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High Carb Diet Linked to Prostate Tumor Growth

A diet high in refined carbohydrates, like white rice or white bread, is associated with increased prostate tumor growth in mice.  Positive results for this finding provide support for the concept that diets associated with a reduction in insulin level may have benefits for prostate cancer patients...

Read more at Recommended Reading (ScienceDaily.com): (Read more)

Today starts the period most senior citizens have not been looking toward — open enrollment for Medicare Part D.

It’s still as confusing as ever (if not worse), and it simply allows way too many changes in how things get added up, and the way pricing is figured, well that just leaves most seniors more confused and wondering if they’re getting their monies’ worth. The worst part is having to do this each year, and at Christmas time when no one wants to be thinking about this stuff, or pouring through 151 plans trying to sort it all out.

The Federal Government did not make it any easier either, the decision process is darn near impossible.

Having to sort through 151 companies is bad enough, but when the senior’s current carrier has doubled the monthly premium and readjusted what drugs will be covered, it is just a plain pain!

And, of course, there’s the so-called “donut hole,” we have discussed before, which is the huge gap in coverage that seniors must pick up before coverage starts again. At nearly $4,000, the donut hole forces many seniors to make the kinds of decisions they had to make before Part D — whether to eat, heat their home or buy their meds. The sad thing is, often it’s the first two that win.

Some help is available on Medicare’s Web site, www.medicare.gov, where comparisons between drug insurance carriers can be made if you want to put the holiday season on hold and sit down for hours on end to try and figure out what is the most affordable and workable Part D plan that works for you.  We bet it is the last thing anyone really wants to do.  The Federal Government needs to simplify and concrete the whole fiasco!

Special Note: 

Some patients who have limited incomes may still qualify for the Low-Income Subsidy, which can help them pay for Medicare Part D. Patients with annual income of less than $15,355 (individual) or $20,535 (family) should call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit their website to see if they qualify for this extra help, which covers a significant amount of the cost of the benefit.

PET/CT Brings New Hope To Patients With Deadly Form Of Breast Cancer

Researchers are improving the chances of women faced with an aggressive and difficult to diagnose form of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer spreads quickly and can be lethal in six to nine months.  Inflammatory Breast cancer is a rare but extremely aggressive form of breast cancer that doesn't present like other forms of breast cancer. It accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States.

The disease tends to be diagnosed in women at a younger age and is characterized by redness, swelling or warmth in the breast. These symptoms occur within a three-month period. Often there is no palpable lump, and by the time it is diagnosed, the cancer has already metastasized, or spread, reducing the chances for survival. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for patients with inflammatory breast cancer is only 25 to 50 percent.

With FDG-PET/CT, researchers are able to accurately determine the location of metastases early in the disease process, when appropriate treatment can be administered.

Read more at:  (ScienceDaily)

Pomegranates for Prostate?

Researchers in California are reporting new evidence explaining pomegranate juice's mysterious beneficial effects in fighting prostate cancer.

In a new study, Navindra Seeram and colleagues have found that the tart, trendy beverage also uses a search-and-destroy strategy to target prostate cancer cells.

In previous research, Seeram's group found that pomegranate juice consumption had a beneficial effect for prostate cancer patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.

(Read more)

Question: I heard recently that it was open season for Medicare Part D enrollment. Is there still time to apply?

Answer: Yes — but act fast, because it's ending this month! If you're a Medicare beneficiary who has not enrolled in the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program, you may do so during the open season, which ends Dec. 31. If you are covered by Medicare and have limited income and resources, the extra help available through Social Security can ease the burden of prescription drug costs. You can apply for the extra help anytime — not just during open season.

To learn more about the extra help and to apply, visit Social Security's Web site at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. For Medicare Part D information, visit http://www.medicare.gov.

Question: I got an e-mail that says it's from Social Security, but I'm not so sure. They want me to e-mail back with my personal information. Did it really come from Social Security?

Answer: No. Social Security will not send you an e-mail asking you to give your personal information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or other private information. Beware of such scams — they're after your information so they can use it. Sometimes a Social Security representative may contact you for information, but not by e-mail. If someone saying they are from Social Security does e-mail you requesting information, don't respond to the message. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to see whether they really need any information from you.

Special Note I:

You may also be interested in this article on Medicare Fraud we ran across today, as many are trying to get enrolled in new plans it is imperative that our Seniors get advice on avoiding scams.

Special Note II:

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Thank you for the informative Question and Answer Section of your monthly Newsletter.  I was impressed with how quickly you gave me an answer.  Thank you for the links to the prescription help site and Medicare's website.  I have already bookmarked them. - Nina J., Arkansas

I am glad I asked about the Social Security email that I received before replying.  You answered quickly, and that isn't something that happens everywhere you go.  Keep up the good health stories, especially the ones on Medicaid D.  - Robert W., - Williamsburg, VA

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