Listening to the presentations and engaging with researchers, scientists, and patients raised an important question: how do we communicate findings and data in ways that advance patient care while also fostering trust and meaningful relationships between industry and community?

No one-size-fits-all digital solution

Some of the most recent developments in data and research presented in San Antonio are worth recognizing, not only for what they found, but also for what they can teach us. For example, the YES (Young, Empowered & Strong) study demonstrated the potential of a mobile health (mHealth) app to address quality of life issues and reduce key symptoms in young breast cancer survivors.

While the study presented promising information for this group of patients, it also highlighted some persistent challenges, indicating that there is no one-size-fits-all digital solution. First, it highlighted the continued existence of a digital divide, indicating that equitable patient access to digital devices cannot be assumed. The YES study also pointed out valuably that while improvements were seen in some areas of treatment as a result of mobile technology use, several menopausal and psychological challenges for patients remained that were not significantly addressed.

More information is needed

Data from the oral SERD study are exciting. The study validates the oral SERD (Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader) approach and sets the stage for further development of novel SERDs and combination strategies. This represents a potentially transformative advance in endocrine therapy for HR+ HER2‑breast cancer. While the study’s findings are promising, longer follow-up, survival data, and subgroup analyses are still needed. In addition, data from a hormone therapy in BRCA1/2 carriers study suggest that while hormone therapy may not increase breast cancer risk, treatment remains highly individualized and requires personalized care and shared decision-making to be as effective as possible.

The Cleveland Clinic’s early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) vaccine trials showed promising immune responses and good safety in small studies. These preliminary results are promising, but larger trials are necessary to confirm any real clinical benefit.

Finally, the results of a study on neoadjuvant strategies with radiation + Keytruda showed promise in shrinking tumors and boosting immune responses before surgery. These findings challenge the traditional surgery-first paradigm and further support more personalized care. But these approaches remain early and complex, and are not yet standard.

Wellness doesn’t have to be complicated

While early-phase, the results of trials on acupuncture and integrative therapies suggest that these approaches may help survivors with cognitive symptoms (“chemo‑brain”) and improve their quality of life with minimal side effects. These studies highlight that integrative care can complement, not compete with, conventional treatment.

The broader adoption of these approaches will require clinicians to be aware of, sensitive to, and supportive of personalized wellness. Like with other therapies, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but these promising findings remind us that wellness doesn’t have to be complicated, overwhelming or inaccessible.

How do we better communicate scientific updates?

The researchers, scientists, funders, and patients who participate in these studies are critical to advancing care and creating a healthier tomorrow. I’m honored to be part of this ecosystem.

This year’s symposium has also prompted me to reflect: How do we best communicate, rather than commercialize, scientific updates? How can we inform, not inflate? How do we continue to educate without exaggerating? What will allow us to better inspire, not deflate?

While thousands of abstracts are presented each year, only a small fraction ultimately changes clinical practice. So, what can we do to ensure they receive a broader hearing?  I believe that as researchers, scientists, and physicians who rely on communicating the promise and potential of our work and its ability to improve patients’ lives, we should follow these four communication imperatives.

• Prioritize the heart of the story, not the headlines. Headline-first news stories are the norm for those consuming news. While the temptation may be to present your work in the best possible light, including caveats (“early stage,” “with limitations”) that accurately convey the current state of a study or research program can help curb misinformation and limit premature hype.

• Encourage dialogue. It’s crucial to establish connections with disease communities to foster collaborative partnerships that facilitate improved communication and outcomes. Intentionally creating channels for questions or feedback on published studies fosters transparency between the industry and the community.

• Non-updates are still updates. Patients who are waiting for effective treatments rely on honest and open communication to base their decisions on. However, it’s essential to recognize that both positive and negative findings contribute to innovation. Breaking down wins and losses in clear language helps bridge the trust gap between the industry and the community.

• Support for replication and wellness research. Currently, there is no large, dedicated Federal program funding large-scale repeat clinical trials solely for confirmation purposes. Greater investment in replicating research in prevention, while advancing breakthrough therapies, could help actualize a whole-person health approach.

