Postmenopausal women who take hormone therapy consisting of estrogen alone may have a somewhat reduced risk of breast cancer. These findings—from longer term follow up of the Women’s Health Initiative trial of estrogen alone—were published in the Journal of the …
Tag: breast cancer screening
MRI Detects Earlier-stage Breast Cancers among Women with BRCA1/2 Mutations
Annual breast cancer screening that includes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reduces the frequency of advanced breast cancers among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 …
Diagnosis of Early Breast Cancer Doesn’t Shorten Life Expectancy of Older Women
Among women age 67 or older, a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or Stage I breast cancer doesn’t appear to worsen survival survival is similar to that of older women without breast cancer. Diagnosis of more advanced breast …
Breast Cancer Rates No Longer Declining
After a sharp decline in breast cancer rates between 2002 and 2003 among non Hispanic white women in the US, overall breast cancer rates did not change significantly between 2003 and 2007. These results were published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, …
Halaven Improves Survival with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Among women with previously treated, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, treatment with the chemotherapy drug Halaven™ (eribulin mesylate) improved overall survival by 2.5 months. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were published in The Lancet. Metastatic breast …
Mammography Less Accurate for Detection of Second Cancers
Among women with a personal history of breast cancer, mammography can detect second cancers at an early stage, but may be less accurate than among women who have never had breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of …
Obesity Linked with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Women who are obese and not physically active may be more likely than other women to develop triple negative breast cancer (breast cancer that is estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative, and HER2 negative). These results were published in Cancer …
Surgical Breast Biopsies Being Overused
A study conducted in Florida suggests that too many women are undergoing open, surgical breast biopsies instead of less invasive needle biopsies. These results were published in the American Journal of Surgery. If a woman has a breast lump …
Hormone Use Near Menopause May Pose Greatest Breast Cancer Risk
A large study conducted in the UK has reported that early use of menopausal hormone therapy (use before or soon after menopause) may increase breast cancer risk to a greater extent than later use. These results were published in the …
Social Support May Improve Breast Cancer Outcomes
Social well being during the first year after a breast cancer diagnosis may have a beneficial effect on cancer outcomes. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. A diagnosis of breast cancer often affects a woman’s