Breast Cancer Detection Made Easier—Sometimes—by MRI

Breast Cancer Detection Made Easier—Sometimes—by MRI
More evidence that MRI technology can detect breast cancer tumors, but the test isn’t for everyone.
If you’ve recently been diagnosed, opt for an MRI screening to make sure there aren’t other breast tumors present
By Leah Zerbe
RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA
06-01-09

http://www.rodale.com/mris-and-breast-cancer?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2009_06_01-_-Top5-_-NA
http://www.rodale.com/print/1035

Mammograms are routinely used to catch breast cancer, but more and more studies are finding that Magnetic Resonance Imaging, commonly known as MRI, can detect tumors missed by mammography and ultrasound in certain groups of women. The latest research, published this month in the American Journal of Roentgenology, found that MRI caught additional breast tumors previously undetected in 20 percent of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

THE DETAILS: After 199 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, doctors at a more rural, midsize regional hospital performed MRI scans on them, and found 58 additional malignant lesions in 38 patients.

WHAT IT MEANS: The idea that MRI can catch tumors that mammography or ultrasound doesn’t isn’t new, but using it in the field of breast cancer is a work in progress, says study coauthor Petra Lewis, MD, associate Professor of radiology, obstetrics and gynecology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire. Her study backs up previous findings, and shows that the technology appears to work even in more regional hospitals, not just in internationally recognized breast units. A 2007 study published in The Lancet found that MRI was 92 percent accurate in detecting a certain type of breast cancer when compared to mammogram, which was 56 percent accurate.

To read the full article: http://www.rodale.com/mris-and-breast-cancer?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2009_06_01-_-Top5-_-NA

Radiation Treatment for Breast Cancer Causes Cancer in Other Breast

source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/14/AR2008101402630.html

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Young women receiving radiation after having surgery for breast cancer are at increased risk of developing a new tumor in the opposite -- or contralateral -- breast, a new Dutch study suggests.

And the risk jumps even higher if the woman also has a significant family history of breast cancer.

The study, appearing online in the current issue of theJournal of Clinical Oncology, looked at fairly recent radiation techniques (1970 to 1986), but experts pointed out that these techniques are continually being refined and improved.

"It's a very interesting study, [but] radiation techniques have changed dramatically over the last 25 years and a lot of these patients were treated with much older techniques," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La.

The risk of contralateral breast cancer was also greatest when three or more family members had a history of breast cancer, indicating that some of the women in the study might have the risk-raising BRCA1 or 2 genetic mutations. These mutations weren't tested for in the study.

"Today, we're able to better identify women who may not be breast-conservation candidates," Brooks said.

Study author Maartje J. Hooning, of the department of medical oncology at Erasmus Medical Center Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center in Rotterdam, said that even though "radiation techniques of today will lead to a lower dose to the contralateral breast than the techniques presented in our study, treating clinicians should be aware of the existing dose-response relationship for risk of contralateral breast cancer. Especially in young women, the radiation dose to the contralateral breast should be kept as low as possible."

According to the American Cancer Society, radiation therapy is usually employed to destroy lingering cancer cells after a lumpectomy (also known as breast-conserving surgery), after a mastectomy involving a tumor larger than 5 centimeters in size, or when cancer is found in the lymph nodes.

In general, according to the study, women diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast have three to four times the risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast.

Much of this increased risk has been attributed to genetic predisposition, hormonal risk factors and other common causes. But there remains the possibility that treatment regimens for the first breast cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation, might also play a part.

For this study, the researchers looked at more than 7,000 one-year survivors of breast cancer who had been under the age of 71 when they were diagnosed. All were treated from 1970 to 1986 in the Netherlands.

Overall, radiation therapy did not significantly increase the risk of a new cancer in the opposite breast.

However, women treated with radiation before they turned 45 had a slightly increased risk of a new tumor in the other breast, while women receiving radiation before they were 35 had a 78 percent increased risk.

