March 2010

Researchers discover a new way to predict which breast cancer patients should be treated with anthracyclines

Barcelona, Spain: An international team of researchers has discovered a new way of detecting which breast cancer patients are going to respond best to chemotherapy that includes anthracycline antibiotics*. The research, presented at the seventh European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC7) in Barcelona today (Thursday), is important because, until now, there was conflicting evidence about the […]

What should be the goal of treatment in metastatic breast cancer? Patients and doctors differ in their views

Barcelona, Spain: Many patients with metastatic breast cancer believe that the primary goal in survival with new treatment should be to prolong life by at least a year over the survival they might expect from using current best therapies, a researcher will tell the seventh European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC7) in Barcelona today (Wednesday). This […]

Greater collaboration between health care providers needed to ensure that breast cancer patients get full benefit from tamoxifen treatment

Barcelona, Spain: Recently published research has shown that some breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen may not be getting the full benefit of their treatment because they have also been taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), prescribed drugs that inhibit the effect of an important enzyme. Now researchers have developed a strategy for overcoming this problem, […]

Breast cancer and socioeconomic status: worse outcomes for women from poorer backgrounds are not due to late diagnosis alone

Barcelona, Spain: The largest study in Europe to look at the link between socioeconomic status and survival after breast cancer has found that women from poorer backgrounds have worse outcomes and that this is only partly explained by more advanced cancer at diagnosis. Although other studies have found that lower socioeconomic status is linked with […]

Health professionals need to address fertility issues in young women with breast cancer in order for them to make informed decisions

Barcelona, Spain: At a time when more and more young women are surviving breast cancer and delaying childbirth, it is important to take their needs and wishes about their future fertility into consideration when deciding on treatment, the seventh European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC7) in Barcelona will hear today (Wednesday). Dr. Anne Armstrong, from the […]

Recurrence of breast cancer after more than ten years is an important indicator of survival

Barcelona, Spain: Recurrence of breast cancer in the same area as the original tumour remains the strongest, independent prognostic factor for subsequent metastasis and death, even for patients who have been free of disease for a very long time, according to research presented today (Wednesday) at the seventh European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC7). Dr Sven […]

Study shows doctors are failing to lower heart patients’ cholesterol adequately. Women are particularly at risk of insufficient cholesterol targets

Only half of all patients at high risk of heart disease are given correct targets for lowering their cholesterol levels according to a study of 25,250 patients in Germany published online today (Thursday 11 March) in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study investigated the way primary care doctors assessed their patients’ risk factors and […]

Behavioural problems in childhood doubles the risk of chronic widespread pain in adult life

Bad behaviour in childhood is associated with long-term, chronic widespread pain in adult life, according to the findings of a study following nearly 20,000 people from birth in 1958 to the present day. Chronic widespread pain is a common complaint that can have a major adverse effect on quality of life, often requiring referral to […]

Too many of Europe’s top football venues are not adequately prepared for treating spectators who suffer heart attacks

Too many major sports arenas in Europe do not have adequate equipment and procedures in place to save the lives of spectators who suffer heart attacks while watching a sporting event, according to new research published online today (Wednesday 3 March) in the European Heart Journal [1]. In a study of 187 top sports arenas […]