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12
08, 2025
6
08, 2025
Facts About Medical Records Fees
When Brenay Torres, a mother of two in West Virginia, found a lump in her breast, she was sent for an ultrasound after her mammogram was inconclusive. But when she tried to set up the ultrasound appointment, she ran into an unexpected roadblock.
“That is when the nightmare began,” Torres said. She was sent to a different medical office to get the ultrasound done. But before she could be seen, they required the images from her mammogram — and the fee to get a copy of those records was $175.
Torres said she tried to negotiate a more reasonable fee, but the mammogram facility would not budge.
“The fee was too high for me to pay — and I could not get the ultrasound done. Every day I was extremely anxious that I could have cancer and it was spreading inside my body,” Torres said.
Because there are a limited number of providers in her town, it took Torres a while to find another imaging center that didn’t require the previous records, and she had to wait over three months until they had an opening.
“The whole situation was extremely stressful and it started because of the exploitative records fee — why can’t I have a picture of my own body without paying a high fee? These fees can limit a patient’s access to their medical information and the ability to coordinate their care,” said Torres.
Torres’s experience is not unusual.
While people are legally entitled to their medical records under federal law, many encounter burdensome fees when they request electronic or hard copies of their records.
Online patient portals have increased access to medical information, but patients may still need hard copies of their records when switching to a new doctor, dentist, imaging center or when they are referred to a specialist. Patients may also need hard copies for their own personal record-keeping.
“You can’t rely on the portal for everything, especially with imaging,” Torres said.
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), providers may charge a “reasonable, cost-based fee,” which includes labor for copying the record (paper or electronic) and supplies (paper, CD, postage). But it may not include costs related to verifying, searching for and retrieving medical records. Requested records are also supposed to be sent within a timely manner, generally 30 calendar days.
Read: Health Insurance 101 for Women: What You’re Entitled to as a Woman >>
Medical records fees vary by state
iStock.com/weihi zhu
Concerns about increasing healthcare costs — including unexpected fees — are growing. But even with HIPAA guidelines on medical records fees, the cost can still vary significantly depending on the facility, provider and the state they practice in.
Several states regulate what providers are allowed to charge, and some permit patients to receive one free copy of their records. Other states, such as Idaho, Kansas and Alaska, do not have laws in place that regulate records fees. Some states charge a flat fee, while others charge anywhere from 50 cents to $2 per page.
In some instances, even if a state permits certain fees, it may not be in compliance with the HIPAA Right of Access Provisions. Ultimately, if there’s a conflict between state laws and HIPAA on these fees, whichever law is more favorable to patients and provides a more affordable option generally takes precedent.
This nationwide patchwork of different rules for different states can lead to limited oversight on provider compliance and fees, which can result in an expensive and challenging process for patients.
Patients may be unaware of the HIPAA fee regulations and may not know they have the right to challenge providers who charge excessive or prohibited fees.
Caitlin Donovan, senior director of the Patient Advocate Foundation, said that it can be an administrative burden on providers to process records requests, but accessibility for patients should still be the priority and access to obtaining records should not depend on a patient’s ability to pay.
“Patients are entitled to their medical records, in the format that they request, but at a certain point these records are no longer accessible if it is not affordable,” Donovan said.
What can you do if you if you’re encountering high medical records fees
If patients encounter medical records fees that pose a hardship, Donovan recommended checking to see if the fee is allowed in their state and speaking to the billing office about their concerns. Patients also have the right to report exorbitant fees to their state’s inspector general office and their state’s consumer protection office.
If a provider is not adhering to state laws or HIPAA regulations, patients can file a HIPAA complaint with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). If a patient has insurance, they can also file a complaint with their insurance company.
Donovan added that practice protocols can vary by provider, but suggested asking if the provider/facility can request the records directly from the provider who has them — sometimes provider to provider requests do not result in a fee.
Vulnerable patients can be impacted more
Marginalized communities and patients with complicated medical histories who already experience health disparities can be particularly impacted by these fees.
“Fees can be another barrier for marginalized communities,” said Faith Ohuoba, M.D., an OB-GYN in Texas and clinical associate professor at the University of Houston. Ohuoba said that while there can be an increase in administrative work for the office staff to process different record requests, providers still need to be conscious of the impact these fees have on patients.
Women, who already spend more on healthcare compared to men, can also end up paying more in records fees. According to Ohuoba, women frequently have preventive screenings (mammogram and Pap tests) and these tests may be done at different facilities, which means they could potentially end up paying even more in fees to get their records from each medical office.
For patients who are not able to pay for an imaging CD, Ohuoba said to bring a copy of the imaging report to a new provider since these can typically be printed from the patient portal.
Transparency is key
Ohuoba said that transparency is critical and it’s important for providers to disclose any fees that they charge up front. If you get an excessive records fee, Ohuoba said to request an itemized bill and ask for more specific information on what you’re being charged for. She noted that some facilities may say they have a flat fee for every record request, but asking for this specific information can still be an important part of increasing transparency in billing.
“Providers need to be empathetic to how fees may impact patients, offer different payment options and work with patients to resolve the issue,” Ohuoba said.
5
08, 2025
Caregiving for My Twin Sister with Leptomeningeal Disease
As told to Jacquelyne Froeber
My sister Briana is the yin to my yang.
As fraternal twins, you’d think that we’d want some space after sharing a uterus for nine months, but we were basically inseparable from birth.
Briana and I went to the same schools, shared the same friends, played the same sports and got our first jobs together at Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store. We even had our own language.
After college, Briana and I got real jobs and we lived about 20 minutes from each other in Oklahoma. We always made time to see each other. At the very least we’d meet at the gym after work during the week.
But in 2017, our routine changed. I started having stabbing pains in my chest and I was diagnosed with pericarditis, or inflammation around the heart. The pain was so severe that I couldn’t exercise, and I had to take a break from the gym. My doctor said I would recover, but it may take months for me to feel better.
Briana and Kyle, 2017
Not seeing my sister during the week was tough, but we talked or texted every day. I was still recovering when my dad suddenly got sick and had gallbladder surgery. Then he had a stroke and things went downhill fast.
When Briana and I met up at the hospital to see our dad, I could tell right away that something was off. She said she’d been having severe, debilitating headaches for a few days, and nothing helped ease the pain.
