News You Can Use Archive
To help you stay on top of the latest breast cancer-related research and findings, Breast Cancer Network of Strength brings you "News You Can Use," a monthly summary of some of the latest on breast cancer research and studies. We welcome your feedback; please send e-mail to advocacy@networkofstrength.org.
February 2010
Acupuncture may help ease hot flashes
A new study, conducted in Detroit, shows acupuncture was as good as drug therapy with Effexor (venlafaxine) at easing hot flashes in breast cancer patients, but it also improved sex drive, energy levels, and clarity of thought.
Dense breasts at higher risk of recurrence
Breast cancer patients with dense breasts may be more likely to see their disease return after lumpectomy, according to research published in Cancer. But radiation therapy appeared to eliminate the disadvantage, the researchers said.
Physiotherapy lowers risk of lymphedema
Significantly fewer women developed lymphedema when they were given physiotherapy, compared with women who only received education on preventing the condition, according to researchers in Spain. Lymphedema results from surgery or radiotherapy for breast cancer and is the most important chronic complication after dissection of the axillary lymph nodes.
3-week course of breast radiation may be as effective as conventional 5- to 7-week course for early breast cancers
According to a study presented at ASTRO, a shortened, more intensive course of radiation given to the whole breast, along with an extra dose of radiation as a boost, has been shown to result in excellent local control two years after treatment, with no significant sides effects.
Microsurgical breast reconstruction
Historically, the two most common methods for breast reconstruction included tissue expanders (or breast implants), which represents the most common technique used worldwide, and flap reconstruction (for example, the TRAM flap). Now, advancements in microsurgical breast reconstruction have led to the development of Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator (DIEP) flaps and Superior Inferior Epigastric Artery (SIEA) flaps.
Risk of vaginal estrogens not known in breast cancer patients
Postmenopausal breast cancer patients face an uncertain risk from use of vaginal estrogen preparations that raise systemic estradiol levels, data from a small clinical study in Michigan suggested.
Exercise, green tea may lessen breast cancer blues
Exercising regularly and drinking green tea may play an important role in the prevention of depression among breast cancer survivors, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University.
January 2010
Drugs may curb breast cancer
A popular class of bone-building drugs known as bisphosphonates appears to significantly reduce women's risk of breast cancer, according to research presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Old ideas spur new approaches in cancer fight
More and more researchers are plunging into murky depths of research, studying tumors in their cellular environments. And, once they do, they say, they can explain many anomalies of cancer. The new focus on a cancer’s surroundings, researchers say, is a major shift in thinking about why cancer occurs and how to stop it.
Study questions true favorability of rare breast cancer type
In a large review of breast cancer patients with mucinous carcinoma, researchers at M.D.AndersonCancerCenter have identified an association between this rare type of breast cancer long-associated with a favorable prognosis and multiple tumors undetected by mammography or ultrasound.
Self-seeding of cancer cells may play a critical role in tumor progression
A new study by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center shows that circulating tumor cells—cancer cells that break away from a primary tumor and disseminate to other areas of the body—can also return to and grow in their tumor of origin, a newly discovered process called "self-seeding."
Targeted therapy prolongs life in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer
Lapatinib plus trastuzumab is significantly better than lapatinib alone in extending the lives of
breast cancer patients whose tumors are HER2-positive, according to research conducted at Duke
University Medical Center.
Chronic pain common after breast cancer surgery
Nearly half of breast cancer survivors are plagued by persistent pain years after cancer surgery, researchers at the University of Copenhagen reported.
Novel biologic beats zoledronic acid [Zometa] for bone mets
The investigational monoclonal antibody denosumab relieves painful bone metastases and prevents their serious complications in breast cancer patients better than standard zoledronic acid (Zometa).
December 2009
On mammography—more agreement than disagreement
On November 16, 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released updated recommendations for breast-cancer screening, informed by additional follow-up from previous studies and a new study focused on statistical modeling. The two most substantive and controversial recommendations were that mammography be eliminated as a "standard test" for women 40 to 49 years of age and that mammography be performed biennially rather than annually in women from 50 to 74 years of age.
ASCO expert corner: Hormone therapy options for early-stage breast cancer
Some drugs directly block the estrogen receptor, including tamoxifen, and other drugs block the production of estrogen. In the U.S, three of these drugs are aromatase inhibitors; they inhibit the enzyme aromatase, which is necessary for estrogen production. These drugs are Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin, and are used individually, either in place of tamoxifen or following it. To learn more, Cancer.Net talked with Clifford A. Hudis, MD.
More women choosing to remove healthy breast after cancer diagnosis
A new study of New York State data finds that the number of women opting for surgery to remove the healthy breast after a cancer diagnosis in one breast is rising, despite a lack of evidence that the surgery can improve survival.
Well-educated women hardest hit by breast cancer
Well-educated women and those who live alone are emotionally the hardest hit by breast cancer, according to the findings of a new Australian study.
U.S. study shows mammograms save lives
Women who never got mammograms are far more likely to die of breast cancer than women who are regularly screened, U.S. researchers report.
Race not a factor if breast cancer chemo succeeds
Among women with locally advanced breast cancer who undergo the same class of chemotherapy, race doesn't affect the odds of having no sign of disease at surgery, a new study finds.
What you can do to help your uninsured patients
Here's how doctors can make care more accessible to patients who might otherwise miss getting the services they need.
November 2009
PARP inhibitors: Next great breast cancer treatment?
A new family of medicines called PARP inhibitors target the way cancer cells repair themselves and could revolutionize treatment for breast and other cancers, according to reports at the annual meeting of ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology.)
When to call the doctor during cancer treatment
Cancer and cancer treatments may cause side effects that require the immediate attention of your health care team. In this article, learn about the signs and symptoms of infections, deep vein thrombosis, and tumor lysis syndrome—all of which require an immediate call to your doctor.
Experts tackle the challenge of managing ductal carcinoma in situ
One of the controversies in oncology today concerns how to treat ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a common pre-cancer of the breast. NCI and NIH convened a conference to discuss key questions about this condition. The draft conference statement that resulted was intended “to provide health care providers, patients, and the general public with a responsible assessment of currently available data.”
Breast specific gamma imaging detects hidden lesions
In women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, a follow-up study with breast specific gamma imaging detected additional lesions missed by mammography and physical exam.
After treatment for breast cancer: Preventing lymphedema
Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have some type of surgery during treatment. Any intervention (radiation therapy or surgery) that disrupts the drainage of the lymph nodes under the arm increases the risk of lymphedema.
Information for women with disabilities about breast cancer
Most women are likely to have regular mammogram screenings; however, women with disabilities are less likely to have been screened within the recommended guidelines. To encourage these women to get screened for breast cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is promoting its campaign “Breast Cancer Screening: The Right to Know.”
Partial irradiation methods equal in practice
All three types of accelerated partial breast irradiation (brachytherapy, 3-D conformal external beam radiation, and MammoSite) appear to have promising and similar outcomes in early stage breast cancer, according to results from a center that pioneered the treatment in the U.S.
October 2009
Obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking increase risk of second breast cancer
It is well known that survivors of breast cancer have a much higher risk of developing a second breast cancer than women in the general population have of developing a first breast cancer. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that obesity, alcohol use and smoking all significantly increase the risk of a second breast cancer among breast cancer survivors.
