Today's only breast cancer news story addressed depression and survival rates for metastatic patients.
Changes in depression associated with differences in breast cancer survival
Today, Internal Medicine News ran a interesting story and video about depression and survival rates for women with metastatic breast cancer. According to the Stanford study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients who experienced a decrease in depression over a one year time period lived a median of 2 years longer than patients who experienced an increase in depression. Change in depression levels over the first year had a "significant effect" on survival out to 14 years later.
In the study, some patients received "supportive-expressive group therapy." Others received educational materials. The type of treatment received was not associated with differing survival rates - only whether the depression increased or decreased.
Although further research is needed to confirm the findings and causation cannot be assumed, Dr. David Spiegel, one of the study authors, recommends that cancer patients be screened and treated for depression. According to an Internal Medicine News quote from Dr. Spiegel, it is "reasonable to raise the possibility that treating depression . . . may not only help people live better, but may help them live longer."
Please check back tomorrow for the LATESTBreastCancer.com weekly research wrap-up.
Showing posts with label breast cancer treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breast cancer treatment. Show all posts
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Breast Cancer News Update: May 19
The beauty of the LATESTBreastCancer.com website is that subscribers are able to filter information to see only the treatment options, news and research relevant to them. Our news blog is different. Here, we summarize the day's news all in one place. Not everything is relevant to everyone. So, we're going to start adding headings to help our readers scan for the information that interests them most.
Yoga benefits those receiving radiation
For patients undergoing radiation therapy, a new study from MD Anderson confirmed the benefits of yoga. According to a story in Medical News Today, patients who were exposed to yoga rather than simple stretching experienced better physical functioning, better general health, lower stress hormone levels and were "better able to find meaning in their cancer experience."
Some HER2 positive patients may be able to avoid chemotherapy
According to a study from Baylor College of Medicine, some patients with HER2 positive breast cancer may be able to avoid neoadjuvant chemotherapy if treated with a combination of Tykerb (lapatinib) and Herceptin (trastuzumab). Women in the study were given the Tykerb/Herceptin combination once a week. After 12 weeks, 38% of the estrogen-receptor (ER) negative tumors and 21% of the ER positive tumors were completely eradicated. Another 34% of the ER positive tumors were reduced to "only small amounts of tumor left after treatment." A future study will compare 12 to 24 weeks of treatment to determine the optimal duration.
News for metastatic patients: Nexavar and Circulating Tumor Cell testing
For metastatic patients and locally advanced breast cancer patients who have been previously treated with Avastin, results from a mid-stage trial show that Nexavar (sorafenib) delayed tumor progression longer than chemotherapy alone.
Also for metastatic patients, a Georgetown study found that circulating tumor cell (CTC) counts were a "powerful predictor" of patient response to treatment. Favorable CTC blood test results may reduce the number of more expensive and more invasive imaging procedures. Last week a French study found CTC levels to have strong prognostic value. Today, the French study can be found under the news tab of our circulating tumor cell analysis page. Tomorrow, after our website is synchronized tonight, both studies will be there.
Smoking increases breast cancer risk; Alcohol not associated with risk
US News & World Report and Internal Medicine News covered a new study which found that smoking increases breast cancer risk for women already at high-risk for breast cancer. The more years one smoked, the greater the risk. In the same study, alcohol use was not associated with a higher risk.
We hope that the new headings have enhanced our daily update. We welcome any and all feedback.
Yoga benefits those receiving radiation
For patients undergoing radiation therapy, a new study from MD Anderson confirmed the benefits of yoga. According to a story in Medical News Today, patients who were exposed to yoga rather than simple stretching experienced better physical functioning, better general health, lower stress hormone levels and were "better able to find meaning in their cancer experience."
Some HER2 positive patients may be able to avoid chemotherapy
According to a study from Baylor College of Medicine, some patients with HER2 positive breast cancer may be able to avoid neoadjuvant chemotherapy if treated with a combination of Tykerb (lapatinib) and Herceptin (trastuzumab). Women in the study were given the Tykerb/Herceptin combination once a week. After 12 weeks, 38% of the estrogen-receptor (ER) negative tumors and 21% of the ER positive tumors were completely eradicated. Another 34% of the ER positive tumors were reduced to "only small amounts of tumor left after treatment." A future study will compare 12 to 24 weeks of treatment to determine the optimal duration.