The proceedings of SABCS 2025 and the research presented remind us that progress in cancer treatment and care is iterative, collaborative, and deeply human. They also emphasized that, even as we celebrate exciting breakthroughs, we must recognize that honestly communicating the nuances and limitations of research is also our responsibility. As communicators, that is how we translate the most promising research into meaningful, equitable patient care.

The post Promise, Progress and Perspective: Key Takeaways from SABCS 2025 appeared first on Medika Life.

Recently, on my way to a very important breast cancer follow-up appointment that I anxiously drove to while phone-negotiating to keep–20 minutes after the arrival time–I had the revelation that perhaps I was not the “loser-late-guy” I had come to see myself as; rather, it occurred to me that a deeper issue brewed all these years over that has lead to me to do everything but be on time to my appointments.

While on the way back home (I was informed I had to reschedule again) just a few minutes of doing something I call *symptom “source-searching” (trudging through feelings and thoughts to back-travel to the real reasons I think or do things) helped to reveal what was causing my avoidance of being on time.

To my surprise and some grief in acknowledging it, the answer was a trauma response.

I “saw” that I had been operating in flight (not fight) mode to something I saw as a threat to my personal autonomy and voice–adhering to others’ demand for me to be somewhere when they told me to be there–I was vaguely aware that I felt this way, but not cognizant of why and how deeply I felt the need to protect myself from the feeling of extreme vulnerability I felt when attempting to “conform” to society’s definition of punctuality.

To others, this may sound silly or dismissive of ‘character-related’ habitual tardiness, until you consider how autonomy, choice, and identity are removed in abuse experiences.

Being late had been the endeavor of one of my protective selves (IFC) to put a “distance” between me and those who expected punctuality from me in a misguided effort to establish personal dominance and openly exert my freedom in personal choice.

For many years I have had no idea that I was trying to preserve my self by not conforming (as I saw it, unconsciously) to the requirement of being relied upon in this way, seemingly because I felt generally that I could not rely on myself in this way (or many others)–a testament to the extreme self-doubt that occurs with sexual abuse and other types of trauma.

The need to self-preserve and protect one’s body, decisions, and sense of safety in every social situation is a constant, simmering issue for survivors of sexual abuse. Most often we are not aware that many decisions. behaviors, responses, and attitudes are at work in us to achieve this.

The discoveries I made after delving into my heart about my chronic tardiness issue have really changed me, although the results are definitely a work in progress.

I am more purposeful in ensuring I am aware of appointment dates and times-historically, I have also been lackadaisical about even trying to remember them all (and there are plenteous between me and the grandson I raise) and I am consciously working to schedule appointments in less of a chaotic fashion–no double-booking-which has occurred often due to the overwhelming volume of appointments.

I have finally begun making a positive stride in punctuality regarding both in-person and online appointments without feeling like I am losing something of myself in the process. I have been on time to half of my appointments!

I am learning to take the lead in this area of my life rather than letting the past dictate it.

This is a hard-won, small personal victory that I hope encourages others to feel safer in examining their own challenges stemming from trauma of any kind and perhaps offer someone the example to work on trauma issues we so often have to tuck away without attention in order to survive.

I still challenge “The Man”, raised by hippie missionaries, and being a non-conformist woman, but I can now feel comfortable in letting myself picture and realize being on time to anywhere I need to be without feeling like my personal safety is threatened or at risk.

The post Could Chronic Tardiness Signal Unresolved Past Trauma? appeared first on Medika Life.

Many of my patients have recently been asking me what it means to have dense breasts.

They sometimes carry a letter saying that their mammograms showed heterogeneously (or extremely) dense breast tissue.

The U.S. government now mandates that radiologists report breast density on mammogram reports but offers no guidance on how to do so.

In this Breast Cancer Awareness month, I want to provide some information about the implications of having dense breasts.

