Among breast cancer myths the concern that there may be a connection between deodorant use and breast cancer still persists. While a new study may finally let deodorants off the hook, one of its suspect ingredients may still be a cause for concern.

For many years, deodorants fell under suspicion for a few reasons:

• Most breast cancers are located in the outer, upper quadrant of the breast near the arm pit where deodorant is applied. The feeling was, “This couldn’t be a coincidence, right?”
• Parabens and aluminum, ingredients in some underarm products, were found in breast cancer tissue and both have weak estrogenic effects. And since estrogen is a risk factor for breast cancer, deodorants were suspect.

The latest study conducted by Dr. Philippa Darbe, who has been researching a possible connection between parabens and breast cancer for several years, found parabens in the breast tissue of women who had never used deodorants.

Darbe examined breast tissue samples from 40 women who had mastectomies and found widespread traces of parabens in breast tissue—even in the seven women who said they never used underarm products. Parabens were found in 158 of the 160 samples taken from the tissue collected from the 40 women. They found 96 samples contained all five of the most common paraben esters (forms).

The levels of paraben were four times higher than a similar study she conducted in 2004. This was a surprise as many manufacturers removed parabens from underarm products as a result of her 2004 study.

Darbe is quick to point out that her studies only reported the presence of parabens in breast tissue, not that parabens caused breast cancer. "I feel sure the issue is bigger than one chemical," she said. And, as many body lotions, sunscreens and cosmetics contain parabens, deodorants cannot be singled out. She believes that parabens in breast tissue come from a variety of sources.

Until more research is conducted to understand if parabens and other endocrine disruptors affect breast cancer risk, she suggests we cut back the use of cosmetic products as much as possible. "We simply use too much in the modern world -- too much for our body systems and too much for the wider environment," she said.

Other cancer experts echo Darby’s comments. The American Cancer Society finds no clear link between deodorant/antiperspirants and breast cancer. They note that, "There are no strong epidemiological studies in the medical literature that link breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use, and very little scientific evidence to support this claim." They add that Darby’s and other studies do establish that parabens found in topical skin products can be absorbed through the skin. The American Cancer Society maintains that more and larger studies are needed to find out what, if any, effect parabens might have on breast cancer risk.

Paraben Controversy Persists

The cosmetic industry continues to assert that parabens are safe and effective preservatives. They argue that:

• Parabens occur naturally in foods and are safely metabolized by the body and flushed out.
• They have very weak estrogenic activity compared to stronger estrogens in birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapy and natural phytoestrogens found in soy, red clover, and hops.

However, a recent study found that parabens act much differently when absorbed through the skin. When applied topically, parabens inhibit an enzyme called SULT that helps the body flush out estrogen. So, when SULT enzymes are deactivated, estrogen levels increase. These results suggest that chronic topical application of parabens may lead to prolonged estrogenic effects in skin as a result of reduced SULT activity.

As for whether parabens are metabolized when applied to the skin, another study found that after a month of applying methylparaben to skin cells, it "remained unmetabolized and persisted slightly" in the outermost layer of the skin. Additionally, it was found to affect DNA expression in the skin cells, inhibiting collagen production, and possibly leading to early aging of cells. 

For more on other suspect ingredients in cosmetics, see The Real Cost of Beauty:  Dangerous Toxins Lurking in Your Cosmetics.

Sources:

HealthDay

PubMed

Skin Inc

PubMed

New research provides strong evidence that a common Type-2 diabetes drug prevents cancer promoting substances from stimulating the growth of breast cancer cells. The research was sparked by population studies that associated the Type-2 diabetes drug metformin with a reduced risk of diabetes-associated cancers.

This study adds to a growing body of research that shows that metformin may prevent or slow many types of cancer growth including colon, lung, prostate, liver and pancreatic cancer. Last year, a small human study found patients with precancerous rectal lesions showed significant improvement after one month of treatment with metformin. Another study using mice found that metformin lowered the risk of lung cancer by as much as 70%.

This new study, conducted by Michigan State University and South Korea's Seoul National University focused on the premise that cancers originate from adult human stem cells and that natural and human-made chemicals enhance the growth of breast cancer cells.

Using culture dishes, they grew human breast tumors, or mammospheres, that activated a certain stem cell gene (Oct4A). Then the mammospheres were exposed to two known growth factors that promote tumors -- natural estrogen and certain man-made chemicals.