Over the next week, Dad’s condition continued to get worse, and so did Briana’s. When we met again at the hospital, I could see the pain on her face. I told Briana to walk over to the ER, and I would meet her there after I talked to the doctor about dad’s condition.
By the time I walked to the ER, Briana had been admitted. I was only in her room for a few seconds before the doctor came in and asked me if I wanted a chair. I told her I liked to stand.
“Briana has a tumor in her brain, and we need to operate as soon as possible,” she said.
I wished I’d taken her up on that chair. The inflammation in my chest burned like a thousand suns. My mind reeled trying to catch up — one minute I was deciding whether to keep my father on life support and the next my sister had a brain tumor.
Despite the chaos swirling around us, Briana was her comedic self. During pre-op for her surgery the next morning, the doctor asked if she knew why she was there.
“To remove the alien probe from my head,” she said.
Classic Briana.
As they wheeled her away into the operating room, I felt my knees buckle. My body desperately wanted to fold over and curl up in a ball so I could scream and cry in the hallway that connected my unconscious father and my sister.
But I knew I couldn’t do that. My family was depending on me — I was depending on me — to be strong and keep it all together.
Right after Briana came out of surgery, my dad died.
As painful as it was, there was no time to grieve. The surgeon said Briana’s surgery went well, but the initial results said the tumor was cancer. It was melanoma.
My first thought was that it sounded absurd, and the doctors were lacking knowledge about melanoma. Briana was 41 years old and had no history of skin cancer and no cancer was found anywhere else in her body. But the official lab results came back that week, and it was, in fact, melanoma — which it turns out isn’t always skin cancer. It’s cancer of the melanocytes, which can also be in the brain.
The rare diagnosis aside, Briana needed help while she healed. Thankfully, the company I worked for let me take intermittent FMLA.
For the next few weeks, I took Briana to her follow-up appointments and Gamma Knife surgery — a type of noninvasive radiation.
She seemed to be doing great, but about five weeks in, I went to her house and my heart sank. The left side of her face was drooping. “I think you’ve had a stroke,” I said.
We went to the ER and that was the first time I heard the words “leptomeningeal disease.” It’s when cancer moves out of the tissue into the leptomeninges, which is made up of membranes and fluids in the brain. Needless to say, it didn’t sound good. I was an insurance adjuster — I read medical records all the time — but I’d never heard of this disease.
Briana’s medical team ended up saying she didn’t have leptomeningeal disease — but another tumor had formed in her brain.
I was devastated. I thought we had turned a corner and now we had four rounds of immunotherapy in front of us. The side effects were rough. The vertigo made her so dizzy I had to help her walk — even short distances. And the vomiting was brutal. But by the end of the year we got good news: The tumor was gone.
I felt buoyant, like a weight had been lifted from my body. It was the first good news we’d gotten in a long time, and it felt incredible. My sister was going to be OK. We were going to be OK.
In mid-January, her face started to droop again. Then we learned that Briana did have leptomeningeal disease after all. The doctors gave her three to six months to live.
That was really the start of our “journey” as we called it. Neither one of us liked that word, but other words like “fight” or “war” implied winning and losing. And as Briana said, “I’m not a loser — I’m not going to lose this battle because it’s not a battle. It’s just a journey I have to go through.”
The first thing I did was quit my job and become her full-time caregiver. I started really researching leptomeningeal disease and realized there wasn’t a lot of information out there.
There also weren’t a lot of local resources for managing the disease. Briana’s doctor said we’d have to go to Houston to see specialists. So, that’s what we did.
At least once a month, we’d get in the car and drive nine hours to Houston. Briana would get treatment, then we’d drive back home, and then head back down a few weeks later to see if the medication was working.
I treated the Houston trips like business and I had a routine. I prepped all my questions for the doctors beforehand. I prepped all of our food for on the way there, while we were there and for the way back. I packed our bags and made sure we had the right clothing, toiletries and Briana’s Winnie the Pooh. He went everywhere with us. He was on the journey, too.
When we got home from treatment, I’d get Briana inside, get her in comfortable clothes and put everything immediately in the washer. Then I’d put all the containers in the dishwasher.
By then, usually around 10 p.m., I’d make sure Briana was in bed and asleep. I’d pour myself a glass of wine or grab a beer, whatever I had energy for, and sit down at the kitchen table. And then I would cry. It was the only time I allowed myself to break down because it was really the only time that I didn’t have to be on — I didn’t have to ask questions and follow up and do my own research to try to save my sister. On those nights, I digested the horror unfolding in front of us. The helplessness deep in my gut. The fear.
In 2019, Briana started a clinical trial and that meant driving to Houston every two weeks. And it was a roller coaster of emotions: She had rapid progression and then rapid regression of disease.
Then Covid hit and things got even harder. I couldn’t be in treatment or follow-up visits with Briana — most of the time I couldn’t even go into the hospital. Briana had hearing loss from the radiation and some cognitive issues. There were times when she just couldn’t understand what was happening. I’d be on the other end of the phone listening to her cry or trying to help her find her way around the hospital. A lot of times I’d be grinding my teeth — stressed and angry and frustrated that I was in a hotel room down the street and not with my sister.
I distracted myself by reading every article I could about cancer. I started a Facebook page about leptomeningeal disease and it became a lifeline for me. If Briana was trying something new, I asked for opinions. If I found new research, I posted it. It started to become clear to me that there were more people out there than I’d previously thought living with the disease or caregiving for someone with it. And although I still felt helpless in many aspects, I didn’t feel completely alone.
In September 2021, Briana was actually feeling pretty good. She was on a break from her treatment and there’d been no progression of disease.
We planned a trip to Colorado and saw her friend and hiked around the gorgeous scenery. Then Briana started having pain in her sciatic nerve. I knew in my heart what that meant: progression.
Kyle and Briana, 2021
We went to Houston and restarted her medication. At first, everything was OK — the pain was gone. But the pain came back fast and nothing stopped it.
Briana’s decline was swift. Within a day, she went from walking on her own to using a walker and then not being able to walk at all. It was beyond jarring and I wasn’t quite sure what to do. I sat Briana down in a chair in the kitchen and she just fell off of it. It was like she couldn’t understand that she couldn’t walk anymore and she wasn’t making sense.
I called my stepmom. “Briana thinks she can walk, but she can’t,” I sobbed. “She has enough strength to move, but she can’t be left alone.”
