Between You and Me is an Australian Ostomy accessories company, focussing on custom pouch covers with its “Under Undies” range, as well as specialist ladies underwear.

Franceen Pitcher from Between You and Me says:

“We’re also building a range of Ostomy friendly underwear & working on a number of other products ranges. The products are available in a wide range of fabrics & designs for Men, Women, Kids & Babies. Custom made your appliance.”

Between You and Me’s products are available internationally however, at this time they are not available in the US & Canada.

External Links:
Between You and Me Website: www.betweenyouandme.com.au
Company E-Mail: info@betweenyouandme.com.au

Additions to Ostomyland Content:
Between You and Me has been added to the Underwear and Pouch Cover suppliers listings on the For Further Information chapter of our Lifestyle Guide, as well as a website link on our Ostomy Links chapter.

Hey Folks! Fuzzbutt here again. I’m Ostomyland’s furry mascot and every so often I like to share some of my top tips with everyone.
In the last two months I’ve been talking about my ‘Pick of the Posts’ section which is in Fuzzbutt’s Corner over on Ostomyland’s Message Board,

This month, why not visit my Helpful Articles and Resources forum where you’ll find a Collection of Articles giving advice and support relevant to Ostomates. There are articles written by Ostomyland Members as well as external sources.

Take care everyone, I’ll see you next time with another top tip!

I was excited to learn recently of a new cancer drug called olaparib. Not only does olaparib show promise by targetting specific cancer cells (thus sparing healthy ones), its inrended use will be for hereditary cancer caused by faulty BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes – which includes some colon, prostate and ovarian cancers. These are some of the cancers faced by Ostomyland Members.

So far the small scale patient trial has shown remarkable benefit for patients with breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The next step is to extend the trial.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer scientists think that if future trials are positive, olaparib could offer hope to patients with certain types of breast and ovarian cancers that are currently hard to treat. Scientists are already suggesting that it could be used for other forms of cancer with similar characteristics and open the door to a new generation of cancer treatments using the same approach.

They hope that olaparib may also work for some people who do not have a BRCA gene fault.

For more information see these two web articles:
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre Pioneering Work Leads To Patient Trial Of New Generation Cancer Drug

Can you tell me about olaparib?

Hollister (US) has just sent out the summer 2009 edition of it’s Secure Start e-newsletter available to download as a .pdf (Adobe Reader) document via their company website.

In the issue you’ll find:
Small Miracles
Even the littlest ostomy accessory can make a big difference in your quality of life

Talking Points
“Little Things Mean a Lot”
Accessories add comfort, help resolve problems and are thankfully reimbursable

Laugh with Brenda
“Accessorize the Positive”
Brenda offers tips and quips for the fashionista with an ostomy
By Brenda Elsagher

Ask the Expert
“Small Answers to Big Questions”
Joy Boarini sheds light on the what, when, and how of accessories

PDF files require Adobe Reader to enable you to open/read them. Chances are you already have it on your PC/Laptop, but if you dont you can download it directly from Adobe by clicking the “Get Adobe Reader” button at the bottom of this post.

Useful Links:
Subscribe with Hollister for their Secure Start newsletter:
http://www.hollister.com/us/ostomy/ss/newsletter.asp

Download/Read the Summer 2009 edition of Hollister’s Secure Start newsletter (.pdf – Adobe Reader Required):
http://www.hollister.com/us/files/pdfs/ss_newsletters/summer_2009.pdf

UK Ostomy products manufacturers Pelican Healthcare have sent out the summer issue (#16) of their snail-mail newsletter, the fabulously named – Pelican Brief.

Featuring Q&A’s to a Stoma Nurse, UK support group details, product reviews, competitions and more, you can get your copy by contacting Pelican Healthcare at www.pelicanhealthcare.co.uk – newsletter is for UK residents only.

Do you live in the USA or Canada? If so, Ostomyland Needs Your Help with Mail Shot Round Up! Read on to find out how!

Read the rest of this entry »

Ostomyland recently applied for the Health On-Net Foundation’s “HONcode” certification, and Im pleased to be able to announce that we’ve been successful!

The Health On-Net Foundation is a non governmental organisation that aims to guide the growing community of healthcare consumers and providers on the World Wide Web to sound, reliable medical information and expertise.

