Approximately 16% of Worldwide Cancers Caused By Preventable Infections

Two million cancer cases each year—or roughly 16 percent of cancers worldwide—are the result of preventable and treatable infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis C (HCV), according to the results of a study published in The Lancet Oncology.[1] … Continue reading →

FDA Approves New Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implant

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a silicone gel-filled breast implant manufactured by Sientra Inc for breast augmentation in women at least 22 years old and breast reconstruction in women of any age. As a condition of … Continue reading →

Combined HER2 Treatment Improves Outcome of Advanced Breast Cancer

Among women with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer, treatment with a combination of HER2-targeted therapies may produce better outcomes than treatment with only a single HER2-targeted therapy. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and were also presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Approximately 20-25% of breast cancers [...]

Afinitor Delays Breast Cancer Progression

Among postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that had become resistant to hormonal therapy, the combination of Afinitor® (everolimus) and Aromasin® (exemestane) delayed cancer progression to a greater extent than Aromasin alone. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Each year roughly 200,000 [...]

Longer Follow-Up Continues to Suggest That Zometa May Provide Breast Cancer Benefit

Longer-term follow-of of the ABCSG-12 study continues to suggest that the bisphosphonate drug Zometa® (zoledronic acid) may improve outcomes among women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The majority of breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive. These cancers are stimulated to grow by [...]

Many Women Not Getting Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

Less than one-quarter of women who have a mastectomy undergo immediate breast reconstruction. These results were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. For some women with breast cancer, treatment will include a single or double mastectomy (removal of one or both breasts). In order to restore the appearance of a breast, [...]

Diabetes and Obesity Increase Breast Cancer Risk

Having diabetes or being obese after the age of 60 increases a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Diabetes affects almost 26 million people in the United States and is the seventh leading cause of death.[1] Diabetes contributes to heart disease, stroke, [...]

Breast Brachytherapy Linked with More Complications and Higher Mastectomy Rate

Among women with early-stage breast cancer, use of brachytherapy to administer radiation therapy may result in more post-operative complications than conventional external beam radiation therapy, and may also increase the likelihood that a woman will later require a mastectomy. These results were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. For women with [...]

Oncotype DX DCIS Score Predicts Recurrence Risk for Women with DCIS

A DCIS Score generated by the Oncotype DX breast cancer test provides information about how likely it is that breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will recur. This may help guide decisions about whether women with DCIS need radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery. These results were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer [...]

Herceptin Given At Same Time As Chemotherapy May Provide Most Benefit for Breast Cancer

The results of a Phase III clinical trial suggest that starting Herceptin® (trastuzumab) during chemotherapy for early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer may be more effective than starting Herceptin after chemotherapy has been completed. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Twenty to 25 percent of breast cancers overexpress (make too much of) a protein [...]