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Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, the risk of breast cancer increases with age, it is most common after the age of 50. Each breast has 15- 20 sections (lobes), each of which has many smaller sections (lobules). The lobes and lobules are connected by thin tubes (ducts). The most frequent type of breast cancer is that starting in the ducts (ductal cancer), other types include cancer beginning in the lobes or lobules (lobular carcinoma), less common is Inflammatory breast cancer which causes the breast to be red, and swollen. The incidence of breast cancer has been increasing in Western countries, the rate of increase has been faster in younger women, however, the cause of most breast cancers remains unknown. World-wide about 794,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Menu: Breast Cancer
Information for Patients and the Public
Information for Health Professionals / Researchers
Latest Research Publications
Breast Cancer Organisations
Breast Cancer in Pregnancy
Breast Cancer Screening
Familial Breast Cancer
Lymphedema
Male Breast Cancer
Paget's Disease of the BreastInformation Patients and the Public (17 links)
- Breast Cancer Treatment
National Cancer Institute
PDQ summaries are written and frequently updated by editorial boards of experts Further info. - Breast Cancer
Cancer Research UK
CancerHelp information is examined by both expert and lay reviewers. Content is reviewed every 12 to 18 months. Further info. - Breast Cancer
Cancer.Net
Content is peer reviewed and Cancer.Net has an Editorial Board of experts and advocates. Content is reviewed annually or as needed. Further info. - Breast cancer
Macmillan Cancer Support
Content is developed by a team of information development nurses and content editors, and reviewed by health professionals. Further info. - Breast cancer statistics
Cancer Research UK
CancerHelp information is examined by both expert and lay reviewers. Content is reviewed every 12 to 18 months. Further info.
Statistics for the UK, including incidence, mortality, survival, risk factors and stats related to treatment and symptom relief. - Appendiceal Cancer Advocacy Network
Appendiceal Cancer Advocacy Network
A patient-based advocacy organization, founded in 2004, dedicated to serving the needs of those diagnosed with cancer of the appendix. - Breast Cancer
Irish Cancer Society - Breast Cancer - Module 1: Breast Anatomy
NHS / ASKVisualScience
An animated video about the anatomy of the breast - part of a series of videos about breast cancer aimed at general practitioners and their patients. - Breast Cancer - Module 2: Malignant Transformation and Growth
NHS / ASKVisualScience
An animated video about how cancer can develop in the breasts - part of a series of videos about breast cancer aimed at general practitioners and their patients. - Breast Cancer - Module 3: Tumour Staging
NHS / ASKVisualScience
An animated video about breast cancer staging - part of a series of videos about breast cancer aimed at general practitioners and their patients. - Breast Cancer - Module 4: Signs, Symptoms and Surgery
NHS / ASKVisualScience
An animated video about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and surgery for breast cancer - part of a series of videos about breast cancer aimed at general practitioners and their patients. - Breast Cancer Care WA
Breast Cancer Care WA
a charity founded in 2000, which provides personalised emotional, practical and financial support and care to people affected by breast cancer in Western Australia. - Breast Cancer FAQs
Association for International Cancer Research - Cancer Advances In Focus: Breast Cancer
National Cancer Institute
A factsheet about breast cancer in the past, today, and how current research may change treatment and prevention in the future. - Think Pink Foundation
Think Pink Foundation
An independent, volunteer based charity whose focus is to raise funds to provide financial and emotional support, information and counseling for breast cancer patients. - Understanding Pathology for Breast Cancer
Swedish Medical Center, Seattle
Sean Thornton, MD, introduces the pathology and biology of breast cancer and role of the pathologist. The presenter is from Cellnetix Laboratories and Pathology / Swedish Medical Center - a not-for-profit hospital in Seattle. - What's New in Breast Cancer Care and Treatment
Cancer.Net
Dr. Julie Gralow outlines recent research progress in the care and treatment of people with breast cancer. (2012)
Information for Health Professionals / Researchers (12 links)
- PubMed search for publications about Breast Cancer - Limit search to: [Reviews]
PubMed Central search for free-access publications about Breast Cancer
MeSH term: Breast Neoplasms
US National Library of Medicine
PubMed has over 22 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Constantly updated. - Breast Cancer Treatment
National Cancer Institute
PDQ summaries are written and frequently updated by editorial boards of experts Further info. - Breast Cancer
Patient UK
PatientUK content is peer reviewed. Content is reviewed by a team led by a Clinical Editor to reflect new or updated guidance and publications. Further info. - Breast cancer statistics
Cancer Research UK
CancerHelp information is examined by both expert and lay reviewers. Content is reviewed every 12 to 18 months. Further info.