The researchers found that estrogen and the chemicals caused an increase in the numbers and size of mammospheres. With metformin added, the numbers and size of the mammospheres were dramatically reduced.

Even though each of the chemicals enhanced growth by different means, metformin inhibited their growth in all cases.

Raising Hopes

This study establishes a causal relationship between metformin and breast cancer cell growth where there had been only an association between the drug and a lower risk of certain cancers. Further research is needed to know the exact mechanism of action but the results are encouraging. It remains to be seen if metformin might be used as a preventive drug and for those who have no signs of existing cancers.

In addition to breast cancer, those with Type-2 diabetes are also at a high risk for liver and pancreatic cancers. Additional research still needs to be done with human cultures to confirm that metformin can reduce the risk of pancreatic and liver cancers in Type-2 diabetics as well.

Additional studies are already being planned to continue to examine the potential for metformin to reduce the risk of many types of cancers in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Sources:

Science Daily

Medscape

BioMed Central

Americans love their coffee, but it appears coffee doesn’t love us equally—or at least in the same way-- depending on your gender. While you might expect there to be differences in how coffee affects men versus women, some might surprise you.

Here’s what research tells us about the benefits (or downsides) of coffee, by gender:

Women

• A study by psychologists at Bristol University found drinking caffeinated coffee boosts a woman’s performance in stressful situations but has the opposite effect on men. It seems to enhance a woman’s confidence and social functioning.
• Another study found that women who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were 15 percent less likely to develop depression than those who drank one cup of coffee or less per week.
• A Swedish study found that coffee may provide a protective effect for a particular type of breast cancer called antiestrogen-resistant estrogen-receptor or (ER)-negative breast cancer.

Men

• Coffee seems to protect men, but not women against Parkinson’s disease. One possible explanation for the sex difference may be that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized, and estrogen captures those enzymes.
• British researchers found the men’s ability to perform well under stress was ‘greatly impaired’ if they had drank too much caffeinated coffee—especially in group situations. The researchers believe that the difference is due to the more aggressive nature of men’s “fight or flight” response.
• Harvard researchers who followed nearly 50,000 men for 20 years found that those who drank the most coffee—six or more cups a day of regular or decaf—were 60 percent less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than guys who didn’t drink any brew. That figure dropped to 30 percent for men who drank one to three cups per day.
• A Finnish study of middle aged men found that heavy coffee drinkers had a decreased risk of depression compared to non-drinkers. No such association was found among tea drinkers. Other studies have found that coffee can heighten anxiety in men more so than women who tend to have increased feelings of confidence and self-esteem from drinking coffee.

Equal Opportunity Actions and Benefits

Coffee drinking in moderation has been linked to many health benefits in both men and women, including:

• Decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and dementia including Alzheimer’s disease.
• Fewer cases of certain cancers (colon and liver), heart rhythm problems and strokes

Researchers believe some of these benefits are conveyed through the antioxidant properties of coffee as well as other nutrients including the minerals magnesium and chromium.

As for potential down-sides to coffee consumption, two substances in coffee — kahweol and cafestol — raise cholesterol levels. Paper filters capture these substances, but that doesn’t help the many people who now drink non-filtered coffee drinks, such as lattes.

More than four cups of coffee a day can also lead to some unpleasant effects including:

• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Stomach upset
• Fast heartbeat
• Muscle tremors

Sources:

Journal of the National Cancer Institute

PubMed

University of Bristol

WebMD

Harvard Health Publications

Science Daily

Mayo Clinic

Every October, as Breast Cancer Awareness events paint communities pink, we are reminded of the fight against breast cancer--and the one out of every eight women in the U.S. that will one day be on the front lines of that battle.

This year the American Cancer Society expects 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer and over 39,000 deaths from the disease. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer and the third overall cause of death among American women.

With numbers like that, you have to wonder, are we winning the war against breast cancer?

The good news

After increasing for more than 2 decades, the incidence of female breast cancer decreased by about 2% per year from 1999 to 2005. This decrease was seen only in women aged 50 or older, and may be due in part to the decline in use of hormone therapy after menopause that occurred after the results of the Women's Health Initiative were published in 2002. This study linked the use of hormone therapy to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart diseases.

