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Fitness May Boost Survival for Women With Breast Cancer

Posted 2 days 2 hours ago by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, May 25 – Women with advanced breast cancer who have higher levels of fitness during treatment tend to live longer than women with lower levels of fitness during treatment, new research finds. Treatments for breast cancer can weaken women's heart and lung function, according to the study by researchers at Duke University Medical Center, and the impairments can linger for years after treatment has ended. Among those with advanced breast cancer, women whose fitness level was high during treatment were more likely to survive. Median survival was 36 months among women with high levels of fitness, compared to 16 months among low-fitness patients. What researchers don't know, however, is if helping women to improve fitness while undergoing breast cancer treatment will boost their survival. They only found an association, not a cause-and-effect link, between the two. Exercise tolerance ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer

Breast MRI Best at Tracking Response to Chemo: Study

Posted 4 days ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, May 23 – Getting chemotherapy before breast cancer surgery can mean the difference between a mastectomy or a breast-conserving lumpectomy, experts say. And new research shows that getting an MRI during the first round of chemo can help predict quickly if the cancer will respond to the treatment. MRI works better than clinical examination of the tumor, the standard way to assess how well the chemotherapy is working, said researcher Dr. Nola Hylton, a professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. Although many doctors order an MRI after all rounds of chemotherapy are finished, Hylton's team did MRIs before, during and after a chemo cycle, and also when all of the chemotherapy was finished. "What we are trying to do is fine-tune MRI so it can be a more sensitive measure of whether people are responding [to the chemo]," Hylton ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer

Dieting May Lower Hormone Levels Tied to Breast Cancer

Posted 6 days ago by Drugs.com

MONDAY, May 21 – New research suggests that weight loss through exercise and dieting helps overweight women lower the levels of certain hormones in their blood, potentially raising the odds that they'll avoid developing breast cancer. The findings don't prove that losing weight this way will prevent breast cancer. Still, women who take medications to prevent the disease "need long-term solutions for managing their risk," study co-author Dr. Anne McTiernan, director of the Prevention Center at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said in a news release from the center. "Weight loss represents an additional option for long-term breast cancer risk reduction without significant or bothersome side effects," McTiernan added. The study is published in the May 21 online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Previous research at the center has suggested that "losing just 5 percent ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prevention

Exercise May Boost Survival in Breast, Colon Cancer

Posted 19 days ago by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, May 8 – Being physically active might lengthen the lives of people with breast and colon cancer, a new study suggests. Exercise may also benefit patients with other cancers, but there is no substantial evidence to make that claim, the researchers added. "We have lots of data that says physical activity after a cancer diagnosis is generally safe and is associated with many improvements in overall quality of life, and these data suggest that it may even be beneficial in terms of prolonging life," said lead researcher Dr. Rachel Ballard-Barbash, associate director of the applied research program in the division of cancer control and population science at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. "For many years, we have tended to think of a diagnosis of cancer being fatal, but as we are diagnosing people much earlier and receiving effective treatment, they're living for a long time ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer

Mammograms Beat Thermography for Breast Cancer Detection: Study

Posted 4 May 2012 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, May 4 – Thermography – a breast cancer detection method touted by some as a substitute for mammography – is an unreliable cancer screen, according to new research. In a study of about 180 women, thermography missed about 50 percent of cancers and delivered too many false positives, said Dr. C.M. Guilfoyle, a researcher at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Pennsylvania. The radiation-free screening method uses computer software to measure and compare thermal abnormalities in the breasts and create a breast "map" to look for signs of developing breast cancer. The thinking is that increased temperature is found in areas with increased blood flow, and that may indicate a tumor. Researchers evaluated the technique, marketed as the No Touch Breast Scan, on the breasts of women undergoing biopsies after they had suspicious findings on other imaging exams. "I think we are still trying to ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prevention, Diagnosis and Investigation

Many Breast Cancer Patients in Their 40s Aren't 'High-Risk': Study

Posted 3 May 2012 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, May 3 – More than half of women in their 40s diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram had no family history of the disease, finds a new study that may add to the debate over the timing of breast cancer screening. The researchers say their results point to the value of annual screening mammograms for women 40 to 49. But others remain unconvinced. Family history usually means a first-degree relative with the disease (parent, sibling or child). Of those without family history who were found to have breast cancer, "64 percent of these women had invasive disease," said researcher Dr. Stamatia Destounis, a radiologist at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care Center and a clinical associate professor at the University of Rochester in New York. Destounis was to present her findings at the American Roentgen Ray Society annual meeting in Vancouver on Thursday. This is one of ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prevention

For Breast Cancer Care, Radiation of Whole Breast May Be Best

Posted 1 May 2012 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, May 1 – Women who receive a type of partial-breast radiation called brachytherapy may go on to have higher rates of breast cancer recurrence and side effects such as breast pain and infection than women receiving whole-breast radiation, a new study indicates. Brachytherapy is an increasingly popular treatment option for women with early-stage breast cancer who have had a lumpectomy, which is surgery to remove just the part of the breast with the tumor. The treatment, which involves inserting a radioactive pellet near the lumpectomy site, can be as short as one or two weeks, compared with the six-week course of whole-breast radiation, which directs beams of radiation at the entire breast. In the current study, which was published in the May 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers looked at the rates of mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast), ... Read more

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Here Are the Women Who Need Mammograms in Their 40s: Study

Posted 30 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, April 30 – A new analysis that may help women in their 40s interpret mammogram guidelines says those with a family history of breast cancer or extremely dense breast tissue should start getting regular screenings. The benefits of getting a mammogram every two years outweigh the risks for these particular women, who are at increased risk for developing breast cancer, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute-funded study. "Among a group of women who have twice the average level of risk, screening every other year starting at age 40 has the same balance of benefit and harms as starting at age 50," said researcher Dr. Jeanne Mandelblatt, associate director for population sciences at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C. The research is published May 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Experts currently disagree on the recommended frequency of ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prevention

