Breast cancer | World Tech Today

Breastfeeding helps in battling breast cancer efficiently, says study

May 2, 2015 by Karla Fetrow Leave a Comment

American Academy of Pediatrics – Women who breastfeed have lower chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer according to the findings of a latest US research. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists conducted this study that recommends women to breastfeed.

Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the research has found that even the women who had breast cancer can benefit as well. For this study, the team of researchers examined questionnaires filled by 1,636 women having breast cancer.

Findings of the Study

They found that breastfeeding formed a protection from the strain caused due to the cancer and worked best in evading stress caused due to hormonal changes. The results were even better for women who breastfed for a period of six months or more.

Marilyn Kwan from Kaiser Permanente, who is the lead researcher for the present study, informed that this was the first time that a study analyzed the connection between feeding and recurrence of cancer and reactions against the various type of tumors.

“Women who breastfeed are more likely to get the Luminal A subtype of breast cancer and breastfeeding may set up a molecular environment that makes the tumor more responsive to anti-estrogen therapy,” she said.

The study co-author Bette Caan further added that the breastfeeding process accelerated the creation of the ductal cells in the breast that help fight carcinogens and push them out of the body, which results in slow down of the growth of the tumors. The women can then take medication to help fight the cancers.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Not only is breastfeeding beneficial for women, but the breast milk provides all the essential nutrients that a baby needs. It helps make the immunity of the baby stronger and keeps him at bay from all infections and diseases.

For the mother, feeding is an excellent way to lose the excessive weight caused by the pregnancy as it helps burn the calories. Oxytocin hormone is also released in the body and this helps in bringing the uterus back to its normal size and also lowers bleeding from uterine after the birth of the baby.

Ovaries removal reduce risk of breast cancer in women with BRCA 1 mutation

Apr 27, 2015 by Karla Fetrow Leave a Comment

Toronto, Canada – A new study suggests that removal of the ovaries in women carrying BRCA1 mutation can reduce their chances of getting breast cancer. The JAMA Oncology published the new research paper suggesting that if women with BRCA1 mutation removed their ovaries, their overall chances of getting breast cancer could be reduced by 62%.

The process of removal of the ovaries is termed as oophorectomy. Earlier researchers had declared that the presence of both the BRCA1 and the BRCA2 gene mutation increased the risk of breast cancer by 70%. Once a woman is diagnosed with, breast cancer, the risk of ovarian cancer also multiplies in women with BRCA gene mutation.

Nine women who did not undergo oophorectomy died of ovarian cancer whereas most of the women underwent oophorectomy six years after they were diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the researchers, women with breast cancer should undergo oophorectomy right after the diagnosis. Removal of the ovaries at the earlier stage of breast cancer detection reduces the risk of spread of cancer largely.

Contribution of Angelina Jolie in Creating Awareness

Angelina Jolie, the Hollywood actor and director boldly accepted in the public about having undergone a double mastectomy to cut down the cancer risk. She was diagnosed with being BRCA gene mutation carrier and chose to face the surgical removal of her breasts to lead a healthy and fit life. Just recently, she has also said that she underwent removal of ovaries to reduce the chances of ovarian and breast cancer both.

Ever since Angelina Jolie has admitted to having these surgeries, there has been an increase in demand for BRCA gene mutation testing. Thus, she has contributed extensively to creating awareness about breast and cancer risks and the importance of BRCA gene mutation in every woman.

However, according to the editor-in-chief of JAMA Oncology, Mary L. Disis, removal of ovaries immediately after the diagnosis of breast cancer do not reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women with BRCA2 gene mutation.

Research states doctors soon be able detect breast cancer five years in advance

Apr 19, 2015 by Karla Fetrow Leave a Comment

The University of Copenhagen – The Danish researchers affirm they have on their hands a more accurate method of predicting breast cancer five years in advance before it starts to manifest itself. The method according to the researchers could be more accurate compared to a mammogram. Cancer researchers believe they might have made a breakthrough in the testing of breast cancer.

The new test is based on a simple blood test with an accuracy level of 80%, compared to mammogram, which has an accuracy level of 75% and only used when one has developed the cancerous cells. The study according to the researchers intended to eradicate the problems of misdiagnosis as well as false positives that have continued to plague mammography tests for years.

The accuracy level of mammography is many a times affected by the fact that one of the three women usually has a dense breast tissue that makes it hard for the test to read authoritatively. Dense breast tissues usually increase the risk of women developing cancerous cells.

Laura Donnelly, one of the researchers, attest that the new blood test should come in full implementation soon, making it easy to detect breast cancer before it becomes rampant.

“The blood test works by measuring all of the compounds in the blood to build a ‘metabolic profile’ of an individual, in order to detect changes in the way chemicals are processed, during a pre-cancerous stage.” said Mrs. Donnelly.

The blood test developed in Denmark is similar to another concept used at the University of Harvard to predict the likelihood of someone developing leukemia, lymphoma and myelodysplastic.

The accuracy of the blood test in Denmark is proved on 57,000 participants over 20 years; involving the gathering of blood samples and analyzing them over the period. The discovery is a big leap in the fight against breast cancer as early detection can mean assured recovery in the long run.