Alcohol Linked with Lobular Breast Cancer 09/02/2010
Although alcohol is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer, it may be more strongly linked with lobular breast cancer than with ductal breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Research suggests that each 10 gram (slightly less than one drink) increase in daily ...

Additional Research on Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer 08/23/2010
A recent study of menopausal hormone therapy and risk of breast cancer reported that risk may vary by body weight and the type of hormone therapy. These results were published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention. As women reach menopause and beyond, more than 80% will experience symptoms such as hot ...

Mediterranean Diet May Lower Breast Cancer Risk 08/15/2010
Postmenopausal women who consume a traditional Mediterranean diet may have a lower risk for breast cancer, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. A traditional Mediterranean diet—one that is rich in fish, olive oil, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes and lower in red meat and ...

Study Evaluates Impact of Lymph Node Removal in Early-stage Breast Cancer 08/12/2010
Early-stage breast cancer patients without evidence of cancer in their sentinel lymph node who did not have additional lymph nodes removed report fewer side effects to the arm and breast than patients who undergo additional lymph node removal. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] For ...

Breast Density and Hormone Therapy Add to Breast Cancer Risk 08/03/2010
Postmenopausal women with high breast density are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] This risk increases with the use of hormone therapy. Breast density refers to the extent of glandular and connective tissue in ...

FDA Advisory Committee Recommends that Avastin No Longer Be Approved for Breast Cancer 07/28/2010
CC Archive: Breast Cancer Metastatic, FDA news The Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted 12 to one that Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel should no longer be approved for initial therapy for metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer refers to ...

Updated Guidelines Address Hormonal Therapy for Breast Cancer 07/20/2010
Among postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, use of an aromatase inhibitor at some point in the course of adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment results in a lower risk of cancer recurrence than use of tamoxifen only. Based on these results, updated guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend ...

Olaparib Active Against Advanced Ovarian Cancer and Breast Cancer with BRCA Mutations 07/19/2010
Previously treated advanced breast and ovarian cancer patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation may benefit from treatment with the oral investigational drug olaparib. These findings were recently published in the journal The Lancet.[1],[2] Although most ovarian cancer patients initially respond to platinum-based chemotherapy, most will eventually experience a ...

Screening Rates Among Older Americans 07/14/2010
More older Americans are undergoing screening for colon cancer, but the rates for breast cancer screening remain the same, according to a government report released on July 6, 2010.[1] The best “treatment” of cancer is preventing its occurrence in the first place or detecting it early when it may be ...

Male BRCA2 Carriers Have Increased Lifetime Risk of Breast Cancer 07/13/2010
Men who carry the BRCA2 genetic mutation have a 7.1% chance of developing breast cancer by age 70 and an 8.6% chance of developing the disease by age 80, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of Medical Genetics.[1] Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 ...

Fish Oil Linked to Reduction in Breast Cancer Risk 07/08/2010
A recent study suggests that regular use of fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of breast cancer. These findings were published in the journal of <em>Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &amp; Prevention</em>.<a href="#_edn1">[1]</a> Dietary supplements are a booming business—Americans are spending approximately $25 billion a year to supplement their diets with products ...

Many Breast Cancer Patients Taking Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy Stop Treatment Early 06/30/2010
Less than half of early-stage breast cancer patients with hormone-sensitive disease completed the full dose and schedule of their hormonal therapy treatment. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] The majority of breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive. These cancers are stimulated to grow by the circulating ...

Racial Disparity in Breast Cancer Outcomes Among Underinsured 06/29/2010
Underinsured African-Americans have worse breast cancer survival outcomes than their underinsured White counterparts, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of the National Caner Institute.[i] The disparity in breast cancer mortality between African-American women and White women has been scrutinized in several studies. African-American ...

Gene Mutation Increases Risk of Blood Clots in Breast Cancer Patients Taking Tamoxifen 06/28/2010
Among women taking tamoxifen for early-stage breast cancer, an inherited gene mutation (Factor V Leiden) may increase the risk of blood clots. These results, which differ from a previous study that evaluated women taking tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention, were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.[1] Tamoxifen ...

Bisphosphonates May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk 06/28/2010
Two studies have provided additional evidence that use of bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis may reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The results of these studies were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis and to ...

Sequential Chemotherapy Benefits Node-positive Breast Cancer Patients 06/17/2010
Women with operable node-positive breast cancer experienced a survival benefit from sequential administration of doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and Taxotere® (docetaxel). These findings were recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine.[1] Effective treatment of node-positive breast cancer often involves both local and systemic therapy. Local therapy consists of surgery and/or ...

Tykerb plus Taxol Is Active in Inflammatory Breast Cancer 06/16/2010
Tykerb® (lapatinib) plus Taxol® (paclitaxel) appears to provide benefit in the initial treatment of inflammatory breast cancer, according to results published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive and lethal form of breast cancer. Many of these cancers express the tyrosine kinase receptors HER2 ...

Low Incidence of Heart Complications with Herceptin in Breast Cancer 06/16/2010
Even with longer-term follow-up, heart problems are not common among breast cancer patients treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab). These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] Twenty to 25 percent of breast cancers overexpress (make too much of) a protein known as HER2. Overexpression of this protein leads to ...

Single-dose Radiation in Early Breast Cancer 06/13/2010
A single dose of radiotherapy delivered at the time of surgery may be an effective alternative to external beam radiation delivered over several weeks among selected patients with early breast cancer. Findings of this international Phase III trial were published in The Lancet. Treatment for early-stage breast cancer often involves breast ...

Sentinel Node Biopsy Safe and Effective for Breast Cancer 06/10/2010
Among women with early breast cancer and no evidence of cancer in the sentinel lymph nodes, sentinel lymph node biopsy alone is as effective as more extensive lymph node surgery. These results were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. For women with early breast ...

Additional Lymph Node Removal May Not Improve Survival in Breast Cancer Patients with Small Amounts of Cancer in Sentinel Node 06/09/2010
Among women with early-stage breast cancer and small amounts of cancer (micrometastases) in the sentinel lymph node, removal of additional lymph nodes (completion axillary lymph node dissection) does not appear to improve overall survival. The results of this study were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society ...

Genetic Differences May Influence the Severity of Joint Pain Among Breast Cancer Patients Taking Aromatase Inhibitors 06/08/2010
Aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia (AIAA) is a major side effect in breast cancer survivors, producing joint pain so severe that as many as ten percent of women discontinue their therapy prematurely while undergoing treatment with these lifesaving drugs. New research presented by investigators from the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer ...

Metastases from Breast Cancer May Differ from Primary Tumor 06/08/2010
It appears that in metastatic breast cancer, the biologic characteristics of liver metastases sometimes differ from those of the primary tumor. This finding may affect treatment choices for metastases. Results of this retrospective study were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Three key biologic ...

Eribulin Improves Survival with Metastatic Breast Cancer 06/08/2010
Among women with previously treated, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, treatment with the investigational chemotherapy drug eribulin mesylate improved overall survival by about 2.5 months. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Metastatic breast cancer ...

Hormone Replacement with Estrogen Alone Does Not Compromise Breast Cancer Detection 06/07/2010
Breast cancer detection by mammography among postmenopausal women who use hormone replacement therapy with estrogen alone does not appear to be compromised, according to the results of a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.1 Previous studies have indicated that combined hormone therapy with estrogen plus progestin increases the incidence ...

Lumpectomy without Radiation an Option for Some Older Breast Cancer Patients 05/31/2010
Among women aged 70 or older with Stage I, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, treatment with lumpectomy and tamoxifen resulted in a higher rate of cancer recurrence but similar overall survival as treatment with lumpectomy, tamoxifen, and radiation therapy. These results, which will be presented at the 2010 annual meeting of ...

Optimal Outcomes with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitors Require Appropriate Hypertension Assessment, Monitoring, and Management 05/27/2010
An expert panel provided consensus recommendations for appropriate prevention, surveillance and treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) in patients treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway inhibitors. These recommendations were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.[1] Researchers continue to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies, such ...

Micrometastases Affect Breast Cancer Prognosis 05/19/2010
Among women with early breast cancer, those with very small areas of cancer (micrometastases) in the axillary lymph nodes tend to have a higher risk of recurrence than those whose lymph nodes are completely free of cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Evaluation of the axillary ...

Screening Mammography Performs Poorly in Young Women 05/13/2010
Screening mammography in women under age 40 results in high rates of callbacks, low rates of cancer detection, and high rates of false-positive results, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.[1] Screening mammography refers to mammograms ...

Study Explores Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS 05/10/2010
Among women with breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), evaluation of three molecular markers in a sample of DCIS tissue may provide information about the subsequent risk of invasive breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. DCIS refers to a ...

Midlife Weight Gain Increases Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk 05/05/2010
Women who gain weight in midlife may have an increased risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer, according to research findings presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. Research into lifestyle factors that influence breast cancer risk or prognosis allows us to ...

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Levels Significantly Elevated in Women Who Developed Breast Cancer 04/30/2010
Blood levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may be elevated in women up to 17 months prior to a diagnosis of breast cancer. These findings were recently presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 101st Annual Meeting.[1] In an attempt to improve survival by detecting ...

Childhood Body Size May Affect Breast Cancer Risk 04/20/2010
Young girls with a large body size may have a decreased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer compared with thinner girls, according to a study published in Breast Cancer Research. Body weight is a factor that appears to influence not only the risk of developing several types of cancer ...

Teenage Alcohol Consumption May Raise Risk of Benign Breast Disease 04/20/2010
Adolescent girls who consume alcohol may have an increased risk of developing benign breast disease as young women, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Benign breast disease may increase risk for developing breast cancer. Previous studies have linked alcohol intake among adult women with an increased ...

BRCA1/2 Mutations Increase Risk of Cancer in Opposite Breast 04/12/2010
Among women with breast cancer, those with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation are much more likely than other women to develop a second breast cancer in the opposite breast. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Some women who have been diagnosed with breast ...

Breast Cancer Among Women Over 80 04/06/2010
Women over age 80 tend to receive less aggressive treatment and experience higher mortality from early-stage breast cancer than their younger counterparts, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.1 Women over the age of 80 are the fastest ...

Study Evaluates Beta Blockers and Breast Cancer 04/05/2010
According to a preliminary study presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference, breast cancer patients who use beta blockers to treat high blood pressure may have a reduced risk of distant metastasis and death from breast cancer. This study is among the first to evaluate the relationship between ...

Delay in Radiation Therapy Increases Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence 04/01/2010
Among older women who undergo breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) for early breast cancer, a longer interval between surgery and the start of radiation therapy increases the risk of local cancer recurrence. These results were published in the British Medical Journal. Surgery for early-stage breast cancer involves either a ...

Herceptin plus Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide Tolerable and Effective for HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer 03/31/2010
For women with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer, the combination of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide appears to offer a promising treatment option with a relatively low rate of heart complications. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Twenty to 25 percent of ...

Neratinib Active in Women with Advanced HER2-positive Breast Cancer 03/16/2010
Among women with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, the investigational drug neratinib produced promising response rates and progression-free survival. The results of this Phase II clinical trial were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Twenty to 25 percent of breast cancers overexpress (make too much of) a ...

Oncotype DX® Predicts Recurrence Risk in Node-negative and Node-positive Breast Cancer Treated with Tamoxifen or Arimidex 03/09/2010
Among postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated with either tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) or Arimidex® (anastrozole), the Oncotype DX test predicts the risk of distant cancer recurrence in both node-negative and node-positive patients. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Oncotype DX ...

Bisphosphonates May Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer 03/08/2010
Use of bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis may reduce the risk of breast cancer. The results of this study were published in the British Journal of Cancer. Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis and to reduce the risk of bone complications from bone ...

Tykerb plus Herceptin More Effective Than Tykerb Alone for Metastatic Breast Cancer That Has Progressed on Herceptin 03/03/2010
Among women with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer that has progressed during treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Herceptin appears to be more effective than Tykerb alone. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and were previously presented at the ...

Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence and Death 02/18/2010
Among women who are at least one year beyond a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer, regular aspirin use may reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) include drugs such as aspirin ...

Tykerb Approved for Initial Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer 02/02/2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its approval of Tykerb® (lapatinib) to include initial treatment of metastatic, postmenopausal breast cancer that is both HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive. In this setting, Tykerb is approved for use in combination with the aromatase inhibitor drug Femara® ...

Soy Foods May Benefit Breast Cancer Patients 01/29/2010
According to a study conducted in China, breast cancer patients with the highest soy consumption had a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence and a lower risk of death than patients with the lowest soy consumption. An editorial that accompanied the study, however, offered some words ...

Exercise and Green Tea May Help Breast Cancer Survivors Beat the Blues 01/28/2010
Exercising and drinking green tea may help prevent depression among breast cancer survivors, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] Depression is a major concern among breast cancer patients and survivors. Some estimates report that the prevalence of depression ...

Oncotype DX® Predicts Local and Regional Breast Cancer Recurrence 01/13/2010
In addition to providing information about risk of distant breast cancer recurrence, the Oncotype DX® Recurrence Score also provides information about risk of local or regional breast cancer recurrence. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Oncotype DX is a genomic test that has been shown to predict ...

Oncotype DX® Influences Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions 01/12/2010
Among women with early breast cancer, use of the Oncotype DX® test changed oncologist treatment recommendations in approximately 32% of cases. Use of the test also increased oncologist confidence in the treatment recommendation and decreased patient anxiety. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The Oncotype DX test ...

Breast Imaging Groups Recommend Mammograms at Age 40 01/06/2010
The Society of Breast Imaging and the Breast Imaging Commission of the American College of Radiology recommend that women at average risk of breast cancer begin screening with mammography starting at the age of 40. These recommendations were published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Mammograms (X-ray images ...

Acupuncture Reduces Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Patients 01/04/2010
Among women treated with hormonal therapy for breast cancer, acupuncture and Effexor® (venlafaxine) were similarly effective at reducing the frequency of hot flashes. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The majority of breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive. These cancers are stimulated to grow by the circulating female ...

Many Women at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Refuse MRIs 12/29/2009
In a breast cancer screening study, 42% of intermediate- and high-risk women who were offered breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) refused the procedure. The most common reason given for refusal was claustrophobia. These results were published in Radiology. The goal of breast cancer screening is to reduce breast cancer mortality by ...

Herceptin® Given Concurrently with Chemotherapy May Provide Most Benefit 12/16/2009
The results of a Phase III clinical trial confirm that Herceptin® (trastuzumab) reduces the risk of recurrence among women with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, and also suggest that treatment with Herceptin should begin concurrently with chemotherapy. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Twenty to 25 ...

Neratinib Shows Promise in Treatment of HER2-positive Breast Cancer 12/16/2009
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the investigational drug neratinib to paclitaxel chemotherapy produced promising response rates among women with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Twenty to 25 percent of breast cancers overexpress ...

Combination of Tykerb® and Herceptin® Benefits Breast Cancer Patients Who Have Progressed on Herceptin 12/15/2009
Among women with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer that has progressed during treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Herceptin appears to be more effective than Tykerb alone. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Approximately 20-25% of breast cancers overexpress (make too much ...

Combination of Herceptin® with Non–anthracycline-based Chemotherapy Appears to Be Effective 12/15/2009
Among women with early, HER2-positive breast cancer, the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to adjuvant chemotherapy reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and improves survival. Herceptin provides a benefit in combination with either anthracycline- or non–anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Twenty to ...

Addition of Avastin® to Chemotherapy Delays Breast Cancer Progression 12/15/2009
According to the results of two Phase III clinical trials, the addition of Avastin® (bevacizumab) to first- or second-line chemotherapy delays cancer progression but may not improve overall survival among women with advanced breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). Avastin is a ...

Oncotype DX® Influences Treatment Decisions in Node-positive Breast Cancer 12/14/2009
Use of the Oncotype DX® test to estimate recurrence risk and chemotherapy benefit influences treatment decisions for women with node-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). Oncotype DX is a genomic test that previously has been shown to predict the likelihood of cancer ...

Black Women with HR-positive Breast Cancer Have Worse Outcomes 12/14/2009
Black women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer have worse disease-free and overall survival than women of other races, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.[1] Previous research has indicated that Black women have worse outcomes in operable breast cancer, possibly ...

Alcohol Increases Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence 12/14/2009
Among women treated for early-stage breast cancer, those who consume three to four alcoholic drinks per week or more have a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence than non-drinkers. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Previous studies have reported that alcohol consumption increases the risk ...

Nexavar® Evaluated in Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer 12/14/2009
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the targeted therapy Nexavar® (sorafenib) to chemotherapy may delay cancer progression among women with locally recurrent or metastatic, HER2-negative breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Nexavar is a targeted therapy ...

Higher Dose of Faslodex® May Delay Breast Cancer Progression 12/14/2009
Among postmenopausal women with advanced, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer that has progressed or recurred after prior hormonal therapy, a higher dose of Faslodex® (fulvestrant) appears to be more effective than the standard dose. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Faslodex is a type of hormonal ...

Anti-estrogens May Reduce Risk of Lung Cancer Death 12/14/2009
Anti-estrogens (such as tamoxifen [Nolvadex®]) used as treatment for breast cancer may also reduce the risk of death from lung cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.[1] A majority of breast cancers are ER–positive, meaning they are stimulated to grow ...

Oncotype Dx® Predicts Chemotherapy Benefit in Node-positive Breast Cancer 12/11/2009
Among women with node-positive, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, use of the Oncotype DX® test identifies a subset of women who do not appear to benefit from adjuvant (post-surgery) anthracycline-based chemotherapy. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and were also published in Lancet Oncology. Oncotype DX ...

MRI Screening May Detect Breast Cancer Earlier Among BRCA Carriers 12/11/2009
The addition of MRI to mammography screening in women with a BRCA mutation appears to significantly reduce the incidence of advanced breast cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.[1] Women who carry a BRCA mutation are at a higher risk ...

Obesity Linked with Worse Breast Cancer Prognosis 12/11/2009
According to a study conducted in Denmark, women who are overweight or obese tend to have more advanced breast cancer at the time of diagnosis and also have higher breast cancer mortality. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Research into lifestyle factors that influence breast ...

Bisphosphonates May Provide Breast Cancer Benefits 12/11/2009
Studies presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium suggest that the class of bone drugs known as bisphosphonates may reduce the risk of breast cancer and may help to maintain bone density in breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors. Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used to prevent ...

Denosumab Reduces Bone Complications in Breast Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases 12/10/2009
Among women with bone metastases from breast cancer, the investigational drug denosumab was more effective than Zometa® (zoledronic acid) at delaying or preventing bone complications such as fracture. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Metastatic cancer refers to cancer ...

Sterotactic Radiosurgery Alone Is Preferred Treatment for Newly Diagnosed Brain Metastases 12/09/2009
Patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases who undergo sterotactic radiosurgery plus whole-brain radiation therapy experience significant memory loss; therefore, stereotactic radiosurgery alone is the preferred method of treatment for these patients, according to the results of a study published in the Lancet Oncology.[1] For decades, whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has ...

Home Care Nursing Improves Symptom Management 12/04/2009
Among breast and colorectal cancer patients treated with the oral chemotherapy drug Xeloda® (capecitabine), symptom management was better among patients who received home care nursing than among patients who received standard care. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Xeloda is an oral chemotherapy drug that has been ...

Mammography May Increase Breast Cancer Risk in Some High-risk Women 12/02/2009
According to a combined analysis of previous studies, low-dose radiation from annual mammograms may increase the risk of breast cancer among women with genetic or familial predisposition to the disease. These results were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Mammograms (X-ray images of the breasts) ...

Risk of Smoking-related Bladder Cancer Has Increased 11/24/2009
Although smoking has long been known to increase the risk of bladder cancer, the risk among smokers appears to have increased since the mid-1990s. This may be the result of changes in the composition of cigarettes or changes in inhalation patterns among smokers. These results were published in the Journal ...

Dense Breasts Linked with Higher Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence 11/23/2009
After breast-conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer, women with high breast density tend to have a higher risk of local (within the breast) cancer recurrence than women with low breast density. The effect of breast density is most apparent among women who do not receive radiation therapy. These results were ...

Making Sense of New Mammography Recommendations 11/18/2009
The U.S. Preventive Services Tasks Force (USPSTF) has reversed its position on screening mammography for women in their 40s: the group no longer recommends routine screening mammography for average-risk women in this age group.[1] The American Cancer Society, however, has stated that it will continue to recommend annual mammograms ...

Persistent Pain Common After Breast Cancer Surgery 11/16/2009
Two to three years after breast cancer surgery, persistent pain continues to affect close to half of all women. The results of this study, which was conducted in Denmark, were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Surgery for breast cancer generally involves either breast-conserving surgery (also known as ...

Excess Body Weight Linked with More Than 100,000 New Cancer Diagnoses Each Year in U.S. 11/09/2009
According to estimates from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), excess body weight may be responsible for more than 100,000 new cancer diagnoses each year in the United States. Excess body weight is increasingly recognized as a risk factor not only for cancer development but also for worse outcomes after ...

Even Small HER2-positive Breast Cancers Have a Higher Risk of Recurrence 11/05/2009
Among women with small, node-negative breast cancers, those with tumors that are HER2-positive have a higher risk of cancer recurrence. This suggests that consideration of HER2-targeted therapy such as Herceptin® (trastuzumab) may be important, even for women with small tumors. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Twenty ...

Breast Tenderness During Hormone Replacement Linked with Increased Breast Cancer Risk 10/19/2009
Women who experience new-onset breast tenderness after starting postmenopausal hormone therapy with combined estrogen plus progestin may have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who do not experience breast tenderness. These results were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. As women reach menopause and beyond, more than 80% ...

Young Women with DCIS Have Higher Risk of Recurrence 10/12/2009
After treatment of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy, women age 44 or younger have a higher rate of recurrence than older women. These results were presented at the ASCO 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) refers to a condition in ...

Additional Evidence Regarding the Benefit of Regular Mammograms 10/09/2009
According to the results of a study presented at the ASCO 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium, nearly three-quarters of breast cancer deaths occur among the minority off women who do not get regular screening mammograms. Although breast cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women, breast cancer mortality rates ...

Smoking May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer 10/07/2009
Women who have smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their life have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to the results of a study published in The Breast Journal.[1] The American Cancer Society estimates that one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with ...

Number of Obesity-related Cancers Is Growing 10/03/2009
In 2008, excess body weight was responsible for over 124,000 new cancer diagnoses in Europe. These results were presented at a major European cancer conference. Obesity is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor not only for cancer development, but also for worse outcomes after cancer treatment. Links between obesity and ...

Surgery Improves Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer 10/02/2009
Women who have distant metastatic disease upon diagnosis of breast cancer still benefit from removal of the primary tumor. In fact, these patients survive significantly longer than those who do not undergo surgery, according to the results of a study presented on September 22, 2009 at Europe’s largest cancer congress, ...

Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Continue to Decline 10/01/2009
According to a report issued by the American Cancer Society, breast cancer death rates in the United States continue to decline by more than 2% per year. This and other breast cancer statistics were published in Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010. Breast cancer mortality rates began to decline in ...

Nexavar Shows Promise in Advanced Breast Cancer 09/30/2009
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the targeted therapy Nexavar® (sorafenib) to chemotherapy may delay the progression of advanced breast cancer. These results were presented at a European cancer conference. Targeted therapies are anticancer drugs that interfere with specific pathways involved in cancer cell ...

Lifestyle Factors Increase Risk of Second Breast Cancer 09/23/2009
Obesity, alcohol consumption, and smoking significantly increase the risk of second breast cancers among breast cancer survivors, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the United States alone. Treatment for the disease ...

