Gene Tests May Guard Older Breast Cancer Patients Against Other Tumors

TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 -- A significant number of older women with breast cancer may have genetic mutations that put them at risk of additional cancers, particularly ovarian cancer, a new study finds.

The researchers said that as many as one in 40 postmenopausal women with breast cancer before age 65 has a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

AHA News: What Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer and Heart Disease

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- Red dresses and pink ribbons have helped millions of Americans become aware of the separate tolls heart disease and breast cancer take on women. But not everyone is aware of how the illnesses can intersect.

Heart disease – the No. 1 killer of women – can sometimes be a complication of breast cancer treatment. Older women who survive breast cancer are more likely to die of heart disease than a cancer recurrence.

Drug Shows Promise Against Aggressive Breast Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 -- The immunotherapy drug Keytruda might offer a new treatment option to women with an aggressive form of breast cancer, a clinical trial suggests.

The study found that for women with "triple-negative" breast cancer, adding Keytruda to standard chemotherapy improved their odds of responding.

How Lack of Insurance Affects Breast Cancer Survival

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2020 -- Minority women with breast cancer are less likely to have insurance, which could lower their odds of survival, researchers say.

"Having adequate health insurance for all could reduce the persistent racial outcome disparities in breast cancer," said study lead author Dr. Naomi Ko, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.

Most Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors Die From Other Causes

MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 -- Many U.S. women with breast cancer ultimately die of other causes, a new study finds, highlighting the need for survivors and their doctors to pay attention to overall health.

In recent decades, advances in breast cancer treatment have meant that more women are becoming long-term survivors, which also means that other health issues will become important in their lives.

Two Drugs Make Inroads Against Aggressive Breast Cancers

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 -- Two experimental drugs show real promise against an aggressive, treatment-resistant form of breast cancer that's spread to other parts of the body, researchers say.

The tumors in question are called metastatic HER2-positive breast cancers -- named because the tumor cells' surface is populated with a protein called HER2, which is tied to cancer growth. HER2-positive breast cancers account for 15% to 20% of all breast cancers.