Archive for the ‘breast cancer’ Category
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
A new study reported in Breast Cancer Research online concluded that women who drank at least five cups of coffee daily had a significantly reduced risk of postmenopausal breast cancer However, this association was most strongly observed with ER-negative (estrogen receptor) tumors.
Previous studies have had contradictory results on the association of coffee drinking and breast cancer. Thus, this study included both a large Swedish Study population and a large validation German Study population. The case-controlled studies included 2,818 postmenopausal women with breast cancer and 3,111 age-matched controls. All women were between age 50 and 74, born in Sweden, and living there between 1993 and 1995. The validation German study included 3,464 patients with cancer and 6,657 age-matched controls. Information on breast cancer risk factors, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic variables were provided by all participants. The strongest association of all risk factors for breast cancer was for heavy coffee drinking and ER-negative breast cancer. The combination of heavy coffee drinking and ER-negative tumors resulted in a 57% reduction in the risk for breast cancer. Analysis of the validation German data confirmed that heavy coffee drinking had a protective effect for ER-negative tumors.
Tags: breast cancer, coffee, estrogen recepton-negative tumors, German study, progesterone negative tumors, research, Swedish study
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
A new study reported in the May 3 online Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that breast cancers detected for the first time between mammograms are more likely to be fast growing, aggressive tumors.
Data from the Ontario Breast Screening Program for 288 women with true interval cancers (those first detected between mammograms) and 87 women with missed interval cancers. These women were compared with a control group of 450 women who had screen detected cancers and had similarities in age, location of screening center, and length of time since their last mammogram. The true and missed interval cancers were of a higher stage and grade than the controls. In addition, the true interval cancers were more likely to be estrogen receptor-negative and progesterone receptor-negative; and to have a higher mitotic index (measures how rapidly the tumor cells divide). Previous studies have concluded that interval cancers often have a worse prognoses than those detected during routine screening.
Posted in breast cancer, Cancer, research | No Comments »
Friday, March 18th, 2011
Research published in Cancer Epidemiology: Biomarkers & Prevention confirmed that obesity and lack of physical activity increase the risk of triple-negative breast cancer among women. Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of all breast cancers, has a poor prognosis. and is a subtype of breast cancer characterized by a lack of estrogen, progesterone and HER2 expression.
The researchers analyzed data from over 155,700 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative. Assessing levels of baseline body mass index (BMI) and recreational activities among 307 women with triple-negative breast cancer and 2,610 women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer they found that women with the highest BMI had a 35% increase risk of triple-negative breast cancer and a 39% increased risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. While evaluating the role of exercise they found that those who reported
high rates of physical activity had a 23 percent decrease risk of triple-negative breast cancer and a 15% decrease risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
More information is available at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301142011.htm
Tags: estrogen recepton-positive breast cancer, obesity, research, triple-negative breast cancer
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Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
Research published online ahead of the March 16 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that women who have more births are at an increased risk of triple-negative breast cancer, a relatively uncommon but aggressive subtype of breast cancer. In addition, women who do not give birth have a 40% less risk of this type of breast cancer but have about a 40% higher risk of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer compared to women who have one or more children. Triple-negative breast cancer has a poor prognosis and does not respond to hormone blocking therapies such as tamoxifen. The study reinforced the idea that breast cancer is not just one disease.
The researchers analyzed detailed reproductive histories of over 150,000 postmenopausal women and over 300 of these developed triple-negative breast cancer. The researcher concluded “More research is needed to better understand the causes of the most aggressive and lethal forms of breast cancer. While this study adds to our knowledge base, it should not change women’s approach to breast cancer screening.”
More information is available at: http://www.cancer-health.info/?p=26230
Tags: breast cancer, childless, multiple childbirth, research, triple-negative breast cancer
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Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
A new research study published in the January 28 online issue of The Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that there is a greater risk of breast cancer when starting hormone therapy around the time of menopause as opposed to starting five years of more after menopause. This adds to the knowledge from previous studies that looked at hormone replacement as increasing the risk of breast cancer without considering the timing around menopause. Some of these were previously presented on this blog.
The current study was a large prospective study with a cohort of women (1.13 million) in which the researchers estimated the adjusted relative risk of breast cancer in hormone therapy users and past users, compared to non-users. They also looked at the type of hormone therapy used. They found that those who started hormone therapy 5 or more years following menopause had little or no risk of breast cancer regardless of type of hormone therapy used. the length of time used, and whether or not they were obese. They also found that women who started hormone therapy at menopause were at greater risk than those who started it later.
More information is available at:
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/01/28/jnci.djr048.full
Tags: breast cancer, hormone therapy, menopause
Posted in breast cancer, research | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 4th, 2011
Contrary to recommendations by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for mammogram screening of every other year for women age 50 to 74 and none for women between age 40 and 49 the researchers found that annual screenings as recommended by the American Cancer Society guidelines for screening every year from age 40 to 84 would save 71% more lives than the method recommended for less frequent screening.
Using the same model used by the task force, the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network, and comparing the guidelines of the task force with the American Cancer Society guidelines they found: 1) women who began annual mammograms at age 40 reduced their breast cancer deaths by 40 percent, and 2) those receiving mammograms annually from age 50 to 84 instead of every other year reduced their breast cancer risk by 23 percent and 3) the difference in these two screening approaches was a 71 percent increase in lives saved using the yearly screening approach.
