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Being a woman, we are at constant risk of breast cancer and other breast abnormalities. Breast tissue is a fast-growing, hormone-dependent tissue that is susceptible to trauma, radiation, and other environmental risks. There are many indications for breast procedures. Given the social importance, one may get breast remoulding for aesthetics, biopsy for screening, lumpectomy in case of any benign lumps and bumps, or radical mastectomy if one is at higher risk of breast cancer or diagnosed with breast cancer. There are many diagnostic and curative surgical procedures for breast examination and treatment performed every day. Every year, 13 MILLION breast procedures are performed worldwide, and yet, there is little to no information for the standard of care for post-op patients.   Nowadays patients are being treated with assorted recovery products to meet their recovery needs with no access to equipment and products which can make the healing process faster and better. They don’t have the proper understanding of what to do after the surgery and what to avoid for better wound healing. No matter the procedure, the breast tissue needs proper care and attention after the surgery. To know more about post-op care and healing, here are some tips for wound care after breast procedures. Change the dressing regularly: Dressing needs to be changed regularly until the wound is completely healed. It can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. The dressing needs to be clean and sterile for the wound to heal better. In the initial recovery phase, dressing needs to be changed by professionals in the hospital which means more hospital visits unless you have self-applying support. Keeping wound clean: Keeping the wound clean is an integral step in wound management and care. It should be your first and foremost priority. It is necessary to change the dressing in case of any fluids and to have an appropriate, absorbable dressing. Wash it with soap and water to prevent any infections and wash off blood and pus. Follow the doctor’s further recommendation. Appropriate wound site environment: A humid wound site environment promotes better healing and a dry environment can cause itching and irritation along with pain and discomfort. Having a dressing that can provide a humid environment without causing dryness can speed up recovery. Use non-adherent dressing: Use of non-adherent dressing is another way of proper wound healing. Adhesive dressing can cause an allergic reaction or a medical adhesive-related skin injury. Using non-adherent dressing can help in avoiding this problem. Avoid makeup: Avoid any makeup and chemicals around the operative site until the wounds are completely healed.   EZbra  provides the best solution for optimal wound care. EZbra Post-op support is the ultimate answer to faster recovery. It has an absorbent inner layer, which can absorb wound discharge ten times its weight and helps in keeping the wound clean. It is sterile and disposable with environmentally friendly material, making it safer against infections and minimising the need to wash.   Not only that, EZbra is specifically designed to provide a semi-occlusive structure that can maintain a humid environment. Humid and sterile infection can stimulate wound healing and tissue growth.   Wounds can become infected and irritated by the use of an adhesive dressing. EZbra is low adherent which can limit the adhesive contact. It is specifically designed to reduce dermatological and tissue damage during dressing changes. It can also minimise the pain along with preventing any further damage.   At EZbra, we understand the complications and post-op needs. Our mission is to make recovery easier for all women fighting against breast cancer and to spread awareness about how you can take better care of yourself to return back to your new normal.  Pre-order your EZbra today !

Chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and immunotherapy act aggressively on rapidly dividing cancer cells, but also affect healthy, non-cancerous cells that are rapidly dividing, including those that line the GI tract. This damage results in symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and weight loss. These are some of the most common physical side effects patients experience and have the greatest impact on quality of life. Symptoms can become significant enough that patients often choose reductions in or discontinuation of treatment. As mentioned above, treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation target rapidly dividing cells–that’s why they work so well to combat cancer cells. The cells that line our gastrointestinal tracts (this includes both our stomach & intestines, along with other vital organs) are also rapidly dividing. Treatments can’t necessarily distinguish between “bad” cells and “good” cells, so our GI tract unfortunately takes on a lot of damage. Our small intestine houses tiny, fingerlike projections called villi. Villi are cells responsible for nutrient and electrolyte absorption. Healthy villi have a large surface area, allowing ample space for the nutrients in the foods we’re consuming to be absorbed into the body. Cancer treatments damage these cells, causing them to shrink. This decreases the amount of surface area that can absorb nutrients, resulting in weight loss, fatigue, malnutrition, etc. Along with breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, the digestive tract also works to protect our bodies from harmful toxins. The walls of our digestive tract form what is called the “gut barrier.” The gut barrier controls what enters the bloodstream to be later transported to our organs. When the tight junctions (small gaps in the intestinal wall) are