You want to stay informed about cancer research, but you may not have time to sort through every media resource out there. TheBreastCareSite wants to be your one-stop shop for discussions, informative articles, and now, our top picks for up-to-date medical news.
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posted February 3, 2012 -- Physicians at Johns Hopkins Cancer Center report they now can successfully inject cancer-fighting drugs straight into a breast tumor.
posted January 20, 2012 -- A phase III trial featuring combination therapy with anastrozole and fulvestrant has shown significant success for post-menopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
posted January 9, 2012 -- Researchers from England recently found that women who restricted carbohydrates just two days a week lost more weight and controlled their insulin better than those on full-time diets.
posted December 30, 2011 - The new PANVAC vaccine has been shown to help the body attack cancer cells, improving overall survival time and even stopping the disease for some breast cancer patients.
posted December 2, 2011 - Mice that were fed special diets containing 5-10% blueberry powder experienced significantly reduced growth and spread of their aggressive triple negative breast cancer cells.
posted December 9, 2011 - A study has found that adding Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) to conventional mammography and ultrasound can provide critical pre-surgical planning information for newly-diagnosed women.
posted November 11, 2011 - According to a new study, breast cancer patients over age 60 with small, early-stage tumors can skip hormone therapy without worrying about an increased risk of death.
posted October 28, 2011 - A study by the Swiss drug maker Novartis has shown that its kidney-cancer drug Afinitor also works to slow breast cancer’s progression.
posted October 14, 2011 - About half of women with lobular breast cancer may be able to save their affected breast by undergoing chemotherapy prior to breast surgery, an Austrian study has found.
posted September 30, 2011 - Older women with a history of heart disease or diabetes and who also take Herceptin are at increased risk of developing additional heart problems, according to a recent study.
posted September 19, 2011 - Promising new vaccine to help prevent breast and ovarian cancers in women now approved for human testing.
posted Aug. 29, 2011 - For women resistant to Herceptin, there is a new possible alternative called Affitoxin.
posted Aug. 15, 2011 - There is a new drug called triptorelin that suppresses ovarian function and could help breast cancer patients preserve their fertility at a lower cost than cryopreservation.
posted Aug. 8, 2011 - A new study indicates that having reconstructive surgery immediately following mastectomy is safe.
posted Jul 25, 2011 - New study from Europe finds that patients undergoing a combination hypnosis/local anesthesia option fared better in terms of recovery time, hospital stay, and more.
posted Jul 18, 2011 - New study suggests early stage breast cancer patients taking Zometa with their hormone therapy may reduce their risk of recurrence.
posted Jul 6, 2011 - Vitamin D deficiencies linked to aggressive breast cancers, poorer prognosis
posted Jun 6, 2011 - The debate on soy continues, this time with new evidence that moderate amounts are safe, and maybe even beneficial.
posted May 13, 2011 - Breast cancer patients, especially, can benefit from the discipline of regular exercise.
posted April 21, 2011 - A new drug combination has been shown to overcome breast cancer tumors’ resistance to the targeted drug Herceptin.
posted April 1, 2011 - Scientists have found mammography does not detect as many new malignancies among women with a history of the disease.
Pigs may have been flying in March of 2010, but they seem to have landed with a resounding thud late this summer.
posted March 4, 2011 - Last year's (December 2010) San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium yielded new drug efficacy information and a new perspective on how clinical trials will have to be conducted for the future of breast cancer research.
posted March 11, 2011 - Researchers estimate that more than 300,000 U.S. women are having unnecessary breast biopsy surgery each year.
posted March 4, 2011 - Traditional aggressive removal of the lymph nodes may go by the wayside if new research indications prove to be true; women may not have to undergo this additional procedure in the future.
posted February 18, 2011 - A new test accurately predicts which breast cancer patients are at risk for relapse, which could spare thousands of women from unnecessary treatment.
posted February 11, 2011 - New breast cancer research indicates that social support in the first year following a diagnosis can mean a higher survival rate and reduced chance for recurrence.
