May 2008 Research News

Paclitaxel improves early breast cancer survival
May 30, 2008
After surgery to treat early-stage breast cancer, women who got Taxol after the FEC (fluorouracil, Ellence, Cytoxan) chemotherapy combination were more likely to be alive and cancer-free 5 years after diagnosis than women who got only FEC. Read more...

Novel breast radiation technique curbs skin problems
May 26, 2008
Women who received radiation therapy using a special technique known as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), were 17% less likely to develop scaling or peeling skin in the area exposed to radiation compared to women who got radiation therapy using traditional techniques. Read more...

Coffee and tea don't raise breast cancer risk
May 26, 2008
A large, long-term study shows that coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages don't seem to affect breast cancer risk. Read more...

Follow-up mammograms may miss cancer
May 22, 2008
A small percentage of follow-up mammograms continued to miss abnormalities that were truly breast cancer after an initial mammogram found a benign-looking abnormality. Read more...

US panel mulls minimum breast cancer hospital stay
May 21, 2008
U.S. legislators are considering two bills -- one on minimum hospital stays after breast cancer surgery and one on federal funding for environmental links to breast cancer -- that may have a big effect on women diagnosed with the disease. Read more...

Hormone therapy safe in early menopause: researchers
May 20, 2008
A new analysis disagrees with earlier conclusions about HRT and increased breast cancer risk; Breastcancer.org supports the earlier conclusions that point to an association between HRT and increased risk and urges women to approach HRT use with caution and thoroughly discuss the pros and cons with their doctors before making a decision. Read more...

Bone drug helps fight cancer spread - U.S. report
May 16, 2008
Research suggests that Zometa, a bone-strengthening medicine, may slow the spread of breast cancer to bones. Read more...

New scans prompt mastectomies for breast patients
May 16, 2008
When breast cancer is diagnosed by MRI, women are more likely to have a mastectomy than a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy. Read more...

Vitamin D may lower breast cancer risk
May 16, 2008
Women diagnosed with breast cancer who also have lower-than-recommended vitamin D levels are more like to have the cancer spread. Read more...

Physical activity's effect on breast cancer varies
May 14, 2008
A life full of exercise can lower a woman's risk of breast cancer by 25% to 30% according to a review or more than 60 research studies. Read more...

Nerve block cuts hot flashes after breast cancer
May 15, 2008
A very small study shows that an experimental nerve blocking therapy can relieve hot flashes and sleep problems in women having these side effects because of breast cancer treatment. Read more...

Physical activity lower breast cancer risk
May 13, 2008
Premenopausal women who exercise regularly are less like to develop breast cancer. Read more...

Family history raises breast cancer risk for life
May 13, 2008
Sisters of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher than average risk of breast cancer; this increased breast cancer risk lasts a lifetime. Read more...

Ultrasound boosts breast cancer detection
May 13, 2008
A new study shows that ultrasounds plus mammograms find more breast cancers in high-risk women than mammograms alone. Read more...

Being breast-fed may lower breast cancer risk
May 9, 2008
A new study suggests that women who were breast-fed as babies may have a lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who weren't breast fed. Read more...

Five percent of breast tumors may double in month
May 8, 2008
About 5% of breast cancers may double in size in just 1 month and these rapidly growing cancers are more likely to be found in younger women. Read more...

Some women not told about breast reconstruction
May 1, 2008
Doctors are less likely to discuss breast reconstruction options with women who are older, less educated, and Hispanic, than with younger, more educated white women. Read more...