News for metastatic patients: Nexavar and Circulating Tumor Cell testing
For metastatic patients and locally advanced breast cancer patients who have been previously treated with Avastin, results from a mid-stage trial show that Nexavar (sorafenib) delayed tumor progression longer than chemotherapy alone.
Also for metastatic patients, a Georgetown study found that circulating tumor cell (CTC) counts were a "powerful predictor" of patient response to treatment. Favorable CTC blood test results may reduce the number of more expensive and more invasive imaging procedures. Last week a French study found CTC levels to have strong prognostic value. Today, the French study can be found under the news tab of our circulating tumor cell analysis page. Tomorrow, after our website is synchronized tonight, both studies will be there.
Smoking increases breast cancer risk; Alcohol not associated with risk
US News & World Report and Internal Medicine News covered a new study which found that smoking increases breast cancer risk for women already at high-risk for breast cancer. The more years one smoked, the greater the risk. In the same study, alcohol use was not associated with a higher risk.
We hope that the new headings have enhanced our daily update. We welcome any and all feedback.
Friday, May 13, 2011
The Breast Cancer News Daily: May 13
It's Friday. Today, we'll highlight some of the medical journal research we added to the LATESTBreastCancer.com database this week. Topics include prevention, radiation, metastatic treatment and music therapy.
For those concerned with breast cancer prevention, a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology weighed the risks and benefits of tamoxifen and raloxifene (brand name Evista) for women over 50. The American researchers created an index to "complement clinical evaluation" of whether to start chemoprevention and the risks and benefits of tamoxifen and raloxifene.
There's been some concern about axillary failure (recurrence) after MammoSite accelerated partial breast irradiation, which does not treat the axillary region. A study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology concluded that the rate of axillary failure after "MammoSite APBI is low and appears to be similar to that achieved with whole-breast irradiation."
For HER2 positive metastatic patients, a study in the Annals of Oncology found that prior exposure to trastuzumab-DMI "does not exhaust the potential benefit of ongoing anti-HER2 therapy with trastuzumab and/or lapatinib-based regimens."
Finally, a study in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment examined the effects of music therapy on post-matectomy pain. The Chinese researchers found "some evidence" that music therapy had both short and long-term positive effects on alleviating pain.
On Sunday, we'll highlight the weekend breast cancer news. Please stay tuned.
For those concerned with breast cancer prevention, a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology weighed the risks and benefits of tamoxifen and raloxifene (brand name Evista) for women over 50. The American researchers created an index to "complement clinical evaluation" of whether to start chemoprevention and the risks and benefits of tamoxifen and raloxifene.
There's been some concern about axillary failure (recurrence) after MammoSite accelerated partial breast irradiation, which does not treat the axillary region. A study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology concluded that the rate of axillary failure after "MammoSite APBI is low and appears to be similar to that achieved with whole-breast irradiation."
For HER2 positive metastatic patients, a study in the Annals of Oncology found that prior exposure to trastuzumab-DMI "does not exhaust the potential benefit of ongoing anti-HER2 therapy with trastuzumab and/or lapatinib-based regimens."
Finally, a study in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment examined the effects of music therapy on post-matectomy pain. The Chinese researchers found "some evidence" that music therapy had both short and long-term positive effects on alleviating pain.
On Sunday, we'll highlight the weekend breast cancer news. Please stay tuned.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Breast Cancer News Daily Update: May 5
Today's breast cancer news addressed the long term cognitive effects of breast cancer treatment and long term benefits of meditation and yoga.
First, The New York Times covered a study which found that the foggy thinking known as "chemo brain" may last five or more years after treatment. Although the patients in the study were treated for blood cancers, the researchers said their findings were "likely to apply to breast cancer patients" and others undergoing chemotherapy.
Cure Today shared results from a study which showed that meditation and yoga had a positive impact on quality of life and stress levels years after cancer diagnosis. More about meditation, yoga and other complementary therapies, such as aromatherapy, art therapy and hypnosis, can be found on the LATESTBreastCancer Mind-Body Connection menu.
Celecoxib, brand name Celebrex, was in the news today as a potential new breast cancer treatment. Dutch researchers recently reported their findings that the anti-inflammatory induced a molecular anti-tumor response in patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery. This was a short, preliminary study. For now researchers "can only speculate" that longer treatment would result in "measurable tumor shrinkage as well."