Statistics for the UK, including incidence, mortality, survival, risk factors and stats related to treatment and symptom relief. - Breast Cancer
NHS Evidence
Regularly updated and reviewed. Further info.
Filter guidelines, research, medicines information and other categories. - Breast Cancer
Oncolex - Oslo University Hospital (Norway) and MD Andersen (USA)
Detailed reference article covering etiology, histology, staging, metastatic patterns, symptoms, differential diagnoses, prognosis, treatment and follow-up. - Case study: 35 year old female with widely metastatic infiltrating ductal carcinoma
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh - Case study: A 54-year old female with adenoid cystic carcinoma of breast
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh - Clinical Trials - Female Breast Cancer
National Cancer Institute
Search of the NCI's database of 12,000+ clinical trials from around the world. - Gastric and Breast Cancer
Gastric Breast Cancer Editorial Office
Provides secondary-research articles (editorials, perspectives, news/views etc) on best practice and future clinical and research directions prevention and early detection, multidisciplinary, evidence-based management and treatment of breast cancer and gastric cancer. International editorial board, peer reviewed and open access. - International Breast Ultrasound School
IBUS
IBUS aims to to improve the standards of breast ultrasound through the provision of high-quality educational programmes. It was formed in 1991, and is incorporated in Switzerland. - SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Breast
SEER, National Cancer Institute
Overview and specific fact sheets on incidence and mortality, survival and stage, lifetime risk, and prevalence.
Molecular Biology of Breast CancerBreast Cancer Organisations (11 links)
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breastcancer.org
A nonprofit organization which aims to provide reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer. Information is reviewed by an Advisory Board, which includes over 60 practicing medical professionals from around the world. - ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis
ABCD
Founded by breast cancer survivors ABCD provides free, personalized information and one-to-one support to people affected by breast cancer - patients, families and friends. - Against Breast Cancer
Against Breast Cancer
a charity aiming to increase survival after breast cancer through research into secondary spread. The site includes pages about the organisation, facts about breast cancer, lifestyle, research reports etc. Research at Middlesex and UCL Hospitals. - Avon Breast Cancer Crusade
Avon Foundation for Women
Founded in 1992, this corporate organisation has raised over $780 million donated to breast cancer programs around the world. It supports awareness and education, screening and diagnosis, access to care, support services, and scientific research. - Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
A national charity launched in 1991 to promote breast cancer research. It supports the Breakthrough Research Centre in London and a number of other locations in the UK. The web site includes details of research, campaigns, events etc. - Breast Cancer Care
Breast Cancer Care
A national charity promoting awareness and providing information and support to those affected by breast cancer. The Web site includes details of services; telephone helpline, volunteer and aftercare programs, on-line booklets and factsheets. - Breast Cancer Fund
Breast Cancer Fund
The Breast Cancer Fund works to prevent breast cancer by eliminating our exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease. The organisation has its headquaters in San Fransisco. Thw website includes information about chemicals and risk reduction. - Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance
CBCRA
An alliance of governmental and non-governmental organisations in Canada, which is the primary granting agency for breast cancer research in Canada. - HER2 Support Group
HER2 Support Group
A non-profit organisation which aims to help members by supporting concerns and by providing links to news and current research. The site includes a message board and details of clinical trials. - Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
An organisation which has raised almost 2 billion dollars to fund research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in the USA and more than 50 other countries
National Cancer OrganisationsLatest Research Publications
This list of publications is regularly updated (Source: PubMed).
Primary angiosarcoma of the breast: a case report and review of the literature.
J Med Assoc Thai. 2013; 96(3):378-82 [PubMed]
Can cyclo-oxygenase-2 be a useful prognostic and risk stratification marker in breast cancer?
J Indian Med Assoc. 2012; 110(7):429-33 [PubMed]
Tocotrienols promote apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by inducing poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B activity.
Cell Prolif. 2013; 46(2):203-13 [PubMed]
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-cancer activity of a tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) and a tocotrienol-enriched fraction (TEF) isolated from palm oil, as well as pure vitamin E analogues (α-tocopherol, α-, δ- and γ-tocotrienols) were studied using highly aggressive triple negative MDA-MB-231 cells and oestrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells, both of human breast cancer cell lines. Cell population growth was evaluated using a Coulter particle counter. Cell death mechanism, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and levels of NF-κB were determined using commercial ELISA kits.
