In January 2011, articles were published in major US newspapers about the association of lymphoma and breast implants. This is called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), an extremely rare type of malignancy. Approximately 1 in 500,000 women is diagnosed with ALCL (anywhere in the body) in ... Views: 529
Just a quarter of a century ago, almost all patients had mastectomy, even if their breast cancer is small. But over the past few decades, it has been demonstrated that for small cancers, lumpectomy followed by radiation treatment is just as good as mastectomy, at preventing breast cancer ... Views: 644
Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. In 2008, approximately 184,450 patients were estimated to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and an estimated 40,930 were estimated to die of this disease. Furthermore, ... Views: 663
Melanoma, the deadly skin cancer, is on the rise. In the United States in 2008, there were estimated 62,480 new cases. In the same year, 8,420 people were predicted to die from this cancer. Melanoma is the #6 most common malignancy in men and #7 most common in women. The ethnicity of ... Views: 833
Using known risk factors for breast cancer, mathematical models can be developed to help answer important questions. These mathematical models are useful tools for researchers and for patients as follows:
1. Research on risk factors – The Claus risk assessment model was used to discover the ... Views: 7579
Age is likely the most important overall factor associated with breast cancer risk. Breast cancer risk increases in the older post-menopausal population. For this reason, all breast cancer screening recommendations are based primarily on age. Obesity, however, may be the single most ... Views: 815
Patients often ask me: “Should I get an MRI?” (magnetic resonance imaging). The answer from me is: “Only if you need it.”
Why should we NOT all get breast MRI? After all, we know that mammograms and ultrasounds do fail to pick up some breast cancers. MRI is the latest, most expensive ... Views: 635
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American women. In 2009, approximately 194,280 patients are estimated to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and 62,280 with carcinoma in situ. An estimated 40,610 will die of this ... Views: 686
One out of four deaths in the US is due to cancer. In 2010, approximately 569,490 Americans die of cancer. The following tables summarize the distribution of the top ten types of invasive cancer among men and women. Please note that this number does not include the early in situ carcinomas ... Views: 508
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in American women. Approximately one out of eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. It would be so nice to tell ahead of time which is the unlucky one out of every eight patients. But there is simply no reliable method to ...Breast ... Views: 600
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American women. In 2009, approximately 194,280 patients are estimated to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and 62,280 with carcinoma in situ. According to the American Society of ... Views: 622
Breast cancer is divided into five stages. Stages 0-2 are considered “early”, stage 3 considered “advanced”, and stage 4 “late”. Staging categories are important for predicting future prognosis, and determine optimal treatment recommendations.
Stage 0 is DCIS, or ductal carcinoma in situ. ... Views: 922
One out of four deaths in the US is due to cancer. In 2010, approximately 569,490 Americans die of cancer. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for female breast cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer. A surveillance study conducted by the US Division of ... Views: 569
Much has been written about pesticides and pollutants as being major contributors to cancers today. According to the National Toxicology Program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are 52 chemicals known to contribute to cancers of all kinds in humans and 176 chemicals ... Views: 631
Once you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, usually treatment starts first with surgery. There are generally two components to the operation: 1) the breast, and 2) the axilla (armpit).
In the breast, there are two choices: 1) lumpectomy (removing the cancer lump and some surrounding ... Views: 734
Although all of the genetic and environmental factors are important to consider, the overwhelming evidence is that breast cancer is related to lifestyle. The following paragraphs outline the negative impact and positive impact on breast cancer of several common lifestyle related issues. ... Views: 727
Today, I diagnosed metastatic cancer in a new patient who had just come to see me. I had to tell this young, beautiful, vibrant woman that did not not have long to live, perhaps a few months. There was nothing I could do for her. All I could do was to tell her that I cared for her. I could ... Views: 615
In 2006, results from the world’s largest low fat diet project were published (see reference at end). This was a US government-funded study of 48,835 postmenopausal women in a multicenter prospective, randomized clinical trial known as the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary ... Views: 694
Melanoma, the deadly skin cancer, is on the rise. In the United States in 2010, there were estimated 68,130 new cases of invasive cancer and 46,770 of in situ melanoma. In the same year, 8,700 people were predicted to die from this malignancy. Melanoma is curable if it is detected early and ... Views: 499
Lung malignancy is the #1 cause of cancer death in the United States. In 2011, approximately 221,130 patients (115,060 men and 106,070 women) are estimated to be diagnosed with this malignancy. An estimated 156,940 people (85,600 men and 71,340 women) will die of this disease this year. ... Views: 739
In 2011, approximately 21,990 patients are estimated to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States. An estimated 15,460 will die of this disease. Thus, it is the most deadly of the gynecological malignancies. The average lifetime risk of ovarian malignancy is 1.7% in the USA. ... Views: 523