New diagnostic and treatment options are also increasing survival rates and improving long-term outcomes. "The progress we’ve made over the last 20 years has changed the face of the disease for American women," says Freya Schnabel, M.D., director of breast surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. "We can find it earlier, treat it more effectively, reduce recurrence and enhance survival."

New weapons in the fight

In the not-too-distant future promising new tools may aid in the battle against breast cancer:

• A nipple fluid test may reveal your chances of developing cancer. Nipple fluid is useful for breast cancer screening as it contains cells from the mammary glands, where about 95% of all breast cancers start. Researchers hope to make this test available as a home-test kit.
• Nanotechnology my spot breast cancer two years earlier than mammograms and without the use of radiation or misleading false-positives. The technology uses nanoparticles that bind to known cancer cells and magnetic sensors, much like an MRI scan, that pick up the location of the particles.
• A new drug called Exemestane, which decreases the amount of estrogen produced by the body, cut the incidence of breast cancer by 65% in a recent study released in June. This gives women who can’t take Tamoxifen (due to a personal history of blood clots) another prevention option.
• Experts believe that we’ll continue to see a trend towards customized therapies rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment approach. This will lead to shorter and less intense courses of radiation and chemotherapy for many women.

What you can do

While we are making progress against breast cancer, we have many more battles yet to fight--and you can help.

Women:

• Know your risks factors for breast cancer.
• Speak with your doctor about breast-self exams and when/how often you should have regular breast cancer screenings. Take advantage of free or low-cost screening programs if you do not have access to health insurance. Find a program in your area.
• You can help find a cure by participating in clinical trials as a subject or volunteer. Healthy women are also needed for clinical trials so that researchers can compare healthy breast tissue to cancerous tissue. For more information, follow these links:
  • Breast Cancer Trials – Pairs potential subjects with open studies
  • Join the Love-Avon Army of Women - Matches women with researchers conducting clinical trials
  • Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank - Healthy breast tissue bank

Men:

• While less than 1% of all breast cancer occurs in men, men should report any changes in the nipple or surrounding tissue to their doctor.
• Support the women in your life who may one day be touched by breast cancer.

Find more ways to raise awareness of breast cancer, in this video from Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Sources:

American Cancer Society

Health.com

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

We have known for some time that women with dense breasts--higher amounts of epithelial and stromal tissue and less fat--have a higher risk for breast cancer. However, it has not been clear whether breast density was associated with specific types or characteristics of tumors--until now.

A new study conducted by the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that women with breasts that appear dense on mammograms are not only at higher risk of breast cancer, their tumors are more likely to have aggressive characteristics than women with less dense breasts.

The researchers compared breast density in 1,042 postmenopausal women with breast cancer with 1,794 matched control subjects who were similar in terms of age, postmenopausal hormone use, and other factors, but did not have breast cancer. They found that:

• The risk of breast cancer increased progressively with increasing breast density.
  • The associations were stronger for larger tumors than for smaller tumors; for high-grade than for low-grade tumors; and for estrogen receptor-negative than for estrogen receptor-positive tumors.
  • The link between density and breast cancer appeared to be stronger for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) than for invasive tumors.
• There was no association between density and other markers of tumor aggressiveness, such as nodal involvement and HER2 status.

"Given that the magnitude of the association with breast density is strong across all breast cancer subtypes and particularly for ER-negative disease, breast density should be included in risk prediction models across tumor subtypes," they write.

These results are a wake-up call for all women with higher breast density to conduct regular breast self-exams and breast cancer screenings.

Source:

Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Contrary to recommendations by various medical organizations, a recent study suggests that physicians are not always referring women with a high risk of breast cancer to genetic counselors to learn about genetic testing and other preventive measures. Researchers found that only 41% of physicians referred high risk breast cancer patients for genetic cancer counseling. For women with only an average risk of breast cancer, physicians followed recommendations 71% of the time.

Correct identification of high-risk women was a strong predictor of counseling and testing referral. Physicians who identified high-risk women were 8.46 times (95% CI, 2.39 - 30.03) more likely to make a referral than physicians who misidentified high-risk women as average risk.

Assessing Your Risk

Women whose family history suggests they may carry one of the gene mutations (BRCA1 or BRCA2) associated with a greater risk of breast cancer are considered “high risk” and prime candidates for genetic testing and counseling. If they test positive, they may opt for chemoprevention, prophylactic mastectomy, and/or oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) which can reduce breast cancer risk by 95% and ovarian cancer risk by 80%.

