It can seem like health writers are obsessed with numbers. Pull up any news article or blog post on breast cancer, and you’ll likely wade into a sea of percentages, decimals, odds and fractions. Often, these numbers describe “risk.” It’s a familiar term but also one that can have some specific meanings when it comes […]
Over the past 30 years, breast cancer rates have increased by nearly 20 percent in the United States (though more recent years have begun to see small declines). During this time, the number of synthetic chemicals in the environment has also increased. These trends have caused many to question whether the increasingly polluted environment is […]
Female breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among nearly every racial and ethnic group in the U.S. However, the past 25 years have seen much improvement in treatment and overall breast cancer care, which have greatly increased survival rates over the years. During this time, overall breast cancer rates have decreased, but have […]
Angelina Jolie can make headlines when she goes to buy milk. So it was no surprise that last May she was yet again front-page news. This time, though, it was not for her latest blockbuster movie or her relief work. It was much more personal – her choice to have preventive surgery to remove both of her breasts. […]
It’s a health mantra almost every woman could say in her sleep: “Exercise regularly and watch your weight.” In fact, it’s heard so often that it’s very easy to tune out. But, this is an important message that everyone should take to heart, especially breast cancer survivors. There’s very good evidence that exercising and maintaining a […]
The goal of treating early stage and locally advanced breast cancer is to remove the cancer and keep it from coming back (called recurrence or relapse). With modern treatment, rates of survival without recurrence continue to improve. Unfortunately, there is always a chance that breast cancer may return. However most people diagnosed with breast cancer will never have a […]
It’s well established that hormones play a key role in breast cancer risk. So, it’s not surprising that factors related to fertility and pregnancy have been actively studied to better understand their relationship with breast cancer. These include, age at menopause, age at first period, childbearing (number of children and age at first childbirth) and use […]
What is lymphedema? Lymph is a clear fluid that contains white blood cells (these cells help fight infections). Lymph vessels, like blood vessels, run all through the body carrying lymph, cells and other material. Lymph from tissues and organs drains into the lymph vessels and is carried to the lymph nodes where it is filtered. While lymph […]
With continuing advances in treatment, an increasing number of people diagnosed with breast cancer will live for many years. Today, there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.1 As survivors live longer, we are learning more about the late effects of breast cancer treatment. Treatment saves lives, but some treatments may […]
Most of us have heard the term “clinical trials”, but haven’t given it much thought. Like a lot of important things that fly under the radar, clinical trials have had a huge impact on society. At their most basic, clinical trials are a type of research study that tests the safety and effectiveness of ways to […]
Menopause begins most often in the late forties or early fifties. Medically, a woman is considered in menopause 12 months after her menstrual periods have stopped. However, hot flashes and other symptoms may occur a few years before menopause begins and may continue for five or more years.1 The severity and duration of symptoms vary from […]
It’s one of the mysteries of breast cancer: the fact that a large percentage of women at high risk of breast cancer choose not to take medications that could help prevent the disease. By some estimates, less than five percent of women eligible for such medications actually take them.1-2 For a disease many women say is […]
