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A Message from Dr. Love
Last week, the esteemed Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research, released a new analysis of the large controlled studies that have looked at whether breast self-exam saves lives.
Their conclusion: “Data from two large trials do not suggest a beneficial effect of screening by breast self-examination but do suggest increased harm in terms of increased numbers of benign lesions identified and an increased number of biopsies performed. At present, screening by breast self-examination or physical examination cannot be recommended.”
Not surprisingly, the media were all over their new report. And as I read these news stories, and my quotes in them, I was frequently struck both by how many reporters got aspects of the story wrong and by what readers took away from the story, as evidenced by the calls we received and comments logged on media websites.
I think this finding angered so many women because women have been taught for years that BSE is something that they can do to “prevent’ breast cancer. But BSE was never breast cancer “prevention.” By the time you can feel a lump, it’s been there for some time.
It’s hard to let go of things we hold onto, especially something like BSE. We all know women who swear by it, who say that it was BSE that saved their lives. But as we learn more about cancer, and as we look at the research on BSE, we need to use this as an opportunity to examine what we’ve been taught about breast cancer and early detection.
What this review really points to is the need for breast cancer research to shift its focus from early detection to finding the cause of breast cancer and how to prevent it. That’s the only way we are going to truly be able to make a difference in this disease.
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Hot Topics
A British woman made news earlier this month when doctors reported that they had used in vitro fertilization (IVF) and pre-implantation diagnosis (PGD) to ensure that she would become pregnant with a baby that did not carry a BRCA mutation.
PGD has been used in the United States for about 15 years to screen for mutations that cause breast, bowel, and eye cancers as well as other diseases. By screening the embryos, doctors are able to ensure that only embryos without a certain genetic condition or chromosomal problem are transferred back into the uterus. The technique is also used to screen for chromosomal problems in couples who have tried IVF repeatedly and failed to become pregnant.
Woman who carry a BRCA mutation have a 50-85% of developing breast cancer. By using PGD to screen for the BRCA mutation, the couple has ensured that their daughter will not carry this particular mutation of the BRCA gene. This doesn't mean that her risk has been eliminated. Rather, it will be the same as that of any other woman who does not carry the BRCA mutation. Also, we must keep in mind that there are other genes and mutations that we have not yet identified that could increase risk as well as carcinogens in the environment that we cannot control.
As I said on the Today Show, I do not agree with this approach.
Read more.
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Cause for Love
The Foundation has partnered with RiverStone Journals, which has just released “A Survivor’s Guide for the Breast Cancer Journey: An Organizer and Handbook for the Newly Diagnosed.” The organizer provides a unique system to help women understand, plan, and record their journey through breast cancer, making it the perfect gift for you, a friend, or a loved one. The Foundation will receive $5.00 for each organizer purchased. The organizer can be purchased online at www.riverstonejournal.com
In celebration of Dr. Love's 60th birthday, and in recognition of her pioneering work as a breast cancer surgeon, advocate, and researcher, the Foundation invites you to join us in the Year of Love. Our goal is to raise $600,000 in honor of Dr. Love and her work. With your help, we can do it! When you donate in Dr. Love's honor, you'll have the opportunity to send her a personal message, which will be included on her virtual birthday card on our website. Donations in honor of Dr. Love can be made throughout 2008. Make a donation and send your birthday wishes.
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Research Update
The Foundation is now recruiting 30 Asian-American women for our Breast Fluid Test Project. For this study, women will come to our office in Santa Monica for about one hour. The aim is to determine the best method for obtaining nipple aspirate fluid (NAF). Three methods will be studied: women squeezing their own nipples; women massaging their breasts before squeezing; and women placing warm heat on their breasts before squeezing. Studies have found that Asian and Asian-American women yield the lowest NAF of any group and determining the most effective method is critical, as we will soon be starting a large NAF study in China. Volunteers will receive $50 for their time. Please email research@dslrf.org or call 1-866.569.0388 for more information.
The Foundation is looking for 30 Californian women who have recently been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to take part in a groundbreaking new research project that involves injecting a small amount of a chemotherapy drug into the affected breast duct. Study participants will then have their DCIS surgery four to six weeks later. The breast tissue collected during the surgery will be carefully examined to see the effects of the drug on the DCIS. If the study successfully shows that the drug has an impact on the DCIS, it could lead to a nationwide clinical trial of intraductal therapy for DCIS.
This research project, which was funded by the California Breast Cancer Research Program, is being conducted in collaboration with Ellen Mahoney, MD, and the Humboldt Community Breast Heath Project. Research participants will need to travel to Eureka, Calif., for the treatment and the surgery. Please call Ashley Casano at (310) 230-1712 Ext. 32 or send her an email for more information.
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In 1992, at age 57, I was diagnosed with a small stage 1 infiltrating ductal carcinoma with one positive lymph node in the left breast. I had a lumpectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy. In December 2007, I was again diagnosed with breast cancer in the left breast.