Breast Density Reporting

Beginning September 10, 2024, the U.S. government mandated this:

“Mammography facilities must provide all patients receiving a mammogram with one of two Federal breast density notification statements (either “not dense” or “dense”).“

Additionally, the mammogram report sent to referring providers must include an assessment of the patient’s breast density.

Defining Breast Density

Dense breasts are a mammographic finding in which the breast tissue appears more glandular or fibrous relative to fatty tissue.

The breast comprises two types of tissue: glandular tissue, which produces milk, and fatty tissue, which provides support and cushioning.

Dense breasts contain more glandular and fibrous tissue and less fatty tissue, which makes them appear denser on a mammogram.

Four Categories of Breast Density

The American College of Radiology classifies breast density into four categories:

1. Almost entirely fatty: The breast comprises fatty tissue and is the easiest to read on a mammogram.
2. Scattered areas of fibroglandular density: Although some areas of glandular and fibrous tissue exist, the breast is still considered primarily fatty.
3. Heterogeneously dense: There are many glandular and fibrous tissue areas, and the breast is considered moderately dense.
4. Extremely dense: This means the breast is very dense, with a lot of glandular and fibrous tissue.

Patient Notifications

A radiologist — a doctor who reads your mammogram — assigns your breasts a density.

As noted above, s/he will place each mammogram into one of the four breast density categories.

Your mammogram report may offer these observations:

• If NOT DENSE: “Breast tissue can be either dense or not dense. Dense tissue makes it harder to find breast cancer on a mammogram and also raises the risk of developing breast cancer. Your breast tissue is not dense. Talk to your healthcare provider about breast density, risks for breast cancer, and your situation.”
• If DENSE: “Breast tissue can be either dense or not dense. Dense tissue makes it harder to find breast cancer on a mammogram and also raises the risk of developing breast cancer. Your breast tissue is dense. In some people with dense tissue, other imaging tests and a mammogram may help find cancers. Talk to your healthcare provider about breast density, risks for breast cancer, and your situation.”

Let’s turn to the implications of breast density.

Breast Density Distribution

The American College of Radiology (ACR) observes the following population distribution of breast density:

About 10 percent have almost entirely fatty breasts. At the other extreme, 10 percent have extremely dense breasts.

Eighty percent fit into one of the middle categories.

What causes dense breast tissue?

It’s unclear why some women have dense breast tissue while others do not. You may be more likely to have dense breasts if you:

• Are younger. Breast tissue often becomes less dense with age.
• Have a lower body mass index. Individuals with less body fat are more likely to have dense breast tissue than women who are obese.
• Take hormone therapy for menopause. Those taking combination hormone therapy to relieve signs and symptoms of menopause are more likely to have dense breasts.

Breast Density Implications

Having dense breasts may increase your chances of getting breast cancer.

Moreover, dense breasts make it more challenging for radiologists (and their artificial intelligence friends) to spot cancer on mammograms.

Unfortunately, dense breast tissue appears white on a mammogram.

Lumps, both cancer and non-cancer, often appear white, too. I often say to my patients that dense breasts make it like you are looking for a snowball in a snowfield.

In summary, dense breasts can raise cancer risk and make mammograms less accurate.

Mammograms Are Still Important

First, while many of my patients with dense breasts initially think that mammograms are useless for them, mammograms are still a part of routine imaging.

After all, mammograms are the only medical imaging screening test proven to reduce breast cancer deaths.

Each week, my radiology team finds cancers on mammograms in women with dense breasts.

What Else Can You Do?

That said, here are some tactics you can use:

• Get digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT or 3-D mammograms). DBT creates breast images in slices from many angles, making abnormalities easier to see. Tomo mammograms increase the number of cancers discovered without other imaging.
• Consider ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These advanced imaging approaches can help find cancers that a mammogram doesn’t indicate. However, breast MRI and ultrasound show many more findings that aren’t cancer (false positive), resulting in added testing.
• Know your breast cancer risk. We have many calculators (varying in complexity and weighing different factors — including family history).

