The future in all areas of cancer lies in the research that is being done today. In medical centers across the world, important steps are being taken in researching Breast Cancer to improve prevention, make diagnosis easier and more precise, and find better treatments for the disease. With the medical field being more advanced than ever, new information is being discovered every day to help combat this deadly disease that will affect 1 in 8 American women.
Prevention
Lifestyle- Ongoing studies continue to look into daily habits and lifestyle factors that may increase the risk of breast cancer. In addition to exercise, diet and weight loss and gain, there has been more research into environment in recent years. Studies in this area, as well as studies into genetic testing for mutations that may cause breast cancer, are still in early stages.
Chemoprevention- Retinoids, or drugs related to vitamin A, are continually being researched on their effect on cancer cells. The retinoid named fenretinide is being studied to uncover its effects as a drug to reduce the risk of Breast Cancer. There are several other drugs, including tamoxifen, that continue to be tested as preventative medicines for Breast Cancer.
Self-exams- Because women are not recommended to go in for a mammogram until after the age of 40, younger women are often diagnosed with Breast Cancer late. Detecting breast cancer in its early stages increases the likelihood of survival. With one in eight women in America at risk of developing Breast Cancer during their lifetime, it is vital to establish healthy practices early. New prevention techniques urge all young women to conduct monthly self-exams in order to recognize changes or lumps in your breasts.
Research
The Sister Study- This large, long-term study being carried out through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), is a project that is examining 50,000 women whose sisters have had breast cancer. Started in 2004, the study still needs about 23,000 individuals to sign up to participate in questionnaires and samples, taking a closer look at how genes and the environment influence breast cancer risk.
Vitamin D- Another study is being conducted by cancer prevention specialists at the Moore’s Cancer Center located at the San Diego Medical Center at the University of California. The research is being done on the effects of vitamin D intake connected to Breast Cancer risk. It appears that a regular daily intake of 1,000 IU’s of vitamin D can help lower the risk of developing a number of different cancers including breast, ovarian and colon cancer by up to 50%.
Treatments
Microsphere therapy- It is becoming increasingly common for Breast Cancer to metastasize to a woman’s liver. Microsphere therapy is being looked at as a potential treatment for women who experience this spread of the disease. All participants who received a single treatment of SIT-Spheres showed response to the treatment on CT and PET scans every three months. There was reduction in both the size and number of lesions across the board as a result of this treatment.
Blood tests- New treatments related to those living with advanced forms of Breast Cancer have also been discovered. Using a new blood test that quickly targets better treatments, oncologists and medical professionals have come up with a treatment named CellSearch that captures, identifies and counts tumor cells in the blood. As the first FDA-approved test, this exam counts cancer cells that have detached from the tumor, making it the fastest and most accurate test created yet.
Thanks for the terrific article, Kelly. It can never be said too many times.
Interesting and encouraging news about the microsphere therapy.
Thanks Doreen! It’s amazing and wonderful that scientists are beginning to find certain treatments that work for every patient they are tested on!
Kelly I found the article very informative. My sister-in-law is a breast cancer survivor and through her my wife and I are well aware of the Sister Study. Thanks for bringing so much information about early detection to your readers.
Thats awesome to hear. Thanks Edward!
What do you think of some of the current research that claims annual mammograms are unnecessary for older women? Very interesting statistics in your post. Thanks.
With the overwhelming amount of women diagnosed, I think an annual mammogram is the least older women can do. Self-exams are very important as well, but having a medical professional look at you each year is something every woman over 40 should see as a priority. Thanks for your comment and question, Jeannette!
Awareness of any kind and post like this cannot be overstated. It was a very nice post and good to know that Microsphere therapy is becoming more and more common. That is very good news.
Thanks, Susan! Yes, advancements like that make me more optimistic about the future.
Hi Kelly,
Breast cancer has been, and still is a pathological condition that women has to battle against these years. The environment around us has a crucial role in this much as we deny it.
The food that we eat, the air that we breathe are contaminated with cancer-triggering toxins that assail us. A toxicologist would say, that any food is a toxin, and this is true because all that enters our body always pass through the major metabolic organ, which is the liver. When the liver is overworked and could not handle its workload, problems occur.
Fruits and vegetables generally contains anti-toxic cleansers. That’s why these should be taken more than meat, which could be rich with harmful fat or bad cholesterol.
Whatever genes we inherited from our parents determine also our propensity towards cancer. If your family has a history of breast cancer, this would increase your risk of developing the condition.
A very informative and interesting post. Kudos!
So very true. The environment has huge effects on our everyday lives. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can all work to prevent diseases like cancer. Thanks for the awesome comment!
Great article Kelly! Got to know what cancer is like the first time someone close to me died. He was a Formula I driver and set up a cancer fund with all his money. It was in 1979 and they are today better able to handle cancer.
The grandfather of a Spanish friend of mine had cancer. Her parents convinced the doctor to not tell the grandfather. And when grand pa came back for a check up 3 months later the cancer was gone. Makes sense since all human beings have the beginning of cancer at some stage in their lives. But if we are told our mind kills us. Would the grandfather in question have overcome cancer if he had known? That’s the question isn’t it.
Thank you…Wow! What an amazing story. Where did you hear that all human beings have the beginning of cancer at some stage in their lives? Thats a little bit scary.
Kelly – Very informative piece. I have known many women that have beaten cancer by awareness of the risk factors and have gotten the early treatment. This is information that should be shared with everyone!
Great to hear! Yes it definitely is, thanks!
I’m 35 and just went in for my first mammogram last week. I guess you could say it was a smashing success! Glad to have found your blog as your articles are very well-written and informative.
Haha, thanks Jeri!
Great article and very interesting. Cancer touches many lives. Everyone who has died in my husbands life has been through cancer (breast cancer in particular) and my mum has suffered through it, but thankfully is in remission.
Getting the information out there to make everyone aware of what is happening is very worthwhile.
Glad to hear your mother is doing better. Yes, it is very important for everyone to know how to live a lifestyle that helps prevent cancer, and especially breast cancer in women. Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for the article–a good reminder. I lost an aunt to breast cancer and my mother had a mastectomy, so the topic is quite dear to me. I hope many more women read this and pay attention.
Sorry that I’m just responding to this but thank you for your comment! The subject is dear to me as well and I hope that little things like this help to inform anyone out there.