Breast Cancer

Radiotherapy Crucial to Preventing Breast Cancer Recurrence

2011-04-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

Radiotherapy Crucial to Preventing Breast Cancer Recurrence - Redorbit.com

Research: Impact of interval from breast conserving surgery to radiotherapy on local recurrence in older women with breast cancer: Retrospective cohort analysis

The longer women wait for radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery, the more chance there is of local recurrence, concludes a study published on bmj.com today.

The authors suggest that starting radiotherapy as soon as possible will minimise this risk.

Four to six weeks is generally accepted as a reasonable interval between cancer surgery and radiotherapy, but evidence on the effect of waiting times in patients with breast cancer is mixed.

So researchers from the United States, Canada and Japan studied the relation between interval to radiotherapy and recurrence of breast cancer.

They analysed national cancer records for 18,050 US women who were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer during 1991-2002 when they were aged 65 or older. All women received breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy, but not chemotherapy.

Demographic information was identified using data from the 2000 US population census, and women were followed up for an average of five years.

The results showed that starting radiotherapy more than six weeks after surgery was associated with a modest but significant increase in local recurrence. More than one in four women (30%) in the study started radiotherapy after this time and 734 (4%) experienced a local recurrence at five years.

Further analysis showed a continuous relation between time to radiotherapy and local recurrence, suggesting that initiating radiation therapy as soon as possible could minimise local recurrence risk.

Longer times to radiotherapy were also found among Black and Hispanic women and among women who lived outside the southern states of the US, where rates of breast conserving surgery were higher, suggesting limitations in capacity of radiation delivery.

The implication of a continuous relationship between start of radiotherapy and local recurrence is that there is no "safe" threshold in terms of waiting time and that radiotherapy should therefore be started as soon as possible, say the authors.

The cost of increasing capacity to ensure uniformly short waiting times could be substantial and would need to be weighed against the small absolute benefit in local recurrence, they add. But, given the known negative impact of local recurrence on overall survival, and the large numbers of women treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer, it seems appropriate to consider whether this is a price we should be prepared to pay, they conclude.

Minimising delay improves outcomes, so investment and planning are needed, say Ruth Jack and Lars Holmberg from King's College London, in an accompanying editorial.

Healthcare providers need to assess where potential delays are occurring and ensure that they are reduced, as well as ensuring equal opportunities in accessing good care, they write. However they suggest that, if substantial investment is needed, the modest effects seen in this study would have to be weighed against other opportunities and priorities in cancer care.

Komen grants help ease breast cancer’s financial toll

2010-03-10T13:19:00.001-08:00

Komen grants help ease breast cancer’s financial toll - Florida Weekly

When Leesa Crapa was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer, she felt immobilized by the threat of financial devastation. "My insurance company dropped me," said the Cape Coral resident. "They said because I had family history and all this business that they just weren't going to pay anything."

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plus 2, Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Honored as Most Valued Non-Profit Brand ... - Stockhouse

2010-03-09T13:12:00.001-08:00

plus 2, Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Honored as Most Valued Non-Profit Brand ... - Stockhouse

Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Honored as Most Valued Non-Profit Brand ... - Stockhouse
Most Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients May Not Need Radiation After Mastectomy - Science Daily
Corning Inc. and Susan G. Komen group join to increase cancer awareness - Star-Gazette

Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Honored as Most Valued Non-Profit Brand ... - Stockhouse

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 09:58 AM PST

Despite Tremendous Honor, Progress, Work is "Far from Done," Founder and CEO Says

DALLAS, Mar 08, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Top rankings for brand value, trust, and the charity people are most likely to donate to, affirm the strength of the 28-year promise of Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R): the world's largest breast cancer organization: to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

The 2010 rankings of non-profit organizations from global market research firm Harris Interactive last week ranked Komen for the Cure as the number one most valuable non-profit brand and the charity people are most likely to donate to. Komen also ranked second among the most trusted non-profit organizations in America (behind St. Jude Research Hospital). The rankings examined 1,151 organizations.

"We are enormously humbled to be recognized in this way by the public that we serve," said Komen founder and CEO, Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker. "This validation redoubles our resolve to our promise to end breast cancer through science, education, advocacy and relevant support programs all around the world."

Harris Interactive Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Justin Greeves, said of the top-performing non-profits: "They are working to solve many of society's most complex and relevant problems in efficient, new, and innovative ways and have achieved personal relevance in many of our lives - that is why they are at the top."

Brinker founded Komen in 1982 after promising her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything she could to end breast cancer. Susan G. Komen died of breast cancer in 1980 at the age of 36, after a three-year battle with the disease.

Since then, through its signature Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure(R) series and corporate business partnerships, Komen has built a grassroots organization supported by and serving millions of women and men on five continents. Komen's nearly $1.5 billion investment in research and community program funding to date has led to five year survival rates of 98 percent for breast cancers that haven't spread from the breast, along with breakthrough treatments that are helping people live longer with the disease.

