Snippets of Research


I don't know if there is more research going on, or if the reporters are just getting more savvy in their coverage, but I've seen lots more articles published about potentially helpful strategies/drugs in the breast cancer arena.

Here's a brief overiew of the last few months:

CAD (computer-aided detection) has the potential to allow breast imaging specialists to pick up 71% of the tumors missed. THAT is a significant number. The study was conducted in Rochester, NY at the Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic and was published in Radiologic Society of North America in July, 2004. We know that the computer can't replace the trained radiologist, but it can help the physician to re-evaluate.

ACS (American Cancer Society) urges all healthcare teams to provide their women patients over age 40 with an annual reminder to have their mammogram. The logic behind this marketing campaign is that our dentists send out reminders and even birthday greetings; our OB-GYNs send reminders for our annual PAP smear and even my oncologist reminds me it's time for my annual bone density test. Why not get a friendly reminder about a mammogram?

Death rates in other countries due to breast cancer have dropped, based, they feel, in part to annual mammographic screeing. In the USA, one in three American women over the age of 40 have not had a mammogram during the last two years.

It's still the best tool out there, so be brave - get squished for a good cause - your health and life. Spread the word - get all your friends and relatives to go also. It's a great investment in your future.

SNB (Sentinel Node Biopsy) is now considered a reliable method of staging early invasive breast cancer. This is great news! As someone who has undergone axillary node dissecTION (AND) and SNB, I can tell you personally that SNB is a lot easier, less muss, less fuss, less recuperation and a much better looking underarm when it's all done. Although there are no completed studies about SNB vs. AND and lymphedema, I feel that all surgeries which are less invasive give you a better chance of not developing lymphedema, or at least puts you at less risk. This is just my personal, biased, non-medical opinion. The study was published in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology, July, 2004.

Immediate Reconstruction - Does It Delay Adjuvant Chemotherapy? According to European Journal of Surgical Oncology, July, 2004, the answer is NO.

The copyright of the article Snippets of Research in Breast Cancer Research is owned by Linda Bily. Permission to republish Snippets of Research in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic