I'm Lillie Shockney, administrative director of the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center. I'm also a breast cancer survivor with a passion for empowering women to take charge of their health. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/ Wed, 14 May 2008 23:18:19 -0800 Yahoo! http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5691/hrt-and-mammograms/ If you are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you should let your radiologist know about it every time you have your mammogram. HRT can increase the density of the breast tissue and (because dense breast tissue shows up as white on a mammogram) make the breasts harder to evaluate on mammography. Unfortunately, cancers also look white on a mammogram, so the tumor polar bear may be hidden in that tissue snowstorm in your X-ray. Wed, 14 May 2008 23:18:18 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5685/dont-think-youre-too-old-for-a-mammogram/ Mother's Day right is the perfect time to ask Mom if she's had her annual mammogram yet. Sun, 11 May 2008 08:44:05 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5684/lumpectomy-and-radiation-always-go-together/ If you are embarking on lumpectomy surgery for treatment of breast cancer, be extremely aware that you are signing up for radiation, too: they go hand in hand. Fri, 09 May 2008 21:35:35 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5678/breast-reconstruction-and-your-risk-of-infection/ If you anticipate having reconstruction with an implant immediately after your tumor is removed, ask the doctor what particular steps will be taken to prevent infection. Fri, 02 May 2008 21:06:36 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5673/are-you-being-overor-undertreated/ Care providers want you to participate in the decision-making about your treatment, but they also want you to be well-informed about the consequences, should you choose not to take their advice. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:50:05 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5671/having-the-breast-talk-with-your-pre-teen/ With young girls beginning their menstrual cycles as young as 9 years of age today, it's not unusual for their breasts to start to develop and mature soon after. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:46:52 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5663/benefits-of-being-small-why-size-might-matter/ Despite what the epidemic of breast-enhancement surgeries and the countless magazine covers of large-breasted women are telling us, there are many advantages to being smaller breasted. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:55:02 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5658/how-do-you-define-survivorship/ Some patients take offense at the word survivor, feeling that they aren't a survivor until they have hit that magic five-year mark after treatment has ended. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:41:36 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5653/how-much-treatment-is-enough/ Determining just the right amount of treatment for breast cancer, while not as precise and scientific a process as you might think, has improved. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:25:23 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/breastcancer/5649/exercise-and-your-breast-health/ Wear a properly fitting bra, ideally a sports bra that fits snugly enough to keep your breasts close to your chest and to limit the amount of bouncing during vigorous exercise. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:51:25 -0800 Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S.