FORCE's eXamining the Relevance of Articles for You (XRAY) program looks behind the headlines of cancer news to help you understand what the research means for you.
XRAY is a reliable source of hereditary cancer research-related news and information.
Learn more about the XRAY program
Categories Cancer Treatment
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Does extending hormonal therapy impact risk of breast cancer recurrence?
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: Women with early-stage ER-positive breast cancer
Hormonal therapy significantly reduces the risk of recurrence for women with early-stage estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Standard hormonal therapy is given for 5 years; extending that therapy for a longer period offers additional protection but has added side effects. This study looked at women who stopped hormonal therapy after 5 years and identified factors that may guide the decision to extend treatment. (12/21/17)
Read MoreGuideline : Can MammaPrint guide treatment decisions?
Most relevant for: Women diagnosed with ER-positive, Her2-negative early-stage breast cancer with 0-3 positive nodes
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) updated its guidelines for MammaPrint, a genomic tumor test that guides treatment decisions for patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer. The update was based on results from the MINDACT study (11/16/17).
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Animal Studies
Study : Can chemotherapy before surgery fuel breast cancer metastasis?
Relevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Animal Studies
Most relevant for: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients
Some breast cancer patients are given neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemotherapy. However, some recent studies have raised concerns that neoadjuvant treatment might actually trigger cancer spread in certain situations. In the current study, researchers used mouse models and human breast cancers to explore this possibility. (10/10/17)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium-Low
Study : Breast cancers can disappear without treatment: fact or fiction?
Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium-Low
Most relevant for: Women with abnormal mammograms
Previous studies and news headlines have reported that it is possible for breast cancers to regress or disappear on their own. Is this true? The authors of the current research study show that of 479 untreated breast cancers detected by screening mammography, none regressed or spontaneously disappeared on their own. (9/7/17)
Read MoreArticle : Can your breast cancer come back?
Most relevant for:
Elaine Howley’s piece for US News & World Report, “Can My Breast Cancer Come Back?” examines a common misperception that many breast cancer patients have after completing treatment, and explains what can actually occur. (7/25/17)
Read MoreArticle : FDA busts myths of preventing and treating cancer by eating apricot kernels, herbs, and other ingredients
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with or concerned about their risk for cancer
Maggie Fox (NBC News) writes about a new FDA report that warns of 14 "fraudulent” cancer products claiming to either cure or treat cancer (1). The companies that sell these products claim that many of them also prevent cancer, but are they safe or effective? (6/26/17)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Cost savings associated with a shorter course or omission of radiation treatment for early-stage breast cancer
Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for:
Breast cancer treatment costs are high. Lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy is a common treatment for early-stage breast cancer; however, patients may receive different radiation regimens, which carry different costs. Authors of this research study wanted to estimate the potential health care cost savings if early-stage breast cancer patients received the least expensive radiation regimen for which they were safely eligible. (6/20/17)
Read MoreRelevance: High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Does scalp cooling help prevent hair loss after chemotherapy?
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: Patient undergoing chemotherapy
Hair loss is one of the most recognized and distressing side effects of some chemotherapies. Two studies looked at the use of scalp cooling therapy to help reduce hair loss after chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. (5/15/17)
Update: Based on data from clinical trials, the FDA approved Dignicap scalp cooling device for treatment in patients diagnosed with solid tumors who are receiving chemotherapy.
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium-Low
Research Timeline: Animal Studies
Study : Common genetic change found in some tumors of patients who relapse after aromatase inhibitor treatment
Relevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium-Low
Research Timeline: Animal Studies
Most relevant for: Patients with ER+ breast cancer
About one in five people diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer relapse within 10 years after treatment. Researchers and health care providers do not know why this happens. This early research aims to identify a genetic change in the tumor that may cause relapse, but more studies are needed to understand why patients relapse and who is at risk. (5/3/17)
Read MoreStudy : Nearly half of breast cancer patients experience a severe side effect after treatment
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with early stage breast cancer
While clinical trials track treatment side effects, fewer studies look at the burden of side effects on women undergoing breast cancer treatment or compare the side effects of different treatments. This study looks at the severity of side effects experienced by women treated for early-stage breast cancer. (4/11/17)
Read More