Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Treatment: Blacks Fare Worse Reported April 07, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- African-American women are less likely to survive advanced breast cancer than white or Hispanic women, regardless of whether they receive radiation therapy or not. UC Davis researcher Steve Martinez found in new research that although both African-American and Hispanic … [Read more...]

Breast Cancer Preventative: Bitter Melon Reported February 24, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The common dietary supplement bitter melon may be a powerful weapon in the fight against breast cancer. In vitro research now shows extract of bitter melon -- commonly used in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes -- may eventually serve as a chemopreventive against … [Read more...]

Combined Mammography Cost-Effective for Some Women Reported February 23, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows that although annual breast screening using both mammography and MRI is a more time consuming and expensive process, the procedure is most likely a cost-effective way to improve life expectancy for women at high risk of breast cancer. "For … [Read more...]

Breast Cancer Testing: MRI or Not? Reported February 16, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The addition of MRI to traditional testing methods for breast cancer may not be worth the cost, a new study finds. A study conducted at 45 United Kingdom medical centers shows the addition of MRI scans to conventional triple assessments for the diagnosis of breast cancer had … [Read more...]

Genetic Link Between Mammographic Density and Breast Cancer   Reported February 17, 2010 ScienceDaily (Feb. 17, 2010) — A University of Melbourne study has revealed that certain breast cancer genetic variants increase mammographic density, confirming the link between mammographic breast density and breast cancer. Professor John Hopper … [Read more...]

Breast density could trigger cancer   Reported February 17, 2010 MELBOURNE researchers have discovered a link between breast cancer and dense breast tissue. In a world first, researchers from the University of Melbourne found two genetic variants associated with breast cancer that influence the density of a woman's breast tissue. The … [Read more...]

Shorter radiation as effective for breast cancerReported February 11, 2010 Less may be more when it comes to radiation treatment for breast cancer. New Canadian research shows that an intense three-week course of radiation that's already in use in many cancer centres across Canada is just as effective and safe over the long term as the previously-standard five weeks … [Read more...]

Anti-depressant linked to breast cancer deaths   Reported February 09, 2010 Women taking a popular anti-depressant at the same time as a drug used to stop breast cancer recurring are more likely to die from the disease, doctors warn. Researchers have found that the anti-depressant Seroxat can interfere with tamoxifen, which is … [Read more...]

Tamoxifen Use Down Reported February 10, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows tamoxifen use is down among women who need it most, and researchers can't pinpoint exactly why. The drug tamoxifen is prescribed for reducing the risk of breast cancer in women who are at high risk. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute looked at data from National … [Read more...]

Radiation Dose Change: Better Results? Reported February 09, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Breast cancer patients who received a lower overall dose of radiation therapy in fewer, higher doses (hypofractionated) didn't report an increase in adverse symptoms or worsened body image in a new study. These results add to the evidence that shorter hypofractionated … [Read more...]

Breast Cancer Drug Thwarted by Protein Reported February 11, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Overexpression of certain forms of the protein cyclin E renders the drug letrozole ineffective among women with estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers. Cyclin E is one of the proteins that regulates the cell cycle, influencing how rapidly a cell divides. In cancer … [Read more...]

Digital Mammograms Deliver Less Radiation Reported January 25, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One of the largest mammography trials in history shows that the radiation dose associated with digital mammography is significantly lower than conventional film mammography. Researchers found that digital mammography delivered 22 percent less radiation than conventional … [Read more...]

Genes May Affect Breast Cancer Treatment Success Reported January 26, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A genetic signature may help predict which breast cancer patients are resistant to chemotherapy drugs, something that may guide treatment choices. The genes were discovered by a group at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who examined breast tumor specimens from 85 … [Read more...]

Personalized Breast Cancer Treatment Reported January 14, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A 21-gene test that predicts whether early stage breast cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy is having a big impact on treatment decisions by patients and doctors alike. Based on test results, doctors changed their treatment recommendations in 31.5 percent of cases, … [Read more...]

Rebuilding After Breast Cancer Reported January 15, 2010 BOSTON (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The scars from a mastectomy are not only physical: They take an emotional toll on women. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says 70 percent of breast cancer patients who are eligible for reconstruction aren't informed of their options. Now, donated human tissue is … [Read more...]

