“Her behavior was egregious”

–Nancy Snyderman, MD on Today

“Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later.”

–Anthony Bourdain on Twitter

“Lets not burn Paula on the stake for advertising food the way we know it as a nation.”

–Comment on NPR

These are just some of the comments that followed the announcement that celebrity chef Paula Deen was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes three years ago. The southern comfort food celebrity chef just made this information public this week in an interview with Al Roker on the Today show.

One of the more controversial elements of the announcement was that Deen is now a paid spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company that makes medications for patients with diabetes. Novo Nordisk and Deen have set up a website: Diabetes in a New Light™ to educate people about the disease.

Here’s what Today’s Professionals, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, ad executive Donny Deutsch, and lawyer and commentator Star Jones had to say about it:

Here are several conflicting questions this whole episode brings up :

1. Doesn’t Ms. Deen have the right to disclose her health information when and how she wants, or not to disclose it at all?
2. Is the fact that Ms. Deen continued to market high fat, high caloric meals to her viewers after she was diagnosed with diabetes (without stressing the possible health consequences) hypocritical?
3. Does it leave the impression that it’s OK to eat these foods because there are medications that can deal with health consequences later? Shouldn’t prevention take precedence over treatment?
4. Do celebrity chefs have a responsibility to mold the way we eat? Or do celebrity chefs just serve up what people want to eat?
5. Will the new website really have an impact on the way people deal with diabetes, or just act as an advertisement for the pharmaceutical company’s products?
6. How do celebrity endorsements affect the use of medications?
7. Should Paula Deen change her on-air cooking style?

I would love to know what you think. What side to you come down on?

The woman who openly claims she never met a stick of butter or deep fryer she didn’t like, Southern celebrity chef Paula Deen has Type 2 Diabetes.

Deen confirmed the recent rumors this morning on the Today show, in an interview with Al Roker. She says she was diagnosed with the disorder three years ago.

When asked by Roker why she waited so long to tell fans about it, whether she hid her diagnosis to protect her food dynasty, Deen replied:

No… I wanted to be able to bring something to the table when I made the diagnosis public.

Deen has partnered with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, makers of Victoza – a once-daily, non-insulin injection (which Deen uses). They have  set up a website: Diabetes in a New Light™:

I’m excited to team up with Novo Nordisk on this initiative to show others that managing diabetes does not have to stop you from enjoying the things you love.

My sons Bobby, Jamie and I have teamed up with Novo Nordisk to create a program that will help you better manage your diabetes. We’re sharing some of our favorite recipes, lightened up, and creating new diabetes-friendly options that everyone will love. We’re also going to offer tips and advice to help you stay on track.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body is either unable to make, or is resistant to a insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is used to break down and store energy (in the form of glucose or “sugar”) from foods. Without insulin, blood glucose and fat levels become too high and, over time, can damage blood vessels and vital organs.

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, which used to be called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes, is a disease where the body is unable to make insulin.

Scientists do not know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, but they believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors are to blame.

Diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This meansthat the immune system, which normally ignores healthy cells but destroys germs and foreign substances that could cause illness,mistakenly launches an attack on the body itself. In diabetes, insulin producing cells, called islet cells, in the pancreas are destroyed.

People may develop type 1 diabetes at any age, but it is frequently diagnosed before adulthood. It accounts for about 5%-10% of all diabetes cases, and affects approximately one in every 400 to 500 children in the U.S.

People with Type I diabetes must receive injections of insulin every day to control their disease.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

In this form of the disease, insulin is still made (although possibly at lower levels), but the tissues have become resistant to the effects, leading to a rise in blood sugar.

It usually occurs in people who are over 40, overweight, and have a family history of the disease although it is also becoming more common in younger people, particularly adolescents.

Research indicates that type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Many risk factors make people more likely to develop the disease including obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and physical inactivity.

Type 2 diabetes is more common among Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.

Diet, exercise, weight loss, and oral medications to lower blood sugar are used to treat Type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of Diabetes?

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Sudden vision changes
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Feeling very tired much of the time
• Very dry skin
• Sores that are slow to heal
• More infections than usual

Other celebrities with Diabetes:

Type 1

• Nick Jonas – pop star; actor
• Mary Tyler Moore – actress; International Chairperson of the JDRF
• Anne Rice – author
• Casey Johnson – Johnson & Johnson heiress (Died from diabetes complications)
• Bret Michaels – rocker; reality TV star
• Jay Cutler- NFL player

Type 2

• Halle Berry – actress
• BB King – musician
• Sugar Ray Leonard – boxer
• Drew Carey – actor; comedian; game show host
• Tommy Lee – drummer for Motley Crue
• Billie Jean King – tennis player

For more information about Diabetes, click here to go to the Resounding Health Casebook on the topic.

Do you have diabetes? Do you think Deen’s new website site will be helpful?

Your family history is important to your health

Did you know that doctors and genetic counselors use a special pedigree diagram to show family history, relationships and medical conditions?

Here’s an example using the Kardashian family.  The diagram shows the dates of birth, the sex (male square, female circle) and marital and sibling relationships. A red line through a symbol is the standard way to indicate that that person has died and their cause of death is given. A filled-in circle indicates that an individual is affected by some disease or medical condition – Kim and her mother Kris both have the skin condition called psoriasis.

More Celebrity Family Trees

President Barack Obama had his last medical check-up almost a year ago. His family tree shows a history of cancer on his mother’s side. Michelle Obama‘s father suffered from multiple sclerosis.

Lady Gaga‘s family tree shows that her aunt Joanne died from the autoimmune disease SLE or lupus at a young age. Last year, Lady Gaga announced that she herself has “borderline” lupus.

Standard pedigree symbols are shown in the diagram to the right.

General, We’re Just Following Orders

Dr. Regina Benjamin, the U.S. Surgeon General (left), recommends that everyone create a Family Health Portrait, keep it updated and take a copy for your doctor the next time you go in for a check-up.

