Mastectomy News and Research

Wireless 'bio-patch' could aid recovery after breast reconstruction surgery

Patient studies of a new sensing device have proved it can provide early warning of the potential failure of breast reconstruction surgery, making it easier to take effective remedial action.

Radiation therapy can lower risk of breast cancer recurrence in patients with ‘good risk’ DCIS

A subset of patients with low-risk breast cancer is highly unlikely to see cancer return following breast conservation surgery but can lower that risk even further with radiation therapy, finds a new long-term clinical trial report.

Study: Mastectomy does not completely eliminate need for future breast imaging

The proportion of breast cancer patients who are eligible for breast conservation therapy, yet opt for mastectomy, is increasing, for reasons that include the desire to eliminate future screening and/or biopsy of the remaining breast tissue.

MTF Biologics introduces Flexhd Pliable PRE for pre-pectoral breast reconstruction

MTF Biologics is expanding its portfolio of innovations for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction with the launch of an acellular dermal matrix designed specifically for pre-pectoral breast reconstruction procedures: FlexHD Pliable PRE.

Common painkiller not effective in controlling chronic pain after traumatic nerve injury

A new study out today in the Journal of Neurology finds that pregabalin is not effective in controlling the chronic pain that sometimes develops following traumatic nerve injury.

New clinical trial evaluates aesthetic results of conservative surgery in breast cancer

Belén Merck Navarro, Medicine professor at Valencia and Castellón's CEU UCH university is the only Spaniard among the 17 surgeons from 11 different countries that specialize in breast cancer who took part in a clinical trial on the usefulness of 3D images to evaluate the aesthetic results of conservative surgery in breast cancer

Twice-a-year MRI more effective than mammograms for women with genetic breast cancer risk

Getting magnetic resonance imaging scans twice a year instead of one annual mammogram is far more effective at detecting early breast cancers in young women with a high-risk genetic profile than mammograms alone, according to a research team based at the University of Chicago Medicine and the University of Washington, Seattle.

Breast cancer cases among men who were at ground zero on 9/11

The after effects of the terror attacks on 11th September 2001 in the United States are still appearing. Around 15 men who were present near the Ground Zero on the fateful day have been diagnosed with rare forms of male breast cancer. Male breast cancer makes up for less than 1 percent of all breast cancers. 

This new data emerges from a client list of a law firm that is specially looking into health cases of those in and around the region on 9/11. There could be many more men who are outside of this data base say experts. Two of the men – Jeff Flynn (65 years old) and John Mormando (51 years old) who were near the zone were initially diagnosed with the cancer and are being treated for it. Both men say that there is no history of breast cancers in their family and they were exposed to toxins on the day.

Flynn was an account manager for a data-storage company Dell EMC and was assigned to Goldman Sachs on Maiden Lane on the fateful day. He was around the region for months after the attack helping Goldman and other financial services firms to set up again.

After a decade, in 2011, he first noticed an abnormality in one of his nipples and was then diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer for which he underwent extensive operations. Soon the cancer returned as a stage 4 cancer. He was awarded compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund that helped him pay for his treatment. Mormando was a commodities broker working at the Mercantile Exchange until 2007. He is a triathlete now. Last year he noticed a lump on his chest and was diagnosed with the breast cancer.

Leon Silverstein (89 years old), an Army veteran, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to be operated upon. As a result of the cancer both his breasts had to be removed in a double mastectomy. He used to live near Battery Park near the Ground Zero for 30 years.

Experts believe that apart from those killed during the attacks more people are emerging with long term after effects of the attack. There are over ten thousand individuals who were members of the first responders’ teams for rescue operations or were near the region when the attack took place.

These people have been diagnosed with various forms of cancers due to exposure to the toxins. Over 2000 individuals have ailments that can be attributed to the toxins on that day. The Chief of the fire Department of New York, for example, who was leading the first responder efforts died this June from cancer.

For nursing home patients, breast cancer surgery may do more harm than good

Surgery is a mainstay of breast cancer treatment, offering most women a good chance of cure.

Christiana Care Health System successfully reduces opioid prescriptions

Before surgeon Emily Penman, M.D., begins a mastectomy or lumpectomy, her lightly sedated patient receives a nerve block, an injection of medicine to control pain after surgery.

Lumpectomy plus radiation associated with reduced risk of breast cancer death, study finds

Lumpectomy plus radiation was associated with a small clinical benefit in reduced risk of breast cancer death compared with lumpectomy or mastectomy alone in women with ductal carcinoma in situ, a noninvasive early form of breast cancer.

Study shows spillover effect of evidence-based opioid prescribing for major procedures

To curb the use of opioids after major elective operations and prevent these pain relievers from falling into the wrong hands, surgeons at the University of Michigan developed prescribing recommendations based on published medical evidence for one operation, gall bladder removal, and then discovered a spillover effect that led them to prescribe roughly 10,000 fewer pills for other major operations, according to study results appearing as an "article in press" on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print.

Researchers shed light on risks presented by residual disease for younger breast cancer patients

A new study from the Stanford Cancer Institute finds that young women who are treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer but have residual tumor in either the breast or lymph nodes have higher chances of recurrence compared to those with no evidence of any residual invasive tumor (pathologic complete response).

Study finds wide variations in follow-up imaging for women with non-metastatic breast cancer

Follow-up imaging for women with non-metastatic breast cancer varies widely across the country, according to a new study led by researchers at UC San Francisco.

Managing multiple ipsilateral breast cancer with potential new surgical options

A new multi-institutional clinical trial compared outcomes of women with multiple ipsilateral breast cancer, or more than one site of disease in the same breast, who underwent breast-conserving surgery, with outcomes of those who converted to mastectomy.

Researchers examine complications across different types of breast reconstructive surgeries

In a new study of breast cancer patients who had breast reconstruction, researchers examine complications across the different types of surgeries.

Researchers evaluate patient satisfaction and well-being after breast reconstruction

More than 60 percent of women who undergo a mastectomy to treat breast cancer choose breast reconstruction, and the demand for that surgery is rising. However, due to the previous lack of evidence-based, patient-centered data available about post-breast reconstruction, most patients aren't properly informed about satisfaction and quality-of-life measures over time.

Study: Breast cancer survivors do not receive recommended level of screening after surgery

Breast cancer survivors are not getting the recommended level of screening, post-surgery, according to a newly-published study in JNCCN – Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Scientists collate evidence for mismatch between past evolutionary adaptation and modern lives

The transition to modernity - largely driven by the Industrial Revolution - provided us with easier access to food and clean water, with antibiotics, vaccines, and modern medicine.

Breast cancers more likely to spread after surgery finds study

Breast cancer patients are more likely to experience a return and spread of their cancer within 18 months after a mastectomy or removal of the breast tumour along with healthy breast tissues. The reason for this or this association has been hitherto unexplained. According to a new study from MIT and the Whitehead Institute, the process of healing of the surgical scar after surgery is the cause for spread of the cancer.