When twins Madeline and Isabella were born on July 4, 2007, they looked healthy and brought so much joy to their parents, Alissa and Michael Dunn. But two months later, the parents noticed that Madeline's stomach felt swollen. They took her to the doctor for a check-up but left with horrible news - Madeline had cancer. It was a rare kind she had been born with called Neuroblastoma. The parents were heartbroken, but then they got more awful news: Isabella had the cancer, too.

Dr. Jeffrey Taub of the Children's Hospital of Michigan concluded that Madeline passed the cancer to her sister when they were still fetuses. This is extremely rare, and it happened when their blood cells were still connected. The doctor told PEOPLE, "Since they're identical, her immune system wouldn't recognize them as being foreign."

The treatment

The doctors found that the twins' livers had been affected. The only solution would be to start chemotherapy and isolation treatment - not even their parents could touch them because of their weakened immune systems. After a while, the twins were able to be around each other during recovery.

The miracle

The frightened parents started to feel a little more optimistic when the girls started chemotherapy, and ten days before Christmas, they got a phone call from the doctors saying their girls were cancer free.

Alissa said, "It was the 14th of December, and the Christmas tree was lit. We had our parents over, and we were celebrating the season. We got that phone call that there was no evidence of disease. I remember hanging up the phone and just feeling like, 'Really? WOW!'"

Alissa and Michael are thrilled that their sweet babies are happy and healthy. They are now ten years old and doing great things. According to PEOPLE, "Alissa says Isabella is very caring and loving and Madeline is full of energy ... We celebrate every day that they wake up and they're healthy."

Their doctor developed a special bond with their friends and family and keeps a photo of the twins on his desk to remind him of their incredible story. Being an oncologist can't be easy, but Dr. Taub says it's worth it.

"Being an oncologist is a really stressful, challenging type of business," he says, "but when you have patients like Isabella and Madeline, that sort of reminds me why I went into this and the outcomes we can achieve."

The family gives credit to God for healing their little girls, and it truly is a miracle that they are healthy today.

This article was adapted and translated from the original, "Médico percebe barriga de uma das gêmeas crescendo estranhamente, quando examina a outra bebê descobre doença rara nas duas," which was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post Doctor notices this baby’s belly is growing strangely; when he examines the other baby, he discovers a rare disease in the twins appeared first on FamilyToday.

Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits over the potentially harmful effects of their products, specifically the baby powder. One woman recently received the highest amount of compensation that a pharmaceutical and hygiene company has ever paid - $417 million.

Eva Echeverria, the 63-year-old victim, used Johnson & Johnson baby powder in her hygiene routine for over 50 years. When she developed ovarian cancer, she never would have guessed the cause would be something as innocent and common as baby powder. She even used the powder during her cancer treatment period, which started in 2007, according to HuffPost.

The jury for the case agreed with Echeverria's claim, saying that there was a link between cancer and the Johnson & Johnson baby powder containing talc. The company didn't put a warning on the label or anything, so they're taking responsibility for not sharing that information with their consumers.

It has happened before

Echeverria ultimately won the legal battle, and will be given $417 million in compensation and damages. This isn't the first time, however, that Johnson & Johnson has been under fire for lawsuits. According to Cosmopolitan, last May a Virginia woman was awarded $110.5 million who was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Even though Echeverria is fighting this horrible cancer, all she wanted to do was help people in her similar situation. Her lawyer stated, "Mrs. Echeverria is dying from this ovarian cancer, and she said to me all she wanted to do was to help the other women throughout the whole country who have ovarian cancer for using Johnson & Johnson for 20 and 30 years."

Her lawyer also added, "She really didn't want sympathy. She just wanted to get a message out to help these other women."

What does Johnson & Johnson say?

The company is facing almost 5,000 lawsuits similar to Echeverria's, making it seem like they have some serious credibility problems. However, there is little to no scientific evidence linking talc to ovarian cancer. The American Cancer Society says that "For any individual woman, if there is an increased risk, the overall increase is likely to be very small."

The company said they would appeal the ruling, even though they sympathize with the women affected. This is because there is no scientific evidence linking cancer to talcum. However, Echeverria eventually won the legal battle and Johnson & Johnson had to pay the money owed.

This article was adapted and translated from the original "Mulher alega que talco da Johnson & Johnson foi o causador do seu câncer de ovário" which was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post Woman claims that Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder caused her ovarian cancer appeared first on FamilyToday.

There's a stereotype that the oldest child is spoiled, the youngest child is also spoiled because they want attention, and the middle children are left behind or ignored. While this isn't the case for many families, a new study found that birth order really does matter.