RESULTS: Tocotrienols exerted potent anti-proliferative effects on both types of cell by inducing apoptosis, the underlying mechanism of cell death being ascertained using respective IC50 concentrations of all test compounds. There was marked induction of apoptosis in both cell lines by tocotrienols compared to treatment with Paclitaxel, which was used as positive control. This activity was found to be associated with cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (a DNA repair protein), demonstrating involvement of the apoptotic cell death signalling pathway. Tocotrienols also inhibited expression of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), which in turn can increase sensitivity of cancer cells to apoptosis.
CONCLUSION: Tocotrienols induced anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in association with DNA fragmentation, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and NF-κB inhibition in the two human breast cancer cell lines.
Metaplastic breast cancer: a presentation of two cases and a review of the literature.
Tenn Med. 2013; 106(2):39-41 [PubMed]
Risk of ischemic heart disease in women after radiotherapy for breast cancer.
N Engl J Med. 2013; 368(11):987-98 [PubMed]
METHODS: We conducted a population-based case-control study of major coronary events (i.e., myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or death from ischemic heart disease) in 2168 women who underwent radiotherapy for breast cancer between 1958 and 2001 in Sweden and Denmark; the study included 963 women with major coronary events and 1205 controls. Individual patient information was obtained from hospital records. For each woman, the mean radiation doses to the whole heart and to the left anterior descending coronary artery were estimated from her radiotherapy chart.
RESULTS: The overall average of the mean doses to the whole heart was 4.9 Gy (range, 0.03 to 27.72). Rates of major coronary events increased linearly with the mean dose to the heart by 7.4% per gray (95% confidence interval, 2.9 to 14.5; P<0.001), with no apparent threshold. The increase started within the first 5 years after radiotherapy and continued into the third decade after radiotherapy. The proportional increase in the rate of major coronary events per gray was similar in women with and women without cardiac risk factors at the time of radiotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of the heart to ionizing radiation during radiotherapy for breast cancer increases the subsequent rate of ischemic heart disease. The increase is proportional to the mean dose to the heart, begins within a few years after exposure, and continues for at least 20 years. Women with preexisting cardiac risk factors have greater absolute increases in risk from radiotherapy than other women. (Funded by Cancer Research UK and others.).
Analysis of circulating tumor DNA to monitor metastatic breast cancer.
N Engl J Med. 2013; 368(13):1199-209 [PubMed]
METHODS: We compared the radiographic imaging of tumors with the assay of circulating tumor DNA, CA 15-3, and circulating tumor cells in 30 women with metastatic breast cancer who were receiving systemic therapy. We used targeted or whole-genome sequencing to identify somatic genomic alterations and designed personalized assays to quantify circulating tumor DNA in serially collected plasma specimens. CA 15-3 levels and numbers of circulating tumor cells were measured at identical time points.
RESULTS: Circulating tumor DNA was successfully detected in 29 of the 30 women (97%) in whom somatic genomic alterations were identified; CA 15-3 and circulating tumor cells were detected in 21 of 27 women (78%) and 26 of 30 women (87%), respectively. Circulating tumor DNA levels showed a greater dynamic range, and greater correlation with changes in tumor burden, than did CA 15-3 or circulating tumor cells. Among the measures tested, circulating tumor DNA provided the earliest measure of treatment response in 10 of 19 women (53%).
CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept analysis showed that circulating tumor DNA is an informative, inherently specific, and highly sensitive biomarker of metastatic breast cancer. (Funded by Cancer Research UK and others.).
A systematic review of oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery: current weaknesses and future prospects.
Ann Surg. 2013; 257(4):609-20 [PubMed]
BACKGROUND: Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) has become the standard of care, and survival is now excellent. Consequently, the focus of BCT has increasingly shifted to cosmetic outcome, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. Nonetheless, excision of certain tumors still presents a considerable challenge. Specialized approaches combining oncological surgery and plastic surgery techniques are collectively referred to as OPBS. A summary of OPBS outcomes would facilitate decision-making and best treatment selection by both clinicians and patients.
METHODS: Using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to analyze 2090 abstracts on the topic of OPBS published between 2000 and 2011, the authors evaluated each study with respect to design and outcomes.