Survival in breast cancer improves with surgery
Women with metastatic breast cancer at diagnosis lived twice as long if the primary tumor was removed, data from a large retrospective study showed, according to a report at ECCO/ESMO, the joint European cancer congress.
Breastfeeding associated with reduced risk of breast cancer in women with family history
Women with a family history of breast cancer appear to have a lower risk of developing the disease before menopause if they have ever breastfed a child, according to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Understanding blood test results
A complete blood count (CBC) is a common blood test that provides important information about the three types of cells in your blood: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. It also can help determine how your body is tolerating cancer treatments.
Obesity could become top cancer cause
Being fat could become the leading cause of cancer in the coming years. Being overweight or obese accounts for up to 8 percent of cancers in Europe. Experts said that figure is poised to increase substantially as the obesity epidemic continues, and as major causes of cancer, such as smoking and hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women, drop dramatically.
A guide to keeping your breasts healthy now and in the years to come
Breasts: Some women worry that theirs are too big or too small or not as firm and youthful as they once were, but here's one thing that every woman desires—healthy breasts for a lifetime.
Cosmetic procedures: Breast reconstruction
The ultimate goal of reconstruction is to restore symmetry between the two breasts. The choices that are right for one woman won't necessarily be right for another. That's because the long-term prospects of living without a breast or part of a breast affect every woman differently.
September 2009
Newer drug beats tamoxifen for older breast cancer patients
For postmenopausal women with breast cancer, treatment with the drug letrozole (Femara) increases survival after surgery more than the widely used tamoxifen, confirms a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Cancer and sexuality
When patients are diagnosed with cancer, they have many thoughts, fears, and questions, and most want to learn more about their disease and treatment. Sexuality is an incredibly personal topic, and each person's experiences, feelings, and expectations are unique, but at some point, patients realize the impact of cancer on their sexuality.
Weight lifting may help to avert lymph problem
After a woman has surgery for breast cancer, she is typically given a long list of don’ts. Don’t lift anything heavier than 15 pounds. Don’t carry a heavy purse or grocery bags. Don’t scrub, push, pull or hammer. The goal is to prevent lymphedema, but new research suggests that much of that advice may be too restrictive. To prevent lymphedema after breast cancer, the best strategy may be more exercise, not less.
Introduction to lymph nodes and the lymphatic system
Because breast cancer often spreads first to the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes from the breast, determining whether the lymph nodes contain cancer is an essential part of the breast cancer diagnostic process. The status of the lymph nodes helps physicians stage breast cancer, and in turn, determine treatment.
Metabolic factors may play a role in risk for breast cancer
Physiological changes associated with the metabolic syndrome may play a role in the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, according to study results published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. The metabolic syndrome, or insulin resistance syndrome, consists of a constellation of factors including abdominal obesity, high blood glucose levels, impaired glucose tolerance, abnormal lipid levels and high blood pressure.
Breastfeeding may cut breast cancer risk
Women with a family history of breast cancer who have ever breastfed reduce their risk of getting premenopausal breast cancer by nearly 60%, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
August
Alcohol and cancer risk: When does the risk start?
The U.K.’s Million Women Study followed 1.3 million middle-aged women for seven years. It links even low-to-moderate alcohol consumption to increased risk of breast and several other cancers.
No evidence that social stress is associated with breast cancer incidence
Women commonly attribute the experience of stress as a contributory cause of breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between a history of social stress and breast cancer risk. A total of 11,467 women with no prior history of breast cancer completed a comprehensive assessment of lifetime social adversity exposure.
Blacks with equal care still more likely to die of some cancers
African Americans are less likely than whites to survive breast, prostate and ovarian cancer even when they receive equal treatment, according to a large study that offers provocative evidence that biological factors play a role in at least some racial disparities.
Link between migraines and reduced breast cancer risk confirmed in follow-up study
The relationship between migraine headaches in women and a significant reduction in breast cancer risk has been confirmed in a follow-on study by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The new study found a 26 percent reduced risk of breast cancer among both premenopausal and postmenopausal women with a clinical diagnosis of migraines.
Less Toxic Drug Prolongs Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Research from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has found that a less toxic, solvent-free chemotherapy drug more effectively prevents the progression of metastatic breast cancer and has fewer side effects than a commonly used solvent-based drug.
Weighty matters: Monitoring your BMI may help you reduce your cancer risk
In the last few years, researchers have increasingly turned to a three-letter tool to measure cancer risk: BMI, which stands for body-mass index. That number is a quick calculation of body fat based on height and weight—and it might help you keep cancer at bay.
Breast cancer risk in survivors of childhood cancer quantified
In the largest study of its kind, researchers from the National Cancer Institute estimated the relationship between exposure to radiation during childhood cancer treatment and adult breast cancer risk in 6,647 women from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
July 2009
Less-toxic drug prolongs survival in metastatic breast cancer
A national study led by William Gradishar, MD, found that the drug nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) prolonged progression-free survival by almost seven months compared with docetaxel (Taxotere), which is part of a class of solvent-based drugs called taxanes.
Studies reach different conclusions on interaction of antidepressants and tamoxifen
Two large studies—one in the United States and the other in the Netherlands—reached different conclusions when they examined the risk of recurrence in women with breast cancer who took tamoxifen along with certain commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as Prozac and Paxil. U.S. researchers found an increased risk of recurrence; researchers from the Netherlands did not.
Questions swirl around Avastin
Some researchers are wondering if, after Avastin is stopped, cancer cells spread more aggressively than before, dulling the drug’s effect. Such a “rebound effect” could explain why Avastin therapy is not resulting in bigger survival gains even as the drug makes pictures on imaging scans look better.
Are anthracyclines justified for breast cancer?
Recent findings indicate that benefits from anthracycline-containing regimens are restricted mainly to the minority of patients with HER2-positive breast tumors. One hypothesis to explain the association between HER2 status and anthracycline response is that HER2 amplification is merely a marker for changes in topoisomerase II alpha.
Concern about antioxidants and breast cancer
Many women with breast cancer continue to take antioxidant supplements despite worries that the pills may interfere with treatment, according to a study published in Cancer. The report is the latest to raise concerns about the large number of cancer patients turning to megadoses of vitamin and mineral supplements in hopes of boosting their health.
How to read a medical abstract in a research study
An abstract is a summary of research that allows readers to quickly learn about the important aspects of a study. In medical journals, an abstract is usually presented at the beginning of the published article. Although the intended audiences for most abstracts are medical and scientific professionals, it is becoming more common for patients and their friends and family members to read abstracts while learning about cancer and researching treatment options. Unlike most journal articles, abstracts are easier to search online and can usually be accessed free of charge.
June 2009
New Type of Drug Shows Promise for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Two new drugs belonging to a group of drugs called PARP inhibitors may help treat some types of breast cancer, including triple negative metastatic disease. New research was presented about PARP inhibitor clinical trials at the Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO).
Antidepressants cut effectiveness of tamoxifen in breast cancer
Tumors were more than twice as likely to return after two years in women taking SSRI antidepressants while on tamoxifen, compared with those taking tamoxifen alone.
Earlier breast cancer screening for black women may be warranted
If current breast cancer screening recommendations are followed for African-American women, more than 10% will already have advanced disease at first detection, a study published by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons indicates.
