Latest Breast Health news

Researchers Developing Possible New Screening Method for Breast Cancer (dateline May 11, 2003)

A new technology called diffraction enhanced breast imaging may help detect breast cancer at very early stages, according to British reports. The technique involves analyzing the x-ray scatter produced by breast cells.

Researchers Investigate New Drug for Advanced Breast Cancer (dateline May 9, 2003)

Researchers have been working diligently to find new, more effective treatments for women with advanced breast cancer, for which the chances of survival are typically much lower than for women with earlier forms of breast cancer.

Warnings Added to Tamoxifen Labeling (dateline April 30, 2003)

AstraZeneca, the maker of tamoxifen (brand name, Nolvadex), a drug used to both treat and prevent breast cancer, has added new information to the drug’s labeling in the past year, warning of potential health risks.

Study Finds Risk of Breast Cancer Not Equal for Both Breasts (dateline April 29, 2003)

A newly published study finds that women who are diagnosed with the pre-cancerous condition lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are more likely to develop breast cancer in the breast with LCIS than in the other breast.

Very Elderly Women with Breast Cancer Less Likely to Receive Tamoxifen (dateline April 24, 2003)

According to a newly published study, very elderly breast cancer patients are less likely to be prescribed the drug tamoxifen to help treat their cancer, compared to younger women.

More Frequent Chemotherapy Shows Improved Results for Breast Cancer Patients (dateline April 14, 2003)

Increasing the frequency of chemotherapy treatments may have a positive effect for breast cancer patients, according to a study presented at a recent breast cancer conference.

Researchers Investigate Nasal Spray to Help Prevent Breast Cancer (dateline April 11, 2003)

Inhaling a hormonal regimen may help prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease, according to a study presented at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference this past December.

Mammography May Help Determine Heart Disease Risk (dateline April 1, 2003)

Mammograms may help identify women at risk for heart disease in addition to screening for breast cancer, according to a recent study.

U.S. Government Releases New Cancer Information (dateline March 17, 2003)

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women of all races, according to new data released by the U.S. government. Prostate cancer tops the list of cancers for men, followed by lung cancer and colon/rectal cancer.

Past Use of Birth Control Pills May Poses Additional Breast Cancer Risk for Women with BRCA1 Gene Mutations (dateline March 15, 2003)

Though the link between oral contraceptives and breast cancer risk has been debated over the years, recent studies have shown that women who take the pill today are typically not at a higher risk of breast cancer, compared to those who do not take the pill.

Media Devotes More Attention to Breast Cancer Than Heart Disease Despite its Higher Risk (dateline March 10, 2003)

Despite the fact that more women die from heart disease than all other cancers combined, the American media continues to focus more attention on breast cancer than cardiovascular disease.

Study: Family History of Breast Cancer Does Not Affect Risk of Endometrial Cancer (dateline March 8, 2003)

While a personal history of endometrial cancer—cancer of the uterine lining—has been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, a new study finds that a family history of breast cancer does not increase the chances that women will develop endometrial cancer.

No Survival Benefit with High Dose Chemotherapy (dateline February 27, 2003)

High dose chemotherapy, often combined with a bone marrow transplant, is an experimental treatment used on some patients with advanced forms of breast cancer.

Study Finds Pre-Natal Exposure to DES May Increases Risk of Adult Breast Cancer (dateline February 26, 2003)

DES, a drug given to women 40 years ago to help prevent miscarriages, may increase the risk of breast cancer in those women’s daughters. According to preliminary results of a long-term study, exposure to DES while in the womb increased risk of breast cancer in women over 40 years of age.

Study: Alcohol, But Not Smoking, Increases Breast Cancer Risk (dateline February 5, 2003)

Alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer, but smoking does not affect a woman’s chances of developing the disease, according to a recent analysis. Researchers used data from 53 studies of 150,000 women from around the world to reach their conclusions.

Study Examines Breast Cancer Treatment in Pakistan (dateline February 3, 2003)

A study presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress meeting in October 2002 found that breast cancer treatment and survival rates in developing countries depend greatly on a woman’s socio-economic status.

Company Begins Advertising its Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer (dateline January 30, 2003)

In September 2002 Myriad Genetics became the first company to begin actively advertising their service of genetic testing.

Study: Ultrasound Screening Useful for Women with Dense Breasts

Currently, mammography is the only exam approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for breast cancer in women with no signs of breast cancer. However, ultrasound (also called sonography) may also be useful in detecting breast cancer, according to a new study.

Study: St. John’s Wort Interferes With Chemotherapy (dateline January 11, 2003)

St. John’s Wort, a popular over-the-counter herbal remedy used to treat depression, appears to interfere with chemotherapy, decreasing the effectiveness of the cancer treatment, according to a recent report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In the study, St.

Weight and Diet Linked To Poorer Breast Cancer Prognosis (dateline January 8, 2003)

Non-overweight women who maintain nutritious diets may have better odds of surviving breast cancer and experience a higher quality of life after breast cancer treatment than their overweight peers, according to a review of several studies.

Study: Breast Self-Exams Do Not Increase Odds of Breast Cancer Survival (dateline January 6, 2003)

Drug May Help Prevent Breast Cancer From Spreading to Bone (dateline January 5, 2003)

A drug called clodronate (brand names, Bonefos, Clostoban, Loron, Ostac) may reduce the chances that breast cancer will spread to the bone, according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in San Antonio.

Substantial Evidence that Breast Cancer Survival is Equal with Lumpectomy or Mastectomy (dateline December 20, 2002)

Two studies that followed breast cancer survivors for 20 years found that the type of surgery they had—lumpectomy or mastectomy—did not effect their chances of surviving the disease.

Study Dispels Rumor About Deodorant/Antiperspirants Causing Breast Cancer (dateline December 19, 2002)

Though medical experts have been saying for years that neither the use of deodorants nor antiperspirants increase the risk of developing breast cancer, Internet and email rumors are still circulating to the contrary. Now, the results of the first study on the subject have been published.