So what runs in your family? Should you be worried about it? Are there any things you can do to prevent a disease or condition from developing? Are there any screening tests that your doctor recommends?

Please have a look at our partner site, Resounding Health, a place where you can collect, organize, personalize, store and share your online research on health and wellness topics.

Good or Bad, celebrities continue to shock and amaze us, and 2011 was no exception.

From Charlie Sheen’s outburst in February, and Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliff admitting to being an alcoholic, to the tragic losses of Steve Jobs, Ryan Dunn, Amy Winehouse and others, 2011 was a year filled with shocking celebrity health moments that will not soon be forgotten.

Below you’ll find our list of the 2011′s 27 most shocking moments in celebrity health.

1. Charlie Sheen Will Make Your Face Melt Off

How could we forget Charlie Sheen‘s rant back in February?

In what was arguably one of the biggest celebrity meltdowns in since Britney Spears in 2008, Charlie Sheen simultaneously got fired from his role on Two and A Half Men, and became an internet sensation.

His comments in interviews with various media outlets raised questions as to whether or not he was using drugs again, but at the time of the infamous 20/20 interview, he was clean.

Dr. Drew Pinsky argued that Charlie Sheen was showing signs of mania at the time, and we detailed the symptoms of manic and depressive episodes.

In the end, Charlie’s outbursts gave him a huge spike in internet traffic, and spawned several items of Charlie Sheen branded Clothing & Accessories based on his outrageous comments.

And if you ask Mr. Sheen how he was able to come out “Winning” he’d simply say;

I’ve got Tiger Blood, bro.

2. Michael Douglas Beats Throat Cancer

Sheen’s “Wall Street” co-star Michael Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer in August of 2010, but, in January after 7 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, he announced  ”The tumor is gone.”

Douglas lost about 35 lbs during his treatment, but regained 12 back by “eating like a pig.”

Perfect timing for Michael Douglas as he began preparing for the Steven Soderbergh directed Behind the Candelabra, an upcoming biopic that tells the story of the “tempestuous relationship” between famed singer Liberace (Douglas) and Scott Thorson (played by Matt Damon), his younger lover.

3. Bret Michaels Survives Heart Surgery

In April 2010, 10 days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, rocker Bret Michaels of Poison and Rock of Love fame suffered a major brain hemorrhage, which landed him in the intensive care unit.

His recovery was marked by a number of set-backs including suffering a “warning stroke” in May. Despite all this, he went on to win Celebrity Apprentice.

It was during the medical evaluation to determine why he had the stroke that physicians diagnosed Michaels with patent forale ovale, a congenital hole in his heart.

The hole in his heart was real, but it was surgery, not a VH1 reality show that was going to fix it. He underwent a successful repair in January 2011.

Michaels told People Magazine:

It was one thing after another…It has been rough. But I’m feeling pretty damn good. I’m really blessed to be here.

4. Barbara Walters Opens Her Heart to the World

What do Barbara Walters and Brett Michaels have in common?

At first glance, you wouldn’t think much, but on February 4th the 20/20 host aired “A Matter of Life and Death” where she spoke with the likes of Bill Clinton, David Letterman, Regis Philbin, Robin Willams, and Charlie Rose about their open heart surgery.

Walters also used her special to turn the cameras on herself to showcase a teachable moment in medicine and document her own surgical journey.

In the special, she talked to doctors, including her own to educate viewers, especially women, on what they need to know about cardiovascular disease (which kills more than 450,000 women a year)

She used her celebrity to promote public health awareness (something we’re a huge fan of at Cdx) and said,

“I didn’t want people to feel that this was going to be an hour lecture,”  “To have these very famous, and in some cases very funny people, meant that they [the viewers] would watch.”

5. Serena Williams Undergoes Treatment for Pulmonary Embolism

Tennis superstar Serena Williams had a rough year.

First her feet were deeply lacerated by a broken glass in 2010 for which she had two surgeries, then in March she had to undergo emergency surgery for a pulmonary embolism.

At the time of diagnosis, she was experiencing shortness of breath and swelling in her leg. She had also developed a hematoma the size of a grapefruit that had to be surgically removed.

Ultimately though, she did very well in the Wimbledon tournament and the US Open Final.

She was also named UNICEF’s international Goodwill Ambassador where she will use her popularity and personal interest in children’s issues to support UNICEF’s mission.

6. Matthew Morrison’s Sweet Potato Abs

Matthew Morrison (aka Will Schuester on Glee) revealed something very interesting about his diet this year.

Before a photo shoot, Morrison will only eat sweet potatoes and drink very little water.

“My trainer said eat nothing apart from sweet potato and very little water.The potato acts as a sponge and your body literally shrinks and gets ripped and tight.”

Of course, he also cycles 100 miles a week, and runs another 25 and does :08 min. Abs daily. He also works on a different muscle of his body for about 20 minutes every day and does resistance training four times a week, AND follows a strict diet that limits even healthy snacks like nuts, AND he doesn’t eat fruit after dark.

Not to mention all of the dancing he does on the set of Glee.

So, if you want abs like Matthew Morrison, be sure to follow all of the steps in his workout routine.

BTW, sweet potatoes and  little water is considered a semi starvation diet and is by no means sustainable.

Still, his abs aren’t all that bad to look at.

7. Keenan Cahill is Dynamite!

Keenan Cahill may very well be the only “non traditional” celebrity on this list, being that his claim to fame is lip syncing famous songs on YouTube and that he’s created his own celebrity status from a webcam in his bedroom.

Don’t let “lip syncing” fool you though, BeenerKeeKee19952 (as he’s known on YouTube) has 567,068 subscribers on YouTube and his videos have been viewed over 360 million times.  He is the 39th most subscribed musician of all time on YouTube.