RESULTS: A total of 88 articles were identified for potential inclusion and reviewed in detail by the lead authors. No randomized controlled trials were identified. Eleven prospective observational or comparative studies fulfilled inclusion criteria and were selected. In these studies, 80% to 93% of the tumors were invasive. Tumor-free resection margins were observed in 78% to 93%, resulting in a 3% to 16% mastectomy rate. Local recurrence was observed in 0% to 7% of the patients. Good cosmetic outcome was obtained in 84% to 89% of patients. However, most studies showed significant weaknesses including lack of robust design and important methodological shortcomings, negatively influencing generalizability.
CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review reveals that current evidence supporting the efficacy of OPBS is based on poorly designed and underpowered studies. Given the increasing importance and application of OPBS, there is a pressing need for robust comparative studies, including both randomized controlled trials and well-designed, multicenter prospective longitudinal studies.
Fine needle aspiration diagnosis of a spontaneously infarcted fibroadenoma mimicking carcinoma: a case report.
Anal Quant Cytol Histol. 2013; 35(1):57-60 [PubMed]
CASE: A 37-year-old woman presented to the outpatient surgical clinic with a 6-month history of a breast lump that was slowly increasing in size and had become painful during the past month. There was no history of any trauma or fine needle aspiration, and she was not pregnant or lactating. Mammogram and ultrasound revealed a 2.9-cm heterogenous hypoechoic suspicious lesion. No lymph nodes were detected in the axilla. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed, and a diagnosis of benign breast lesion with features of infarction was rendered on cytology. The lump was excised surgically, and a histological diagnosis of infarcted fibroadenoma was made.
CONCLUSION: Careful and diligent search for preserved benign epithelial cells on smears is the key to recognize this entity and avoid serious therapeutic implications.
Evaluation of the level of knowledge of Egyptian women of breast cancer and its risk factors. A cross sectional study.
J Prev Med Hyg. 2012; 53(4):195-8 [PubMed]
Miscellaneous syndromes and their management: occult breast cancer, breast cancer in pregnancy, male breast cancer, surgery in stage IV disease.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):519-31 [PubMed]
Landmark trials affecting the surgical management of invasive breast cancer.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):501-18 [PubMed]
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):493-9 [PubMed]
Adjuvant systemic therapies in breast cancer.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):473-91 [PubMed]
Radiation therapy in the management of breast cancer.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):455-71 [PubMed]
Surgical management of the breast: breast conservation therapy and mastectomy.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):411-28 [PubMed]
Genetic predisposition syndromes and their management.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):341-62 [PubMed]
Surgical management of high-risk breast lesions.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):329-40 [PubMed]
Screening, imaging, and image-guided biopsy techniques for breast cancer.
Surg Clin North Am. 2013; 93(2):309-27 [PubMed]
mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer.
Oncology (Williston Park). 2013; 27(1):38-44, 46, 48 passim [PubMed]
Using temporal mining to examine the development of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors.
Nurs Res. 2013 Mar-Apr; 62(2):122-9 [PubMed]
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify commonly occurring patterns in limb volume changes in breast cancer survivors before the development of lymphedema and to determine if there were differences in these patterns between certain patient subgroups. Furthermore, pattern differences were studied between patients who developed lymphedema quickly and those whose onset was delayed.
METHODS: A temporal data mining technique was used to identify and compare common patterns in limb volume measurements in patient subgroups of study participants (n = 232). Patterns were filtered initially by support and confidence values, and then t tests were used to determine statistical significance of the remaining patterns.
RESULTS: Higher body mass index and the presence of postoperative swelling are supported as risk factors for lymphedema. In addition, a difference in trajectory to the lymphedema state was observed.
DISCUSSION: The results have potential to guide clinical guidelines for assessment of latent and early-onset lymphedema.
Management of reproductive health in Cowden syndrome complicated by endometrial polyps and breast cancer.
Obstet Gynecol. 2013; 121(2 Pt 2 Suppl 1):461-4 [PubMed]
CASE: A 37-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer, other neoplasms, and multiple skin lesions was diagnosed with Cowden syndrome after a germline PTEN mutation was identified. The endometrium had high glucose uptake on positron emission tomography scan and was irregularly thickened on ultrasonography; biopsy revealed endometrial polyps and simple hyperplasia. Fifteen months later, hysteroscopy again confirmed numerous benign endometrial polyps.
CONCLUSION: Recurrent, multiple endometrial polyps portend a high risk of endometrial cancer in women with Cowden syndrome. Monitoring for malignancy and consideration of hysterectomy after childbearing is completed is warranted.
