperature, digestive system and mental development. It [...]
Many South Africans are still unaware of what the thyroid is and what to look out for when it comes to thyroid health, being armed with the facts greatly increases the opportunity for early detection and diagnosis, which are a patient’s best chance for recovery.
12 - 13 July 2024 with the Theme: Back to Basics. The visual is fully legible on the Congress page (click on the Read More button), and includes the fee detail and the expected programme. The registration link is also available on this page.
Bush Radio spoke to Dr Hoosain about thyroid cancer - how it develops, the symptoms and the treatment.
As World Thyroid Day fast approaches, YouFM speak to Dr Fatima Hoosain about everything to do with the thyroid - including what it is, what it does, and what can go wrong.
Radio 786 talks to Dr Fatima Hoosain about the role that diet can play in improving your chances of reducing cancer risk. Importantly - diet is an adjunct to treatment and screening. With kind permission, the full media clip is here.
More women are postponing childbearing until they have finished tertiary education, are established in their careers, and have formed stable relationships. For women who have not yet finished family planning, a breast cancer diagnosis has profound implications on their ability to have a child. While breast cancer itself does not have any known effect on fertility, the treatment of it does. Some of the implications and important factors that women should be aware of when undergoing treatment and wanting to fall pregnant are outlined in this article.
It is thought that diet is partly responsible for approximately 30% to 40% of all cancers, however, diet alone is not likely to prevent cancer. There are other elements involved, such as genetics and environmental factors. So, findings have suggested that a healthy diet that includes physical exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can contribute to a decreased chance of developing the most common cancers found in women – breast cancer.
click here for the full article: https://www.we.com.na/health-we/thyroid-cancer-knowing-the-facts2024-04-25 “Thyroid disease is a highly prevalent condition with impact on childhood development, women’s fertility, and risk of malignancy, making it an important global health issue of high priority.” This according to the Science [...]
Many South Africans are still unaware of what the thyroid is and what to look out for when it comes to thyroid health. Being armed with the facts greatly increases the opportunity for early detection and diagnosis, which are a patient’s best chance for recovery. This article provides those facts.
We all know that smart lifestyle choices directly translate to a healthy mind and body, but did you know that certain lifestyle choices can decrease your risk of breast cancer? A recent review confirmed that lifestyle choices that have been earmarked since 2016 as being of benefit to reducing breast cancer risk, are still valid. These include minimizing your alcohol intake, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and ascertaining risk when taking hormone therapy.
MOKOPANE – Die motorfietsfamilie het Saterdag saamgespan om hul ondersteuning te wys vir die welbekende Bennie Venter wat tans ‘n pad met kanker stap.
We all know that smart lifestyle choices directly translate to a healthy mind and body, but did you know that certain lifestyle choices can decrease your risk of breast cancer? A recent review[1] confirmed that lifestyle choices that have been earmarked since 2016 as being of benefit to reducing breast cancer risk, are still valid. These include minimizing your alcohol intake, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and ascertaining risk when taking hormone therapy. FutureNews features this article, the Read More button takes you to the full article.
Our doctors Justus Apffelstaedt and Fatima Hoosain (specialist surgeons with an interest in breast, thyroid, and parathyroid health as well as soft tissue surgical oncology) stress the importance of being prepared for treatment post a breast cancer diagnosis. Whilst the physical side effects of treatment are generally fully discussed, it’s as important for all cancer patients to prepare for the psychological impact of their treatment and the long-term physical realities.
A cancer diagnosis in a younger woman obviously requires a multitude of conversations, but one that we are increasingly having is that of fertility. More women are postponing childbearing until they have finished tertiary education, are established in their careers, and have formed stable relationships. For women who have not yet finished family planning, a breast cancer diagnosis has profound implications on their ability to have a child. While breast cancer itself does not have any known effect on fertility, the treatment of it does. Some of the implications and important factors that women should be aware of when undergoing treatment and wanting to fall pregnant are outlined in this article.
Selection criteria for radiotherapy after surgery in the elderly have been refined and subgroups identified, in whom radiotherapy may safely be avoided. These are women with small tumours that are strongly oestrogen receptor-positive and where nodes are not infiltrated. These patients present a sizable group of 65+ year-old breast cancer patients. But the news is also good for patients not fulfilling these criteria. Current radiation regimens that are less onerous than the standard 25 – 32 daily radiation sessions are on the scene; and proven effective.
It is not until the second phase of post-partum thyroiditis that most women will notice symptoms. This typically occurs four to eight months after delivery and could last for up to nine months to a year. Women should be encouraged to use this broad timeline as a framework to check in with their bodies as time progresses following giving birth and be on the lookout for common symptoms.