Surgical Decision-making in Early-stage Breast Cancer 09/15/2009
Patients with early-stage breast cancer who take an active role in decision-making tend to opt for mastectomy over lumpectomy, despite the fact that the procedures have been shown to produce equivalent outcomes, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.[1] Women with ...

Tamoxifen May Increase Risk of ER-negative Second Breast Cancer 09/03/2009
Although adjuvant (post-surgery) tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) provides important benefits in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, it may increase a woman’s risk of developing an estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer in the opposite breast. These results were published in Cancer Research. A majority of breast cancers are ER–positive, meaning they are ...

Preoperative MRI in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Shows Little Benefit 08/26/2009
Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in breast cancer leads to more extensive surgery without evidence of improvement in surgical outcomes or long-term prognosis, according to the results of a study published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Preoperative MRI is increasingly being used in women with early-stage breast cancer who ...

Sequential Treatment of Breast Cancer with Femara® and Tamoxifen Is Not Superior to Femara Alone 08/25/2009
Sequential treatment with Femara® (letrozole) and tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) does not improve disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer when compared with therapy with Femara alone, according to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The majority of breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive. ...

Many High-risk Women Opt for Preventive Removal of Breasts and Ovaries 08/19/2009
Many women who are considered to be at high risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer are choosing to undergo preventive mastectomy (removal of breasts) and/or oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) in order to reduce their risk of developing the disease, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & ...

Adjuvant Therapy Benefits Breast Cancer Patients with Small Areas of Cancer in Lymph Nodes 08/14/2009
Breast cancer patients with very small areas of cancer in the axillary lymph nodes (micrometastases or isolated tumor cells) appear to benefit from post-surgery treatment with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or both. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Evaluation of the axillary (under the arm) lymph nodes ...

Weight Lifting May Be Safe for Breast Cancer Survivors with Lymphedema 08/13/2009
Among breast cancer survivors with stable lymphedema, a program of twice-weekly, slowly progressive weight lifting increased strength and reduced lymphedema symptoms without affecting arm and hand swelling. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Lymphedema refers to swelling of the arm due to an accumulation of lymph ...

Breastfeeding Reduces Breast Cancer Risk in High-risk Women 08/12/2009
Among women with a first-degree family history of breast cancer, breastfeeding cut the risk of premenopausal breast cancer by more than half. These results were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Each year in the United States, close to 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Although some risk factors ...

Oncotype DX® and Clinical Characteristics Influence Chemotherapy Decisions in Early Breast Cancer 06/15/2009
Oncotype DX® and Clinical Characteristics Influence Chemotherapy Decisions in Early Breast Cancer According to research conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, among women with early breast cancer who underwent testing with Oncotype DX®, decisions about the need for chemotherapy were influenced by the Oncotype DX recurrence score as well as by the size ...

Denosumab Provides Bone Benefits in Prostate and Breast Cancer 06/15/2009
Denosumab Provides Bone Benefits in Prostate and Breast Cancer Among prostate patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy, the investigational drug denosumab increases bone density and reduces the risk of fractures. Denosumab also improves bone density in breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors. These were the results of two studies presented ...

Partial Breast Irradiation Appears Safe and Feasible for Early Breast Cancer 06/10/2009
Partial Breast Irradiation Appears Safe and Feasible for Early Breast Cancer Partial breast irradiation (PBI) appears to produce the same overall survival results as whole-breast radiation (WBRT) in women with early-stage breast cancer; however, more research will be necessary before this investigational treatment replaces WBRT as the standard of care in ...

Sentinel Node Micrometastases Indicate Need for Additional Axillary Treatment in Patients with Early Breast Cancer 06/04/2009
Sentinel Node Micrometastases Indicate Need for Additional Axillary Treatment in Patients with Early Breast Cancer According to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, breast cancer patients with small areas of cancer (“micrometastases”) in the sentinel lymph nodes should receive ...

Some Antidepressants May Interfere with Tamoxifen Effectiveness 06/03/2009
Some Antidepressants May Interfere with Tamoxifen Effectiveness According to the results of a study conducted in the United States and presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), certain types of antidepressants may interfere with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) effectiveness. In contrast, a study conducted in the ...

HER2 Overexpression Predicts Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS 06/01/2009
HER2 Overexpression Predicts Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that has high levels of the HER2 protein are several times more likely than other women with DCIS to have ...

Targeted Therapy Shows Promise in Treatment of Triple-negative Breast Cancer 06/01/2009
Targeted Therapy Shows Promise in Treatment of Triple-negative Breast Cancer According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial presented at a plenary session of the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), treatment with chemotherapy plus the investigational drug BSI-201—a type of targeted therapy known ...

Zometa® Improves Outcomes in Premenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer 02/17/2009
Among premenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, treatment with Zometa® (zoledronic acid) improved disease-free survival. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and were previously presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.Each year more than 180,000 U.S. ...

Preventive Removal of the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes Reduces Risk of Breast, Ovarian, and Fallopian Tube Cancers Among Women with BRCA Mutations 02/04/2009
Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO), or the preventive removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, is strongly associated with a reduction in the risk of breast, ovarian, and fallopian tube cancers in women who carry a BRCA mutation. The results of this study were published in the Journal of the National ...

Advances in the Treatment of Early-stage Breast Cancer: A Report from the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 02/03/2009
The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) marked its 31st anniversary this year and was the first SABCS presented in collaboration by the CTRC (Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center), AACR (American Association for Cancer Research), and the Baylor College of Medicine. ...

Childhood Cancer Survivors Not Getting Recommended Mammograms 01/30/2009
Among women at increased risk of breast cancer as a result of chest radiation for childhood cancer, many are not receiving regular mammographic screening for breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Women who were treated with radiation therapy to the chest for ...

Risk Assessment and Individualized Therapy: A Report from the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 01/29/2009
The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) marked its 31st anniversary with its 2008 meeting, which was the first SABCS presented in collaboration by the CTRC (Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center), AACR (American Association for Cancer Research), and the Baylor College ...

Breast Cancer Update from the 2008 Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 01/27/2009
IntroductionWhile there was no overriding theme to breast cancer presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) annual meeting in 2008, it is clear that progress continues to be steadily made in defining optimal chemotherapeutic regimens in the adjuvant setting, extending our knowledge of biological therapy, and improving ...

Healthy Diet Can't Hurt, May Help Breast Cancer Patients 01/08/2009
Women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer might benefit from a healthier diet that includes foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and minimizes refined foods and red meat, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] ...

ACS Guidelines for Breast Screening with MRI May Be Excluding Some High-risk Women 01/06/2009
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has developed a set of guidelines to recommend which high-risk women need to undergo screening with breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, these guidelines may unwittingly exclude some women who are at a high risk of carrying the BRCA mutation yet still don't meet ...

OncoVue® Offers Improved Estimation of Risk for Breast Cancer 12/23/2008
OncoVue® offers a significantly more accurate estimation of the risk of breast cancer than the Gail Model, according to the results of a study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 12, 2008.[1] Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer ...

Ixempra™ plus Xeloda® Improves Progression-free Survival in Triple-negative Metastatic Breast Cancer 12/23/2008
The combination of Ixempra® (ixabepilone) and Xeloda® (capecitabine) significantly increases progression-free survival in women with triple-negative metastatic breast cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 12, 2008.[1]Some breast cancers display different characteristics ...

Addition of Xeloda® Reduces Recurrence Risk in Early Breast Cancer 12/22/2008
Among women with high-risk early breast cancer, the addition of Xeloda® (capecitabine) to a standard chemotherapy regimen reduces the risk of cancer recurrence. These results were recently presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).Xeloda is an oral chemotherapy drug that is used in the treatment patients ...

Reduced Breast Density May Indicate a Response to Tamoxifen 12/22/2008
New research indicates that when the use of tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) results in a reduction of breast density, this change in breast density serves as an indicator that the drug is effectively working to reduce the risk of breast cancer. In other words, changes in breast density may indicate whether ...

Breast Cancer Is More Common but Less Deadly Among Women Who Use Postmenopausal Hormones 12/19/2008
Additional information from the Women's Health Initiative firmly establishes that postmenopausal hormone therapy with combined estrogen plus progestin increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. According to another study, however, breast cancers that develop in women who have used estrogen plus progestin tend to be less deadly than ...

Addition of Herceptin® to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Shows Benefit in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer 12/19/2008
Among women with locally advanced, HER2-positive breast cancer, neoadjuvant (before surgery) therapy with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) plus chemotherapy resulted in longer survival without recurrence or progression than neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.Locally advanced breast ...

Combination of Tykerb® and Femara® Delays Progression of Metastatic Breast Cancer 12/19/2008
Among postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer, the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Femara® (letrozole) resulted in longer progression-free survival than treatment with Femara alone. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.Each year, more than 180,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with ...

MRI Does Not Improve Staging Compared with Conventional Methods in Early Breast Cancer 12/18/2008
The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to breast-conserving surgery does not improve loco-regional staging compared with conventional staging methods among women with early breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.Staging for early breast cancer prior to surgery typically involves mammogram, ...

Oncotype DX® Predicts Recurrence Risk in Node-negative and Node-positive Breast Cancer Treated with Tamoxifen or Arimidex® 12/18/2008
Among women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated with either tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) or Arimidex® (anastrozole), the Oncotype DX test predicts the risk of distant cancer recurrence in both node-negative and node-positive patients. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.Oncotype DX is a genomic ...

Breast Cancer Risk Varies Among Young Women with Benign Breast Disease 12/18/2008
Women under the age of 50 who have atypical hyperplasia (a type of benign breast disease) are more than six times more likely to develop breast cancer than women in the general population. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.Benign breast disease refers to ...

Zometa in Combination with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy May Shrink Breast Tumors 12/18/2008
The bisphosphonate agent Zometa® (zoledronic acid) appears to do more than just prevent bone loss; it may actually have anti-tumor activity when combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. These results were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 13, 2008.[1]Zometa ...

Gene Influences Response to Tamoxifen Among Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients 12/17/2008
Among postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, those with certain inherited variations in a gene known as CYP2D6 derived little benefit from tamoxifen (Nolvadex®); based on these findings, researchers at the Mayo Clinic recommend CYP2D6 testing for postmenopausal women being considered for tamoxifen therapy. These results were presented ...

Even Small HER2-positive Breast Cancers Have Elevated Risk of Recurrence 12/17/2008
Without HER2-targeted therapy, HER2-positive breast cancer has a higher risk of recurrence than HER2-negative breast cancer, even when the breast cancer is small (1 cm or less); this raises the possibility that even women with very small HER2-positive breast cancers may benefit from a HER2-targeted therapy such as Herceptin® ...

Aromatase Inhibitors Improve Outcomes in Early Breast Cancer 12/17/2008
According to a combined analysis of previous studies, adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment with an aromatase inhibitor results in fewer recurrences than treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) among postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2008 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).Each year more ...

Denosumab Improves Bone Density in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy 12/16/2008
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial, the experimental drug denosumab significantly improves bone density among women with non-metastatic breast cancer treated with an aromatase inhibitor. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.  Each year more than 180,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with ...

Some Breast Cancers May Spontaneously Regress 12/09/2008
According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, some early breast cancers may disappear on their own.Screening mammography has made important contributions to the early detection of breast cancer and to improved breast cancer survival. Researchers have noticed, however, that the introduction of ...

Breast Brachytherapy Provides Good Cosmetic Outcomes Among Women with Breast Implants 12/08/2008
For women with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone breast augmentation, lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy (placement of radioactive “seeds” in the breast) appears to be effective and to provide better cosmetic outcomes than lumpectomy followed by whole-breast radiation therapy. These results were presented at the annual meeting of the ...

Link Between Obesity and Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women Not Related to Frequency or Accuracy of Mammography 12/08/2008
Obesity has long been associated with an increased risk and severity of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. New research now shows that this risk is not the result of differences in the use or accuracy of mammography screening but instead may actually be the result of biologic differences in ...

Family History of Breast Cancer Increases Risk Regardless of BRCA Status 12/04/2008
Women with a significant family history of breast cancer but no BRCA mutation are four times more likely to develop breast cancer than women in the general population. These results were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Seventh Annual International Conference in Washington, D.C. on November 17, ...

Avastin® plus Chemotherapy Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer 12/01/2008
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial among women with metastatic, HER2-negative breast cancer, treatment with a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy results in a longer progression-free interval than treatment with chemotherapy alone.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread to distant sites in ...

Calcium plus Vitamin D Supplementation Is Not Associated with a Reduced Risk of Breast Cancer 11/17/2008
Calcium and vitamin D supplementation may not reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to the results of a study recently published in an early online version of the November 2008 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.[1]The role diet plays ...

Poor Compliance with Tamoxifen Leads to Higher Recurrence Rates 11/13/2008
Researchers from St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York have reported that 37% of women with estrogen receptor-positive localized breast cancer are not compliant with prescribed tamoxifen (Nolvadex®), resulting in a higher rate of recurrent disease. The details of this study were published in the October, 2008 issue of the ...

Oncotype DX® Influences Treatment Decisions in Large Portion of Breast Cancer Patients 11/10/2008
Results from Oncotype DX® affect treatment decisions in a large portion of breast cancer patients who undergo the test. These results were recently published in the American Journal of Surgery.Although chemotherapy is recommended for many women with early-stage, node-negative breast cancer, the benefit of chemotherapy varies. Identifying in advance ...

Migraines Associated with Reduced Breast Cancer Risk 11/07/2008
Women suffering from migraines appear to have a reduced risk for developing breast cancer, possibly due to fluctuating hormone levels. These results were recently published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.The majority of breast cancers are stimulated to grow from exposure to the female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. If ...

Breast Cancer Patients Suffering Side Effects from Hormone Therapy Have Reduced Risk of Recurrence 11/06/2008
Patients with hormone-positive breast cancer who are treated with hormone therapy and suffer from joint or vasomotor symptoms (contracting or dilating of blood vessels that can affect nerves and muscles) have a reduced risk of a recurrence. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.Hormone-positive breast cancer refers ...

Vigorous Physical Activity Lowers Risk of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer 11/03/2008
Women who engage in vigorous physical activity can significantly lower their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. These results were recently published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women annually in the United States. Due to its prevalence, a reduction in the incidence of ...

Number of Circulating Cancer Cells Associated with Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer 10/30/2008
Cancer cells found circulating in the blood are a strong predictor of mortality among patients with metastatic breast cancer. Patients with large numbers of cancer cells found circulating in the blood may benefit from more aggressive or novel therapeutic approaches. These results were ...

Tamoxifen Associated with Reduction in Bone Fractures 10/24/2008
The use of the hormone agent Novaldex (tamoxifen) may reduce the risk of bone fractures in women 50 years or older. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Women with hormone-positive breast cancer have cancer that is stimulated to grow from exposure to the female hormones ...

Aromasin® and Nolvadex® Both Effective as Initial Therapy for Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer 10/22/2008
Both Aromasin (exemestane) and Nolvadex (tamoxifen) are effective as initial therapy for metastatic breast cancer among postmenopausal women. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Women with hormone-positive breast cancer have cancer that is stimulated to grow from exposure to the female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. ...

Coffee Consumption Not Associated with Overall Risk of Breast Cancer 10/15/2008
Amount of caffeine consumption is not associated with an overall increased risk of breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.Breast cancer is diagnosed in nearly 200,000 women annually in the United States. With such a high prevalence, researchers are evaluating ways in which ...

NSAIDs May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer 10/10/2008
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), including both aspirin and ibuprofen, appears to significantly reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and is the subject ...

Nexavar® May Overcome Resistance to Arimidex® in Breast Cancer 10/08/2008
The addition of Nexavar® (sorafenib) to Arimidex® (anastrozole) helps restore sensitivity to Arimidex among women with breast cancer. These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) breast cancer symposium.The majority of breast cancers are hormone positive, meaning that the cancer cells are ...

Arimidex® Not Associated with Cognitive Impairment Among Postmenopausal Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer 10/07/2008
The use of the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) does not appear to be associated with cognitive impairment among postmenopausal women at a high risk of developing breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.The majority of breast cancers are hormone positive, meaning the cancer cells are ...

Single Reading with Computer-aided Detection Equivalent to Double Reading of Mammograms 10/07/2008
The results of a study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that using computer-aided detection (computer programs that identify suspicious areas on mammograms) along with a single reader of mammograms could be an alternative to using double readers and could also improve the cancer detection ...

Hormone Therapy May Not Increase Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women with a BRCA1 Mutation 10/02/2008
According to the results of a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, hormone therapy for postmenopausal women with a BRCA1 mutation does not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer.1 Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been ...

Hormone Therapy and the BRCA1 Mutation 10/02/2008
According to the results of a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, hormone therapy for postmenopausal women with a BRCA1 mutation does not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer.1 Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly increase the ...

Continuous Low-dose Chemotherapy Effective Against Anthracycline-resistant Breast Cancer 09/26/2008
The use of low-dose Taxotere® (docetaxel) on a weekly basis plus Xeloda® (capecitabine) on a daily basis provided benefit for a significant portion of patients with breast cancer that has stopped responding to anthracyclines. The addition of Celebrex® (celecoxib), however, did not provide any additional benefit. These results were ...

Hypnosis Decreases Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors 09/25/2008
Hypnosis appears to reduce hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. These results were published in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Hot flashes can be a significant problem in women with a history of breast cancer. Given concerns regarding the use of hormonal therapies in such ...

Shorter Radiation Course as Effective as Longer Course in Early Breast Cancer 09/23/2008
A shorter course and lower doses of radiation therapy to the breast results in equivalent outcomes among patients with early breast cancer who have undergone surgery compared to the standard longer course and higher doses. These results were recently presented at a plenary session at the 2008 annual meeting ...

Management of breast cancer 09/21/2008
Breast Cancer – Overview Breast cancer is a common malignancy, with ~180,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year.[1] The disease occurs most frequently in women and rarely, in men. The breasts are glands that produce and release milk in women in association with pregnancy. Breast cancer develops ...

Oncotype DX® Accurately Determines HER2 Status in Breast Cancer 09/11/2008
Oncotype DX® appears to determine HER2 status as accurately as standard laboratory testing methods. By the end of 2008, Genomic Health intends to provide HER2 status with results from all Oncotype DX testing. These results were recently presented at the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Meeting.The ...

Oncotype DX® Adds to Information from Adjuvant! Online for Node-negative and Node-positive Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer Patients 09/10/2008
Use of Oncotype DX® contributes information about treatment of hormone-positive breast cancer with up to three positive lymph nodes in addition to that already available on Adjuvant! Online. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.The majority of breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive. These cancers are ...

Does Eating More Fruit and Vegetables Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer? 09/10/2008
Results from the WHEL StudyWomen who have been diagnosed with breast cancer often pay extra attention to their diet as a way to prevent recurrence of their cancer. Healthcare professionals and researchers alike have long suspected a correlation between healthful eating patterns and reduced risk of chronic diseases such ...

Zometa® Helps Prevent Bone Loss in Early Breast Cancer 08/29/2008
Including Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in a treatment regimen for early breast cancer reduces bone loss associated with endocrine therapy among premenopausal women. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread to distant sites of the body. With standard therapeutic ...

Livial® Reduces Breast Cancer Risk but Increases Stroke Risk 08/18/2008
Livial® (tibolone), an agent used to reduce menopausal symptoms as well as bone loss, significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer and prevents bone loss and fractures; however, it doubles the risk of stroke among postmenopausal women. These results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.Historically, ...

Some Women at Risk for Recurrences Long After Breast Cancer Therapy 08/15/2008
Some women with early breast cancer remain at a substantial risk for developing a cancer recurrence years following therapy.  These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread to distant sites in the body. Fortunately, following ...

Forty Percent of Postmenopausal Breast Cancers Preventable by Lifestyle Changes 08/14/2008
Approximately 40% of breast cancers among postmenopausal women may be prevented through lifestyle changes. These results were recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the United States alone. The majority of breast cancers are diagnosed among postmenopausal women; ...

Radiofrequency Ablation Effective for Primary Lung Tumors and Lung Metastases from Breast Cancer 07/30/2008
The use of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of lung cancer and lung metastases from breast, colon, and prostate cancers and melanoma is effective and safe for some patients. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.Lung cancer is responsible for more cancer-related deaths than the next three ...

Topical Gel May Reduce Discomfort with Mammography 07/24/2008
Application of the topical gel, lidocaine, prior to a mammography appears to reduce discomfort caused by the procedure. These results were recently published in the journal Radiology.Mammograms, or an x-ray of the breast, are recommended for women 40 years or older as screening for breast cancer. However, the procedure ...

FDA Approves New Test to Detect HER2 Status in Breast Cancer 07/10/2008
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new laboratory test to help identify patients with breast cancer who may benefit from treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab).The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is part of a biological pathway involved in growth and spread of cancer cells. ...

Nurse-delivered Therapy Improves Depression Among Cancer Patients 07/08/2008
Therapy delivered to cancer patients by oncology nurses improves cancer-related depression compared with standard therapies. These results were recently published in the Lancet.Depression is common among patients with cancer, whether newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or following completion of therapy. Depression may be mild or severe and, at any degree, ...

Oncotype DX® Also Provides Information About Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status 06/24/2008
Oncotype DX®, a genomic test that predicts likelihood of chemotherapy benefit and risk of recurrence among women with early-stage breast cancer, also provides information about the estrogen and progesterone receptor status of breast cancers. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.The majority of breast cancers are ...

Bone Marker Associated with Survival in Breast, Prostate, and Lung Cancers 06/23/2008
The bone marker N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) is associated with skeletal-related events and survival among patients with cancer that has spread to the bone (bone metastases).  Improved outcomes may be achieved by reducing these markers through treatment with agents such as Zometa® (zoledronic acid). These results were recently ...

Mayo Clinic Reports Increasing Use of Mastectomy for Early-stage Breast Cancer 06/09/2008
The number of mastectomies performed for early-stage breast cancer at the Mayo Clinic increased by 13% over a three-year period. Increasing use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may explain some of the increased use of mastectomy. These results were presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American ...

Tykerb® Effective in Recurrent Inflammatory Breast Cancer 06/06/2008
Among women with recurrent HER2-positive inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), treatment with Tykerb® (lapatinib) is effective, even among patients whose cancer has progressed following treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab). These results were recently reported at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.Inflammatory breast cancer is the most ...

Targeted Therapy with Tykerb® and Herceptin® Improves Survival of Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer 06/06/2008
Among women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who have been previously treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Herceptin improves progression-free survival, and possibly overall survival, compared with Tykerb alone. These findings were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical ...

Sites of Recurrence in Breast Cancer May Differ from Primary Cancer 06/06/2008
Among women with recurrent breast cancer, sites of cancer recurrence may have HER2 of hormone-receptor status that differs from the primary tumor. As such, individual biopsies of sites of cancer recurrence may be required in order to ensure optimal treatment. These findings were recently reported at the 2008 annual ...

Conventional Chemotherapy Outperforms Xeloda® in Older Breast Cancer Patients 06/04/2008
Among women aged 65 or older with operable breast cancer, risk of recurrence and risk of death were higher among those treated with Xeloda® (capecitabine) than among those treated with standard chemotherapy. These were the results of the CALGB/CTSU 49907 trial, presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the ...

Addition of Avastin® to Taxotere® Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer 06/04/2008
Women with advanced HER2-negative breast cancer who were treated with Avastin® (bevacizumab) in addition to Taxotere® (docetaxel) experienced longer progression-free survival than those treated with Taxotere alone.  Furthermore, higher doses of Avastin resulted in greater improvements to progression-free survival. These results were recently reported at the 2008 annual meeting ...