Early lumpectomy doesn’t end risk: Long-term vigilance a must in young women
Lumpectomy is an excellent option for many women with breast cancer. But the long-term risk of recurrence is high in young women. A study suggests that women 40 and under who have lumpectomies have a slightly higher risk of recurrent cancer 10 years after breast cancer surgery than women who have mastectomies.
Radiation treatment for breast cancer increases risk in the other breast
Young women who receive radiation treatment after breast cancer surgery are significantly more likely to later develop cancer in the other breast than women who did not undergo such radiation.
Older women with breast cancer benefit from chemo too
A new study in women 65 and older published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that women with early-stage breast cancer who are treated with chemotherapy along with surgery will likely live longer than those who aren’t.
Breast implants: What we now know
After more than 50 years in the spotlight, breast implants have been the subject of much debate. Here’s what we now know about this sometimes-controversial topic.
Cancer drug cost patient his fingerprints
Immigration officials held a cancer patient for four hours before they allowed him to enter the USA because capecitabine (Xeloda) caused his fingerprints to disappear. Capecitabine is a common anti-cancer drug used in the treatment of a number of cancers, including breast cancer.
Living in the big city could mean more likely to get cancer
Big city or small town—where you live might have a lot to do with your chances of getting cancer.
May 2009
Quality of life may impact coping strategies of young women with breast cancer
In a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, an investigation of coping strategies and quality of life (QOL) among younger women with breast cancer suggests that QOL determines the use of coping strategies.
About x-rays and scans
ACRIN has prepared information about the x-rays and types of scans (MRI, CT, PET, ultrasound, and others) used in clinical trials. This information is designed to help patients better prepare for x-rays and scans and understand how the technology works.
Microsurgery after beast cancer treatment may reduce lymphedema effects
Researchers at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have reduced the fluid build-up in women with lymphedema by 25% to 39% in a year with a lymphaticovenular bypass, a minimally invasive procedure that reroutes the fluid to vessels that are about a half-millimeter in diameter.
Hypertension linked to earlier death among African-American breast cancer patients
A study at the University of California, San Francisco, has shown that hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a predictor of mortality among breast cancer patients, especially those who are African-American, and that hypertension accounts for approximately 30% of the survival disparity between African-American and white breast cancer patients.
Off-label drugs: What you need to know
What should you do if your doctor prescribes a medicine for you and you find out that the medicine is not normally used to treat your condition?
Removing the doubt
A growing number of women threatened by cancer have opted for a preventive bilateral mastectomy: surgery to remove both breasts. The procedure has become more common not only among women with cancer in only one breast but also for women with no cancer at all.
What are friends for? A longer life
In the quest for better health, many people turn to doctors, self-help books, or herbal supplements. But they overlook a powerful weapon that could help them fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging, and prolong life: their friends.
April 2009
Delving into possible mechanisms for chemobrain
Chemobrain was first identified by breast cancer survivors. Early studies of patients’ cognitive functioning after chemotherapy estimated that the number of survivors with chemotherapy-associated cognitive changes ranged from 17% to 75%.
New guidelines emphasize use of breast MRI to supplement standard imaging
Updated guidelines that represent best practices for using MRI to newly diagnose breast cancer and to make treatment decisions for breast cancer have been published. MRI is not a substitute for screening or diagnostic mammography and, when indicated, diagnostic breast ultrasound, but supplements the use of these standard tools in appropriate situations.
New test may predict breast cancer metastasis
Researchers have identified a new marker for breast cancer metastasis called Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis. TMEM was associated with the development of distant organ metastasis via the bloodstream.
First Sister Study results reinforce the importance of healthy living
Women who maintain a healthy weight and who have lower perceived stress may be less likely to have chromosome changes associated with aging than obese and stressed women, according to the Sister Study.
Hispanic women and breast cancer
“Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority group in the U.S., but little is known about their risk for breast cancer, said Elena Martinez, PhD, co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the University of Arizona. “The study recruited women who were recently diagnosed with invasive breast cancer living in the U.S. and in Mexico. We hope to understand more about what puts these women at risk for specific types of breast cancer.”
Breast cancer more likely to recur in the young
A new study confirms that women with breast cancer who are 35 years old or younger are more likely than older women to have their cancer come back after treatment.
Pregnancy has no impact on breast cancer survival, does delay treatment, diagnosis
Young women who develop breast cancer during their pregnancy, or who are diagnosed within one year of their pregnancy, have no difference in rates of local recurrence, distant metastases and overall survival compared to other young women with the disease, according to researchers.
March 2009
High insulin levels raise risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women
Higher-than-normal levels of insulin place postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer, researchers at Yeshiva University report. Their findings suggest that interventions that target insulin and its signaling pathways may decrease breast cancer risk in these women.
Getting your groove back: Sexuality and intimacy after breast cancer
Although intimacy and sexuality may not be at the top of your agenda after a breast cancer diagnosis, as you go through treatment you may be anxious to reclaim your sexuality and get back to “normal.” Low libido caused by treatment side effects, emotional stress, physical changes and communications challenges can make this difficult.
Bone drugs may help fight breast cancer
A drug of a class commonly used to combat bone loss may reduce by a third the chance that some breast cancer will spread or recur, according to a large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Diet may cut risk of breast cancer recurrence in women without hot flashes
A secondary analysis of a large, multi-center clinical trial has shown that a diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and fiber and somewhat lower in fat compared to standard federal dietary recommendations cuts the risk of recurrence in a subgroup of early-stage breast cancer survivors—women who didn’t have hot flashes.
Menopause drug linked to breast cancer relapse
A synthetic steroid used to treat menopause symptoms and prevent osteoporosis significantly increases the risk of a relapse in breast cancer patients, according to a study published in The Lancet Oncology. The steroid, called tibolone, should not be prescribed to a woman who has had or is suspected of having breast cancer, concluded the study.
Urine test may tell of breast cancer’s spread
Researchers have found a protein that helps breast cancer cells spread and found it in the urine of women with aggressive breast cancer—offering a potentially painless way to warn a patient.
February 2009
Ixempra plus Xeloda improves progression-free survival in triple-negative metastatic breast cancer
The combination of Ixempra (ixabepilone) and Xeloda (capecitabine) significantly increases progression-free survival in women with triple-negative metastatic breast cancer, according to a recent study.
High insulin levels raise risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women
Higher-than-normal levels of insulin place postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine report. The findings suggest that interventions that target insulin and its signaling pathways may decrease breast cancer risk in these women.
Reduced breast cancer risk: Physical activity after menopause pays off
Studies had previously suggested that regular physical exercise reduces the breast cancer risk of women. However, it had been unknown just how much exercise women should take in which period of life in order to benefit from this protective effect. Moreover, little was known about which particular type of breast cancer is influenced by physical activity.
Nonhormonal treatment regimens improve survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer
Nonhormonal treatment regimens, including anthracycline-based regimens and taxanes, have improved overall survival in women with advanced (metastatic or recurrent inoperable) breast cancer over the last 35 years, according to a systematic review published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Addition of Xeloda reduces recurrence risk in early breast cancer
Among women with high-risk early breast cancer, the addition of Xeloda (capecitabine) to a standard chemotherapy regimen reduces the risk of cancer recurrence. Xeloda is an oral chemotherapy drug that is used in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer.
