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Archive for the ‘Medical’ Category

Breast Cancer Risk May Be Reduced with Bisphosphonates

Posted By on December 16th, 2011 at 9:00 am | 0 comments.

Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs now used to prevent the loss of bone mass in women with osteoporosis. Previous studies have shown that this class of drugs also appears to prevent cancer metastasis to the bones when a woman has breast cancer. A very recent study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, indicates that these drugs may also lower the risk for developing primary breast cancer.

In the IJC study, the records of almost 42,000 women in the United Kingdom were examined and when those who had been taking oral bisphosphonates to those who had not, researchers found a reduction in the former group in both breast and colorectal cancers. An abstract for the article can be found here.

Refunds for Breast Cancer Research

Posted By on December 16th, 2011 at 8:58 am | 0 comments.

CHRISTINE BAKER, The Patriot-News

The PBCC visited Dr. Craig Meyers’ lab at the Penn State College of Medicine to get a first hand glimpse at the promising research happening there. Thanks in part to an initial grant through the PBCC’s Refunds for Research program, Dr. Meyers’ team was able to discover a virus that effectively kills breast cancer cells. Refunds for Research is made possible through the generosity of Pennsylvania taxpayers who contribute their refunds for breast cancer research.

When more funding was needed to continue the study, the PBCC was able to provide Dr. Meyers with an additional research grant of $100,000. Many researchers have applied for grants for the 2012 program cycle, and those who have been selected to receive grants will be announced in the coming months. You can help fund research like Dr. Meyers’ groundbreaking study by donating all or part of your state income tax refund to the PBCC’s Refunds for Research program. Every penny contributed through the state income tax refund goes directly to fund breast and cervical cancer research happening right here in Pennsylvania.

Breast Cancer Survivors: Be Aware of Bone Health

Posted By on November 17th, 2011 at 9:00 am | 0 comments.

by Barbara Good, Ph.D.

When a woman is being treated for breast cancer, her major concern, as well as that of her care givers, must be survival. However, after treatment is completed and she is on the road to recovery, there are other health issues that should move to the top of her list. One of these is bone health. Many women, particularly those of northern European descent, are at risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures in their later lives.

The therapies that accompany breast cancer treatment put a woman at an even greater risk of developing this potentially debilitating problem, which can result in serious fracture and death. Those who have undergone certain chemotherapeutic regimens and treatment with aromatase inhibitors may be at particular risk. All women, but especially women who have been treated for breast cancer, should talk to their physicians about undergoing bone mineral density studies to measure and monitor the density of their bone structure as they get older. Medical care for osteoporosis includes treatment with bisphosphonates, calcium, Vitamin D, and other agents.

For an excellent review on bone health after cancer, visit the Journal of Cancer Research and Therapies.

Legislative Update: Senator Mensch Sponsors Bills on Breast Density Screening

Posted By on October 19th, 2011 at 9:16 am | 0 comments.

The PBCC has been working with PA State Senator Bob Mensch (Montgomery County) in his efforts to address the issue of breast density in breast cancer screening through two bills to be introduced this session. The first would require mammography facilities to provide their patients with pertinent information regarding breast density in the form of a notice.  The second bill would require insurers to cover ultrasound screening and magnetic resonance imaging if a mammogram reveals dense breast tissue. Co-sponsors are needed to support this legislation, so contact your State Senator in Harrisburg today.

PBCC President & Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy said, “This legislation is an important step in making certain that women with dense breast tissue are not overlooked when it comes to breast cancer screening. The PBCC thanks Senator Mensch for introducing this legislation and we pledge our support to making sure these bills become law here in Pennsylvania.”

To view Senator Mensch’s co-sponsorship memo, click here. The deadline has been extended until the end of October, so there is still time for Senators to sign-on as a co-sponsor. Encourage your State Senator to call Senator Mensch’s office to co-sponsor this legislation. 

Retrospective Study Results Reinforce Tamoxifen’s Reputation

Posted By on August 15th, 2011 at 8:54 am | 0 comments.

In a study that looks back at 20 randomized, controlled trials of the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, researchers in the Breast Cancer Trialists Collaborative Group report that 15 years after a diagnosis of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and 10 years after stopping the drug, women who took tamoxifen had a 1/3 lower risk of dying than those who did not take it. A lead investigator in the study stated that tamoxifen “has probably saved more lives than any other oncological drug ever.”

