Research News for 2008
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Herceptin Before Surgery Offers Benefits
Herceptin given in combination with chemotherapy BEFORE surgery for HER2-positive locally advanced breast cancer has been shown to improve survival without the breast cancer coming back.
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Aromatase Inhibitors Slightly Better Than Tamoxifen for Postmenopausal Women
A review of a number of studies confirms that aromatase inhibitors reduce the risk of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer coming back better than tamoxifen in post-menopausal women.
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Flying Doesn’t Seem to Increase Risk of Lymphedema
A small study suggests that flying on an airplane poses little risk for bringing on lymphedema in people who've had breast cancer surgery.
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Women with Positive Genetic Test Results Prefer Getting News in Person
This very small study done in Pennsylvania and New Jersey found that when people were told about breast cancer gene test results over the phone, they often had more worries and stress than when the results were told to them in person.
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Estradiol May Make Breast Cancer Start Responding to Aromatase Inhibitors Again
A small study found that estradiol, a form of estrogen, can make advanced-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers that have stopped responding to hormonal therapy start responding again in some cases.
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Experimental Bone Medicine May Lower Risk
A new selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) called Oporia (chemical name: lasofoxifene) has been shown to improve bone health and reduce the risk of breast cancer, especially hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, in post-menopausal women.
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New Chemo Meds Improve Survival for Women with Advanced-Stage Disease
Newer chemotherapy medicines and regimens, as well as targeted therapy medicines, are helping women with advanced-stage breast cancer live longer.
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Molecular Breast Imaging Finds Lesions Mammogram Misses in Newly Diagnosed Women
Breast specific gamma imaging, also known as molecular breast imaging, can find other breast cancers that weren't detected by a mammogram or physical exam, a small study suggests.
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Brachytherapy Seems OK for Early-Stage Disease in Women with Implants
In a small study, internal radiation after lumpectomy didn't cause the capsules of existing breast implants to contract, leading to good cosmetic results.
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Reconstruction with Implant Immediately After Mastectomy Affected More by Radiation
A small study suggests that reconstruction done immediately after mastectomy using tissue from the body offers better results after radiation compared to immediate reconstruction using implants.
