6. What are some of the latest research findings on breast cancer risk?
Two studies in the September 6, 2006, issue of the Journal of the National
Cancer Institute identified breast density as an important risk factor.* In one,
a study of 11,638 women diagnosed with breast cancer, researchers identified
different sets of risk factors in pre- and post-menopausal women. For
pre-menopausal women, the risk factors included age, breast density, family
history of breast cancer, and prior cancer diagnosis. For post-menopausal women,
the risk factors included ethnicity, body mass index, age at natural menopause,
use of hormone therapy, and a prior false-positive mammogram, in addition to all
the risk factors for pre-menopausal women. The two separate models in this study
for predicting breast cancer in pre- and post-menopausal women may be
particularly helpful in identifying women at high risk for breast cancer.
The other study adds breast density and weight to the Gail model, a model
that is the basis for the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (see Question 2).
As before, the new model can be used to project risk over 5, 10, 20 and 30 year
intervals. The new model predicted higher risks than the previous model in women
with high breast density, and previous analyses indicated that the new model had
modestly higher accuracy. Independent validation studies are needed before this
model should be used for counseling, and before making a permanent change to the
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool.
7. Are there ways to decrease the chance of developing breast cancer?
Launched in April 1992, the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT) was
designed to see whether the drug tamoxifen could prevent breast cancer in women
with an increased risk. Data reported in 1998 showed that both pre- and
post-menopausal women taking tamoxifen had 49 percent fewer diagnosed cases of
breast cancer. These results were also the first clear indication that a
chemopreventive agent could be effective in preventing cancer in a high-risk
population. For women over 50, tamoxifen was associated with serious side
effects, such as endometrial cancer and blood clots. (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Prevention/breast-cancer)
Starting in 1999, postmenopausal women ages 35 or older at increased risk for
breast cancer participated in the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR). The
study compared tamoxifen with raloxifene, an osteoporosis drug. The initial
results of the trial were announced on April 17, 2006 (see http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/STARresultsApr172006),
and showed that the drug raloxifene works as well as tamoxifen in reducing
breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women at increased risk of the disease. In
STAR, both drugs reduced the risk of developing invasive breast cancer by about
50 percent. In addition, within the study, women who were prospectively and
randomly assigned to take raloxifene daily, and who were followed for an average
of about four years, had 36 percent fewer uterine cancers and 29 percent fewer
blood clots than the women who were assigned to take tamoxifen. Uterine cancers,
especially endometrial cancers, are a rare but serious side effect of tamoxifen.
Both tamoxifen and raloxifene are known to increase a woman's risk of blood
clots. Data from STAR continues to be analyzed. (http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/STARresultsQandA)
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Symptoms include a lump in the breast or underarm area, nipple pain, change in breast size or shape, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge, and breast skin changes. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery.
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
Normal vaginal bleeding (menorrhea) occurs through the process of menstruation. Abnormal vaginal bleeding in women who are ovulating regularly most commonly involves excessive, frequent, irregular, or decreased bleeding. Causes of abnormal may arise from a variety of conditions.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
There are a number of different methods of birth control to include: barrier methods, IUDs, hormonal methods, natural methods, and surgical sterilization. Birth control methods can be reversible or permanent. In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Lifestyle changes, a healthy antioxidant-rich diet, exercise, and weight reduction can help reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. It's important to be aware of how risk factors such as family history, lifestyle factors, breast conditions, radiation therapy, and hormonal factors may influence your chances of developing breast cancer. Mammography and breast self-examinations are crucial steps in breast cancer prevention.
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