2023 Breast Cancer Research Year in Review

This year saw two new medicines approved to treat metastatic breast cancer, as well as reassuring results for women who would like to have a child after breast cancer treatment. Here are the top research stories.

Women diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, including women with a BRCA mutation, can safely become pregnant after breast cancer. In the past, doctors weren’t sure if pregnancy after breast cancer was safe because hormone levels increase during pregnancy. The findings open up possibilities for people who want to have a child after breast cancer.

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  Young women can safely pause hormonal therapy temporarily to try and become pregnant.

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  Assisted reproductive technologies and fertility preservation don’t increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

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  Having a child is safe for both mother and baby if women with a BRCA mutation get pregnant after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Several studies reported on techniques to ease side effects and improve quality of life. One of the biggest findings was that an over-the-counter gel can help ease hand-foot syndrome, a side effect that can lead to people stopping treatment.

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  An inexpensive topical NSAID gel reduced rates of hand-foot syndrome by 75% in people taking Xeloda.

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  Short-term fasting during chemotherapy seemed to prevent fatigue.

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  Women diagnosed with breast cancer can safely use vaginal estrogen to ease vaginal dryness and irritation.

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  The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) published updated guidelines on the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression after a cancer diagnosis.

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  A combination of aerobic and resistance exercise seems to help ease cancer-related fatigue the most.

The year 2023 also brought new treatments, ways to effectively treat breast cancer with less treatment, and ways to make current treatments more effective. Treatment to the lymph nodes may not be needed if the cancer is small or responds completely to treatment before surgery — and less treatment means a lower risk of side effects, including lymphedema.

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  When chemotherapy before surgery eliminates cancer in the lymph nodes, radiation to the nodal area isn’t needed.

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  People diagnosed with small breast cancers don’t need lymph node surgery.

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  Eating a healthy diet and exercising can improve certain people’s response to chemotherapy.

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  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Truqap (chemical name: capivasertib) and Orserdu (chemical name: elacestrant) for certain metastatic, hormone receptor-positive breast cancers and expanded the use of Trodelvy (chemical name: sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) to include metastatic, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, rather than only triple-negative disease.

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  Adding Tukysa (chemical name: tucatinib) to the standard of care improved overall survival and reduced the risk of new brain lesions in people diagnosed with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain.

Studies also looked at breast cancer care in the LGBTQ community. Researchers are only just beginning to figure out breast cancer risk factors and screening guidelines for trans and non-binary people.

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  LGBTQ people with breast cancer face delays in diagnosis and have a three times higher risk of recurrence than heterosexual cisgender people.

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  Listen to Dr. Erik Eckhert explain his research on disparities in breast cancer care for people in the LGBTQ community.

New research and guidelines aimed to help women more accurately determine their risk of breast cancer, as well as ways to reduce that risk. Every person with breasts has some risk of breast cancer and each person’s risk is different, so it’s important to have a screening plan tailored to your unique situation.

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  The American College of Radiology put out guidelines saying all women, especially Black and Ashkenazi Jewish women, should have a breast cancer risk assessment by age 25.

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  At-home genetic tests miss more than 90% of BRCA mutations linked to cancer in people without Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

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  A few minutes of vigorous exercise each day is enough to reduce breast cancer risk.

We know that breast cancer screening saves lives. But various organizations have put out different guidelines on when women should start screening, as well as how often they should be screened. The studies below underscore earlier results that regular mammograms, starting at age 40, mean more women are alive.

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  Regular screening mammograms reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by more than 65%.

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  Women in their 40s who had screening mammograms were less likely to die from breast cancer if they were diagnosed with the disease.