Mastectomy News and Research

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Mastectomy is surgery to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible).

Breast MRI may have a role in evaluation of newly diagnosed breast cancers

Among women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast appears helpful in determining surgical treatment, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 May 2007

Preoperative chemotherapy reduces chemo-related infections

Giving chemotherapy to women with operable breast cancer before they have surgery 'not after' helps physicians pin down the best treatment regimen and can reduce the extent of surgery, according to a new systematic review.

11 May 2007

Preoperative chemotherapy is safe for women with early stage operable breast cancer

Chemotherapy is frequently given to women with breast cancer after surgery to remove the main bulk of the tumour.

19 Apr 2007

Physicians may be obstacles to breast reconstruction

Significant differences in plastic surgery referral practices by general surgeons treating newly diagnosed breast cancer patients partially explain the low rates of breast reconstructive surgery in the United States, according to a new study.

3 Apr 2007

Few surgeons routinely refer breast cancer patients for reconstruction

Forty-four percent of surgeons do not refer the majority of their breast cancer patients to a plastic surgeon prior to the initial surgery when the woman is choosing her treatment course, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

2 Apr 2007

MRI evaluation of the contralateral breast in women recently diagnosed with breast cancer

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of women who were diagnosed with cancer in one breast detected over 90 percent of cancers in the other breast that were missed by mammography and clinical breast exam at initial diagnosis, according to a new study.

28 Mar 2007

MRI improves breast cancer diagnosis

Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast have a higher risk of contracting the disease in their opposite breast as well. A thorough examination of the opposite breast using mammography and ultrasound is therefore common practice. However, many tumours still remain undetected when using mammography.

28 Mar 2007

Woman awarded millions in Prempro HRT breast cancer trial

A woman in the United States has been awarded damages to the tune of $3 million after taking drug manufacturer Wyeth to court over it's postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy Prempro.

21 Feb 2007

Survey finds perceived risk of recurrence is low in African American breast cancer survivors

A unique survey of African American breast cancer survivors at heightened risk for hereditary breast cancer has found the majority do not believe they have an increased chance of developing the cancer again.

15 Feb 2007

DNA methylation and breast cancer

A new study using mastectomy tissue shows that precancerous changes can occur in normal-appearing areas of the breast as distant as two inches from a tumor's edge.

10 Jan 2007

FDA expands use of Herceptin

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved use of Herceptin, a biological cancer drug. The new indication is for Herceptin, in combination with other cancer drugs, for the treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer after surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy).

19 Nov 2006

Sens. Feinstein, Snowe ask FDA for safety review of silicone breast implant manufacturer's product application

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (D-Maine) on Friday sent a joint letter to acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach asking the agency to launch a full review into whether Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Mentor intentionally withheld safety data on its silicone breast implant application, CQ HealthBeat reports (CQ HealthBeat, 10/23).

24 Oct 2006

Race is associated with unfavorable breast cancer tumor biology

African-American women with breast cancer were more likely to have larger, later-stage tumors that were more difficult to treat and also had lower survival rates than Hispanic and Caucasian women who received the same treatment in two independent series of clinical trials examined by researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

23 Oct 2006

Psychiatrist in the UK up on 10 charges regarding sex change patients

A psychiatrist in Britain well known for dealing with issues of gender has been brought before the General Medical Council (GMC) on 10 charges of serious professional misconduct with regard to his treatment of patients.

19 Oct 2006

Benefits of breast cancer screening questionable

Danish researchers are claiming that the benefits of breast cancer screening are questionable and that mammograms can lead to women being given unnecessary and harmful treatment.

18 Oct 2006

Advocacy group asks FDA to launch criminal investigation of allegedly withheld data on silicone breast implant application

The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen on Thursday sent a letter to acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach asking the agency to conduct a criminal investigation into whether Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Mentor intentionally withheld safety data on its silicone breast implant application, the Washington Post reports.

16 Oct 2006