Fatigued cancer patients might benefit from specialized counseling
Fatigue is one of the most common complaints among people with cancer, and the problem could arise from a complex blend of biological, psychological and behavioral factors. Addressing the psychological, social and behavioral aspects of fatigue during the active cancer treatment is “a promising type of intervention,” according to a new systematic review appearing in The Cochrane Library.
January 2009
Breast Disease to Breast Cancer
Researchers found a benign breast disease (BBD), known as atypical hyperplasia, can significantly increase a young woman’s risk of developing breast cancer even if there is no breast cancer history in her family.
Gene Test Better Predicts Breast Cancer Risk
A new genetic test is much better at predicting breast cancer risk than the standard model, researchers report.
Some Hidden Choices in Breast Reconstruction
For many cancer patients undergoing mastectomies, reconstructive breast surgery can seem like a first step to reclaiming their bodies.
Estrogen Pills Can Benefit Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer, Study Finds
For breast cancer survivors, the idea of taking estrogen pills is almost a taboo. In fact, their doctors give them drugs to get rid of the hormone because it can fuel the growth of breast cancer. So these women would probably be surprised by the approach taken by breast cancer physician Matthew Ellis, M.B., Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis — he has demonstrated that estrogen therapy can help control metastatic breast cancer.
Suggestions for Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Being diagnosed with breast cancer is often frightening and confusing. It is easy to feel lost in a world of unfamiliar medical terms and procedures. Questions about diagnosis, treatment, money, relationships, and quality of life can cause you worry and stress. Sometimes you don’t even know where to begin or what questions to ask. You are not alone in this journey. Getting informed will hopefully make dealing with health care providers, hospitals, and your health easier and less intimidating for you and your loved ones.
Cancer: Tamoxifen’s Power Comes From Endoxifen
Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered that a chemical known as endoxifen appears to be the primary metabolite responsible for the effectiveness of tamoxifen in treating breast cancer, and that it works against cancer in an entirely unexpected way.
December 2008
Vigorous activity protects against breast cancer
A study published in Breast Cancer Research has revealed that a sedentary lifestyle can be a risk factor for breast cancer—even in women who are not overweight.
Sexual intimacy and breast cancer survivors
An Indiana University study found that young, female breast cancer survivors often suffer from sexual and intimate relationship issues and are interested in using sexual enhancement products to treat these problems.
Migraines cut breast cancer risk 30 percent
In a puzzling twist, women who have a history of migraine headaches are far less likely to develop breast cancer than other women, U.S. researchers have found.
Study identifies patient strategies for managing symptoms of lymphedema
An estimated 2 million women in the United States are at risk of developing lymphedema, a condition that involves the chronic and abnormal swelling of the arm, chest, neck and/or back, as a complication of breast cancer treatment.
Delay in cancer treatment is found to raise recurrence
One in five breast cancer patients ages 65 and older postponed radiation therapy or did not complete the full radiation regimen after breast-conserving surgery, and the lapses in care took a significant toll on their health, a new study reports.
Weight boosts older women’s breast cancer risk
Being overweight boosts the risk of getting advanced breast cancer for older women, according to a new study that looked at more than 287,000 women and took into account their mammogram habits.
Should there be more elderly-specific clinical trials?
There are many trials that can be done that are not age specific, but we need elderly-specific trials for a few reasons. One is that there are particular questions that are unique to an older patient with cancer.
November 2008
Delving deeper into exercise and breast cancer prevention
For women concerned about breast cancer, looking over the list of known risk factors can be cause for frustration, as few of the stronger risks appear to be modifiable. But this may change as more is learned about the role of exercise in preventing breast cancer.
Study shows no overall increased risk for coffee drinkers
There’s good news for women who can’t get through the day without their coffee fix. In new findings from the Women’s Health Study, caffeine consumption was not associated with an overall increase in breast cancer.
After breast cancer, weight stakes are higher
It’s common knowledge that keeping fit and maintaining an optimal weight are great ways to achieve overall health. But for breast cancer survivors, the stakes are much higher. Research indicates that excess weight can lead to increased levels of the hormone estrogen—and estrogen has been tied to the development of breast cancer in women.
deCode breast cancer: Understanding what this new test can—and can’t—do
The company deCode Genetics recently announced that it would begin selling a new genetic test that, it says, can assess a woman’s lifetime risk of developing the most common types of breast cancer.
Breast density in mammography and cancer risk
Studies from the last three decades have shown that breast density is directly linked to breast cancer risk. The magnitude of that risk is under some debate, though the question of why it carries such a high risk is still not answered.
Breast cancer phenotypes linked to reproductive factors
Different molecular subtypes of breast cancer appear to be influenced by specific reproductive factors, investigators at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center report.
Birth size linked to breast cancer risk
Women who are heavier and longer at birth are at increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life, British researchers report.
October 2008
Post-mastectomy nodal radiation unnecessary for node-negative breast cancer
Irradiation of axillary and supraclavicular lymph nodes is unnecessary in women whose axillary nodal status following mastectomy is negative, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology.
Shorter radiation course works in breast cancer
Three weeks of radiation treatment work just as well as the usual course of five weeks or more for women with early-stage breast cancers, Canadian researchers have reported, after monitoring a large group of patients for 12 years.
Breast cancer survivors have high quality of life up to 15 years after lumpectomy and radiation
Women with breast cancer who are treated with lumpectomy and radiation report a high level of overall quality of life several years after treatment that is comparable to a general sampling of the adult women U.S. population according to a survey at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
New options for breast reconstruction
About 78,000 U.S. women undergo a mastectomy each year, but just 57,100 had breast reconstruction in 2007. For a minority of women, reconstruction of the breast after a cancer diagnosis is simply not important, but other women are not fully informed of their options, face financial barriers, or both.
Breastfeeding “cuts cancer risk”
Breastfeeding for a year over the course of a woman’s life helps cut the risk of breast cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund analyzed 7,000 previous studies and found that breastfeeding reduced the risk of developing breast cancer by 4.8%.
Myths about breast cancer
False rumors about breast cancer are becoming more frequent with the increased use of email and the Internet. The purpose of this section is to dispel those rumors about what causes breast cancer, how the disease develops, and how different treatment options affect patients.
Young women with DCIS no more likely to experience recurrence than older women
Young women with DCIS, a common form of early breast cancer that arises in and is confined to the mammary ducts, are presumed more likely to have recurrences than older women with the same diagnosis. But a new study from Fox Chase Cancer Center rebuffs this conventional thinking.
September 2008
Recurrence risk suggests extended treatment for some early stage breast cancer
For early breast cancer patients, hormone-positive status may forecast the need for extended treatment to prevent late recurrence, according to researchers. In the retrospective registry study, risk of recurrence was significantly greater for those with hormone-positive tumors. Extended adjuvant endocrine therapy is recommended.
Breast asymmetry after cancer treatment affects quality of life
Most women with breast cancer assume that surgery to preserve their breast will be less disfiguring than a mastectomy that removes the entire breast. But nearly one-third of women reported pronounced asymmetry between their breasts, and that perceived disfigurement greatly affects a woman’s quality of life after treatment, according to a new study.
