As an organization that serves young women affected by breast cancer, we make sure to keep up with the latest news so we know what our women face when it comes to treatment and beyond. In this blog series, we will share the previous month’s news that we feel is most interesting and relevant.
May 4: There is some low-level evidence that suggests medical marijuana or cannabinoids may reduce chemotherapy-related side effects in patients with cancer, according to data presented at a recent medical conference. A consensus from six article reviews demonstrated that cannabinoids were superior to placebo in reducing chemotherapy-related side effects and in general, similar to standard drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting alone or in combination. Anxiety and sleep problems improved but were not considered statistically significant, and appetite in patients receiving chemotherapy increased slightly. Read more in Cure Today HERE.
May 4: A new study suggests that slow-growing breast cancers can be treated with a highly targeted tumor-freezing technique, eliminating the need for invasive surgery. Testing suggests the technique is effective among women over 60 diagnosed with relatively low-risk breast cancer. Read the full story in HealthDay HERE.
May 5: Most women had healthy lifestyles at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, although several developed unhealthy behaviors after diagnosis (one and two years) such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and weight gain, according to new data. Based on these results, researchers recommend that there should be a system to help this patient population combat unhealthy behaviors. Read more in Cure Today HERE.
May 20: Breast cancer survivors have a higher risk for subsequent primary cancers than the general population, and risk differs substantially by breast cancer subtype and age, according to a new study. Research into this relationship could lead to better cancer prevention and early-detection strategies. Read more about this study in HealthDay HERE.
May 20: Researchers have developed a completely new model that proposes that cancer is a type of genetic throwback that progresses through a series of reversions to ancestral forms of life. In contrast with the conventional model, this model suggests the capabilities of cancer cells are not primarily generated by mutations, but rather are pre-existent and latent in normal cells. Understanding and exploring this new model can help scientists develop new therapeutic strategies. Read the full story in MedicalXpress HERE.
May 20: Cancer drugs capable of weakening the body's immune defenses are no more likely to increase the risk of COVID-19 infection or death than breast cancer therapies that do not undermine the immune system, a new study shows. Read more about this study in HealthDay HERE.
May 31: researchers are developing a potential new way to make CAR T-cell therapy more effective against breast cancer and other solid cancers. CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy where a patient's own immune cells are collected and reengineered, before being infused back into the patient to fight their cancer. But CAR T-cells also contain a gene that can suppress this immune response. Researchers were able to show that by knocking out this gene, CAR T-cell therapy was significantly more effective at fighting breast cancer. Read more about this research in MedicalXpress HERE.