The Breast Cancer News Update: July 6

Today in breast cancer news, we'll look at a successful study of Afinitor (everolimus) for advanced cancer. We'll also look at recent developments in breast cancer complementary therapies, including vitamin D, acupuncture and tumeric (curcumin).

Positive phase III study results for Afinitor (everolimus)

In a phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study known as BOLERO-2, Afinitor (everolimus) plus Aromasin (exemestane) significantly extended progression-free survival for post-menopausal women with estrogen-receptor positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer when compared to placebo plus Aromasin. The study was halted when its goals were reached ahead of schedule. According to a statement from Novartis published in Reuters, the results suggest that the Afinitor/Aromasin combination "has the potential to extend the time until chemotherapy is needed for these patients." The results will be presented at a future medical conference. Regulatory submissions are planned by the end of 2011. Marketing approval is possible in early 2012. For more details, please see the link to the RTT News story on the Afinitor page of our site.

Vitamin D for aromatase inhibitor induced bone loss

Looking at the vitamin D page of our website, most studies this year involve breast cancer risk or prognosis. The June 21 Breast Cancer Research and Treatment study is different. As explained in a July 5 Internal Medicine News story, which can be found under the vitamin D page News tab, aromatase inhibitor induced bone loss was "significantly slowed with increasing supplements of vitamin D." "The magnitude of bone-loss prevention correlated with incremental increases" in serum vitamin D concentrations. According to the Internal Medicine News story,

The findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation at doses higher than standard of 400 to 800 IU/day might be useful to minimize bone loss in women starting out on aromatase inhibitors and who are not eligible for bisphosphonate therapy according to current guidelines.

Acupuncture for breast cancer fatigue

Looking at the acupuncture page of our website, acupuncture has been studied for breast cancer related joint pain, hot flashes and lymphedema. According to the latest study, published on June 25 in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture may also be useful to treat breast cancer fatigue. Although it was a small study due to recruitment problems, education on exercise and nutrition plus acupuncture seemed to reduce fatigue. Researchers concluded that the "very promising effect" warrants larger studies to confirm the findings.

Another tumeric (curcumin) study on cancer cells

Breast cancer patients are often interested in tumeric (curcumin) as a complementary therapy. Unfortunately, as our curcumin page shows, there haven't been any significant studies in humans. (There was one promising phase I French study in January 2010.) However, several studies on breast cancer cells have demonstrated anti-cancer activity. Curcumin has been tested as a chemosensitiser or radiotherapy sensitiser to make chemotherapy and radition more effective. The latest study from Germany, dated June 26, demonstrated curcumin's effect on cell growth and survival factors. We'll continue to follow developments in curcumin research and hope to see advanced trials in humans someday soon.

Please check back tomorrow for more breast cancer news and research updates. Until then, all breast cancer news and research for any test or treatment option, including complementary therapies, may be found on our LATESTBreastCancer.com website anytime. We update content daily.

The Breast Cancer News Update: July 5

Today in breast cancer news, there are studies about the long-term impact of BRCA1/2 testing, surgery for metastatic cancer and personalized screening mammogram guidelines.

BRCA1/2 testing "likely to have a favorable effect" on breast cancer outcomes

Women with a family history of breast cancer often wonder if they should undergo BRCA1/2 gene testing to evaluate their personal risk of breast cancer. A June 29 study published in Cancer looked, long-term, at the actions taken by women who were tested. At an average of 5.3 years after testing, more than 80% of the carriers had chosen prophylactic mastectomy, ovary removal (oophorectomy) or both, suggesting that the testing "is likely to have a favorable effect on breast and ovarian cancer outcomes."

Surgery does not improve survival for stage IV breast cancer

Standard treatment for stage IV breast cancer involves systemic therapy, such as chemotherapy, but not surgery to remove the breast tumor. There has been some suggestion that removing the primary tumor may improve overall survival. A study in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, which can be found on our breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy) page, compared a group of 236 patients who did not receive surgery to 54 patients who had. When patients were matched for the various cancer types, "surgery was not shown to improve survival."

Study suggests personalized screening mammography guidelines

Lately, there's been a lot of activity on the LATESTBreastCancer.com screening mammography page. The controversy involves when to start and how often a woman should have a screening mammogram. Today, the Los Angeles Times reported on a new study which suggests a more individualized approach. Instead of a "one-size-fits-all" guideline, the study presents a method for personalizing a screening schedule based on breast density and other risk factors. Under the proposed plan, a baseline mammogram at age 40 would be used to craft an individual screening schedule. As wise as this plan appears, practically speaking, it is uncertain if doctors are currently willing or able to invest the deliberation needed. A change in approach may not materialize until formal guidelines are altered.

Please check back tomorrow for more updates. Until then, all the latest news and research on any treatment option may be found on the LATESTBreastCancer.com at any time.

The Breast Cancer News Update: July 4

Happy Fourth of July from LATESTBreastCancer.com. Today we'll look at the latest breast cancer news and research on breast cancer side effects including risk of infection, scarring, quality of life, sleep disturbance, pain and nausea and vomiting.

Mastectomy side effects: risk of infection, scarring, insomnia, quality of life and pain

All the latest breast cancer news and research on the potential mastectomy side effects of infection, scarring and pain may be found on the Mastectomy page of our website.

Under the News tab, you'll find a July 1 Cure Today article about the risk of infection after mastectomy or chemotherapy. According to the story, the body's "immune function often decreases in the hours immediately following surgery and may take many months to fully recover." Patients who receive chemotherapy before surgery, known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, are at "greater risk" of infection. The article includes preventative tips such as preoperative antibiotics, frequent hand washing and influenza vaccines for patients and people in close contact. Port-site infection risk and prevention is also addressed.

Also under the News tab, you'll find a June 1 Cure Today article about mastectomy scar prevention and treatment. Available treatment options include silicone gel sheeting and intralesional corticosteroids.

Under the Medical Journal Abstracts tab, three June 2011 studies address long-term mastectomy side effects.

A June 1 Sleep Medicine study from Norway examined the relationship between insomnia and arm/shoulder problems years after surgery, radiation and hormone therapy for stage II or III breast cancer.

A June 8 European Journal of Surgical Oncology study from Taiwan found that quality of life improved significantly two years after surgery for all patients, with the greatest improvement for patients who received mastectomy with reconstruction. The authors concluded that factors other than surgery type, including age, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy and preoperative functional status affected quality of life.

A June 9 Breast Cancer Research and Treatment study from San Diego examined long-term pain reporting in breast cancer survivors. Over a four-year period, a "slight but significant increase in pain was reported." The authors found that an increase in pain symptoms was associated with medical factors, such as surgery type and tamoxifen use, and psychological factors such as stress and depression. Interestingly, exercise "at baseline had a beneficial effect on pain recovery."

Triple therapy including Aloxi for nausea and vomiting

Finally, a June 28 study on a triple therapy approach for treating chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting can be found on our Aloxi (palonosetron) page. According to the study, the combination of Aloxi, which is a 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist, plus dexamethasone plus either EMEND (aprepitant) or EMEND for Injection (fosaprepitant) resulted in a lower risk of uncontrolled nausea and vomiting than a triple therapy with other 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists.

For more news and research on drugs to treat breast cancer side effects, please visit that section of the LATESTBreastCancer.com website anytime.