Women over 80 may benefit from mammograms
Mammography significantly reduced the risk of advanced stage breast cancer in women 80 years old or older, according to a study that suggests the first screening guidelines for this age group.
Breastfeeding, other factors may affect risk of breast cancer type
Factors such as age at menopause as well as a woman's breastfeeding practices can influence her risk of developing certain types of breast cancer. That was the conclusion of a new study, the results of which suggest that there are distinct and separate hormonal risk factors associated with different subtypes of breast cancer.
Infertility treatment: Is there a relationship with breast cancer risk?
Accompanying a societal shift to delayed childbearing, there has been an increase in couples seeking infertility treatment. A number of drugs have been used in these treatments and some studies have examined them for an association with breast cancer risk. The results are conflicting, and more study is needed before breast cancer risk can be determined. The long-term effects of infertility treatments on breast cancer risk are unknown. Most have evaluated treatment of less than 10 years and groups of women at ages where breast cancer is less common.
New reasons to avoid grapefruit and other juices when taking certain drugs
Scientists and consumers have known for years that grapefruit juice can increase the absorption of certain drugs—with the potential for turning normal doses into toxic overdoses. New evidence shows that grapefruit and other fruit juices, including orange and apple, can do the opposite effect by substantially decreasing the absorption of other drugs, potentially wiping out their beneficial effects. The study provides a new reason to avoid drinking grapefruit juice and these other juices when taking certain drugs, including some that are prescribed for fighting life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, cancer, organ-transplant rejection, and infection.
August 2008
Breast Self-Exams
Many news stories concerning breast self exams have appeared recently. Included here are the breast self-awareness information paper of Breast Cancer Network of Strength and commentary on breast self-exams by Dr. Susan Love.
Anti-estrogen drug therapy reduces risk of invasive breast cancer in older women
Women who took the drug raloxifene (Evista) were less likely to develop invasive estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer compared with women who did not take the drug. The results of the randomized controlled trial were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Overweight, insulin resistant women at greater risk of advanced breast cancer diagnosis
Women who have risk factors commonly associated with Type 2 diabetes also have much greater odds of being diagnosed with an advanced breast cancer, according to research.
Young women’s breast cancers have more aggressive genes, worse prognosis
Young women’s breast cancers tend to be more aggressive and less responsive to treatment than the cancers that arise in older women. Researchers at Duke University may have discovered part of the reason why.
Minorities less likely to know about breast cancer treatment options
According to a University of Michigan study, nearly half of the women treated for breast cancer did not know that their odds of being alive after five years are roughly the same whether they undergo mastectomy or breast conserving surgery. Minority women were even less likely to be aware of this important factor of their treatment decision.
Biologics work synergistically against metastatic breast cancer if trastuzumab regimens fail
Combining targeted biologic therapies after progression of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer may improve response despite prior treatment with multiple trastuzumab (Herceptin) regimens.
July 2008
Surviving triple negative breast cancer
Of the more than 180,000 U.S. women who learn they have invasive breast cancer this year, about 15% will have triple negative. The majority of triple negative patients will be young African-American women. Experts around the country are trying to learn more about what causes this cancer and how to treat it more effectively.
Bevacizumab benefits women with advanced breast cancer
Researchers looked at adding the targeted therapy Avastin to chemotherapy with Taxotere for women newly diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. This study shows that the use of these drugs is effective and does not greatly increase side effects.
Researchers predict risk of invasive breast cancer in African-American women
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have developed an updated model to predict invasive breast cancer risk in African-American women.
Breast reconstruction advances fix distortions left by lumpectomy
A benefit of lumpectomy is that only part of the breast is removed, but a drawback can be the resulting physical appearance of the breast, which may be disfigured, dented, or uneven. A recent report examines advances plastic surgeons have made in breast reconstruction to repair the damage left when cancer is removed.
Bone loss drug reduces early-stage breast cancer recurrence risk
Researchers looked at whether Zometa lowers the risk of breast cancer recurrence for premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. After approximately five years, treatment with Zometa combined with hormone therapy reduced a woman’s risk of recurrence by 35% compared with women who received hormone therapy alone.
Alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women
One of the largest studies of its kind has found that alcohol is a substantial risk factor for development of the most common type of breast cancer—the 70% of tumors that are classified as positive for both the estrogen and progesterone receptors.
June 2008
Breast cancer, metastatic or recurrent—symptoms
The symptoms of metastatic and recurrent breast cancer depend on how much the cancer has spread. You may have specific physical symptoms, such as a lump in your breast or on your chest wall, bone pain, or shortness of breath. Many women have no symptoms. A recurrence or metastasis is often found before symptoms appear, on a chest X-ray or as part of another test.
Cognitive problems after chemotherapy
Problems with memory and concentration, along with a general feeling of not functioning mentally as well as usual, are informally referred to by patients as chemobrain. Health care professionals call these symptoms cognitive deficits.
Friend Shifts
While some friendships stay solid or grow stronger in the aftermath of a cancer diagnosis, others that seemed to be pure gold can become tarnished. On the other hand, people you may not have been particularly close to may now come shining through.
Link between vitamin D status and breast cancer illuminated
Using newly available data on worldwide cancer incidence, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have shown a clear association between deficiency in exposure to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B, and breast cancer.
Trans fats linked to breast cancer risk in study
The study reviewed here found that eating a lot of trans fats may increase breast cancer risk. Of the 25,000 European women who participated in the study, women who had the highest levels of trans fats in their blood were about twice as likely as women with the lowest trans fat levels to develop breast cancer.
Weekly Taxol best for follow-up breast cancer care
The study reviewed here found that getting Taxol weekly had more benefits than getting Taxol every 3 weeks for women diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes or women diagnosed with breast cancer that hadn't spread to the lymph nodes but was considered high risk. Getting Taxol every week also had more benefits than getting Taxotere weekly or every 3 weeks for these women.
Study links rise in mastectomies to MRI detection
New techniques for detecting breast cancer may be leading more women to have their entire breast removed, say researchers at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
May 2008
9 simple steps to unpacking your path report
Based on analysis of the tumor and breast tissue, a pathologist generates a report that is the roadmap to your disease. In producing the report, the pathologist literally puts your cancer under the microscope, evaluating its size and the likelihood that it will spread. Pathology reports may be laid out or presented in different ways, including those described here.
Breast cancer more aggressive among obese women
Women with breast cancer have more aggressive disease and lower survival rates if they are overweight or obese, according to findings published in Clinical Cancer Research.
Cancer care for the whole patient: Meeting psychosocial health needs
A growing body of scientific evidence demonstrates that the psychological and social problems created or exacerbated by cancer can be effectively addressed by a number of services and interventions. To address these issues, the NIH asked the IOM to study the delivery of psychosocial services to cancer patients and their families and identify ways to improve it.
Letrozole (brand name Femara) reduces risk of breast cancer recurrence and metastasis even if started years after tamoxifen
A clinical trial has reported that letrozole (Femara) cuts the risk of breast cancer recurrence and spread by more than 60% in postmenopausal women with early-stage disease who completed five years of tamoxifen therapy one to seven years earlier.
Cancer risk persists after ending hormone therapy
The increased risk of breast cancer associated with combination hormone therapy (estrogen plus progestin) may not go away once the hormones are stopped. More than two years after discontinuing hormones, women who had used the treatment for 5 years still had a higher risk of breast cancer than women who never used the hormones, according to an update from the WHI.