Komen makes it a priority through its global network to ensure that women and men are educated about this disease, they have access to treatment, and that they and their families are supported through a diagnosis. Through Komen's 125 global Affiliates, the organization has provided more than $500 million in research and $900 million since inception to education, screening and treatment programs in thousands of communities. In 2009 alone, Komen funded nearly 500,000 breast screenings and reached 4 million women with breast health education messaging, while investing $60 million into breast cancer research worldwide.

The organization also partners with governments and advocacy groups in 50 countries to raise breast health awareness and provide treatment and support, particularly in countries where medical resources and knowledge about the disease are scarce. Komen has funded almost $40 million in international research and outreach since inception.

"Our work is enormously gratifying, but it is far from over when more than 1.3 million and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and almost 500,000 will die - just this year," Brinker said.

As a Global Goodwill Ambassador to the U.N.'s World Health Organization and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Brinker has called on U.S. and global health leaders to make cancer control a global health priority.

This year, Komen will invest another $50-$60 million into research, with about $20 million targeted to cancer vaccines and other cancer prevention strategies. Brinker also has launched a campaign to explore more cost-effective screening for women's cancers, and is an outspoken advocate for screening and access to treatment for cancer patients in the United States.

"Our ongoing mission is to attack breast cancer on all fronts - in science, prevention, education and advocacy for people with the disease, and to do so on a global scale," Brinker said. "We've made tremendous progress to this point, but there is so much more to do. With the ongoing support of our friends, volunteers, partners and advocates, we will continue to hold ourselves to very high standards so that we can continue to earn the public's trust in our mission to end suffering from this disease, forever."

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R)

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure(R), we have invested nearly $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

SOURCE: Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Emily Callahan, 972-855-1607 ecallahan@komen.org or Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Andrea Rader, 972-855-4320 arader@komen.org

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Most Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients May Not Need Radiation After Mastectomy - Science Daily

Posted: 05 Mar 2010 03:53 PM PST

ScienceDaily (Mar. 8, 2010) Breast cancer patients with early stage disease that has spread to only one lymph node may not benefit from radiation after mastectomy, because of the low present-day risk of recurrence following modern surgery and systemic therapy, a finding that could one day change the course of treatment for thousands of women diagnosed each year, according to researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer.

The research, presented in the plenary session of the Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium, showed that stage I and II patients without spread to axillary lymph nodes or with 1-3 lymph nodes with metastasis who received surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy without radiation to the chestwall post-mastectomy had a low overall risk of locoregional recurrences (LRR).

According to Henry Kuerer, M.D., Ph.D., professor and Training Program Director in M. D. Anderson's Department of Surgical Oncology, 90 percent of patients diagnosed with node-positive disease will present with three or fewer nodes. An estimated 47,000 women are diagnosed annually with breast cancer involving 1- 3 lymph nodes. Of those, 30,000 have only one lymph node involvement.

"There is currently no question that radiotherapy after mastectomy is effective at decreasing the chances of LRR and is indicated in breast cancer patients with lymph node spread in greater than four nodes and where the risk of LRR is higher than 10 to 15 percent. However, the need for post-mastectomy radiation in early stage breast cancer patients has been a topic of great debate within the cancer community for decades," explained Kuerer, the study's senior author.

In the 1990s, two landmark randomized trials demonstrated a survival benefit for early stage breast cancer patients with lymph node metastases who received the therapy post-mastectomy, explained Kuerer. Subsequently, in 2005, a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials that were conducted in the 1960s to 1980s showed both a survival benefit, and a decreased risk of LRR for women with node positive breast cancer. These study findings shifted clinical practice: the National Comprehensive Cancer Network altered their medical guidelines in 2007 to suggest that stage I and II breast cancer patients with one to three lymph node metastases "strongly consider" radiation post-mastectomy.

"We have entered a new era of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Modern day advances in all modalities have been dramatic and, collaboratively, have had a significant impact on recurrence and survival. Given these advances, the goal of our study was to assess the present-day LRR risk in women who present with smaller breast tumors and metastases to fewer lymph nodes," said Kuerer.

Kuerer and his colleagues studied clinical and pathological factors from 1,022 stage I or II breast cancer patients who received a mastectomy at M. D. Anderson between 1997 and 2002. Of those women, 79 percent had no lymph node involvement, 26 percent had 1-3 positive lymph nodes, with the majority having just one positive node. None received post-mastectomy radiation and/or pre-operative chemotherapy; 77 percent received post-operative chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. The median age was 54 years and the median follow up time was 7.5 years.

The researchers found that there was no statistical difference in the 10-year risk of LRR in women without lymph node spread versus those with spread to one node -- 2.1 percent to 3.3 percent, respectively.

