Breast Cancer
Avastin Approval for Breast Cancer Withdrawn
The FDA has changed its mind about treating breast cancer with Avastin. This anti-angiogenesis drug was hailed as a breakthrough against colon cancer when it was approved in 2004. THe drug works by bl…
Malaria Drug May Fight Metastatic Breast Cancer
Preliminary research suggests that a very old drug might help women with metastatic breast cancer. Chloroquine has been used since 1947 to prevent or treat malaria. Scientists became intrigued with it…
Moderate Drinking Raises Risk of Breast Cancer
Many studies of risk factors for breast cancer include alcohol consumption, but details on the level of danger have been fuzzy. Now the Nurses' Health Study offers a more fine-grained assessment: even…
Mammogram Recommendations Changing
Mammograms are considered the gold standard for early detection of breast cancer. They have been controversial, however. Recommendations to change the age of routine mammography from 40 to 50 were met…
BPA and Breast Cancer?
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is widely used in manufacturing plastic containers, the lining of cans, and some cash register receipts. This chemical acts as a endocrine disruptor, mimicking estrogen in the bod…
Walnuts Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer
Walnuts may be as good for the breast as they are for the heart. Researchers have known for nearly two decades that walnuts have cardiovascular benefits. For one thing, regular consumption lowers bad …
Breast Cancer Prevention
A medication that keeps breast cancer from returning also seems to prevent it in the first place. Aromasin is a powerful anti-estrogen compound. It works by blocking an enzyme called aromatase used by…
Tamoxifen Benefits Heart and Breast
There are new insights about the benefits of the breast cancer drug tamoxifen. This medication has been available for 30 years and works by blocking the action of estrogen in breast tissue. Starting i…
Hot Flashes Herald Lower Risk
Women suffering from hot flashes during menopause can comfort themselves that such symptoms may be good for their overall health. Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle conducted a…
Breast Implant Risk
The FDA is concerned that women who have gotten breast implants may be at increased risk of a very rare cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Earlier reports had raised suspicion about implant…
Vitamin D and Breast Cancer
There is growing evidence that low levels of vitamin D are linked to a number of cancers. New research presented at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research shows that women who were …
Alcohol Boosts Risk of Breast Cancer
Researchers have long suspected that regular alcohol consumption increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. Now a seven-year study of nearly 2,000 women who had been treated for early-stage…
Mediterranean Diet May Protect Breast
Following a Mediterranean-type diet might help women cut their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Researchers in Greece recruited almost 15,000 women and asked them about their eating habits. The w…
Do Household Cleaners Have a Downside?
A controversial new study suggests a link between household cleaning products and the risk of breast cancer. This study matched breast cancer patients with healthy controls and asked both groups of wo…
Does Fish Oil Fight Breast Cancer?
Fish oil appears to have substantial cardiovascular benefits. Now a large observational study of 35,000 women over six years suggests that those who take fish oil supplements had a lower risk of breas…
Ketorolac Protects against Breast Cancer Recurre…
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as NSAIDs have been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing a number of malignancies, in particular, colo-rectal cancer. Now a new study from Belgium s…
Can Blueberries Prevent Breast Cancer?
Blueberries are superstars of the supermarket when it comes to antioxidant potential. Both animal and human research suggests that blueberries may be helpful in preserving memory as we age. Now a smal…
Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer
Two breast cancer drugs have been tested head-to-head in high risk women. Both drugs reduced the risk of developing breast cancer, but tamoxifen was somewhat more effective than Evista. More than 19,0…
Alcohol Increases Risk of Breast Cancer
The question of whether diet can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer has been somewhat controversial. A new analysis of 18 studies that includes more than 400,000 people shows that one dietary…
Pomegranates to Help Fight Breast Cancer
Pomegranates have received a lot of attention lately because of their anti-oxidant power. Studies have shown that pomegranate can keep LDL cholesterol from oxidizing which reduces the risk of plaque b…
Alcohol Boosts Risk from Breast Cancer
Women who have breast cancer should probably avoid alcohol. Data reported at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showed that women who consume at least three drinks a week are 50 percent more like…
Eating Soy Boosts Breast Cancer Survival
Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are often advised to avoid exposure to estrogen. That includes prescription drugs such as Premarin or Prempro as well as bio-identical hormones. Researchers …
Curry Spice and Pepper Fight Breast Cancer Cells
Compounds in spices may have anti-cancer potential. A cell-culture study conducted at the University of Michigan found that curcumin from the yellow spice turmeric along with piperine from black peppe…
More Trouble with Mammograms
Recent changes in the guidelines for screening mammograms have been controversial. Millions of women reacted angrily to the idea that they might wait until age 50 for their first mammogram. And older …
Women Shocked by New Mammogram Guidelines
Millions of women were shocked and confused by new mammogram guidelines. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggested that routine mammograms should begin when a woman is 50 rather than 40. The p…
Breast Cancer Links to Diet
Scientists have been striving to link diet to breast cancer risk for years. Finally a large epidemiological study in Europe has come up with a few foods to avoid. More than 350,000 women in 10 countri…
Social Isolation Increases Breast Cancer Risk
Researchers have long maintained that social support can make a difference in the outcome of breast cancer. Others have doubted whether studies of this effect were sufficiently rigorous. Now scientist…
Breastfeeding Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer
Breastfeeding is usually encouraged because of the health benefits for the baby. According to a new study, some mothers may get significant benefits as well. Data from the second Nurses' Health Study …
New Treatment for BRCA-Related Cancer
Researchers report that a brand new type of cancer medicine may be able to help patients who have not responded to conventional therapies. A small preliminary trial of a medicine called OLA-PARIB foun…
The Secret Behind the Breast Cancer Decline
One of the most controversial drug issues of the last several decades has been the safety of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For years, many physicians encouraged women to take drugs like Premarin,…