Keenan frequently features celebrity guest stars in his videos, such as 50 Cent, Flo Rida, Cobra Starship, and Jennifer Aniston, just to name a few.

Now for the amazing thing, he’s only 16 years old.

He also has a rare genetic disorder called Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome which prevents his body from breaking down certain complex sugar molecules.

He undergoes weekly enzyme replacement therapy that doctors hope will stabilize his disorder and extend his life. But treatment is expensive which is why Keenan teamed up with members of the San Francisco Giants to start “Dynamite: A Fundraiser for Keenan Cahill”

He’s been involved in several other campaigns, working with NY Knicks, Smartwater, and Wrigley Gum  and he also runs his own clothing line Just Love Apparel.

All this from a kid in his room with a webcam. Amazing!

8.  Missy Elliot with Graves

Wonder why Missy Elliot has been absent from the music scene for the past few years?

In June, Missy Elliot told People Magazine that she had been diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, a thyroid condition, in 2008.

When she was diagnosed, she said the disease had “began affecting her motor skills, followed by a string of symptoms: dizzy spells, lumps in her throat, mood swings, hair loss, a fast heart rate and bulging eyes.”

She was treated with radiation therapy and medication, and is apparently feeling much better.

After being featured on “Behind the Music” she was also voted the second favorite female rapper  by Power99 (though she only lost by .69% margin). She also remixed Last Friday Night by Katy Perry, was featured on Demi Lovato‘s All Night Long, and J. Cole’s Nobody’s Perfect.

It’s good to see the 39 year old rap innovator back in the game, and we hope to hear more from her in 2012.

 9. Harry Potter was an Alcoholic?!

Harry Potter fans may have received a shock when they read in GQ in July  that Daniel Radcliffe was heavily reliant on alcohol while filming Harry Potter in 2009.

“I became so reliant on (alcohol) to enjoy stuff…There were a few years there when I was just so enamored with the idea of living some sort of famous person’s lifestyle that really isn’t suited to me.”“As much as I would love to be a person that goes to parties and has a couple of drinks and has a nice time, that doesn’t work for me. I do that very unsuccessfully. I’m actually enjoying the fact I can have a relationship with my girlfriend where I’m really pleasant and I’m not (expletive) up totally all the time.”

So, it’s good to know that he’s been able to kick the sauce, and Voldemort’s butt in this year’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

10. R. Kelly Has a Bump N’ Grind Removed (From His Throat)

In July, R. Kelly was likely saying “I Believe I Can Fly” not because he was feeling inspired, but from the drugs used during an emergency removal of an abscess in one of his tonsils.

He had been complaining of a sore throat but couldn’t get “The Best of Both Worlds” when it came to treatment. Physicians drained the abscess immediately at the hospital.

Though his publicist said he would be “laid up indefinitely” he was nominated for a Soul Train award for Best Male R&B/Soul Artist and received two Grammy nominations for  Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Album for his Album “Love Letter”

Surely, the singer doesn’t feel like he’s “Trapped in the Closet” anymore.

P.S. He sounded in great form last night on The X Factor-  he sand a duet with contestant Melanie Amaro!

11. Angelina Jolie Eats Bugs

That’s right, Angelina Jolie and her children have revealed that they love eating insects.

Specifically crickets. While shooting a Louis Vuitton ad in Cambodia, Jolie said;

“They ate them like Doritos and they wouldn’t stop. But they’re good. They are like a potato chip.”

Angie’s however has really acquired a taste for cockroaches.

“There’s this very pointy bit on their stomach you just can’t eat. You have to kind of pop that off.”

However strange this celebrity diet seems, eating certain insects can actually be good for you. They’re lower in fat, higher in protein, and have a better feed to meat ratio than beef, lamb, pork, or chicken.

They say you are what you eat, now if we could only stop getting stuck in fly traps, this diet would be great.

12. Kim Kardashian Gets a Nasty Rash

After a trip to the dermatologist, Kim discovers that the nasty rash on her legs is psoriasis.

Her doctor let her know that the disease can be influenced by “stress, food, water, diet. Travel has a lot to do with it” and while there’s no “cure” the condition can certainly be controlled and that she should “lead an easier, slower paced life.”

Of course, in an authentic Kim Kardashian moment, she became very flustered, saying;

“My career is doing ad campaigns and swimsuit photo shoots. People don’t understand the pressure on me to look perfect…Imagine what the tabloids would do to me if they saw all these spots”

Two words Kim, Photo. Shop.

Seriously.

13. I’ll take “Kick Ass Game Show Hosts For $100, Alex”

“He refused to let Lucinda Moyers take cash and the bracelet his mother gave him.”

“Who is Alex Trebek?”

“That is correct!”

Before hosting the National Geographic World Championship at the Googleplex, Trebek spotted a 56 year old woman leaving his hotel room.

His first reaction? Chase her down!

Unfortunately for the 71 year old Jeopardy host though, he tore his Achilles tendon while in pursuit .

“My Achilles tendon ruptured and I then fell on carpet, bruising the other leg in process. Surgery on Friday.”

Crazy part is, this story took place on a Wednesday. So Trebek toughed it out for the next three days while walking around on crutches.

Take that Pat Sajak!

14. Dianna Agron Gets a Broken Nose

And no, it’s not because somebody punched her (God, I hate Quinn this season!)

While on the “Glee Live! Tour” Dianna broke her nose for the second time.

The actress broke her nose for the first time at a high school dance when she was 13, causing her to have a deviated septum. She broke her nose again after going dancing with some friends the night before a day off.

”We were in the middle of doing this concert tour and we had gotten into New York and we had a day off the next day. So I met some of my friends out and we were dancing. And there was a collision of sorts – again… It’s fixed now!”

So now that it’s all fixed can Quinn stop being such a mess? Please?

