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.
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In portal: Breast Cancer, Categories Prevention, Screening
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Should biannual MRIs replace annual mammograms in high-risk women?
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: Women at increased risk for breast cancer due to an inherited mutation
The risk of breast cancer is exceptionally high in women who have a personal or family history of breast cancer or who carry a mutation in BRCA or certain other genes. More frequent screening is one strategy for early detection of breast cancer for these women. Study results presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium suggest that MRI screening every 6 months may be more effective than the currently recommended annual breast MRI and annual mammogram in detecting early stage breast cancers-which are more treatable-in high-risk women. (2/1/18)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : What is the risk of breast cancer recurrence after nipple-sparing mastectomy?
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: Breast cancer patients who are considering or have had a nipple sparing mastectomy
Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) offers better cosmetic results for women who have immediate breast reconstruction (at the same time as their mastectomy). Over the past decade, NSM has gained popularity among surgeons and patients. Studies show that women who keep their own nipples have higher rates of satisfaction and psychological well-being after mastectomy and reconstruction compared to women who lose their nipples. However, little data exists on the long-term risk of recurrence following NSM. New research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that risk of recurrence is low after NSM in carefully selected patients with breast cancer. (1/25/18)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-High
Quality of Writing: High
Article : Dense breasts and mammograms: Jill Goodacre’s story
Relevance: Medium-High
Quality of Writing: High
Most relevant for: Women with dense breast tissue on mammograms
Korin Miller’s piece for SELF magazine focuses on why women with dense breasts may need more than a screening mammogram. Miller highlights the recent story in People magazine of Jill Goodacre, a former Victoria’s Secret model and the wife of recording artist and talk show host Harry Connick Jr. Goodacre told of her breast cancer diagnosis 5 years ago after having additional screening of her dense breast tissue following a normal mammogram. (12/8/17)
Read MoreStudy : Alcohol and breast cancer risk in African American women
Most relevant for: African American women who would like to lower their breast cancer risk
The link between alcohol intake and breast cancer is well known, but most studies have involved only White women. Recently, a large study of more than 22,000 African American (AA) women found that similar to White women, increased alcohol consumption is associated with a greater risk of breast cancer. (10/27/17)
Read MoreArticle : Can lifestyle changes impact breast cancer risk?
Most relevant for: Any woman concerned about her risk for breast cancer
A recent New York Times article shared how “adopting protective living habits” could help keep breast cancer “at bay”. While many of these lifestyle changes and strategies like not smoking, avoiding weight gain, reducing alcohol consumption, eating a heart-healthy diet, and increasing physical activity have been shown to reduce breast cancer risk, there are other risk factors that one cannot control such as having a BRCA or other mutation that significantly increases breast cancer risk. Importantly, no one strategy has been proven to totally eliminate breast cancer risk. However many of these approaches have overall health benefits. (9/21/2017)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Does aspirin lower a woman’s breast cancer risk?
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: Women at average risk for breast cancer
Women who take aspirin regularly may have a reduced risk of breast cancer. However, previous studies have reported mixed results. Few of these studies have looked at whether this potential benefit of aspirin is linked to specific types of breast cancer. This study found a small reduction in breast cancer risk for women who took a low-dose aspirin at least three times per week, but only for one subtype of breast cancer. Women who took aspirin were less likely to develop ER/PR-positive, Her2- negative breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer. This study found no breast cancer risk reduction for women who used regular-dose aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). (8/29/17)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Do physicians recommend breast cancer screenings based on guidelines?
Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: Women at average risk for breast cancer
Several guidelines help physicians decide when a woman should begin screening for breast cancer and how often she should be screened. However, are these guidelines put into use in the clinic? (8/8/17)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium-Low
Research Timeline: Animal Studies
View Related Clinical TrialsArticle : Report on vaccines to prevent hereditary cancer
Relevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium-Low
Research Timeline: Animal Studies
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: High risk women who have not had breast cancer
On 05/30/2017, Good Morning America aired a segment entitled “Can a vaccine help prevent breast cancer at its earliest stages?” The story outlines the need for cancer prevention and hints at early research into a cancer vaccine. (8/1/17)
Read MoreStudy : Diet during teen years and early adulthood is linked to breast cancer risk
Most relevant for: Adolescent and young adult women
During teen years, breast tissue grows rapidly in young girls and is more likely to be harmed by substances that are known to cause cancer. Few studies have looked at the relationship between diet during puberty and breast cancer risk. This study looks at how a woman’s diet during their teenage years and early adulthood is associated with breast cancer development later in life. (6/30/17)
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)
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