Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tweet
Day in Health
by Lisa Collier Cool
Recent Posts
A New Test to Predict Heart Attacks Can chilly weather really cause a cold? Amazing Facts About Laughter Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs for 2014 More Articles
Related Topics
Breast Lump Cancer Chemotherapy
More women than ever before are winning the fight against breast cancer, thanks to dramatic improvements in early detection and treatment. And for the most part, long-term survivors enjoy an equally good quality of life as women who have never had the disease, according to a new study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology. One of the most important advances is the ability to tailor treatment based on the risks and benefits for that specific patient, leading to better outcomes and fewer side effects, says Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, director of the breast oncology program at the Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic. Photo Gallery: Stunning Global Tributes to Breast Cancer Awareness We used to consider all breast cancer the same, but now we know its actually at least 10 different diseases, each with its own genetic signature and weak spots, adds Dr. Abraham. That groundbreaking discovery has spurred development of highly targeted drugs for certain breast cancer subtypes and has helped patients avoid ineffective treatments. Heres a look at breakthroughs that are transforming breast cancer care, including new ways to prevent the disease, which strikes one in eight women over a lifetime.
3-D Mammograms
After suspicious mammogram results, many women have the scary experience of additional tests, some of which could be unnecessary. A new study published in Lancet Oncology found that adding 3D digital breast tomosynthesis to standard 2D breast X-rays could reduce stress-inducing false alarms (results that look like cancer, but arent) by 17 percent, without missing any actual cancers. The study included 7,292 women who were screened with both methods to see
which one worked best. The FDA-approved 3-D technique, available at about 300 US centers, was hailed as one of the top 10 medical innovations for 2013 by the Cleveland Clinic.
prevent breast cancer in mice that are genetically predisposed to the disease. The center plans to test the vaccine in humans, with clinical trials expected to begin in 2015. The first clinical trial will include women with the highly agressive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have recovered from standard treatment. A second trial will include healthy women who have undergone mastectomies to lower breast cancer risk, as Angelina Jolie recently did.