For women who have these gene mutations, the cumulative risk of developing breast cancer by age 70 years is 57% for BRCA1 carriers and 49% for BRCA2 carriers. Ovarian cancer risks by age 70 years are 40% and 18%, according to the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the CDC.

Women whose family history does not suggest that BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations are present, are classified as having an average risk of developing breast cancer.

Current Referral Recommendations

The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that physicians refer women who have

suggestive family histories to genetic counseling and evaluation, and recommends against it for women who do not have such family histories because of potential harm.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends referral for patients deemed to have at least a 20% to 25% risk of carrying one or the other gene.

The American College of Medical Genetics and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network both recommend referral for patients with breast cancer who were diagnosed before age 45 years.

Counseling and Testing is Not for Everyone

Moving forward, study author, Katrina F. Trivers, PhD, MSPH said, "Efforts are needed to encourage appropriate counseling and genetic testing for women at high risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, particularly among male physicians, family physicians, and general internists. Simultaneously, efforts to discourage referral and testing among average-risk women should be implemented," the authors write.

Source:

Medscape

A new study found that women over 65 with breast cancer are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than from their cancer.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 60,000 women in the United States, aged 66 and older, who were followed for at least 12 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer. By the end of the follow-up period researchers found:

• Nearly half of the women were still alive.
• Those who died lived to an average age of 83.
• More than two-thirds of them died from causes other than breast cancer.
• Cardiovascular disease killed more of the women than breast cancer.
• Women who were most likely to die of breast cancer included those who were diagnosed at a younger age and those with a high tumor grade or estrogen receptor-negative status.

This study may help women look beyond their cancer diagnosis and focus on taking care of the whole person when it comes staying healthy and living longer.

"Cancer is a big killer and is responsible for about a quarter of all deaths. However, breast cancer is not necessarily a death sentence and patients need to take care of their health to reduce their risk of dying from heart disease and other age-related diseases," study author Jennifer Patnaik, of the University of Colorado, said in a journal news release.

Women can help reduce their risk of heart disease, breast cancer and other age-related health conditions by following these guidelines:

• Eat lots of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains which are packed with antioxidants. Reduce your intake of animal fats and increase your consumption of healthy fats found in fish, olive oil nuts and avocados. The Mediterranean Diet is an example of a healthy diet that, according to researchers, can reduce the risk of heart disease and breast cancer.
• Get regular exercise daily or at least 4-5 times a week and maintain a healthy weight.
• Limit consumption of alcohol, overly processed foods and high-sugar drinks and snacks.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

American Cancer Society

Reuters

Researchers investigating the association between soy food intake and breast cancer outcomes among survivors found that soy food consumption did not increase the risk of cancer recurrence or death among survivors of breast cancer.

The research was part of a multi-national collaborative study, the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project, which involved over 16,000 women between the ages of 20 and 83 years who had invasive primary breast cancer.

The researchers assessed the intake of soy isoflavones among the women after breast cancer diagnosis using food frequency questionnaires. Breast cancer outcomes were assessed, on average, nine years after cancer diagnosis.

Women in the highest intake category of more than 23 mg of isoflavones per day had a 9 percent reduced risk of mortality and a 15 percent reduced risk for recurrence, compared to those who had the lowest intake level. The average daily soy isoflavone intake among U.S. women was 3.2 mg; however, in a group of women in China, the amount was significantly higher at 45.9 mg.

The study appears to ease concerns about the safety of soy food for women with breast cancer because soy foods contain large amounts of isoflavones that are known to bind to estrogen receptors and have both estrogen-like and anti-estrogenic effects. One concern was that isoflavones might increase the risk of cancer recurrence among breast cancer patients because they have low estrogen levels due to cancer treatment. Another issue in question was whether isoflavones interfere with tamoxifen treatment as they both bind to estrogen receptors.

So, for now it appears women with a history of breast cancer can enjoy soy.

Sources:

American Association for Cancer Research

No matter what your age, exercise and physical activity are good for your mind, body and spirit. Getting regular exercise through your senior years can help you:

• Keep and improve your strength so you can stay independent.
• Have more energy to do the things you want to do.
• Improve your balance.
• Prevent or delay some diseases like heart disease, diabetes, breast and colon cancer, and osteoporosis.
• Lift your spirits and reduce depression.

