U.S. Task Force Updates Breast Cancer Gene Testing Recommendations

TUESDAY, Aug. 20, 2019 -- Mutations in two genes -- BRCA1 and BRCA2 -- are known to significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, but experts have long debated which women should be tested for them.

New recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) may help clarify who can benefit most from a risk assessment test. Now, if a woman has a high risk, the task force is recommending that she see a genetic counselor and possibly be tested for the BRCA mutations.

Making Sense of Mammography Guidelines

TUESDAY, June 25, 2019 -- Experts agree that detecting breast cancer early offers a better outlook, but when to start screenings and how often to have them has changed repeatedly.

The goal has been to balance early detection with the distress of false positives that lead to unnecessary testing. But leading medical organizations differ regarding the guidelines, making it incumbent on women (and men at risk for breast cancer) to know all the options and take steps to make the right choice for them.

Early Risers May Be a Little Less Likely to Get Breast Cancer

THURSDAY, June 27, 2019 -- If you're a woman who greets the early morning with a smile, new research delivers good news -- you have a slightly reduced risk of developing breast cancer.

For night owls and people who tend to sleep more than the usual seven to eight hours nightly, the analysis suggested a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

Could 3-D Mammograms Soon Be the Standard for Breast Cancer Screening?

MONDAY, June 24, 2019 -- More women are getting 3-D mammograms, which spot breast anomalies more accurately than traditional mammograms, a new study shows.

But there are big variations in use across the United States, the researchers noted.

Newer Drug Extends Lives of Young Breast Cancer Patients

SATURDAY, June 1, 2019 -- Adding a newer drug to standard hormone therapy lengthens the lives of younger women with advanced breast cancer, a new trial has found.

The drug, called Kisqali (ribociclib), is already approved for treating such patients -- based on earlier results showing it can delay the progression of their cancer.

'Focused' Radiation Could Lighten Treatment Burden for Early Breast Cancer

THURSDAY, June 6, 2019 -- Wendy Lybarger lived an hour's drive from the hospital where her breast cancer would be treated, so she was looking forward to a heaping helping of hassle.

For as many as six weeks, she'd have to travel there every weekday to receive radiation treatments after surgery to remove the small lump in her breast.