My stepmom was stunned. “You’re kidding,” she said.
I wished more than anything I was.
We knew it was time to get hospice involved. I started taking a video of Briana to share with her doctors. I put Pooh bear next to her. “Briana, tell Pooh bear I love you,” I said.
“Pooh bear, I love you … and I love Kyle too!” I stopped the recording and tried to stifle the sobs. But the tears still made their way down my cheeks.
The next day Briana was the most awake and coherent she’d been in days. She was even hungry — she wanted eggs. I knew this was probably the rally before the decline that happens to most people who are close to death.
Later that day she looked at me and said, “Thank you for taking such good care of me. I love you so much.” Then she fell asleep, and she never woke up again.
Briana went into a comatose state. I’d been watching over her one morning and asked my stepmom to step in for a few minutes so I could take a breather. I had my head in my hands when she called out to me that she couldn’t find Briana’s pulse.
That was a thing with Briana and me — I was the only one in the family who could feel her pulse.
I went back into her room. “Yes, she still has a pulse,” I said. And as the words left my mouth, I felt it go away. My sister was gone.
In my family, we believe that if someone dies in the house, you open all the doors to let their spirit go and let them be free. The winter air rushed into the house and by nighttime everything felt cold and empty.
Grief is like a scar. It may get better over time, but the surface is changed forever. I’m still processing that my other half — the person who loved me unconditionally — is gone. And as hard as the journey was, I am forever grateful that I got to take care of her. Briana was given 6 months at best when she was diagnosed, and she lived for four years — a true testament to her strength and spirit.
Next year is our 50th birthday and I’ve planned a trip to a beach resort halfway around the world I know Briana would love. I know she’ll find me there, and we will celebrate together.
Resources
American Cancer Society Caregiver Resource Guide
Leptomeningeal Cancer Foundation
Leptomeningeal Disease (LMD) Community and Support
Have your own Real Women, Real Stories you want to share? Let us know.
Our Real Women, Real Stories are the authentic experiences of real-life women. The views, opinions and experiences shared in these stories are not endorsed by HealthyWomen and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthyWomen.
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4
08, 2025
CAR T Cell Therapy 101
Let’s take a minute to give props to your immune system.
If you’re not exactly sure what your immune system does, think of it like the mama bear of your body. The cells, tissues and organs that make up your immune system fiercely protect your body against threats (germs, viruses, etc.) and attack anything that’s potentially harmful.
Your immune system can also be a powerful weapon against cancer, thanks to a treatment option called immunotherapy. The treatments involve boosting or changing how the immune system works so it can find and destroy cancer cells.
There are different types of immunotherapy depending on the condition and diagnosis. One of the most innovative options out there is called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which is typically used after other therapies have been tried first.
The treatment is unique compared to other cancer treatments because it uses the body’s T cells — a type of white blood cell — to help fight against the cancer.
CAR T-cell therapy isn’t an option for all cancers, but it can help people with certain blood cancers — even advanced cases of blood cancer — achieve “no evidence of disease” (a term used when cancer can no longer be detected in the body).
Read: Gene & Cell Therapy 101 >>
Here’s more on CAR T-cell therapy.
What is CAR T-cell therapy?
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy created from the living T cells of the person with cancer.
The T cells are a type of white blood cell and the main slayers of disease and infected cells. The natural T cells in people with cancer aren’t the best at finding and fighting cancer cells, so CAR T-cell therapy alters the T cells in a lab so they can better search and destroy the cancer.
How CAR T-cell therapy works
CAR T-cell therapy requires a few different steps. First, blood is collected from the patient via two IV lines — one to remove the blood and separate the white blood cells — and one to put the blood back into the body.
From there, T cells are separated from other white blood cells and genetically engineered in a lab. Special genes called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) — hence the name — are added to the surface of the T cells.
After the T cells are modified, they’re grown and multiplied to create hundreds of millions of cells that are infused into the person with cancer.
The modified cells are then able to connect to antigen proteins on cancer cells and attack the cancer.
CAR T-cell prep and infusion
The process from the first blood collection to infusion can take up to five weeks.
In the weeks before the infusion, some people may have chemotherapy to weaken the immune system to give the modified T cells a better chance to fight the cancer.
When it’s time, CAR T-cell therapy is given in a single infusion via IV — a process that usually lasts around an hour.
CAR T-cell therapy side effects
Like all cancer treatments, CAR T-cell therapy can have a range of side effects, some of which can be severe, including infection and the death of B cells, which produce antibodies.
The good news is that research shows that the benefits of these treatments outweigh their risks. As a result, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) requirements, which are protocols that are put in place to manage risks, from the approved CAR T-cell immunotherapies.
When the CAR T cells multiply, they can release chemicals in the blood (cytokines) that can ramp up the immune system and cause possibly life-threatening issues. This is called cytokine release syndrome (CRS).
The side effects of CRS can include:
- High fever and chills
- Breathing problems
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache attacks
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat
CAR T-cell therapy may also affect the nervous system and lead to immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). The symptoms of the condition can include:
- Confusion
- Changes in consciousness
- Headache attacks
- Loss of balance
- Tremors
- Trouble speaking or understanding
- Seizures
Other side effects of CAR T-cell therapy can include:
- Low levels of minerals in the blood
- Allergic reaction during the infusion
- Weakened immune system
- Low blood cell counts
- Increased risk for other blood cancers
What are CAR T-cell therapies approved for?
CAR T-cell therapies were first approved by the FDA in 2017 for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Today, CAR T-cell therapy is also approved to treat adults.
In addition to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, CAR T-cell therapy can be used to treat other types of blood cancer. These can include:
- Multiple myeloma
- High-grade B-cell lymphoma
- Follicular lymphoma
- Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
Given the success with blood cancers, a number of studies are now looking at CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumor cancers, such as brain, pancreatic, colorectal and triple negative breast cancer, as well as for autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, multiple sclerosis), cardiac and liver fibrosis, HIV, and Type 1 diabetes.
If I have cancer, how do I know if I’m eligible for CAR T-cell therapy?
CAR T-cell therapies are used to help treat blood cancer that has returned (relapsed) or blood cancer that hasn’t responded to previous treatments. If you have blood cancer, you should talk to your HCP to see if you’re a candidate.
