Breast Cancer
Volunteers: Motivated to Help Others
Many cancer survivors are moved by their own experience to help others facing diagnosis and treatment. Find inspiration and hope in these stories of volunteers who are making a difference in the fight against cancer.
Breast Cancer Radiation May Increase Risk of Heart Disease
A study by British researchers and colleagues has found that radiation for breast cancer slightly increases a woman’s risk for heart problems.
Study Links Smoking to Breast Cancer Risk
Researchers at the American Cancer Society have found an increased breast cancer risk among women who smoke, especially those who start smoking before they have their first child.
Study: More Young Women Being Diagnosed with Advanced Breast Cancer
An analysis of breast cancer trends in the US has found that new cases of advanced breast cancer are increasing among women ages 25 to 39.
FDA Approves New Treatment for Advanced Breast Cancer
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread from where it started (metastasized).
Experts Call for More Research on Breast Cancer and the Environment
A committee established by Congress is calling for more research to identify preventable causes of breast cancer.
FDA Approves Generic Version of Doxil to Address Shortage
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of the cancer drug Doxil (doxorubicin liposome).
Look and Feel Your Best During Cancer Treatment
Treatment for cancer may cause changes in your appearance that you may or may not have expected. These can include hair loss, fingernail changes, skin discoloration, weight gain, and weight loss.
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Genes Linked to DCIS Breast Cancer Progression in Study
Researchers have found that the combined loss of 2 tumor suppressor genes can help predict whether DCIS will progress into invasive breast cancer.
Delaying Treatment Increases Risks for Advanced Breast Cancer Patients
Researchers at Ohio State University have found that women who don’t receive treatment until 60 days after being diagnosed with more advanced breast cancer are at a significantly higher risk of dying.
Study: Ten Years of Tamoxifen Better than Five
A new study shows that taking tamoxifen for 10 years even further reduces the likelihood of recurrence and death from breast cancer.
International Breast Cancer Research Conference Under Way
Breast cancer researchers from all over the world head to Texas this week for the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).
Art Portrays Cancer Survivor’s Journey in New ACS Book
Author Sally Loughridge did not set out to write a book. The American Cancer Society book "Rad Art: A Journey Through Radiation Treatment" was her way of surviving radiation for breast cancer.
Understanding Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapies work with the natural properties of these substances to relieve symptoms and even fight diseases, including cancer.
Four Ways to Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk
About 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point during her life. While you can’t change some risk factors, there are things you can do that may lower your breast cancer risk.
When Your Friend Has Breast Cancer
Even with cancer as an all-too-common household word, we are often unsure of what to say – or, equally important, what not to say – when someone we know is diagnosed with breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Discoveries on the Horizon
What if there was an easier way to find out whether a breast tumor was malignant? What if a weakness was found in triple-negative breast cancer? What if we knew how breast cancer spread to bone?
Breast Cancer Symptoms: What You Need to Know
Breast cancer doesn’t usually cause symptoms in its early stages. But following screening guidelines doesn’t mean you should ignore changes in your breasts.
Stacy London Offers Style Tips for Women with Breast Cancer
Stacy London is known for making over dull wardrobes on TLC’s What Not to Wear. But she’s also using her fashion prowess to help women with cancer get their confidence back.
Your Body After Breast Cancer
Newlywed Sarah Lien didn’t want her husband seeing her bald. When they married two years earlier, the tips of her vibrant hair would brush against her face and tickle her healthy pink cheeks.
Five Ways to Fight Breast Cancer
The fight against breast cancer takes place on many fronts, not just in the treatment center. Here are 5 ways to use your time, your skills, and your voice to make a difference.
What to Know About Getting a Mammogram
Getting a mammogram every year is important in finding breast cancer early.
New Report Tracks Growing Population of Cancer Survivors in the US
A first-ever report by the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute estimates there are 13.7 million cancer survivors alive in the US today, and that number will grow to almost 18 million by 2022.
FDA Approves Perjeta to Treat Advanced Breast Cancer
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug, Perjeta (pertuzumab), to treat HER2-positive breast cancer that has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body).
New Treatment Controls Breast Cancer Growth in Study
Researchers have found that a new drug, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), worked better than the standard treatment for keeping a type of advanced breast cancer from worsening.
Cancer Can Be Treated During Pregnancy
When a pregnant woman is diagnosed with cancer, her treatment decisions are complicated by concern about how treatment may affect the baby’s health.
Stress and Memory Problems in Breast Cancer Patients
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found evidence that stress plays a role in cognitive problems in breast cancer patients.
Study Compares Different Types of Radiation for Breast Cancer
A study comparing a kind of brachytherapy to whole breast irradiation (WBI) found that women treated with brachytherapy were more likely to need more breast surgery later.