There is no national standard for following up on dense breast reports.

Screening Recommendations

The American College of Radiology suggests that you talk with your healthcare provider and discuss your breast cancer risk.

Even if you have a low breast cancer risk (and have fatty breasts), you should get annual mammograms beginning at 40.

The U.S. Preventative Task Force recommends that all women get screened for breast cancer every other year, starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74.

The Real Problem

Radiologists must describe breast density on your mammogram report.

However, we don’t know what to do with this information.

For example, the American College of Radiology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend that women and their doctors consider supplemental screening.

On the other hand, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force offer there is insufficient evidence of benefit to recommend additional tests.

Additional tests can detect more cancers than mammograms alone. However, we have no evidence that extra testing saves lives.

And This

Some studies raise concerns about the reliability of the system used to label breasts as dense or not dense.

A review article in Annals of Internal Medicine reported that radiologists reclassified up to 19 percent of women into a different breast density category — from dense to non-dense or vice versa — on their subsequent screening mammogram.

For those with dense breasts, we don’t know with certainty what the best practice is at this point.

The post Dense Breasts: The Hidden Risk You Can’t Ignore appeared first on Medika Life.

It encouraged me to not only accept, but to normalize, and even embrace a cancer diagnosis. I counted how many times the word cancer was repeated as I waited.

Twenty. The words “your cancer” was repeated so many times, my head was swirling.

For cancer treatment to get an ok with the patient, it must first get the patient to be ok with the presence and word cancer; to even give it a home in the thoughts, body, and present awareness.

There is nothing about an adverse health condition that merits giving it permission to take up residence in your body. Disease comes and goes in our lives, but to remain healthy and to stay in perspective of the value and length of life we want, even with the worst physical diagnosis, never do we simply accept a diagnosis and NEVER do we call it our own.

Whether chronic or acute, sickness is not a natural state of the body and does not belong in it.

I have read many a breast cancer patient post on “supportive” websites vehemently owning a breast cancer diagnosis, at the behest and example of their medical providers.

Breast cancer patients are not taught by and large that breast cancer is an unwelcome enemy.

Rather, it is inundated into society for women to expect a diagnosis of breast cancer and then accept it and “fight” it. This is a propaganda technique designed to perpetuate an illness mindset.

Truthfully, there is only ONE fight to be had when it comes to illness, terminal or not and that is the fight to convince your mind that that disease process does not belong in you.

Disease is a separate, dangerous enemy from your body.

As a woman who is still feeling the effects of subsequent treatments and undergoing surgeries post treatment for breast cancer, I can say firsthand that I have lived this truth since diagnosis. I have refused to allow myself to call this attack on my life and purpose my own. It is not from God, so it is not mine.

Our healing is in the unseen, supernatural realm, not in the unseen physical, natural realm. Complete healing is brought into the natural realm through our realizing and believing in the Unseen. The Unseen truths are materialized in the Seen realm through our holding firm to that faith that we possess cancer-free, pain-free and complication-free bodies, spirits and souls (mind, thoughts, emotions, will and all things) in this realm where God our Father lives and has manifested this miraculous freedom from (all) earthly symptoms and diagnoses. Healing is every one of our’s destiny, through faith in His powerful healing desires for us.

No one was destined to be born to die from cancer, addiction, chronic illness, sudden tragedy or ANYTHING else. The Lord, our God, designed us to live long, beautiful lives.

His gentle, but firm command is for us to align ourselves, our thinking and beliefs, with HIS diagnosis of LIFE…not with the enemy’s of Death.

Let every ache and pain be crushed under your feet, under the weight of His promise of complete healing, but stand as a reminder that what we feel (fear, fright, apprehension, ruminations, death visions) is not what we are or where we are going.

Believe this moment that you will live. Looking over your shoulder only in expectation to see great Love running toward you, not to cringe with fear. See your long and healthy life in front of you and begin planning for it.

He has you. He has us.