Addition of RAD001 to Femara® Improves Response to Breast Cancer Treatment 06/02/2008
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the investigational drug RAD001 (everolimus) to Femara® (letrozole) enhanced tumor shrinkage among postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in close to 200,000 women in the United States alone. Many of ...

Zometa® Improves Outcomes in Premenopausal Women with Hormone-positive Breast Cancer 06/02/2008
Women with early-stage breast cancer who were treated with Zometa® (zoledronic acid) lived longer without experiencing a cancer recurrence than premenopausal women not treated with Zometa.  The results of this clinical study were recently presented at the 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, Illinois.The majority of ...

FDA Approves Non-anthracycline Chemotherapy Regimen plus Herceptin® for Early Breast Cancer 06/02/2008
Based on the results of a Phase III clinical trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two new Herceptin® (trastuzumab)-containing regimens for the adjuvant treatment of early HER2-positive breast cancer. One of these regimens does not contain an anthracycline, and appears to be less likely than anthracycline-containing ...

Breast Cancer and Environment Research Act Calls for Research into Causes of Breast Cancer 06/02/2008
If signed into law, the Breast Cancer and Environment Research Act (H.R. 1157) would create programs and funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for increased research into environmental causes of breast cancer. According to a press release from the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC), at a Wednesday, ...

Vitamin D Affects Outcomes in Breast Cancer 05/21/2008
Women with early breast cancer who have low blood levels of vitamin D have a worse outcome than those with adequate levels of vitamin D. These results were recently released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.Vitamin D has recently gained attention for its potential implication in risks of ...

Physical Activity Early in Life Reduces Risk of Premenopausal Breast Cancer 05/16/2008
Physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.The majority of breast cancers occur in postmenopausal women; however, if breast cancer does occur in a premenopausal woman, it tends to have a much worse ...

Anesthetic Helps Relieve Menopausal Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors 05/15/2008
A local anesthetic administered into the neck appears to significantly reduce severe menopausal-like side effects among women who have been treated for breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.Women undergoing treatment for breast cancer often suffer side effects such as hot flushes or sleep disturbances. ...

Screening Ultrasound Improves Breast Cancer Detection in Dense Breasts 05/13/2008
The addition of ultrasound for the screening of breast cancer significantly improves detection rates among women who have dense breast tissue. These results were recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Dense breast tissue is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. As well, breast ...

Mammography Can Measure Growth Rate of Breast Cancer Tumor 05/12/2008
New research indicates that screening mammography may provide estimates of breast cancer tumor growth rates. These findings from the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program were recently published in Breast Cancer Research.Tumor growth is an important consideration in the planning of screening programs, clinical trials, and cause-and-effect studies. Though previous ...

Specific Gene Mutations May Affect Response to Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer 05/06/2008
Mutations within the CYP2D6 gene may affect the way in which a patient with hormone-positive breast cancer responds to tamoxifen (Nolvadex®). These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.The majority of breast cancers are hormone-positive breast cancers, which are stimulated to grow as cancer ...

Changes in Lifestlye May Improve Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Survivors 05/02/2008
A recent study conducted by the American Cancer Society reports that although few cancer survivors are following recommendations for lifestyle changes aimed to improve health and well-being, adhering to these guidelines may improve quality of life among breast cancer survivors. Full details of the study were recently published in ...

Regular Aspirin Use May Reduce Risk of Hormone-positive Breast Cancer 04/30/2008
Regular use of aspirin may modestly reduce the risk of developing hormone-positive breast cancer. These results were recently published online by Breast Cancer Research.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are agents that help to reduce inflammation and are often taken for pain relief. Some research has indicated that NSAIDs may provide ...

Elderly Women Benefit from Screening Mammography 04/29/2008
Regular mammograms among women 80 years of age and older may detect earlier stages of breast cancer. These findings were released in an early online publication of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Breast cancer rates among women age 70 and older account for approximately 40% of all breast cancers. Breast ...

Certain Foods May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer 04/25/2008
Further evidence has emerged that certain dietary patterns may help prevent breast cancer among both women with a genetic risk for the disease and those with no genetic risk. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Cancer Detection and Prevention.Breast cancer continues to be the second leading ...

Women Share Breast and Ovarian Cancer Testing Results with Family Members 04/25/2008
Women who undergo testing for genetic breast cancer are more likely to share the results with other female family members, including children and their siblings, if they are aware of their relative's opinion of genetic testing. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Family Psychology. The breast ...

Vaccine E75 May Improve Survival for Some HER2 Breast Cancer Patients 04/18/2008
The investigative vaccine E75 may have survival benefits for patients with breast cancer that has low expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.The HER2 pathway is a biological pathway ...

Weekly Taxol® Improves Survival in Early Breast Cancer 04/17/2008
The chemotherapy schedule that includes once-weekly administration of Taxol® (paclitaxel) in combination with Adriamycin® (doxorubicin) and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) appears most effective in early breast cancer. These results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.Early breast cancer is cancer is confined to the breast and/or lymph nodes ...

Trans Fats Linked to Breast Cancer Risk 04/17/2008
According to a study conducted in France, high levels of trans fats in the blood contributed to an increased risk of invasive breast cancer. Full details of the study were recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in the United ...

Soy Products May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk 04/16/2008
A recent study conducted in Japan reveals that soy products such as tofu may significantly reduce a woman's chance of developing breast cancer. Details of the study were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Soy products such as tofu and soybeans contain a compound known as isoflavone, which is ...

Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Increase Breast Cancer Risk 04/16/2008
Consuming just one alcoholic drink per day may increase the risk of hormone-sensitive breast cancer. These results were presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research.The American Cancer Society estimates that one in eight women in the United States will ...

Chemotherapy-induced Anemia Associated with Breast Cancer Recurrence 04/10/2008
A recent study conducted in Austria reveals that in premenopausal women with localized breast cancer, chemotherapy-induced anemia is associated with local recurrence following treatment. Full details of this study were published in the April issue of Clinical Cancer Research. Anemia has been associated with negative outcomes in several types ...

Blood Test to Detect Tumor Cells May Predict Outcome in Advanced Breast Cancer 04/03/2008
Tumor cells in circulating blood may accurately indicate prognosis and tumor response to treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer, whereas measures of tumors circulating in bone marrow do not. These findings were recently published in the Annals of Oncology.For breast cancer patients with relapsed or recurrent disease, the ...

Differences in IMRT Radiation Doses May Complicate Study Results in Breast Cancer 03/24/2008
Differences between the prescribed dose of radiation in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and the dose that's actually delivered may make comparison studies in breast cancer difficult to interpret. These findings were reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Radiation therapy is often used in the treatment of ...

Femara® May Protect Against Breast Cancer Years After Tamoxifen 03/13/2008
A recent study in conducted in Canada reveals that breast cancer patients treated with the drug Femara® (letrozole) several years after completing treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) have a reduced risk of a recurrence. These findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.The majority of breast ...

Hormone Therapy Increases Risk for Breast and Lung Cancers 03/05/2008
Hormone therapy appears to increase the risk of breast cancer as well as lung cancer among postmenopausal women. These results were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Postmenopausal hormone therapy with the female hormones estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin (combined hormone therapy) effectively manages several ...

Triple-negative Breast Cancers More Likely to Spread to Brain 02/29/2008
Women with triple-negative breast cancer (estrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor-, and human epidermal receptor-negative) have a higher risk that cancer will spread to the brain. These results were recently published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.The majority of breast cancers are hormone-positive breast cancers, meaning that the cancer cells are ...

Zometa® Shows Promise in Preventing Bone Lose Among Women Using Femara® for Breast Cancer 02/27/2008
A recent study found that Zometa® (zoledronic acid) may prevent bone loss in women treated with Femara® (letrozole)  for breast cancer. These findings were published in the journal Cancer.The majority of breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive. These cancers are stimulated to grow by the circulating female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. ...

Hormone Therapy May Affect Accuracy of Mammogram and Biopsy for Breast Cancer 02/26/2008
The use of hormone therapy may affect the ability of both mammography and breast biopsies to accurately diagnose breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.Postmenopausal hormone therapy with the female hormones estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin (combined hormone therapy) effectively manages several ...

Avastin® Approved for Advanced Breast Cancer 02/26/2008
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to Avastin® (bevacizumab) used in combination with Taxol® (paclitaxel) for the treatment of advanced breast cancer.Advanced (metastatic) breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body. Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of therapy ...

Hypertension Medication May Protect Against Breast Cancer 02/20/2008
Long-term use of blood pressure medications known as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists may help some patients reduce their risk of developing cancer, including breast cancer. These findings were recently reported in the journal Cancer.ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists are two groups of drugs commonly ...

MammoSite® Shows Promise for Early-stage Breast Cancer Treatment 02/19/2008
MammoSite®, a delivery system for partial breast irradiation, appears to be an effective treatment for early-stage breast cancer. These findings were recently published in the journal Cancer.Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in more than 178,000 women in the United States alone. Early breast cancer refers to cancer that ...

Women with DCIS Breast Cancer Uncertain About Risk of Recurrence 02/15/2008
Women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the earliest stage of breast cancer, tend to have inaccurate views on their risks of recurrence following treatment. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest stage of breast ...

Addition of Avastin® to Chemotherapy Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer 02/14/2008
The addition of Avastin® (bevacizumab) to the chemotherapy agent Taxotere® (docetaxel) improves progression-free survival in patients with advanced breast cancer. These results were recently published in a press release by Genentech.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body. Chemotherapy is a cornerstone ...

Certain Elderly Breast Cancer Patients More Likely to Die from Causes Other than Cancer 02/13/2008
Elderly women diagnosed with early hormone-positive breast cancer and treated with hormone therapy are more likely to die from causes not related to breast cancer than from breast cancer itself. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that ...

Large Majority of Breast Cancer Information on Internet Is Accurate 02/11/2008
Approximately 95% of information about breast cancer that is found on the Internet is accurate. These results were recently published in the journal Cancer.The Internet provides a wealth of information on all aspects of health-related issues. A majority of patients now report that they seek health information on the ...

Further Research Needed to Improve Pain Associated with Mammography in Breast Cancer Screening 02/04/2008
Recent research indicates that efforts to reduce pain and discomfort associated with screening mammograms for breast cancer have generally been unsuccessful. This study was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.A mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast that can reveal irregularities and help detect cancer early ...

Cost Sharing May Deter Women from Screening Mammograms 01/31/2008
A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that cost sharing among Medicare patients may discourage women from getting important preventive healthcare such as screening mammograms.A mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast that can reveal irregularities and help detect cancer early when it is ...

Breast Cancer Surgeon Influences Whether Patient Receives Radiation Therapy 01/30/2008
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, whether or not a woman with early breast cancer receives radiation therapy may be determined by certain characteristics of her surgeon.Early breast cancer, or cancer that has not spread from the breast or axillary (under ...

FDA Approves Herceptin® for Use as Single Agent in Early Breast Cancer 01/28/2008
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the targeted agent Herceptin® (trastuzumab) for use as a single agent in the treatment of early, HER2-positive breast cancer. The new indication specifies use of Herceptin in patients who have received prior therapy with multiple modalities including chemotherapy with ...

Smoking Sharply Increases Risk of Lung Cancer Among Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Radiation 01/28/2008
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients with breast cancer who received radiation therapy following a mastectomy have a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer if they have ever smoked.Patients with breast cancer may often undergo a mastectomy as part of their ...

New Genetic Test For Breast Cancer Patients Approved by the FDA 01/25/2008
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved the TOP2A FISH pharmDx test, a genetic test to help assess risk of breast cancer recurrence and long-term survival for early breast cancer patients. The TOP2A FISH pharmDx test is approved for breast cancer patients who are considered ...

Conservative Surgery plus Tamoxifen May Be Safe in Elderly Breast Cancer Patients 01/23/2008
A recent article in the journal Cancer reports that elderly women diagnosed with breast cancer may be effectively treated with conservative surgery followed by hormonal therapy with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®).When a diagnosis of breast cancer is made, various tests are performed to further describe the cancer. Biopsies of the surrounding ...

Patient Education Recommended About Risk of Infection with Surgery for Breast Cancer 01/22/2008
According to an article recently published in the Archives of Surgery, infection at the surgical site among women who undergo surgery for breast cancer significantly increases medical costs as well as pain, anxiety, time requirements, chances for potential complications, and demands on medical staff and facilities.The type of surgery ...

Omnitarg™ plus Herceptin® Effective for Metastatic Breast Cancer 01/21/2008
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the combination of Omnitarg™ (pertuzumab) plus Herceptin® (trastuzumab) provides significant anticancer activity among women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer whose disease had progressed while on therapy with Herceptin alone.Human epidermal ...

Bone Loss and Bone Metastases in Breast Cancer 01/21/2008
IntroductionThe 30th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium saw a number of bone-related studies presented. Important studies addressed the management of bone complications among women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy, with a particular focus on women receiving an aromatase inhibitor. Studies also addressed bone loss among women ...

Updates in the Management of Metastatic Breast Cancer 01/21/2008
IntroductionThe 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) re-iterated the fact that individualizing treatment options is now the way in which to manage and treat breast cancer.  Advances in targeted therapies, hormone therapies and even novel chemotherapy agents and regimens seek to identify subsets of ...

Postmenopausal Hormones Linked with Lobular Breast Cancer 01/17/2008
According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, postmenopausal hormone therapy with combined estrogen plus progestin for three years or longer increases the risk of lobular breast cancer.Postmenopausal hormone therapy with either estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin effectively manages several common menopausal ...

Surgery for Advanced Breast Cancer Improves Survival 01/15/2008
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, surgery for patients with metastatic breast cancer improves survival.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from its site of origin to distant sites in the body. Once spread the cancer tends to invade ...

Breast Cancer Risk Varies Among BRCA1/2 Carriers 01/14/2008
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, risk of breast cancer among BRCA1/2 carriers varies across families.Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly increase the lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Mutations in these ...

Additional Evidence that Postmenopausal Hormone Use Increases Breast Cancer Risk 01/11/2008
According to the results of a study conducted in Italy and published in the Annals of Oncology, risk of breast cancer increases as duration of postmenopausal hormone use increases, and risk of colorectal cancer decreases.Postmenopausal hormone therapy with either estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin effectively manages several common ...

Sun Exposure May Reduce Risk of Advanced Breast Cancer 01/10/2008
According to the results of a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, sun exposure may reduce the risk of advanced breast cancer among women with light skin pigmentation.Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes from dietary supplements, foods such as fortified milk and cereal, certain kinds ...

Taxotere® Following Anthracyclines May Improve Progression-free Survival in Breast Cancer 01/10/2008
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the addition of the chemotherapy agent Taxotere® (docetaxel) following an anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen may improve disease-free survival among patients with early breast cancer.Lymph-node positive breast cancer refers to breast cancer that has spread to the ...

Annual Mammography Alone Not Sufficient for Young Hodgkin's Survivors 01/09/2008
According to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology, annual screening mammography may miss some cases of early invasive breast cancer among young Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors who were treated with supradiaphragmatic (above the diaphragm) radiation therapy.Survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma have an increased risk of later ...

Ixempra® plus Xeloda® Active in Metastatic Breast Cancer 01/08/2008
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the chemotherapy combination of Ixempra® (ixabepilone) plus Xeloda® (capecitabine) provides anticancer activity among patients with hormone-negative, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer that has stopped responding to standard therapies including anthracyclines and taxanes.Metastatic breast cancer refers to ...

Herceptin® After Cancer Spread to Brain Improves Survival in Breast Cancer 01/08/2008
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) after cancer has spread to the brain improves survival for breast cancer patients.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the breast to distant sites in the body. Specifically, ...

Anthracyclines Questioned in HER2-negative Breast Cancer 01/07/2008
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) negative breast cancer may not benefit from treatment including anthracyclines, a class of chemotherapy.Early breast cancer (cancer that has not spread past the lymph nodes under the ...

Reduced Long-term Risk of Contralateral Breast Cancer with Treatment for Original Breast Cancer 01/07/2008
According to results recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, treatment with chemotherapy or hormone therapy for original breast cancer significantly reduces the long-term risk of developing breast cancer in the contralateral (opposite) breast.Standard treatment for patients diagnosed with breast cancer typically includes chemotherapy and/or hormone ...

Oncotype DX® Added to NCCN Guidelines 01/04/2008
A recommendation for use of the Oncotype DX® test has been added to the 2008 breast cancer treatment guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). According to the guidelines, Oncotype DX may be used to guide chemotherapy decisions among certain women with node-negative, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.Although ...

Chemotherapy Improves Survival for Early Hormone-negative Breast Cancer 01/04/2008
According to results recently published in the Lancet, findings from a large analysis of several clinical trials indicate that adjuvant chemotherapy improves outcomes, including survival, among women with early estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread from the breast to distant sites in ...

Long-term Results Show Lower Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence with Arimidex® than Tamoxifen 01/04/2008
According to results recently published in the Lancet, long-term (100-month) follow-up data demonstrates that postmenopausal women with hormone-positive breast cancer have a significantly reduced risk of developing a cancer recurrence when they are initially treated with Arimidex® (anastrozole) compared with initial treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®).

Addition of Avastin® Doesn't Improve Overall Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer 01/03/2008
According to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, treatment of metastatic breast cancer with a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and paclitaxel (Taxol®) delays the time to cancer progression, but does not improve overall survival, compared with paclitaxel alone.Metastatic breast cancer refers to ...

Higher Rates of BRCA1 Mutations in Hispanic Women 01/02/2008
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, rates of BRCA1 mutations among U.S. breast cancer patients are higher among Hispanic women than among African-American or Asian-American women.Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly increase the lifetime ...

Reconstruction Often Not Discussed Before Breast Cancer Surgery 12/21/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, only one-third of women discuss breast reconstruction with their surgeon before breast cancer surgery.Surgery for breast cancer may consist of mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. A mastectomy involves removal of the entire breast, whereas breast-conserving surgery involves removal ...

Extended Hormonal Therapy Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk 12/20/2007
Among postmenopausal women who complete five years of tamoxifen for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer, an additional three years of treatment with the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) results in a lower risk of cancer recurrence. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Treatment of ...

Tykerb® plus Xeloda® Shows Benefits Against Brain Metastases 12/19/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), the targeted agent Tykerb® (lapatinib), used in combination with the chemotherapy drug Xeloda® (capecitabine), reduces the size of brain metastases in some women with previously-treated HER2-positive breast cancer.Tykerb is a drug that ...

Gene Influences Tamoxifen Response 12/19/2007
The effectiveness of tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer is lower among women who carry a gene variant linked with poor tamoxifen metabolism. These results were presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).Pharmacogenomics refers to the study of inherited variations in genes that influence an individual's response ...

Denosumab Improves Bone Density in Breast Cancer Patients 12/18/2007
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the experimental drug denosumab significantly improves bone density among women with non-metastatic breast cancer treated with an aromatase inhibitor.Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 178,000 women in the ...

Arimidex® Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence 12/18/2007
Among postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, updated results from the ATAC study continue to show that treatment with the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) results in a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence than treatment with tamoxifen. These results were presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast ...

Zometa® Prevents Bone Loss in Breast Cancer Patients 12/18/2007
Studies presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium indicate that Zometa® (zoledronic acid) effectively prevents bone loss among postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with an aromatase inhibitor, and among premenopausal breast cancer patients treated with a combination of hormonal therapies. The majority of breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive. ...

Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy Offers More Convenient Breast Cancer Treatment 12/17/2007
Long-term results from a study conducted in Canada suggest that hypofractionated radiation therapy (radiation therapy administered in fewer visits with a higher dose of radiation at each visit) has comparable efficacy and cosmetic outcome as conventional radiation therapy in the treatment of node-negative breast cancer. These results were presented ...

Adjuvant Taxotere® Improves Breast Cancer Survival 12/14/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, adjuvant chemotherapy with Taxotere® (docetaxel) and cylophosphamide results in better survival than adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide.Adjuvant (post-surgery) plays an important role in the treatment of many patients with early breast cancer. ...

Oncotype DX™ Predicts Recurrence Risk in Node-positive Breast Cancer 12/14/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the Oncotype DX™ test may help guide chemotherapy decisions among women with node-positive, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.Although chemotherapy is recommended for many women with early-stage breast cancer, the benefit of chemotherapy varies. Identifying ...

High-dose Chemotherapy Doesn't Improve Overall Breast Cancer Survival 12/14/2007
According to a combined analysis of 15 clinical trials, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant modestly improves disease-free survival but does not significantly improve overall survival among women with node-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.The goal of adjuvant ...

Predicting Breast Cancer Risk in African-American Women 12/13/2007
Researchers have developed a new tool to more accurately assess the risk of breast cancer in African-American women. This information was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Identifying women at high risk of developing breast cancer can help guide breast cancer screening and risk reduction strategies. Women ...

Accuracy of Diagnostic Mammograms Varies Across Radiologists 12/13/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the accuracy of diagnostic mammograms varies widely across radiologists; this variability is not explained by patient characteristics.A mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast that can reveal irregularities and help to detect ...

Taxotere® Confirmed More Effective than Taxol® for Metastatic Breast Cancer 12/10/2007
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, longer follow-up results indicate that the chemotherapy agent Taxotere® (docetaxel) remains superior to the chemotherapy agent Taxol® (paclitaxel) in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer among patients who have received prior therapy with anthracycline chemotherapy agents.Metastatic breast cancer ...

FDA Advisory Committee Does Not Recommend Approval for Avastin® for Breast Cancer 12/07/2007
The Oncology Drugs Advisory Drugs Committee (ODAC) of the United States Food and Drug Advisory (FDA) has recommended against FDA approval of Avastin® (bevacizumab) as initial therapy for metastatic breast cancer.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body. Chemotherapy is a cornerstone ...

Research Continues on Dietary Fat and Breast Cancer 11/30/2007
A large study conducted in Sweden and published in the British Journal of Cancer found no overall association between total dietary fat or specific types of dietary fat and risk of breast cancer.Researchers have long speculated that there could be a link between high-fat diets and risk of breast ...

BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations Increase Breast Cancer Risk in Men 11/29/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, men with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation are more likely than other men to develop breast cancer.Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly increase the lifetime risk of ...

Pain Varies by Race Among Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer 11/26/2007
Among women with breast cancer that has spread to the bone, non-White women are more likely than White women to report severe pain. These results were published in the journal Cancer.The spread of cancer from its site of origin to another location in the body is called metastasis. Bone ...

Gene Signatures Linked with Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer 11/16/2007
Among women with estrogen receptor-negative, operable breast cancer, use of gene expression profiling may help physicians select the most appropriate neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemotherapy regimen. These results were published in Lancet Oncology.Chemotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of many women with breast cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy refers to ...

Women with Family History of Breast or Ovarian Cancer Have Increased Risk of Developing Leukemia 11/12/2007
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, women with breast cancer who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer have an increased risk of subsequently developing chronic leukemia.Because of increasing understanding of the role genetics plays in the development of certain cancers, ...

Possible Link Between Diet and Breast Density 10/25/2007
Among women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, higher intake of vitamin D may be linked with lower breast density. These results were published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.Breast density refers to the extent of glandular and connective tissue in the breast. Breasts with more ...

Early Age at Maximum Height Linked with Increased Breast Cancer Risk 10/24/2007
According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention, girls who reach their maximum height by the age of 12 years may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life.Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (other than non-melanoma skin ...

ASCO Integrates Oncotype DX™ into Clinical Guidelines for Breast Cancer 10/23/2007
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has included Oncotype DX™ into its clinical guidelines for early breast cancer.Although chemotherapy is recommended for many women with early-stage, node-negative breast cancer, the benefit of chemotherapy varies. Identifying in ...

