Breast Cancer News And Research

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Breast Cancer News From Medical News Today

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:00:00 PST MRI Finds Tumors In Second Breast Of Women Diagnosed With Cancer In One Breast

Postmenopausal women, including those over 70 years old, who have been newly diagnosed with cancer in one breast have higher cancer detection rates when the other breast is scanned for tumors with MRI, compared to premenopausal women, say researchers at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida. They found that 3...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:00:00 PST Improvements Needed In Genomic Test Result Discussions

One in three early stage breast cancer patients who received genomic testing when deciding about treatment options felt they did not fully understand their discussions with physicians about their test results and their risk of the disease recurring, a new study has found...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:00 PST Life Technologies, TGen And US Oncology Partner On Groundbreaking Breast Cancer Sequencing Research

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) announced that it is collaborating with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and US Oncology to sequence the genomes of 14 patients afflicted with triple negative breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other therapies...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:00:00 PST Improvements Needed In Genomic Test Result Discussions

A new study has found that one in three early-stage breast cancer patients who received genomic testing when deciding about treatment options felt they did not fully understand their discussions with physicians about their test results and their risk of recurrence. About one in four experienced distress when receiving their test results...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:00:00 PST Questioning The Need For Radiation After Mastectomy In Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients

Breast cancer patients with early stage disease that has spread to only one lymph node may not benefit from radiation after mastectomy, because of the low present-day risk of recurrence following modern surgery and systemic therapy, a finding that could one day change the course of treatment for thousands of women diagnosed each year, according to researchers at The University of Texas M. D...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST First-Of-Its-Kind Project Will Sequence Difficult Breast Cancers To Provide Insight Into Treatment Strategies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) has announced that it is collaborating with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and US Oncology to sequence the genomes of 14 patients afflicted with triple negative breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other therapies...

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST NIH Student Award Winner Exploring How Couples Cope With Breast Cancer

Amber J. Belcher, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of Delaware, has won the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The fellowship will support Belcher's research on how couples cope with breast cancer. Breast cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most common cancer among women in the United States...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:00:00 PST Acupuncture May Relieve Joint Pain Caused By Some Breast Cancer Treatments

A new study, led by researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, demonstrates that acupuncture may be an effective therapy for joint pain and stiffness in breast cancer patients who are being treated with commonly used hormonal therapies. Results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:00:00 PST Stick With Older Mammography Recommendations, Stanford Experts Say

At a recent community education program, Stanford experts on women's cancer disagreed with controversial new federal guidelines on breast cancer screening. The new guidelines, released in November by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, would delay a woman's first mammogram by 10 years, reduce future screenings from annual to every other year, and end them after age 74...

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:00:00 PST Study Suggests Drop In Hormone Therapy Contributed To Breast Cancer Decline, Newsweek Opinion Piece Says

While breast cancer continues to be the second most common cancer among women in the U.S., "rates have been declining by about 2% a year since 1999, after having increased for the previous 20 years," Newsweek contributing editor Barbara Kantrowitz and Washington correspondent Pat Wingert write in a opinion piece...

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MyBreastCancerNetwork.com - Latest Breast Cancer News

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:08:00 EST Gene Test May Reveal Your Best Diet

A simple gene test that uses a swab of your cheek may help determine which diet--low fat or low carb--works best for you, researchers say.

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:07:00 EST Extra Mastectomies Don't Benefit Most Women: Study

An analysis of more than 100,000 patients found that only 6 percent of women who'd had the second mastectomy benefited from it.

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:46:00 EST Breast Cancer Patients Often Confused By Genomic Testing

Genomic testing done after a tumor removal can help patients understand their risk of recurrence, but many women don't understand their test results, experts say.

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:13:05 EST Too Much Small Talk Linked to Unhappiness

Scientists have found that there's a strong correlation between meaningful conversation and happiness.

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:04:04 EST Vitamin D Strengthens the Immune System

Vitamin D appears to 'arm and trigger' a healthy immune system, a new Danish study suggests.

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:23:01 EST Bitter Melon Extract May Stop Breast Cancer

A common vegetable used in Asia, and South America for diabetes management may slow and stop breast cancer, new research suggests.

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:52:04 EST Mammogram + MRI Cost Effective in High-Risk Women

Annual mammograms along with an MRI may improve life expectancy in women at high risk.

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:59:03 EST Garden-Grown Rhubarb May Fight Cancer

According to new research, baking garden-grown English rhubarb for 20 minutes significantly increases the vegetable's levels of polyphenols, a chemical that has been found to selectively prevent kill or prevent the growth of cancer cells.

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:41:02 EST Vitamin D Shrinks Breast Cancer Cells: Study

A new study suggests that vitamin D may be as good at shrinking and killing breast cancer cells as the drug Tamoxifen.

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:09:05 EST Aspirin May Cut Death Risk After Breast Cancer

Breast cancer survivors who are on an aspirin regimen may be less likely to die or have a cancer recurrence, a new study has found.

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The Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:49:51 PST Tammy's Breast Reconstruction Journey. Part 3 - Finding My Surgeon

By Tammy Carrington

After deciding to pursue immediate breast reconstruction I went online and requested information from the PRMA website on a Saturday. By Monday morning Mistie (the nurse) called me back to see what information I needed. She was so kind and nice. She really listened to what I was saying and took my medical information and then verified my insurance. After I gave Mistie my medical information, the ball started rolling in the right direction. Mistie spoke with Dr. Chrysopoulo directly about my case and an appointment was scheduled. Once I met him I had an incredible peace about the whole thing. I knew that I found the right doctor and the right place to have my surgery.