The research was conducted by Professor Joseph Doyle from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Professor Doyle and a team of researchers collected and analyzed data from thousands of sibling groups in the United States and Denmark, and found that the middle son might actually be the "black sheep" of the family.

According to the study, the middle son (they did the study on boys) was 25 to 40 percent more likely than their siblings to become involved with problems such as suspension, juvenile delinquency and end up in prison.

In an interview with NPR about the study, Shankar Vedantam (NPR's social science correspondent) gives a possible explanation for these results. He notes that the older child gets more undivided attention from their parents, while younger siblings have to compete for it.

He also points out that the oldest child gets to spend one-on-one time with his parents for the first few years of his life, and learns how to interact with adults because they're his only role model. When the middle child comes along, he has three role models — his mom, dad and a "slightly irrational two-year-old."

The researchers want everyone to know, however, that this study doesn't apply to everyone. In the NPR interview, Vedantam said, "This research, of course, is painting a broad picture. It doesn't describe what's happening in every single family."

What has been said about it?

Writer Jeffrey Kluger, author of The Sibling Effect, speaks of his relation between birth order, relationship with parents and a child's character formation.

He digs deep into the complex world of siblings and finds out what science, psychology, sociology and their personal memories have to reveal. He relies on cutting-edge research to discuss birth order (among other factors) and its effects of sibling relationships.

Kluger discusses how birth order affects a child's personality. Here's what he says about each person in the family:

First-born

According to Kluger, the oldest son comes into the world as king of the house. Parents are inexperienced, and they do everything in their power to protect their new little baby and forgive mistakes. These children who grow up feeling like they're in the limelight tend to develop responsible and leadership behavior. As adults, they are likely to be successful.

Middle child

These children are hard to characterize because sometimes there's more than one middle child. Some tend to stay close to their older brother and seek protection from them, while some choose to keep their distance. Not being "first" or "last" can have problems on their self-esteem, make them feel like they're going unnoticed. This can lead them to become more introverted, but middle children are usually more independent and observant.

Youngest

Parents aren't inexperienced anymore, and they're more relaxed about everything. Youngest children (sons especially) tend to be more charismatic, spontaneous, rebellious and sweet than their siblings.

You can't avoid birth order, but the way you raise your children will define who they will become in the future.

This article was adapted and translated from the original "Pesquisas mostram que a ordem de nascimento importa: o filho do meio é o mais propenso a problemas" which was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post Research shows that the order of birth matters: the middle child is the most prone to problems appeared first on FamilyToday.

Weight loss seems like a popular topic among women, because we always feel like we could lose a pound or two. Or ten. Even the most confident women feel concerned about their bodies sometimes, so we turn to exercise.

Physical exercise isn't just good for losing weight — it's also crucial to your overall physical, emotional and mental health. It fights depression, improves self-esteem and helps you get the figure you've always wanted.

When it comes to weight loss, cardio exercise options are by far the best. These include walking, swimming, jumping rope, running, cycling and other things, but women tend to stick to running for the most part.

While running is good for you, there are other exercises that are just as great— if not better. Here are a few exercises that burn more calories in less time:

1. Cycling

Depending on the intensity, a biker can burn about 1,200 calories per hour. But you have to keep your pace and heart rate up, because a leisurely bike ride around the park won't give you the same results.

2. Muay Thai

This is a type of boxing that burns about 750 calories per hour. Classes are about 60 to 90 minutes, and classes include other exercises like running, push-ups, sit-ups and jump rope.

3. Zumba

Zumba is so much fun, especially if you love to dance! The rhythm and movement can burn up to 800 calories in an hour. It helps you lose weight, it accelerates metabolism, improves balance and strengthens the heart.

4. Boxing

An hour of punching the sandbag can burn more that 700 calories, help you slim down, tone your muscles, fight stress and help you relax.

5. Rowing

Even when you row sitting down, an hour of this can burn more than 600 calories. It will tone your back, arms, shoulders and hips. Even though your whole body isn't moving during this exercise, it's still super beneficial.

6. Swimming

Swimming benefits all muscles in the body, since the friction against the water forces you to put forth greater effort. Plus, if you swim as far as you run, you'll burn three to four times more calories swimming than running.

All exercises are beneficial as long as you account for your physical condition and how far you can push yourself. If you're thinking about getting into exercise, do it! Just make sure you're careful and start out slow.

This article was adapted and translated from the original "Correr não é o melhor exercício para perda de peso. Veja quais são os campeões da queima calórica" which was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post Running is not the best exercise for weight loss — see what burns more calories appeared first on FamilyToday.

