In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the point at which the removal of a node in patients with breast cancer was necessary. Some background Sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) are first nodes (small bean-shaped organs located close to blood vessels) to which cancer can spread. Cancer-positive SLN’s have become increasingly prevalent in ductal...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the benefits of prolonged use of hormone therapy to treat breast cancer in women undergoing the menopause transition. Some background Endocrine or hormone therapy is a type of treatment used to fight cancer cells with the presence of hormone receptors (HR+). Hormones natural to our body such as estrogen or...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the prognostic (disease outlook) effect of the presence of certain hormone receptors on cancer cells. Some background Breast cancer is classified into different subtypes depending on the presence or absence of certain receptors (proteins found on the surface of the cancer cells). Breast cancer...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the overall risks of breast cancer recurrence (return of the cancer) following two types of breast cancer surgery. Some background Breast cancer treatments may include surgery; a mastectomy is the removal of the entire breast while breast-conserving surgery is the removal of the breast cancer but not the...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to distinguish whether the characteristics of breast cancer could depend on the focality of the tumor. Some background Breast cancer can be characterized as 'unifocal', 'multifocal and 'multicentric'. This refers to the number of areas in which the cancer can be found (focality); unifocal...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the risks of developing cardiac or heart problems while being treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin) for breast cancer. Some background Trastuzumab is a form of endocrine or hormone therapy used to treat patients with human epidermal growth factor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer. Since the approval of...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the prognostic (treatment outlook) factors associated with breast cancer in post-menopausal women with specific tumor characteristics. Some background Lymph nodes are tiny bean shaped organs and are often the first site to which cancer will spread. This is known as lymph node involvement. Adjuvant...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate a series of treatments used for advanced breast cancer; this was a review of chemotherapy drugs such as paclitaxel (Taxol), doxetaxel (Taxotere) and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane). Some background Taxanes are a group of chemotherapy drugs used commonly in locally advanced (cancer has spread into nearby...
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What’s ASCO? Why should I care? The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is an organisation representing physicians who specialise in the care and treatment of cancer patients. Approximately 30,000 visitors from around the world gather each year for the ASCO Annual Meeting to discuss recent advancements in the treatment of cancer. Visitors include...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine used with conventional breast cancer treatments on breast cancer survival. Some background Traditional Chinese medicine is an alternative therapy that can complement breast cancer treatments. This generally includes various forms of herbal medicine,...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the effectiveness of radiotherapy treatment (uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA) on women with breast cancer who have previously had surgery. Some background Breast- conserving surgery (removes the breast cancer but not the breast itself) is just one method of breast...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the prognostic (treatment outlook) value of genetic expression (the expression of genes) on breast cancer survival. Some background The breast cancer over-expressed gene 1 (BCOX1) is a type of gene that may be involved in the development of breast cancer. Finding effective ways of predicting...
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