Does insurance cover CAR T-cell therapy?
Many insurance plans cover CAR T-cell therapy, but the cost of treatment varies depending on the plan, and prior authorization may be required.
Medicare covers FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy, and Medicaid may also cover it. Coverage can vary depending on the state.
For people who don’t have insurance or need financial assistance, CAR T-cell treatment centers and medication manufacturers may help with treatment costs and travel expenses like transportation, meals and lodging. Nonprofit organizations like The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society may offer financial support options too.
Access to CAR T-cell therapy
When the FDA removed the REMS requirement for six approved CAR T-cell therapies last month, the move also made the potentially life-saving treatments easier to access.
Without the REMS requirement, hospitals and clinics no longer need to have a certification to administer the treatments.
Also good to note: The FDA cut down the time people must wait to drive after treatment from eight weeks to two weeks. And the FDA shortened the requirement to stay near a healthcare facility from four weeks to two weeks.
These changes help offer more flexibility and opportunities for treatment.
If you or someone you know is interested in CAR T-cell therapy, talk to an oncologist about the facts, including where to go for treatment.
This educational resource was created with support from Bristol Myers Squibb, a HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member.
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4
08, 2025
Cómo ayudar a un ser querido que tiene una migraña
Slide 2:
Más que “solo un dolor de cabeza”
Las migrañas son un trastorno inhabilitante que afecta a más de 40 millones de personas cada año en EE.UU. Las mujeres son 3 veces más propensas a tener un trastorno de migrañas que los hombres.
Puede imposibilitar incluso las tareas más sencillas.
Slide 3:
Los episodios de migrañas pueden interferir con la vida cotidiana
Pueden causar muchos síntomas debilitantes, tales como:
- Dolor de cabeza palpitante, frecuentemente en un lado de la cabeza
- Náuseas
- Vómitos
- Sensibilidad a la luz, a los sonidos y a los olores
Esto puede generar:
- Depresión
- Aislamiento
- Angustia
- Trastorno de estrés postraumático
Saber cómo ayudar a alguien que tiene trastornos de migrañas puede ser útil.
Slide 4:
Identifica señales de alerta y desencadenantes
A veces un episodio de migrañas puede ocurrir rápidamente y sin señales de alerta. Conocer los desencadenantes de una persona puede ser útil para detectarlo en forma temprana, antes de que empeore.
Los desencadenantes de migrañas incluyen:
- El estrés
- Sueño irregular
- Demasiada cafeína
- Períodos menstruales
- Omitir comidas
- Cambios de clima
Slide 5:
Ofrece consuelo y reconoce el dolor
Consolar a alguien durante un episodio de migrañas puede ser útil para reducir su estrés. Puedes hacer esto diciéndole que estás allí para lo que necesite.
Al escucharle, creerle y mostrarle simpatía, comprenderá que cuenta con tu apoyo.
Slide 6:
Trata de satisfacer sus necesidades
Alguien que tiene un episodio de migrañas podría experimentar dolor intenso.
Puedes ayudarle:
- Trayendo agua
- Cerrando las cortinas para bloquear la luz
- Proporcionando un lugar silencioso para que descanse
- Obteniendo su medicamento
- Preparando una compresa fría o caliente
- Preguntando qué necesita
Slide 7:
Asume sus responsabilidades
Es posible que alguien que tiene un episodio de migrañas no pueda realizar quehaceres domésticos. Ofrécele ayuda con lo que puedas para que esa persona pueda descansar y sanar más rápidamente.
Por ejemplo, podrías:
- Recoger a los niños del colegio
- Preparar la comida
- Limpiar la casa
- Llevarle a su proveedor de atención médica
- Comprar víveres
Slide 8:
Modifica tus acciones
Cuando alguien tiene un episodio de migrañas, el ruido, la luz y ciertos olores pueden empeorarlo.
No cocines alimentos con olores fuertes y asegúrate de no usar perfume ni colonia.
Mantén las luces apagadas y prepara un entorno tranquilo y silencioso.
Slide 9:
Ten listo un plan de emergencia para lidiar con episodios repentinos
Estas preguntas pueden ser útiles:
- ¿Qué señales de alerta tienes antes de un episodio de migrañas?
- ¿Cuál es la mejor forma para ayudarte durante un episodio?
- ¿Qué pasos inmediatos podemos tomar cuando ocurre un episodio de migrañas?
Slide 10:
¿En qué forma puedes ayudar a alguien que tiene un episodio de migrañas?
Concientizar a personas a su alrededor, mostrar empatía, satisfacer sus necesidades y tener un plan de emergencia puede ser útil para que personas con trastornos de migrañas sientan que cuentan con apoyo.
Nadie debería enfrentar trastornos de migrañas solo.
Este recurso educativo se preparó con el apoyo de Pfizer.
2
08, 2025
Irina Haller: on Horses, High Fashion, And Building a Life That Move With Purpose
Photographer: Sebastian Schreiber
MUA: Jennifer Schreiber
Creative Director: Pia Bolte
Irina Haller was born in Hanover, Germany, and raised in a rural environment surrounded by horse stables and riding facilities. Her deep passion for horses and equestrian sports began at an early age—she was riding before she could walk. At just four years old, she competed in her first tournament with her pony. Dressage became her life’s focus for over 20 years, during which she competed nearly every weekend across Germany, achieving numerous notable successes up to the highest level of the sport. She credits her parents for their unwavering support, which was instrumental in her success.
Tragically, her champion horse Starlight, a stunning black Oldenburg stallion, sustained a career-ending injury. With a heavy heart, Irina decided to retire from professional equestrian sport alongside him.
After completing her high school diploma (Abitur), she began working in her parents’ real estate company while studying architecture. In 2020, her father fell seriously ill and passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. This loss forced Irina to step up and take over the family business, proving her strength and capabilities as a businesswoman. She successfully restructured the company, allowing her to manage it remotely with full flexibility.
Photographer: Sebastian Schreiber
MUA: Jennifer Schreiber
Creative Director: Pia Bolte
Irina lives a highly active lifestyle, with healthy eating and regular training being essential parts of her daily routine. She also shares her life with a spirited Jack Russell Terrier.
