Breast reconstruction has come a long way. Advances in surgical technique have made it possible to use a woman’s own tissue to construct a breast that is soft and warm and often very similar to the breast she has lost to mastectomy. This “autologous reconstruction” has become the gold standard in breast reconstruction and can even… Continue reading Managing Expectations for Breast Reconstruction
Category: Breast Cancer
Advances in Breast Surgery: Correcting Failed Implants
Among women who opt for reconstruction after losing a breast to mastectomy, 80% undergo reconstruction with implants. Many women see implants as the quickest, simplest reconstructive option. Their other choice – natural-tissue reconstruction – requires a more complex surgery and longer recovery time. However, studies have shown that the risk of cosmetic and health problems… Continue reading Advances in Breast Surgery: Correcting Failed Implants
Breast Cancer Surgery: What to Wear When You Come Home
While planning for breast reconstruction surgery, many women wonder about what they should wear during the recovery period. In the first weeks home, you may want to avoid tight-fitting, restrictive clothing and anything that requires you to lift your arms over your head. Clothes should be loose and comfortable, and they should slip on easily… Continue reading Breast Cancer Surgery: What to Wear When You Come Home
Permanent Hair Color May Increase Breast Cancer Risk
Women who use permanent hair dye and chemical hair straighteners have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who don’t use these products, according to new research from scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study was published online in the International Journal of Cancer. The data came from 46,709 women… Continue reading Permanent Hair Color May Increase Breast Cancer Risk
Breast Cancer Surgery: Avoiding or Minimizing Postoperative Nausea
In the first 24 to 48 hours following surgery, about one-third of patients undergoing surgery with general anesthesia suffer post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Some patients find PONV more unpleasant and distressing than post-operative pain, making PONV a common problem that should not be dismissed as unimportant by patients, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. We can’t always… Continue reading Breast Cancer Surgery: Avoiding or Minimizing Postoperative Nausea
Older “Biologic” Age Linked to Elevated Breast Cancer Risk
“Biologic” age, a DNA-based estimate of a person’s age, is linked to future development of breast cancer, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Biologic age was determined by measuring DNA methylation, a chemical modification to DNA that is part of the normal aging process. The scientists’ study, published online Feb. 22,… Continue reading Older “Biologic” Age Linked to Elevated Breast Cancer Risk
New Moms: Weaker Breast-Cancer Prevention Benefits
Although women who have had children generally have a lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who have never given birth, new research has found that mothers don’t experience that breast cancer benefits until decades later. Additionally, mothers may face an elevated risk of breast cancer for more than 20 years after their last… Continue reading New Moms: Weaker Breast-Cancer Prevention Benefits
Widely Used Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer Doesn’t Cause Cognitive Decline
University of California, Los Angeles researchers have found that commonly used hormone therapies for women diagnosed with breast cancer do not appear to cause significant cognitive dysfunction following the treatment. Endocrine therapy has become an essential part of treatment for the many women diagnosed with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer, in which hormones, such as estrogen,… Continue reading Widely Used Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer Doesn’t Cause Cognitive Decline
Study: Women 75 and Older Benefit from Regular Mammograms
Women who are 75 or older should still get routine mammograms because of the comparatively high incidence of breast cancer in this group, researchers say. The age at which a woman should stop getting routine mammograms has been a controversial subject. In 2009, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released controversial guidelines stating… Continue reading Study: Women 75 and Older Benefit from Regular Mammograms
No Evidence for Age-Based Mammography Cut-Off
In the largest-ever study on screening mammography outcomes, researchers found that there is no clear cut-off age to stop breast cancer screening. The findings were presented on November 28th 2016 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago. This research adds support for guidelines that encourage screening decisions based… Continue reading No Evidence for Age-Based Mammography Cut-Off
Drug Combo for Breast Cancer Close to Getting Worldwide Approval
Building on earlier clinical trials, researchers at the University of Californina, Los Angeles have confirmed that the “breakthrough” drug palbociclib when used in combination with the traditional hormonal therapy letrozole delays progression of advanced breast cancer significantly and without the harsh side effects seen in some women prescribed letrozole alone. A release from the university… Continue reading Drug Combo for Breast Cancer Close to Getting Worldwide Approval
Going Flat: Choosing No Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy
A mastectomy is a traumatic experience. Anyone who has had to go through this surgery can attest to the fact that the scars can be more than skin deep. It doesn’t matter if the mastectomy is the result of a cancer diagnosis or a prophylactic measure to reduce an increased risk due to a genetic… Continue reading Going Flat: Choosing No Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy
Simple Steps To Reduce The Odds Of Developing Breast Cancer
When it comes to breast-cancer prevention, most women are probably aware of the need for self examinations and mammograms, as well as awareness of a family history for breast cancer. But other factors that can help women avoid breast cancer may not be as well known, or at least not as often discussed. With October… Continue reading Simple Steps To Reduce The Odds Of Developing Breast Cancer