Heart Changes Noted After Radiation Therapy for Left-sided Breast Cancer 10/22/2007
A study that followed women for three to six years after radiation therapy for left-sided breast cancer reported that more than half the women had abnormalities in blood flow to the heart. Changes in heart wall motion or ejection fraction were less common. These results were published in the ...

Weight Loss May Improve Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema 10/19/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, weight loss may significantly reduce breast cancer-related lymphedema in overweight women.Lymphedema is the buildup of lymph fluid in the tissues just under the skin, resulting in swelling, tightness, and discomfort in the affected limb. Damage to or ...

Ixempra™ Approved for Advanced Breast Cancer 10/17/2007
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ixempra® (ixabepilone) for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The indication includes the use of Ixempra as a single agent for the treatment of recurrent, advanced breast cancer in patients who have stopped responding to chemotherapy including anthracyclines, taxanes, ...

Fatigue Persists in Some Patients Treated for Early Breast Cancer 10/16/2007
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, fatigue is experienced by significantly more women treated for early breast cancer with chemotherapy and radiation than women who have not had cancer. This fatigue persists at six months following completion of therapy.Early breast cancer is a highly curable ...

Review of the Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer: ASCO 2007 10/12/2007
IntroductionThe 2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting featured a large number of breast cancer presentations addressing a broad array of topics.  In the adjuvant arena, studies focused on advances in basic biologic understanding of different subtypes of breast cancer and the way this knowledge can translate ...

Taxol® Benefits Limited to HER2-positive Breast Cancer 10/11/2007
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, status of the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) determines whether treatment with the chemotherapy agent Taxol® (paclitaxel) is effective in early breast cancer.[1]Early breast cancer, or cancer that has ...

Study Evaluates Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer 10/10/2007
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in Lancet Oncology, the overall accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer is 97% and the false-negative rate (the frequency with which sentinel lymph node biopsy misses existing lymph node metastases) is 9.8%.For over 30 years, ...

Black Women Less Likely to Receive Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer 10/09/2007
Among women with node-positive breast cancer, Black women are less likely than White women to receive adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment with chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. These results were published in the journal Cancer.Cancer incidence and survival in the U.S. continues to vary by race and ethnicity. In the case of ...

Higher Levels of Immune Cells Linked to Risk of Cancer in Postmenopausal Women 10/03/2007
According to results recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, postmenopausal women with higher levels of white blood cells (a type of immune cell) have a higher risk of developing specific types of cancer and dying from cancer.Inflammatory and immune system processes are thought to play significant roles ...

Neulasta® Reduces Hospitalizations for Febrile Neutropenia in Women with Breast Cancer 10/02/2007
According to results presented at the European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14), preventive treatment with Neulasta® (pegfilgastim) improved chemotherapy delivery and reduced the risk of febrile neutropenia (low white blood cell levels accompanied by fever) among women with breast cancer.Although chemotherapy improves outcomes for many cancer patients, it is associated ...

Denosumab Active Against Bone Metastases from Breast Cancer 10/01/2007
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial among women with breast cancer-related bone metastases, the experimental drug denosumab appears to reduce bone turnover and the risk of problems such as fractures to a similar extent as bisphosphonate treatment. These results were published in the Journal of ...

All Types of Alcohol Increase Breast Cancer Risk 09/27/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14), women who consume three or more alcoholic beverages per day (beer, wine, or spirits) are 30% more likely to develop breast cancer than women who consume less than one alcoholic beverage per day.Breast cancer ...

Circulating Tumor Cells May Provide Information about Breast Cancer Prognosis 09/24/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14), measurement of circulating tumor cells in the blood of breast cancer patients may provide information about risk of cancer recurrence.Treatment of breast cancer often involves local therapy, such as surgery and radiation, as well ...

Evista® Approved for Prevention of Breast Cancer 09/14/2007
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Evista® (raloxifene) to prevent invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and postmenopausal women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer.Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States and is ...

Oncotype DX™ Provides Information About Hormone Receptor Status of Breast Cancer 09/14/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Cancer Symposium, hormone receptor information provided by the Oncotype DX™ test is comparable to that provided by the standard method of immunohistochemistry.Although chemotherapy is recommended for many women with early-stage, node-negative ...

Oophorectomy Linked with Cognitive Problems 09/12/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Neurology, premenopausal women who have one or both ovaries removed face an increased risk of cognitive problems or dementia later in life. Use of hormone replacement therapy until the age of natural menopause appeared to reduce this risk.Women ...

Alvespimycin Benefits Patients with Heavily Pretreated HER2-positive Cancer 09/12/2007
Kosan Biosciences Incorporated reported results from an early-phase clinical trial indicating their targeted agent alvespimycin may provide clinical benefit to patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast or ovarian cancers who have received extensive prior therapies.Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 is part of a biological ...

Estrogen-receptor Status of Breast Cancer Linked with Chemotherapy Response 09/11/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology, women with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer appear to derive the most benefit from adjuvant, anthracycline-based chemotherapy.Although chemotherapy is recommended for many women with early-stage breast cancer, the benefit of chemotherapy varies. Identifying in advance those women ...

Heart Complications Associated with Herceptin® 09/11/2007
According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the targeted agent Herceptin® (trastuzumab) is associated with heart problems in a small percentage of patients with HER2-positive, early breast cancer. Clinical studies have shown that many women with breast cancer will benefit from Herceptin treatment; Herceptin improves ...

Exercise, Yoga Benefit Breast Cancer Survivors 09/07/2007
According to two studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, exercise—whether traditional aerobic or resistance exercise or yoga—provides important benefits to breast cancer survivors.Though no two people will experience cancer in exactly the same way, there are common themes that arise during conversations with cancer survivors. For many, ...

Avastin® Increases Risk of Blood Clots in Arteries 09/04/2007
According to a combined analysis of five clinical trials, treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or non–small lung cancer with a combination of Avastin and chemotherapy results in a higher risk of arterial blood clots than treatment with chemotherapy alone. These results were published in the Journal of ...

Hypnosis May Reduce Surgery Side Effects 08/31/2007
According to a study of women undergoing excisional breast biopsy or lumpectomy, use of hypnosis before surgery improved subsequent pain, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Previous studies have suggested that hypnosis may reduce the need for medication ...

Patients Report Same Satisfaction with Genetic Results Received by Phone as in Person 08/28/2007
According to results involving patients tested for BRCA1/2 mutations, which were published in Genetics in Medicine, patients are just as satisfied when given results of genetic testing for cancer risk over the phone as in person in terms of anxiety and general well-being.Individuals with genetic mutations in the BRCA1 ...

Different Pattern of Recurrence for Triple-negative Breast Cancer 08/23/2007
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.Breast cancer is the ...

Heart Problems Infrequent in Women Treated with Herceptin® 08/14/2007
According to the results of a large clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, heart problems develop in roughly four percent of women treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab). These heart problems were not fatal and tended to be reversible.Twenty to 30 percent of breast cancers overexpress (make too ...

Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Survival Increase with Cancer Stage 08/14/2007
Although African-American women have worse breast cancer survival than White women at all stages of the disease, the extent of the difference is greatest among women with more advanced disease. These results were published in the journal Cancer.Cancer incidence and survival in the U.S. continues to vary by race ...

MRI Detects DCIS Better than Mammography 08/13/2007
According to an article recently published in The Lancet, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more accurately detects ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast than mammography.Cure rates for breast cancer have been improving; this progress has been attributed to screening practices and new treatment options. The earlier breast cancer ...

MRI Detects More Cancer in Women at High-risk of Developing Breast Cancer 08/01/2007
According to an article recently published in Radiology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more accurately detects breast cancer than mammography or ultrasound among women who are at a high risk of developing the disease.Women who have a mutation within their BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes have a significantly greater risk than ...

Breast Cancer Rates Drop as Fewer Women Use Postmenopausal Hormones 07/31/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a sharp decline in the use of postmenopausal hormones was followed by a drop in the rate of breast cancer.  Postmenopausal hormone therapy with either estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin effectively manages ...

Insurance Status Influences Stage at Diagnosis of Breast and Oropharyngeal Cancers 07/30/2007
According to the results of two studies published in the journal Cancer, patients who have no health insurance or limited health insurance tend to be diagnosed with more advanced stages of breast and oropharyngeal cancer.An estimated 20% of Americans under the age of 65 lack health insurance and many ...

Sister Study to Help Determine Role of Environment and Genes in Causing Breast Cancer 07/30/2007
A large clinical trial referred to as the Sister Study, which is currently enrolling patients, will address the issues of environmental factors and genetics in the development of breast cancer.Breast cancer is diagnosed in one out of every eight women in the United States. A diagnosis of cancer not only ...

FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of Evista® for Breast Cancer Risk Reduction 07/26/2007
A committee that advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently recommended the approval of the osteoporosis drug Evista® (raloxifene) for a new use: reducing the risk of breast cancer in specific groups of postmenopausal women. The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of the advisory ...

SureTouch™ Improves Accuracy of Manual Palpation in Detection of Breast Cancer 07/25/2007
According to Medical Tactile, Inc's Web site and a clinical trial published in the American Journal of Surgery, the SureTouch™ tactile sensing device more accurately detects a mass within the breast and more accurately determines if the mass is cancerous than manual palpation of the breast during a clinical ...

Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer Living Longer 07/25/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, improvements in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer have led to significant improvements in survival.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the breast to distant sites in the body. In recent years, several new ...

Herceptin® plus Navelbine® or Taxanes Active as Initial Therapy for HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer 07/24/2007
According to results published in an early online article in the journal Cancer, the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to either Navelbine® (vinorelbine) or taxanes (Taxol® or Taxotere®) provides significant anticancer activity as initial therapy for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the ...

Mammography Benefits Breast Cancer Survivors 07/24/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, surveillance mammography after treatment of early-stage breast cancer appears to improve survival.Women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer are generally encouraged to receive regular surveillance mammograms in order to detect an early breast cancer ...

Oncotype DX® Meets Blue Cross and Blue Shield Technology Evaluation Criteria 07/23/2007
Genomic Health has announced that the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Technology Evaluation Center (TEC) has approved the Oncotype DX® criteria for women with estrogen receptor-positive, node-negative, tamoxifen-treated cancer.Although chemotherapy is recommended for many women with early-stage breast cancer that has not yet spread to axillary lymph nodes ...

Tykerb® May Be Effective in Brain Metastasis from Breast Cancer 07/23/2007
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the targeted agent Tykerb® (lapatinib) may be effective in shrinking cancer that has spread to the brain among some patients with breast cancer.The brain is a common site for cancer to spread ...

Extra Fruits and Vegetables Don't Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence 07/19/2007
According to the results of a study published Journal of the American Medical Association, breast cancer survivors assigned to a diet very high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat had a similar risk of breast cancer recurrence as women who were advised to follow the “5-A-Day” dietary ...

Oral Contraceptives Linked with Increased Breast Cancer Risk in BRCA1/2 Carriers 07/17/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, use of oral contraceptives may increase breast cancer risk among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly increase the lifetime risk of developing breast and ...

GeneSearch™ BLN Approved for Detection of Breast Cancer Spread to Lymph Nodes 07/17/2007
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the GeneSearch™ BLN Assay to detect whether breast cancer cells have spread to lymph nodes under the arm. GeneSearch BLN Assay is the first molecular-based lab test to detect this stage of cancer.One of the first places that breast ...

BRCA Mutations Do Not Affect Outcomes in Breast Cancer 07/12/2007
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, women with breast cancer who have BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have similar outcomes compared to patients without these mutations.Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States. Only a small minority of patients ...

Addition of Ixabepilone to Xeloda Improves Outcomes Compared with Xeloda® Alone in Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer 07/11/2007
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the addition of ixabepilone to Xeloda® (capecitabine) significantly improves outcomes compared with ixabepilone only in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer that does not respond to standard chemotherapy agents.Metastatic breast cancer refers ...

Ixabepilone Effective in Metastatic Breast Cancer That Doesn't Respond to Standard Chemotherapy 07/06/2007
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, treatment with ixabepilone provides anticancer responses and disease stabilization among women with metastatic breast cancer that did not respond to treatment with the standard chemotherapy agents including anthracyclines, taxanes, and Xeloda® (capecitabine).Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer ...

Addition of Axitinib to Taxotere® May Improve Outcomes in Metastatic Breast Cancer 06/27/2007
According to results presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the addition of the targeted agent axitinib to Taxotere® (docetaxel) appears to improve outcomes compared to Taxotere alone in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.Metastatic breast cancer refers to breast cancer that ...

Family Size Influences Results of BRCA Risk Estimation Models 06/25/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the likelihood that a young breast cancer patient with no family history of the disease carries a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation varies by the number of older female relatives on both her father's ...

Addition of Gliadel® Wafer to Surgery and Radiation Effective for Brain Metastasis 06/22/2007
According to an article in Clinical Cancer Research, the addition of Gliadel® Wafer (carmustine polymer wafer) to surgery plus external beam radiotherapy for the treatment of a single brain metastasis is a safe and effective regimen for patients.Several different types of cancers spread, or metastasize, to the brain. This ...

Young Age Linked with Worse Breast Cancer Prognosis 06/18/2007
According to the results of a study conducted in Korea, breast cancer patients under the age of 35 have a worse prognosis than patients between the ages of 35 and 50, and may also be less responsive to tamoxifen (Nolvadex®). These results were published in the Journal of Clinical ...

Physical Activity Coupled with High Fruit and Vegetable Intake May Improve Breast Cancer Survival 06/14/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, breast cancer survivors who engage in regular physical activity and eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have a significantly reduced risk of death. The benefit of the healthy behaviors applied to both obese ...

Less Radiation Effectively Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence 06/12/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), administering radiation therapy in fewer visits (with a higher dose of radiation at each visit) may be an effective and more convenient approach to the adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of ...

No Increase in Herceptin-related Heart Problems 06/11/2007
According to updated study results presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the frequency of heart problems among women treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) has not increased with additional follow-up.Approximately 25–30% of breast cancers overexpress a protein referred to as the human epidermal ...

MRI May Improve Detection of DCIS 06/11/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more likely than mammography to detect ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast, and appears to be particularly good at detecting high-grade DCIS.The ...

Oncotype DX™ Influences Breast Cancer Treatment Choices 06/07/2007
Use of the Oncotype DX™ test to estimate the risk of cancer recurrence in women with node-negative, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer changed oncologist treatment decisions in roughly 31% of cases. These results were presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).Although chemotherapy is ...

Oncotype DX™ Evaluated in Node-positive Breast Cancer 06/07/2007
Among women with node-positive, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the Oncotype DX™ test identified those who had an increased risk of cancer recurrence in spite of treatment with chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. These results were presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).Women with ...

Preoperative MRI Can Change Surgical Management of Breast Cancer, but Not Always for the Better 06/05/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Surgery, use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before breast surgery resulted in a beneficial change to surgical plans in roughly 10% of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, and an unnecessary change to surgical plans (resulting in ...

Clinical Trial Evaluating Myocet® for Breast Cancer Now Enrolling Patients 06/01/2007
A Phase III clinical trial (last phase prior to FDA review) evaluating the investigative chemotherapy agent Myocet® (non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) in addition to standard therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer is now enrolling patients.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from its site of origin to distant sites ...

Drugs that Suppress Ovaries Benefit Premenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer 05/30/2007
According to a combined analysis of several previously published studies, use of drugs known as leuteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists to suppress ovarian hormone production has benefits in the treatment of premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. These results were published in the Lancet.Many breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive, ...

Exercise Improves Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer 05/24/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, participation in an eight-week program of supervised aerobic exercise significantly improved the quality of life of women who had been treated for breast cancer.Several previous studies have suggested that the risk of developing breast cancer ...

Tumor Microenvironment Influences Breast Cancer Characteristics 05/22/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, genetic changes in the tissue that surrounds breast cancer cells may influence cancer grade and the likelihood of lymph node metastases.Researchers are increasingly recognizing that breast cancer is a very diverse disease. Cancers ...

Potential Breast Carcinogens Are Widespread in the Environment 05/16/2007
According to a comprehensive review of environmental exposures and breast cancer risk, many of the more than 200 chemical compounds found to increase breast tumors in animals are common environmental exposures. These results were published in the journal Cancer.Breast cancer is diagnosed in more than 178,000 U.S. women each ...

Fewer Women Getting Mammograms 05/15/2007
A study published in the journal Cancer describes a worrying decline in the number of U.S. women age 40 or older who have had a mammogram in the last two years.Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women each year in the U.S. alone. Because the disease is highly ...

Femara® Reduces Risk of Early Recurrence of Breast Cancer 05/11/2007
According to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology, adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of hormone receptor-positive, postmenopausal breast cancer with the aromatase inhibitor Femara® (letrozole) resulted in fewer early recurrences than treatment with tamoxifen.Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women in the U.S. ...

Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy May be Linked with Better Breast Cancer Prognosis 05/09/2007
Although studies have indicated that postmenopausal hormone therapy with estrogen and progestin increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, it is possible that prior postmenopausal hormone therapy may improve a woman's prognosis once breast cancer occurs. These results were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.As ...

Breast Cancer Found in Roughly One-third of Women with Borderline Result on Core Needle Biopsy 05/08/2007
According to the results of a study published in the British Journal of Cancer, breast cancer is present in roughly one-third of women who have a borderline result (lesion of uncertain malignant potential) on a core needle biopsy of the breast.The suspicion of breast cancer often first arises when ...

Neoadjuvant Taxotere®, Navelbine®, and Herceptin® Active for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer 05/03/2007
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, neoadjuvant (before surgery) treatment with Taxotere® (docetaxel), Navelbine® (vinorelbine), and Herceptin® (trastuzumab) resulted in a complete disappearance of detectable cancer in 39% of women with locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer; the rate ...

Breastfeeding Benefits Women with Late Age at First Birth 05/01/2007
According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), breastfeeding may lessen the increased risk of breast cancer that comes from having a late age at first birth.Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in ...

No Link Found Between Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk 04/26/2007
According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, both induced and spontaneous abortions are not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed annually with breast cancer in the U.S. alone. When breast cancer is diagnosed and treated early (prior to ...

Marker Associated with Response to Herceptin® in Breast Cancer 04/25/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, among breast cancer patients with HER2-overexpressing cancer cells, those whose cells express a receptor called p95HER2 have poor anticancer response rates to Herceptin® (trastuzumab).Approximately 25–30% of breast cancers overexpress a protein referred to as the ...

Long-term Aspirin Use Modestly Lowers Cancer Risk 04/24/2007
According to results recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, daily long-term use of adult-strength aspirin appears to modestly lower the overall incidence of cancer; this is particularly evident in colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer.Results from previous studies have indicated that long-term use of anti-inflammatory agents ...

Genes May Be Linked with Aggressive Breast Cancer in African-American Women 04/23/2007
According to a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), differences in the expression of two genes may contribute to worse breast cancer outcomes in African-American women.Cancer incidence and survival in the U.S. continues to vary by race and ethnicity. African-American ...

Additional Data Strengthens Link Between Hormone Use and Breast Cancer 04/20/2007
According to results recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, additional data has strengthened the link between the use of hormone therapy and an increased risk in breast cancer among postmenopausal women.As women reach menopause and beyond, more than 80% will experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night ...

General Surgeons Not Referring Mastectomy Patients for Reconstructive Surgery Evaluation 04/12/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, only 24% of general surgeons refer a high proportion of their mastectomy patients to plastic surgeons prior to surgery.Breast reconstruction surgery has become increasingly refined and can be successfully accomplished in many women treated with mastectomy. The ...

Switching from Tamoxifen to Aromatase Inhibitor Improves Survival in Early Breast Cancer 04/11/2007
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, combined results from two clinical trials provide further confirmation that postmenopausal women with hormone-positive early breast cancer have improved survival when they switch from tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) to an aromatase agent.The majority of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), often ...

Guidelines Recommend Individualized Approach to Mammography for Women Age 40 to 49 04/10/2007
A guideline prepared by the American College of Physicians summarizes available information about the risks and benefits of screening mammography in women between the ages of 40 and 49, and encourages individualized decisions about mammography based on a woman's preferences and risk of breast cancer. This information was published ...

Effexor® More Effective than Catapres® for Treatment of Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Patients 04/09/2007
According to an article published in the Annals of Oncology, the antidepressive agent Effexor® (venlafaxine) is more effective than Catapres® (clonidine) for the treatment of hot flashes in women with breast cancer.Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women annually in the United States.  Hot flashes, which can be ...

Studies Evaluate Combined Adjuvant Therapy for Early Breast Cancer 04/09/2007
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the addition of chemotherapy to tamoxifen for the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer produces modest but sustained improvements in overall survival. A second Phase III trial, published in the ...

Computer-aided Detection Reduces Accuracy of Mammography 04/05/2007
According to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, use of computer-aided detection (computer programs that identify suspicious areas on mammograms) increases the frequency of breast biopsies but does not improve breast cancer detection.Screening mammography has made important contributions to improved breast cancer ...

Radiation to Chest Linked with Increased Breast Cancer Risk 04/04/2007
According to the results of a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, women who have received radiation to the chest for the treatment of cancer or for the diagnosis of tuberculosis or pneumonia have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.Exposure of the chest to high or ...

MRI Screening Recommended for Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer 04/02/2007
The American Cancer Society recently released recommendations for the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—in combination with mammography—for breast cancer screening. The guidelines—which were released in the March/April 2007 issue of CA—A Cancer Journal for Clinicians—recommend annual breast MRI in women at high risk of breast cancer.The goal of ...

MRI Identifies Cancer in Opposite Breast Among Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients 03/28/2007
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may detect breast cancer in the opposite breast among patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Cancer in the opposite breast occurs in approximately 3% of these patients.Breast cancer is diagnosed ...

OncotypeDX™ Effectively Guides Breast Cancer Treatment 03/22/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, use of the OncotypeDX™ test to guide treatment decisions among women with node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer results in good outcomes and acceptable cost.Although chemotherapy is recommended for many women with early-stage, node-negative breast cancer, the benefit ...

Moderate Alcohol Consumption Ups Risk of Breast Cancer 03/20/2007
According to an article recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, even moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women annually in the United States alone. Because recent research has indicated that diet and exercise may contribute significantly ...

MRI Useful in Detecting Bone Abnormalities in Multiple Myeloma 03/19/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appears to be more effective than standard bone testing in detecting bone abnormalities in patients with multiple myeloma.Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the blood that affects the plasma cells. ...

Pesticides May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer 03/19/2007
According to an article recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, use of some residential pesticides may increase the risk of breast cancer. However, further studies evaluating this association are warranted before definite conclusions are made.Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States ...

Treatment at High-volume Hospital Linked with Better Breast Cancer Survival 03/16/2007
According to the results of a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, women with early-stage breast cancer have better survival if they undergo surgery at a hospital that performs a large number of breast cancer surgeries.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread from ...

Tykerb® Approved for Advanced Breast Cancer 03/13/2007
The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the targeted agent Tykerb® (lapatinib) for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The indication for Tykerb includes its use in combination with the chemotherapy agent Xeloda® (capecitabine) for the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer in women whose cancer ...

Eating Red Meat May Increase Risk of Hormone-positive Breast Cancer in Premenopausal Women 03/07/2007
According to an article recently published in Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, consumption of red meat appears to increase the risk of developing hormone receptor-positive breast cancer among premenopausal women.Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, also referred to as estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer, accounts for the majority of breast cancers. This ...