Tommy Connolly was a regular college student who spent time with friends, studied and worked. However, when he received a Facebook message from his 17-year-old cousin he hadn't seen in years, his life turned upside down.

Tommy got a daughter

His cousin had an extremely rough life, and after dropping out of school, battling drug addiction, being abandoned on the streets, left homeless and 8 months pregnant, the teenager had nowhere to go and reached out to Tommy as a last resort.

According to Little Things, "Tommy didn't think twice. Without [his cousin] even asking, he picked her up, brought her home, [sic] and legally adopted her." He said he wanted "to make sure she'd keep the baby, stay off the streets and have a better life," according to FaithIt.

In an Instagram post, Connolly wrote an explanation of the situation that touched thousands of hearts. He said, "She's spent more time on the streets than anywhere else, and knows the police better than she knows her own family. She could write the book on traumatic experiences."

He went on to give an update on how the teenager and new mom is doing. He said, "Glad to finally say she's now living in a safe, stable, awesome house ... with a brand new bed, and brand new life. She just passed her learners drivers license test ... and also book(ed) her in to get braces for her teeth next month."

According to the post, she's also learning how to read, write and educate herself. She gave birth to her healthy baby boy and is on track for a better life.

Connolly's cousin gave birth to the beautiful baby boy, and he even got to cut the umbilical cord. He works hard to support his little family, and loves them so much.

While many other young people his age prefer to spend their free time partying with friends or travelling the world, he says he doesn't mind not having a social life while taking care of his cousin and her son.

He says, "When bad things happen, it's your family that supports you ... It means no one gets left behind or forgotten. I've had my family pull my head out of the gutter before ... It was time to pay it forward. Family comes first."

This article was adapted and translated from the original "Rapaz se torna avô aos 23 anos e sua história intrigante viraliza" which was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post Boy became a grandfather at age 23, and his intriguing story went viral appeared first on FamilyToday.

Iowa mom Emily Eekhoff credits a phone app for saving her daughter's life. While pregnant, she was able to realize something was wrong while her unborn baby silently suffocated in the womb.

When Eekhoff reached seven months (28 weeks), she began counting her baby's movements using an app called Count the Kicks. On average, babies move 10 times an hour, which indicated everything is OK.

But one day, during her 33rd week, Eekhoff felt her baby's movement occurring much less than 10 times an hour. The movements diminished so much that Eekhoff called her doctor, who referred her to the hospital to monitor her heart movements. Although all of Eekhoff's vitals looked fine, there was no fetal movement. Eekhoff was rushed into an emergency cesarean surgery.

"It happened so quick," Eekhoff said. "I didn't have time to process she's coming right now."

Eekhoff's daughter, Ruby, was born with the umbilical cord wrapped three times around her neck - a serious fetal situation with a high risk of death. The baby had been struggling to receive enough oxygen, but fortunately she was born healthy. Beyond joyful for her daughter to have escaped certain death, Eekhoff credits the app and the habit of tracking a baby's movements as the saviors of Ruby's life.

"I think counting her kicks definitely saved her life because I was aware of what her normal was, and when that changed, I went in (to the doctor) instead of waiting," Eekhoff told Today. "Had I waited, she likely would not have lived."

Emily's doctor, Neil Mandsager, a specialist in maternal and fetal medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, agrees with Eekoff and said that in a few days Ruby would have died. It was he who advised the emergency cesarean.

"This most likely would have resulted in stillbirth at some point, whether it was one day, two days or three days," said Mandsager. "She saved her baby's life by paying attention to her baby's activity."

After 20 days at the hospital, Ruby went home on June 19 to the joy of her parents and brother.

Count the Kicks app

Eekoff knows her daughter's situation most likely would have ended tragically had it not been for Count the Kicks, and she's forever grateful for the app's creators.

The creators of Count the Kicks are five women who each suffered the loss of a baby early on.

"I think we owe them more than we can ever say, I mean, our daughter's life," Eekoff said. "What they did with their own tragedies to build the app, build the organization is saving lives."

What is the importance of fetal movements?

The constant movement of the baby is an indication that all is well. If there is a decrease, causes such as fetal distress, loss of amniotic fluid or life-threatening emergencies might be present. Movement counts are often used in high-risk pregnancies starting at about the 26th week. It is a method that has saved lives, with the following advantages:

• It can be done by the pregnant woman herself

• It doesn't have to cost a thing

• No special equipment is required

• Helps monitor high-risk pregnancies.

When should you feel your baby start to move around? WebMD says you'll only feel a few flutters here and there early on in your pregnancy. It's usually not till the end of the second trimester that you should really start to feel your little one kicking and bouncing around.