posted January 28, 2011 - A new scalp-cooling treatment has shown positive results and may give women hope of preventing hair loss caused by chemotherapy.
posted January 14, 2011 - The Food and Drug Administration recommended in December 2010 that Avastin -- currently the world's best-selling cancer drug -- no longer be used to treat breast cancer.
posted January 7, 2011 - Study shows women with early breast cancer reduce their risk of cancer return and disease mortality with radiation therapy.
posted December 10, 2010 - New research has shown that current and past smokers have a dramatically increased risk of breast cancer progression and death.
posted Nov 19, 2010 - Lab studies and early trials show the drug BSI-201, or iniparib, is markedly effective in reducing tumors when used alongside other chemotherapy drugs.
posted Nov 12, 2010 - New data from researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center has revealed that pregnant women treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer do at least as well as non-pregnant women.
posted Oct 22, 2010 - Study suggests PET/CT scans could be more effective than radionuclide bone scans for locating metastatic cancer.
posted Nov 5, 2010 - Recent study indicates that women with dense breast tissue have a higher risk of recurrence.
posted Oct 15, 2010 - New research supports the idea that chronic stress plays a role in cancer progression.
posted Sept 24, 2010 - Study says a Mediterranean diet may help lower breast cancer risk.
posted Sept 17, 2010 - A new state law will require New York hospitals and doctors to discuss the options for breast reconstruction with their patients before performing cancer surgery.
posted Sept 3, 2010 - Regular consumption of alcohol raises the risk of developing lobular and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, but not, it appears, invasive ductal carcinoma which accounts for about 70 percent of all breast cancers.
posted Aug 20, 2010 - An experimental drug called olaparib shows promise for women with breast cancer who carry BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
posted Aug 6, 2010 - Women who regularly take fish oil supplements may find they have been protecting themselves against breast cancer as well.
posted Aug 6, 2010 - Women who regularly take fish oil supplements may find they have been protecting themselves against breast cancer as well.
posted January 29, 2010 - A recent trial showed that acupuncture can work as well as medication for lessening hot flashes that are a result of hormone therapies.
posted August 21, 2009 - Despite the much-touted benefits of drinking alcohol in moderation, experts agree there is an undeniable link between alcohol and cancer - particularly breast cancer.
posted February 26, 2010 - Even women with family history of breast cancer can lower their risk by breastfeeding during their child's first year, new study shows.
posted October 30, 2009 - A common weed could hold the key to advanced research on cell division and longevity, according to a NIH-sponsored study published in the journal "Molecular Cell."
posted Jun 4, 2010 - Study suggests that giving estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer patients estrogen-lowering drugs prior to surgery could better their chance of being able to choose lumpectomy instead of a full mastectomy.
posted November 20, 2009 - Many cultures have long believed in the medicinal qualities of curcumin, the main component in the common cooking spice, turmeric. Now research is showing it has real cancer-fighting abilities.
posted June 1, 2009 - New research shows that pregnant women who have breast cancer can be treated successfully without harming their babies.
posted April 20, 2010 - A unique research group is poised to revolutionize the way new drugs are studied and made available to patients.
posted December 18, 2009 - The U.S. Preventive Services Tasks Force caused national uproar in November 2009 when it recommended fewer mammograms for women.
posted March 19, 2010 - In a recent study, women who reported taking aspirin 2 to 5 days/week after breast cancer treatment were about 60% less likely to have a recurrence than those who didn't take aspirin.
posted September 4, 2009 - Intriguing study suggests some breast cancers might disappear if left untreated.
posted May 14, 2010 - Concerns were raised this week about DNA test kits being offered over the counter at local drugstores.
posted June 19, 2009 - An international panel of experts has proposed a different approach to choosing the best way to treat early breast cancer.
posted Jul 9, 2010 - Study finds that beginning an exercise program one to three days after breast cancer surgery can help patients maintain shoulder movement and minimize loss of arm or shoulder function.