15. Sean Kingston looks at Beautiful Girls – Crashes Jet Ski – Nearly Dies – Twice

After crashing into a bridge, Sean Kingston’s jet ski accident put the 21 year old singer in the ICU with a broken jaw, fractured wrist, and water in his lungs.

After 11 days in the hospital, as he was about to be released, Kingston complained of having a searing pain in his chest which turned out to be a torn aorta and was rushed in resulting in two open heart surgeries.

Now for the good news, Kingston lost 70 pounds, is living a healthier lifestyle, and even played a show with the Black Eyed Peas in September.

16. Steven Tyler Slips in the Tub

Got to hand it to Steven Tyler and the other aging rock stars who made the list.

They spit in the face of getting old. They rock crowds, fill stadiums, and… slip in the tub?

Yup, Steven Tyler, 63, slipped in his Paraguay hotel’s tub and broke two of his teeth and suffered some lacerations to his face.

Of course, everything was repaired within short order, and he was back to his American Idol hosting duties in no time.

17. Tanorexics Everywhere!

Peanut butter and jelly, ice cream and apple pie, celebrities and tanning; all perfect pairs.

But it turns out, being addicted to tanning could be a very real thing.

According to a study by UT Southwestern released this year, Tanorexia is a real condition. The study found that when frequent tanners are exposed to UV light, the reward and addiction centers of the brain light up like a Christmas tree, indicating increased blood flow to these areas.

What about when the UV rays are blocked?You guessed it… these centers become dim as blood flow decreases to these areas.Lead investigator, Dr. Bryon Adinoff, says:

Using tanning beds has rewarding effects in the brain so people may feel compelled to persist in the behavior even though it’s bad for them… The implication is, ‘If it’s rewarding, then could it also be addictive?’ It’s an important question in the field.

18. Bono’s Heart Skips a Beat

You know, Bono has a constitution unlike any other rock star.He’s a humanitarian, a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, an Honorary Knight, a Grammy winner, and was even once named Person of the Year.

So maybe it’s no surprise that he suffered some heart palpitations after wrapping up the 2 year long  360° Tour.Now let’s think about this for a second, Bono goes on tour for two years, films commercials, attends film festivals, oversees projects he founded like Product Red, DATA, EDUN, and the ONE Campaign…

And all he get’s are some heart palpitations? Heck, smokers who sit around and do nothing get heart palpitations.

In the end,  his doctors gave him a clean bill of health and told him to “Get some rest.”

It’s unlikely though.Knowing Bono, there are still too many issues in the world that haven’t been solved yet.

19. Venus Williams Leaves US Open

2011 was not good to the Williams sisters (remember Serena’s health scare above?)

Venus pulled out after winning one match of the US Open due to her diagnosis of Sjögren’s Syndrome.

Sjögren’s mainly affects the salivary glands and tear ducts along with other moisture-producing glands, and can affect other parts of the body including the skin, thyroid, and  joints and muscles.

“I altered my mind set completely because I was the person who always ate their steak first and their salad second. I changed my diet completely, so lots of vegetables”

But she reports being healthy again, and will resume playing professional tennis.Venus and sister Serena are planning to win their third Olympic gold together in London next year, after wins at the Sydney and Beijing Olympics. As Serena said:

We’re the defending champions and we want to defend our title and I don’t see why we wouldn’t.

20. Don’t Chew Anything Around Kelly Ripa

On a September episode of Live! With Regis and Kelly, Kelly Ripa told guest co-host Seth Meyers that she believes she suffers from misophonia which literally translates to “hatred of sound.”

She says ever since she was a child, the sound of chewing drives her nuts.

The most common reaction of someone with misophonia is extreme rage, meaning if you’re caught chewing gum or something else loudly near Kelly Ripa, she’s likely to haul of and deck you.

Chew on that for a minute.

21. John Mayer Silenced

Fans of John Mayer were saddened when told that Mayer had to cancel two shows, and delay the recording of his next album.

In September, John Mayer’s voice got the best of him when his granuloma became too much for him to handle.

What is a granuloma you ask?

It’s a noncancerous growth that occurs on the vocal cords at the back of the vocal fold. Leading causes of granuloma are excessive use of the voice when talking , smoking, coughing, yelling, or singing.

I wanted to give you an update on the granuloma just above my vocal cord. I had surgery this afternoon to remove it and am now on complete vocal rest for a month or more.

While on vocal rest, John decided that he was going to tour the country, just so he could “look and listen.”

Poetic, no?

22. Demi Lovato Does What Few Actresses Do

Well, actually she went into rehab last year for doing what many actresses do, which is suffer from aneroxia, but what set her apart from the rest of the starlets is that she decided to bring it to the public’s attention.In September, Lovato opened up on Ellen not only about her eating disorder, but about being bullied, being a cutter, and her own drug and alcohol experimentation.

“I would be lying to you , if I said that I never experimented or self-medicated with drugs and alcohol.”

It takes a lot of courage for anyone to admit these types of problems, and it’s especially courageous for someone who’s 19.

Hats off Demi. Hats off.

23. Wanda Sykes says Breast Cancer is No Laughing Matter

What started off as a routine breast reduction resulted in the discovery in a DCIS, which is basically stage zero cancer.

She kept very private about it at first, but in a September interview with Ellen, Wanda Sykes talked about having breast cancer and a bilateral mastectomy.

Sykes, 47, admits she was afraid of coming out about her Breast cancer saying,

How many things can I have? Black, lesbian and I’m like, I can’t be the poster child for everything… at least with the LGBT issues, we get a parade, and a float and all of that, but I was real hesitant about doing this because… I hate walking… and I got a lota walks coming up.

It’s great to see you good spirits Wanda!

24. Did Alternative Medicine Kill Steve Jobs?

Sadly, in 2011 we lost one the most innovative and creative geniuses of our time.

We started covering Steve Job’s story back in March of 2009 and tried to bring to light the major differences between pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) and the much more common, and deadly, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (“pancreatic cancer”).

