Mastectomy News and Research

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Mastectomy is surgery to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible).

Generic aromatase inhibitors increase breast cancer treatment adherence by 50%

Although oral hormonal therapy is known to substantially reduce breast cancer recurrence in women with hormone receptor-positive tumors, about one-half of patients fail to take their medications as directed. A new study by Columbia University Medical Center researchers has found that the introduction of generic aromatase inhibitors (the most common type of hormone therapy), which are considerably less expensive than their brand name counterparts, increased treatment adherence by 50 percent.

28 Oct 2014

NICO, Synaptive Medical join forces to integrate innovative technologies for brain surgery

Indianapolis interventional medical device maker NICO Corporation and Toronto-based 3D visualization leader Synaptive Medical announced today at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting that they have joined forces to integrate their innovative technologies for brain surgery.

20 Oct 2014

Statistical analysis shows stage of breast cancer predicts treatment choice

Why did 43 percent of South Dakota women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer surveyed choose mastectomy rather than lumpectomy?

17 Oct 2014

Federal prescription-subsidy program improves drug adherence in breast cancer patients

A federal prescription-subsidy program for low-income women on Medicare significantly improved their adherence to hormone therapy to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer after surgery.

16 Oct 2014

AirXpanders' AeroForm expander shows superior outcomes in patients undergoing breast reconstruction

The latest interim data from XPAND, AirXpanders Inc.’s U.S.-based, head-to-head pivotal study of its new, needle-free, patient-controlled tissue expansion system for mastectomy patients undergoing breast reconstruction, continue to show superior outcomes compared to traditional saline expanders including dramatically shorter expansion times, according to updated clinical data results presented at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

15 Oct 2014

I.V. lidocaine can protect mastectomy patients against chronic pain

More than two-thirds of women who have had mastectomies struggle with persistent pain, but it doesn't have to be that way.

14 Oct 2014

HerStory app helps women with breast cancer to share their voices with other patients

As physicians spend less time with their patients, often as little as 10-15 minutes per appointment, they grow increasingly wary of the limited emotional support they can provide within that time frame.

9 Oct 2014

Decision analysis techniques can help women sort through breast reconstruction options

Decision analysis techniques can help surgeons and patients evaluate alternatives for breast reconstruction-leading to a "good decision" that reflects the woman's preferences and values, according to an article in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

29 Sep 2014

Genetic testing for breast cancer doubled due to 'Angelina Jolie effect'

In May 2013 Angelina Jolie, who was then Hollywood's highest-paid actress, underwent a double mastectomy after testing positive for a BRCA1 gene mutation that significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer. A recent study, published by Breast Cancer Research has found that, public knowledge of her decision doubled NHS referrals for genetic testing for breast cancer risk.

19 Sep 2014

UT Southwestern offers new, innovative four-flap breast reconstruction after mastectomy

UT Southwestern Medical Center is one of only two places in the world that offers a new, innovative and highly successful approach to breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.

16 Sep 2014

African American women are 55% less likely to receive breast reconstruction after mastectomy

Dartmouth researchers have found that African American women are 55 percent less likely to receive breast reconstruction after mastectomy regardless of where they received their care.

10 Sep 2014

Research roundup: Doctors' training; expanding FEHBP; the ACA and part-time work

Growing concern about rising costs and potential harms of medical care has stimulated interest in assessing physicians' ability to minimize the provision of unnecessary care. Objective: To assess whether graduates of residency programs characterized by low-intensity practice patterns are more capable of managing patients' care conservatively ...

8 Sep 2014

Socio-economic barriers preclude patients from receiving breast conserving therapy

Despite its acceptance as standard of care for early stage breast cancer almost 25 years ago, barriers still exist that preclude patients from receiving breast conserving therapy (BCT), with some still opting for a mastectomy, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

4 Sep 2014

Percentage of women undergoing double mastectomy increased, shows survey

Among women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in California, the percentage undergoing a double mastectomy increased substantially between 1998 and 2011, although this procedure was not associated with a lower risk of death than breast-conserving surgery plus radiation, according to a study in the September 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Sep 2014

22otters launches HerStory app that enables women to share health advice, stories with each other

HerStory, a new smartphone app that enables women to share health advice and stories with each other, was recently launched by 22otters, a Khosla Ventures-funded digital health startup.

29 Aug 2014

Seven physicians receive ASTRO grants to advance radiation oncology research

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has selected seven leading physicians to receive a total of $675,000 in awards and grants to advance radiation oncology research. The ASTRO Junior Faculty Career Research Training Award, the ASTRO Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Research Seed Grant and the ASTRO/Radiation Oncology Institute Comparative Effectiveness Research Award will fund studies in radiation and cancer biology, radiation physics, translational research, outcomes/health services research and comparative effectiveness research within radiation oncology.

12 Aug 2014

Scientist fights extremely aggressive and difficult-to-treat form of breast cancer

Biomedical scientist Kimberly L. Koss, PhD, is fighting an extremely aggressive and difficult-to-treat form of breast cancer.

17 Jul 2014

New hope for women with early-stage breast cancer

Women with early-stage breast cancer may now receive a one-dose radiation treatment at the same time as lumpectomy surgery, eliminating the need to return to the hospital daily for up to six weeks for post surgical radiation treatments.

3 Jul 2014

Physician describes ways to combat post-cancer pain

More and more people are surviving their cancer. Unfortunately, sometimes survival can come with pain. Although many people won't feel any pain after their cancer treatment, some may have chronic, bothersome pain.

23 Jun 2014

New program appears to be effective in reducing risk of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors

Viewed as one of the most unfortunate outcomes of breast cancer treatment, lymphedema is characterized by an accumulation of lymph fluid in the interstitial spaces of the affected limb, leading to chronic ipsilateral limb swelling causing psychosocial distress and physical challenges for patients.

29 May 2014