There are many ways to become more active, but your chances of sticking with it over time are better if you choose activities you enjoy. As with any lifestyle change, start slow and gradually increase the frequency and intensity of your exercise. You can begin by building more physical activity into your daily routine. Try parking the car farther from the store entrance when you go shopping or raking the leaves instead of hiring someone to do it. More...

If you needed any more incentive to get on the lifestyle changes bandwagon, today's post links obesity and physical activity among Baby Boomers and Seniors, not only to breast cancer but an unusual and aggressive form of the disease.

Triple-negative breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer marked by the lack of three receptors that commonly trigger it. Based on data collected on more than 155,000 patients participating in the Women's Health Initiative (ages 50-79), scientists compared the health of the 307 patients who had triple-negative breast cancer with the 2,610 suffering from estrogen receptive-positive breast cancer over nearly eight years.

Not surprisingly, higher BMI numbers pointed to a greater risk of breast cancer (39 percent) as well as triple-negative breast cancer (35 percent). What's more, higher amounts of physical activity suggest a reduction in a woman's risk of triple-negative breast cancer (23 percent) and estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer (15 percent) too.

Interestingly, one health expert pointed out that there may be much more going on behind the scenes in those extra fat cells that trigger the growth of cancer cells, something we've discussed in this space too.

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention March 1, 2011

healthfinder.gov March 1, 2011

American Association For Cancer Research March 1, 2011

Had it up to HERE with all the talk of 3D movies and 3D TVs and 3D Blu-Ray disc players till your head hurts… literally? If you're one of the 10 percent of women who ever needed a follow-up mammogram due to fibrous breast tissue, overlapping skin or other issues with clarity, you may warm up to 3D again very soon.

Last month, the FDA formally approved the first mammography system that produces 2D and 3D images, the Selenia Dimensions System from Massachusetts-based Hologic, Inc.. Perhaps, the key to its approval: Studies that showed a 7 percent improvement in the ability of doctors to discern differences between cancerous and non-cancerous tumors with 3D images, compared to 2D images, cutting down on follow-up scans.

But there's a catch. Hologic sought federal approval for a system that produced 2D and 3D images because doctors had spent their careers reading 2D images, not to mention the FDA required both sets of images be taken too. The combination of the two almost doubles a woman's exposure to radiation, also a growing worry for kids, particularly athletes who seem to be X-rayed or scanned every other day for assorted bumps, bruises and breaks.

And, that extra exposure increases a woman's cancer risks, albeit incrementally, to 1.5 percent, compared to less than 1 percent for 2D images.

Only time and performance will tell us if 3D mammogram will be worth the extra risk. Now, if the medical professional can just get on the same page about how often women should be getting mammograms…

Image source: Medgadget.com

The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) February 14, 2011

Medscape February 14, 2011 Free Subscription Required

Boston Globe February 12, 2011

FDA.gov February 11, 2011

Los Angeles Times February 11, 2011

If you're a post-menopausal woman considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT), no doubt, this recent Journal of the American Medical Association study that links the use of a progestin-estrogen combo to increased incidents of breast cancer and a higher risk of death may confuse and alarm you even more.

Many of your older friends may have been scared away from HRT some eight years ago after a five-plus year estrogen-progestin trial -- part of the Women's Health Initiative -- when scientists determined the risks of combination hormone therapy superseded the benefits. Still, some 20 percent of American women, needing relief from hot flashes and the other menopause-related difficulties, use it anyway.

This latest report (that tracked the health of some 12,000 women for more than a decade) found patients on progestin and estrogen experienced a greater chance of encountering breast cancer and that it would likely spread to their lymph nodes. Taking HRT also doubled a woman's mortality risks, but that was an increase from 1.3 to 2.6 deaths per 10,000 women. Also, compared to the placebo group, almost twice as many patients on hormonal therapies experienced cancer that had travelled to their lymph nodes.

Although the risk cited in the study was a real one, the lead researcher told the Washington Post that it "barely met the threshold for being considered statistically significant." That's cold comfort for women in their middle years who yearn to feel vital and vibrant in their middle years, but have to worry about lingering questions surrounding the deadly possibilities of taking a drug intended to ease their burdens, and not add to them.

Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 304, No. 15, p. 1684-1692, October 20, 2010

JournalWATCH October 21, 2010

USA Today October 21, 2010

Washington Post October 20, 2010

For folks who fight fibromyalgia, your constant battle against pain, fatigue and mind fog -- not to mention skepticism in the world of public and medical opinion -- is a challenging, frustrating one, full of unpredictability and "solutions" that work on some days for some of you but not for others on other days. More often than not, health improvements for those with fibromyalgia can be measured, at best, incrementally.

Exercise is one of the essential tools that can help you handle fibromyalgia. Yoga, one form of physical activity that works in concert with the mind and spirit, can be another gentle weapon for fighting the chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia.

A recent study compared the health of 25 female patients enrolled in a weekly yoga class for eight weeks (including gentle stretching and poses, meditation, breathing techniques and group discussions) with 28 women in a control group who were instructed to maintain their daily routine for treating fibromyalgia. Women in the yoga group followed Yoga of Awareness training, a program developed by lead researcher Dr. James Carson and his wife/co-author Kimberly Carson.

For patients in the yoga group, the reduction of various symptoms associated with fibromyalgia -- pain (24 percent), fatigue (30 percent) and depression (42 percent) -- was obvious and not insignificant. Conversely, 38.5 percent of the control group reported no change in their health, compared to just 4.5 percent of the yoga group.

Yoga is only one of a number of complementary alternative therapies we've discussed in this space to help you alleviate pain without a drug.

FYI, this study is the third led by Dr. Carson, who has also studied the effect of his style of yoga on breast cancer patients at Duke University Medical Center.

Pain, Vol. 151, No. 2, p. 530-539, November 2010

healthfinder.gov October 14, 2010

ScienceDaily October 14, 2010

If you were a woman hearing for the first time that the unknown growth in your breast was cancerous and had to be removed immediately, what would come to mind first, before surgery or any treatments? Or worse, would your mind be so preoccupied about all the things that had to be done first, from shifting schedules to sharing the news with your loved ones, that you'd forget to do the one thing you promised you wouldn't do -- neglect yourself emotionally -- during your next personal crisis?

Taking human nature into account, realistically, it would be very surprising if dealing with the flood of emotions actually made a breast cancer-patient's top 10 mental task list from the get-go. Considering one out of eight women will hear that diagnosis sometime during her lifetime, however, it should, says Dr. Robin Lally, an assistant professor at the University of Buffalo.

After conducting interviews with 18 patients between ages 18-37 diagnosed with breast cancer (stages 0-II) within the first three weeks of their diagnosis to determine how they adapt internally to the news, Dr. Lally identified a three-step process women generally follow when they're faced with this life-changing news:

* Reflecting internally for a time about how breast cancer affects them and their loved ones.

* Taking control of their environment, for example, by consciously reducing the negative thoughts they have.

* Incorporating cancer into their daily lives and thinking about the future.

Looking back, Dr. Lally was surprised how much mental energy women spend thinking about their diagnosis and strategies to control their environments to protect themselves from moments when their battle with cancer becomes the center of attention at work and in social situations. Perhaps, women wouldn't feel so blindsided and alone if they were aware from the outset just how much support was available to them from organizations like the Breast Cancer Sisterhood and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.

You are never alone…

Cancer Nursing, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 268-279, July-August 2010

University of Buffalo NewsCenter September 9, 2010

For all the good it may do to lessen the severity of rheumatoid arthritis or keeping women slim and trim, unfortunately, alcohol intake may also affect a woman's odds of one form of breast cancer for the negative.

Researchers reviewed data on 2,944 female patients, culled from the Women's Health Initiative study on some 88,000 postmenopausal women (ages 50-79), who developed invasive breast cancer in relation to alcohol consumption and various tumor subtypes.

Drinking a single alcoholic beverage daily was more closely tied to hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, specifically doubling a patient's risk of lobular carcinoma, an invasive type of breast cancer that begins in the milk-producing glands. What's more, a woman increased her risk of tumors that were hormone-receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-positive by 8 percent with each alcoholic beverage she drank per day. The risk increased to 12 percent per drink per day for estrogen receptor-positive but progesterone receptor-negative cancers.

The good news: Breast cancers that are lobular in origin only account for up to 15 percent of all cases, while ductal carcinomas (the earliest form of breast cancer) amount to 70 percent. Additionally, patients were questioned about their alcohol consumption only at the start of the study, but not about their past or future use.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute August 23, 2010

PhysOrg.com August 23, 2010

U.S. News & World Report August 23, 2010