This story brought major controversy because it explored the idea that while Steve Jobs was seeking alternative treatments for 9 months at the most critical point after diagnosis, his tumor had metasized, and was ultimately able to spread the cancer.

It was a tragic loss not only for the Tech World, but for the world as a whole as Jobs has influenced many aspects of our every day lives.

25. Adele Can’t Sing

Without a doubt, this has been Adele’s breakout year. Her hits “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You” have been an overwhelming success, being covered on Glee, and getting massive radio play.She was nominated for artist of the year, favorite female artist, favorite adult contemporary artist and favorite album for 21 for the American Music Awards.

Now for the bad news. Adele had to cancel the rest of her 2011 tour due to a vocal cord hemorrhage. But, she is working with Dr. Zeitels, the“Voicebox Hero”, as he has repaired some of the most famous voices in the world— including Steven Tyler, Julie Andrews,and ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale. Dr. Zeitels is a pioneer when it comes to repairing vocal cords. He’s designed over 20 procedures and an instrument to perform them (and he uses special lasers).

So, fans of the singer, don’t worry Adele’s voice is in good hands.

26. Gabby Giffords learns to speak again

On January 8th,  U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and eighteen other people were shot during a public meeting; six of those shot died, including Arizona Chief Judge John Roll and one of Rep. Giffords’ staffers.

Giffords was critically wounded by a gunshot wound to the head. She survived, but many of her cognitive abilities became severely limited, including her ability to walk, speak, read and write.

With intense physical, occupational, and speech therapy however, Gabby has been showing signs of improvement, regaining the ability to speak through music therapy, where the language centers of her brain are being rebuilt through song.

Her will to recover is inspirational, and her treatment is fascinating.

We wish you a full recovery Gabby!

27. They’re letting Khloe Have a Baby?!

Yup, after hearing that big sister KourtneyKardashian and boyfriend Scott Disick are having their second child, Khloe started to get baby fever. 

Khloe Kardashian, 29, has been married to LA Lakers star Lamar Odom for two years, and she is reportedly desperate to have a child with him, but it seems as though they have been unable.

So they’ve announced they will begin IVF Treatments (which run between $10-15,000 per procedure) and are very hopeful to have a happy announcement soon.

“For two years, people have been wanting me to get pregnant. People keep saying, ‘Why aren’t you pregnant yet?’ That’s what scares me, when people are like, ‘Did you go to the doctor? Do you know if everything is working?… It’s nerve-wracking. Sometimes I feel like I’m letting everyone down.”

Don’t worry Khloe, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for you.

But this sure does give “Keeping up with the Kardashians” a whole new meaning! 

And that’s it, those were 2011′s 27 most shocking moments in Celebrity Health.

Was there one we missed?

What do you think will be in store for 2012?

What celebrity do you think will have a melt down next year?

Leave your thoughts and predictions in the comments below, and one lucky commenter will win a Celebrity Diagnosis Tee Shirt as well as a $25 gift card to Amazon!

Kourtney Kardashian announced last week that she and boyfriend Scott Disick are having their second child.

This news was bittersweet for younger sister Khloe.

Khloe Kardashian, 29, has been married to LA Lakers star Lamar Odom for two years, and she is reportedly desperate to have a child with him. An insider told Us Magazine:

She’s thrilled for Kourtney, but she’s really sensitive. And it’s hard to see your sister get something you want so badly.

We are now told that Khloe and Lamar are about to begin IVF treatments. The couple began consultations with doctors in September, and will pay $10-15,000 for each procedure. They are very hopeful the IVF will work for them. According to Khloe:

For two years, people have been wanting me to get pregnant. People keep saying, ‘Why aren’t you pregnant yet?’ That’s what scares me, when people are like, ‘Did you go to the doctor? Do you know if everything is working?… It’s nerve-wracking. Sometimes I feel like I’m letting everyone down.

How long does it usually take to get pregnant?

People often believe that “first time’s a charm” for many couples. Obviously this can happen, but for most couples this is not the case. The average length of time until conception is six months for women under 35 and 85% will become pregnant by one year. Put another way, for a woman in her twenties (at the peak of fertility) there is a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month. For women over 35 years old, this drops dramatically, and by age 40, the chance of getting pregnant in any given month is just 5% .

What is infertility?

Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying (or six months if a woman is 35 or older). Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant may also be infertile.

Pregnancy is the result of a process that has many steps. To get pregnant:

•  A woman’s body must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation).
• The egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus (womb).
• A man’s sperm must join with (fertilize) the egg along the way.
• The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).

Infertility can happen if there are problems with any of these steps.

How frequent is infertility?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the United States ages 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant.

However, in couples experiencing difficulty trying to conceive, the problem lies equally with both the man and the women, with both female and male factors accounting for 30% of infertile couples.

What causes infertility in women?

Most cases of female infertility are caused by problems with ovulation. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.

Ovulation problems are often caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormone imbalance problem which can interfere with normal ovulation. PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is another cause of ovulation problems. POI occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop working normally before she is 40. POI is not the same as early menopause.

Less common causes of fertility problems in women include:

• Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
• Physical problems with the uterus
• Uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous clumps of tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus.

What things increase a woman’s risk of infertility?
Many things can change a woman’s ability to have a baby. These include:

•  Age
• Smoking
• Excess alcohol use
• Stress
• Poor diet
• Athletic training
• Being overweight or underweight
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency

What causes infertility in men?

Infertility in men is most often caused by:

• A problem called varicocele. This happens when the veins on a man’s testicle(s) are too large. This heats the testicles. The heat can affect the number or shape of the sperm.
• Other factors that cause a man to make too few sperm or none at all.
• Movement of the sperm. This may be caused by the shape of the sperm. Sometimes injuries or other damage to the reproductive system block the sperm.

