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Thirty-three years ago, a small group of clinicians came together in San Antonio during what was then Breast Cancer Awareness Week to discuss the latest developments in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. Today, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) is one of the largest, most important meetings focusing on breast cancer, drawing over 8,000 attendees from around the world.
The 2011 SABCS runs from December 6-10, and Y-ME will be there to provide daily updates on the important stories coming out of this meeting. We will post a summary of the highlights and hot news right here, along with expert commentary from members of our medical board and other breast cancer specialists, plus blogs from our peer counselors, all of whom are breast cancer survivors and advocates.
This year, the Institute of Medicine is presenting a report on "Breast Cancer and the Environment," which we are confident will create a significant level of interest across the breast cancer community and the media. Additional important data will be presented on the continuing progress in treating metastatic breast cancer, especially those with HER2+ disease, new studies on the importance of bisphosphonates, new information on diet and genetic risk factors for breast cancer, and new treatment recommendations for DCIS. Check back on this page for our take on all this and more, as soon as it becomes available.
We understand that just getting an avalanche of new information can be confusing. We are committed to providing a perspective with our updates that will help you to assess what is really important and how it applies to your individual situation. For more information, call our Hotline at 1-800-221-2141 and speak to a peer counselor.
Finishing Up at San Antonio
Dorothy, Y-ME Peer Counselor, writes, "I headed home the last day of this symposium with mixed emotions. It was a very exciting week and an amazing experience to be there with thousands of doctors, scientists and advocates who are so committed to solving the problem of breast cancer. It gives you real hope."
News Wrap-Up from San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO - For this final report from the 2011 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, we are going to focus on the larger themes or take home messages, rather than on individual studies.
Bisphosphonates Reduce Recurrences When Used as Adjuvant Therapy
Many post menopausal women take drugs known as bisphosphonates to help maintain bone strength. New studies presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium provide strong evidence that these drugs can also help reduce the risk of recurrence in breast cancer when they are used as adjuvant therapy.
Response Guided Therapy May Have Long Term Benefits
Several years ago, a large German group presented data on an innovative approach to making treatment decisions for women receiving pre-operative chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Not Needed Even if Sentinel Node is Positive
Axillary lymph node dissections were once considered essential to determining how the extent of the cancer and making treatment decisions.
Targeting the Tumor Environment May Help Treat Breast Cancers
In recent years, researchers have begun to understand that the environment in which a tumor grows is very important. Tumor cells only grow and spread if the "neighborhood" around them supports that growth.
Researchers Announce the Results of Three Major Trials for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Results of three huge international trials represent potential progress in treating metastatic patients, as these patients are waiting for news that that offers hope for treating their disease more successfully with fewer side effects.
Multi-Gene Assay Predicts Risk of Recurrence for DCIS Patients
Up to now, patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have all faced surgery and radiation therapy. A new test offers treatment options to some patients.
Having Both Ovaries Removed Increases the Risk of Osteoporosis and Arthritis
A new study shows that women who have a bilateral oophorectomy are very susceptible to having lower bone density compared to women who still have their ovaries.
Insurance Influences Whether Women Get Immediate Reconstruction
A new study shows that a number of factors influence whether or not having breast reconstruction at the same time a patient has surgery to treat their breast cancers is a good option.
Study Analyzes Factors that Increase the Risk of Contralateral Breast Cancer
A new study looks at the risk factors for contralateral breast cancer patients with the BRCA mutation in over 5,000 patients in the Netherlands.
New Tool for DCIS Identifies Lower-Risk Patients Who Can Avoid Radiation
Steve Shak, MD, writes, "Oncotype DX DCIS Score goes beyond traditional clinical and pathologic measures, such as tumor size, tumor grade, and patient age, to predict the risk of local recurrence..."
Breast Cancer and the Environment
A report from the Institute of Medicine. For every patient who has wondered whether something in the environment caused her cancer.
Cutting Breast Cancer Risks
NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams features Y-ME CEO Cindy Geoghegan in a report on a new study that highlights the environmental factors that play into a woman's chance of developing breast cancer.
What Does New DCIS Tool Mean To A Survivor?
Fifteen years ago, I was diagnosed with DCIS. Stage 0 cancer. At the time, I wondered how I could really have cancer if it was Stage 0, but I was told by my doctors - and they were very good doctors - that I had to have a mastectomy.
A Peer Counselor's Take on SABCS
I am on my way to Texas for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. It's hard to describe the excitement of being at this meeting, seeing doctors and researchers from all over the world gathered to present the latest data and discuss the best ways to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Test Can Help Tailor Breast Cancer Care
NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams features Y-ME Peer Counselor Dorothy Warren in a report on DCIS.
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