Another of Irina’s great passions is fashion. In December 2024, she was discovered as a model by designer Pia Bolte. Thanks to her height of 1.82 meters, she quickly entered the high-fashion scene. In February 2025, she walked the prestigious New York Fashion Week, followed by photoshoots in Cape Town and runway appearances in Los Angeles. As of April 2025, she has graced the covers of seven magazines, including Harper’s Bazaar, her biggest achievement so far. Next up is the Miami Swim Week, followed by more modeling engagements in New York.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Irina Haller an exceptionally talented equestrian, real estate business women and a fashion model, here she talks about her fitness routine, her diet, and her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
How has your 20-year dressage career influenced your current fitness regimen? Are there specific skills or disciplines from horseback riding that you still incorporate?
Irina Haller:
My two decades in dressage shaped more than just my body — they shaped my way of being. Every ride demanded strength, precision, balance, and an unwavering connection between mind and movement. Today, those lessons are still woven into my fitness regimen. Endurance remains a core focus, but so does something quieter: the discipline of showing up, the patience to refine, the grace to know that true progress happens one breath, one step at a time.
Dressage taught me that greatness isn’t found in grand gestures — it’s built in the small, unseen moments of consistency. That belief still fuels me, whether I’m training at sunrise or chasing the next version of who I can become.
Photographer: Sebastian Schreiber
MUA: Jennifer Schreiber
Creative Director: Pia Bolte
Namita Nayyar:
Can you walk us through a typical day of training? What types of workouts (e.g., strength, yoga, cardio) are non-negotiable for maintaining your active lifestyle?
Irina Haller:
My days begin in stillness — and then, in motion. Before the world fully wakes, I rise early, greeting the quiet hours with purpose. Training is not just something I do; it is the rhythm that frames my life.
I move through a balance of disciplines: running to build endurance, Pilates to cultivate strength and control, yoga to stay flexible in both body and mind. Some days, there are two sessions — a morning run to ignite the fire, and a quiet Pilates flow in the afternoon to center it.
But beyond the structure, movement is simply part of my essence. Whether it’s a formal workout or the simple act of living actively, each moment of motion becomes a silent promise to myself: to stay strong, to stay present, to stay endlessly in love with the life I am building.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you still ride horses, and if so, how does it complement your current fitness goals?
Irina Haller:
Although I no longer ride regularly, every time I have the chance to sit on one of my friends’ horses, it feels like coming home. Instead of opting for a relaxed trail ride, I always find myself drawn to the training arena, where I can still experience the joy of executing a beautiful canter pirouette. Moments like these remind me that the connection between horse and rider never truly fades. No matter how much time passes, the saddle remains my happiest place — a space where passion, freedom, and deep gratitude come together.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
31
07, 2025
Facts About DCIS – HealthyWomen
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a very early form of breast cancer that makes up about 1 out 5 cases of breast cancer.
While any cancer diagnosis is scary, DCIS is noninvasive and very treatable. With appropriate treatment and follow-up care, the outlook is excellent. And the five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with DCIS is 98%.
What is DCIS?
DCIS is the earliest stage of breast cancer, sometimes called stage 0 breast cancer.
The name ductal carcinoma in situ is a bit confusing. Here’s what it means:
- Ductal: The cancer is in the cells lining the milk ducts. It might be in one or both breasts.
- Carcinoma: These ductal cells become abnormal (cancerous).
- In situ: The cancer stays “on site” where it started. It might spread to more ductal cells, but it does not spread to other areas.
DCIS is noninvasive, meaning it has not spread from where it started, but it still needs to be treated. Although DCIS itself has a great prognosis, research does show that people diagnosed with DCIS have a higher risk of developing invasive cancer later. Anywhere from 20 to 50% of DCIS cases might be a precursor to a higher stage of breast cancer.
Healthcare providers can’t tell which cases will progress. So the safest approach is to treat all cases of DCIS quickly. Treating DCIS intensively leads to better outcomes and lowers the risk of invasive cancer down the road.
Symptoms and diagnosis of DCIS
DCIS usually doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. Some people might notice a lump in their breast, skin irritation or itchiness, a sore or discharge from the nipple. But this isn’t common. Most of the time, DCIS is caught by a mammogram — those regular screenings are important!
If you have DCIS, the mammogram might show microcalcification clusters. These clusters are calcium deposits in the breast. They might be there for many reasons. In fact, they’re pretty common in women over 50. However, certain patterns of microcalcifications can indicate an early stage of cancer. So, if these are spotted on your mammogram, you’ll need more imaging done.
If you have signs of DCIS, your healthcare provider (HCP) may request one or more of the following:
- Diagnostic mammogram: Provides more detailed X-ray images of the breast than a screening mammogram, often from different angles or positions.
- Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to get images of the breast tissue. Sometimes an ultrasound is used to guide a biopsy.
- Breast MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging is more sensitive than a mammogram or an ultrasound.
After imaging, the next step is a biopsy: a small piece of tissue is taken from the breast, then analyzed by a pathologist. The analysis determines what kind of DCIS is present and the best course of treatment.
Different types of DCIS
DCIS is categorized by something called nuclear grade. This scale “grades” or compares how the cancer cells look in comparison with normal breast cells. The cells might be low, intermediate, or high grade. A higher grade means the cancer cells are more abnormal and fast-growing.
It’s also important to determine the hormonal makeup of the cancerous cells. This helps doctors decide on the best treatment approach. Some cancer cells have hormone receptors for estrogen or progesterone, or both. Having these receptors is favorable. It means the cancer grows more slowly and depends on hormones to survive. Most cases of DCIS are hormone-receptor positive.
How is DCIS treated?
Treatment for DCIS is usually straightforward: surgery, often followed by radiation therapy. The radiation ensures that all cancerous cells are removed. In some cases, hormone therapy may be recommended. Chemotherapy is not used to treat DCIS.
Surgery
A lumpectomy is also called a partial mastectomy or breast-saving surgery. The surgeon removes tissue from the breast. The tissue includes the cancerous cells and some healthy tissue around the area. The breast itself is not removed.
A mastectomy is a surgery that removes all tissue, or the entire breast. Patients might opt to have breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy.
Which surgery is needed depends on the DCIS spread. If the cancer is in a small, contained area, a lumpectomy is usually possible. If the cancer hasis spread out or scattered through the ductal cells, a mastectomy will be needed.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, usually X-rays, to kill cancer cells that were not removed during surgery. It’s associated with a lower risk of recurrence.