Many women unclear about breast cancer treatments
Only half the women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer clearly understand the risks and benefits of a mastectomy versus a breast-conserving lumpectomy plus radiation, even after they have one of the procedures, according to a new study.
Aspirin cuts breast cancer risk
A new piece of US research backs the idea that aspirin protects against certain types of breast cancer. It found women who used aspirin or similar painkillers at least once per week for six months reduced their risk of breast cancer by 20%.
April 2008
Many women unclear about breast cancer treatments
Only half the women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer clearly understand the risks and benefits of a mastectomy versus a breast-conserving lumpectomy plus radiation, even after they have one of the procedures, say researchers whose results appear in the latest online issue of the journal Health Services Research. If the woman is black or Hispanic, the chances are even less likely she has adequate information.
NSAIDs and breast cancer: A possible prevention and treatment strategy
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) and thereby reduce prostaglandin synthesis. Abnormally upregulated COX and prostaglandins are features of breast cancer, so NSAIDs might have a role in treatment and prevention of the disease.
Hormone therapy interferes with breast cancer detection
Two tools used to detect breast cancer—mammograms and breast biopsies—are less effective in women who use combined hormone therapy (estrogen plus progestin) than in women who do not. The diminished ability to find cancers may persist for at least a year after women have discontinued therapy, according to a follow-up study of participants in the Women's Health Initiative.
Digital mammography superior to film mammography in some cases
For some women, digital mammography may be a better screening option than film mammography, according to newly published results from the Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial. The results appear in the journal Radiology. The study found that digital mammography performed better than film mammography for pre- and perimenopausal women under age 50 with dense breasts.
Letrozole reduces risk of breast cancer recurrence and metastasis even if started years after tamoxifen
A multicenter phase III clinical trial reported that the drug letrozole (Femara) cuts the risk of breast cancer recurrence by 63 percent and the risk of cancer spread by 61 percent in postmenopausal women with early-stage disease who completed five years of tamoxifen therapy one to seven years earlier. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Breast cancer leads to lost wages
Women being treated for early breast cancer lose about a fourth of their yearly income, according to a new survey published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
March 2008
FDA extends Avastin’s use to breast cancer
The FDA approved Genentech’s best-selling drug, Avastin, as a treatment for breast cancer. The big question was whether it was enough for a drug temporarily to stop cancer from worsening—as Avastin had done in a clinical trial—or was it necessary for a drug to enable patients to live longer, which Avastin had failed to do. Oncologists and patient advocates were divided, in part because of the drug’s sometimes severe side effects.
Personality factors and breast cancer risk: A 13-year follow-up
Consistent scientific evidence on the possible relationship between psychologic variables and breast cancer development is lacking, according to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Lights at night are linked to breast cancer
Women who live in neighborhoods with large amounts of nighttime illumination are more likely to get breast cancer than those who live in areas where nocturnal darkness prevails, according to an unusual study that overlaid satellite images of Earth onto cancer registries.
Skipping soy and supplements with breast cancer
Studies have yielded murky results about what to do after a diagnosis of breast cancer with respect to soy consumption. It is probably reasonable to enjoy a night out at a Chinese or Thai restaurant and to cook at home with soy. However, steer clear of soy supplements and natural medicines with high phytoestrogen content.
Extent of cancer risk reduction through ovary removal depends on BRCA mutation type
Researchers found that women with mutations in the BRCA2 gene have nearly twice the reduction in breast cancer risk following the surgical removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes compared to women with BRCA1 mutations. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
New model predicts breast cancer risk in African-American women
Researchers have developed a new risk prediction model that more accurately estimates the breast cancer risk of African-American women, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
SABCS hot topics mentor sessions now available online
Each year at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation hosts nightly Hot Topics Mentor Sessions, in which some of the nation’s leading breast cancer experts provide an overview of the most compelling SABCS presentations. These sessions are now available free to the public in the form of online Web casts or on a CD-ROM.
February 2008
FDA approves new genetic test for breast cancer patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a test that helps in assessing the risk of tumor recurrence and long-term survival for patients with relatively high-risk breast cancer. The TOP2A FISH pharmDx is the first approved device to test for the TOP2A (topoisomerase 2 alpha) gene in cancer patients.
Personality can’t predict breast cancer
The idea that a woman’s personality traits can make her more prone to breast cancer appears nothing more than a myth, according to a Dutch study.
Breast cancer gene mutation more common in Hispanic, young black women, study finds
A genetic mutation already known to be more common in Ashkenazi Jewish breast cancer patients is also prevalent in Hispanic and young African-American women with breast cancer, according to one of the largest, multiracial studies of the mutation to date.
Populations of interest: Triple negative
A tumor is called triple negative if it is not dependent on estrogen or progesterone and does not overproduce the HER2 protein. Testing all women with early stage disease for these receptors has shown that African-American women and BRCA1 carriers are more likely than other women to be triple negative.
Breast cancer survival longer with Taxotere
A new study found that women who got a combination of Taxotere and Cytoxan (TC), had a 31% better chance of survival than women who got a combination of Adriamycin and Cytoxan (AC).
Men unaware of their cancer risk when female relatives test positive for BRCA mutations
Men whose mothers, sisters or daughters test positive for a cancer-causing gene mutation also have an increased risk of developing the disease but are unaware of that risk. That is the conclusion of a study at Fox Chase Cancer Center exploring how families communicate genetic test results.
PET/CT brings new hope to patients with inflammatory breast cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer spreads quickly and can be lethal in months. By using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT), radiologists and physicists are able to spot the spread of cancer earlier, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
January 2008
Shorter breast cancer treatment works
A more convenient three-week course of radiation works just as well as the five-week schedule that is typically given to women after breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer, researchers report.
Breast cancer test may aid patients with affected lymph nodes
A genomic test may help some women with early-stage breast cancer gauge the risk of a recurrence and the potential benefit of additional chemotherapy even when the disease has spread to the lymph nodes, researchers are reporting.
Breast cancer awareness calls for cardiovascular awareness
Women who overcome breast cancer have every reason to celebrate. But a heart filled with joy may also be a heart damaged by life-saving cancer therapies, a growing body of research shows.
Expert perspective from ASCO on the link between cancer risk and the increased frequency of CT scans
A review article in the New England Journal of Medicine asserts that the radiation from computed tomography (CT) scans may cause up to 2% of all cancers in the United States.
Weight gain related to postmenopausal breast cancer risk
Women who gain weight throughout adulthood rather than maintaining a stable weight may have an increased risk for breast cancer, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine. This finding was observed among women who did not take hormone therapy after menopause.
New “seed” therapy helps pinpoint breast tumors with more accuracy
A new technique uses a small radioactive pellet (“seed”) implanted into a mass or suspicious lesion in the breast to pinpoint its exact location for surgical removal. During the procedure, a radiologist uses a needle to insert a small radioactive seed, about the size of a grain of rice, into the mass. Once lodged, surgeons use a wand that detects radioactivity to locate the mass and find the best pathway for removal.
December 2007
Attitude doesn’t affect cancer survival
Having a positive attitude may help cancer patients deal with their disease, but it doesn’t directly affect survival, according to one of the largest and most rigorously designed investigations ever to examine the issue.
