mammary gland

Immune cells shape maternal and infant health during lactation

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It’s widely known that breastfeeding impacts the health of both mother and child, but the underlying biology that leads to these effects has been understudied. In a review article publishing in the Cell Press journal Trends in Immunology on February 26, researchers highlight recent studies showing T cells-white blood cells that play a pivotal role in the immune system-shape the baby’s immune system, support healthy gut bacteria, and reduce the … Read more

New Imaging Triples Dense Breast Cancer Detection

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Supplemental imaging techniques could more than triple cancer detection in dense breasts compared with standard care alone, according to new research. The study, published in The Lancet, found that abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging (AB-MRI) and contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) could help detect an additional 3500 breast cancer cases per year in the UK. Around 2.2 million … Read more

Does Weight Gain After Breast Cancer Affect Outcome?

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Women who gain a more substantial amount of weight after being diagnosed with breast cancer face an increased risk of dying from the disease, according to findings from a new study. However, that higher mortality risk only appears to apply to women who are overweight or at a healthy weight before diagnosis, not to those who … Read more

Breast-Conserving Tx, Mastectomy Have Similar Outcomes

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TOPLINE: In a multicenter cohort study of 575 South Korean patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variants, breast-conserving treatment demonstrated comparable oncologic outcomes to mastectomy over a median follow-up of 8.3 years. After propensity score matching, no significant differences between the two surgical approaches were found in terms of locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and overall … Read more

Do Mammograms Improve Breast Cancer Outcomes in Older Women?

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TOPLINE: Among women aged 70 years or older with screen-detected breast cancer, those with a history of screening mammography within 5 years of their diagnosis were much more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage and much less likely to die from breast cancer, according to a new analysis of over 13,000 women. METHODOLOGY: … Read more

Genomic Test Findings for Black Women With Breast Cancer

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TOPLINE: A review of the distribution of risk estimates from three commonly used genomic assays for breast cancer found that Black women were more likely to have aggressive tumor phenotypes, which contributed to poorer outcomes. Such disparities persisted after adjusting for genomic risk scores and tumor subtypes. While these tests remain valuable for guiding treatment … Read more

Lung Cancer Screening Lower Than Others

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TOPLINE: A study found that among US adults eligible for lung cancer screening (LCS), the uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer screening was nearly fourfold higher than LCS. Among those who had never undergone LCS, approximately 60% participated in other cancer screenings — indicating they are reachable and open to preventive health services. … Read more

New Canadian Guideline for Postpartum Physical Activity

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During the first year after giving birth, mothers should work up to 120 min/wk of moderate to vigorous physical activity, such as brisk walking and muscle-strengthening exercises, according to a new Canadian guideline. The document focuses on postpartum physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Produced by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, the guideline also … Read more

Chemo Tied to Long-Lasting Health Decline in Breast Cancer

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TOPLINE: Breast cancer survivors who received chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or both showed a significant decline in physical health during the first 2 years after diagnosis compared with those without cancer, but this decline only remained significant in those who received chemotherapy after the 2-year mark. METHODOLOGY: Breast cancer survivors are known to experience a decline … Read more

Helping Cancer Survivors Cope With Fear of Recurrence

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It’s common for patients to fear that their cancer will return. Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer, so it makes sense that fear of recurrence among its survivors is especially widespread. Oncologists say that some level of anxiety about recurrence among survivors of breast cancer can be beneficial, perhaps motivating patients to … Read more