What increases a man’s risk of infertility?

A man’s sperm can be changed by his overall health and lifestyle. Some things that may reduce the health or number of sperm include:

• Heavy alcohol use
• Drugs
• Smoking cigarettes
• Age
• Environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead
• Health problems such as mumps, serious conditions like kidney disease, or hormone problems
• Medications
• Radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer

No matter what the cause, couples with infertility issues often have a long and difficult road to travel to achieve their goal of having children. Fortunately, many more options are available today than in years past.

Even adoptions, something people did not speak about in the past,  have become “fashionable” due to the high profile adoptions by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Madonna, and Katherine Heigl.

I’ve put together a Resounding Health Casebook on Infertility with links to causes, treatment options, and support groups. I hope you will find it useful.

Have you had a successful infertility journey? An unsuccessful one? What was most/least helpful to you?

In October, we reported that E! News co-host Giuliana Rancic had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The early stage cancer had been found on a mammogram requested by the physician who was to perform IVF on the couple, who have long been dealing with issues of infertility.

Rancic underwent bilateral lumpectomies shortly after the diagnosis was made. Unfortunately, the path report reveal that they had not removed all the cancer on one side.

This left Rancic with two options:

• Undergo another lumpectomy, then radiation therapy and anti-estrogen therapy OR
• Have bilateral mastectomies

This morning on the Today Show, Rancic revealed her decision. She will undergo the bilateral mastectomies.

Giuliana revealed that with the bilateral mastectomies, her chance of getting breast cancer again was about 1%. With lumpectomy, radiation and medication, she could still have a 20-40% of breast cancer over her lifetime. She would also have to have mammograms every 6 months.

In the end, all it came down to was just choosing to live and not looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.

Two other factors weighed into her decision: If she chose the lumpectomy route, the anti-estrogen therapy would put off the idea of having a child for several years.

Secondly, she had the opportunity to see first-hand what breast reconstruction surgery would look like.  A good friend of hers, who underwent mastectomy and reconstruction as a young woman when she learned she had the breast cancer gene, showed Giuliana her results:

when I saw it and she was wonderful enough to share that with me, I thought, okay, this is okay, she looks beautiful, she’s healthy, she’s vibrant and doesn’t regret her decision and I think that is very important.

Her friend is a member of an organization called Bright Pink, a national non-profit organization that provides education and support to young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

In the second half of the interview, Bill and Giuliana were joined by Dr. Kathy Ann Joseph, Professor of Surgery at NY University Medical Center. She explained how most women now undergo reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy:

It’s so much different. it’s come such a long way. we have much more options. the surgery itself is not as morbid as it was 20 years ago. and the reconstruction itself just looks so much better. it looks so much more natural.

We touched upon the topic of Breast Reconstruction, when Christina Applegate underwent a mastectomy for her breast cancer back in 2009. You can read more about it in our Resounding Health Casebook on the topic by clicking here.

Although not all women will choose to undergo breast reconstruction, studies have shown that those who do frequently report an increase in self-confidence, gained emotional well-being, renewed body image and an increased sense of femininity and sexuality.

Although this is a very personal decision,  women should have as much information as possible available to them to help them decide what is best for them.

Having women like Giuliana Rancic come forward plays an important role in the dissemination of this kind of information. It’s Celebrity Diagnosis’s concept of Teachable Moments at its best.

Hats off to you, Guiliana!

“YOU HAVE CANCER.”

These have to be some of the most gut-wrenching words a person can hear. Especially if you have been in remission after a particularly difficult treatment regimen that included a stem cell transplant.

What would you think then? Would your answer be…?

I’m not a failure. There are millions of people out there living with cancer and you can still have a fulfilled life. You can go to work, raise a family, charge forward. That’s what I’m doing here.

It would, if you were Ethan Zohn. The winner of Survivor: Africa was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in April 2009. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, is a cancer of the immune system, specifically lymph cells (lymphocytes) found in lymph nodes, spleen, liver and bone marrow. He underwent chemotherapy, but the cancer returned in September 2009 and he had to have high dose chemotherapy, followed by radiation therapy  and a stem cell transplant. In January 2010, he was reported as being cancer-free. Zohn had been doing fine since then. He and girlfriend,  Survivor winner Jenna Morasca, have a show called Everyday Health, Saturdays on ABC. He’s even been training for the NYC Marathon. However, on September 14,doctors told him that the cancer had returned in his chest.

“It’s localized in my lung area,” Zohn, 37, says. “But it’s good that it’s not all over my body.”

Ethan is now on a new medication called SGN-35 (Brentuximab vedotin, trade name: Adcetris). It is one of a number of drugs that are considered Targeted Cancer Therapy. We’ve talked very briefly about this kind of treatment in our story about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the “Magic Cancer Bullet” called Gleevec. But a further explanation is probably warranted.

What is meant by Targeted Cancer Therapy?

According to the National Cancer Institute targeted cancer therapies are drugs or other substances that block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules needed for tumor growth or spread. Scientists call these molecules “molecular targets.” By focusing on molecular and cellular changes that are specific to cancer, targeted cancer therapies may be more effective than other types of treatment and less harmful to normal cells.

How do cancer cells grow?

In normal cells, growth, division, and differentiation (a process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type) are highly regulated processes. Cells are told what to do by special molecules called signalling molecules.  Some of these molecules—called growth factors—tells the cells to divide into more cells. Others cause cells to stop growing or can cause cell death.

Many signaling molecules, including growth factors and growth inhibitors, bind to receptors on the surface of the cell. In many cases, these receptors must interact with one another before they can become fully activated.

Unlike normal cells, cancer cells display uncontrolled growth control- they can ignore signals to stop growing.