posted June 5, 2009 - Recent Canadian research finds even if a woman has no known BRCA gene mutation, if she has a significant family history of breast cancer, she has a 30-40% lifetime risk of developing the disease -- four times that of the general population.
posted April 30, 2010 - Two separate research projects suggest that freezing breast cancer tumors may be an alternative to lumpectomy and chemotherapy.
posted March 26, 2010 - The Oncotype DX test is helping women and their doctors make individualized treatment decisions.
posted August 28, 2009 - Routine exercise is proving valuable in the fight against breast cancer.
posted Jul 30, 2010 - Study says despite the risk of relapse and fatality, half of breast cancer patients do not take their medications for the recommended period of time.
posted December 4, 2009 - Recent studies may give reason for doctors to presribe Herceptin for HER2-positive breast tumors smaller than 6mm.
posted August 7, 2009 - Scientists in Australia have discovered that basal breast cancers -- one of the most aggressive types -- begin in the cells lining the mammary glands, not in breast stem cells.
posted Jul 16, 2010 - Numerous studies over the past 40 years consistently show cancer risk to be four to six times higher for women with extremely dense breasts than for women with low density breasts.
posted July 17, 2009 - A recent policy report by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research suggests that good nutrition and exercise could prevent 38% of breast cancer in the U.S.
posted October 23, 2009 - Recent clinical trial shows weight training is not only safe for most women with lymphedema, it can also improve their symptoms.
posted June 12, 2009 - More women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in one breast are choosing to have both breasts removed. Fourteen percent made that decision in 2005, compared to only 4% in 1998.
posted January 22, 2010 - Many women apparently don't want to have MRIs, even though the test is non-invasive and is usually paid for by insurance when recommended by a woman's physician.
posted July 24, 2009 - The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) announces a clinical trial to evaluate a new drug combination for breast cancer. The new drug could potentially block blood vessel growth and stop certain proteins from helping cancer cells grow.
posted July 2, 2009 - The FDA has approved Sancuso, a five-day patch that fights nausea from cancer chemotherapy.
posted July 31, 2009 - A new study from researchers at the University of Chicago asserts that the powerful compound retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, can restore a healthy balance to cell processes, inhibiting the growth of cancerous breast cells.
posted November 25, 2009 - A new report estimates excess body fat is responsible for 105,000 cancers every year in the United States, including 17% of all breast cancers.
posted September 11, 2009 - Study links oral contraceptive use to a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer.
posted February 19, 2010 - Researchers are beginning to conclude that it may be wise to avoid antidepressants altogether while taking tamoxifen.
posted May 28, 2010 - Research finds a specific grouping of 3 surface markers could lead to earlier detection and targeted therapy for aggressive ER-negative breast cancer.
posted February 4, 2011 - A French study shows that radiation for breast cancer can increase the risk for later heart disease.
posted October 16, 2009 - New discovery decodes DNA of metastatic tumors, finding 5 new mutations and a "roadmap" for further study.
posted November 6, 2009 - A shortened, more intensive course of radiation given to the whole breast has shown favorable results, indicating it may be as effective as the traditional 5-7 week treatment plan.
posted Jun 18, 2010 - A single dose of targeted radiation during breast-conservation surgery may be as effective as up to six weeks of daily post-operative radiation treatments, according to initial results from an ongoing study.
posted January 8, 2010 - Research now suggests that soy, once discouraged for breast cancer survivors, reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence or death from the disease.
posted Jul 1, 2010 - Researchers at Ohio State University have found that a psychological intervention program (counseling) designed for breast cancer patients reduces their risk of dying if the cancer recurs.
posted September 24, 2009 - Research finds bone loss can be treated in breast cancer patients with a comprehensive regimen that includes osteoporosis drugs and other treatments.
posted June 1, 2009 - from PRNewswire -- Combining two chemotherapy drugs with trastuzumab (Herceptin) to treat women who have metastatic HER2+ breast cancer may offer physicians another choice in their treatment options.
posted July 10, 2009 - Two new microsurgical procedures may effectively reduce the fluid build-up and greatly reduce symptoms associated with lymphedema.