October 2009 Research News

Analysis Questions Breast and Prostate Cancer Screening
October 21, 2009
A new study questions the value of regular screening mammograms; Breastcancer.org continues to believe the current recommendations make sense. Read more...

Unnecessary Mastectomies Called Uncommon
October 13, 2009
While greater numbers of women are choosing mastectomy instead of lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy to treat early-stage breast cancer, research suggests that these women have good reasons for their choice. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Two Types of Radiation Therapy Yield Same Appearance
October 13, 2009
Early results show that intraoperative radiation therapy and traditional external beam radiation therapy offer similar cosmetic results. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Partial Irradiation Methods Equal In Practice
October 13, 2009
Research shows that three alternatives to traditional external beam radiation therapy are all equally effective at lowering the risk of recurrence and offer the same benefits as traditional radiation therapy. Read more...

ASCO Breast: DCIS Recurs More Often in Younger Women
October 12, 2009
A new study suggests that younger women (under 45) who have lumpectomy and radiation therapy to treat DCIS are more likely to have the breast cancer come back (recurrence) compared to older women who had the same treatment. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Reduction Surgery Often Uncovers Pathology
October 12, 2009
A new study found that nearly 10% of 444 women who had surgery to reduce the size of their breasts had abnormal looking cells in the breast tissue that was removed. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Hereditary Cancer Diagnosed Earlier
October 12, 2009
The age at which breast cancer is being diagnosed in families with an abnormal breast cancer gene seems to be getting younger, according to a new study. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Even Tweens Fear Breast Cancer
October 12, 2009
A study done by Dr. Marisa Weiss, president and founder of Breastcancer.org, found that teen and pre-teen ("tween") girls have breast cancer fears and misunderstand the risk of breast cancer for themselves and their mothers. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Heart Also Long-Term Risk for Breast Cancer Survivors
October 9, 2009
A small study shows that the risk of a serious heart problem, such as a stroke or heart attack, often is the same or greater than the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Trastuzumab Called Effective in Low-Risk Breast Cancer
October 9, 2009
New research shows that Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab) offers benefits to women diagnosed with HER2-positive, early-stage breast cancer with a low risk of recurrence. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Analysis Revises Taxane Benefit in Breast Cancer
October 8, 2009
Research shows that taxanes (a type of chemotherapy medicine) reduce the risk of recurrence of only certain types of breast cancer, so using taxanes to treat the other types of disease doesn't offer any real benefits. Read more...

Breast Cancer Genetic Evolution Decoded
October 8, 2009
After analyzing cells from both metastatic breast cancer and the original cancer that was diagnosed 9 years earlier, scientists found that the cancer cells continued to evolve and mutate over time. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Most Deaths Fall Outside Screening Programs
October 7, 2009
Research reinforces the value of mammograms: women who don't get regular mammograms are more likely to die from the disease after diagnosis. Read more...

ASCO Breast: Preop Lymph Node Ultrasound Prevents Second Surgeries
October 6, 2009
Ultrasound of underarm lymph nodes can determine if cancer has spread to those lymph nodes in some cases. Read more...

Tamoxifen Genetics Affect Breast Cancer Outcomes
October 6, 2009
Tamoxifen isn't as effective in women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer who make very little or no CYP2D6 enzyme compared to women with higher CYP2D6 levels. Read more...

Regular Exercise in Middle Age Reduces Breast Cancer Risk
October 1, 2009
A new study suggests that regular moderate- to high-intensity exercise, but not lower-intensity exercise, is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Read more...