Believe HIS prescription for health, not Oncology’s for death.❤️

The post Stop Owning a Cancer Diagnosis appeared first on Medika Life.

New research findings suggest that the future might be closer than you think.

I am an oncologist with a special interest in breast cancer.

I am watching closely as artificial intelligence infiltrates many aspects of the field.

That future might be closer than you think.

AI and Breast Cancer Screening

A new study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), suggests artificial intelligence (AI) could be the game-changer we’ve been waiting for.

In this groundbreaking study, Danish researchers harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze mammograms, yielding promising results:

Not only did AI find more breast cancers, but it also significantly reduced the rate of false positives.

Using this approach could mean fewer unnecessary biopsies and a lot more peace of mind for women undergoing breast cancer screening.

Let’s delve deeper into this exciting development and explore how AI might revolutionize the fight against breast cancer.

Study Details: AI and Breast Cancer Screening

The Danish study involved two groups of women aged 50 to 69 who received mammograms every two years.

Before AI

The first group had their mammograms read by two radiologists traditionally.

Enter AI

The second group’s mammograms were first analyzed by AI software trained to spot suspicious areas.

If the AI flagged a mammogram as likely normal, a single radiologist reviewed it.

Any mammograms raising concerns with the AI received a double read by radiologists with AI support.

Promising Results

Here are the study findings:

The artificial intelligence detected more breast cancers (0.82 percent) than the traditional method (0.70 percent). AI identified a higher percentage of smaller (under one centimeter) invasive cancers.

Notably, the AI approach significantly reduced false positives (1.6 percent) compared to the traditional method (2.4 percent), offering women a greater sense of reassurance.

The reduction in false positive results means fewer women undergoing unnecessary biopsies and worrying about potential cancer.

The AI system also helped radiologists by lowering their workload by one-third.

What’s Next?

While these results are exciting, more research is needed to ensure long-term effectiveness and avoid unnecessary diagnoses.

The AI system is also under development, and researchers are working on incorporating a woman’s past mammogram history for a more complete picture.

Important Note

Breast cancer screening guidelines can vary between countries.

Researchers conducted the study in Denmark, and the findings might not directly translate to other regions with different protocols.

Summary

This study showed that using AI alongside mammograms led to:

• Discovering more cancers: The AI system helped find a slightly higher percentage of breast cancers than traditional methods.
• Fewer false alarms: Women had a lower chance of being called back for unnecessary biopsies due to suspicious results that weren’t cancer.
• Lighter workload for doctors: The AI system helped radiologists work more efficiently by highlighting areas of concern.

While these initial findings are promising, it’s crucial to note that more studies are needed to confirm the long-term safety and effectiveness of AI-assisted screening.

This emphasis on ongoing research keeps the audience informed and aware of the evolving nature of healthcare practices.
As someone who helps those with breast cancer, I am excited.

As someone who helps those with breast cancer, I am excited.

The post Your Next Mammogram Could Be a Game Changer: AI Sees What We Miss appeared first on Medika Life.

Amid her surprising news, she discovered the Vancouver, Washington-based Pink Lemonade Project, a source of peer support and empowerment for breast cancer patients. Through their guidance, she rediscovered the strength within and built a new community of friendships.

This is the story of how Lisa Heathman turned medical lemons into “pink lemonade” and how she continues to navigate the maze of breast cancer decisions, drawing on the support of the patient advocacy community created by the Pink Lemonade Project. Her guiding mantra: “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

Gil Bashe:

I‘m going to jump in, and we’re going to explore your story because it is unique to you, and unfortunately, it’s not unique to women. It’s become a medical self-health tradition for women to have an annual mammogram, and I imagine that’s something you’ve been practicing for some time.

Lisa Heathman:

I always made a point of getting my mammogram. I got them regularly, and the diagnostic center always used to send me that letter afterward saying I have dense breast tissue, so the scan techniques were not nearly as accurate. A routine mammogram looks dark, and then if there’s anything alarming, it looks white. On a woman with dense tissue, everything looks white. It’s hard to find an anomaly in it because of the white-on-white. That is core to the problem. Because even though I was getting those mammograms regularly, they didn’t see the problem.

