Mastectomy News and Research

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

ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group opens clinical trial for women with newly diagnosed DCIS

In direct response to recommendations made by a National Institutes of Health scientific consensus panel, the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group announced today the opening of E4112, a clinical trial for women with newly diagnosed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast who, together with their doctors, will use the results of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam to determine whether to undergo a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.

6 Feb 2015

New drug gets FDA approval for treatment of women with advanced breast cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a potentially groundbreaking new drug to treat women with advanced breast cancer, signaling a new treatment strategy to arrest tumor growth and extend the time before the cancer worsens.

4 Feb 2015

Class-action lawsuit filed against Health Net for misrepresenting physician and hospital networks

In advance of a California legislative hearing on health care "costs" not scheduled to include testimony from consumers, consumer advocates will discuss the real financial threat patients face in a class-action lawsuit against Health Net for misrepresenting their physician and hospital networks.

4 Feb 2015

Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction does not increase complications in older women

Older women don't have an increased overall risk of complications from breast reconstruction after mastectomy, reports the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

2 Feb 2015

Cohera Medical, B. Braun sign sales and distribution agreement for TissuGlu Surgical Adhesive

Cohera Medical, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of absorbable surgical adhesives and sealants, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive sales and marketing distribution agreement with B. Braun for its TissuGlu Surgical Adhesive in Germany, Spain and Portugal.

From B. Braun Melsungen AG 21 Jan 2015

Controlling acute and chronic pain in women

Despite the variety of effective treatments, and physicians who specialize in treating pain, women often suffer unnecessarily from conditions ranging from backaches to pain after cancer surgery, and also treat their pain with medications that may be ineffective and possibly harmful, according to a review of research related to women and pain by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

20 Jan 2015

Having simultaneous chemotherapy and breast reconstruction after mastectomy may rise complications

Immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy is becoming more prevalent. However, in breast cancer patients undergoing simultaneous chemotherapy, thrombotic complications can arise that can delay or significantly modify reconstructive plans. Outcomes of cases illustrating potential complications are published in the current issue of Annals of Medicine and Surgery.

7 Dec 2014

More breast cancer patients choosing to undergo mastectomy, finds Vanderbilt study

Far more breast cancer patients are choosing to undergo mastectomy, including removal of both breasts, instead of choosing breast conservation surgery even when they have early stage disease that is confined to one breast, a Vanderbilt study shows. In the past decade, there have also been marked trends toward higher proportions of women opting for breast reconstruction.

19 Nov 2014

Generic aromatase inhibitors increase breast cancer treatment adherence by 50%

Although oral hormonal therapy is known to substantially reduce breast cancer recurrence in women with hormone receptor-positive tumors, about one-half of patients fail to take their medications as directed. A new study by Columbia University Medical Center researchers has found that the introduction of generic aromatase inhibitors (the most common type of hormone therapy), which are considerably less expensive than their brand name counterparts, increased treatment adherence by 50 percent.

28 Oct 2014

NICO, Synaptive Medical join forces to integrate innovative technologies for brain surgery

Indianapolis interventional medical device maker NICO Corporation and Toronto-based 3D visualization leader Synaptive Medical announced today at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting that they have joined forces to integrate their innovative technologies for brain surgery.

20 Oct 2014

Statistical analysis shows stage of breast cancer predicts treatment choice

Why did 43 percent of South Dakota women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer surveyed choose mastectomy rather than lumpectomy?

17 Oct 2014

Federal prescription-subsidy program improves drug adherence in breast cancer patients

A federal prescription-subsidy program for low-income women on Medicare significantly improved their adherence to hormone therapy to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer after surgery.

16 Oct 2014

AirXpanders' AeroForm expander shows superior outcomes in patients undergoing breast reconstruction

The latest interim data from XPAND, AirXpanders Inc.’s U.S.-based, head-to-head pivotal study of its new, needle-free, patient-controlled tissue expansion system for mastectomy patients undergoing breast reconstruction, continue to show superior outcomes compared to traditional saline expanders including dramatically shorter expansion times, according to updated clinical data results presented at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

15 Oct 2014

I.V. lidocaine can protect mastectomy patients against chronic pain

More than two-thirds of women who have had mastectomies struggle with persistent pain, but it doesn't have to be that way.

14 Oct 2014

HerStory app helps women with breast cancer to share their voices with other patients

As physicians spend less time with their patients, often as little as 10-15 minutes per appointment, they grow increasingly wary of the limited emotional support they can provide within that time frame.

9 Oct 2014

Decision analysis techniques can help women sort through breast reconstruction options

Decision analysis techniques can help surgeons and patients evaluate alternatives for breast reconstruction-leading to a "good decision" that reflects the woman's preferences and values, according to an article in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

29 Sep 2014

Genetic testing for breast cancer doubled due to 'Angelina Jolie effect'

In May 2013 Angelina Jolie, who was then Hollywood's highest-paid actress, underwent a double mastectomy after testing positive for a BRCA1 gene mutation that significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer. A recent study, published by Breast Cancer Research has found that, public knowledge of her decision doubled NHS referrals for genetic testing for breast cancer risk.

19 Sep 2014

UT Southwestern offers new, innovative four-flap breast reconstruction after mastectomy

UT Southwestern Medical Center is one of only two places in the world that offers a new, innovative and highly successful approach to breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.

16 Sep 2014

African American women are 55% less likely to receive breast reconstruction after mastectomy

Dartmouth researchers have found that African American women are 55 percent less likely to receive breast reconstruction after mastectomy regardless of where they received their care.

10 Sep 2014

Research roundup: Doctors' training; expanding FEHBP; the ACA and part-time work

Growing concern about rising costs and potential harms of medical care has stimulated interest in assessing physicians' ability to minimize the provision of unnecessary care. Objective: To assess whether graduates of residency programs characterized by low-intensity practice patterns are more capable of managing patients' care conservatively ...

8 Sep 2014