Hormone therapy
If the cancer cells have hormone receptors, your healthcare provider might recommend hormone therapy to help prevent recurrence. If you have a mastectomy, hormone therapy is usually not needed.
Does DCIS recur?
While DCIS can come back, its recurrence rate is low. For people who have a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy, it’s less than 15%.
The DCIS grade also has an effect on the recurrence rate. A lower grade equals a lower risk of recurrence. However, the risk of recurrence is higher for Black women than for Asian, Hispanic, or white women. That may be because white women benefit from more follow-up imaging surveillance. These systemic racial/ethnic disparities have fatal consequences: the rate of breast cancer mortality after DCIS is higher for Black women.
Read: Why Do Women of Color Have Worst Breast Cancer Outcomes? >>
Regular mammograms help catch DCIS so it can be treated quickly. After treatment for DCIS is complete, regular screenings help spot any abnormalities. With good follow-up, you’ve got everything on your side to stay healthy after a DCIS diagnosis.
This educational resource was created with support from Merck.
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30
07, 2025
How to Be a Good Emotional Support Friend
August 1 is National Girlfriend Day.
My best friend Jessi has always told me, “I only have fun with you.”
Of course, I love when she says that, even though I know it’s not true. Jessi has an awesome life in Michigan — she’s surrounded by people who love her — and she dog-sits for a sweater-wearing English bulldog named Tucker, which is like the definition of fun.
Tucker
While it’s true that we’ve had an infinity loop of laughter over our 20-plus years of friendship, we’ve also had to deal with a lot of tough stuff like death and cancer and younger brothers.
Through it all, Jessi has been my emotional support human. And science shows that emotional support is a top priority for women when it comes to friendship. And women are more likely than men to lean on friends during stressful situations.
Read: Someone Who Likes You: The Importance of Girlfriends for Mental Health >>
“Emotional support is the most important element that can help a person going through a hard time,” said Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D., a Los Angeles-based psychologist who specializes in life transitions and relationships. “You don’t feel alone. You don’t feel like you’re isolated from people. You don’t sink as far into depression or sadness or anger because you can vent if you trust somebody and you know they care.”
The key, Thomas said, to good emotional support is to offer a safe, judgement-free zone so your friend feels vulnerable enough to share and fully vent about their feelings and concerns. Sharing your own experience with tough times can help your friend feel less alone — but just make sure you’re not trying to turn the conversation around to focus on you. “People can do that without meaning to,” Thomas said.
No friendship is perfect and no two relationships are the same. But no matter how close you are, it can still be hard to know what to say or do when a friend is going through a rough time. (Friendly tip: If you’re going to DoorDash ice cream to your friend, make sure they’re home. Ants never make any situation better.)
We asked Thomas for advice on what to say and how to emotionally support your friend when times are tough.
Here are her tips for how to support someone through 5 common difficult situations.
1. A health condition diagnosis
What to say: “I’m here for you. You can always talk to me — you’re not a burden. I want to help you the best way I can.”
Being diagnosed with a disease or illness — no matter how severe — is scary and overwhelming. Some people may retreat or try to hide their feelings because they don’t want to seem needy or burden people with the reality of their situation.
Let your friend know upfront that you want them to lean on you and not to feel guilty (providing that’s really how you feel). And if they ever think they’re relying on you too much to check in with you because odds are that’s not the case.
2. Death
What to say: “I am so sorry for your loss. What can I do to help you?”
After a loved one dies, most people tend to feel numb or in shock, so it’s a good idea to ask questions to try to understand what your friend may need during this time. And, because they may not be thinking straight, try offering suggestions that may help ease stress. For example, can I bring over dinner? Can I call anyone for the funeral arrangements? Do you need your laundry done?
The same can apply to emotional needs. Do you want to talk about your loved one? Do you want me to stay over? Do you want space to grieve on your own?
Grief is complex, and what your friend wants/needs might change from day to day, so it’s a good idea to check in with them regularly even if it’s just a text or a voicemail to let them know you’re there when they are ready.
Read: Expert Advice on Getting Through Your First Holiday Season After the Loss of a Loved One >>
3. Loneliness
What to say: “I’m so glad you told me. It’s not easy, but you’re not alone. Everyone feels lonely at some point in their lives.”
First things first: If your friend tells you that they are feeling lonely — commend them. Let them know that you appreciate how honest they are and that loneliness is common — too common these days.
Ask your friend how they would like for you to be there for them. Maybe it’s scheduling a weekly FaceTime or planning walks after work or meeting for lunch on weekends. Or if they’re interested in dating, offer to be a wing person. If you’re both down to mingle, try double dates.
Admitting loneliness is the first step, and figuring out what to do about it can help your friend break the cycle and connect back to the things they enjoy in life.
4. Relationship problems
iStock.com/Antonio_Diaz
What to say: “I’m sorry you’re going through this — I’m here to listen.”
Maybe your BFF had a big fight with their partner. Or things are getting separation-bad. Of course, it’s natural to want to karate kick anyone daring to upset your friend, but in this case you don’t want to say (or do!) anything that may jeopardize your friendship down the less-rocky road.
Let your friend know that you’re there for them, but ultimately it’s their boo, their relationship and you don’t want to influence any major life decisions.
Staying in your lane may also mean suggesting couples therapy or individual therapy to help your friends figure out the best way forward without taking sides.
5. Family drama
What to say: “Tell me what happened.”
Everyone’s family is a little messy. And you don’t have to be season-two-episode-Fishes-of-The-Bear-bad to know that family dynamics can be complicated.
Listening to your friend’s side of the story can help you both gain some perspective. And follow-up questions like, “Did you do or say anything by accident that caused the response?” can help, too.
If your friend is honest with themselves, they can take a moment to reflect on their role — if any — in the drama.
You’ve got a friend in me
Friendship isn’t easy. It takes a lot of hard work and effort and sharing inspirational memes to create a bond that tracks through everything life throws at you.
But if you’re like me, you know it’s an honor to even be part of the support team.
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29
07, 2025
What Women Really Need to Know about Creatine
Creatine sounds like something your gym-buff ex-roommate used to take by the scoopful. But lately, it’s showing up in wellness routines that have nothing to do with six-pack abs or maxing out on squats.