Women receiving post-lumpectomy radiation before the age of 45 had a 1.5-fold increased risk of contralateral breast cancer when compared with women who had undergone post-mastectomy radiation, according to the study.

Younger women with a strong family history of breast cancer who had also undergone post-lumpectomy radiation had a 3.5-fold increased risk of contralateral breast cancer, the study found.

"Now that we know that young patients with affected relatives are at increased risk of contralateral breast cancer following radiation therapy, we should define in more detail the subgroup that is genetically susceptible to radiation-induced breast cancer," Hooning said.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more on radiation therapy for breast cancer.

SOURCES: Maartje J. Hooning, Ph.D., department of medical oncology, Erasmus Medical Center, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Jay Brooks, M.D., chairman, hematology/oncology, Ochsner Health System, Baton Rouge, La.;Journal of Clinical Oncology, online

11 Myths About Breast Cancer You Probably Thought Were True

11 Myths About Breast Cancer You Probably Thought Were True
by www.SixWise.com



Aside from skin cancers, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, so as you have probably heard there's a lot of talk about this disease. However, not all of it is true.

young woman breast cancer risk

Though breast cancer is more common in older women, young women can also be at risk.

Myth #1: Only women can have breast cancer.

Reality: Although it occurs much less frequently, accounting for only about 1% of all breast cancer cases, men can also have breast cancer. On average, some 450 men die annually from the disease. Breast cancer in men occurs most often between the ages of 60 and 70, typically due to radiation exposure, family history of breast cancer, or high estrogen levels resulting from such diseases as Klinefelter's syndrome and cirrhosis.

Myth #2: Only women with a family history of breast cancer can develop the disease.

Reality: Approximately 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. A family history of breast cancer may increase your risk of developing the disease, but your physician or genetic counselor should be able to determine your risk level more accurately.

Myth #3: Since I don't have a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, I can't get breast cancer.

Reality: Only about 5% of breast cancer cases are due to abnormal genes. A mutated BRCA gene does not necessarily mean you will develop breast cancer as it is only one of a number of risk factors. Other risk factors include age, poor diet, obesity, family history, beginning menstruation at an early age, menstruation past the age of 50, not having children, or having your first child after age 30, and exposure to radiation.

Myth #4: Young women don't have to worry about getting breast cancer.

Reality: Although your chances of getting breast cancer increase with age (age being one of the strongest risk factors associated with breast cancer), women of all ages are potentially at risk.
A Woman's Chances of Breast Cancer Increases With Age
By age 30 1 out of 2,212
By age 40 1 out of 235
By age 50 1 out of 54
By age 60 1 out of 23
By age 70 1 out of 14
By age 80 1 out of 10
Ever 1 out of 8

Myth #5: Most lumps found in the breast are cancerous.

Reality: Approximately 80% of lumps are a result of benign (non-cancerous) changes in the breast. However, the percentage of benign breast lumps may decrease with age because older women are at a higher risk for breast cancer. But any breast abnormality should be reported to your physician.

Myth #6: Mammograms are the safest, most effective way to check for breast cancer.

Reality: There is much controversy surrounding the mammogram's safety and effectiveness. Mammograms expose you to radiation, which in turn can cause cell mutation. Consequently, pressure from the machine can spread cancerous cells. A study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine showed that radiologists who interpreted mammogram slides were found to misdiagnose cancer 42% of the time, while 21% of the time cancer went undetected.

Your physician may order a mammogram to investigate a lump further, however, consider thermography instead -- it is a highly accurate, non-invasive way to detect cancerous tissue without the harmful radiation caused by mammograms. In addition, very early cancer detection is possible.

breastfeeding cancer risk

Despite the myth, there is no evidence that breastfeeding increases a woman's risk of breast cancer. In fact, it may actually lower it.

Myth #7: Breastfeeding will increase my risk of breast cancer.

