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Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Reduced by Physiotherapy

Avastin Improves Survival of Breast Cancer Patients, says UPMC Study

Annual Mammograms at Age 40 is the Standard, says Top Radiology Group

New Recommendations for Mammography Screenings

Study Finds Women Can Reduce Their Risk of Breast Cancer

According to a report by the American Institute for Cancer Research, women can cut their risk of breast cancer by at least 40% if they take some preventative steps.  The researchers looked at links between breast cancer and diet, body weight and physical activity.

The recent study is an update from a 2007 review of more than 800 studies.  However, the newly updated review includes evidence from an additional 81 studies that have been published since then. 

The report on breast cancer is part of the Continuous Update Project.  The long-term goal is to continuously update the findings of the expert report so that cancer prevention advice is always based on the latest research.

For free information about breast cancer, contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Pennsylvania at Berger & Lagnese.

Study Shows Link Between Metabolic Syndrome and Breast Cancer

According to a recent study which was published in a journal for the American Association for Cancer Research, metabolic syndrome may play a role in the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.

Metabolic syndrome, or insulin resistance syndrome, is characterized by abdominal obesity, high blood glucose levels, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.  It can also increase the risk for diabetes and coronary heart disease.

In this study, the researchers used existing data from the Women's Health Initiative.  Participants included postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years at enrollment who had repeated measurements of components of metabolic syndrome over an eight-year period.  The results of the study suggest an association between having the metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.

To date, studies have evaluated individual components of the metabolic syndrome and breast cancer, however, this is the first time researchers have assessed whether women who met the criteria of having the metabolic syndrome were at greater risk for postmenopausal breast cancer.

For free information about breast cancer, contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Berger & Lagnese.

Breast Cancer Patients have Vitamin D Deficiency

It is known that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of breast cancer and decreased survival.  A new study quantified the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in women with breast cancer.  This study, from physicians at Columbia University, found that 74% of women with breast cancer were Vitamin D deficient.  They prescribed vitamin D and calcium carbonate for one year but only 15% were able to achieve normal vitamin D levels.  Optimal dosing for bone health is still unknown  This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

More free information about breast cancer is available from the breast cancer malpractice attorneys of Pennsylvania.

Radiation after Mastectomy for Breast Cancer is Being Underutilized

In a study published in Cancer, nearly 20% of women with breast cancer who would benefit from radiation after mastectomy, also known as post-mastectomy radiation treatment (PMRT), are not receiving the treatment.

In 2001, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released clinical practice guidelines for PMRT.

The researchers surveyed the women and assessed the rates of explanation, recommendation, and utilization of PMRT based on the ASCO guidelines.  The study found that radiation delivered after a mastectomy has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer returning in the chest wall and improve survival in high-risk patients.

The researchers concluded that approximately one-fifth of women who could benefit from PMRT did not receive treatment.

For free information about breast cancer, contact the Pennsylvania breast cancer malpractice attorneys.  

New Marker Identified for Breast Cancer Metastasis

Black Women Face Three Times Greater Risk of Aggressive Breast Cancer

Bone Density Drug Tibolone Found to Increase Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence

Bone Drug May Help Prevent Breast Cancer

Risk of Breast Cancer Decreases After Stopping Hormone Treatment

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) studied the use of the hormones, estrogen and progestin.  In 2002 a report of that study was released.  In that trial one group received 0.625 mg of estrogen plus 2.5 mg of progestin daily.  A second group received placebo.  There were fewer breast cancer diagnoses in the group receiving estrogen plus progestin than in the placebo group in the initial 2 years of the study, but the number of diagnoses increased over the course of the 5.6-year intervention period. The elevated risk decreased rapidly after both groups stopped taking the study pills. In the observational study, the incidence of breast cancer was initially about two times as high in the group receiving menopausal hormones as in the placebo group, but this difference in incidence decreased rapidly in about 2 years, coinciding with year-to-year reductions in combined hormone use.

The conclusion is that the increased risk of breast cancer associated with the use of estrogen plus progestin declined markedly soon after discontinuation of the hormone therapy.

For Breast Biopsy 11-Gauge Needle Better than 14-Gauge Needle

Radiation Lowers Relapse Risk In Noninvasive Breast Cancer

Twice as Long to Read Digital Mammograms

The differences ranged from 76 to 202 seconds longer.  The average interpretation time was 240 seconds (4 minutes) for digital screening mammograms and 127 seconds (2 minutes, 7 seconds) for film-screen screening mammograms.  At a high-volume hospital, this could add up to a significant difference.

There are advantages of digital mammography that offset the disadvantage of longer interpretation times.  It's easier to obtain the images. The images are also easier to store and transport. Finally, there have been three studies showing digital mammograms are more accurate than regular film mammography at finding breast cancer.

Taking longer to read all digital mammograms is not a problem; the problem comes from taking longer and still trying to read the same number of mammograms.

Men with Breast Cancer Have Distinct Findings on Mammogram

It is necessary to be attentive to any palpable masses and to obtain mammogram early.

This study proves that punctuate calcifications on mammogram and circumscribed masses on ultrasound can be associated with cancer in men.  Radiologists should be aware of these findings to avoid the misdiagnosis of cancer in men as a benign lesion.

Possible Good News for Women with Breast Cancer Who Suffer from Lymphedema

Doctors Failing to Inform Women with Breast Cancer of Reconstructive Surgery Options

Computer-Aided Mammography Finds More Cancer

Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer Benefit from Alternating MRI and Mammography

Vitamin D Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer

Intake of vitamin D during adolescence and early adulthood was most consistently associated with a significantly reduced risk of ER+/PR+ tumors.

An association was found between ever having taken cod liver oil at ages 10 to 19 years and a significantly reduced risk of breast cancer.

Similar to the dietary findings, the team found that greater sun exposure earlier in life was more consistently associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Free information about breast cancer is available from the breast cancer malpractice attorneys of Pennsylvania.

Breast Cancer Drug Avastin Increases Risk of Blood Clots

British Scientists Discover Why Tamoxifen Does Not Work In Some Women With Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Doctor is Hired as New Director of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

There is a new director of UPMC's University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI):  Dr. Nancy E. Davidson.   She will begin in March, 2009.  She is a leading breast cancer researcher at the Johns Hopkins University medical school in Baltimore.  She currently heads the breast cancer research program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, and recently served as president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.  She will replace Dr. Ronald Herberman, the founding director of the Pitt cancer institute, who plans to devote more time to cancer research.

Dr. Davidson received a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College and earned her medical degree at Harvard Medical School in 1979. She has been involved in breast cancer research for nearly 25 years, and has been at Johns Hopkins since 1986.

Her research focuses partly on the breast cancer cases that do not respond to estrogen-blocking therapy because the women's tissues lack receptors for the female hormone.  She has worked on ways to resensitize women to those treatments, and on substances designed to slow growth and spread of cancer cells.

UPCI receives $174 million in research grants and is ranked 10th nationally in the funding by the National Cancer Institute.

This appointment reflects UPMC's desire to be a national player in breast cancer research and treatment.

For more information about breast cancer, see the breast cancer attorneys of Pennsylvania.