Bashe: 

You know, for women who have dense breast tissue, and it’s not a small number. It affects cardiovascular scans and mammograms – leading to the danger of false negatives.  I hear about this too often. 

Heathman: 

It’s pretty darn common.

Bashe: 

It’s the equivalent of going through the motions but not having a mammogram; It’s a public health risk worthy of greater awareness and physician-patient conversation.

Heathman:

Exactly. According to my doctor, I’m doing what I needed to happen from a self-care standpoint; there wasn’t a family history. My grandmother did have breast cancer, but my grandmother is just one-quarter of my genes. My physician didn’t regard me as particularly high risk. So when I kept getting those notifications that the screening tool wasn’t wholly accurate (and we talked about this for two years in a row), he told me not to worry.  Accessing advanced screening is challenging; the insurance companies wouldn’t cover it. That meant I had to get the screening and pay out of pocket. On top of that, I would have had to do that every year. We’re talking about thousands of dollars out of pocket.  

Bashe:

Insurance is a little bit like the law of averages. They think, “We’re not going to cover this because the chances of her having breast cancer are pretty slim, and if we cover it for her, we’ll set a precedent, and we’ll have to cover it for everyone. Let’s pretend we’re going through the motion of doing breast cancer screening.” 

Then boom, something happens.  There is something suspicious when you call up. I imagine your doctor said, “Well, come on in, and we’ll talk about it.”

Heathman:

Something you said reminded me of something I think is essential to share. And then, I’ll get to how I found my cancer. The other thing that’s recommended is that women do self-exams.

First of all, I breastfed both my kids, and I always had trouble in my left breast with clogged milk ducts and all kinds of lumpiness, nothing hard, nothing like they always used to say. If you’re feeling anything that feels like a pea or a pebble, that’s alarming. You need to be checked out. But if everything feels like it always has, you’re probably fine.

It always felt normal. My left breast was lumpy because it had been lumpy ever since I breastfed my kids. Nothing felt odd, and I never did have that hard stone or pea-shaped shot that they always say it feels like.

Bashe: How did this surprising discovery unfold?  How was this discovered?

Heathman:

How I found my breast cancer was a stroke of luck, which doesn’t sound like a stroke of luck when I tell you this story. My partner Tom and I went mountain biking. We were on a camping trip up near McCall, Idaho, mountain biking almost every day. One day, we decided to take the mountain bikes up to this lake – there was supposed to be great fishing up there. It’s five miles on the single track. There was one place near the lake where you had to cross a creek on a little bridge, and I fell off the bridge into the water! Fortunately, it was September, so the water level was relatively low, but the bike fell on top of me and pushed me into a tree trunk. I dislocated my shoulder.

When I got back to Portland, I told my doctor what had happened, and we decided that I should do a course of physical therapy because it was still painful. The physical therapist and I worked on this for about a month. Instead of getting better, the symptoms got worse. My physical therapist said I should get an MRI.

I had to see the doctor for an MRI, and he said: “It’s been a year since I’ve seen you, so you might as well just come in.”

That was the luckiest thing ever because when I went in 10 days later, he did the usual check of the lymph nodes. He was doing the examination and said, “How long have you had this lump under your left arm?” I said I didn’t know I had a lump under my left arm. I can hardly reach it right now because my right shoulder was so screwed up from the accident. He said, “I feel a lump under your left arm, and we need to get you in for an ultrasound.” That was the beginning of the odyssey of finding out I had breast cancer; it was just a stroke of luck.

Bashe:  I don’t know if it’s a stroke of luck, but it’s like, “How I dislocated my shoulder and saved my life.”  From the moment your doctor said, “What’s this lump underneath there?” What went through your mind?

Heathman: 

Honestly, I was not terribly concerned, and I’ll tell you why. I’ve always been very active and very healthy, and nothing traumatic or awful health-wise has ever happened to me. I first talked to my physician sister, and she said, “Well, it could be many different things. Let’s not get too worried.”

