Breast Cancer

Researchers are hoping that a new nationwide effort aimed at helping patients to share their tumor samples and clinical information will lead to new discoveries and better treatments for metastatic breast cancer.

Women with a history of infertility, and have undergone hormonal fertility treatment have denser breast tissue, which may increase their risk of developing breast cancer, according to a study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

Despite the proven effectiveness of a targeted drug for HER2-positive breast cancer, older women, especially black women, are still receiving it at low rates, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Research suggests that 25% to 40% of individuals receiving chemotherapy experience persistent mild to moderate cognitive changes, and a study of breast cancer survivors suggests that a new type of psychotherapy delivered by videoconference may help reduce these effects, often referred to as “chemobrain.”

Results of a new study show that women who typically slept less than the recommended 7 hours per night and were frequent snorers in the years before their cancer diagnosis experienced a poorer prognosis.

A study of more than 2400 women with early-stage breast cancer has found that those who fasted 13 hours or more at night reduced their risk of breast cancer recurrence, findings that suggest prolonging the nightly fasting interval may offer a relatively safe nonpharmacologic way for women with early breast cancer to lower their risk of disease recurrence.

A retrospective analysis conducted by researchers at Kaiser Permanente and UCLA has concluded that patients with breast cancer treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) as adjuvant endocrine therapy were at equal risk of serious cardiovascular disease (CVD) events as those treated with tamoxifen.

Meredith Buxton, PhD, University of California San Francisco, discusses the I-SPY 2 trial, for which she is the executive director.

Chest radiation to treat a pediatric cancer is a well-known risk factor for getting breast cancer in adulthood, and research has now unearthed two specific genetic variants which may help to identify those survivors who are most at risk.

Hyman B. Muss, MD, professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, discusses misconceptions women have about being pregnant with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Kevin Hughes, MD, FACS, breast surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the impact of lumpectomies on elderly patients with breast cancer.

A team of researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has discovered a set of 3 measurable risk factors that can help predict the magnitude of survival benefit offered by radiation therapy following breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ.

At the 2016 NCCN Annual Conference, William J. Gradishar, MD, a professor of Breast Oncology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, discussed updates to the NCCN Breast Cancer Guideline and the latest research developments in the field.

A nomogram calculates the risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after breast-conserving surgery.

Debu Tripathy, MD, chair of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses genetic risk for breast cancer, the strongest factor in determining if an individual will develop the disease.

Hyman B. Muss, MD, professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, discusses the vital roles that nurses play when it comes to treating pregnant women with breast cancer.

Kevin Hughes, MD, breast surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses misconceptions regarding dense breast tissue and risk for breast cancer.

Anees B. Chagpar, MD, MSc, MA, MPH, discusses the role of nurses in the decision making process for breast cancer care.

Men newly diagnosed with breast cancer need a great deal of support, in part because of how rare breast cancer is in men, and because the typical reaction to a breast cancer diagnosis is one of disbelief.

Maybe in these most profound moments after a diagnosis of breast cancer, we are called to be still.

Drawing a standing ovation from a packed room of oncology professionals attending the 33rd Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference®, breast cancer survivor and Good Morning America news anchor Amy Robach criticized new US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines that extend the recommended age to begin mammogram screening to age 50 for women at average risk.

Bright Pink's Women's Health Provider Education program is designed to address gaps in knowledge of young women's genetic cancer risk.

The first study to assess smoking habits of women with breast cancer before and after diagnosis has found that those who quit smoking after their diagnosis had a 33% lower risk of dying of the disease than those who continued to smoke.

Women under 40 who find a suspicious lump in their breast often have their cancer fears dismissed and are told “you are too young for breast cancer,” according to Megan McCann, associate director of programs at the Young Survival Coalition. Here, she discusses breaking down that misconception that younger women can’t get breast cancer.

The benefits of 3D mammography are durable, increasing detection of breast cancers and reducing anxiety over callbacks, according to a recent study that provides the first longitudinal evidence of the utility of this approach.

Patients with pretreated, HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer can now receive palbociclib (Ibrance) for use in combination with fulvestrant following the FDA’s recent approval of this new indication for the CDK 4/6 inhibitor.

A study involving nearly 30,000 patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer has found that up to 60% of these women received imaging tests such as CT, bone, and PET scans that were not medically justified, contrary to national guidelines.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Susan Rafte and her sister started The Pink Ribbons Project is a Houston-based nonprofit that provides surrounding communities with access to fundamental breast health services via awareness programs, fundraising events and community collaboration.