WebMD suggests mothers who are tracking their baby's movements call their healthcare provider in the following situation: "If you don't feel your baby move 10 times by the end of two hours, try again later in the day. Then if you still can't feel 10 movements in two hours, or your baby is much less active than normal, call your healthcare provider, who can check your baby's heart rate and movements."

Make sure to check with your healthcare provider on the best ways to track your unborn baby's health.

This article has been adapted and translated from the original "Esta mãe tinha o hábito de contar os chutes de seu bebê, até que ela percebeu algo estranho e isso salvou a vida dele" which was originally published on familias.com.

The post This mom used an app to save her unborn baby’s life appeared first on FamilyToday.

Whether you're trying to get pregnant or trying to avoid it, Knowing when you're most fertile is vital information.

Here are six signs that you're in your most fertile period of the month:

1. Increased libido

During this time, your progesterone (a hormone) levels increase. This causes your libido to spike more than normal. It's also common to feel more hungry because of the hormone.

2. Secretions

When you start to notice vaginal discharge, this is a sign you're at your most fertile. During this time you start to produce more estrogen, which results in mucus-like vaginal discharge.

3. Increased body temperature

When you have high levels of progesterone, your body temperature rises. To know when this is happening, take your temperature every day when you wake up in the morning. Keeping track will allow you to notice changes, even if they're minimal.

4. Pain

Many women have stomach pain during certain times of the month, and this pain is typically caused by ovulation. When you're ovulating and fertile, your ovaries can grow to the point of being painful in some cases.

5. Mood swings

Changes in hormone levels are easily recognized (if you have ever suffered from PMS, you know what I mean). Mood swings, cramping and bloating can all occur during your fertile window.

6. Oily skin

One of the most obvious signs is when your skin gets oily and you notice more pimples and blackheads. Your heightened levels of progesterone are responsible for this symptom.

This article has been adapted and translated from the original "6 sintomas que mostram que voce esta no seu periodo fertil" which was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post 6 symptoms that occur during your most fertile period appeared first on FamilyToday.

Emre had been suffering from terrible headaches for months. His mother, Tiffani, sought medical attention several times, but would always hear the same advice: to stop worrying and that it was nothing.

Tiffani couldn't accept that; she knew something was wrong when she saw her son lying down, screaming in pain and vomiting.

She took him to the doctor every time this happened, but she always left with her questions unanswered, as her son would feel relief after he vomited. He was always diagnosed with a migraine.

The symptoms

Tiffani knew these headaches weren't just migraines. After researching what might be causing her son's pain, Tiffani found a list with symptoms of brain tumors in children. These symptoms included:

• Headache

• Weakness

• Seizures

• Nausea and vomiting

• Blurred vision

• Behavior change

• Trouble balancing or walking

• Abnormal eye movements

She immediately realized her son had several of these symptoms. Tiffani took him to the doctor, and this time was referred to a neurologist. Nothing was diagnosed, and she was even told to "stop asking him daily if he had a headache, as I could be making him think he had one."

Then the unexpected happened

Something happened that changed the whole situation. Emre was drawing a picture of himself and drew a big black mark in the middle of his forehead. He showed his mom that the black mark was where he constantly felt pain.

Following her gut, she put her son on a waiting list for an MRI. After the tests were complete, the horrible confirmation came: Emre had a benign cyst on his pineal gland and an inoperable tumor on his brain. He was placed on another waiting list to have an operation to relieve his migraines.

Emre has since had surgery, and Tiffani is optimistic about her son's recovery.

Early detection of a tumor is crucial to the patient's survival. If your child or someone you know has a constant headache with other symptoms listed, you may want to advise them to get it checked out by a medical professional - you could be saving a life.

This article has been adapted and translated from the original "Menino de 7 anos desenhou um risco preto em sua testa, então o motivo assustador foi revelado no hospital," which was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post 7-year-old boy drew a black mark on his forehead; the terrifying reason was revealed at the hospital appeared first on FamilyToday.

Later as she was feeding him, again she noticed the same black spots in his nose.

What was the cause?

Budden, intrigued, looked around for a possible source of the black spots. She saw two scented candles on the table that she had lit the night before. But candles couldn't be related to her baby's spots, she thought. To be sure, she took a look at their instructions.

On the label, a warning was written in small letters: do not burn for more than three hours in a row. Budden had let the candles burn for over six hours.

She discovered the candles began producing a dangerous substance: soot

According to the site, Cashins, "Breathing the tiny particles can cause coronary heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, and many other respiratory illnesses." The site also reports that exposure to soot particles causes about 20,000 deaths annually in the US alone. The data also shows that soot causes nearly 300,000 asthma attacks a year and 2 million working days are lost due to respiratory problems.

