Relevant for: People with triple negative breast cancer, In portal: Breast Cancer
Relevance: Medium
Most relevant for: Women diagnosed with breast cancer who are recommended to undergo a single mastectomy
Study: More patients with invasive breast cancer opting for double mastectomies
There are a number of surgical options for treating invasive breast cancer. These include lumpectomy with radiation, a single mastectomy to remove only the breast with cancer, or a double mastectomy, which removes both breasts. A new study finds that more women are choosing double mastectomy, even though it does not increase overall survival for these patients. (5/3/2016)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: People living with metastatic cancer
Study: Factors that affect the ability to work in people with metastatic cancer
Some patients who live with metastatic cancer either want or need to continue working while coping with symptoms of their disease and treatment. A recent study that looked at over 600 people with metastatic breast, prostate, colon, or lung cancer found that about one-third of them continue working full or part time. People most likely to continue working were those undergoing hormonal treatment and those with less severe symptoms or side effects from treatment. (4/12/16)
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Relevance: Medium
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with breast cancer
Article: New York Times report demonstrates need for genetic counseling, but doesn’t give the whole story
A New York Times report discussed how genetic testing could provide “grim data” without guidance for patients. While this is a valid concern, this report does not sufficiently emphasize certain important issues regarding genetic testing, particularly the need for genetic counseling by a health care provider with expertise in genetics before and after genetic testing. (4/5/16)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: Young women diagnosed with breast cancer who have not yet had genetic testing
Study: BRCA testing in young women with breast cancer
National guidelines recommend genetic testing for BRCA mutations in young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. However, little is known about how women decide to get testing, or how they use genetic information to decide on treatment options. This study found that genetic testing is increasing among young breast cancer survivors, and it explores some of the factors that play into patients’ decision making about genetic testing. (3/22/16)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: People who smoke cigarettes
Study: Smoking before or after a breast cancer diagnosis associated with poorer breast cancer survival
Cigarette smoking is an important public health issue that causes more than 480,000 deaths annually. Smoking increases the risk of many diseases, from heart disease to stroke. This research indicates that smoking before and or after a diagnosis of breast cancer affects survival, and also shows that it is never too late to quit smoking. (02/23/16)
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Relevance: Medium
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with breast cancer
Study: Sugar promotes tumor growth and metastasis in mouse model breast cancer
Previous human studies found associations between high sugar intake and breast cancer risk. This study looked at the direct effect of sugar on breast cancer growth and metastasis in mice. While researchers observed that sugar increased tumor growth and metastasis, more work needs to be done to see if this finding is relevant in humans. It is important to remember, the overall health benefits of limiting sugar intake remain undisputed. (02/02/16)
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Relevance: Medium
Most relevant for: Breast cancer patients who have an inherited mutation and breast cancer patients who developed leukemia after treatment for breast cancer.
Study: Potential genetic basis for breast cancer survivors who develop therapy-related leukemia
The population of breast cancer survivors in the United States is increasing. One rare but dangerous long-term effect of breast cancer treatment is an increased risk of leukemia, a type of bone marrow cancer. A recent study uncovered a potential genetic basis for this condition. (01/26/2015)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: Women with early stage breast cancer
Study: Does lumpectomy or mastectomy provide better survival for women with early stage breast cancer?
Previous research has hinted that women who have breast-conserving surgeries have the same, if not better, overall survival as women who have mastectomies. Researchers in this study wanted to see if that was true; they found that women who chose breast-conserving surgeries did have a higher overall survival. However, this study, presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, had limitations that make it difficult to interpret the results or to extend them to all women with breast cancer. (01/19/2016)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: Women who were diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant
Study: Effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy on the health and development of the child
Very little work has studied how a woman's cancer diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy affects her child. This study of women who were diagnosed with cancer while pregnant looks at their children at ages 18 months and 3 years. The study found no difference in general, cognitive, and cardiac development when compared to children born to healthy mothers. (12/08/2015)
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Relevance: Low
Most relevant for: The clinical relevance of this study for people is not clear
Study: Do antioxidants encourage the spread of cancer cells?
Scientists do not yet know why some cancers spread to other parts of the body (a process called metastasis). A study in mice suggested that high doses of some antioxidants (chemicals that can protect cells from damage) might actually make it easier for cancer cells to spread. (12/01/2015)
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