Long-term Strenuous Activity Protects Against ER-negative Breast Cancer 03/01/2007
According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women who engage in long-term strenuous exercise activity have a significantly decreased risk of developing estrogen receptor-negative invasive breast cancer.Approximately 25% of breast cancers are considered to be estrogen-receptor negative (ER-negative), meaning that the cancer cells are ...

Further Evidence that Physical Activity Reduces Breast Cancer Risk 02/23/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, women who engaged in regular, strenuous, recreational physical activity were less likely than inactive women to develop invasive breast cancer. The protective effect of exercise appeared to be limited to women who did ...

Tamoxifen Prevents ER-positive Breast Cancer Years Following Completion of Therapy 02/22/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) can significantly reduce the risk of hormone-positive breast cancer, even years following completion of therapy.Hormone-positive breast cancer, also referred to as estrogen-receptor positive (ER-positive) breast cancer, is the most common type ...

Exercise Program Benefits Women with Early Breast Cancer 02/21/2007
According to the results of a study published in the British Medical Journal, participation in a 12-week supervised group exercise program provided physical and psychological benefits to women undergoing treatment for early breast cancer.Early-stage breast refers to cancer that is either confined to the breast or that has not ...

Addition of Gemzar® to Navelbine® Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer 02/16/2007
According to an article recently published in Lancet Oncology, the addition of the chemotherapy agent Gemzar® (gemcitabine) to Navelbine® (vinorelbine) improves progression-free survival, but not overall survival, compared with Navelbine alone in women with breast cancer whose disease has progressed following prior chemotherapy.Breast cancer claims the lives of approximately ...

Growth Factors May Increase Risk of AML and MDS in Post-menopausal Women Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy 02/15/2007
According to results published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, growth factors may increase the risk that postmenopausal women with early breast cancer who are being treated with chemotherapy may develop subsequent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).[1]Breast cancer ...

Further Evidence Supporting a Switch to Aromasin® Following Two to Three Years of Tamoxifen 02/14/2007
According to an article recently published in the Lancet, postmenopausal women with hormone-positive breast cancer achieve improved cancer-free and overall survival if they switch to the aromatase agent Aromasin® (exemestane) after two to three years of treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®).A majority of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), which ...

MammaPrint® Approved to Predict Recurrences in Breast Cancer 02/13/2007
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the microarray genetic analysis, the MammaPrint® test, to help predict the risk of cancer recurrences or spread of cancer among women with Stages I or II node-negative breast cancer.Women with Stages I or II node-negative breast cancer have cancer ...

Early Age at First Birth Does Not Reduce Breast Cancer Risk in BRCA1/2 Carriers 02/09/2007
According to the results of a study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, the risk of breast cancer among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation does not vary by age at first birth.Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly increase the lifetime risk ...

MRI May Increase Breast Cancer Detection in High-risk Women 02/08/2007
According to the preliminary results of a study conducted in Italy, six of 18 breast cancers detected in high-risk women screened by clinical breast exam, ultrasonography, mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were detected only by MRI. These results were published in the journal Radiology.Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 ...

Investigational Drug May Prevent or Reverse Chemotherapy Resistance in Subsets of Breast Cancer Patients 02/07/2007
According to the results of a study conducted in Japan, an investigational drug known as dofequidar fumarate (MS-209) may prevent or reverse multidrug resistance in subsets of patients receiving chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Patients diagnosed with Stage ...

Concurrent Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Reduces Locoregional Recurrence in Node-positive Early Breast Cancer 02/06/2007
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, concurrent administration of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in or near the breast in women with node-positive early breast cancer.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that ...

Faslodex® Benefits Subset of Women Resistant to Aromatase Inhibitors 02/01/2007
Among women with advanced breast cancer that progresses after therapy with an aromatase inhibitor, treatment with the antiestrogen drug Faslodex® (fulvestrant) resulted in reduced or stable disease in 30% of patients. These results were published in the Annals of Oncology.Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women ...

Review Concludes that Physical Activity Reduces Incidence of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer 02/01/2007
According to an article recently published in the journal Epidemiology, further data indicates that physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women.Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women annually in the U.S. alone. Due to its prevalence, researchers continue to evaluate ways to prevent or ...

Study Questions Two-year Delay of Pregnancy After Diagnosis of Localized Breast Cancer 01/30/2007
According to results recently published in the British Medical Journal, optimal timing of pregnancy following the diagnosis of early breast cancer is being questioned.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread from the breast to distant sites in the body.  It is usually recommended that women with ...

Men Diagnosed with Breast Cancer at Increased Risk of Second Cancers 01/29/2007
According to an article recently published in Breast Cancer Research, men who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a significantly increased risk of developing a second type of cancer.According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 2,030 cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed annually in men in the United ...

Aromasin® Compromises Bone Health in Breast Cancer Patients 01/26/2007
According to an article recently published in the Lancet Oncology, women with breast cancer who switch from tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) to Aromasin® (exemestane) have an increased risk of bone fractures. However, it was also noted that overall survival is improved with Aromasin.The majority of breast cancers are referred to as hormone-positive ...

Many Women Stop Taking Tamoxifen 01/25/2007
According to the results of a study conducted in Ireland, many women who begin taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer discontinue use (without switching to another hormonal therapy) before completing five years of treatment. These results were published in the journal Cancer.Each year breast cancer ...

Radiation Therapy After Breast-conserving Surgery Also Important for Older Women 01/25/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, older women who undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS) without radiation therapy have a higher risk of a developing a breast cancer recurrence or a new breast cancer than women treated with BCS with radiation therapy or women who ...

High-volume Surgeons More Likely to Adhere to Recommendations for Early Breast Cancer 01/24/2007
According to the results of a study published is the Archives of Surgery, surgeons who treat a greater number of breast cancer patients are more likely than other surgeons to follow breast cancer treatment recommendations.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread from the breast or axillary ...

Women Involved in Making Cancer Care Decisions Choose More Experienced Breast Cancer Surgeons 01/19/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients with breast cancer who are involved in selecting their surgeon tend to choose surgeons with greater experience than women who are referred to a surgeon by another healthcare provider or healthcare plan.Results from recent studies have ...

Dense Breast Tissue a Major Risk Factor for Breast Cancer 01/19/2007
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, women with extensively dense breast tissue as revealed by mammography have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer compared to women with less dense breast tissue. Furthermore, cancer among women with dense breast tissue is much harder ...

Mitoxantrone-based Therapy Increases Risk for Subsequent Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome in Breast Cancer Patients 01/12/2007
According to an early online publication from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the use of the chemotherapy agent Novantrone® (mitoxantrone) to treat breast cancer appears to increase the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) later in life.Mitoxantrone is a chemotherapy agent that was historically ...

Femara® Improves Cancer-free Survival in Early Breast Cancer 01/12/2007
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer with the aromatase inhibitor Femara® (letrozole) results in better cancer-free survival than treatment with tamoxifen.Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 ...

Additional Evidence that Physical Activity Reduces Breast Cancer Risk 01/08/2007
According to the results of a large European study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, women with the highest levels of household physical activity are less likely than the least active women to develop breast cancer.Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women annually in the ...

Herceptin® Improves Survival in HER2-positive Early Breast Cancer 01/08/2007
According to updated results from the Herceptin Adjuvant (HERA) study, one year of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) following chemotherapy results in better overall survival than chemotherapy alone in women with HER2-positive early breast cancer. These results were published in the Lancet.Approximately 30% of breast cancers overexpress a protein known as the ...

No Clear Role for Folate in Breast Cancer Risk Reduction 01/04/2007
A combined analysis of previously published studies did not find an overall effect of dietary folate on risk of breast cancer; there was some suggestion, however, that adequate folate intake may reduce breast cancer risk in women with moderate or high alcohol intake. These results were published in the ...

Addition of Tykerb® Improves Outcomes in Advanced Breast Cancer 01/03/2007
According to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the addition of Tykerb® (lapatinib) to Xeloda® (capecitabine) delays cancer progression compared to Xeloda alone in the treatment of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that has progressed after other treatments. These results were also recently ...

Tamoxifen Appears to Prevent Breast Cancer Years Following Completion of Therapy 01/02/2007
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) appears to reduce the risk of developing cancer years following completion of preventive therapy among women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer.Breast cancer causes roughly 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S. ...

Abraxane® in Combinaton with Xeloda® Effective Against Metastatic Breast Cancer 01/02/2007
According to results recently published at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Abraxane® (albumin-bound paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) in combination with Xeloda® (capecibine) may be an effective treatment option for patients with metastatic breast cancer.Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the ...

Addition of Tykerb® Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer 01/02/2007
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the addition of Tykerb® (lapatinib) to Xeloda® (capecitabine) improves progression-free survival compared to Xeloda alone in the treatment of HER2-positive, advanced refractory or metastatic breast cancer.Breast cancer claims the lives of approximately 40,000 women annually ...

Follow-up Data on Dose-dense Chemotherapy Confirm Benefit in Early Breast Cancer 12/22/2006
According to results presented at the 2006 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), updated results continue to demonstrate better efficacy with dose-dense chemotherapy than with conventional chemotherapy in early breast cancer.Dose-dense chemotherapy (chemotherapy with a shortened interval between doses), has demonstrated improvement in outcomes compared to conventional chemotherapy in ...

Early Intervention with Aranesp® In Dose-dense Therapy Reduces Risk of Severe Anemia for Breast Cancer Patients 12/21/2006
According to a study recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, early intervention with Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) allows patients with early breast cancer to maintain hemoglobin levels during dose-dense chemotherapy. Dose-dense chemotherapy generally refers to chemotherapy administered with a shortened interval between cycles; for example, ...

OncotypeDX™ Accurately Measures Estrogen Receptor Status in Node-negative Breast Cancer Patients 12/20/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), the OncotypeDX™ test more accurately predicted estrogen receptor (ER) status than two other commonly used tests among node-negative breast cancer patients.[1] In addition, ...

Abraxane® Improves Response Rates and Progression-free Survival—with Fewer Side Effects than Taxotere®—in Metastatic Breast Cancer 12/19/2006
According to results recently published at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Abraxane® (albumin-bound paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) results in better response rates and progression-free survival—and fewer toxic effects—than Taxotere® (docetaxel) in the initial treatment of metastatic breast cancer.Paclitaxel is a chemotherapy agent commonly used ...

Low-fat Diet May Reduce Recurrences in ER-negative Breast Cancer 12/19/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, a low-fat diet appears to significantly reduce the risk of cancer recurrence among women with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.Environmental and lifestyle factors—such as smoking, physical activity, and diet—are believed to play an important role in ...

Tykerb® Effective in Inflammatory Breast Cancer 12/19/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Tykerb® (lapatinib), either alone or in combination with Taxol® (paclitaxel), is active against inflammatory breast cancer.Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive and lethal form of breast cancer. Many of these cancers express the tyrosine ...

Surgery Alone May Be Not Effective Enough in High-grade DCIS 12/18/2006
According to results presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), women with high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ who are treated with surgery alone have a significant risk of cancer recurrence.Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest possible clinical diagnosis of breast cancer. It is ...

Boost Radiation for Early Breast Cancer Improves Local Control but Not Survival 12/18/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, boost radiation among women with Stage I or Stage II breast cancer reduces the risk of cancer recurrence within the breast but does not affect 10-year survival.Breast-conserving surgery is generally followed by radiation therapy. In ...

Additional Chemotherapy May Improve Survival for Some Patients with Stage IIIB Breast Cancer 12/18/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, additional adjuvant chemotherapy may improve the survival of patients with Stage IIIB breast cancer who do not have a complete disappearance of detectable cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Stage IIIB breast cancer refers to cancer that has ...

Aromasin® and Faslodex® Similarly Effective and Safe in Previously-treated Breast Cancer Patients 12/18/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Aromasin® (exemestane) and Faslodex® (fulvestrant) demonstrate similar efficacy and safety among postmenopausal women who have previously been treated with non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors.Aromatase inhibitors are drugs that block the production of estrogen. They suppress estrogen levels ...

Combination of Herceptin® and Arimidex® Improves Outcomes in Advanced Breast Cancer 12/18/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the combination of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Arimidex® (anastrozole) results in better survival without cancer progression than Arimidex alone in women with metastatic, HER2-positive, hormone-dependent breast cancer.Twenty to thirty percent of breast cancers overexpress (make too ...

HER2 Vaccine May Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence 12/15/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, an experimental HER2 vaccine may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in some women with high-risk early breast cancer.Although cure rates remain high for patients with early breast cancer, particularly women with node-negative breast cancer, ...

Herceptin® Continues to Demonstrate Improved Survival in Early Breast Cancer 12/15/2006
Results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium provide further evidence that the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to standard chemotherapy regimens improves the survival of women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer.Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody that targets the HER2 protein—a protein that plays a role ...

Decline in Postmenopausal Hormone Use May Explain Drop in Breast Cancer Rate 12/15/2006
Based on results recently presented at the 2006 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, researchers speculate that a sudden decrease in the incidence of breast cancer in 2003 may be due to a reduction in the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy.As women reach menopause and beyond, more than 80% will ...

Concurrent Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy After Breast-conserving Surgery Warrants Further Study 12/15/2006
A study published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics reports that administering radiation therapy at the same time as chemotherapy may reduce recurrence risk in women who have undergone breast-conserving surgery.Early-stage breast cancer refers to cancer that is either confined to the breast or that has ...

Zometa® Prevents Bone Loss in Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients 12/14/2006
In a study of premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer treated with a combination of hormonal therapies, use of the bisphosphonate drug Zometa® (zoledronic acid) prevented bone loss. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women in the ...

Study Evaluates Quality of Life and Menstrual Function in Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients 12/13/2006
Results from an international clinical trial, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, provide information about how three different approaches to the adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of node-negative, premenopausal breast cancer affect quality of life and menstrual function.Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women in the U.S. ...

Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Does Not Diminish Quality of Life 12/13/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, women who undergo prophylactic contralateral mastectomy (preventive removal of the opposite breast) after a first diagnosis of breast cancer and BRCA1/2 testing have a similar quality of life and distress level as women who do not ...

Possible Benefit of Mammography in Women 40–49 12/12/2006
The results of a clinical trial published in The Lancet provide some evidence that mammographic screening of women between the ages of 40 and 49 reduces breast cancer mortality. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women each year in the U.S. alone. Because the disease is highly curable when ...

Mammography Technology Doesn't Replace Doctors' Judgment 12/08/2006
According to a study published in the American Journal ofRoentgenology, use of computed-assisted detection (CAD) technology for the interpretation of mammograms cannot replace the judgment of a radiologist. Computer-aided detection (CAD) technology involves the use of a computer to evaluate a digital mammographic image. The technology marks areas of the image ...

Taxotere® Effective in Early Breast Cancer 12/05/2006
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, chemotherapy with Taxotere® (docetaxel) plus cyclophosphamide results in better cancer-free survival than chemotherapy with doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide in women with Stage I to Stage III breast cancer. Early breast cancer refers to cancer that ...

Second Opinions Can Change More than Half of Treatment Management in Breast Cancer 12/05/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, a second opinion from a multidisciplinary cancer clinic changed treatment management in more than half of patients with breast cancer. Over 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually in the United States. Treatment of breast cancer often involves a combination ...

Low Body Weight During Early Adulthood Linked with Increased Risk of Premenopausal Breast Cancer 12/04/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women who have a lower body weight at the age of 18 are more likely than other women to develop premenopausal breast cancer. In postmenopausal women, several studies have reported that obesity increases the risk of breast ...

Chemotherapy May Temporarily Alter Brain Among Breast Cancer Patients 11/30/2006
According to an early online publication in the journal Cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy administered following surgery) appears to temporarily change the size of some parts of the brain in patients with breast cancer. These findings, if confirmed, may help explain the phenomenon known as “chemo brain”. A large portion of patients ...

Oncotype DX™ Contracts with Aetna 11/29/2006
Aetna Health, one of the nation's largest health benefits companies, has formed an agreement with Genomic Health to establish pay rates for the use of Oncotype DX™. This agreement establishes payment rates for all of Aenta's plans for eligible members with early-stage breast cancer. Node-negative, early breast cancer refers to ...

Risk of Breast Cancer in Other Breast Persists for at Least 20 Years 11/28/2006
According to an article recently published in the InternationalJournal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, women who undergo breast-conservation therapy for breast cancer have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in their other breast during a 20-year period. These findings call attention to the importance of annual mammograms and ...

Ten-year Survival of Patients with Localized Inflammatory Breast Cancer Reported 11/27/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, 10-year results including women with inflammatory breast cancer treated with a high-dose chemotherapy regimen of fluorouracil (5-FU), Ellence® (epirubicin), and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) (FEC-HD) with or without Granocyte® (lenograstim) have been reported.Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast ...

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Linked with Higher Rate of Distant Metastases 11/27/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, women with early-stage breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and HER2-negative (triple negative breast cancer) are more likely than other women to develop distant metastases. Women with triple negative breast cancer did not, ...

Little Evidence that Folate Reduces Breast Cancer Risk 11/22/2006
According to combined analyses of previously published studies, folate does not appear to influence the risk of developing breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States alone. Because it is so ...

Switching from Tamoxifen to Arimidex® Linked with Improved Survival 11/21/2006
Among postmenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, switching to Arimidex® (anastrozole) after two to three years of tamoxifen results in better treatment outcomes than remaining on tamoxifen. These results were published in the journal Lancet Oncology.A majority of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), meaning that they ...

Unrecognized and Undertreated Psychological Problems Common in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients 11/20/2006
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, almost half of all women with newly diagnosed breast cancer experience significant emotional distress or a psychiatric disorder such as major depression.Breast cancer is diagnosed in more than 200,000 women annually in the U.S. alone. Fortunately, cure ...

Herceptin® Approved for Early-stage Breast Cancer 11/17/2006
Herceptin® (trastuzumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the post-surgery treatment of early-stage breast cancer that is HER2-positive and node-positive. The approval specified that Herceptin be given in combination with the chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel.Though a diagnosis of breast ...

Vinflunine Active in Recurrent Breast Cancer 11/14/2006
According to an article recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, the chemotherapy agent vinflunine provides anticancer activity among women with breast cancer that has recurred or progressed following prior therapy with chemotherapy agents referred to as anthracyclines and taxanes.Anthracyclines and taxanes are two classes of chemotherapy agents ...

Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer Can Be Delayed up to Three Months 11/14/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, women with early breast cancer may delay chemotherapy for up to three months without affecting long-term outcomes. However, at three months a delay in chemotherapy is associated with a decreased survival rate.Early breast cancer refers to cancer ...

Disabled Women with Breast Cancer Less Likely to Receive Optimal Breast-conserving Therapy 11/13/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, disabled women who are diagnosed with early breast cancer are less likely to receive optimal breast-conserving therapy than women who are not disabled.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread from the breast or axillary ...

Study Explores Cancer Risk Among Those with Family History of Early-onset Breast Cancer 11/13/2006
According to the results of a study published in the European Journal of Cancer, individuals with a first-degree family history of early-onset breast cancer (breast cancer diagnosed before the age of 50 in a parent, sibling, or child), are more likely than the general population to develop several types ...

Adding Anthracyclines to Early Breast Cancer Treatment Improves Survival 11/10/2006
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the addition of the anthracycline Ellence® (epirubicin) to the chemotherapy regimen known as CMF improves survival compared to CMF alone in the treatment of early breast cancer.Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread ...

Radiologist Experience Reduces False-positive Results in Mammography 11/10/2006
According to an article recently published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, radiologists who are more experienced have a reduced rate of false-positive readings on mammography.Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States alone. Fortunately, when breast cancer is detected and treated early, prior ...

Cigarette Smoking Increases Risk of Developing Breast Cancer 11/09/2006
According to an article recently published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, women who smoke cigarettes—particularly those who begin smoking early in life, smoke several cigarettes per day, and continue to smoke for long periods of time—appear to have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.Breast cancer is diagnosed ...

Premenopausal Women with Node-positive Breast Cancer Gain Most Benefit from Aromatase Inhibitors Following Tamoxifen 11/06/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, premenopausal women with breast cancer whose cancer has spread to at least four lymph nodes derive the most benefit from treatment with aromatase inhibitors administered following tamoxifen. Postmenopausal women with cancer that has spread to three or fewer lymph ...

Postmenopausal Hormone Use Linked with Specific Types of Breast Cancer 11/03/2006
According to the results of a study published in the journal Lancet Oncology, use of postmenopausal hormones increases the risk of lobular and tubular breast cancers more than other types of breast cancer. As women reach menopause and beyond, more than 80% will experience symptoms such as hot flashes, ...

Second-line Treatment with Zometa® Improves Symptoms in Patients with Bone Metastases 10/26/2006
For breast cancer patients who experience a worsening of bone metastases during bisphosphonate therapy with Aredia® (pamidronate) or Bonefos® (clodronate), switching to Zometa® (zoledronic acid) can improve pain control. These results of this phase II clinical trial were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Many patients with advanced cancers ...

Group-based Therapy Eases Cancer-related Anxiety for Breast Cancer Patients 10/25/2006
According to an article recently published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, group-based intervention eases cancer-related anxiety during treatment and one year following treatment among breast cancer patients. Patients may experience a range of emotions, including anxiety, with diagnosis and treatment for any type of cancer. They often find if ...

Similar Quality of Life with Evista® and Nolvadex® for Prevention of Breast Cancer 10/23/2006
According to an article published in Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, five-year results indicate that side effects are similar for Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) and Evista® (raloxifene) when used to prevent breast cancer in postmenopausal women at a high risk of developing the disease. Breast cancer causes roughly 40,000 deaths annually in the ...

Hormone Levels Linked with Premenopausal Breast Cancer 10/20/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, circulating levels of estrogen and testosterone during specific points in the menstrual cycle appear to influence breast cancer risk in premenopausal women.  Many breast cancers are hormone responsive, prompting interest in the relationship between ...

Elderly Patients with Breast Cancer May Be Undertreated 10/17/2006
According to an article in the Archives of Surgery, women with breast cancer who are 70 years or older may be undertreated in community hospitals. Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed annually with breast cancer in the United States. Approximately one out of every three of these women are 70 years ...

Fat Intake During Midlife Unlikely to Increase Breast Cancer Risk 10/16/2006
A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology provides additional evidence that dietary fat intake during midlife or later does not have a large impact on a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. Although some studies have suggested that higher dietary fat intake may increase the risk of postmenopausal ...

Four-year Results Continue to Show Superior Outcomes with Femara® in Early Breast Cancer 10/16/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting, results from four years of follow-up continue to indicate that treatment with Femara® (letrozole) significantly reduces the risk of cancer recurrences compared to Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) in postmenopausal women with early, hormone-positive breast cancer. ...

Breast Cancer Survivors Face Elevated Risk of Suicide 10/13/2006
Although few breast cancer survivors commit suicide, the probability of suicide among breast cancer survivors appears to be higher than among women in the general population. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Thanks to improvements in cancer screening and treatment, cancer survivors are living ...

Aerobic Exercise Maintains Red Blood Cell Levels During Radiation Therapy 10/12/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer, aerobic exercise during radiation therapy for breast cancer may prevent a decline in red blood cell levels. The goal of radiation therapy to the breast is to kill cancer cells that could otherwise persist after therapy and cause breast cancer to ...

Improved Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer with Addition of Herceptin® to Arimidex® 10/11/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to Arimidex® (anastrozole) improves progression-free survival among patients with HER2-positive and hormone-positive advanced breast cancer. The majority of breast cancers are hormone-positive, which means they are stimulated ...

Addition of Xeloda® to Herceptin® and Taxotere® Delays Cancer Progression in Advanced Breast Cancer 10/06/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), the addition of Xeloda® (capecitabine) to Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Taxotere® (docetaxel) delays cancer progression among patients with advanced breast cancer by 4.5 months. Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread ...

Younger Females Unaware of Risk Factors Associated with Breast Cancer 10/06/2006
According to results recently published in the European Journal of Cancer, young women have a poor understanding of lifestyle and genetic risk factors involved in the development of breast cancer. It is estimated that one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer within their ...

Study Explores Risk of Breast, Uterine, and Ovarian Cancer in Women with AIDS 09/29/2006
According to the results of a study published in the British Journal of Cancer, women with AIDS have a lower risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer than women in the general population; risk of breast cancer was lower among women with AIDS in the pre-HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) era, ...

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Complete Axillary Dissection in Node-negative Breast Cancer Patients Yield Similar Survival Outcomes 09/28/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, no significant survival differences exist between patients with node-negative breast cancer who undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy and those who undergo a complete axillary lymph node dissection. Node-negative breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread from ...

Aromatase Inhibitors Improve Survival in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer 09/22/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, use of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer results in better survival than use of other standard hormonal therapies. A majority of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), meaning that they ...

Older Women Less Likely to Receive Standard Breast Cancer Treatments 09/21/2006
According to the results of a study conducted within six large managed care organizations, breast cancer patients over the age of 75 are less likely than younger patients to receive standard, effective breast cancer treatments. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. A substantial body of evidence ...

Xeloda® plus Taxol® Effective as Initial Therapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer 09/20/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy combination including Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Taxol® is effective as initial therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the breast to distant sites in the body. Standard ...

Removal of Small Number of Lymph Nodes During Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Linked with Worse Outcomes 09/19/2006
Among women with node-negative breast cancer, those who had fewer than six lymph nodes removed during axillary lymph node dissection were more likely to experience a cancer recurrence than women who had a larger number of nodes removed. These results were published in the Annals of Oncology. Axillary lymph node ...

Circulating DNA in Blood Help Predict Risk of Cancer Spread in Breast Cancer 09/19/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, circulating DNA is a promising indication for the risk of cancer spread or progression among patients with breast cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States. Standard treatment for breast cancer is ...

Patient Enrollment Completed for Pivotal Trial Evaluating Efaproxyn™ 09/18/2006
Patient enrollment has recently been completed for a phase III clinical trial evaluating Efaproxyn™ (efaproxiral) for the treatment of patients with breast cancer that has spread to the brain (brain metastasis). A common area where advanced breast cancer spreads is the brain. Patients with brain metastasis are often treated with ...

Risk of Death with Preventive Oophorectomy Evaluated 09/18/2006
According to an article recently published in Lancet Oncology, a prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy may be associated with an increased risk of death among premenopausal women who do not receive subsequent estrogen. However, further study is necessary to confirm this association. A bilateral oophorectomy is a surgical procedure in which both ...

Possible Link Between Adrenal Androgens and Breast Cancer Risk 09/14/2006
In a study of predominantly premenopausal women, higher serum levels of the adrenal androgens DHEA and DHEAS were linked with an increased risk of breast cancer among women over the age of 45. These results were published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention. Many breast cancers are hormone ...

Breast Pain While Receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy May Indicate Increased Risk of Breast Cancer 09/13/2006
According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, postmenopausal women who experience new pain in their breasts while taking hormone replacement therapy may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. As women reach menopause and beyond, more than 80% will experience symptoms such as hot ...

Possible Link Between Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Survival 09/12/2006
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, higher levels of physical activity in the year prior to breast cancer diagnosis may result in better breast cancer survival, particularly among overweight women. Several previous studies have suggested that the risk of developing breast cancer may be ...

Breast Density Contributes to Breast Cancer Risk 09/07/2006
According to the results of two studies published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the addition of information about breast density improves the accuracy of tools to predict breast cancer risk. The Gail model is a tool that estimates a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. The model ...

Xeloda®/Temodar® Effective for Breast Cancer Spread to Brain 09/06/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy combination including Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Temodar® (temozolomide) provides anticancer activity in patients with breast cancer that has spread to the brain. The brain is a common location for advanced breast cancer to spread. Unfortunately, long-term survival rates for ...

Low Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence Following Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Breast-conserving Surgery 09/05/2006
Women who undergo breast-conserving surgery after a complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy given before surgery) have a low risk of local or regional cancer recurrence. These results were published in the journal Cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in more than 200,000 women each year in the U.S. alone. For ...

Post-mastectomy Radiation Therapy May Provide Little Benefit for Women with Large Breast Tumors and Negative Lymph Nodes 08/25/2006
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the pattern of cancer recurrence in node-negative women with large (at least 5 cm) breast tumors does not warrant the routine use of post-mastectomy radiation therapy. A small subset of women with early-stage breast cancer have large breast tumors ...

Increased Risk of Second Cancers Following In Situ Breast Cancer 08/24/2006
According to the results of a study published in the British Journal of Cancer, women who have been diagnosed with in situ breast cancer (either DCIS or LCIS) have a higher risk of developing another cancer than women in the general population. In situ breast cancer refers to non-invasive cancer ...

Addition of G-CSF Reduces Risk of Febrile Neutropenia in Breast Cancer 08/23/2006
Among node-negative breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide), use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) significantly reduced the risk of febrile neutropenia. These results were published in the Annals of Oncology. Although chemotherapy improves outcomes for many patients with breast cancer, it is associated with unpleasant and ...

Maintenance Taxol® Does Not Improve Outcomes in Metastatic Breast Cancer 08/23/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, continued treatment with Taxol® (paclitaxel) does not improve progression-free survival for patients with metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the breast to distant sites in the body. Standard treatment for metastatic ...

PET Scans May Help Some Patients with Early Breast Cancer Avoid Axillary Dissection or Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy 08/21/2006
According to results recently published in the Archives of Surgery, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan may be used to help predict whether breast cancer will spread to the axillary (under the arm) lymph nodes. Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread from the site of origin ...

Breast Reconstruction at Time of Mastectomy May Affect Radiation Therapy 08/17/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, breast reconstruction performed at the time of a mastectomy for women with breast cancer may negatively affect subsequent radiation therapy. However, the impact of these effects on patient outcomes needs further study. A mastectomy ...

Distance to Radiation Facility Affects Compliance with Treatment for Elderly Women with Early Breast Cancer 08/17/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, elderly women who are to receive radiation therapy following surgery for early breast cancer are less likely to comply with follow-up radiation treatment if they live at a distance from the radiation facility. Early ...

Side Effects from Chemotherapy May Be More Common than Thought for Younger Women with Breast Cancer 08/16/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women under 63 years of age may experience more side effects related to chemotherapy than previously thought. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States alone. Chemotherapy remains an important part ...

Breast MRI May Influence Decisions about Type of Surgery 08/16/2006
According to a study published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology, preoperative use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may clarify the extent of breast cancer in some women, and may influence decisions about type of breast surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an approach to breast imaging that detects a ...

Study Explores Link Between Diabetes and Breast Cancer 08/14/2006
According to a study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, women with diabetes are more likely than women without diabetes to report a history of breast cancer. To further understand the causes of breast cancer and to improve breast cancer prevention, researchers have explored a variety of ...

FAC Chemotherapy During Pregnancy Not Associated with Short-term Complications 08/14/2006
According to an article recently published in an early online version of the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy regimen known as FAC does not appear to harm the fetus if used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Since relatively few women are diagnosed ...

Weight Control May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer in BRCA1/2 Carriers 08/14/2006
According to the results of a study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, risk of breast cancer among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation may be increased by high caloric intake or weight gain during adulthood. Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to ...

DES Daughters at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer 08/08/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth have an increased risk of developing breast cancer after the age of 40. Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetic estrogen that was used frequently in pregnant women between the 1940s and 1960s. ...

Mutations May Identify Early Breast Cancer with Poor Response to Chemotherapy 08/07/2006
According to an early online publication from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, specific mutations may indicate which patients with early breast cancer may not receive the most benefit from chemotherapy. While these results need further study, if confirmed, they could help individualize treatments for this disease. Early breast cancer refers ...

“Boost” Radiation Reduces Cancer Recurrences for Young Women with DCIS 08/04/2006
According to an article recently published in the Lancet Oncology, women who are 45 years or younger with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have a reduced risk of cancer recurrences if they receive an additional “boost” of radiation therapy. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest possible clinical diagnosis ...

Delay of Radiation Longer than Three Months May Affect Outcomes of Early Breast Cancer 08/04/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, a delay of radiation following a lumpectomy of more than three months may affect survival among women with early breast cancer. Early breast cancer, or cancer that has not spread from the breast to ...

Menopausal Symptoms After Prophylactic Oophorectomy Only Partially Relieved by Hormone Replacement Therapy 08/03/2006
Among young women who have their ovaries removed to reduce cancer risk, use of hormone replacement therapy provides partial relief from hot flashes but does not seem to improve sexual function. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Some women are at increased risk of developing cancer ...

Presence of Cancer Cells in Circulating Blood Predicts Worse Outcomes After High-dose Therapy in Breast Cancer 08/01/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the presence of small amounts of cancer cells in circulating blood as detected by a gene panel predicts a 300% increased risk of death among women with early breast cancer who undergo high-dose therapy and a stem ...

Chemotherapy or Hormone Therapy Result in Similar Survival for Premenopausal, Hormone-positive Women with Breast Cancer 07/31/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, therapy to suppress female hormones (hormone blockade) and chemotherapy result in similar survival at seven years for premenopausal women with hormone-positive breast cancer. The majority of breast cancers are referred to as hormone-positive breast cancer. This refers to cancer ...

Tamoxifen Benefit Seen Only in Women at Highest Risk 07/26/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer, use of tamoxifen to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer appears to produce a survival benefit only among women at very high risk of developing the disease. Breast cancer causes roughly 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. The majority ...

Estrogen plus Testosterone Increases the Risk of Breast Cancer 07/25/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women who take estrogen plus testosterone for postmenopausal hormone therapy have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. As women reach menopause and beyond, more than 80% will experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, ...

Arimidex® Associated with Fewer Side Effects than Tamoxifen 07/24/2006
According to results appearing in an early online publication from Lancet Oncology, treatment with Arimidex® (anastrozole) is associated with fewer side effects than treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®). Hormone-positive breast cancer is a common type of breast cancer. It is stimulated to grow with exposure to the female hormones estrogen and/or ...

Taxotere® plus Iressa® Provides Impressive Anticancer Responses in Advanced Breast Cancer 07/20/2006
According to an article published in the British Journal of Cancer, the combination of Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Iressa® (gefitinib) produces anticancer responses in more than half of women with untreated advanced breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the breast to distant sites in the ...

Radiation Therapy After Breast Conserving Surgery for DCIS Reduces Recurrences at 10 Years 07/19/2006
According to results recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, radiation therapy following breast-conserving treatment reduces recurrences by nearly half among women with ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS). Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest possible clinical diagnosis of breast cancer. It is frequently diagnosed with screening mammography that has ...

CK-19 mRNA-positive Cells in Blood Associated with Poorer Prognosis in Node-negative Breast Cancer 07/19/2006
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients with node-negative breast cancer who had cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) detected within their circulating blood cells' messenger RNA (mRNA) had significantly worse outcomes, including survival, compared to women with no detected CK-19 mRNA-positive cells. (Messenger RNA is a ...

Gene Mutations Not Linked with Risk of Blood Clots in Breast Cancer Prevention Trial 07/14/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the risk of blood clots among women participating in a breast cancer prevention study was linked with tamoxifen use and body mass index, but not with two gene mutations that influence blood clotting. The ...

Evista® Increases Risk of Stroke and Blood Clots 07/13/2006
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Evista® (raloxifene) is associated with some serious side effects, such as stroke and blood clots, among postmenopausal women with existing heart problems or those at risk for developing heart problems. However, since these side effects remain ...

MDM2 Gene May Influence Breast Cancer Incidence and Survival 07/13/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a variant of the MDM2 gene known as SNP354 may increase the risk of developing breast cancer, while a variant known as SNP309 may modify the relationship between another gene (p53) and breast ...

Weight Gain Later in Life Increases Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women 07/12/2006
According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, postmenopausal women who have gained weight after the age of 18, or even after menopause, have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer. Conversely, postmenopausal women who have lost weight or maintained a healthy weight ...

Weight Training May Not Increase Risk of Lymphedema 07/03/2006
In a study of breast cancer patients who had undergone surgery to remove axillary (underarm) lymph nodes, a six-month program of twice-a-week weight training did not increase the risk of developing lymphedema, and did not worsen existing lymphedema symptoms. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Though ...

Prior Chemotherapy Does Not Compromise Benefit of Arimidex® in Breast Cancer 06/30/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, previous chemotherapy does not compromise the effectiveness of later treatment with Arimidex® (anastrozole) in postmenopausal women with early-stage, hormone-positive breast cancer. Hormone-positive breast cancer is a common type of breast cancer that is stimulated to grow from exposure to the ...

Sexual Problems Remain One Year After Breast Cancer Surgery 06/29/2006
Among breast cancer patients under the age of 50, sexual problems increase immediately after surgery and decline during the following year. However, when compared to sexual function before diagnosis, problems remain elevated. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Roughly one in four cases of breast cancer ...

Chest X-rays May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer in BRCA1/2 Carriers 06/28/2006
Among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, chest X-rays appear to increase the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly among women who receive chest X-rays at a young age. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found ...

Addition of Carboplatin to Taxol®/Herceptin® Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer 06/27/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the addition of carboplatin (Paraplatin®) to Taxol® (paclitaxel) and Herceptin® (trastuzumab) improves anticancer responses and progression-free survival when used as initial therapy in HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the ...

Nolvadex® and Evista® Offer Similar Quality of Life 06/27/2006
According to results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, use of Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) or Evista® (raloxifene) to reduce breast cancer risk results in generally similar quality of life, although sexual function may be better with Nolvadex. Breast cancer causes roughly 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. ...

Induced Abortions Not Tied to Increased Breast Cancer Risk 06/26/2006
According to an early online article in the International Journal of Cancer, women who have had induced abortions are not at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed annually with breast cancer in the U.S. alone. When breast cancer is diagnosed and treated early (prior ...

Further Evidence that Obesity Increases Risk of Hormone-positive Breast Cancer 06/26/2006
According to results recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, obesity significantly increases the risk of hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women without a family history of breast cancer and among those who have not taken postmenopausal hormones. To further understand the causes of breast cancer and improve breast ...

Continuous Administration of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy May Provide Greater Responses in Breast Cancer 06/22/2006
According to results recently presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the continuous administration of chemotherapy prior to surgery provides greater reductions compared to the standard administration schedule among women with locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancers. Locally advanced breast cancer refers to ...

BARD1 Mutation Increases Risk of Breast Cancer 06/22/2006
According to the results of a study conducted in Iceland, a specific mutation of the BARD1 gene increases the risk of developing breast cancer. These results were published in the journal PLoS Medicine. Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly increase the lifetime risk of developing ...

Chemotherapy Benefits Subsets of Elderly Breast Cancer Patients 06/20/2006
Two studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology have reported that chemotherapy improves survival among elderly women with hormone receptor-negative, lymph node-positive breast cancer. Although clinical trials have established the efficacy of chemotherapy for breast cancer, elderly women (women over the age of 70) were under-represented in these studies. ...

Aggressive Subtype of Breast Cancer More Common in Young Black Women 06/15/2006
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, premenopausal Black women are more likely than other women to develop an aggressive type of breast cancer known as basal-like. Outcomes among women with breast cancer, including mortality rates, have varied widely and persistently ...

Switching to Aromasin® Improves Survival Among Postmenopausal Women with Early Breast Cancer 06/13/2006
Breast cancer patients who switch to Aromasin® (exemestane) after 2–3 years of Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) are less likely to experience cancer recurrence or cancer in the opposite breast, and have better overall survival, than women who remain on Nolvadex. These results were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the ...

Effect of Preventive Removal of the Ovaries Varies by Type of BRCA Mutation 06/13/2006
According to results presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), preventive removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. The reduction in breast cancer risk, however, was ...

Herceptin® Continues to Show Benefits in Early Breast Cancer 06/12/2006
Updated results from the Herceptin® Adjuvant (HERA) trial were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO); among women with HER2-positive early breast cancer, treatment with one year of Herceptin (trastuzumab) following adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved overall and ...

Nolvadex® and Evista® Similarly Effective at Preventing Invasive Breast Cancer 06/12/2006
According to results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) and Evista® (raloxifene) are equally effective at preventing invasive breast cancer in high-risk postmenopausal women. Evista may be less effective at reducing the risk of noninvasive breast cancers (such as DCIS or LCIS), but ...

Breast Cancer Risk Not Reduced by Calcium plus Vitamin D 06/12/2006
According to results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), use of calcium plus vitamin D supplements does not reduce the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) was designed to address ...

Zometa® Reduces Cancer Progression Over Clondronate® 06/07/2006
The bisphosphonate Zometa® (zoledronic acid) significantly reduces the progression of breast cancer that has metastasized to the bone compared to Clodronate® (pamidronate). These findings were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in Atlanta, Georgia, June 2-6, 2006. Many patients with advanced breast ...

Oncotype DX™ Predicts Response to Neoadjuvant Taxotere® in Breast Cancer 06/07/2006
The Oncotype DX™ Recurrence Score has now been shown to predict response to neoadjuvant Taxotere® (docetaxel). Breast cancer patients with a high Recurrence Score were more likely to have a complete response following Taxotere® than women with a low Recurrence Score. These findings were presented at the 2006 annual ...

MR Spectroscopy Reduces Unnecessary Biopsies in Breast Cancer 06/05/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Radiology, the use of magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy may significantly reduce unnecessary biopsies in patients with abnormalities of the breast. Women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer may undergo screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect ...

Five Years of Arimidex® Results in Bone Loss 06/05/2006
According to results presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), women who are treated with the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) experience bone loss. However, this bone loss is not likely to cause osteoporosis in women with normal bone density before beginning therapy. Arimidex, ...

Primary Care Physicians Tend to Not Understand Role of Chemotherapy in Different Stages of Cancer 06/04/2006
According to results presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), only 11% of primary care physicians believe that patients with early-stage lung cancer can achieve benefit from treatment with chemotherapy. As a result, these patients may not receive adequate referrals to oncologists. Many ...

Tykerb® Halts Cancer Progression in Advanced Breast Cancer 06/04/2006
According to results from a phase III clinical trial presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the addition of the agent Tykerb® (lapatinib) to the chemotherapy agent Xeloda® (capecitabine) nearly doubles the time before cancer progresses in patients with advanced breast cancer that has stopped responding ...

Breast Cancer Risk Among Women with Family History Differs by Race 06/02/2006
Among women with a first-degree family history of breast cancer, the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is higher among White women than among African-American women. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Women with a family history of breast cancer are known to have an increased ...

No Responses to Temodar® in Breast Cancer Patients with Cancer Spread to the Brain 06/02/2006
According to an article published in the Annals of Oncology, the chemotherapy agent Temodar® (temozolomide) has limited activity in the treatment of patients with breast cancer spread to the brain once they've received extensive prior therapy. One common place that advanced breast cancer spreads is to the brain. Unfortunately, once ...

Addition of Herceptin® to Arimidex® Improves Progression-Free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer 05/31/2006
According to a press release published by Roche, the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to Arimidex® (anastrozole) improves progression-free survival compared to Arimidex alone in HER2-positive, hormone-positive advanced breast cancer. Approximately 30% of cancers overexpress a protein known as the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) protein. The HER2 protein is ...

Clinical Trial Will Evaluate Individualized Treatment for Breast Cancer 05/26/2006
The National Cancer Institute recently announced the launch of a breast cancer clinical trial called the Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (TAILORx). The trial will assess the role of the Oncotype DX™ test in guiding chemotherapy decisions among women with early breast cancer. Although chemotherapy is recommended for many ...

Oncotype DX™ Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Early Breast Cancer 05/26/2006
Among women with node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, the Oncotype DX™ test predicts the likely benefit of chemotherapy. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Although chemotherapy is recommended for many women with early-stage, node-negative breast cancer, the benefit of chemotherapy varies. Identifying in advance those women ...

Follow-Up Confirms Lack of Benefit from High-Dose Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer 05/26/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, follow-up data has indicated that high-dose chemotherapy with autolgous stem cell transplantation does not appear to provide benefit when compared to standard therapy. However, further analysis is necessary to determine if subgroups of patients with this disease may benefit ...

MRI Cost-Effective for Selected Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutations 05/25/2006
Among women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, breast cancer screening with magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) in addition to mammography may be cost-effective for those between the ages of 35 and 54 years. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and ...

Adult Weight Gain Increases Breast Cancer Risk 05/25/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer, postmenopausal women who reported the most weight gain in adulthood had the highest risk of breast cancer; this increased risk was observed for most types and all stages of breast cancer. To further understand the causes of breast cancer and possible ...

HER2-Positive Breast Cancers Respond Better to Anthracyclines 05/18/2006
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, premenopausal women with HER2-positive breast cancers had improved outcomes with a chemotherapy regimen containing an anthracycline. Conversely, those women with HER2-negative breast cancers did not achieve benefit from the addition of an anthracycline to their treatment ...

Further Evidence that Statins Do Not Increase Risk of Breast Cancer 05/18/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the use of statins does not increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 40,000 women annually in the U.S. alone. Due to its prevalence, research continues to search for variables ...

Remicade® and Humira® Increase Risk of Cancer 05/18/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients taking the rheumatoid arthritis drugs Remicade® (infliximab) or Humira® (adalimumab) had a three-fold increased risk of developing various types of cancers. Remicade and Humira are agents referred to as anti-tumor necrosis factor (Anti-TNF) antibodies; they ...

Protein May Contribute to Tamoxifen Resistance 05/17/2006
In a study of premenopausal breast cancer patients, a protein known as Pak1 (p21-activated kinase 1) appeared to interfere with the effectiveness of tamoxifen. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women in the U.S. alone. ...

Elderly Women Benefit from Radiation in Early Breast Cancer 05/17/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, even elderly women derive benefit from radiation therapy in the treatment of early breast cancer. Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread from the breast. Standard therapy for early breast cancer may include ...

Surgery in Metastatic Breast Cancer Improves Survival 05/17/2006
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the surgical removal of the original tumor in the breast significantly improves survival at five years among women with metastatic breast cancer, particularly those with cancer spread to the bone. Breast cancer claims the lives of approximately 40,000 ...

Repeat Use of Anthracyclines May Not Be Warranted in Breast Cancer 05/17/2006
According to an article recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, repeat administration of anthracyclines does not appear to provide benefit in women with breast cancer whose disease has progressed following prior treatment with anthracyclines. Anthracyclines are a class of chemotherapy agents that provide significant anticancer activity in the ...

Herceptin® Plus Doxil® Safe and Effective in Metastatic Breast Cancer 05/16/2006
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the treatment combination consisting of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) plus Doxil® (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer. A significant portion of women diagnosed with breast cancer have what is called ...

Study Explores Frequency and Predictors of Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS or LCIS 05/15/2006
During an average follow-up of over five years, invasive breast cancer was diagnosed in 4% of women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 6.2% of women with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). Among with women with DCIS, risk of subsequently being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer was higher ...

Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Among Radiologic Technologists Who Worked Before 1940 05/12/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer, female radiologic technologists who began working before 1940 have an increased risk of breast cancer compared to those who started working in later years. Risk was also elevated among women with the highest estimated cumulative radiation exposure. These results were ...

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Linked with Better Quality of Life 05/11/2006
According to the results of a clinical trial published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer patients who undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy experience fewer arm problems and report better quality of life than patients who undergo traditional axillary lymph node dissection. For over 30 years, the ...

