New Breast Cancer Screening and Hormonal Effects on Breast Cancer Risk
A new form of breast cancer screening (which we actually talked about in March 2007) uses proteins found in saliva to detect the presence of early breast cancer tumors in women. Although mammograms and breast self-exams are the most common methods of detecting early breast cancer, the saliva test may be a great new technique, particularly for women in developing countries who may not have access to or funding for mammography services.
"On a global perspective, mammography is not very common," [said Charles Streckfus, a professor of diagnostic sciences at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston] in a telephone interview. "Even in our neighbor Mexico, there are very few mammography centers around."
Streckfus said he envisioned a saliva test as a quick, inexpensive and simple screening method. In developed countries like the United States, such a test could complement existing screening methods, he added.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide, according to the American Cancer Society.
The organization estimated that about 465,000 women died from it globally in 2007, with 1.3 million new cases diagnosed. Declining death rates from breast cancer in developed countries have been attributed to early detection through mammography screening and to improved treatment, the organization said. (source)
In other breast cancer news, hormone-replacement therapy, which is common in menopausal and postmenopausal women, can cause a dramatic increase in breast cancer risk after only 3 years, raising questions as to whether the risks are worth the benefits. Women studied who took estrogen/progestin HRT quadrupled their risk of developing lobular breast cancer.
"Previous research indicated that five or more years of combined hormone-therapy use was necessary to increase overall breast-cancer risk," Dr. Christopher Li of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, who led the study, said in a statement.
"Our study, the first specifically designed to evaluate the relationship between combined HRT and lobular breast cancers, suggests that a significantly shorter length of exposure to such hormones may confer an increased risk."
Lobular breast cancer accounts for about 10 percent of invasive breast cancer — the kind that threatens to spread — according to the American Cancer Society. (source)
Related LW Posts:
- Modifying Molecules May Stop Cancer Metastasis
- Blood Test to Detect Breast Cancer and Genetic Screening for Breast Cancer in Men
- Have You Felt Your Boobies Lately?
Tags: womens health, woman, health, breast cancer, saliva screening test, mammogram, breast self-exam, hormone replacement therapy, HRT
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POSTED IN: Breast cancer, Cancer, Women's Issues
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