Healthy Behaviors Extend Life After Cancer, Experts Say

Posted 26 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, April 26 – A healthy lifestyle – including eating right, exercising and maintaining normal weight – can boost the odds of long-term cancer survival, especially for breast, colorectal or prostate cancer, according to new recommendations from the American Cancer Society. About one in 25 Americans is a cancer survivor. "Many ask, 'How can I keep the cancer from coming back?' " said Colleen Doyle, the cancer society's director of nutrition and physical activity. Cancer survivors often are advised to adopt healthy behaviors, including eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein; fitting in walking or other aerobic activity most days of the week; and keeping weight within a normal range, Doyle said. Research has shown that those steps can help prevent cancer, but there was little research showing that a healthy lifestyle could keep cancer from recurring, or ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Colorectal Cancer

Wife's Breast Cancer Can Hurt Husband's Health Too: Study

Posted 23 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, April 23 – The stress of caring for a wife with breast cancer can harm a man's health, and this effect can continue for years after her treatment ends, new research says. The Ohio State University study of 32 men found that those who had the highest levels of stress related to their wives' cancer were most likely to have physical symptoms – such as headaches and abdominal pain – and weaker immune responses. Previous research has suggested that people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection and might not respond well to vaccines. The median age of the men in the study was 58, and they had been married for an average of 26 years. "Guilt, depression, fear of loss – all of those things are stressful. And this is not an acute stressor that lasts a few weeks; it's a chronic stress that lasts for years," study co-author Kristen Carpenter, a postdoctoral ... Read more

Related support groups: Anxiety and Stress, Breast Cancer

Can Heavy Metal in Foods, Cosmetics Spur Breast Cancer Spread?

Posted 23 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, April 23 – Prolonged exposure to low levels of the heavy metal cadmium may fuel the growth of some breast cancer cells and encourage them to spread, preliminary research indicates. Found in many farm fertilizers, cadmium can make its way into soil and water. Some other main sources of cadmium include cigarette smoke, rechargeable batteries, certain cosmetics, bread and other cereals, potatoes, root crops and vegetables. Once it enters the body, cadmium may mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen. Unlike previous research, this new analysis looks at lifetime exposure to cadmium, not acute bursts of high levels of the heavy metal. This research is still in its infancy, explained study author Maggie Louie, an associate professor of biochemistry at the Dominican University of California, in San Rafael. "We are trying to figure out if it is the cadmium causing cancer or the ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer

Exercise May Boost Breast Cancer Patients' Quality of Life

Posted 15 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

SATURDAY, April 14 – Exercise can help improve breast cancer patients' quality of life while they undergo treatment, a new study indicates. University of Miami researchers examined the physical activity levels and mental/physical health of 240 women with non-metastatic breast cancer (it hadn't spread to other parts of the body) who were recruited for the study four to 10 weeks after surgery. The women who were physically active had less depression, less debilitating fatigue and a better quality of life during cancer treatment after surgery. "Women who are physically active may also have more confidence in their own ability to continue with family-related, household, work-related or social activities, which bring meaning and satisfaction to their lives. This may lead to appraisals of lower fatigue, heightened quality of life and less depression," study author Jamie Stagl, a doctoral ... Read more

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Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects May Last for Years

Posted 11 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, April 11 – Treatment-related complications are common in breast cancer patients long after their therapy has been completed, a new study says. Researchers looked at 287 Australian breast cancer patients and found that more than 60 percent of them had at least one treatment-related complication up to six years after their diagnosis, and 30 percent had at least two complications. Complications included skin reactions to radiation therapy, weight gain, fatigue, surgery-related issues, upper body symptoms and physical limitations, and lymphedema – a painful limb-swelling condition. "Our work provides the first accounting of the true magnitude of the post-treatment problems suffered by breast cancer patients, and serves as a call to action for proper monitoring and rehabilitation services to care for them," study leader Kathryn Schmitz, associate professor of biostatistics and ... Read more

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Teen Drinking May Boost Odds of Precancerous Breast Changes

Posted 9 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, April 9 – Teenage girls and young adult women who drink even moderate amounts of alcohol appear to increase their risk of developing breast changes that can lead to cancer, according to a large new study. The study, which followed more than 29,000 females, found that for each 10 grams of alcohol (the equivalent of about one drink) consumed each day, the risk of developing these noncancerous cells and lesions – called proliferative benign breast disease (BDD) – increased 15 percent. "It's clear that this study shows that late adolescent alcohol [drinking] drives up the risk of these preliminary benign changes in the breast," said Dr. Graham Colditz, a professor of surgery and associate director for prevention and control at the Siteman Cancer Center of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "The risk is substantial," Colditz said. The good news? Young women who ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prevention, Acute Alcohol Intoxication

False-Positive Mammogram Results May Turn Out Not to Be: Study

Posted 5 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, April 5 – Women who have a false-positive result on their mammogram may be at higher long-term risk of developing breast cancer than those whose initial test is negative, according to a new Danish study. However, the link between false-positive results and an increased risk of breast cancer was weaker among women who had been screened from the early 2000s on, the researchers found. Experts have long known that screening mammograms, done in healthy women to detect breast cancer early, are bound to lead to some false-positive test results. These are results that seem to detect cancer but turn out to be false upon further testing. However, few studies have followed these women with false-positive results long-term to evaluate what happens, said My von Euler-Chelpin, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Copenhagen, who led the study. The new findings were ... Read more

Related support groups: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prevention, Diagnosis and Investigation

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