Newer Radiation Therapy Techniques Reduce Radiation Scatter 05/10/2006
Among women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer, improved approaches to dose-distribution reduce the exposure of the rest of the body to radiation. These results were published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. Radiation therapy is an important part of treatment for many breast cancer patients. Because ...

Genes May Determine Risk of Early Breast Cancer Spread to Bone 05/10/2006
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, expression of certain genes may be able to identify individuals with early breast cancer who are at an increased risk of their cancer spreading to the bone. Although further study is necessary to confirm these findings, patients ...

Long-Term Use of Estrogen Alone Increases Risk of Breast Cancer 05/09/2006
According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the use of estrogen alone for 10 years or longer increases the risk of breast cancer. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often prescribed for women during menopause. Menopause is a natural phase of a woman's lifecycle during which ...

Fenretinide Signficantly Reduces Risk of Second Cancer in Premenopausal Women with Breast Cancer 05/08/2006
According to an early online publication from the Annals of Oncology, fenretinide, a retinoid (derivative of vitamin A), appears to significantly reduce the risk of developing a second breast cancer among premenopausal women already diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women annually in the U.S. ...

Pre-Operative Arimidex® Provides Greater Responses than Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer 05/03/2006
According to an article published in the journal Cancer, treatment with Arimidex® (anastrazole) prior to surgery provides greater anticancer responses than treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) in women with hormone-positive breast cancer. The majority of women with breast cancer have cancer that is stimulated to grow from contact with the female ...

Little Evidence of Over-Diagnosis in Danish Mammography Data 05/03/2006
In a cancer screening program, over-diagnosis refers to identification of cancers that would not otherwise have emerged as a health problem. Researchers in Denmark analyzed information from two regional breast cancer screening programs and concluded that there was little evidence of over-diagnosis. These results were published in the journal ...

Mammography and Ultrasound Detect Breast Cancer During Pregnancy 05/02/2006
According to a study published in the journal Radiology, mammography detected a majority of breast cancers in pregnant women, in spite of high breast density. Imaging by ultrasound identified masses in all the women with cancer and also provided information about treatment response. Breast cancer is the most common cancer ...

Addition of Zoladex® to Standard Therapy May Benefit Premenopausal Women with Early Breast Cancer 04/28/2006
Among premenopausal women with early breast cancer, the addition of Zoladex® (goserelin) to adjuvant treatment with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy resulted in improved survival. These results were published in the European Journal of Cancer. Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women in the U.S. alone. Many of ...

Suggestion of Better Survival with Dose-Dense Chemotherapy in Women with Node-Positive Breast Cancer 04/28/2006
According to the results of a phase III clinical trial conducted in Germany, treatment of node-positive breast cancer with dose-dense chemotherapy produced a trend toward better survival. These results were published in the British Journal of Cancer. Dose-dense chemotherapy generally refers to chemotherapy administered with a shortened interval between cycles; ...

Long-Term Follow-Up of Breast-Conserving Therapy/Radiation/Oophorectomy in BRCA1/2 Carriers with Early Breast Cancer 04/27/2006
According to an early online article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, long-term follow-up indicates that breast cancer recurrences near the site of the original cancer are similar among women with BRCA1/2 mutations with early breast cancer who are treated with breast-conserving therapy, radiation therapy, and oophorectomy when compared ...

Internet-Based Information Highly Accurate in Internet Breast Cancer Support Groups 04/26/2006
According to results recently published in the British Medical Journal, information shared by Internet cancer support groups for breast cancer appears to be highly accurate. Approximately half of patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer use the Internet to find information regarding their disease. Internet cancer support groups allow sharing of ...

No Association Found Between Consumption of Fish and Breast Cancer 04/26/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, there is no association between fish consumption and the incidence of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women annually in the U.S. alone. Due to its prevalence, researchers continue to evaluate ways to prevent ...

Intrathecal Herceptin® May Halt Cancer Progression Within the Central Nervous System in Breast Cancer Patients 04/24/2006
According to a recent article published in Oncology Reports, administration of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) into the central nervous system (CNS) may help to slow disease progression in patients with breast cancer whose cancer has spread to the CNS. A significant portion of women diagnosed with breast cancer have what is called ...

Mammography Use Among Breast Cancer Survivors Declines over Time 04/24/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer, mammography rates among breast cancer survivors start out high in the first year after cancer treatment, but decline in following years. Thanks to improvements in early detection and treatment, survival among women with breast cancer has improved during recent decades. This ...

Gene Expression Linked with Prognosis of Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients 04/21/2006
According to a study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, information about gene expression in breast tumors predicts the risk of distant recurrence in women with ten or more positive lymph nodes.  Gene expression profiling explores the patterns of genes that are active in tumor cells. Studies suggest that ...

Dexrazoxane Reduces Side Effects to the Heart During Subsequent Anthracycline Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients 04/21/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, the agent dexrazoxane (Cardioxane®) protects the heart from damage of continued treatment with chemotherapy agents known as anthracyclines in women with breast cancer. A class of chemotherapy agents commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer is anthracyclines. Although ...

Telephone Intervention Improves Screening Rates 04/19/2006
According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a telephone support intervention improved the rates of screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer among low-income women. Screening for early detection of cancer has improved survival for many types of cancer, including breast, cervical, and colorectal. Cervical and ...

Breast Implants Do Not Increase Risk of Breast Cancer 04/19/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women with breast implants do not have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed annually with breast cancer in the U.S. alone. When diagnosed and treated early (prior to spread from ...

Rates in Screening Mammography May Explain Worse Outcomes Among African-American Women with Breast Cancer 04/18/2006
According to results recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, inadequate screening mammography may explain differences in outcomes among varied racial groups in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Outcomes among women with breast cancer, including mortality rates, have varied widely and persistently between racial and ethnic groups. Researchers have ...

Evista® as Effective as Tamoxifen in Preventing Breast Cancer with Fewer Side Effects 04/18/2006
According to results recently released by the National Cancer Institute, the rate at which Evista® (raloxifene) reduces the risk of developing breast cancer is equal to that of Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) in postmenopausal women at a high risk of developing breast cancer within their lifetime. Raloxifene, however, is associated with ...

Study Explores Children's Perceptions of Breast Cancer 04/18/2006
According to a study conducted in England, children of women with breast cancer often sensed that something was wrong before being told, and had reactions to cancer that were sometimes misunderstood by their parents. These results were published in the British Medical Journal. Each year, breast cancer is diagnosed in ...

Additional Evidence that Herceptin® Benefits Women with HER2-Positive Breast Cancer 04/17/2006
According to the results of a study conducted in Italy, women with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who were treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Navelbine® (vinorelbine) had better outcomes than a similar group of women with HER2-negative breast cancer who were treated with Navelbine alone. These results were published in ...

Vaginal Estrogen Use May Counteract Anticancer Activity of Aromatase Inhibitors in Women with Breast Cancer 04/17/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, the use of vaginal estrogen preparations may raise estrogen levels throughout the body and may counteract the anticancer activity of aromatase inhibitors in women with breast cancer. However, women being treated with aromatase inhibitors should speak with their ...

Addition of Taxotere® to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Doesn't Affect Overall Survival 04/17/2006
Among women with operable breast cancer who received preoperative chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, the addition of preoperative or postoperative Taxotere® (docetaxel) did not significantly improve overall survival. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Breast cancer is diagnosed in more than 200,000 women each year in ...

No Link Between Estrogen Alone and Breast Cancer 04/12/2006
According to updated results from the Women's Health Initiative, postmenopausal hormone therapy with estrogen alone does not increase the risk of breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) included two clinical trials of postmenopausal hormone therapy—one included estrogen ...

Chemotherapy More Beneficial for Estrogen-Receptor Negative Breast Cancer Patients 04/12/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, chemotherapy for early breast cancer provides greater benefit for estrogen-receptor negative patients than for those with estrogen-receptor positive cancer. However, chemotherapy still provides a survival benefit for both groups of patients. The majority of patients diagnosed ...

Hormone Use Also Increases Risk of Breast Cancer in Black Women 04/11/2006
According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the use of hormones with estrogen alone or estrogen plus progesterone is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer among black women, particularly among leaner women. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often prescribed for women during ...

LED May Prevent Skin Side Effects Caused by Radiation in Breast Cancer Patients 04/10/2006
According to a late-breaking abstract presented at the 2006 American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery meeting, the use of low-energy non-thermal light-emitting diode (LED) photomodulation in women with early breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy significantly reduced side effects to the skin normally associated with radiation therapy. Early breast cancer ...

Effect of Soy on Breast Cancer Risk Still Uncertain 04/07/2006
A combined analysis of previously published studies suggests that dietary soy intake may be linked with a small reduction in breast cancer risk, but it's still too early to recommend soy for breast cancer prevention. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Cancer prevention is ...

Automated System Quickly Evaluates Sentinel Lymph Node in Breast Cancer Patients 04/07/2006
Researchers have developed a rapid automated approach to lymph node analysis that may allow for more accurate evaluation of the sentinel lymph node during surgery. These results were published in the Annals of Surgery. For over 30 years, the standard for early breast cancer staging has included the removal of ...

Addition of Tykerb® to Xeloda® Slows Cancer Progression in Advanced Breast Cancer 04/05/2006
According to a press release published by GlaxoSmithKline, the addition of the investigative agent Tykerb® (lapatinib) to the chemotherapy agent Xeloda® (capecitabine) slows cancer progression in some patients with advanced breast cancer that has stopped responding to standard therapies. Breast cancer claims the lives of approximately 40,000 women annually in ...

First-Degree Relatives of Patients Diagnosed with Lung Cancer Who Never Smoked At Higher Risk of Developing Cancer 04/03/2006
According to results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), first-degree relative of patients who had never smoked but had been diagnosed with lung cancer have an increased risk of developing cancer within their lifetime, particularly cancers that occur before the age of 50. In most cases, detecting ...

Lymph Node Transplantation May Improve Lymphedema 03/31/2006
According to a study published in the Annals of Surgery, breast cancer patients who develop lymphedema after removal of axillary lymph nodes may benefit from having lymph nodes transplanted from the groin to the axilla. Though sentinel lymph node biopsy (removal of only one or a few lymph nodes) is ...

Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer in Women with Benign Breast Disease 03/30/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, the use of aspirin may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer among women with benign breast disease. However, it is important for these women to speak with their physician regarding their own risks and benefits of aspirin. Breast cancer ...

Weight Training Improves Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors 03/28/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer, twice-weekly weight training improved quality of life among breast cancer survivors. Studies of breast cancer survivors have reported several benefits of aerobic exercise, including improved cardiovascular and immune function, reduced fatigue and depression, and better quality of life. There is less ...

Screening Mammography and Risk of Over-Diagnosis 03/24/2006
According to a study conducted in Sweden, roughly 10% of the breast cancers identified by screening mammography among women between the ages of 55 and 69 would never have come to medical attention without screening. These results were published in the British Medical Journal. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately ...

Taxotere®/Platinol®/Herceptin® Effective in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer 03/22/2006
According to an early online article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the treatment regimen consisting of Taxotere® (docetaxel), Platinol® (cisplatin), and Herceptin® (trastuzumab) prior to surgery is highly effective in the treatment of HER2-positive, locally advanced breast cancer. Locally advanced breast cancer refers to a large cancer that ...

Mammography Does Not Increase Risk of Breast Cancer in Women with BRCA Mutations 03/22/2006
Although mammography exposes the breast to a small dose of radiation, mammography does not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. These results were published in the journal Lancet Oncology. A mammogram is an x-ray image of the breast that can ...

High Risk of Contralateral Breast Cancer Among Women with Hereditary Breast Cancer 03/22/2006
A study of women with hereditary breast cancer that is not due to mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 reports that these women have a high risk of subsequently developing breast cancer in the opposite breast (contralateral breast cancer). These results were published in the journal Cancer. Between 5% and 10% ...

Gene Mutations Found in Some Women with Negative BRCA1/2 Test 03/21/2006
In a study of breast cancer patients with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer and no evidence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations by conventional genetic testing, 12% were found to carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and 5% had mutations in other genes known to ...

Assymetrical Breasts Associated with Increased Risk of Breast Cancer 03/21/2006
According to an article recently published in Breast Cancer Research, women with asymmetrical breasts are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed annually with breast cancer in the US alone. When diagnosed and treated early (prior to spread from the breast), cure rates for ...

Clodronate® in Early Breast Cancer May Reduce Risk of Developing Bone Metastasis 03/21/2006
According to an article recently published in Breast Cancer Research, the use of Clondronate® in the treatment of early breast cancer may reduce the risk of cancer spreading to the bone and may ultimately improve the survival of some patients. Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread ...

Breast and Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving High-Quality Care 03/20/2006
According to a study of patients with stage I to stage III breast cancer or stage II to stage III colorectal cancer, a large majority of patients are receiving care that is in accordance with current guidelines. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. A 1999 report ...

High-Dose Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes of HER2/neu Negative Breast Cancer 03/13/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, the use of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation improves outcomes of women with early, HER2-neu negative breast cancer. Stages II-III breast cancer refer to cancer that has spread from the breast, but not to distant sites in ...

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Linked with Less Severe Skin Damage 03/13/2006
Among women receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer, use of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) produced less severe damage to the skin than conventional radiation therapy. These results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology. The objective of radiation therapy to the breast is to kill cancer cells ...

Majority of Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer Receive Adjuvant Therapy 03/13/2006
An analysis of the use of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for early-stage breast cancer suggests an increase in the use of adjuvant therapy, particularly among node-negative women. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Adjuvant therapy is additional treatment administered after initial surgery and radiation therapy. The ...

Switching to Arimidex® Reduces Need for Invasive Diagnostic Procedures in Women with Nolvadex®-Related Uterine Problems 03/09/2006
Among postmenopausal breast cancer patients with uterine abnormalities related to Nolvadex® (tamoxifen), switching to the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) reduced the need for subsequent hysteroscopy and dilation and curettage (D&C). These results were published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.  Each year, breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women ...

Tamoxifen Effective in Premenopausal Women with Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer 03/09/2006
According to an early on-line article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the anti-estrogen agent tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) following chemotherapy improves outcomes compared with chemotherapy alone in premenopausal women with early breast cancer. Each year breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women in the US alone. Many of these ...

Phase II Trial Explores Faslodex® After Aromatase Inhibitor 03/06/2006
Among women with advanced breast cancer that progresses after therapy with an aromatase inhibitor, treatment with the antiestrogen drug Faslodex® (fulvestrant) resulted in reduced or stable disease in 35% of patients. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Each year, breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 ...

Social Networks Improve Breast Cancer Survival 03/06/2006
Women with good social networks tend to have better breast cancer survival than women who are socially isolated. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Previous studies have provided some evidence that women with a lack of social support have worse breast cancer survival, but these studies ...

Gene Expression Profiling Provides Information About Breast Cancer Prognosis 03/01/2006
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reports that gene expression profiling may allow women with grade 2 breast cancer to be reclassified into two groups—one with a lower risk of recurrence and one with a higher risk of recurrence. The prognosis of women with breast ...

Aromasin® Improves Breast Cancer Outcomes Without Compromising Quality of Life 02/28/2006
Breast cancer patients who switched to Aromasin® (exemestane) after 2-3 years of Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) reported a similar quality of life to patients who continued on Nolvadex. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Each year, breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women in the U.S. alone. ...

Breast Cancer Survivors Have Options for Follow-Up Care 02/27/2006
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, important breast cancer outcomes were similar whether follow-up care was provided by a cancer specialist or by a family physician. Thanks to improvements in early detection and treatment, many women with breast cancer can expect to be long-term survivors. ...

Neoadjuvant Herceptin® plus Taxotere® Promising in Early Breast Cancer 02/24/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, preoperative (neoadjuvant) therapy consisting of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) plus Taxotere® (docetaxel) appears promising in the treatment of HER2-positive, early breast cancer. Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody that targets the HER-2 protein—a protein that is involved in cellular growth and replication ...

Combination of Alimta® and Gemzar® for Metastatic Breast Cancer 02/24/2006
According to the results of a phase II clinical trial published in the Annals of Oncology, the chemotherapy combination of Alimta® (pemetrexed) and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) produced a reduction in detectable disease in 24% of women with metastatic breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in ...

Recurrence-Free Survival Improved with Taxotere® Compared to Navelbine® in Early Breast Cancer 02/23/2006
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, treatment with the chemotherapy agent Taxotere® (docetaxel) improves recurrence-free survival compared with the chemotherapy agent Navelbine® (vinorelbine) for the treatment of early breast cancer. Furthermore, the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to both chemotherapy agents improved recurrence-free ...

Wide Excision May Not Be Enough for Some Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ Breast Cancers 02/22/2006
According to an early online publication of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, treating patients with ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) of the breast with wide excision alone results in a substantial amount of local recurrences. Additional treatment with radiation and/or hormone therapy for these women may help to reduce these recurrences. Ductal ...

Patients Diagnosed with Blood Clots at Increased Risk for Colon and Breast Cancer 02/17/2006
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, individuals who are hospitalized for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) are thought to have a significantly increased risk of developing colon cancer or breast cancer within the following two years. Breast cancer and colon cancer are two ...

Prophylactic Removal of Ovaries Improves Survival in BRCA1 or BRCA2 Carriers 02/16/2006
According to a recent early online article published in The Lancet Oncology, women who have mutations within the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have significantly improved survival if they undergo prophylactic surgery to remove their ovaries. Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly increase the lifetime risk ...

Local or Regional Breast Cancer Recurrence More Common in Young Women and Those Treated with Breast-Conserving Therapy 02/15/2006
According to a study published in the European Journal of Cancer, predictors of local or regional breast cancer recurrence in women treated for stage I or stage II breast cancer include young age and breast conserving therapy. Early breast cancer (cancer that has not spread from the breast and some ...

Fatigue Common Among Long-Term Survivors of Breast Cancer 02/15/2006
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, a significant portion of survivors of breast cancer experience fatigue five to 10 years following treatment. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 250,000 women annually in the U.S. alone. Fortunately, cure rates remain high for women whose cancer is detected ...

Physical Activity Reduces Breast Cancer Risk 02/13/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, women who engaged in five or more hours of vigorous physical activity per week had a 38% lower risk of breast cancer than women who reported no regular physical activity. Cancer prevention is an important and active ...

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Issues Report: Biopsies Should Not Be Replaced in Diagnosis of Breast Cancer 02/13/2006
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has recently issued a report stating that the four common non-invasive tests for breast cancer—MRI, PET, ultrasound, or scintamammography—are not accurate enough to replace breast biopsies in women who have abnormal findings ...

Further Evidence of Mammography Benefit 02/09/2006
A large study from Sweden suggests that mammographic screening for breast cancer reduces the risk of death from breast cancer by 40%-45%. These results were published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 250,000 women each year in the U.S. alone. Since the ...

Low-Fat Diet Does Not Significantly Reduce Breast Cancer Risk 02/08/2006
According to the results of the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial, risk of breast cancer was not significantly reduced among postmenopausal women assigned to a diet low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and grains. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers ...

Prognosis Improved with Mastectomy for Local Recurrences in Early Breast Cancer 02/08/2006
According to a recent article published in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology, women initially diagnosed with early breast cancer who experience a local cancer recurrence after 5 years of treatment have a significantly improved prognosis over those who experience a local recurrence within 5 years of treatment. In ...

Delayed Radiation Therapy May Not Affect Outcomes in Node-Negative Breast Cancer Patients 02/07/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, radiation therapy delayed  for up to 16 weeks following surgery may not affect outcomes in patients with node-negative breast cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 250,000 individuals annually in the U.S. alone. Node-negative ...

Variability in Tamoxifen Metabolism May Explain Differences in Tamoxifen Response 02/03/2006
Among postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen, the probability of cancer recurrence was higher in women with a genetic variant linked with poor metabolism of tamoxifen. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen, plays an important role in both the treatment of ...

Screen-Detected Breast Cancers Have More Favorable Characteristics 01/30/2006
According to a study conducted in Italy, breast cancers detected within a mammography screening program had more favorable characteristics and better outcomes than breast cancers detected outside of the screening program. These results were published in the journal BMC Cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 250,000 women annually in ...

Ovarian Suppression During Chemotherapy May Protect Ovarian Function 01/27/2006
In a study of 100 premenopausal breast cancer patients who received medication to suppress the ovaries during chemotherapy, normal menstrual periods resumed in all of the women under the age of 40 years and in 56% of the women over the age of 40; ovarian suppression did not compromise ...

Medicare Agrees to Cover Oncotype DX™ 01/25/2006
Through the National Heritage Insurance Company (NHIC), a California-based Medicare Part-B contract carrier, Medicare will cover the costs of Oncotype DX™ in eligible women with breast cancer beginning February 27, 2006. The Oncotype DX test helps to determine whether a woman with early, hormone-positive breast cancer will benefit from ...

Side Effects of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer May Include Eye Problems 01/25/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer, side effects involving the eyes are relatively common in women undergoing adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer. This side effect is more likely to result from chemotherapy than hormonal therapy. Many side effects of cancer treatment have been extensively researched, but ...

No Link Between Hormone Levels and Tamoxifen Response in High-Risk Women 01/24/2006
Among women at high risk of developing breast cancer, tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer regardless of a woman's pre-treatment sex hormone levels. Furthermore, sex hormone levels do not appear to influence breast cancer risk in high-risk women. These results were published in the Journal of the National ...

New Type of Brachytherapy, Axxent™, Now Available for Early Breast Cancer 01/24/2006
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently cleared the use of a new type of radiation therapy system, Axxent™, for the treatment of early breast cancer. Axxent uses electronic radiation instead of radioisotopes to deliver cancer-killing radiation. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 250,000 women annually in ...

Researchers Explore Avoiding Axillary Surgery in Older Breast Cancer Patients 01/23/2006
Results from an international clinical trial suggest that avoiding surgical removal of axillary lymph nodes in older women with clinically node-negative breast cancer may improve short-term quality of life without adversely affecting survival. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Surgical removal of axillary (under the arm) ...

Maternal Breast Cancer and Birth Outcomes 01/16/2006
According to a recent article published in the British Journal of Cancer, birth outcomes among women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer prior to pregnancy were similar to those of the general population, regardless of treatment modalities. Breast cancer is diagnosed in nearly 250,000 women annually in the U.S. ...

“Optimal” Radiation Therapy Improves Breast Cancer Survival 01/10/2006
Among breast cancer patients who have undergone mastectomy, adjuvant radiation therapy improves survival. However, there is only a survival benefit when the dose is appropriate and the target area is sufficient. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Postmastectomy radiation therapy is known to reduce ...

Chemotherapy Plus Tamoxifen Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence 01/09/2006
Among postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and between one and three positive lymph nodes, adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and tamoxifen resulted in longer survival without cancer recurrence than adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen alone. These results were published in the Annals of Oncology. Each year, breast cancer is diagnosed ...

Efaproxiral May Augment Effectiveness of Radiation for Brain Metastasis in Breast Cancer 01/06/2006
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the agent efaproxiral, which is still in clinical trials, may improve the benefit of radiation therapy to the brain for breast cancer patients with brain metastasis. Cancer spread to the brain (brain metastasis) is common with several types ...

Coffee May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk in Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutations 01/06/2006
Among women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, consumption of six or more cups of coffee per day was linked with a 69% reduction in risk of breast cancer. These results were published in the International Journal of Cancer. Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have been found to greatly ...

Femara® Approved for Initial Treatment of Postmenopausal Women with Early Breast Cancer after Surgery 12/30/2005
The aromatase inhibitor Femara® (letrozole) has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new indication: initial post-surgery treatment of early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The decision to approve Femara for this new indication was based on results from the BIG 1-98 study, ...