So I wasn’t upset. I was like, I’m sure it’s nothing, I’m sure it’s nothing, but it wasn’t nothing. I went in for the ultrasound. I was lying on the table, and it was quiet. I remember thinking I was tired. I could almost take a nap. She went away after she was done and was gone for a long time. I thought, well, that’s odd. Then the doctor came in, sat down, and asked me all these questions. “Have you been feeling okay? Are you losing any weight?” All of a sudden, I began to perspire profusely. Suddenly, I thought nervously, “Oh goodness, oh gosh. What is happening here?” My stomach was immediately nervous. “Uh oh. This is not nothing.”

All of a sudden, I was very, very afraid. I had never had cause from a health standpoint to be so scared. I was terrified, like we were not talking about a nothing thing here at all. He sent me then for a biopsy, I believe.

Bashe:

Did he say at any point you might be looking at cancer?

Heathman:

He did. That was the root of all those questions: are you feeling okay? Have you been losing any weight? I feel fine. And no, I have not lost weight. But I was just terrified. Suddenly, it was like it was real. I went in for the biopsy next, and it came back positive for cancer. I then had an MRI, where they could first visualize it. That was the first time anyone had seen that there was a tumor in my breast. It appeared pretty good-sized and had probably been growing there long.

Bashe:

The challenge with the diagnostic system, particularly the mammogram, is that we get into a “check the box” mindset, as opposed to the need for your doctor, other doctors, to say that if someone has dense breasts, we have to reject the mammogram approach, have a diagnostic procedure, and ensure coverage. At least reimburse women for the scan every other year.

Heathman:

You could alternate. Over the years, I’ve often thought, you know, it would have been great if every other year I had a mammogram one year and an ultrasound another year, and they could have alternated. Ultrasounds are not expensive; they’re standard.

Bashe:

A part of it is that the payor contracts with the radiology center to have mammograms done at a base price. Let’s say the insurance company will tell you to go to one of three radiology labs in your area. They’ve created a volume discount price. That discount takes precedence over your specific physiological or biological needs. That’s the challenge we face in the payor system: health for everyone, but not necessarily health for you.

Heathman:

Health for the average baseline. I learned from the Pink Lemonade Project that in the Northwest, one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives. Nationally, it’s one in eight. That’s many women.

Bashe:

How did you get involved with the Pink Lemonade Project?

Heathman:

That’s an interesting story. When I was first diagnosed, one thing that seemed right was to join a support group, so I did.

It was through my hospital, and I hadn’t even lost my hair yet. I was super early in the process. I think I lost my hair after my second or third chemotherapy round, but I was in the support group even before that –  just diagnosed. I remember my first support group meeting, which was not a Pink Lemonade support group meeting. It was just through the hospital.  It wasn’t completely satisfying, but of the eight women, one woman, Susan (Susan Stearns), well, we hit it off and became friends.

Susan got the job of CEO of the Pink Lemonade Project. I was introduced to Pink Lemonade through her and her fortune in working with this amazing organization, which drove the conversation and possibility.

Bashe:

The personal connection was very important here.

Heathman:

There’s a silver lining in this cloud, and that silver lining was Susan and the Pink Lemonade Project. They’re based in Vancouver, Washington. I live across the river in Portland, Oregon, and Susan Komen is a well-known breast cancer charity in Portland. What a lot of people don’t realize is that Susan Komen is no longer providing local support. They are only a national nonprofit now. The local programming in almost every community had to be pulled.

It is up to local organizations like the Pink Lemonade Project to pick up the slack and provide those programs locally that Susan Komen could no longer fulfill. Organizations like the Pink Lemonade Project must create opportunities and support for women seeking local support.