Cancer care for the whole patient: Meeting psychosocial health needs
The health care community is increasingly aware of the importance of addressing psychological and social problems in the lives of patients in order to provide good quality health care and promote better health. As a result, the Institute of Medicine examined how the health care system copes with cancer patients’ psychological and social problems, and how “psychosocial” care can be improved.
FDA approves new drug for advanced breast cancer
The U.S. FDA approved Ixempra (ixabepilone) to treat advanced breast cancer after other chemotherapy treatments have stopped working. Ixempra was approved to be given either alone or in combination with Xeloda (capecitabine). It belongs to a new class of medicines called epothilones.
Sunlight may cut breast cancer risk for some women
Exposure to sunlight may reduce the risk of advanced breast cancer in women with light skin pigmentation, according to the results of a population-based study appearing in the American Journal of Epidemiology. This association was not seen in women with medium or dark skin and was only apparent for advanced disease, not localized breast cancer.
City living “breast cancer risk”
Women living and working in the city have a higher risk of breast cancer, researchers say. The study found that 972 city women had much denser breasts. Previous research has shown that those with the densest breast tissue were four times more likely to develop cancer. Researchers said air pollution was likely to be the cause of denser breasts.
ASCO breast cancer treatment plan and summary resources
ASCO prepared templates that capture core elements of a breast cancer treatment plan. One plan relates to the newly diagnosed and the other to the survivor.
November 2007
Tumor markers for breast cancer
A tumor marker is a substance found in blood, urine, or the tumor itself. It is produced by the tumor or the body in response to cancer. When used with other medical tests, a tumor marker test can provide helpful information about the cancer and its treatment.
Pregnancy after breast cancer is possible
Despite toxic chemotherapy regimens that can mess with ovarian function, it is possible—and safe—for many women to conceive after breast cancer treatment.
Genetic counseling, testing: Telling kids about inherited cancer risk
When women with children attend a counseling session before undergoing genetic testing for breast cancer, they are far more likely than their partners to be up front with their kids about the tests and the potential for cancers being inherited, according to a study.
HER2 status affects chemotherapy benefit for node-positive breast cancer
The addition of Taxol to adjuvant chemotherapy may hold little benefit for women with the most common type of lymph node positive breast cancer, researchers found. Women with HER2-negative, estrogen receptor positive, lymph node positive breast cancer had no disease-free survival advantage from adding paclitaxel after adjuvant Adriamycin plus Cytoxan.
Weight loss may curb cancer-related arm swelling
Being overweight has been associated with the development of lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. Research has showed that weight loss, achieved by a reduced-calorie diet or even a low-fat diet, tended to decrease the amount of arm swelling in women with chronic lymphedema following breast cancer surgery.
More women are choosing double mastectomy even when breast cancer is confined to a single breast
A new study reports a 150% increase between 1998 and 2003 in American women opting to have both breasts removed when cancer has been found in only one breast. The study’s authors cautioned that this aggressive strategy may be unnecessary.
After surviving breast cancer, women face increased risk of heart disease
Women who overcome breast cancer have every reason to celebrate. But a heart filled with joy may also be a heart damaged by life-saving cancer therapies, a growing body of research shows.
October 2007
Study finds support groups improve quality of life for metastatic breast cancer patients but may not extend survival
A new study shows that participating in support groups doesn’t extend the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer. The results, published in Cancer, differ from oft-cited findings that showed group psychotherapy extended survival time. The research did, however, confirm that support groups improved qualify of life for the participants.
FDA approves new uses for Evista
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Evista (raloxifene) for reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer.
Hypnosis before breast cancer surgery reduces pain, cost
Women who received a brief hypnosis intervention before breast cancer surgery spent less time in the operating room and reported significantly less pain and discomfort after surgery than women who did not undergo hypnosis, reports a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Cancer cells in blood can identify risk of recurrence in breast cancer
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are known to be associated with a bad prognosis in women with metastatic breast cancer. Now, for the first time, a group of scientists have shown that they can also detect CTCs before and after chemotherapy treatment and hence may be able to identify those patients likely to have a recurrence of their cancer after such treatment.
Study finds black women more likely than white women to have more aggressive, less treatable form of breast cancer
A large analysis of racial differences in rates of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer finds that black women in the U.S. are more likely than white women to have breast tumors that are ER-negative. ER-negative tumors are associated with less favorable outcomes than those that are ER-positive, in part because anti-estrogen therapies do not affect ER-negative tumors.
Basic biology and cancer: What causes good cells to go bad?
Dr. Michael Caligiuri lectured on eight topics to the AACR Scientist↔Survivor Educational Workshop. His lecture is adapted here and includes What is Cancer?; How Cancer Begins; Cancers are Genetic Mutations; Not All Cancers are the Same; Six Hallmarks of Cancer; A Genetic Disease; Cell Cycle, Oncogenes, and Tumor-Suppressor Genes; and Somatic and Germ-Line Mutations.
September 2007
Dense breasts, hormone levels are two separate, independent risk factors for breast cancer
The density of a woman’s breast tissue and her level of sex hormones are two strong and independent risk factors for breast cancer, according to a team of researchers. The finding dispels the common belief that the risk associated with dense breasts merely reflects the same risk associated with high levels of circulating sex hormones, they say. These independent risk factors seemed to have additive effects, so if a woman had both dense breasts and excess hormones, her risk was increased.
Different pattern of recurrence for triple-negative breast cancer
According to the results of a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, women with triple-negative breast cancer (breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and HER2-negative) have an increased risk of distant recurrence and death during the first few years after diagnosis but not thereafter.
MRI finds breast cancer before it becomes dangerous
A study in the Lancet could lead to a change of paradigm in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. It states that magnetic resonance imaging is substantially more accurate than mammography in diagnosing very early stages of breast cancer.
Racial differences in severity of breast cancer presentation confirmed
African-American women are diagnosed with more advanced breast cancer than Caucasians, according to a new, single hospital study. Published in Cancer, the study analyzed demographic and breast cancer data from a single institution’s registry, and confirmed that African-Americans are more likely to present with later stage and higher grade tumors compared to Caucasians. In addition, tumors from African-Americans contain more poor prognostic molecular characteristics than Caucasians.
Study finds western-style meat diet increases risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal Chinese women
A new study finds that the more “western” the diet—marked by red meat, starches and sweets—the greater the risk for breast cancer among postmenopausal Chinese women. According to the researchers who conducted the analysis, the findings mark the first time a specific association between a western diet and breast cancer has been identified in Asian women.
Breast cancer not regulated to women; some men battle it too
According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women has a chance of developing invasive breast cancer in her life. But the disease, which is aligned closely with women, can also affect men. This story tells of one retired San Antonio judge who discovered that personally.
August 2007
Triple-negative breast cancer disproportionately affects African American and Hispanic women
A form of breast cancer shown to disproportionately affect young African American women has also recently been found to have an increased incidence in Hispanic women. Called “triple-negative” breast cancer because its cells lack receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2, it cannot be controlled with drugs that target these receptors, limiting effective treatment options.
Yearly mammograms protect breast cancer survivors
Older women who get yearly mammograms after treatment of early-stage breast cancer are less likely to die from breast cancer, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The researchers examined five years of follow-up on almost 2,000 patients age 65 and older with stage I and II breast cancer.