This compound is having a moment, being touted for everything from brain fog to bone health. Social media is buzzing about the benefits, and with that, people have a lot of questions: Is it safe? Will it make me bulky? Does it really help with menopause brain?
Here’s the scoop on what creatine is, what it does, and what women should know before adding it to their supplement shelf.
What is creatine?
Creatine is a substance your body makes naturally — mostly in your liver, kidneys and pancreas — and stores in your muscles. It helps your muscles make quick bursts of energy by recycling a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy source for all living cells. So when you’re lifting something heavy, sprinting to catch the bus or busting a dance move, creatine acts like a backup power source.
Certain foods also contain creatine, especially red meat and seafood. But some people don’t get enough through diet alone to see any performance or health benefits, which is why supplements are so popular. This is especially true for women, who have only 20% to 30% of the creatine in their bodies as men, and research shows getting more may be beneficial.
Creatine monohydrate is the most common form and has been studied for decades and considered safe and effective. Most of the research has been done on creatine monohydrate in powder form, so that’s what’s typically recommended. Other versions, like gummies and capsules, may work too, but they haven’t been studied as much yet.
Newer versions of creatine have recently hit the market, like creatine hydrochloride (HCl), but monohydrate is still the gold standard when it comes to research and results.
Why do people take creatine?
iStock.com/jacoblund
Creatine is one of the most widely used supplements in the world, particularly popular among gym-goers. The most common reasons people take creatine are to:
- Build strength and muscle
- Boost high-intensity exercise performance
- Speed up recovery between workouts
- Lessen fatigue during short bursts of activity
Creatine is popular with athletes, active adults and increasingly among older adults who want to combat muscle loss as they age. It’s also gaining traction in rehab settings, where it’s being studied for helping people bounce back from injury or illness.
Because of the recent hype and new research, more people are taking creatine to help with focus or mood, but most still use it to feel stronger, recover faster and get better results from their workouts.
What are the potential benefits of creatine?
Once it’s in your system, creatine can help in several ways. Most of the benefits stem from how it helps your body create energy faster. Here’s what that looks like in real life:
- More strength and lean muscle
Creatine helps your muscles work harder during short bursts of activity, like lifting something heavy or walking up stairs. Over time, this can lead to more strength and muscle. You don’t have to be an athlete to see results — one study found that women who took creatine saw minor improvements in lean body mass even without following a workout plan. But you’ll see the best results using creatine in combination with resistance training.
- Faster recovery between workouts
Creatine helps your muscles quickly regain energy, which means less fatigue between sets and faster recovery after workouts. Some studies suggest it also reduces muscle damage and inflammation after intense activity.
Your brain uses a lot of energy, and creatine can help give it a boost. A review of 16 studies found that creatine may help with memory, focus and reaction time, especially when you’re sleep-deprived, stressed or doing hard mental work. In one small study, people with Alzheimer’s disease took creatine for eight weeks. They had more creatine in their brains and did better on tests for memory, focus and reading. Scientists still need more research to know how much creatine helps with brain aging and Alzheimer’s.
Evidence suggests that creatine might make depression treatments work better, especially when taken with antidepressants. Some studies show that people, especially women, feel better when they take creatine with their antidepressant medication. Experts think creatine helps the brain use energy more easily. It may also lower brain inflammation and support mood by helping balance serotonin and dopamine.
- Menopausal health and aging
Emerging evidence suggests creatine’s benefits can support your body through the ups and downs of midlife. As you age, taking creatine along with regular strength training may help keep muscles and bones strong. It may also help improve balance, strength and everyday activities like walking or getting up from a chair.
When estrogen levels decline, many women experience changes in energy, mood, memory and body composition. Early research shows that creatine may help manage these changes by supporting brain function and energy in cells.
One review found that postmenopausal women who took creatine had lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels in their blood after meals. When they used it during a 5-week strength program, they also lost less bone in their hips. Their bone strength stayed steady too, which might help lower the risk of breaks. More research is needed to understand long-term outcomes and, again, the best gains are found when creatine is taken in combination with resistance training.
What are the creatine side effects?
iStock.com/Djavan Rodriguez
Creatine is one of the most-researched supplements out there. For most people, it’s safe when taken as directed, with very few side effects reported in clinical trials. Any side effects that do occur are usually mild and short-lived. These can include:
- Temporary bloating
- Stomach discomfort (especially when taken on an empty stomach)
- Muscle cramping or tightness
- Mild water retention in the early days of supplementation
If you notice you feel a bit puffy when you start creatine, it’s just water being pulled into your muscles. Longer studies show no lasting changes in body water levels, especially when taken at recommended doses.
And despite online rumors, creatine does not cause hair loss. A recent clinical trial found no increase in hormones linked to hair thinning.
One other common misconception is that creatine can cause kidney damage, but according to the National Institutes of Health, a large body of research over the last 20 years has found no evidence to support this when taken as directed.
How much creatine should you take?
Experts recommend taking 3 to 5 grams of creatine monohydrate daily. You can do a short loading phase (around 20 grams per day for five days), but it’s not necessary. The key is consistency. Creatine works best when taken every day, not just on workout days.
Some studies suggest taking higher doses based on body weight — around 0.10–0.14 g/kg/day, for bone and metabolic benefits after menopause. But for most people, the standard dose is plenty.
Be sure to drink your creatine right away after mixing, as it can become less effective if you let it sit in liquid for too long.
As with any supplement, it’s smart to check in with your healthcare provider before adding creatine to your routine.
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29
07, 2025
Información verificada de la colangitis biliar primaria (CBP)
La colangitis biliar primaria (CBP) es un trastorno autoinmunitario que afecta principalmente a mujeres y a personas que tuvieron asignación femenina cuando nacieron (AFAB, por sus siglas en inglés). La CBP afecta el hígado y, si no se trata, puede causar problemas graves, tales como cirrosis e insuficiencia hepática.
Las buenas noticias son que hay tratamientos disponibles que podrían ser útiles para reducir los síntomas y frenar el progreso de la enfermedad.
Nos comunicamos con Nancy Reau, M.D., directora adjunta de trasplantes de órganos sólidos y jefa de la sección de hepatología del centro médico de Rush University, para obtener información verificada y consejos para controlar la CBP.
¿Qué es la CBP?