The only independent risk factor for LRR was age; patients age 40 and younger, regardless of node involvement, were at significant increased risk for LRR.

"For these younger women, not less, but more treatment may be needed," said Rajna Sharma, M.D., a fellow in M. D. Anderson's Department of Surgical Oncology, who presented the findings.

"For the overwhelming majority of early-stage breast cancer patients treated with modern surgery and systemic therapies, LRR rates may be too low to justify routine use of post-mastectomy radiation," said Kuerer. "This research will provoke much discussion among those caring for women with early-stage breast disease. Replicating these findings should be a priority to ensure that patients only receive therapy that is medically necessary."

In addition to Kuerer and Sharma, other authors on the all-M.D. Anderson study include: Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D., professor, Department of Radiation Oncology; Funda Meric-Bernstam, M.D., professor, Kelly K. Hunt, M.D., professor, Isabelle Bedrosian, M.D., assistant professor, Gildy V. Babiera, M.D., associate professor, Anthony Lucci, M.D., associate professor, Rosa F. Hwang, M.D., assistant professor, Loren L. Rourke, MD., assistant professor, Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, M.D., assistant professor, all in the Department of Surgical Oncology; Steven J. Kronowitz, M.D., associate professor, Department of Plastic Surgery; 4 Savitri Krishnamurthy, M.D., professor, Department of Pathology; Ana M. Gonzalez-Angulo, M.D., associate professor, Department of Breast Medical Oncology; and Wei Qiao, Department of Biostatistics.

Story Source:

Adapted from materials provided by University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

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Corning Inc. and Susan G. Komen group join to increase cancer awareness - Star-Gazette

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 07:57 AM PST

Corning Inc. announced the Corning Lab for the Cure program, a first-of-its-kind corporate sponsorship agreement with Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest funder of breast cancer research outside of the U.S. government. Since 1983 the organization has invested $400 million toward finding a cure, with more than $230 million invested in research projects from 2006 to 2009.

Under terms of the agreement and through a one-time donation of $250,000 to the Komen organization, Corning Life Sciences will engage with the group throughout 2010 in co-marketing and co-branding initiatives intended to increase awareness for Komen's promise to save lives and find a cure for breast cancer.

The Corning Lab for the Cure program will provide Corning customers in the U.S. and Canada with the opportunity to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure through their everyday purchases of select products. Corning Life Sciences products that are part of the Corning Lab for the Cure program include cell scrapers, 100 mm dishes, PES filter systems and 50 ml centrifuge tubes.

"Susan G. Komen for the Cure is proud to welcome Corning Life Sciences as a collaborator in its promise to end breast cancer forever," said Elizabeth Thompson, senior vice president, medical and scientific affairs at Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "Every major advance in breast cancer has been touched by a Komen grant and this collaboration will allow us to continue funding ground-breaking research and life-saving community outreach projects."

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plus 2, Surgeon, pathologist, 2 hospitals named in $2.2M mistaken mastectomy ... - Windsor Star

2010-03-08T13:11:00.001-08:00

plus 2, Surgeon, pathologist, 2 hospitals named in $2.2M mistaken mastectomy ... - Windsor Star

Surgeon, pathologist, 2 hospitals named in $2.2M mistaken mastectomy ... - Windsor Star
Most early-stage breast cancer patients may not need radiation after mastectomy - EurekAlert
Breast cancer treatment may involve Acupuncture - Top News India

Surgeon, pathologist, 2 hospitals named in $2.2M mistaken mastectomy ... - Windsor Star

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 07:34 AM PST

TORONTO -- Years of vigilance, breast self-exams and regular mammograms led Laurie Johnston to Dr. Barbara Heartwell after a routine checkup detected something suspicious.

The 44-year-old Leamington mother believed she was in the hands of a good surgeon who would help her fight off breast cancer, a disease that also struck her mother and sister.

Instead, Johnston says she walked out of Heartwell's office a "disfigured," and forever-changed woman — for no reason.

Johnston underwent radical surgery last fall in which Heartwell removed her left breast and six lymph nodes, only to find out she never had cancer.

Nearly four months after the unnecessary mastectomy was performed at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital, Johnston launched a $2.2-million lawsuit against Heartwell, pathologist Dr. Olive Williams, Hotel-Dieu and Leamington District Memorial hospitals.

Johnston is seeking $1 million in general and special damages and another $1 million in punitive and aggravated damages. Her daughters, aged 22 and 15, and her sister are seeking another $200,000 in damages under the Family Law Act.

"To learn that my breast was removed unnecessarily is devastating for me and (my family)," Johnston told a throng of reporters Wednesday at the office of Toronto law firm Torkin Manes LLP.

"Sometimes, I'm alone and I just sit there and think about it, and I start to cry,'' she said. "If I'm not crying, I'm angry, I'm anxious."

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Windsor, alleges Heartwell failed to properly diagnose Johnston and "failed to read or properly understand" the pathology report which showed Johnston's lump was benign.