Reality: There is no evidence that shows breastfeeding will increase the risk for breast cancer. Some evidence shows that breastfeeding may actually decrease a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

Myth #8: Lumps are the only form of breast cancer.

Reality: A lump may or may not indicate breast cancer -- and most lumps are benign. However, there are other signs that may indicate cancer:

*

Swelling of the breast
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Swelling of lymph nodes in underarm
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Skin irritation or dimpling
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Thickening skin of breast or nipple
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Redness or scaliness of breast/nipple skin
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Bruise-like area on breast
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Breast or nipple pain
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Inverted or retracted nipple
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Bloody or watery nipple discharge

Myth #9: Wearing an underwire bra can cause breast cancer.Reality: There is no scientific evidence that supports the idea that underwire bras cause cancer. It was proposed that toxins accumulated in the breast because of compression of the lymphatic system due to pressure from the underwire. The result was believed to be breast cancer, however this has never been proven. Tightness of your bra, whether it has an underwire or not, has not been shown to have any connection to breast cancer.

Myth #10: Drinking coffee causes breast cancer.

Reality: Thus far no evidence has shown any link between caffeine and breast cancer. There is, however, some evidence that shows caffeine may be responsible for lowering your risk for breast cancer.

Myth #11: There is no way to avoid breast cancer if I'm at high risk.

Reality: There are many different ways to help prevent and reduce the risk of breast cancer. Conventional medicine may recommend certain medications, such as Tamoxifen, Evista or Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (chemoprevention), or even preventive surgery, such as removing one or both of your breasts if you are at high risk, although these options do carry risks of side effects. Alternatively, the simple lifestyle strategies that follow may also help reduce your breast cancer risk.

*

Ask your doctor about aspirin
Taking an aspirin just once a week may help protect against breast cancer, but be sure to talk to your doctor before you start. When used for long periods of time, aspirin can cause stomach irritation, bleeding and ulcers. More serious aspirin side effects include bleeding in the intestinal and urinary tracts and hemorrhagic stroke. In general, you're not a candidate for aspirin therapy if you have a history of ulcers, liver or kidney disease, bleeding disorders, or gastrointestinal bleeding.
*

Limit alcohol
Drinking alcohol is strongly linked to breast cancer. The type of alcohol consumed -- wine, beer or mixed drinks -- seems to make no difference. To help protect against breast cancer, limit the amount of alcohol you drink to less than one drink a day or avoid alcohol completely.
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Maintain a healthy weight
There's a clear link between obesity -- weighing more than is appropriate for your age and height -- and breast cancer. The association is stronger if you gain the weight later in life, particularly after menopause.
*

Avoid long-term hormone therapy
The link between postmenopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer has been a subject of debate for years, partly because research results have been mixed. Estrogen exposure clearly contributes to breast cancer risk, but for most women, the size of the contribution over a lifetime is small -- particularly in the absence of other risk factors, such as family history of the disease. If you're approaching menopause and having frequent symptoms, it's probably safe to take hormones for as long as four to five years. Any longer does increase your breast cancer risk, without conferring any clear benefits. The same is true of hormone therapy after age 60. Many experts recommend natural, bioidentical hormones as a safe alternative to synthetic varieties.
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Stay physically active
No matter what your age, aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days. Try to include weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging or dancing. These have the added benefit of keeping your bones strong.
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Eat foods high in fiber
Try to increase the amount of fiber you eat to between 20 and 30 grams daily -- about twice that in an average American diet. Among its many health benefits, fiber may help reduce the amount of circulating estrogen in your body. Foods high in fiber include fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
*

Emphasize olive oil
A Northwestern University study, published in the journal Annals of Oncology, found that oleic acid -- the main component of olive oil -- inhibited activity levels of the Her-2/neu gene. This gene is thought to trigger breast cancer and is found in over one-fifth of breast cancer patients. The gene is associated with highly aggressive tumors and poor prognosis.
* Avoid exposure to pesticides
The molecular structure of some pesticides closely resembles that of estrogen. This means they may attach to receptor sites in your body. Although studies have not found a definite link between most pesticides and breast cancer, it is known that women with elevated levels of pesticides in their breast tissue have a greater breast cancer risk.

