survival – Medical Lessons

Breast Cancer Stats: Notes from the 2012 ACS Report, and a Key Question

January 12, 2012January 18, 2012 Elaine Schattner, MD

Earlier this month, the ACS released its annual report on Cancer Facts and Figures. The document, based largely on analyses of SEER data from the NCI, supports that approximately 229,000 adults in the U.S. will receive a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer (BC) this year. The disease affects just over 2,000 men annually; 99% of […]

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer survival, Oncology (cancer), StatisticsTagged ACS, Breast Cancer, lifespan, MBC, metastatic breast cancer, mortality, new drugs, prognosis, SEER data, stats, survival1 Comment

Magic Johnson is Alive 20 Years after Announcing He Had HIV

November 8, 2011November 11, 2011 Elaine Schattner, MD

Yesterday’s Washington Post Sports has a clip from CNN, 20 years ago, when basketball star Magic Johnson announced on TV that he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The date was Nov 7, 1991. “Where were you when Magic made his announcement? What were your thoughts on Johnson and HIV/AIDS that day and how […]

Posted in Communication, Infectious Disease, Medical History, Medical NewsTagged AIDS, chronic illness, HIV, Magic Johnson, medical progress, new drugs, public illness, survivalLeave a Comment

Brief Report: Annual Meeting of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network

October 31, 2011January 12, 2012 Elaine Schattner, MD

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Network held its fifth annual meeting in Baltimore over this past weekend. Most of the nearly 300 registrants were women living with MBC. The lively group of women coalesced in the face of unexpected, pre-seasonal wintry weather. At an evening reception they stood, sat, waited for drinks and lined up for […]

Posted in Breast Cancer, Empowered Patient, Oncology (cancer)Tagged annual meeting, Breast Cancer, Johns Hopkins, MBCN, metastatic breast cancer, Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, patient education, patient empowerment, peer patients, survival, Turner Auditorium1 Comment

New Study, Presented at a Meeting of Breast Surgeons, Supports that Mammograms Save Lives of Women in Their 40s

May 2, 2011May 3, 2011 Elaine Schattner, MD

The American Society of Breast Surgeons held its 2011 annual meeting in D.C. from April 27 – May 1. Among the papers presented was Abstract #1754: “Mammography in 40 Year Old Women: The Potential Impact of the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) Mammography Guidelines.” You can find the press release, followed by the abstract, […]

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer screening, Oncology (cancer), Under the RadarTagged American Society of Breast Surgeons, benefits of mammography, Breast Cancer, mammography, screening guidelines, survival, USPSTF, women 40-49 years, Women's Health2 Comments

Breast Cancer Study Shows No Benefit In Extensive Lymph Node Removal

February 9, 2011February 11, 2011 Elaine Schattner, MD

Today’s Times leads with a story on surgical removal of lymph nodes in women with breast cancer. The dramatic digital headline, Lymph Node Study Shakes Pillar of Breast Cancer Care, made me tremble at first glance. The article by Denise Grady covers a new report* in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The key finding is that for women with apparently limited disease before surgery who undergo subsequent radiation and chemotherapy, taking out all the cancerous nodes from the axilla (armpit) has no advantage.

I read the original publication and took some notes:

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer treatment, Medical News, Oncology (cancer)Tagged axillary lymph nodes, Breast Cancer, lymphedema, prognosis, sentinel node dissection, surgical treatment, survivalLeave a Comment

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