The suit also alleges Williams, who examined Johnston's biopsy samples taken at Leamington hospital, produced a confusing pathology report which contributed to Heartwell's error. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Hotel-Dieu officials have said that Williams's pathology report was correct but that Heartwell misread it. The top of the report lists a clinical diagnosis of ductal carcinoma, based on initial findings. Further down the page, Williams listed a pathological diagnosis of fibroadenoma — a benign growth in the breast.

Johnston's lawyer, Barbara MacFarlane, said Hotel-Dieu ought to have known at the time of Johnston's surgery that Heartwell had performed another unnecessary mastectomy in 2001 on Janice Laporte, who was cancer-free.

Laporte, who now lives in Sarnia, came forward with her story after hearing about Johnston in the media. Laporte settled a lawsuit against Heartwell out of court. That suit did not name Hotel-Dieu.

MacFarlane said both Hotel-Dieu and Leamington hospitals should have known that Williams was "incompetent." Hotel-Dieu began reviewing Williams's pathology reports in November, after she made an error that seriously harmed a patient at the hospital. Hotel-Dieu hasn't revealed what happened to that patient.

Williams was suspended Jan. 4. Heartwell voluntarily stopped performing surgeries at Hotel-Dieu last week. The hospital is also reviewing her past cases.

Both physicians are under investigation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. The Ontario Ministry of Health has also launched a probe into surgical and pathology errors in Windsor.

Heartwell's London lawyer, Andrea Plumb, said Wednesday she couldn't comment on Johnston's lawsuit. It wasn't known if Williams has retained a lawyer.

In a statement, Hotel-Dieu said it has not yet received official notice of Johnston's claim.

"We are profoundly sorry that this tragic situation has occurred and we know this is an extremely difficult time for Ms. Johnston," hospital CEO Warren Chant said, adding that Hotel-Dieu has offered support to Johnston and "will we will continue to do so."

But Johnston said she felt the hospital's patient advocate was "digging for information" in their conversations, which made her feel uncomfortable.

Johnston recounted Wednesday the moment Heartwell told her she'd made a mistake in removing her breast.

"I was almost to the point of fainting in her office," she said.

Johnston said she left the appointment "numb and confused," wondering if Heartwell was mistaken and she actually did have cancer. Johnston pushed for a second opinion on her pathology results and eventually got one from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, confirming there was no malignancy.

Johnston said she didn't ask for a second opinion before Heartwell scheduled the mastectomy because she believed her tests were correct and "efficient."

She also didn't report Heartwell's mistake to Hotel-Dieu because she believed the surgeon would do so herself.

"I felt that was her duty," she said.

Hotel-Dieu has said it wasn't aware of Johnston's case until Feb. 5., when a local reporter called with questions about the mastectomy.

Johnston said having her breast removed unnecessarily has changed everything — from the way she dresses to how she interacts with people.

"I'm withdrawn now," she said. "The phone will be ringing and I'll look at it and I can't answer it. I don't want to talk to anybody."

Johnston said she used to relish spending time with her family and friends and loved her job at Cavendish Farms in Wheatley. But she hasn't been able to work since the mastectomy and doesn't think she could ever return to the physically demanding job.

Johnston said she hopes her lawsuit will not only bring her justice, but also help prevent other women from going through the same thing.

"I would like to assist in making changes," she said.

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Most early-stage breast cancer patients may not need radiation after mastectomy - EurekAlert

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 05:50 AM PST

Public release date: 6-Mar-2010
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Contact: Lindsay Anderson
lindsay.anderson@gabbe.com
212-220-4444
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

No significant increased risk of recurrence for women with spread to 1 lymph node, compared to others without metastasis

St. Louis, MO - Breast cancer patients with early stage disease that has spread to only one lymph node may not benefit from radiation after mastectomy, because of the low present-day risk of recurrence following modern surgery and systemic therapy, a finding that could one day change the course of treatment for thousands of women diagnosed each year, according to researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer.

The research, presented today in the plenary session of the Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium, showed that stage I and II patients without spread to axillary lymph nodes or with 1-3 lymph nodes with metastasis who received surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy without radiation to the chestwall post-mastectomy had a low overall risk of locoregional recurrences (LRR).

The researchers found that there was no statistical difference in the 10-year risk of LRR in women without lymph node spread versus those with spread to one node - 2.1 percent to 3.3 percent, respectively.

The only independent risk factor for LRR was age; patients age 40 and younger, regardless of node involvement, were at significant increased risk for LRR.

"For these younger women, not less, but more treatment may be needed," said Rajna Sharma, M.D., a fellow in M. D. Anderson's Department of Surgical Oncology, who presented the findings.

About M. D. Anderson

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. M. D. Anderson is one of only 41 Comprehensive Cancer Centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For four of the past six years, M. D. Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in "America's Best Hospitals," a survey published annually in U.S. News and World Report.