Further, scientists are also investigating a number of potential preventive therapies for breast cancer, including:

*

Retinoids
Natural or synthetic forms of vitamin A (retinoids) may have the ability to destroy or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Unlike other experimental therapies, retinoids may be effective in premenopausal women and in those whose tumors aren't estrogen positive. Research is ongoing.
*

Flaxseed.
Flaxseed is high in lignan, a naturally occurring compound that lowers circulating estrogens in your body. Flaxseed appears to decrease estrogen production -- acting much like the drug Tamoxifen does -- which may inhibit the growth of breast cancer tumors. Lignans are also antioxidants with weak estrogen-like characteristics. These characteristics may be the mechanism by which flaxseed works to decrease hot flashes. Further research should clarify the connection.

Recommended Reading

Are Self Breast Exams Harmful? What Every Woman Needs to Know.

Eight Key Nutrients to Help Prevent Breast Cancer - and Where to Find Them.

Sources

Cornforth, Tracee. About.com: Women's Health. 7 Myths About Breast Cancer. October 2008.

BreastCancer.org. Myths About Breast Cancer. June 20, 2008.

Health.com. 25 Breast Cancer Myths and Misunderstandings. October 2008.

Imaginis.com. Myths About Breast Cancer. October, 2008.

Mayo Clinic. Breast Cancer. October 2008.

Medline Plus. Male Breast Cancer. October 2008.

Breast Cancer: An Ounce of Prevention

An Ounce of Prevention
by Cherie Calbom MS

http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?PageType=Column&id=551

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. People who keep track of
statistics tell us that by the end of this year 211,300 new cases of
breast cancer are expected to occur. We are reminded this month to
think about our health about exams, our lifestyle, our exercise
habits, our stress level, and about what we put in our mouth all the
things that can prevent cancer of the breast as well as a host of
other cancers.

My mother died of breast cancer when I was six years old. This is a
subject that perhaps never really leaves my mind. But this month,
more than usual, it's at the forefront of my thoughts.

I had a conversation several days ago with a woman who is on a
low-carbohydrate diet. You know, the one that really works to lose
weight, but doesn't allow much of the foods that prevent cancer,
particularly breast cancer. She asked me what I thought of the
program.

I agree with eating low-carb foods, omitting sugars in all forms,
from honey to desserts, fruit juice, high-sugar fruit, refined white
flour products such as rolls, pasta, pizza, bagels, and bread, junk
foods, alcohol, and even whole grains for a limited period of time.
But there's one category of omission I can't recommend, and that is
dark orange and yellow vegetables, even though most of them are a bit
higher in carbs.

Perhaps for the first week or two to give one�s body a jumpstart on
weight loss, omission is okay, but not for weeks at a time, as I know
many people are doing. It's an antioxidant-rich diet that has been
shown in studies all over the world to prevent cancer.

Pink is the ribbon color this month, but I think it should be
yellow-orange. A study was released this year showing there was a
reduced risk of breast cancer with increased consumption of dark
orange-yellow vegetables and fruit (Intl. J. Cancer, 2003). This
study confirms what scores of previous studies have found a diet rich
in carotenes (phytonutrients that give plants their yellow, orange,
and red color) is highly protective against many forms of cancer,
including breast cancer.

Many green vegetables are also high in carotenes, but their
chlorophyll, which is green in color, masks the carotene colors. Over
600 carotenes have been identified to date.