Cancer cells use a number of ways to bypass the normal safeguards so they can grow uncontrollably at the expense of normal cells and tissues. These mechanisms include:

Increased signaling for cell growth

Some cancer cells can make their own growth factors. These growth factors travel to the outside of the cell, where they interact with and activate the cancer cell’s growth factor receptors.
Some cancer cells make more growth factor receptors than normal cells—this is called overexpression. Having more receptors available increases the chances that a growth factor will find its receptor.

Evasion of cell death

In adults, the number of body cells is kept relatively constant. Stressed, diseased, malfunctioning, or irreversibly damaged cells, as well as cells that need to be removed routinely as part of normal growth and development, are all removed by a process called apoptosis, also called programmed cell death or cell suicide.

Cancer cells also often avoid cell death by altering the surveillance proteins that normally detect problems.

Other cancer cells evade destruction by overproducing anti-cell death proteins or by creating mutant proteins that are better at blocking cell death signals.

Increased blood vessel formation

The creation of new blood vessels—a highly regulated process called angiogenesis—primarily takes place during early development, when the circulatory system is being formed. In adults, however, angiogenesis normally occurs only to facilitate wound healing or to support various aspects of female reproduction and pregnancy.

Once a tumor gets to a certain size, it requires a blood supply to continue growing. So, tumor cells must find a way to attract new blood vessels. Many tumors release high levels of blood vessel growth factors that bind to and activate the lining cells of nearby blood vessels.

How does Targeted Cancer Therapy work?

Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, which include cells that line your mouth and intestines, cells in your bone marrow that make blood cells, and cells that make your hair grow. Chemotherapy causes side effects (such as hair loss, anemia, sores in the mouth, and nausea) when it harms these healthy cells.

How much better it would be if chemotherapy only destroyed cancer cells, and left normal cells alone!

That’s where targeted cancer therapy comes in.

As researchers have learned more details about how different cancers grow, they have uncovered the specific proteins and factors that allow cancer cell growth to go unchecked. Many of these discoveries are the results of DNA sequencing of these cancers.

Unlike standard chemotherapy, targeted therapies are designed to interact with specific molecules that are part of the pathways and processes used by cancer cells to grow, divide, and spread throughout the body. Targets are chosen very carefully. When researchers discover a potentially vulnerable molecule involved in a cancer process or pathway, they validate it by doing more research, and then, if all goes well, they design new therapies to disrupt its activity with great precision.

Three types of drugs can be used as targeted therapies—small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines.

Many targeted therapies are small molecules. Once in the body, most small molecules can easily travel across cell membranes, including the plasma membrane. This means that they can be used to interfere with proteins located either outside or inside the cell. Small molecules are often designed to interact with specific areas of the target protein in order to modify its enzyme activity or its interaction with other molecules.

The interaction of signaling molecules with receptors on the outside of a cell often activates pathways inside the cell. Monoclonal antibodies can interfere with these signaling pathways in cancer cells in a number of ways:

• First, antibodies can work outside the cell by preventing signaling molecules and receptors from interacting with each other (1).
• Second, they can also be used as delivery vehicles, guiding radioactive molecules or toxins to the cancer cells (2).
• Third, antibodies attached to a cell can trigger an immune response that destroys the cell (3).

1

2

3

The immune system is programmed to defend the body against invaders, such as a cold virus, but its ability to fight cancer is limited because it doesn’t usually recognize cancer cells as foreign. In fact, some cancers actively suppress the body’s immune responses.Unlike other targeted therapies, therapeutic cancer vaccines do not act specifically on pathways in cancer cells. Instead, they act broadly by trying to activate the body’s immune system to make it recognize and attack cancer cells.

What impact will targeted therapies have on cancer treatment?

Targeted cancer therapies give doctors a better way to tailor cancer treatment, especially when a target is present in some but not all tumors of a particular type. Eventually, treatments may be individualized based on the unique set of molecular targets produced by the patient’s tumor. Targeted cancer therapies also hold the promise of being more selective for cancer cells than normal cells, thus harming fewer normal cells, reducing side effects, and improving quality of life.

Nevertheless, targeted therapies have some limitations. Chief among these is the potential for cells to develop resistance to them.  In most cases, another targeted therapy that could overcome this resistance is not available. It is for this reason that targeted therapies may work best in combination, either with other targeted therapies or with more traditional therapies.

Best wishes to Ethan.

Imagine, if you would, a maiden in a hooded red cape. Looking strong and confident as she takes on a fierce creature in a defiant paso doble.

If you can, you were probably watching Dancing with the Stars last night.

Talk show host and actress Ricki Lake and her professional partner Derek Hough were put back at the top of the leader board with 27 points for their near-perfect dance. They did this despite Lake’s injury earlier in the week. As she put it:

I did something to my ribs sometime in rehearsal last week, so I just want to get it checked out, to make sure it isn’t broken or displaced or something.

Lake was taken to see Dr. Bradley Frederick, D.C. X-rays did not reveal any fractures, and he diagnosed Lake as having intercostal neuritis, an irritation of the nerves that run along the ribs:

This is a severe condition. It needs time to heal and it needs rest … It will get worse and most athletes, we would take them out of the activity for at least a week or two. Since we can’t do that with you, we’re gonna just try and bandage you up and keep you going through the next three weeks.

Anatomy of a Rib

The human rib cage, also known as the thoracic cage, is a structure made up of cartilage and bone. A typical human rib cage consists of 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum (or breastbone), costal (rib) cartilages, and the 12 thoracic vertebrae of the spine.

All ribs are attached in the back to the thoracic vertebrae.

The upper seven true ribs are attached to the breast bone by means of costal cartilage. Their elasticity allows movement of the ribs when inhaling and exhaling.

The 8th, 9th, and 10th ribs are called false ribs because, instead of joining to the breastbone, they join with the costal cartilages of the ribs above.

The 11th and 12th ribs are known as floating ribs, and they do not have any connection to the breastbone .

The spaces between the ribs are known as intercostal spaces; they contain the intercostal muscles, nerves, and arteries.