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Breast cancer treatment may involve Acupuncture - Top News India

Posted: 05 Mar 2010 12:51 AM PST

According to a new study, acupuncture could be an effective therapy for joint pain and stiffness in breast cancer patients who are being treated with commonly used hormonal therapies.

Researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, led the new study which found that joint pain and stiffness are common side effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy, in which the synthesis of estrogen is blocked.

It was previously shown that the therapy, which is a common and effective treatment for early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in post-menopausal women, causes some joint pain and stiffness in half of women being treated.

Dr. Dawn Hershman, senior author of the paper said," Since aromatase inhibitors have become an increasingly popular treatment option for some breast cancer patients, we aimed to find a non-drug option to manage the joint issues they often create, thereby improving quality of life and reducing the likelihood that patients would discontinue this potentially life-saving treatment."

43 women were randomly assigned by researchers to receive either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture twice a week for six weeks, to explore the effects of acupuncture on aromatase inhibitor-associated joint pain.

Dr. Katherine D. Crew, first author of the paper said," This study suggests that acupuncture may help women manage the joint pain and stiffness that can accompany aromatase inhibitor treatment." She further added," To our knowledge, this is the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial establishing that acupuncture may be an effective method to relieve joint problems caused by these medications. However, results still need to be confirmed in larger, multicenter studies." (With Input From Agencies)

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plus 1, Woman suing for $2.2M over mastectomy mistake - Vancouver Sun

2010-03-06T13:03:00.001-08:00

plus 1, Woman suing for $2.2M over mastectomy mistake - Vancouver Sun

Woman suing for $2.2M over mastectomy mistake - Vancouver Sun

Posted: 05 Mar 2010 12:58 AM PST

A Leamington, Ont., woman, who had an unnecessary mastectomy last fall, has launched a $2.2-million lawsuit against the surgeon who removed her breast, the pathologist who analysed her biopsy and two Windsor-Essex hospitals.

Laurie Johnston, who never had breast cancer, is suing surgeon Dr. Barbara Heartwell, pathologist Dr. Olive Williams, Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital and Leamington District Memorial Hospital. The lawsuit alleges Williams's pathology report is confusing and contributed to Heartwell's mistake. The surgery was done at Hotel-Dieu in November by Heartwell, a surgeon with 28 years of experience.

Johnston's biopsy was done at Leamington hospital and examined by Williams -- who was suspended Jan. 4 because of errors in her work.

"Recently I learned that in addition to the pathology report that said I did not have cancer, there was another report in my record that said it was not cancer. Both of these reports were dated days before my surgery, and I assume were sent to Dr. Heartwell," said Johnson, at a Toronto news conference.

"When I was told by Dr. Heartwell that I had cancer, it was very difficult for me, but I felt that I had come to terms with it, with my family's support. To learn that my breast was removed unnecessarily is devastating for me and for them. Another patient has come forward to say that Dr. Heartwell did the same thing to her. It is shocking to me to know that what happened to me could have been prevented if only I had known."

Days after Johnston's case became public, it was revealed that Heartwell had performed another unnecessary mastectomy in 2001 on Sarnia woman Janice Laporte, whose pathology results also showed she did not have breast cancer.

When Laporte came forward with her story, Heartwell voluntarily stopped operating at Hotel-Dieu until the hospital completes a review of her past cases. The mastectomy errors forced Hotel-Dieu to reveal it had been reviewing Williams's work.

The medical errors have prompted a separate investigation by the Ontario Ministry of Health, which appointed three top doctors this week to look into the situation in Windsor.

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Acupuncture Eases Breast Cancer Therapy - OfficialWire

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 12:42 AM PST

U.S. researchers say acupuncture may relieve joint pain often accompanying breast cancer treatment.

Researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City and colleagues found post-menopausal women being treated with aromatase inhibitor therapy for hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer reporting joint pain who received acupuncture had significant lessening of pain.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, also found the women treated with acupuncture had overall physical well-being improve and the 20 percent also taking pain medications reported no longer needing them. No such improvements were reported by controls.

"Since aromatase inhibitors have become an increasingly popular treatment option for some breast cancer patients, we aimed to find a non-drug option to manage the joint issues they often create, thereby improving quality of life and reducing the likelihood that patients would discontinue this potentially life-saving treatment," study senior author Dr. Dawn Hershman said in a statement.

Hershman and colleagues randomly assigned 43 women given aromatase inhibitor and reporting joint pain to receive twice weekly treatments of either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture -- superficial needle insertion at points not-recognized as acupuncture points as a control.

