New Guidelines to Screen for Breast Cancer

Recommendations from The Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care have been presented for the use of mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, breast self exam and clinical breast exam to screen for breast cancer. These recommendations apply only to women at average risk of breast cancer aged 40 to 74 years. They do not apply to women at higher risk due to personal history of breast cancer, history of breast cancer in first degree relative, known BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation, or prior chest wall radiation. No recommendations are made for women aged 75 and older, given the lack of data. Recommendations are for clinicians and policy-makers.
For a list of recommendations past and current, go to: (http://www.canadiantaskforce.ca/recommendations/2011_01_eng.html.)

Computer-aided detection (CAD)is used to complement the trained eye of the radiologist in the search for anomalies in mammograms. Having two radiologists has been shown to improve the detection rate. However, a recent study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reports that this new technology (used in roughly three of every four screening mammograms in the U.S.) does not replace another pair of human eyes. CAD not only fails to improve breast cancer detection but also increases a woman’s risk of a false positive.
("Computer Aided Detection does not improve mammography accuracy." JNCI 103(15) July 27, 2011.)

Weightlifting may alleviate lymphedema

Although clinical guidelines for breast cancer survivors often advise against upper body exercise, a Philadelphia study has found that weightlifting reduces the potential for lymphedema. Included in the study were women who had had breast cancer surgery but who had no signs of lymphedema as yet. Some were provided with a gym membership with 13 weeks of supervised instruction and asked to continue for another nine months. Another group followed traditional post-surgery guidelines. The incidence of lymphedema was lower in the weightlifting group as compared to the controls (11% vs. 17%) and, among those who had five or more lymph nodes removed, the incidence was 7% vs. 22%. The authors recommend a program of slowly progressive weightlifting, post-surgery, for women hoping to avoid lymphedema.
(JAMA, published online Dec. 8, 2010.)

Seeing the colour pink can turn women off

An article in the Harvard Business Review (July 2011) reports on investigations of the idea that the strong pink branding of breast cancer charities might be counterproductive. Researchers from three prestigious business schools devised a number of experiments during which women reacted negatively to messages about diseases, such as breast and ovarian cancer, which featured the colour pink – and much more positively to similar colour-neutral messages. It is theorized that this is evidence of a strong denial mechanism. Whatever the explanation, it flies in the face of the marketing principle that you should build a strong brand that emotionally connects with consumers.
(“Defend your research: The color pink is bad for fighting breast cancer.” HBR, July 2011.)

Federal scientists are reviewing the safety of triclosan, a key ingredient in some anti-bacterial soaps, hand sanitizers, toothpastes and deodorants. The Canadian Medical Association has called for a ban; in response, Health Canada and Environment Canada have promised a draft opinion to be available in Spring 2012 for public feedback. This review is part of The Chemicals Management Plan which has already led to a ban on bisphenol-A. The Plan has allocated more than half a million dollars to work on assessing the safety of plastics and research substances.(Canadian Press, October 3, 2011.)

The U.S. Congress is considering a Safe Cosmetics Bill

For the first time in 70 years, the U.S. Congress is poised to close the gaping holes in outdated federal law that allows chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other illness in cosmetics. The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, introduced in July, will give the Food & Drug Administration authority to ensure that personal care products are free of harmful ingredients. Existing law concedes decision-making about ingredient safety to the cosmetic industry itself.
(www.breastcancerfund.org/big-picture-solutions/make-our-products-safe/making-cosmetics-safe.html.)

Postmenopausal breast cancer risk linked to hormone levels

According to a report using data from the Nurses Health Study, high circulating levels of multiple hormones in the blood of postmenopausal women substantially increase the risk of breast cancer, particularly estrogen-receptor positive cancer (ER+). Previous studies have not looked at the influence of multiple hormones simultaneously, so this study evaluated the roles of estrone, estradiol, estrone sulfate, testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, prolactin and, secondarily, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and c-peptide.

Using a number of hormone scores, the study found that women who scored in the top fifth of measurements of circulating estrogen/androgen had almost a doubling of postmenopausal breast cancer risk. There is a need for more research to consider the potential of developing risk prediction scores considering levels of multiple hormones.
(Breast Cancer Research, October 21, 2011.)