Intercostal muscles are muscles that run between the ribs, and help form and move the chest wall. They are mainly involved in the mechanical aspect of breathing and help expand and shrink the size of the chest cavity.

What is Intercostal Neuritis?

Intercostal neuritis (IN) is an inflammation of the nerve that runs along a groove at the bottom of each rib. It can also be referred to as intercostal neuralgia.

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the rib cartilages and may have similar symptoms as intercostal neuralgia.

Intercostal neuralgia may be caused by an injury that damages the nerves or as a result of a degenerative disease that pinches or otherwise damages the nerves. Conditions associated with IN include pregnancy, surgical trauma, tumors of the chest, and shingles.

The pain of IN can be constant or intermittent.  It can be described as stabbing, tearing, sharp, spasm-like, tender, aching or gnawing. You may experience pain while breathing, coughing, and laughing or during exertion. Intercostal neuralgia can also be manifest as tingling, numbness, or itchiness. It can feel like the pain wraps like a band around your upper chest.
You may also feel the pain under your arm or  around to the back of your shoulder blade. Even if the pain is intermittent, it can makes the touch of cloth, skin pressure and normal daily activities such as sitting or lying difficult and painful.

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia includes the use of analgesic medication to manage pain, along with anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, around the nerves. A doctor can administer an injection of local anesthetic for a patient experiencing extreme pain. Resting the area as much as possible is also important. Heating pads can also lessen the pain. Other options can include physical and/or massage therapy.

Have any of you experienced intercostal neuritis? What have you done to help with the pain?

For more information, click here to go the Resounding Health Casebook on the topic.

Giuliana Rancic says her future IVF baby may have saved her life – but maybe the IVF treatment itself should get some credit.

The 36-year-old host of E! News and Fashion Police revealed this week that after two unsuccessful IVF attempts her fertility doctor ordered a mammogram which showed breast cancer.

“I truly believe that God was looking out for me,” she said on the Today Show. “I’m not going to give up. I want that baby…. That baby will have saved my life.”

Rancic’s mammography detected the tumor, which was likely already growing when she started fertility treatments in March 2010, but it’s possible that the IVF drugs she took made it grow to a size that was visible.

“Breast cancer is probably a very, very slowly developing disease at first – so you may have breast cancer cells for many, many years before they get to a detectable point,” explains Eric Widra, M.D, from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

But if Rancic’s tumor is hormone-sensitive, her fertility drugs could have boosted the tumor’s growth.

“If there is a preexisting tumor, high estrogen levels may make it more readily detectable,” said  Dr. Kutluk Oktay, a fertility specialist from New York Medical College.

“Theoretically if you have a breast cancer and you go through IVF and your estrogen levels spike up, could that stimulate growth? Sure,” says Dr. Widra.

While mammograms are not routinely recommended for IVF patients, the fact that Rancic’s doctor ordered the test gave her a “fortuitous” head-start on fighting the disease, says breast cancer specialist Stephen R. Grobmyer, M.D. Director of the Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Program at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Patients in whom breast cancer is detected early have a much better prognosis and typically require less aggressive treatments.

Rancic is scheduled to undergo surgery this week and then 6-and-a-half weeks of radiation.

Although that treatment is unlikely to harm her ovaries, some breast cancer patients also have to undergo chemotherapy which can kill all their eggs and their chances of a future pregnancy, says Dr. Oktay.

For those patients “fertility preservation” is recommended, he says. That involves freezing eggs or embryos before starting chemotherapy and then using them to get pregnant later when they are cancer free.

We’re pleased to publish this guest post, written by veteran medical journalist Kate Johnson. Ms. Johnson is a former bureau chief for International Medical News Group and a former TV News reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She has served on the editorial board of the American Medical Writers Association and is a member of  the Associations of Health Care Journalists. Kate is based in Montreal and currently writes medical news and features for both health care professionals and the general public. Her blog, Medical Musings, is about life through the eyes of a medical journalist. You can follow her on Twitter @kjohnsonmed

You could tell by her eyes, something wasn’t right.

Fans of  Giuliana Rancic know about her very public battle with infertility. They knew that at the end of the most recent season of Giuliana and Bill, that the couple were headed off to Denver, Colorado for a third try of IVF (in vitro fertilization).

They were hoping that her appearance on the Today show this morning would announce that the E! News host and husband, The Appentice winner Bill Rancic, were now expecting their first child.

But there was no glint in those eyes, they looked sad, even fearful.

Before undergoing the IVFprocedure, the physician insisted that the 36 year old undergo a mammogram.

He said, ‘I don’t care if you’re 26 or 36, but I will not get you pregnant if possibly there’s a small risk that you have cancer because the hormones will accelerate the cancer. I never in my wildest dreams expected anything would be wrong.

Although she was very reluctant, Guiliana underwent the procedure, and the results shocked her: She had an early stage of breast cancer!

Guiliana was in the middle of taking medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs for the IVF. Her doctor recommended that she continue this process, harvest the eggs and produce the embryos, but that they do not be implanted at this time. This is what she did.

Rancic will under surgery this week to remove the cancer, followed by 6-1/2 weeks of radiation therapy. She remains optimistic. She’s going to be OK, the cancer was caught early:

I’m not going to give up. I want that baby…. That baby will have saved my life.

But what is more, Rancic wants to use this opportunity to impress the importance of mammograms for women:

A lot of us think we’re invincible … but we have to start putting ourselves on the to-do list,” she said. “I had a friend call me yesterday, and she said, ‘I’m so sorry, can I do anything for you?’ And I said, ‘Just call your doctor tomorrow and make an appointment. That’s what you could do for me.’ … I will be okay because I found it early.

You can see the full video of Guiliana’s interview with Ann Curry here:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What message do you take away from Guiliana’s story? Does it make you more likely to undergo a mammogram?