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plus 3, Life Tech Joins With TGen, US Oncology For Breast Cancer Sequencing ... - RTT News

2010-03-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

plus 3, Life Tech Joins With TGen, US Oncology For Breast Cancer Sequencing ... - RTT News

Life Tech Joins With TGen, US Oncology For Breast Cancer Sequencing ... - RTT News
Acupuncture could relieve joint pain linked to breast cancer ... - Daily News and Analysis
Certain Bone Drugs May Lower Breast Cancer Risk - US News and World Report
Freezing breast cancer — clinical trial aims to kill cancer in its ... - Arizona Daily Star

Life Tech Joins With TGen, US Oncology For Breast Cancer Sequencing ... - RTT News

Posted: 05 Mar 2010 08:50 AM PST

(RTTNews) - Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE: News ) said that it is collaborating with the Translational Genomics Research Institute and US Oncology to sequence the genomes of 14 patients afflicted with triple negative breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other therapies.

The company noted that the goal of this first-of-its-kind research collaboration is to demonstrate whether genomic sequencing of cancer tissue can provide clues for treatment strategies for these individuals.

In this collaboration, US Oncology will help enroll patients in the study to have both tumor and healthy tissue sequenced using the SOLiD system to identify mutations, which will be validated by CLIA-certified Caris Life Sciences.

Scientists and oncologists will then leverage this information to more intelligently evaluate potential therapies that target the affected pathways responsible for the cancer, the company said.

In addition, scientists from TGen and Life Technologies will collaborate in the development of novel computational and informatics software paving the way for the use of whole genomic sequencing data for querying, identifying and interpreting mutations to provide for more effective therapeutic decisions.

by RTT Staff Writer

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

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Acupuncture could relieve joint pain linked to breast cancer ... - Daily News and Analysis

Posted: 05 Mar 2010 12:22 AM PST

WASHINGTON: Acupuncture could be an effective therapy for joint pain and stiffness in breast cancer patients who are being treated with commonly used hormonal therapies, says a new study.

Joint pain and stiffness are common side effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy, in which the synthesis of estrogen is blocked.

Researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, led the new study.

To explore the effects of acupuncture on aromatase inhibitor-associated joint pain, researchers randomly assigned 43 women to receive either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture twice a week for six weeks.

Sham acupuncture, which was used to control for a potential placebo effect, involved superficial needle insertion at body points not recognized as true acupuncture points.

All participants were receiving an aromatase inhibitor for early breast cancer, and all had reported musculoskeletal pain.

In women treated with true acupuncture, it was shown that they experienced significant improvement in joint pain and stiffness over the course of the study.

Pain severity declined, and overall physical well being improved.

In addition, 20 percent of the patients who had reported taking pain relief medications reported that they no longer needed to take these medications following acupuncture treatment.

However, no such improvements were reported in women who were treated with the sham acupuncture.

"This study suggests that acupuncture may help women manage the joint pain and stiffness that can accompany aromatase inhibitor treatment," said Dr. Katherine D. Crew, first author of the paper.

"To our knowledge, this is the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial establishing that acupuncture may be an effective method to relieve joint problems caused by these medications. However, results still need to be confirmed in larger, multicenter studies," she added.

The results of the study were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Certain Bone Drugs May Lower Breast Cancer Risk - US News and World Report

Posted: 05 Mar 2010 07:03 AM PST

FRIDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) -- Some types of bone-building drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis might reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to new research.

The study, which included 6,000 Wisconsin women aged 20 to 69, found that those who took bisphosphonate drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva and Zometa for more than two years were 40 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than were women who did not take the drugs.

However, the protective effective was seen only among women who were not obese.

"Obese women may have elevated estrogen levels, so underlying hormones may influence the ability of bisphosphonates to reduce breast cancer risk," the study's lead author, Polly Newcomb, head of the cancer prevention program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, said in a news release from the center.

The study is published online and in the March print issue of the British Journal of Cancer.

Just how bisphosphonate drugs affect the risk for breast cancer is unclear, but there are a number of possibilities.

"These drugs may affect cell function and be important in cell growth and death -- specifically the death of tumors or even premalignant disease," Newcomb said.

Also, previous studies have found that some kinds of bisphosphonates trigger tumor cell death, prevent tumors from establishing a blood supply and prevent cancer cells from binding to each other.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about breast cancer prevention.

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Freezing breast cancer — clinical trial aims to kill cancer in its ... - Arizona Daily Star

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:38 AM PST

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is looking for participants for a clinical trial of cryoblation — freezing cancer tumors to stop the spread.

U-M researchers are participating in a national clinical trial to evaluate using cryoablation for early stage breast cancer.

Participants will undergo rapid freezing of their tumor, and their blood samples will be analyzed to assess changes in their immune system. All participants will be treated three to four weeks later with standard surgery to remove their tumor.

For more information about the study, contact the U-M Cancer AnswerLine at 1-800-865-1125.

A new study on mice with breast cancer conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center shows that freezing a cancer kills it in its place and also appears to generate an immune response to stop its spread.