From the biology labs, researchers in Spain published a paper describing how BRCA1 gene mutations influence progesterone receptors and progesterone gene expression. The connection may explain how BRCA1 mutations lead to the development of breast cancer. According to the story published in Medical News Today, understanding how BRCA1 genes act may lead to improvements in breast cancer treatment and prevention.
Also in biology, Canadian researchers discovered a protein that inhibits the spread of cancer cells. The discovery could lead to therapies for preventing or limiting breast cancer metastasis.
Please check back tomorrow for more breast cancer news and for highlights from this week's research publications. At LATESTBreastCancer.com, our goal is to keep you posted.
First, The New York Times covered a study which found that the foggy thinking known as "chemo brain" may last five or more years after treatment. Although the patients in the study were treated for blood cancers, the researchers said their findings were "likely to apply to breast cancer patients" and others undergoing chemotherapy.
Cure Today shared results from a study which showed that meditation and yoga had a positive impact on quality of life and stress levels years after cancer diagnosis. More about meditation, yoga and other complementary therapies, such as aromatherapy, art therapy and hypnosis, can be found on the LATESTBreastCancer Mind-Body Connection menu.
Celecoxib, brand name Celebrex, was in the news today as a potential new breast cancer treatment. Dutch researchers recently reported their findings that the anti-inflammatory induced a molecular anti-tumor response in patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery. This was a short, preliminary study. For now researchers "can only speculate" that longer treatment would result in "measurable tumor shrinkage as well."
From the biology labs, researchers in Spain published a paper describing how BRCA1 gene mutations influence progesterone receptors and progesterone gene expression. The connection may explain how BRCA1 mutations lead to the development of breast cancer. According to the story published in Medical News Today, understanding how BRCA1 genes act may lead to improvements in breast cancer treatment and prevention.
Also in biology, Canadian researchers discovered a protein that inhibits the spread of cancer cells. The discovery could lead to therapies for preventing or limiting breast cancer metastasis.
Please check back tomorrow for more breast cancer news and for highlights from this week's research publications. At LATESTBreastCancer.com, our goal is to keep you posted.
Monday, May 2, 2011
April Breast Cancer News for Patients
Last week, LatestBreastCancer.com highlighted April news for women who completed breast cancer treatment. Today, we'll look at recent breast cancer news for current patients.
Let's start with breast cancer drugs. For those taking aromatase inhibitors, Bloomberg Business Week ran a story about the launch of a generic version of Femara (letrozole). There's been a lot of activity on our Halaven (eribulin) news page. In March, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) added Halaven to its guidelines as a preferred single agent option for metastatic disease. In April, Halaven made its international debut in the UK, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
Breast cancer side effects are always a concern. For those considering a double mastectomy, US News and World Report covered a story about patient satisfaction twenty years later. For women who have breast cancer while pregnant, The Huffington Post addressed the safety of diagnostic mammography, surgery and chemotherapy during pregnancy.
I really like news about taking care of yourself while receiving breast cancer treatment. This month, The Los Angeles Times provided beauty tips for women undergoing chemotherapy. The story can be found on our Adriamycin (doxorubicin) news page. Also, FOX News revealed the four types of exercise that help patients most.
I look forward to continuing to cover news for breast cancer patients. As always, I welcome feedback about topics that interest you most. I'll keep you posted.
Let's start with breast cancer drugs. For those taking aromatase inhibitors, Bloomberg Business Week ran a story about the launch of a generic version of Femara (letrozole). There's been a lot of activity on our Halaven (eribulin) news page. In March, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) added Halaven to its guidelines as a preferred single agent option for metastatic disease. In April, Halaven made its international debut in the UK, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
Breast cancer side effects are always a concern. For those considering a double mastectomy, US News and World Report covered a story about patient satisfaction twenty years later. For women who have breast cancer while pregnant, The Huffington Post addressed the safety of diagnostic mammography, surgery and chemotherapy during pregnancy.
I really like news about taking care of yourself while receiving breast cancer treatment. This month, The Los Angeles Times provided beauty tips for women undergoing chemotherapy. The story can be found on our Adriamycin (doxorubicin) news page. Also, FOX News revealed the four types of exercise that help patients most.
I look forward to continuing to cover news for breast cancer patients. As always, I welcome feedback about topics that interest you most. I'll keep you posted.
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