A Better Way to Detect Breast Cancer?Reported July 02, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Women who are at high risk for breast cancer may want to consider passing up an MRI for a newer, less expensive diagnostic test. Recent findings suggest molecular breast imaging (MBI) may be a good replacement for more expensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MBI uses specialized gamma … [Read more...]

Antioxidant Use High Among Breast Cancer Patients Reported June 11, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Many breast cancer patients undergoing treatment continue to take antioxidants, even though the consequences of taking the supplements remain unknown, a new study found. Six in 10 women reported using antioxidants while receiving chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy for … [Read more...]

Better Imaging for TumorsReported April 16, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A new imaging technique could help doctors get a better view of tumors. Stanford researchers developed a specially designed dye containing nanoparticles – tiny particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in diameter. The new technology picks up Raman signals that molecules emit in response to light, which … [Read more...]

Less-severe surgery can tell whether breast cancer has spread, study finds AP Medical Writer Removing just one to three key lymph nodes instead of the usual dozen or more can spare women lifelong arm problems and reliably indicate whether breast cancer has spread and needs aggressive treatment, the first big study to test this approach has found.Many doctors … [Read more...]

Breast Cancer Drug Yields Surprising ResultsReported October 09, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The drug tamoxifen is known to help protect high risk women from developing estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer -- a finding that makes sense, since the drug blocks estrogen in a woman’s body. However, it could it also play a role in ER negative breast cancer. Researchers … [Read more...]

Breast Implants not Linked to CancerReported April 19, 2006 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Having breast implants is not associated with an increased risk of cancer overall, reveals a new study. However, implants were associated an increased lung cancer risk. Researchers say these results reflect the lifestyles and smoking habits of … [Read more...]

Pesticide link to breast cancer uncertain 20 January 2005 A study of farmers' wives has produced little evidence to support concerns that pesticides used in agriculture can cause breast cancer. Dr Lawrence Engel, from the National Cancer Institute in … [Read more...]

Diabetes Drug May Transform Cancer Treatments Reported June 04, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A popular anti-diabetic drug can improve the immune system and increase the effectiveness of vaccines and cancer treatments. Research at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania found the diabetes treatment metformin, increases the efficiency of the immune system’s … [Read more...]

Drug Reduces Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal WomenReported September 21, 2006 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Postmenopausal women may reduce their chances of developing breast cancer by taking raloxifene, no matter what their risk is for the disease. Raloxifene is also known by the brand name Evista. Doctors use it to treat … [Read more...]

Gene Linked to Poor Breast Cancer OutcomesReported January 08, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers discovered a single gene that may be responsible for both the spread of breast cancer and the tendency of some tumors to resist the chemotherapy drugs designed to kill cancer cells. The authors note other studies have looked at genes involved in hard-to-treat breast … [Read more...]

New drugs 'help breast cancer patients' July 23, 2007 Drug therapies available since the 1990s have improved the survival of women with metastatic breast cancer, according to a new study. The survival of women with the condition improved by approximately 30 per cent as these drug therapies … [Read more...]

How Often Should Women Get a Mammogram? Reported November 23, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Some researchers say a mammogram every two years achieves most of the benefits of annual screening, with less harm. This was the unanimous consensus of six independent research groups. Researchers from CISNET, the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling … [Read more...]

There may be help paying for screeningsReported June 02, 2009 Women tend to put their own health last, caring for their families and their home first. Add the current economic situation, and the cost of some health care screenings becomes even more a barrier to uninsured women. But the Montana Breast and Cervical Health Program can help ease the financial burden of those … [Read more...]

Under-active thyroid associated with reduced breast cancer risk Monday, 14-Feb-2005 Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have found that women with a common thyroid gland disorder appear to have a reduced chance of developing invasive … [Read more...]

Breast Cancer Surgeons Don't Discuss Reconstruction Options Reported December 21, 2007 FRIDAY, Dec. 21 HealthDay News) -- Only a third of breast cancer patients get to discuss their breast reconstruction options with their general cancer surgeon before the tumor is removed, new research finds. In the study, more than 70 percent of general surgeons who removed the cancer … [Read more...]