Health News

Cancer Staging In Black and White
Breast cancer is more common in white women than in black women - yet the disease is more deadly in black women. This is just one of the disparities among breast cancer patients.
Extending Tamoxifen Use May Extend Lives
For years, tamoxifen has been prescribed for women who’ve been treated for breast cancer. Extending the time women take the drug may extend lives.
Do You Have Dense Breasts?
Women need to know whether or not they have dense breasts for a couple of reasons – important reasons. Breast density can affect breast cancer risks and therefore cancer screenings.
Does Mammography Radiation Increase Cancer Risks?
Have you heard that radiation from mammography can cause other cancers? Maybe you’ve heard recommendations that a shield be used to protect the thyroid. A new study took a look at these concerns.
Sparing Lymph Nodes
It used to be that when a woman was diagnosed with breast cancer, typical treatment included removal of the breast and nearby lymph nodes.
Is Mammography Harming More Women Than It Saves?
A new study looking at 30 years of screening mammography suggests that we are over-diagnosing breast cancer by about one third – 31 percent. A nationally known breast cancer screening expert and advocate responds to the study by saying, “Enough is enough.”
Heart Breaking Complications
Scientists have known for a while that some chemotherapy agents can cause heart disease in some patients. This complication is now being seen in some women taking a popular breast cancer drug.
More Risks For BRCA Carriers
Genetic mutations are often the root cause of some cancers. Some of these changes are inherited. Altered BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, for example, increase risks for breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer Gap
The good news is that fewer women are dying from breast cancer. The bad news is that black women are more likely to die from the disease, even though they have fewer new cases than white women.
Reducing Unnecessary Surgeries
The biggest fear about any cancer is the possibility that it has spread. Figuring this out, though, can involve invasive tests. Scientists are working on a laser light method that could avoid unnecessary surgery.