Mastectomy News and Research

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

An interactive computer program can help educate women about breast cancer risk and genetic testing

An interactive computer program can help educate women about breast cancer risk and genetic testing, and a decision board offering information on treatment options can help breast cancer patients choose between mastectomy and breast-conserving therapy, according to articles in the July 28 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

28 Jul 2004

Cognitive decline can occur before chemotherapy treatment

In a series of studies in breast cancer patients, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have confirmed the presence of “chemobrain” after chemotherapy treatment – but they also discovered that a significant portion of patients have cognitive declines even before chemotherapy.

21 Jun 2004

Magnetic resonance imaging better than traditional mammography for detecting the presence of breast cancer

Researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania today presented the first comprehensive study results which show that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is significantly better than traditional mammography for detecting the presence and extent of disease in patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer.

10 Jun 2004

Dow Corning breast implant claim checks to be mailed soon

Today is the effective date in the Dow Corning bankruptcy, finally allowing injured people's claims to be processed. The court-appointed claims administrator for the $2.35 billion fund said that thousands of letters will go out June 1st and that the first checks should be mailed June 15th.

2 Jun 2004

Breast reduction instead of removal a viable breast cancer alternative

Women at high risk of developing breast cancer may have an additional preventative alternative to having their breasts removed – breast reduction surgery, according to a study published in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

31 May 2004

Invention could help numerous lymphedema patients around the world

After Ellen Van't Hof survived a bilateral mastectomy, six months of chemotherapy and two months of radiation she thought the worst was behind her.

30 May 2004

Clinical trial of 5 day treatment for earliest form of breast cancer

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center have begun a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of an established balloon catheter radiation delivery device on the earliest form of breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ.

27 May 2004

Better understanding of radiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer

To help patients understand the importance of radiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology has published the new patient information brochure Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Patient’s Guide to Understanding Treatment.

13 May 2004

South Asian breast cancer patients may have higher rates of mastectomy compared with non-Asians

South Asian breast cancer patients living in Yorkshire may have higher rates of mastectomy compared with non-Asians because they present to their GPs too late, Cancer Research UK scientists reveal today

4 May 2004

Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who test positive for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are twice as likely as non-carriers to opt for a double mastectomy

Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who test positive for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are twice as likely as non-carriers to opt for a double mastectomy to reduce the risk of cancer in the opposite breast, according to the first large-scale study evaluating the impact of genetic counseling and testing on breast cancer treatment decisions.

5 Apr 2004

Improvements needed in breast cancer treatment

Treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a group of abnormal cells confined to the breast ducts, varies widely in the United States. Treatment ranges from potential over-treatment with aggressive surgical therapy to possible under-treatment by not providing radiation.

22 Mar 2004