Beta-carotene has received the most press, but alpha-carotene is now
believed to be even more powerful in protecting our cells. It is
especially protective of the skin and may neutralize free radical
damage caused by the sun. It is known as nature's own sun blocker. It
appears to be very defensive when it comes to melanomas on the skin.
Our best sources of this vital nutrient include: carrots, pumpkin,
chlorella, squashes, wheatgrass, and yellow, orange, and red peppers.

Lycopene is responsible for the red color of tomatoes and berries and
is protective against prostate, lung, breast, stomach, pancreas,
colon, rectum, and cervix cancers. Other carotenes such as zeazanthin
and luetin are concentrated in carrots, squash, apricots, yams, red
beets, chard, wheatgrass, spinach, and kale. They protect our eyes
from cataracts and age-related retina problems.

Juicing vegetables is one way we can get a concentration of these
important carotenes. Can freshly made vegetable juice be a powerful
ally in our fight against cancer? Just ask a close family member of
mine.
She discovered an unfriendly looking mole, made a trip to her
dermatologist, waited a long, long time for results from a test, and
finally got an answer from one of the top labs in the nation that had
eventually received the specimen from another lab.

Her dermatologist said she had stupefied the experts! They said it
looked like a melanoma that had regressed to a pre-cancerous state.
Pondering the whole matter, the only thing she saw that could
possibly have made the difference, the only real health change she
had made in her lifestyle was to faithfully start juicing vegetables
and fruit every morning.

That is exactly what my husband and I do each day as well. We juice
organic cucumber, celery, parsley, beet with greens, carrots, lemon,
and ginger. Its a powerful antioxidant cocktail, one we know is
helping to protect the trillions of cells in our bodies from the
damaging effects of free radicals attacks and toxins.

Carotenes can reduce the risk of breast cancer and many other cancers
early in the game by helping normal cells communicate
growth-regulating signals to pre-malignant cells. They also inhibit
growth signals that stop cancer cells from growing. Additionally,
they boost immune cells that attack and destroy cancer cells.
Carotenes also help detoxify carcinogens such as cigarette smoke,
industrial wastes and fumes, and the effects of char-broiled meat.
They are potent quenchers of singlet oxygen (free radicals). And they
inhibit the effects of radiation.

My grandmother often said, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure. Carbs or no carbs, we just cant live a life of high-level
wellness without orange, yellow, red, and green vegetables. You have
to ask:
What are a few ounces of yellow-orange vegetables and a little
low-sugar fruit worth? Perhaps your life! Whatever your lifestyle,
whether traveling, dieting, eating on-the-run, or just very busy, you
cant afford to omit the carotene-rich foods that add color to your
plate or glass and heaps of protection to your body.

The story of my family member's melanoma reversal is an excerpt from
The Complete Cancer Cleanse (Thomas Nelson, 2003). It is available at
http://www.cancercleanse.com or by calling 1-866-8GETWELL.

------------------------------

------------------------

Cherie Calbom, M.S. is the author of eleven books including the
best-selling Juicing for Life (Avery, 1992) with nearly two million
books in print in the U.S. and published around the world in nineteen

countries.
Other best-selling books by Cherie include: George Foremans Knock Out
the Fat Barbecue & Grilling Cookbook, The Juice Lady�s Guide to
Juicing for Health, and The Ultimate Smoothie Book
(http://www.juicinginfo.com). Her latest book The Complete Cancer
Cleanse was released September, 2003 (http://www.cancercleanse.com).

Cherie earned a masters degree in nutrition from Bastyr University,
where she now serves on the Board of Regents. She has practiced as a
clinical nutritionist at St. Luke Medical Center, Bellevue,
Washington. Known as The Juice Lady for her work with juicing and
health, her juice therapy and cleansing programs have been popular
for a decade. She is also known as George Foremans nutritionist and
the other spokesperson for the George Foreman grills. She has
appeared regularly on QVC for the last eight years with the Juice
Lady juicer, Saltons Juiceman juicer, and the George Foreman grills.
Her Juice Lady juicer and books are available at 1-866-8GETWELL.