La colangitis biliar primaria (CBP) ocurre cuando tu propio sistema inmunitario empieza a reaccionar en tu contra y ataca conductos biliares pequeños en el hígado. Esto causa una acumulación de bilis y un bloqueo del flujo biliar (colestasis), lo cual hace que los conductos biliares se inflamen y que las células hepáticas se deterioren. Este deterioro causa cicatrices, lo cual se denomina fibrosis. Con el tiempo, el tejido de las cicatrices reemplaza al tejido saludable (lo cual se denomina cirrosis) y los ductos biliares se deterioran, lo cual causa daño al hígado que empeora con el tiempo.
¿Cuáles son los factores de riesgo de la CBP?
No comprendemos todos los factores, pero antecedentes familiares de CBP o de trastornos inmunitarios son probablemente los factores más importantes. Tradicionalmente se pensaba que la CBP era exclusivamente un trastorno que solo afectaba a mujeres de raza blanca de mediana edad, pero estamos encontrando CBP en hombres, en personas de varias razas y también en personas jóvenes y de edad avanzada. Sin embargo, la CBP todavía es más común en mujeres que en hombres.
¿Cuáles son los síntomas de la CBP?
Muchas personas con CBP no tienen síntomas que sean específicos para ese trastorno, y cuando los tienen, los síntomas varían para cada persona. Los síntomas iniciales más frecuentes son comezón (denominada prurito) y fatiga. Personas con CBP también podrían padecer dolor abdominal; oscurecimiento de la piel; protuberancias pequeñas amarillas o blancas bajo la piel (xantomas) o alrededor de los ojos (xantelasmas); sequedad en la boca y los ojos; y dolores de los huesos, músculos y articulaciones.
Otras señales y síntomas podrían incluir al síndrome seco, que es una sequedad crónica de los ojos y la boca y niveles altos de colesterol.
Muchas personas que padecen CBP no tienen síntomas aparte de la comezón y la fatiga en las primeras etapas del trastorno. Si tienes síntomas de CBP deberías hablar sobre eso con tu proveedor de atención médica (HCP, por sus siglas en inglés).
¿Cómo se diagnostica la CBP?
Podría ser difícil para proveedores de atención médica emitir un diagnóstico de CBP inicialmente puesto que el trastorno puede presentar síntomas no específicos tales como comezón y fatiga. Pero hay varias formas en las que se puede diagnosticar la CBP.
Pruebas de sangre pueden detectar mayores niveles de una enzima llamada fosfatasa alcalina y bilirrubina, así como un indicador inmunitario llamado anticuerpo antimitocondrial.
La CBP se diagnostica cuando pruebas de sangre de una persona muestran niveles elevados de fosfatasa alcalina debido a cambios del flujo biliar (denominados colestasis) así como la presencia de anticuerpos antimitocondriales.
Si los resultados de las pruebas de sangre son ambiguos, una biopsia hepática u otras pruebas del sistema inmunitario podrían realizarse para diagnosticar el trastorno si hay alguna preocupación de insuficiencia hepática (debido a niveles altos de bilirrubina).
¿Cuáles son los tratamientos para la colangitis biliar primaria?
Hay algunos medicamentos aprobados que son útiles para controlar la CBP. La mayoría de planes terapéuticos empiezan con la terapia de primera línea, lo que quiere decir que es el primer medicamento que tu proveedor de atención médica probará. Tu doctor comúnmente esperará ver una mejora en las pruebas de sangre para confirmar que el medicamento funcione. Si hay una reacción bioquímica inadecuada a la terapia de primera línea después de 12 meses, tu doctor podría considerar opciones terapéuticas adicionales. En algunos casos, en función de criterios clínicos y de tendencias individuales de las pruebas de sangre, se podrían considerar otras terapias a los 6 y 12 meses. Los tratamientos de segunda línea, que pueden usarse en combinación con opciones de primera línea o individualmente, han demostrado mejoras de los niveles de las enzimas hepáticas y podrían ser útiles para aliviar los síntomas, tales como la comezón. Tu proveedor de atención médica siempre debería tomar decisiones terapéuticas en función de tu perfil clínico específico.
¿Hay cambios del estilo de vida que podrían ser útiles para mantener tu salud si vives con CBP?
Cada paciente debería hablar sobre los métodos terapéuticos y de atención con su proveedor médico, pero, en general, motivamos a personas con CBP a que se enfoquen en un estilo de vida saludable, incluyendo ejercicio en forma regular y una dieta rica en alimentos integrales, fibra y proteínas magras. Las personas que viven con CBP también deberían concentrarse en su salud ósea porque osteopenia y osteoporosis son más frecuentes en personas con CBP. También se recomienda dejar de fumar y limitar el consumo de alcohol.
Lee: Vivir con colangitis biliar primaria >>
¿Qué consejos son útiles para manejar tu salud si tienes CBP?
Primero, debes cuidar tu salud. Conoce qué medicamento tomas y si funciona. Esto realmente es difícil para la CBP porque han habido cambios significativos en lo que se considera una “buena reacción al tratamiento”. Es decir, asegúrate que tú y tu doctor tengan información actualizada. Cerciórate de que encuentres un proveedor médico que escuche lo que dices y con quien te puedas comunicar efectivamente en lo que se refiere a las metas terapéuticas. Tus pruebas hepáticas serán útiles para determinar si el tratamiento funciona, así que asegúrate de entender qué niveles son buenos para ti y para tu proveedor de atención médica.
También deberías hacer que se evalúe tu función tiroidea una vez al año y monitorear tu salud ósea debido a un mayor riesgo de osteopenia y osteoporosis.
Vivir con CBP también puede ser difícil desde el punto de vista emocional. Así que es importante tener un buen sistema de apoyo para cuidar tu salud mental. Además de familiares y amigos, grupos de concientización de pacientes y comunidades virtuales pueden proporcionar consuelo, consejos y apoyo emocional.
Por último, habla con tus familiares. Aunque esto no se establece firmemente en las pautas actuales, recomendamos que propongas a tus familiares de primer grado (hermanas, hijas y madres) que hablen con tu proveedor de atención médica para que las examine porque sabemos que tienen un mayor riesgo. Aunque la CBP es menos frecuente en los hombres, ellos también deberían hablar con sus proveedores de atención médica si tienen síntomas.
Este recurso educativo se preparó con el apoyo de Gilead.