Femara® Superior to Tamoxifen as Adjuvant Therapy for Early Postmenopausal Breast Cancer 12/29/2005
In postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, adjuvant treatment with the aromatase inhibitor Femara® (letrozole) resulted in fewer cancer recurrences than adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Each year, breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women in the ...

Radiation Reduces Mortality at 15 Years in Early Breast Cancer 12/28/2005
According to a recent article published in the Lancet, radiation to the breast following surgery in early breast cancer not only reduces local recurrences, but also reduces mortality at 15 years following therapy. Early breast cancer refers to cancer that is confined to the breast and/or axillary (under the arm) ...

Elderly with Breast Cancer at Less Risk for Spread to Sentinel Lymph Node 12/28/2005
According to a recent article published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, age is an independent predictor of cancer spread to the lymph nodes under the arm in early breast cancer. Patients who were 66 years or older had a significantly reduced risk of this cancer spread. Staging involves determining ...

Higher Risk of Death for Breast Cancer in Lower Inner Quadrant 12/22/2005
Researchers from Switzerland recently reported that women with early breast cancer in the lower inner quadrant (the lower part of the breast, closer to the center of the body) are twice as likely to die of their cancer as women with cancer diagnosed in other parts of the breast. ...

NCCN Adds Abraxane™ to Guidelines for Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer 12/21/2005
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has recently added the chemotherapy agent Abraxane™ (albumin-bound paclitaxel) to the list of preferred single chemotherapy agents for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. The NCCN consists of a panel from the nation's most reputable cancer treatment facilities. The panel sets clinical ...

NCCN Includes Herceptin® in Guidelines as Therapy in HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer 12/21/2005
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has recently added HER2 testing and the use of the targeted agent Herceptin® to their guidelines for treatment of early breast cancer. The NCCN consists of a panel from the nation's most reputable cancer treatment facilities. The panel sets clinical guidelines that are continually ...

Accessibility of Radiation Therapy Facilities Influences Breast Cancer Treatment 12/21/2005
According to a study conducted in Florida, women with localized breast cancer are more likely to receive breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy (BCSR), rather than mastectomy, if they live closer to a radiation therapy facility. Women were also more likely to receive BCSR if they were married, younger, ...

E7389 Potential New Therapy for Refractory Breast Cancer 12/21/2005
According to results recently presented at the 2005 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), a novel agent referred to as E7389 provides anticancer responses and disease stabilization in patients with advanced breast cancer whose disease has progressed following standard chemotherapy. Metastatic breast cancer refers to cancer that has spread from ...

Abraxane™ Safe When Used in Dose-Dense Treatment Regimen for Breast Cancer 12/19/2005
Researchers affiliated with the U.S. Oncology Research Network recently reported that the addition of dose-dense Abraxane™ (ABI-007) to dose-dense Adriamcyin® (doxorubicin) and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) was well tolerated by patients with early breast cancer. Additional studies are necessary to determine the effectiveness of this approach. These results were presented at ...

Femara® After Years of No Therapy Provides Benefits in Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer 12/15/2005
Results from a clinical trial that compared Femara® (letrozole) to placebo after five years of tamoxifen for early breast cancer suggest that treatment with Femara after a long time on placebo results in improved breast cancer outcomes. These results were recently presented at the 28th annual San Antonio Breast ...

Oncotype DX™ Predicts Local and Regional Recurrences in Breast Cancer Patients 12/15/2005
Researchers affiliated with the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) reported that Oncotype DX™ Recurrence Score™ predicts the risk of local and regional recurrences in node-negative, hormone receptor-positive, tamoxifen-treated women with breast cancer. These findings expand the predictive value of Oncotype DX, which was previously shown to ...

Oncotype DX™ Changes Treatment Decisions in One Quarter of Breast Cancer Patients 12/15/2005
Researchers at the New York University School of Medicine and the US Oncology Research Network recently reported use of the Oncotype DX™ test to predict risk of breast cancer recurrence altered treatment decisions in 25% of patients with node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. These results were recently presented at ...

Temsirolimus May Improve Effectiveness of Femara® in Advanced Postmenopausal Breast Cancer 12/14/2005
Researchers from Europe recently reported results from a phase II clinical trial indicating that the addition temsirolimus to Femara® (letrozole) resulted in longer survival without cancer progression in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. These results were recently presented at the 28th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). A large ...

Switching Bisphosphonates Improves Pain Control in Breast Cancer Patients with Worsening Bone Metastases 12/14/2005
Researchers from Toronto, Canada, recently reported that switching to a different bisphosphonate significantly improves pain control in women with worsening bone metastases from breast cancer who are already being treated with a bisphosphonate. These results were recently presented at the 28th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). As breast cancer ...

C-myc Gene Influences Response to Herceptin® 12/14/2005
Breast cancer patients who have amplification (extra copies) of the c-myc gene in addition to amplification of the HER2 gene have a lower risk of recurrence and death after treatment with chemotherapy and Herceptin® than patients with amplification of HER2 alone. These results were recently presented at the 28thannual ...

Taxotere® Vs. Taxol® in Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer 12/14/2005
Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Taxol® (paclitaxel) produce similar outcomes when given after Adriamycin® (doxorubicin) and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. These results were recently presented at the 28th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). The combination of Adriamycin and Cytoxan (AC), followed by a taxane such as ...

Dose-Dense Chemotherapy Safe and Effective—Particularly for Estrogen Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer 12/13/2005
Updated results from a clinical trial of dose-dense chemotherapy demonstrate that this treatment approach is safe and improves breast cancer outcomes. A benefit of dose-dense chemotherapy was most apparent among women with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. These results were presented at the 28th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). Dose-dense ...

Adjuvant Therapy with Taxotere® and Cytoxan® Improves Breast Cancer Outcomes 12/13/2005
Compared to the standard chemotherapy combination of Adriamycin® (doxorubicin) and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide), adjuvant therapy with Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Cytoxan improves breast cancer outcomes and may be less toxic to the heart. These results were presented at the 28th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The combination of Adriamycin and Cytoxan ...

Benefit of Switching to Arimidex® After 2-3 Years of Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women 12/13/2005
A combined analysis of three large clinical trials has confirmed that switching to the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex (anastrozole) after 2-3 years of adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) improves survival among hormone receptor-positive, postmenopausal women with breast cancer. These results were reported at the 28th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer ...

Addition of Herceptin® to Adjuvant Chemotherapy Improves Breast Cancer Outcomes 12/13/2005
Interim results from the HERA (Herceptin Adjuvant) Trial indicate that the addition of Herceptin (trastuzumab) to adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer results in longer cancer-free survival. These results were presented at the 28th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) and were also presented at the 2005 annual meeting ...

Non-Anthracycline Chemotherapy Regimen plus Herceptin®: Effective and Less Toxic Adjuvant Therapy for Early Breast Cancer 12/13/2005
A phase III randomized trial reported that the non-anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen of Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Paraplatin® (carboplatin) appears to provide the same benefit as anthracycline-containing regimens, without the heart complications, when used with Herceptin (trastuzumab) for the adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. These results were recently reported at ...

Combination of Avastin® and Femara® Shows Promise for Advanced Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer 12/12/2005
Researchers from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York recently reported that the treatment combination of Avastin (bevacizumab) and Femara (letrozole) may benefit women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. These results were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. A large proportion of breast cancer patients have ...

Needle Biopsy Preferable to Surgical Biopsy for Diagnosis of Breast Cancer 12/12/2005
Researchers affiliated with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) have reported that needle biopsy for the initial evaluation of breast cancer is preferable to surgical biopsy. Compared to surgical biopsy, needle biopsy resulted in a lower incidence of reexcision, reduced number of operations, and shortened time to completion of ...

10-Year Follow-Up Shows Radiation Therapy Effective for Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) 12/12/2005
Researchers with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) recently reported that the addition of radiation therapy to treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) improves outcomes in women with this disease. These results were recently presented at the 28th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium ...

Short Course of Herceptin® in Patients with Breast Cancer 12/09/2005
In breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel or vinorelbine followed by FEC (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide), a nine-week course of Herceptin (trastuzumab) showed promising effectiveness without increasing the risk of heart problems. These results were recently presented at the 28th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody ...

Bone Marrow Micrometastasis Linked with Poor Outcome in Early Breast Cancer 12/09/2005
Among women with early breast cancer, the presence of cancer cells in the bone marrow is associated with worse survival and a higher risk of cancer recurrence. These results were presented at the 28th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). An area of research that is currently receiving much ...

Updated Results from Phase III Trial Evaluating Addition of Avastin® in Advanced Breast Cancer 12/09/2005
Researchers affiliated with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) recently reported updated results from the E2100 Trial in which the addition of Avastin (bevacizumab) to Taxol® (paclitaxel) was evaluated in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. These results were reported at the 28th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium ...

Benefit of Dose-Dense Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer Still Uncertain 12/07/2005
A phase III clinical trial of did not find a survival benefit with a dose-dense chemotherapy regimen (given every two weeks) compared to chemotherapy given every three weeks (standard interval) among women with early breast cancer. An accompanying editorial, however, notes that other studies have reported a benefit. These ...

Passive and Active Smoking May Increase Breast Cancer Risk 12/06/2005
A review of published studies suggests that both active and passive smoking may increase the risk of breast cancer—particularly premenopausal breast cancer. These results were published in the International Journal of Cancer. Although both active and passive smoking (exposure to second-hand smoke) are known to increase the risk of lung ...

High-Dose Therapy with Stem Cell Transplant May Improve Survival More than Dose-Dense Therapy in Stage III Breast Cancer 12/05/2005
According to a recent article published in the Lancet, high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation appears to improve outcomes over conventional therapy in stage III breast cancer. Breast cancer claims the lives of approximately 40,000 women annually in the U.S. alone. Stage III breast cancer is characterized by one of ...

Mammography Rates in Elderly Vary By Age and Race 12/01/2005
According to a study of Medicare beneficiaries published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, older women and non-white women are less likely to receive screening mammograms, even after accounting for health status. There is uncertainty about the benefits of and optimal approach to screening mammography in women over the age ...

Faslodex® Provides Clinical Benefit for Women with Breast Cancer Who Have Received Extensive Prior Hormone Therapy 12/01/2005
According to a recent article published by the European Journal of Cancer, the anti-estrogen Faslodex® (fulvestrant) provides clinical benefit to women with advanced breast cancer who have received up to three prior therapies with hormone agents. Estrogen is a female hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. It is ...

Women with Diabetes Less Likely to Have Mammograms 11/30/2005
According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women with diabetes are less likely than other women to have screening mammograms. The complexity of diabetes management may contribute to the underuse of routine screening and preventive care. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in ...

Exercise Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer in Black Women and White Women 11/23/2005
According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women with the highest levels of physical activity had a roughly 20% decreased risk of breast cancer. The reduction in breast cancer risk was observed in both white women and black women. Several studies have reported that ...

High Placental Weight Indicative of Increased Risk of Breast Cancer in Mothers 11/22/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, mothers who deliver children with a high placental weight have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. These women may benefit from close screening for breast cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women annually ...

Alcohol Increases Risk of Postmenopausal, Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer 11/22/2005
According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, postmenopausal women who consume an average of 10 grams or more of alcohol per day are more likely than nondrinkers to develop estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer; there was no link between alcohol intake and estrogen receptor-negative ...

Updated Results Confirm Tamoxifen Risks and Benefits 11/21/2005
Updated results from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Breast Cancer Prevention Trial, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, are similar to initial findings: Among women at high risk of breast cancer, treatment with five years of tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer ...

Five Years of Tamoxifen Reduces Mortality from Coronary Heart Disease 11/11/2005
A breast cancer clinical trial that assigned patients to two or five years of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy found that five years of tamoxifen reduced the risk of death from coronary heart disease. Risk of death from breast cancer or from all causes combined was also reduced with five-years of ...

Adjuvant Tamoxifen Does Not Prevent Recurrences in Hormone-Negative Breast Cancer 11/09/2005
According to results recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, use of the anti-estrogen agent tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) does not reduce recurrences or improve survival in women with early breast cancer that is hormone-receptor negative. The majority of breast cancers are hormone-positive; in this type of cancer, cancer cells are ...

Blood Test May Improve Detection and Follow-Up of Breast Cancer 11/04/2005
According to a study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, a serum test to detect mammaglobin, a protein secreted by breast cancer cells, offers promise as a screening tool. The test may also improve monitoring of treatment response and recurrence. An important focus for many cancer researchers is identifying biologic ...

Hyperthermia Improves Response to Doxil® in Metastatic Breast Cancer of the Chest Wall 11/03/2005
Among breast cancer patients whose cancer has spread to the chest wall,  the administration of heat to the chest wall improves the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug Doxil® (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin), according to study results presented at the 23rd annual Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium in New York. Hyperthermia involves exposure of ...

Alternative Approach to Breast Irradiation Shows Promise 11/02/2005
According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, a one-week course of radiation therapy administered by balloon brachytherapy after lumpectomy for breast cancer has produced promising results. This approach requires much less time than standard radiation therapy. Early breast cancer ...

CHEK2 Gene Mutation Indicates Breast Cancer Risk in Family Members 11/01/2005
First-degree relatives of women with a CHEK2 gene mutation and bilateral breast cancer have a high lifetime risk of developing breast cancer themselves, according to a study published in Lancet . While BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are implicated in certain cases of familial cancers, they do not explain all such ...

Relief for Women Undergoing Prophylactic Oophorectomy 11/01/2005
Among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, the reduced risk of breast cancer that results from surgical removal of the ovaries is sustained even if these women take short-term hormone replacement therapy, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology . Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and ...

Statins Not Associated with Breast Cancer Risk 11/01/2005
According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, serum cholesterol levels and use of lipid-lowering drugs do not influence the risk of breast cancer. Statins, also referred to as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, are drugs that are used to lower cholesterol levels. Laboratory studies have suggested that ...

Additional Evidence that Mammograms Save Lives 10/27/2005
Mammographic screening for breast cancer and improved breast cancer treatment have both contributed to declining breast cancer mortality rates in the US, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine . Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer death ...

Effect of Pregnancy on Breast Cancer Risk Varies Between BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers 10/27/2005
A high number of births may reduce the risk of breast cancer in women who carry a BRCA1 gene mutation, while increasing risk among women who carry a BRCA2 gene mutation, according to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer . Inherited mutations in two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—have ...

Further Evidence that Adding Radiation to Hormone Therapy Reduces Recurrences in Early Breast Cancer 10/25/2005
According to results recently presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), further evidence indicates that the addition of radiation therapy to hormone therapy in the treatment of early breast cancer reduces the risk of a local recurrence. Early breast cancer refers ...

Indications for BRCA1 and BRCA2 Testing Do Not Vary By Race 10/21/2005
Regardless of ancestry, early age at diagnosis of breast cancer and a family history of breast and ovarian cancer are important predictors of the probability of having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Antidepressant Relieves Hot Flashes in Women With and Without Breast Cancer 10/21/2005
The antidepressant drug Paxil® (paroxetine) effectively relieved frequent hot flashes among women with and without a history of breast cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology . As women reach menopause and beyond, more than 80% will experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, ...

Herceptin® Drastically Improves Cancer-Free Survival in Early Breast Cancer 10/20/2005
According to results from two articles recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the targeted agent Herceptin® (trastuzumab) in addition to chemotherapy drastically reduces the risk of a cancer recurrence compared to chemotherapy alone in women with early, HER2-positive breast cancer. Results from these trials were also presented ...

Lumpectomy and Radiation Therapy Effective with Favorable Cosmetic Results for Breast Cancer in Women with Implants 10/19/2005
According to results recently presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), women with breast implants who are diagnosed with early breast cancer may be effectively treated with breast-conserving therapy plus radiation therapy with favorable cosmetic results. Early breast cancer refers to cancer ...

MRI Prior to Surgery in Early Breast Cancer Helps Guide Treatment Decisions 10/19/2005
According to results recently presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), results from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to surgery identify multiple areas of cancer within a breast more accurately than standard mammography in women with early breast cancer. These results ...

Breast Cancer Patients Not at Increased Risk for Colorectal Cancer 10/18/2005
According to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, women with a history of breast cancer are no more likely than other women to develop colorectal cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the US; colorectal cancer is the third. Some ...

Long-Term Smoking Raises Risk of Breast Cancer 10/18/2005
According to a recent article published in Cancer Causes and Control, long-term smoking can increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by 40%. Furthermore, long-term smoking in addition to mixed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases this risk even further. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women and is ...

Racial Disparity in Breast Cancer Mortality is Partially Explained by Presence of Other Health Problems 10/14/2005
The higher mortality rate among black breast cancer patients may be partially explained by a higher frequency of other serious medical conditions among black women, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. As breast cancer mortality has decreased, racial differences in survival have persisted. ...

Gene Expression Profiling Predicts Response of Breast Cancer to Chemotherapy 10/13/2005
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, gene expression patterns may predict chemotherapy response in women with locally advanced breast cancer. After lung cancer, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 211,240 women ...

Vaccine May Reduce Likelihood of Breast Cancer Recurrence 10/11/2005
An experimental vaccine against the HER2/neu protein reduced the likelihood of cancer recurrence among women with node-positive breast cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Several types of cancer cells, including breast cancer cells, have been found to produce high levels of the protein HER2/neu. ...

Variables Predictive of Development of Anemia in Breast Cancer Patients 10/11/2005
According to a recent article published in The Lancet Oncology, pre-treatment hemoglobin and platelet levels, an age of 65 years or older, type of chemotherapy and number of chemotherapy cycles all predict the risk of developing anemia for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients at a higher risk may ...

Risk of Breast Cancer Varies Among Women Treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma 10/10/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the risk of developing breast cancer among women treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma varies according to the specific type of treatment used for Hodgkin's, the duration of time since the diagnosis of Hodgkin's and the age ...

Aromasin® Approved for Early Breast Cancer 10/10/2005
The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the aromatase agent Aromasin® (exemestane) for treatment in early, hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women following two to three years of treatment with Nolvadex® (tamoxifen). Aromasin was previously approved for the treatment of advanced, hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose ...

Variables Associated with Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing High-Dose Chemotherapy 10/10/2005
According to results recently presented at the VI Madrid Breast Cancer Conference and published in Breast Cancer Research, specific variables associated with a patient's breast cancer significantly affect long-term outcomes for breast cancer patients undergoing high-dose therapy. Patients who have a promising prognosis according to these variables may wish to ...

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Adopts Sentinel Node Biopsy into Guidelines for Early Breast Cancer 10/07/2005
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has recently determined sentinel node biopsies to be an appropriate tool for staging early breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology . Staging is the determination of the extent of cancer spread from the site of origin, which ...

Surgeons Successfully Identify Sentinel Lymph Nodes 10/06/2005
Surgeons who met certain skill requirements set by a clinical trial were able to successfully identify sentinel lymph nodes in patients with early breast cancer, according to a study published in the Annals of Surgery. However, surgeons who had performed fewer than 50 sentinel lymph node biopsies had reduced ...

Breast-Fed Women May Have Reduced Risk of Premenopausal Breast Cancer 10/06/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women who were breast-fed as infants may have a reduced risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the US. Due to its prevalence, researchers continue to investigate possible ...

Emend® Controls Vomiting Over Multiple Cycles of Chemotherapy 10/04/2005
Among breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy drugs that are moderately likely to cause vomiting, Emend® (aprepitant) reduced vomiting through four cycles of chemotherapy, according to a study published in the journal Cancer . Chemotherapy is often distressing for cancer patients due to its potential to cause severe

Superiority of Abraxane® to Taxol® in Breast Cancer Confirmed 10/03/2005
According to a recent early on-line publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, results from a large phase III trial have confirmed that Abraxane® (albumin-bound paclitaxel) is superior to Taxol® (paclitaxel) in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in women. ...

Low Risk of Lymph Node Recurrence After Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy 09/29/2005
Among women with early stage breast cancer, the risk of axillary lymph node recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy is very low, according to a study published in the journal Cancer. These findings provide further support for the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy in place of the more ...

Optimal Tomography Distinguishes Breast Cancer 09/28/2005
According to a recent article published in the journal Radiology, an imaging technique referred to as optimal tomography with ultrasonographic localization appears to distinguish between benign and cancerous breast tumors with great accuracy. Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread outside of the breast. If a lump ...

Lymph-Node Negative Breast Cancer Survival Improved in Specialized Hospitals 09/28/2005
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, women with early breast cancer have significantly improved survival when treated in a hospital that treats a greater number of women with this stage of disease and/or in a hospital involved in research and teaching activities. Lymph-node negative breast cancer ...

Modern Chemotherapy Drugs Improve Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer 09/28/2005
According to a study published in the journal Cancer, the use of the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel has resulted in longer survival among women with metastatic breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in women. It is estimated that approximately 250,000 women are diagnosed annually in ...

High-Dose Chemotherapy Produces Transient Decline in Quality of Life 09/28/2005
Compared to breast cancer patients treated with intermediate-dose chemotherapy, breast cancer patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation report worse quality of life at three months after treatment. However, both groups report similar quality of life at 12 months after treatment. These results were published in ...

Are Left-Handed Women at Higher Risk of Breast Cancer? 09/27/2005
According to a study from the Netherlands, left-handed women are more likely to develop breast cancer than non-left-handed women. This may be because handedness is a marker for very early hormone exposures. These results were recently published in the British Medical Journal. Some factors that affect women in utero (before they ...

Isolated Breast Cancer Recurrences Achieve High Survival with Combination Chemotherapy 09/26/2005
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, women with breast cancer who experience an isolated recurrence may achieve long-term survival with combined-modality treatment. Breast cancer is responsible for approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the US alone. Among patients with breast cancer who receive initial therapy for their ...

Arimidex® Granted Full Approval for Early Breast Cancer 09/20/2005
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted the aromatase agent Arimidex® (anastrozole) full approval for the treatment of early hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the US alone. If breast cancer is caught and treated in early stages ...

Taxotere® Plus Herceptin® Reduces Risk of Recurrence in Early Breast Cancer 09/20/2005
According to interim analysis of the BCIRG 006 clinical trial, the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to Taxotere® (docetaxel) plus carboplatin (Paraplatin®) significantly reduces the risk of a cancer recurrence compared to chemotherapy alone in women with early HER2-positive breast cancer. Furthermore, the treatment combination of Herceptin and Taxotere/carboplatin does ...

Fruits and Veggies May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence 09/19/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, an increased intake of fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of a cancer recurrence in women diagnosed and treated with early breast cancer. Breast cancer is a common cancer among women in the United States; 200,000 new ...

Rates of Screening Mammography May Be Less than Thought 09/16/2005
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, rates of women undergoing the recommended screening mammography may be less than previously thought. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States alone. Cure rates remain high for patients with breast cancer that has not ...

Digital Mammography Superior to Standard Mammography in Detecting Some Breast Cancers 09/16/2005
According to an early online publication from the New England Journal of Medicine, digital mammography detects breast cancers with more accuracy than standard mammography in younger women. Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually in the United States alone. Due to the fact that cure rates remain high ...

US Task Force Issues Recommendations on BRCA1/2 Testing 09/15/2005
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued guidelines regarding the use of genetic screening for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations involved in breast cancer. This is the first time this task force has issued any guidelines involving genetic screening in cancer. The USPSTF is an independent panel of ...

Stress May Protect Against Breast Cancer 09/13/2005
According to a recent article published in the British Medical Journal, high levels of stress may provide biological protection against the development of breast cancer in women. However, the researchers caution that “cumulative health consequences of stress may be disadvantageous”. These results need further investigation to confirm findings. Breast cancer ...