If Meghan continued to use the candles as usual, she would endanger both her child's life and her own. Experts recommend regularly cutting candle wicks and burning them for only a few hours.

Dangers of using candles

Most of us are careful with candles to avoid burns or accidental fires, but are we aware of the possible danger they emit into the air?

A study in South Carolina found that candles can emit substances as toxic and harmful as cigarettes. This is because paraffin (a raw material used to make candles), is a derivative of an oil that, when burned, releases two toxic substances: toluene and benzene. These substances can cause asthma, eczema, skin problems and even cancer.

According to the Daily News, the biggest issue occurs when candles are continuously burning in poorly ventilated environments, such as Catholic church houses. A Dutch study found that churches containing burning candles transform into cancer-causing environments.

Scented candles

Scented candles especially pose a problem when not used in moderation. The aroma added to the candles also emits substances called phthalates, which can cause fertility problems, disrupt the endocrine system and also cause cancer. Burning candles simultaneously or for long periods of time exposes the body to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde which are also carcinogenic.

Keep your family's safety in mind next time you light a candle. Blowing out the flame within three hours is a sure way to help your family avoid breathing in soot and other harmful toxins.

This article has been adapted and translated from the original "Mãe percebe manchas pretas nas narinas de seu bebê, então ela encontra o motivo dentro de casa" which was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post Mother finds blacks spots in her baby’s nose-the cause comes from a common household object appeared first on FamilyToday.

Although these cancer symptoms listed can have other meanings, it's important to be aware of them and take precautions if you feel you're at risk for developing cancer.

1. Bleeding in the gums

This can come from gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums caused by poor hygiene. However, it can also indicate Leukemia, a type of blood cancer that causes white blood cells to increase in a disordered way. One symptom of Leukemia is easy bruising and bleeding which can occur in the mouth, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Gingivitis is uncommon in children, so if your child has excessive bleeding in the gums you may want to consult a doctor.

2. Dark lines under the fingernail

MD Health outlines why dark lines under your nails should be checked by a doctor as soon as you notice them - this symptom can be from melanoma, a dangerous and deadly type of skin cancer.

3. Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

There's a chance you could have esophageal cancer if dysphagia occurs over a long period of time. Difficulty swallowing usually starts out mild, then gets more severe - people with this symptom may adapt their eating habits (taking smaller bites, eating soft foods that are easy to swallow, etc) which only lets the cancer grow unchecked. The American Cancer Society urges individuals who are exhibiting this symptom to see a doctor.

4. Constant stomach pain

It could be food poisoning, but it could also be colon cancer says the American Cancer Society. Blood in the stool or prolonged change in bowel habits (along with fatigue and unintentional weight loss) also signal the need for a visit to your doctor.

5. Shortness of breath

This is a common symptom of many non-threatening ailments (like asthma) but it can also indicate lung cancer. This type of cancer presents itself differently depending on what stage it's in, but some symptoms are manifested early on. Visit a doctor and get your questions answered, especially if you smoke.

6. A sore throat

Feeling pain while chewing or moving your tongue, having a chronic sore throat and swelling inside your mouth could mean mouth cancer, according to WebMD.

7. Bone pain at night

This occurs particularly in children and adolescents. It can be a sign of influenza or other health problems, but it can also be bone cancer. The Cancer Center warns that early on, the pain may only occur at night (or when you are active) but as the cancer develops, the pain may become more persistent.

8. Dark urine

This can also be a sign of kidney or urinary infection (and also severe dehydration) however, it could also be bladder cancer. According to the American Cancer Center, cancer is not typically the first diagnosis when blood is present in the urine, but it can be a sign in some situations.

9. Hoarseness

Professional singers, teachers and speakers could develop hoarseness due to vocal cord injuries, but laryngeal cancer can also cause hoarseness. Other risks of this cancer are smoking, drinking alcohol, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and weight loss.

10. Lumps in the neck

Lumps can be caused by swollen glands, but these will typically disappear at the end of the infection that caused them. Lumps that form in the thyroid, however, should be checked by a doctor. It can be cancer, especially if the patient shows tiredness, hoarseness, pain in the neck, a frequent cough and trouble swallowing.

Determining if you have cancer includes a lot more investigating than just noticing these symptoms. Before you panic, consider your family history and seek medical advice. It's good to be aware of symptoms and self-exams are fundamental in catching cancer early when it's easier to treat.

This article has been translated and adapted from the original, "10 sintomas de câncer que você desconhece." It was originally published on familia.com.br.

The post 10 little-known cancer symptoms you should know about appeared first on FamilyToday.