Breast Cancer Experts Outline Comprehensive Approach to Care
An international panel of breast cancer experts is recommending an approach to care that takes into account the wide range of physical problems faced by breast cancer patients and survivors.
Behavioral Therapy Eases Side-Effects from Breast Cancer Treatment
After breast cancer treatment, 65% to 85% of women experience hot flashes and night sweats – many of them severe enough to affect sleep, mood, and quality of life.
Drug Combinations Offer New Options for Advanced Breast Cancer
Several studies presented at the 2011 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) offer hope of new treatment options to women with advanced breast cancer.
Limit Alcohol to Lower Cancer Risk
Having one drink at a party isn’t likely to cause you much harm. But routinely having more than 1 or 2 drinks per day could raise your cancer risk.
Experts Gather to Discuss Latest Breast Cancer Research
Breast cancer researchers from all over the world head to Texas for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Now in its 34th year, the conference showcases the latest in breast cancer research.
Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy and Brain Function
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study on a small group of women to find out how breast cancer and chemotherapy affect brain function.
Study: Some Male Breast Cancer Patients Stop Treatment Due to Side Effects
In the largest study of its kind, researchers have found that 20% of male breast cancer patients stopped taking the drug tamoxifen early because they couldn’t tolerate the side effects.
FDA Revokes Approval of Avastin for Breast Cancer
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revoked approval of the drug Avastin (bevacizumab) for breast cancer.
Women Don’t Get the Help They Want for Sexual Problems After Cancer Treatment
Many women with breast or gynecological cancer want medical help for sexual problems after their treatment but aren’t getting it, researchers say.
Report: Breast Cancer Death Rates Decline, but More Slowly Among Poor
A new report from the American Cancer Society finds that deaths from breast cancer in the United States continue to decline steadily.
NFL Supports Fight Against Breast Cancer
The National Football League is joining the American Cancer Society to raise awareness about breast screenings and to raise money to help fight breast cancer.
What You Can Do About Breast Cancer
What you need to know about breast cancer testing, treatment, and living with the disease.
FDA Panel Votes to Reject Avastin for Breast Cancer
An advisory panel voted Wednesday to recommend that theFDA withdraw approval for bevacizumab (Avastin) to treat advanced breast cancer.
FDA: Silicone Breast Implants Appear Safe, But Need to Be Monitored
The FDA says as many as half the women who receive silicone gel-filled implants for breast reconstruction may need them removed within 10 years.
Some With Breast Cancer May Be Able to Skip Full Lymph Node Removal
Removing all of a woman's underarm lymph nodes may be unnecessary for some breast cancer patients, according to a new study.
New Drug Shows Promise Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
An experimental drug called iniparib appears to have a lot of promise against triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive type of breast cancer.
FDA Recommends Removing Breast Cancer Indication from Avastin
The US Food and Drug Administration wants to remove approval of the drug bevacizumab (Avastin) to treat breast cancer, the agency has announced. The FDA said Avastin has not been proven safe or effective for treating breast cancer.
Experts Gather to Discuss Latest Breast Cancer Research
Thousands of breast cancer physicians and researchers from around the world are heading back from the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held December 9-13.
Advanced Breast Cancers, Higher Death Rate Seen in HRT Study
New findings about the link between breast cancer and combined hormone therapy strengthen the argument that estrogen and progestin should be used only conservatively to treat symptoms of menopause.
Mammograms Reduce Breast Cancer Deaths, Studies Show
Two new studies show that regular screening mammograms do help reduce deaths from breast cancer,though the studies differ somewhat in their methods and specific findings.
Diet and Breast Cancer Risk: What’s the Connection?
Despite being an area of intense research, the role of diet in breast cancer risk remains unclear.
New finding may unlock secrets of BRCA mutations
New research could help scientists better understand just how mutations in BRCA genes raise a person’s risk of breast, ovarian, and other cancers.
FDA Advisory Panel Votes Against Avastin for Advanced Breast Cancer
An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted overwhelmingly to recommend withdrawing approval for bevacizumab (Avastin) as a treatment of advanced breast cancer.
Cancer Survivors Spread Message of Early Detection
Although there are many signs the disparity gap is narrowing, cancer continues to take a hefty toll on minority communities.
Crucial Catch Campaign Aims to Improve Access to Mammography
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) joined forces with the National Football League (NFL) on Capitol Hill today to urge Congress to improve access to breast cancer screening and treatment for all women.
Protect Yourself From Breast Cancer
If you see pink everywhere you turn this month, here's why: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when survivors, advocates, and health organizations strive to raise awareness of the progress we're making together in fighting this disease – and the things women can do to protect themselves.