working properly, essential nutrients are able to pass through and “harmful” substances are blocked. Cancer treatments can damage the cells that form this barrier, essentially causing these gaps to widen. Toxins and bacteria can then escape from the gut through those gaps and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to negative health outcomes in the rest of the body including diarrhea, nausea, dehydration, fatigue, and even possible infection. How can enterade® help? Enterade® Advanced Oncology Formula is a sugar-free medical food blended with plant-based amino acids, electrolytes, and lightly sweetened with stevia leaf extract. Enterade® was developed by oncologists and gastroenterologists and is clinically proven to reduce the side effects of treatment including nausea, diarrhea, dehydration, fatigue, and unwanted weight loss. We often hear “why can’t I just drink sports drinks?” or “this sounds like a pricey nutritional shake…” Enterade® Advanced Oncology Formula, unlike sports drinks that address only dehydration and shakes that address caloric intake (and are often packed to the brim with sugar), serves a true purpose in helping to repair your gut from the damage caused by cancer treatments. Backed by four published, peer-reviewed clinical studies, enterade® has earned its stripes as “more than a sports drink.” Enterade® is formulated with a proprietary blend of five plant-based amino acids: L-Aspartic Acid, L-Valine, L-Serine, L-Threonine, and L-Tyrosine. This patented formula has been developed to specifically address the damage caused to the GI tract from cancer therapies. There are very few products, if any, that are made to address these problems. The proprietary blend of plant-based amino acids in enterade® is the secret sauce, so to speak. We talked about how cancer therapies shrink or “blunt” the villi that are responsible for nutrient and electrolyte absorption. Enterade® nourishes the villi and improves villus height. In other words, enterade helps to rebuild the villi, which increases its overall surface area and allows more space for nutrients to be absorbed. Increased nutrient absorption is key to maintaining a healthy weight–a critical component in your fight against cancer.  enterade® helps to close the gaps in the gut barrier that form due to damage from cancer treatments. Keeping the gut barrier fortified helps protect your already compromised system from increased exposure to toxins so you can feel better and fight harder. Lastly, enterade® is not a sports drink but enterade® is formulated with HydroActive Techology® to hydrate better than leading sports drinks, oral rehydration solutions, and even water.

Selfless request sees Aurora BioScience donate Ice Cold Gloves and Socks as new Supportive Care management for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Aurora BioScience, a leading and respected medical device company, recently received a generous request from a patient, wanting to purchase Ice Cold gloves and socks to donate and help alleviate the side effects and potential nerve damage for patients undergoing chemotherapy.   Alana Hugo, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, knows first-hand what undergoing chemotherapy treatment entails and the debilitating side effects that can come along with it. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology[1] revealed that onycholysis (separation of a fingernail or toenail from the nail bed) and skin toxicity occurs in approximately 30% of cancer patients treated with the chemotherapy drug Docetaxel.  The study concluded that frozen gloves significantly reduce the nail and skin toxicity, as well as potential nerve damage associated with chemotherapy treatment, therefore providing a new tool in supportive care management to improve a patient’s quality of life.   “The nausea, fatigue and hair loss associated with chemotherapy treatment is a lot to endure, but you do what you have to. The thought however of potential nerve damage especially in my hands, prompted me to take the advice of my doctor and purchase Ice Cold gloves and socks from Aurora BioScience, to wear during my infusions.” said Alana.   She continued, “I’m a maker – I use my hands bake, sew, knit, stitch and arrange flowers, but most importantly, I have the 10 chubby little toes and two squishable little thighs of my son to squeeze. How will I play ‘ring-ring’ with his leg and answer his ‘foot-phone’ if I can’t use my hands? Cancer and chemo can and will take so much from you, but not being able to play with my baby’s golden curls, even short term, is a thought I simply refuse to entertain.”   After weeks of purchasing ancillary items for her treatment such as scarves, eye pencils, sunscreens, mastectomy bras and more, Alana found herself having to prioritise these items on top of out-of-pocket treatment costs, which seemed near impossible.   “It then got me thinking about others. I decided to approach Aurora BioScience and purchase Ice Cold gloves and socks to donate so other patients going through chemotherapy could benefit from them aswell. It’s an absolute luxury to be able to try and mitigate the risk of losing a little more to this stupid disease. My hope was that by sharing these life changing gloves and socks, even if for just one other man or woman on this ‘freight train’ of a journey, it would help take the stress out of having to make a cruel choice.”    “Aurora BioScience is dedicated to sourcing and supplying innovative medical products with a goal of improving patient treatments and outcomes. By ensuring access to best medical technology, we hope to enhance the way medical professionals within Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands improve the lives of their patients.” – stated Darren Banks, Managing Director Aurora BioScience   By reaching out, Alana kickstarted a movement at not-for-profit, comprehensive cancer hospital Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Camperdown, Sydney. With the donation of a freezer from the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation and The Good Guys, patients are now able to use the Ice Cold gloves and socks at the centre.   “We were so moved by Alana’s determination to help others undergoing chemotherapy treatment by selflessly purchasing Ice Cold gloves and socks to donate to those in need, that we decided to donate additional units in support of her cause. She’s an incredible inspiration.” said Nicky Woolfson, Marketing Manager Aurora BioScience.   There are many ways to pay it forward, from raising funds to help hospitals purchase the Dignitana Delta Scalp Cooling device to donating a Cancer care gift. How can you help? For more information on our products and services, visit www.aurorabioscience.com.au.       For More Information Contact Mandy Crispin, Operations Director, Aurora BioScience +61 (0)2 9629 9546 mandycrispin@aurorabioscience.com.au Nicky Woolfson, Marketing Manager, Aurora BioScience +61 (0)413 635 503 nicky@aurorabioscience.com.au   About Aurora BioScience Aurora BioScience is a leading and respected medical device distribution and marketing company that provides high tech medical devices specialising in Oncology, Blood Technologies, and Medical Innovations. For over 15 years Aurora has supported healthcare providers and patients across metropolitan and regional areas of Australia, throughout New Zealand and around the Pacific Islands. The head office is located in Sydney Australia, and the growing product range includes some of the world’s most innovative medical products and solutions. Our specialty medical devices are specifically chosen for their ability to assist clinicians in improving patient outcomes and to enhance a patient’s quality of Iife. For more information, please visit www.aurorabioscience.com.au   [1] Reference: Journal of Clinical Oncology 23:4424-4429. © 2005 by American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer.org.

Chemotherapy is one of the most common ways to treat cancer, and many health professionals will recommend it to their patients. However, some of the medication associated with this kind of treatment has the potential to cause some unwanted side effects. For instance, cancer patients often experience hair loss as a result of undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Hair loss, in particular, can be quite distressing for many people – it may serve as a constant reminder of their disease, and even affect the way they see themselves. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent hair loss from occurring during chemotherapy treatment, but there are ways in which cancer patients can manage it when it happens.   Get a Shorter Haircut One way to manage hair loss during chemotherapy treatment is to get a shorter haircut. This management strategy mainly has psychological benefits for cancer patients. For instance, when hair loss starts to occur, it may be less shocking to see short clumps of hair fall out. Additionally, having shorter hair can make the transition from a full head of hair to complete baldness less confrontational. Some people may even choose to take it one step further and shave off all their hair prior to undergoing chemotherapy treatment. This can be very empowering move, as it may help cancer patients feel in control. Instead of being a passive subject to their disease, they are able to take charge of it.   Use a Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner Another strategy for cancer patients to manage hair loss is to use a gentle shampoo and conditioner. This is because chemotherapy treatment can cause hair to become fine and brittle, as well as make the scalp more sensitive. For example, many shampoos contain harsh chemicals which dry out skin, and conditioners can upset the pH balance of hair by being too oily. A gentle shampoo and conditioner, such as the Follact Hair Care Range that Aurora Direct offers, may help cancer patients better manage their hair and scalp both during and after chemotherapy treatment. This particular hair product contains an active botanical ingredient which has been shown to act on the hair follicle and help stimulate hair regrowth.*   Use Scalp Cooling Products Scalp cooling products are quickly becoming a popular method for naturally reducing hair loss during chemotherapy treatment. The idea behind these products is that cooling the scalp will tighten and constrict the blood vessels in the scalp. This, in turn, is thought to reduce hair loss by making it more difficult for chemotherapy medication to reach the cells of hair follicles.   The Best Management Strategy Unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ management strategy for dealing with hair loss during chemotherapy. Each person has a physiology which is unique to them, and they will have different experiences during the treatment process. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another. As such, the ‘best’ way for cancer patients to manage hair loss is to figure out what makes them comfortable.    Sources of Information: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/hair-loss/cold-caps.html https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/managing-cancer-side-effects/hair-loss/coping/ https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/side-effects/hair-loss-and-thinning https://www.rosettelavedette.com/en/10-questions-chemo-hair-loss/ https://www.verywellhealth.com/caring-for-your-hair-and-scalp-during-chemotherapy-581983 https://www.verywellhealth.com/prepare-for-chemo-hair-loss-582047