Read the rest of this entry »

Don J. Schiller, MD, FACS, a recognized expert in BCIR surgery for continent and conventional ileostomy patients, will deliver an address on August 21, 2009 at the 24th Annual Education Symposium of the Quality Life Association (more information on QLA at http://www.ileostomy-surgery.com). This is a nonprofit nationwide association aimed at meeting the special needs of a person with a continent diversion and to educate others of the latest advances in ostomy options. The program this year at the meeting in Mesa, AZ features Dr. Schiller who will be speaking about the current status of the continent ileostomy in America and around the world. He will also be participating in the Physicians Panel and Breakout Groups.

Dr. Schiller has been performing the Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir or BCIR procedure since 1989. The Barnett Pouch procedure evolved out of the original Kock Pouch continent ileostomy. The BCIR is a type of ileostomy that does not require wearing an external stoma appliance or bag. It stores intestinal waste and gas until a convenient time when the person inserts a catheter to evacuate the pouch contents into a toilet receptacle. It therefore gives a patient control over the discharge of their intestinal waste.

The BCIR is for people (usually with Ulcerative Colitis or Familial Polyposis) that need to undergo total colectomy meaning removal of their large intestine – the colon and rectum – to cure their disease or condition. It is an alternative to a conventional Brooke ileostomy with the bag, and also is performed for people who have a poor outcome from an ileoanal “J” Pouch or who cannot undergo the J pouch procedure. Anyone in overall good health with a malfunctioning ileostomy, including people with a stoma hernia or stoma prolapse or retraction, are candidates to be considered for the BCIR continent ileostomy. A malfunctioning ileostomy includes people with physical difficulties managing with their ileostomy appliance as well as people with emotional or psychological difficulties dealing with their stoma. A “bag-free” life is possible for ileostomy patients!

For more information, visit:
http://ileostomy-surgery.com/Ileostomy_and_BCIR_Frequently_Asked_Questions.html

About the Ileostomy Surgery Center:
The Ileostomy Surgery Center is the leading surgical center west of the Mississippi for the BCIR procedure (Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir). Headed by Don J. Schiller, MD, FACS, the center has been at the forefront of developments in ileostomy Surgery.

Contact:
The Ileostomy Surgery Center
9808 Venice Blvd, Suite 603
Culver City, CA 90232
Phone: (310) 204-4565
Fax: (310) 204-4566
http://www.ileostomy-surgery.com

NB: Ostomyland is not responsible for content outside of its own ostomyland.com/.org domains, and any services featured on Ostomyland are used at your own risk.

Aged just 41 with a 3 year old son, Lynn Faulds Wood was diagnosed with bowel cancer and given only a 34 per cent chance of survival.

That was 17 years ago. Since then Lynn has been campaigning for greater awareness and research into the disease. And the statistics have improved significantly.

In 2002 the voluntary charity Lynn’s Bowel Cancer Campaign was launched to help raise awareness of the disease and to highlight the symptoms to prevent more people dying.

Lynn and her team have a theme – spots. In the same way that ‘pink’ works for Breast Cancer Awareness Lynn hopes ‘spots’ will be synonymous with bowel cancer.

Lynn explains:
“We’ve chosen spots because we want people to know how to spot the symptoms, spot if it is in their family, and spot if screening has started in their area. By going ‘Spotty’ we hope to help break any taboos surrounding this common, and cruel cancer. We can’t afford to be squeamish and shy anymore in talking about bottoms and bowels. We hope people will join in the fun with a serious purpose and hold ‘Spotty’ themed days all over the country.”

For more information and to take part go to the
Lynn’s Bowel Cancer Campaign Website.

Ostomyland goes spotty to recognise the UK's Bowel Cancer Faster Diagnosis Week June 8th - 15th 2009

Stoma-Innovation.com has launched a new competition, this time to find ostomates “Best Habits” for stoma management. For full details of the contest and prizes, please visit the Stoma-Innovation website.

Links:
Stoma-Innovation: http://www.stoma-innovation.com

Coloplast U.S. has announced that it has opened a new headquarters in the United States of America, with a brand new building based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Lars Rasmussen, CEO of Coloplast, said “We have high growth rates in the US market, and the new headquarters is a clear statement that we are determined to pursue further growth there.”

The magnificent looking building is state-of-the-art and includes a research and development centre, a research laboratory by the year 2010, as well as training rooms for nurses and doctors whom visit the company.

The building’s designers have taken the environment into consideration in a big way, by providing 95% of the buildings workforce with natural light, as well as an energy management system which harnesses the natural resource of storm water by collecting and treating it for use within.

Links:
Announcement from Coloplast
Coloplast Website
Coloplast’s page on Ostomyland’s Manufacturers & Ostomy Companies section