New Study Finds Weight-lifting Eases Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema
A slowly progressive weight-lifting program may help some breast cancer survivors ease the symptoms of lymphedema, according to a new study from the University of Pennsylvania.
New Class of Drugs Promising for BRCA-Related Cancers
New drugs called PARP inhibitors appear to have a lot of promise against hereditary cancers caused by BRCA1 and BRCA2 cell mutations.
Lapatinib May Work Against Certain Inflammatory Breast Cancers
Women with HER2+ inflammatory breast cancer who haven't responded to other cancer treatments may benefit from lapatinib (Tykerb), according to results from a phase II study published this month in The Lancet Oncology.
Navigating Difficult Waters: The History of the Patient Navigators
In the 45 years he's practiced as a surgical oncologist at Harlem Hospital in New York – 25 as director of surgery – Harold P. Freeman, MD, has been frustrated by the high numbers of women he's seen with late stage breast cancer.
Regular Exercise Late in Life Helps Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
Exercising regularly comes with a long list of benefits. It improves your mood, strengthens your heart and lungs, and helps keep your weight in check.
Acupuncture May Help With Side Effects of Hormone Therapy, Study Finds
Acupuncture may be just as effective as an antidepressant at reducing the unpleasant side effects associated with using hormone therapy for breast cancer, according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO).
Accelerated Breast Radiation: Cheaper, Faster, and Just As Effective?
For women facing radiation therapy after surgery for breast cancer, the standard course of treatment typically involves daily radiation sessions over a period of 6 to 7 weeks.
Study Quantifies Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence
About 1 in 5 breast cancer survivors who have completed 5 years of adjuvant therapy suffer a recurrence within the 10 years after their treatment, according to a recent study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Cosmetic Results of Lumpectomy Impact Quality of Life
Women with breast cancer who undergo breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) may not have realistic expectations of what their breasts will look like after treatment, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
FDA Approves New Test to Identify Herceptin Candidates
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved another test that can help doctors determine whether a breast cancer patient is a good candidate for the drug Herceptin (trastuzumab).
Outreach Programs Help African American Breast Cancer Patients
Emory University researchers have developed a two-pronged outreach program that appears to significantly improve early-stage breast cancer detection among African American women.
Cancer Researchers Convene in Chicago for ASCO's Annual Meeting
This weekend top cancer researchers and physicians head to the Windy City for the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held May 30th through June 3rd.
Study Sees Link Between Vitamin D, Breast Cancer Prognosis
A new study suggests breast cancer patients might fare worse if they don't have enough vitamin D in their blood.
Faster Tumor Growth Rate Proof Younger Women Need Yearly Mammograms
A new study published in Breast Cancer Research lends further support to the concept of screening women for breast cancer early and often.
Is Aspirin Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Risk?
According to a new study published this week in Breast Cancer Research, daily aspirin use appears to slightly reduce the risk of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer.
FDA Grants Accelerated Approval for Avastin
Just two months after an advisory panel narrowly recommended against approving the drug Avastin (bevacizumab) for breast cancer treatment, the FDA has granted accelerated approval for use of the drug pending ongoing studies.
New Drug Option for Late-Stage Breast Cancer Patients
There's good news for advanced breast cancer patients who haven't responded to current chemotherapy drugs.
ACS Advises MRIs for Some at High Risk of Breast Cancer
Certain women with an especially high risk of developing breast cancer should get magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans along with their yearly mammogram, according to a new American Cancer Society guideline.
Lifestyle vs. Breast Cancer
Each year, we learn more about how a woman's lifestyle and health habits -- how much she weighs, the amount she exercises -- can affect her risk of developing breast cancer.
Short Course of Herceptin May Limit Heart Damage
Doctors from Finland confirm that early use of the drug Herceptin (trastuzumab) can keep breast cancer from returning in women whose tumors contain the protein HER2/neu.
Can Aspirin Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence?
Women with breast cancer who take aspirin regularly after diagnosis and treatment may have a lower risk of dying from breast cancer or seeing their breast cancer come back in distant parts of the body (known as distant recurrence), according to a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Study Confirms Radiation Boosts Breast Cancer Survival
A new analysis of dozens of breast cancer studies shows that adding radiation to breast cancer treatment doesn't just lower a woman's risk of having a relapse, it also improves survival. The findings were published in The Lancet.
Studies Find Little Cancer Benefit in Low-Fat Diet for Older Women
Three new studies from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) suggest that eating a low-fat diet doesn't have a big an impact on cancer or heart disease in women past menopause -- contrary to what many people believe and what many researchers had hoped.
Three New Studies Help Prostate and Breast Cancer Patients
To help prostate and breast cancer patients with these issues, researchers at the University of Colorado, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have joined forces with the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service to create 3 studies.