Radioactive seed localization for non-palpable breast cancer.
Br J Surg. 2013; 100(5):582-8 [PubMed]
METHODS: PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched systematically in January 2012 for studies that addressed localization of non-palpable breast cancer using an iodine-125-labelled seed. Studies were deemed eligible if they reported on the proportion of patients with tumour-positive margins after RSL, the proportion of patients needing re-excision after RSL, and procedural complications.
RESULTS: Six studies reported data on RSL in 1611 patients with non-palpable breast lesions. Overall complete resection rates ranged from 73 to 96.7 per cent. Three studies included over 300 patients, and complete resection rates in these studies varied between 89.5 and 96.7 per cent. The risk of seed migration and failure of seed placement ranged from 0 to 0.6 per cent and 0 to 7.2 per cent respectively.
CONCLUSION: Available scientific evidence suggests that RSL is a safe and accurate technique for localization of non-palpable breast lesions.
The addition of SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy to breast cancer radiation planning spares lymph nodes critical for arm drainage.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2013; 85(4):971-7 [PubMed]
METHODS: SPECT-CT scans were acquired for the 28 patients with stage I or II breast cancer and fused with the routinely obtained radiation oncology planning CT scans. Arm-draining LNs were contoured with 0.5-cm margins automatically using a threshold of 50% maximum intensity. Two treatment plans were generated: 1 per routine clinical practice (standard; STD) and the second (modified; MOD) with treatment fields modified to minimize dose to the arm-draining LNs visible on SPECT/CT images without interfering with the dosage delivered to target tissues. Participants were treated per the MOD plans. Arm volumes were measured prior to radiation and thereafter at least three subsequent 6-month intervals.
RESULTS: Sixty-eight level I-III arm-draining LNs were identified, 57% of which were inside the STD plan fields but could be blocked in the MOD plan fields. Sixty-five percent of arm-draining LNs in the STD versus 16% in the MOD plans received a mean of ≥10 Gy, and 26% in the STD versus 4% in the MOD plans received a mean of ≥40 Gy. Mean LN radiation exposure was 23.6 Gy (standard deviation 18.2) with the STD and 7.7 Gy (standard deviation 11.3) with the MOD plans (P<.001). No participant developed lymphedema.
CONCLUSIONS: The integration of SPECT/CT scans into breast cancer radiation treatment planning reduces unnecessary arm-draining LN radiation exposure and may lessen the risk of lymphedema.
A one-two punch of miR-126/126* against metastasis.
Nat Cell Biol. 2013; 15(3):231-3 [PubMed]
Application of OctaAmmonium-POSS functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes for thermal treatment of cancer.
J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2012; 12(12):9018-28 [PubMed]
METHODS: Functionalization of SWCNT was conferred by refluxing with acid and OctaAmmonium-POSS. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) test UV-visible spectroscopy and morphology analysis using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) confirmed successful functionalization of SWCNT. NIR irradiation of samples was conducted using an 808 nm laser at 1 watt. Temperature changes were documented using a thermal camera. A HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line was used as a model for photothermal ablation. Cell viability test was performed using trypan blue and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) technique. Graph plotting and statistical analysis was conducted using Graph Pad Prism.
RESULTS: Following the functionalization process, TEM images showed a layer on the surface of the SWCNT. In the FTIR experiment, results illustrated the presence of the -COOH group on the functionalized SWCNTs. Upon further functionalization of SWCNT with OctaAmmonium-POSS, various peaks determined the formation of amide bond between the POSS molecule and functionalized SWCNT. The UV-visible spectra also determine the successful functionalization of the SWCNT following its treatment with acid and OctaAmmonium-POSS. Upon exposure to NIR, OctaAmmonium-POSS-SWCNT was the only treatment group that illustrated significantly higher temperature increase than the other treatment groups. Additionally cell death of NIR irradiated OctaAmmonium-POSS-SWCNT was statistically significant compared to other treatment groups.
CONCLUSION: OctaAmmonium-POSS was used to render SWCNT biocompatible and water dispersible. Observation from this study determines that functionalization with OctaAmmonium-POSS show greater temperature increase compared to pristine SWCNTs upon its exposure NIR. This significant temperature increase is due to increasing the solubility of SWCNT following its functionalization with OctaAmmonium-POSS.
Lymphedema of the arm after surgery for breast cancer: new physiotherapy.
Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2012; 39(4):483-8 [PubMed]
This page last updated: 11th May 2013
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