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 Palliative Care, Quality of Life, Survivorship
Personal Story : Improving the quality of life for people with metastatic breast cancer
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
A Washington Post article described the cancer experience of a young woman living with metastatic breast cancer. It also highlights how integrative medicine and palliative care, including acupuncture, massage, yoga, pain management, mental health therapy and nutrition can improve quality of life for people with metastatic cancer. (3/10/20)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
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Study : How does a breast cancer diagnosis affect employment of young women?
Most relevant for: Young women with breast cancer
Most young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer remain employed one year after their diagnosis. Among breast cancer patients who were unemployed a year later, half reported that their unemployment was due to health issues. The issues that were most associated with unemployment were stage of cancer and financial stress prior to diagnosis. (1/10/20)
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Personal Story : Running marathons with metastatic breast cancer? Yes!
Most relevant for: Women with metastatic breast cancer
Runner’s World Magazine featured Sarah Smith, a metastatic breast cancer patient who runs marathons and ultra-marathons. By telling her story, Sarah wants to encourage people to stay active, despite the challenges that life may bring. (10/13/19)
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Relevance: High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Is it safe for BRCA mutation carriers to become pregnant following breast cancer?
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: Women with a BRCA mutation who are considering pregnancy after breast cancer
New research shows that pregnancy after breast cancer is safe for women with BRCA mutations and their babies. (9/4/19)
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Study : Supportive care can improve quality of life for people with metastatic breast cancer
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
Metastatic breast cancer patients have unique needs for treatment and care. Connecting patients to appropriate support services and palliative care is an area of need in health care. A recent study reported improvement in metastatic breast cancer patient quality of life and wellness with an intervention program called the Supportive, Education and Advocacy (MBC-SEA) program. (8/21/19)
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Guideline : FDA asks Allergan to recall certain textured breast implants
Most relevant for: Women with, or considering breast reconstruction with implants
On July 25, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration requested that breast implant manufacturer Allergan recall its BIOCELL textured implants and expanders due to an association with a rare type of lymphoma called Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma or BIA-ALCL. The FDA does not recommend removing implants for people who do not have disease symptoms. This XRAYS review updates information about this FDA recall. (7/29/19)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : LGBTQ patients recommend improvements for their cancer care
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: LGBTQ cancer patients and their healthcare providers.
Very little research has focused on the cancer care experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. This study looks at recommendations from the LGBTQ community for improving their cancer care. (6/20/19)
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Study : A low-fat diet may decrease postmenopausal breast cancer deaths
Most relevant for: Post-menopausal women with no breast cancer diagnosis
Research reported at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology establishes a link between dietary fat intake and its impact on postmenopausal women’s risk of dying from breast cancer. (6/13/19)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Guideline : Breast surgeons recommend genetic testing for all breast cancer patients
Relevance: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: Anyone diagnosed with breast cancer
The American Society of Breast Surgeons published statement on genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer on February 10, 2019. It includes recommendations about who should be tested. Among these is the recommendation that all breast cancer patients get genetic testing, as well as women who do not have breast cancer but fit the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. (3/25/19)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Prevalence of BRCA founder mutations in Bahamian women
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: Bahamanian women
The Bahamas has the highest known frequency of BRCA mutations among people diagnosed with breast cancer. This study reviewed whether population-based BRCA testing (testing everyone regardless of family or personal history of cancer) would be an effective approach for finding mutation carriers in the Bahamas. (3/4/19)
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