Tag Archives: breast
Does Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer Hurt the Heart?
A major study published in the March 14, 2013 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine has made national headlines and is causing great concern for thousands of patients with breast cancer: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1209825. The study’s conclusion is that radiation doses to the heart during RT for breast cancer cause an increased risk of major [...]
Adventures with “Lumpy & Sneaky” – A Cancer Journey
Since it’s the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in women, virtually everyone knows someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. On the other hand, most people have never even heard of soft tissue sarcoma, let alone knowing someone dealing with that type of cancer. Sadly, my good friend’s girlfriend, Jen, has been dealing with [...]
The BEST NEW (Breast, Colon, Prostate) Cancer Treatment
In the May 27 edition of the Opinionator from the New York Times is a piece entitled, “In Medicine, Falling for Fake Innovation.” Regardless of your political persuasion, I would urge readers who are interested in the future of healthcare (or more specifically, cancer care) in the U.S. to read this article by Ezekiel Emanuel: [...]
Who is Losing the War on Cancer in 2012?
Despite what you may have heard, cancer is NOT an equal opportunity killer. As we begin National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, April 16-21, 2012, I’d like visitors to http://thecancermd.com/ to remember that single fact. While oncologists try to be positive and hopeful with our patients whenever possible, we also need to be realists, with eyes wide open. The [...]
Can an Aspirin a Day Keep the Cancer MD Away?!
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but can an aspirin a day keep cancer at bay?! In December 2011, I posted a blog about Dr. Peter Rockwell and colleagues who published a meta-analysis about the beneficial effects of aspirin in decreasing the risks of developing multiple types of cancer. There are a [...]
Should Companies Be Allowed to Patent Breast Cancer Genes?
Most patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a clear family history or known genetic source for the disease. However, a minority of women ( and men) develop breast cancer thanks to their inheritance of the BRCA 1 or 2 genes. Testing for the presence of these genes, while expensive, can be [...]
