In a nutshell This article aimed to examine the effectiveness of an immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) approach using DIEP-flap repair and compared it to the standard treatment of a delayed breast reconstruction (DBR) in women with breast cancer (BC) undergoing mastectomy (breast removal surgery). The authors concluded that IBR should be...
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In a nutshell This study aimed to evaluate laparoscopically harvested omental flap (LHOF) as used in breast reconstruction. It concluded that LHOF is a promising option in partial breast reconstruction after breast conserving surgery. Some background There are several types of surgery used in the treatment of breast cancer....
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In a nutshell This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients who received whole and partial breast radiotherapy after undergoing breast conservation surgery. This study concluded that partial breast radiotherapy and lower dose radiotherapy had similar outcomes for patients when compared to whole breast radiotherapy. Some background...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine whether anemia could negatively affect survival from breast cancer. Some background Anemia is described as a lack of hemoglobin; this is the iron found in our blood. Iron in the blood has several functions, including the transport of oxygen. Anemia can be commonly associated with cancer and is thought...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the advantage of neo-adjuvant (treatment given before surgery) therapies in terms of eligibility for certain surgeries. Some background Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is often provided to patients prior to surgery in an attempt to first shrink the tumor. This type of treatment is known to increase the...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the long-term effects of hormone therapy to treat post-menopausal women with advanced breast cancer. Some background Hormone therapy is a form of breast cancer treatment. It targets cancer cells that may be affected by hormones. It is often administered prior to surgery in patients who are unfit to...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effectiveness of exemestane (Aromasin) to treat premenopausal women with breast cancer and treatment outlook in comparison to tamoxifen (Nolvadex). Some background Tamoxifen is a type of hormone therapy used to treat breast cancer. This type of treatment is generally specific for hormone receptor...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine if there was a significant risk of cancer recurrence when breast-conserving therapy is the only treatment for women aged 55 and older. Some background A lumpectomy or 'breast-conserving therapy' is the removal of the breast and some surrounding tissues (the breast remains intact). This is...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine if there was a link between patient age, tumor type and the spread of cancer. Some background Breast cancer metastasis is the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body; following original cancer of the breast. Age at original diagnosis and the area affected by the tumor are just two of the...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the results of a specific pre-operative chemotherapy. Some background Pre-operative chemotherapy is used to shrink the tumor before surgery. Abraxane and cyclophosphamide (Endoxan) are used as combined chemotherapy and referred to as ABC. 5-fluorouracil (Adrucil), epirubicin (Pharmorubicin) and...
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In a nutshell This paper studied the effect of adjuvant therapy (treatment given after surgery) in patients who had a complete response to therapy with trastuzumab (Herceptin) before surgery. Some background Neoadjuvant systemic therapy is treatment used to decrease the size of the tumour before surgery. An example of treatment...
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In a nutshell This paper studied the risk of lymphedema associated with immediate breast reconstruction compared to mastectomy (removal of entire breast) alone. Some background While improvements in breast cancer treatment have led to better survival, there are still side effects of treatment. Lymphedema, the chronic swelling of arms, body...
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