New study confirms link between breast cancer and hormone therapy
A sharp drop in breast cancer rates from 2003 to 2004 is linked to an even larger drop in women’s use of hormone therapy that began around 2000, according to a Kaiser Premanente study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that confirms the connection between breast cancer, hormone therapy and mammography screening over the past 25 years. This new analysis provides even stronger evidence that recent declines in menopausal hormone therapy use are linked with lower incidence of breast cancer.
FDA approves first molecular-based lab test to detect metastatic breast cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first molecular-based laboratory test for detecting whether the cancer has spread and is used to help decide appropriate therapy for a woman with metastatic breast cancer. The presence or absence of breast cancer cells in underarm lymph nodes is a powerful predictor of whether the cancer has spread and is used to help decide appropriate therapy for a woman with metastatic breast cancer.
Breast cancer: Statistics on incidence, survival, and screening
Staging is the process physicians use to assess the size and location of a patient’s cancer. This information helps determine the most optimal form of treatment. Breast cancer stages range from Stage 0 (very early form of cancer) to Stage IV (advanced, metastatic breast cancer). The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is calculated based on averages. Each patient’s individual tumor characteristics, state of health, genetic background, etc. will impact her survival.
Coaching for doctor office visits helps patients ask right questions
Asking more questions during a visit to the doctor might help patients get care that is more satisfactory, but many patients are not sure where to start. A new review of 33 studies found that giving patients question checklists or providing in-office coaching can help them ask more questions of their health care provider and get more information that is useful.
July 2007
Drug-resistant breast cancer afflicts blacks
Why are black women, who are less likely to get breast cancer than white women, more likely to get it when they are young—and much more likely to die from it? Researchers have uncovered a crucial clue: Black women, particularly young ones, get hit much more often by an aggressive form of breast cancer that is invulnerable to many of the latest treatments.
Study finds difference in survival rates among white and black women with advanced breast cancer
Despite modest overall improvements in breast cancer survival rates for women with advanced disease over the last two decades, the rates for black women have not improved and the difference in life expectancy between white and black women continues to widen, according to researchers at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Family tree can hide breast cancer: Father can pass on gene, study finds
A deadly gene’s path can hide in a family tree when a woman has few aunts and older sisters, making it appear that her breast cancer struck out of nowhere when it really came from Dad. Half of genetic breast cancers are inherited from a woman’s father, not her mother. But unless Dad has female relatives with breast cancer, the faulty gene may have been passed down silently, without causing caner. (Men can get genetic breast cancer, too, but it’s not common.)
Annual mammography reduces mortality in older breast cancer survivors
Annual mammography screening for breast cancer survivors older than 65 dramatically lowers their risk of death from breast cancer, whether by recurrence or another primary tumor. Results published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology show that each successive annual mammogram reduces a woman’s breast cancer mortality risk by about 31%; by the fourth year of compounding that reduction, their cumulative risk has been cut by 88%.
Mammograms lower rates of advanced breast cancer
Mammography screening has significantly reduced the number of breast cancer cases involving large tumors or disease that has spread to the lymph nodes, according to a Swedish study. For women between 40 and 49 years of age, mammography screening was associated with significant reductions in the rate of node-positive cancers, tumors larger than 2 cm, and cancers of stage II or higher, the investigators report in Cancer.
Shift in treating breast cancer is under debate
Doctors who treat women with breast cancer are glimpsing the possibility of a vastly different future. After years of adding more and more to the regimen—more drugs, shorter intervals between chemotherapy sessions, higher doses, longer periods of a harsh therapy—they are now wondering whether many women could skip chemotherapy altogether.
June 2007
Neither abortion nor miscarriage associated with breast cancer risk
Neither induced abortion nor spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) appears to be associated with breast cancer risk in premenopausal women, according to a report in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers examined the association between abortion and breast cancer in 105,716 women who were part of the Nurses’ Health Study II.
Lymphedema after cancer—how serious is it?
Many people who survive cancer will suffer from a serious side effect of treatment known as lymphedema, and they may not even know about it. Lymphedema results when part of the lymphatic system is interrupted—when lymph nodes or vessels are removed or damaged, causing a “traffic jam” of lymph to build up.
Why breast cancer patients gain weight during treatment and how to manage it
Researchers first noted weight gain in breast cancer patients in 1978 and subsequent work expanded the understanding of the relationship between diet, exercise, weight gain and chemotherapy. Weight gain in breast cancer patients commonly ranges from about 5.5 pounds to about 13.5 pounds.
Aggressive treatments at end of life linked to worse quality of death for cancer patients
For patients with advanced cancer, aggressive treatment in the last week of life is linked to a worse quality of death and less likelihood of dying in the place of the patient’s choice, according to a presentation at the American Geriatrics Society annual meeting.
Growing gap seen in advanced breast cancer survival between black and white women
An analysis of women with advanced breast cancer over the past two decades has found that disparities in breast cancer survival between black and white women have increased. Although breast cancer-specific survival rates continuously increased for white women, they did not change for black women.
Fewer U.S. women get breast cancer test
After rising steadily for decades, the proportion of U.S. women getting mammograms to screen for breast cancer has dropped for the first time, federal researchers report. The overall rate at which women are undergoing regular mammograms fell 4% between 2000 and 2005, marking the first significant decline since use of the breast X-rays started expanding rapidly in 1987.
May 2007
Red meat “ups breast cancer risk”
Eating red meat significantly increases a post-menopausal woman’s chance of breast cancer, research suggests. Older women who ate one 2-oz portion a day had a 56% increased risk compared with those who ate none. Those who ate the most processed meat had a 64% greater risk of breast cancer than those who refrained.
MRI detects nearly all contralateral breast cancers
A new study has demonstrated a significant benefit of adding a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study to the standard diagnostic workup following a new diagnosis of breast cancer in one breast.
Studies shed light on spiritual needs of cancer patients, complementary and alternative medicine use among trial participants
Two new studies shed light on important issues in the care of advanced cancer patients—one study finds that many of these patients feel their spiritual support needs are not being met, while the other shows that many patients use biologically based complementary and alternative medicine.
Epigenetics and cancer prevention
Some cancers involve the inappropriate silencing or activation of genes through epigenetic changes, chemical modifications to DNA and proteins that control gene activity without causing a change in DNA sequence.
Hispanic women three times more likely to develop advanced breast cancer
A recent study finds that Hispanic women are almost three times more likely to be diagnosed with advanced breast cancer than non-Hispanic women. The differences were observed even after researchers adjusted for factors such as socioeconomic status, length of time the women had been enrolled in the managed health care system, and regular checkups.
Mammogram study evaluates computer-aided detection
Researchers are reporting that a computer system created to help radiologists interpret mammograms may not be helping after all. The system, known as computer-aided detection (CAD) used software to mark suspicious spots on mammograms that could be overlooked by radiologists.
Micrometastases may aid in breast cancer diagnosis and staging
Sentinel lymph node biopsy is considered the standard of care, and more and more information is being collected from each tissue sample. Pathologists are now able to describe micrometastases as small as 0.2 mm, and even identify smaller isolated cells. The significance of these even more detailed findings has yet to be determined.
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