When I arrived for my initial appointment, Dr. Chrysopoulo made me feel at ease immediately. He was kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable. He spoke with complete sincerity and he also had a great sense of humor, which helped to make me smile and made me feel at ease. It was also wonderful getting to meet Mistie in person after talking to her on the phone several times.

I had initially wanted to do reconstruction with implants thinking that my recovery time would be quicker. Dr. Chrysopoulo spoke to me about the pros and cons of implants verses DIEP flap reconstruction. Once it was laid out in front of me, it made complete sense to have the DIEP flap procedure rather than reconstruction with implants. The DIEP procedure would use tissue from my stomach to reconstruct my breasts and Dr. Chrysopoulo would begin the reconstruction as soon as the general surgeon completed the mastectomy - while I was still asleep. I would not have to return for reconstruction surgery later. That sounded great to me.

Dr. Chrysopoulo was preparing me for what might be ahead after surgery by saying that when I woke up, I would feel like I had been hit by an 18-wheeler but it would get better. He said that by a week later I would feel like I had been hit by a mini-van. I knew other women who had breast augmentation who said when they woke up; it felt like they had a Buick parked on their chest, so I knew that there would be pain following such major surgery. I prepared myself for whatever was ahead mentally. (Actually, my personal experience with pain following my surgery was so much less than what I mentally prepared for.)

Dr. Chrysopoulo also told me that my instructions following my surgery would be to basically ?live in a recliner for 3 weeks getting up only to walk?. I knew that walking was going to be a big part of recovery, but that it would be important to take it a little easy as well.

(more to follow on The Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog)

Tammy's Breast Reconstruction Journey. Part 1 - My Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Tammy's Breast Reconstruction Journey. Part 2 - Making The Decision

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Keep up to date with the latest news in breast cancer reconstruction at The Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog. Also join us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:04:41 PST Breast Reconstruction Surgery Options After Mastectomy

Every woman has a right to breast reconstruction surgery after breast cancer. This has been a federal mandate for some time and insurance companies have to pay for breast reconstruction surgery by law. There is no age limitation for breast reconstruction and there are many different options available.

"Immediate" breast reconstruction is performed at the same time as the mastectomy. Advantages include: preserving most of the patient's breast skin, a shorter/less obvious mastectomy scar and waking up with the new breast already in place (and avoiding the experience of a flat chest). It also generally provides the best cosmetic results particularly when combined with nipple-sparing or skin-sparing mastectomy.??

"Delayed" reconstruction generally takes place after the mastectomy has healed. Many times patients required to undergo radiation following their mastectomies are advised to delay reconstructive surgery in order to achieve the best results. It is common to wait several months after the last radiation therapy session before proceeding with reconstruction to allow the soft tissues to recover completely from the radiotherapy.

Tissue expander reconstruction is the most common method of breast reconstruction in the United States. Most plastic surgeons perform this as a two-stage procedure. The expander is used to stretch the skin envelope and create the size of breast the patient and plastic surgeon desire. The expander is replaced by a permanent breast implant (saline or silicone) at a separate procedure some time later.??Some patients are candidates for one-step implant reconstruction (without expanders): a permanent breast implant is inserted immediately without going through the whole expansion process. In the one-step implant reconstruction the implant is completely covered by the pectoralis muscle and an acellular dermal graft (like Alloderm or FlexHD). These grafts are tissue implants that provide support and increase the amount of padding over the implant.

Implant reconstruction can be the best option for some patients. However, reconstruction with expanders and breast implants are associated with more complications than cosmetic breast augmentation. Complications following radiation therapy are also higher with implants compared to reconstructions using the patient?s own tissue.

The Latissimus procedure uses muscle (latissimus dorsi), fat and skin from the back (below the shoulder blade) that is brought around to the chest to create a new breast. Many patients also need an expander to obtain a satisfactory result. The expander is replaced by a permanent implant at a second procedure down the line. Patients typically a scar on their back that can be seen with some low-cut clothing. Women who are very active in sports may notice some strength loss with activities like golf, climbing, or tennis.

TRAM flap surgery is a common procedure that uses skin, fat and varying amounts of the sit-up muscle (rectus abdominus) from the lower abdomen. The tissue (or flap) is then relocated to the chest to create the new breast. This procedure also results in a tightening of the lower abdomen, or a "tummy tuck." Unfortunately, sacrifice of all or part of the abdominal muscle can result in bulging (or ?pooching?) of the abdomen and even a hernia. Up until a few years ago, this was the gold standard in breast reconstruction.??

DIEP flap breast reconstruction has replaced the TRAM flap as today's gold standard in breast reconstruction. The DIEP flap uses only skin and fat. This is disconnected from the lower abdomen and reconnected to the chest area using microsurgery to create a new breast. Since all the abdominal muscles are saved, patients do not have to sacrifice their abdominal strength. They also experience less pain and have a quicker recovery than TRAM patients. The risk of abdominal bulging and hernia is also very small. The SIEA flap is a variation of the DIEP flap. It is associated with an even easier recovery and a 0% hernia risk but requires specific anatomy which not all patients have. Like the TRAM, the DIEP and SIEA procedures also provide a simultaneous tummy tuck.

Women who do not have enough abdominal tissue for reconstruction may be eligible for the GAP (buttock) or TUG (upper inner thigh) flap procedures. The resulting scars are generally easily hidden by most underwear.

Like the DIEP flap, the GAP and TUG flap procedures are unfortunately not offered by most plastic surgeons as they require advanced training in microsurgery and reimbursement is very low. Only about 40 surgeons in the US perform these advanced procedures routinely.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction including advanced techniques like the DIEP flap procedure. Keep up to date with the latest news in breast cancer reconstruction at The Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog, on Facebook and on Twitter!

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Cosmetic Surgery