In addition, as has been noted in earlier studies, women who took the drug were about 40% less likely to have recurrent breast cancer. This study will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal The Lancet. More information will also be available in the Fall 2011 issue of the PBCC’s quarterly newsletter, FrontLine.

Representative Todd Stephens Hosts Fox Chase Cancer Center MammoVan

Posted By on August 15th, 2011 at 8:53 am | 0 comments.

Representative Todd Stephens and Fox Chase Cancer Center are joining forces to save lives by bringing the ‘MammoVan’ – a mobile mammography van – to Rep. Stephens’ District Office in North Wales on August 19. Women 40 and older in need of an annual mammogram can call Rep. Stephens’ office at 215-368-5165 to schedule an appointment.

Rest assured that your medical and personal information will NOT be shared with Representative Stephens’ office – calls to the office are for scheduling purposes only. Those who wish to receive a mammogram through this program must meet certain requirements which include the following:

  • Must be at least 40 years old
  • Must provide name and address of one of your doctors
  • Must have prescription from your doctor
  • Must not be breastfeeding or have breastfed within the past nine months
  • Must not have had a breast cancer diagnosis or be under treatment for breast cancer
  • Must not have had a mammogram within the past 12 months
  • Must be able to board the van on your own and stand alone for the screening
Please note that appointments are required for this important screening, so please be sure to call 215-368-5165 to schedule ASAP.

Reconstructive Surgery Update: Silicone Breast Implants Not ‘Lifetime Devices’

Posted By on July 15th, 2011 at 8:54 am | 0 comments.

According to a recent FDA report, silicone breast implants are not made to last a lifetime.  Potentially half of all women who receive them for reconstruction – and 20% of women who receive the implants for augmentation — will need the implants removed within 10 years.

The conclusion was reached after the FDA examined data from post-approval studies and from its own adverse event reporting system, in conjunction with completing a literature review. Capsular contracture, reoperation, and implant removal were found to be the most frequent adverse outcomes with silicone implants. Other common adverse events of which women should be aware include implant rupture, wrinkling, asymmetry, scarring, pain, and infection. The longer the women had implants, the more likely they were to have complications.

While it is important to note that the data is preliminary, the implants did not appear to cause breast cancer, reproductive problems, or connective tissue disease.  If you experience any of these difficulties or complications, talk with your doctor about your options.

President’s Corner – Study Affirms Mammograms Save Lives

Posted By on July 15th, 2011 at 8:50 am | 2 comments.

A recent study published in Radiology affirmed what we at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition have advocated for years – mammograms save lives. The study – which spanned 29 years and followed 130,000 women in two communities in Sweden – found that deaths from breast cancer declined 30% among the group of women who received regular screening as opposed to the group that did not.

This news supports the longstanding position of the PBCC that early detection saves lives. In 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a recommendation against routine mammograms for women in their 40s and also recommended that women in their 50s be screened every two years instead of annually. At that time, the PBCC strongly disagreed with the Task Force and instead encouraged women over 40 to continue to schedule annual mammograms.

It is our hope that this new data will encourage the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to reconsider their previous recommendation so that women aren’t receiving mixed messages on the importance of mammograms and early detection to overall prognosis and treatment.

On the FrontLine: Summer 2011

Posted By on June 20th, 2011 at 1:46 pm | 0 comments.

Check out the Summer 2011 edition of our print newsletter, FrontLine!

Chemo Brain is Real

Posted By on June 15th, 2011 at 9:00 am | 0 comments.

Written by Barbara Good, Ph.D.

For years, women in cancer support groups and those discussing their treatment with sympathetic friends or relatives have referred to a syndrome they call “chemo brain,” the somewhat amusing-sounding but all too real experience of many who undergo chemotherapy in the course of cancer treatment. At times complaints from cancer patients about forgetfulness, lack of coordination, or the inability to find certain words during speech have been looked at by some in the medical profession as a result of the stress of cancer treatment, or fatigue, or both.

A recent study at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle now lends credence to the idea that the symptoms cancer patients describe appear, in fact, to come at least in part from cancer treatment and that they may last for periods up to five years or more. The patients examined had undergone chemotherapy as part of bone marrow or stem cell transplants to treat blood cancers, but the researchers believe their findings to be applicable to breast cancer patients and to those who have undergone chemotherapy for other types of cancer. Verbal memory and motor problems lasted longer than five years in some of the patients examined, but information processing, multitasking, and executive function tasks seemed to be regained within five years.