Researchers looked at two different cryoablation techniques, which both involve applying a cold probe to a tumor to freeze it.

One method involves freezing the tumor rapidly, in about 30 seconds. The other freezes the tumor slowly, taking a few minutes. Results from the cryoablation were compared to results from mice whose tumors were removed with surgery.

Both cryoablation techniques successfully killed the breast tumor.

The mice treated with the rapid freeze had fewer tumors that spread to the lungs and improved survival compared to mice treated with surgery alone or mice treated with the slower freezing technique.

The study showed that the benefit from the rapid freezing is likely due to changes in the immune system that help to kill the tumor. Freezing with the slower technique appeared to make the immune system not as able to kill the tumor.

The study appears online in Annals of Surgical Oncology. Based on these results from mice, researchers are now conducting a clinical trial using cryoablation in patients with breast cancer. In this trial, researchers use the rapid freezing technique.

Cryoablation is currently used routinely for prostate cancer, kidney cancer and a variety of cancers that have spread to the liver and bone.

Breast cancer statistics: 192,280 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 40,610 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society

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plus 2, Statement from Breast Cancer Care on supply chain issues for breast ... - Politics.co.uk

2010-03-04T13:16:00.001-08:00

plus 2, Statement from Breast Cancer Care on supply chain issues for breast ... - Politics.co.uk

Statement from Breast Cancer Care on supply chain issues for breast ... - Politics.co.uk
New Breast Cancer Subtype Responds To Drug - OfficialWire
Genomic Health Announces Analysis Reinforcing Clinical Utility of ... - PR Inside

Statement from Breast Cancer Care on supply chain issues for breast ... - Politics.co.uk

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 09:13 AM PST

Thursday, 04, Mar 2010 12:00

Olivia Marks-Woldman, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Breast Cancer Care, said:

"A diagnosis of breast cancer brings a complex range of emotional and practical concerns, and being unable to access necessary drugs can only cause extra anxiety at an already difficult time.

"Our helpline suggests to women and men in this position to ask their pharmacist to either contact the manufacturer direct or check if other local pharmacies have the drug.

"While we are not aware of individuals ultimately being denied drugs, it is clearly unacceptable that they do not have timely access to medicines that form a vital part of their treatment.

"We welcome the recent findings from the Department of Health's summit in to this issue, and hope that its actions can be quickly implemented so that patients do not face unnecessary anxiety each time their prescription needs renewing."

ENDS

Breast Cancer Care is here for anyone affected by breast cancer. We bring people together, provide information and support, and campaign for improved standards of care. We use our understanding of people's experience of breast cancer and our clinical expertise in everything we do. Visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk/ or call our free helpline on 0808 800 6000.

Ian Manley

Press and PR Officer

ian.manley@breastcancercare.org.uk

0207 960 3450

Breast Cancer Care

5-13 Great Suffolk Street, London, SE1 0NS

Direct line: 0207 960 3450 Switchboard: 0845 092 0800

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/

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New Breast Cancer Subtype Responds To Drug - OfficialWire

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 04:34 AM PST

U.S. cancer experts say they've found a newly identified cancer biomarker might define a new subtype of breast cancer and offer a potential way to treat it.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis say their findings could further refine what recent breast cancer research has concluded -- that breast cancer is not one disease, but many.

The biomarker is found frequently in breast cancers and especially in those that have poorer outcomes. Researchers said it stems from overactivation of a gene called LRP6 (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6), which stimulates an important cell-growth signaling pathway. LRP6 can be inhibited by a protein that could become an effective drug against the breast cancer type.

"We found increased expression of the LRP6 gene in about a quarter of breast cancer specimens we examined, and we think LRP6 overexpression could be a marker for a new class of breast cancer," Professor Guojun Bu, who led the study, said. "In addition, we found that this biomarker is often associated with breast cancers that are either harder to treat or more likely to recur. We already have an agent that seems to be effective against LRP6-overexpressing tumors, which could someday become a therapy for tumors that right now have few treatment options."

The study appears in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Genomic Health Announces Analysis Reinforcing Clinical Utility of ... - PR Inside

Posted: 26 Feb 2010 05:17 AM PST

2010-02-26 14:18:02 -

REDWOOD CITY, CA and KYOTO, JAPAN -- (Marketwire) -- 02/26/10 -- Genomic Health : , Inc.
(NASDAQ: GHDX) today announced results from an analysis demonstrating that the Oncotype DX® breast cancer test : has similar clinical relevance in estrogen receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer patients in Asia Pacific (AP) countries as it does in a comparable U.S.-based patient population. The analysis showed that this advanced diagnostic test consistently identified more than 50 percent of hormone receptor positive early-stage breast cancer patients in AP countries as having low Recurrence Scores, similar to what has been shown in U.S. and European clinical studies evaluating the Oncotype DX : breast cancer test. These results were presented in a poster presentation at the Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research (OOTR) 6th Annual Conference in Kyoto, Japan, on February 26.

