Studies Examine Breast Cancer Prevention, Pregnancy In Breast Cancer Survivors

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Preventive Medicine;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 30 Mar 2010 - 2:00 PDT


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Scientists on Thursday presented new breast cancer research at a conference in Barcelona, Spain. Summaries appear below.

~ Prevention: Twenty-five to thirty percent of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be prevented through diet and exercise, according to study of data from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, AP/MSNBC reports. Improved treatments, earlier diagnosis and mammography have helped reduce breast cancer rates, and many experts say the focus should shift to behavioral changes, such as physical activity and a healthy diet. Estrogen is produced in fat tissue and can fuel many types of breast cancer, which researchers say might explain why overweight women are more likely than normal-weight women to develop the disease. Thin women also might be able to reduce their cancer risk by converting more fat into muscle, experts believe (Cheng [1], AP/MSNBC, 3/25).

~ Pregnancy: Women with a history of breast cancer who later become pregnant have a 42% lower risk of dying from the disease compared with those who never become pregnant, according to a Belgian study, the AP/MSNBC reports. For the study, Hatem Azim of the Institute Jules Bordet in Belgium and colleagues analyzed 14 previous trials that tracked more than 1,400 women with a history of breast cancer who became pregnant several months to several years after completing treatment. Researchers compared this group with more than 18,000 breast cancer survivors who were not pregnant. Maria Leadbeater of the British not-for-profit Breast Cancer Care said that for many years, pregnancy was considered risky for breast cancer survivors, adding, "But this study seems to show the risk is not an issue once you've been treated." According to the AP/MSNBC, some earlier studies had compared pregnant women with breast cancer to pregnant breast cancer survivors. Azim said one possible explanation for the findings could be that breast cancer survivors who became pregnant were healthier to begin with. Pregnancy hormones also likely play a role, he said (Cheng [2], AP/MSNBC, 3/25).

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Breast Cancer

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Breast cancer is a tumor that has become malignant - it has developed from the breast cells. A 'malignant' tumor can spread to other parts of the body - it may also invade surrounding tissue. When it spreads around the body, we call it 'metastasis'. Read more...

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