Breast Cancer Patients Face Preoperative Options

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 01 Aug 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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A comprehensive healthcare newsletter from the American Society of Breast Disease summarizes options for preoperative systemic therapy for many breast cancer patients. The ASBD Breast Healthcare Update - Systemic Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Issues in Preoperative and Adjuvant Treatment reviews current issues and controversies in preoperative and adjuvant treatment of breast cancer.

The new ASBD Breast Healthcare Update addresses indications and appropriate selection of patients, current controversies in the use of preoperative therapy, including surgical issues associated with preoperative chemotherapy and issues surrounding postmastectomy radiotherapy in patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy. The newsletter also covers data that show that tumor response to preoperative treatment cannot be used to tailor therapy for the individual patient.

As noted in the newsletter by author Patrick Morris, MD, "preoperative or neoadjuvant therapy has been shown to improve survival, local control, and operability in a variety of tumors, including breast cancer. In some cases, preoperative therapy is imperative to achieve local control, whereas in other instances, the indication for preoperative therapy is less strong."

The newsletter, which highlights two scientific sessions at the 32nd Annual Symposium of the American Society of Breast Disease, held in April 2008, is designed to meet the on-going educational needs of breast healthcare specialists. The ASBD Breast Healthcare Updater is available for free download at the Society's web site at http://www.asbd.org.

About the American Society of Breast Disease

The American Society of Breast Disease is the leading professional medical society in the United States to serve all physicians and allied professionals committed to and advocating an interdisciplinary team approach to breast cancer and disease management, prevention, early detection, treatment, and research. The Society provides professional education programs and advocates for improvements in breast healthcare.

http://www.asbd.org

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