More information is available at:
http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/abstract/196/2/W112
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2405900/new_mammogram_advice_and_breast_cancer.html
Tags: breast cancer, mammogram, recommendations, research
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Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
A recent research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology concluded that breast cancer patients with strong social ties during the first year following diagnosis have a greater probability of survival and freedom from recurrence than those without social support.
Between 2002 and 2004 over 2,200 breast cancer survivors completed a quality of life survey 6 months and 36 months(for most) after diagnosis. Questions about physical issues such as sleep, eating, and pain, psychological well being, social support and material well being were answered and answers were converted to an overall quality of life score. At a medium follow up of 4.8 years following the initial quality of life assessment patients who had died or been diagnosed with a recurrence were documented.
Six months following diagnosis the only significant association in the data related to dying or a recurrence of cancer was social well-being. Comparing women with the lowest social well-being quality of life score to those with the highest , the women with the highest scores had a 48% reduction in their risk of a cancer recurrence and a 38% reduction in their risk of death.
The strongest predictor of cancer recurrence was emotional support and women who reported the highest satisfaction with marriage and family had a 43 % risk reduction, those with strong social support had a 40% risk reduction, and those with a favorable interpersonal relationships had a 35% risk reduction of cancer recurrence. Although the social support network influenced cancer recurrence and survival during the first year after diagnosis, this association decreased thereafter and by the 3rd year was no longer statistically significant. The authors identified possible reasons for this decline. However, the researchers concluded “Our research supports previous studies that found a benefit for breast cancer patients who have a meaningful emotional support network.”
Tags: breast cancer, quality of life, research, social support
Posted in breast cancer, research, social support | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011
In a recent study publishes in the American Journal of Pathology researchers concluded that high levels of fat and cholesterol in the typical American diet is a risk factor in the growth and development of breast cancer. Using a mouse model with subjects and a controls predisposed to develop mammary tumors those fed a Western diet high in fat developed larger tumors that were faster growing and metastasized more easily than the mice eating a control diet. Although dietary fat and cholesterol have been shown to be a risk factor in tumor development and progression the results of diet-based studies in humans have been contradictory. Consequently; the researchers used animal models of human cancer to evaluate a link between cholesterol, diet and cancer.
All mice predisposed to breast tumors were placed on a diet containing 21.2 percent fat and 0.2 percent cholesterol that is reflective of a typical Western diet (subjects) or a diet of 4.5 percent fat and minimal cholesterol (control group). Tumors began to grow quickly in the research subjects and were double in number and 50 percent larger than those in the control group. There was also a trend toward an increased number of lung metastasis in the subjects. Biomarkers of tumor progression also confirmed more advanced cancer stage in the subjects compared to the controls.
More information is available at:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/213073.php
Tags: breast cancer, cholesterol, diet, high fat, mouse model, research
Posted in breast cancer, research | 1 Comment »
Friday, December 24th, 2010
A study reported in the December 15 issue of Cancer Research concluded that an inflammatory process in the breast promotes the growth of stem cells responsible for the development of tumors. They further stated that “inactivating the NFKB inflammatory pathway in the breast epithelium blocks the onset and progression of the breast cancer in living animals.” Although there are side effects to suppressing the whole body’s inflammatory processes, the study showed a rationale for selectively targeting the breast only in anti-inflammatory therapy.
After 12 years of research the researchers created a mouse in which the inflammatory system in the adults breast could be regulated. These mice were programmed to develop cancer but if they selectively blocked inflammation in the breast, the tumors would not develop. They also found that this inactivation reduced the number of cancer stem cells in the breast.
Tags: breast cancer, inflammation, NFKB, research
Posted in breast cancer, research | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
In an earlier post on this site (August 21, 2009) research on the benefits of weightlifting to reduce lymphedema risk after treatment for breast cancer in the New England Journal of Medicine was presented. Now another study by this research group in the Journal of the American Medical Association and presented concurrently at the Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio reports additional positive results. Previous research prior to these studies showed that up to 47% of breast cancer survivors who had surgery later develop lymphedema. In this current study researchers concluded “Weightlifting may play a key role in the prevention of the painful limb-swelling condition lymphedema following breast cancer treatment……limits the worsening of symptoms among women who already have lymphedema. ”
One hundred fifty four breast cancer survivors without lymphedema treated within the past 5 years were enrolled into the program. Subjects were given a 1 year membership in a fitness center near their homes and attended twice weekly, ninety minute, small group classes for the first 13 weeks. Classes by certified fitness professionals taught safe techniques of weight lifting. Following the 13 week program subjects exercised on their own and were monitored monthly for changes in arm circumference and also reported any changes in symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness and others, on a weekly basis.
Results showed that a slow progressive weight lifting regime cut the risk of developing lymphedema by 35% over the one year study period. Compared with a control group who did not change their physical activity regime, 11 % of the subjects developed lymphedema whereas 17% of the controls developed lymphedema. Results were even more dramatic for women who had 5 or more lymph nodes removed during surgery and later practiced slow progressive weight lifting. This group experienced almost a 70% reduction in the development of lymphedema with 7% developing lymphedema compared to 22 percent in the controls.
More information is available at:
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20101210/Weightlifting-may-help-prevent-lymphedema-following-breast-
Tags: breast cancer, exercise, research, survivors, weight-lifting
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