The Oncotype DX breast cancer test : measures the expression of 21 genes of an individual breast cancer tumor to generate a Recurrence Score® : that quantifies the magnitude of chemotherapy benefit and the likelihood of recurrence for early-stage patients. As of February 2010, more than 8,000 physicians have used the Oncotype DX test for more than 135,000 breast cancer patients in more than 50 countries. The test was launched in the United States in 2004 : where it has since been widely adopted for treating early-stage breast cancer, and is available worldwide.

"We believe these new findings, coupled with results from the multi-center Japanese validation study presented last April at the 2009 Kyoto Breast Cancer Consensus Conference, confirm the significant clinical benefit Oncotype DX : provides in breast cancer treatment planning for early-stage breast cancer patients in Asia Pacific countries," said Calvin Chao, M.D., Medical Director, Genomic Health : . "We believe these data support our efforts to expand the use of Oncotype DX throughout this important region of the world."

For this analysis, researchers at Genomic Health's : CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certified, CAP (College of American Pathologists) accredited laboratory analyzed tumor samples from 546 AP patients located in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India, Australia, and New Zealand. The tumor samples were submitted by physicians between 2006 and 2009. The AP Recurrence Score results, when compared to U.S. scores, showed a similar distribution of Recurrence Scores -- low Recurrence Score group (51 percent AP, versus 54 percent U.S.), intermediate Recurrence Score group (33 percent AP, versus 34 percent U.S.) and high Recurrence Score group (16 percent AP, versus 13 percent U.S.). These findings were consistent with results from numerous U.S. and international validation and confirmatory studies evaluating Oncotype DX : , despite observed differences in practice pattern management of early-stage breast cancer.

The table below illustrates the distribution of low, intermediate and high Recurrence Score (RS) risk groups in the Asia Pacific and the U.S.:

 AP (n=546) US ( > 110,000) RS 0-17 51% 54% RS 18-30 33% 34% RS greater than or equal to 31 16% 13%

About the Oncotype DX® Breast Cancer Test The Oncotype DX : breast cancer test is the only multigene expression test commercially available that has clinical evidence validating its ability to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in early-stage breast cancer. Additionally, the test report provides quantitative scores for certain individual genes. The Oncotype DX : breast cancer test has been extensively evaluated in thirteen clinical studies involving more than 4,000 breast cancer patients worldwide, including a large validation study published in The New England Journal of Medicine and a chemotherapy benefit study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. As of February 2010, more than 8,000 physicians have ordered more than 135,000 tests in over 50 countries, and both Medicare and private health plans covering over 90 percent of U.S.
insured lives, provide reimbursement for Oncotype DX : for patients with node-negative breast cancer that is estrogen-receptor positive and/or progesterone-receptor positive through contracts, agreements or policy decisions. Both : the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend the use of Oncotype DX : for patients with node-negative breast cancer that is estrogen-receptor positive and/or progesterone-receptor positive.
For more information about Oncotype DX : , please visit www.oncotypedx.com : .

About Genomic Health Genomic Health : , Inc.
(NASDAQ: GHDX) is a life science company focused on the development and commercialization of genomic-based clinical laboratory services for cancer that allow physicians and patients to make individualized treatment decisions. In 2004, Genomic Health : launched the Oncotype DX® breast cancer test : , which has been shown to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in early-stage breast cancer. In addition to the widely adopted Oncotype DX breast cancer test, Genomic Health launched its Oncotype DX colon cancer : test in January 2010. The company was founded in 2000 : and is located in Redwood City, California. For more information, please visit www.genomichealth.com : .

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the applicability of clinical study results to actual outcomes, the belief the Oncotype DX breast cancer test provides a significant clinical benefit in treatment planning for early-stage breast cancer patients in Asia Pacific countries and the belief that the study supports the company's efforts to expand use of Oncotype DX into breast cancer treatment planning in the Asia Pacific region. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that we may not be able to expand use of Oncotype DX in the Asia Pacific region; our ability to obtain or maintain sufficient levels of reimbursement for our tests; the risks and uncertainties associated with the regulation of our tests; the applicability of clinical study results to actual outcomes; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Genomic Health disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

NOTE: The Genomic Health logo, Oncotype, Oncotype DX and Recurrence Score are trademarks or registered trademarks of Genomic Health, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
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plus 3, Freezing breast cancer — clinical trial aims to kill cancer in its ... - Arizona Daily Star

2010-03-03T13:18:00.001-08:00

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Freezing breast cancer — clinical trial aims to kill cancer in its ... - Arizona Daily Star
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Radiotherapy Crucial to Preventing Breast Cancer Recurrence - Redorbit.com
Breast Cancer Charity Website Offers Breast Cancer Profiler Tool - YAHOO!