Bashe:

You had some difficult decisions to make then. You’re diagnosed with breast cancer. It sounds like chemo and radiation were part of the decision-making process, maybe more. Tell me a little bit – not about the medical stuff; I understand that, but the sense of how you felt at that moment and what role the Pink Lemonade Project played in getting your perspective. It sounds like you’re very self-aware and in touch with other people, but you’re now in what I’ll call an “extreme situation.”

You enjoy bicycle riding, fishing, hiking, skiing, and the great outdoors. Your sister is also an official hand-holder. You have a medical guide at your beck and call. Tell me what role the Pink Lemonade Project played in your life and what role you played in their life.

Heathman:

From the standpoint of an organization like the Pink Lemonade Project, I was very fortunate that I didn’t need to take advantage of some of the programs that Pink Lemonade delivers to women or people with breast cancer — because men get breast cancer, too, as you know.

Pink Lemonade provides practical support, transportation to appointments, treatment options, care for lymphedema and swelling after the lymph nodes have been removed, support groups, and valuable information, such as whether a woman needs a wig because she’s lost all her hair. I took advantage of some of the things that the Pink Lemonade Project provides.

I do have a good employer, a car, and good insurance. I had all those things covered. I have a really good support system. You could argue there wasn’t much I needed. What I found that I took advantage of was the support groups. They have a metastatic breast cancer support group. It’s geared mainly toward women who have a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, such as me. They are women who are in many ways in the same boat that I am in, and their questions are the same questions that I have, and the kinds of experiences they have are the same kinds of experiences I have.

Many women are older, have retired, and are no longer working. But not all of them – many of them are young women who are raising families. Many of them are younger women who are still working, trying to have a career while they’re going through treatment. That was important to me because I am still working, and I continue to work through treatment, but it hasn’t always been easy.

Having other women to bounce ideas off and get good advice was unbelievably important. The other important thing about being involved with an organization like the Pink Lemonade Project is that you are surrounded by women and people who hear what’s on the cutting edge of treatment. When you have a stage four diagnosis, your doctors, you, as the patient, and your family must understand that the breast cancer community, the medical community, is constantly coming to the table with new treatment ideas and new treatment options.

In time, treatments may stop working for a person, and they may need to go to whatever the next treatment is. And that’s incredibly important for someone with a stage four diagnosis because the treatment that I’m on may not always work. So that’s important, too.

Bashe:

As we spoke, I remember the first time you had a very reflective way of looking at this. You know you have a philosophical strength about life and being present. I also sensed you were quizzical about the future. There’s an authentic presentation when you speak. I’m curious if that mindset is present in your conversations with other members of the Pink Lemonade community and if the conversation is equally sharp.

Heathman:

That’s why there’s such a striking difference between the people I’m now talking to within support groups and that first experience, which was very negative and unsupportive.

The women in the support groups are very practical. It’s odd, but you rarely encounter a person in these support groups saying “Woe is me” or wringing their hands. By and large, they have been the most positive, gracious, giving, extraordinary women, people, but mainly women, and that’s what I needed in a support group. I needed to be surrounded by other people going through the same situation but meeting it with this: “We’re going to get through this.”

One of my favorite movies is The Shawshank Redemption, and Tim Robbins, one of the main characters, says a line that goes something like, “Get busy living or get busy dying.” I think about that all the time – here I am, and this is what I’ve got to get through today or this week, or this surgery or that treatment; I’m going to get busy living because it’s the only choice I have.

I’ve been surrounded by people making that same choice, which I needed in a support group. There’s no Pollyanna; not many women say this is not a big deal. It’s a huge deal. But they’re practical about it; maybe we’re all good at compartmentalizing it. This is a bucket that’s over here. This is another bucket that’s today. This is another bucket that’s tomorrow. I am still determining what the future will bring, but worrying about it doesn’t change it.

Bashe:

The sharpened sense of mortality creates a vibrancy about life. You might not have taken special vacations beforehand, saying, “Oh, I don’t know if I want to spend the money right now.” Now you say, “I think we will take that vacation. I want to go there and see that. I want to do that with you.” Does that play out from time to time? I don’t know about 20 years from now, but I do know right now.

Heathman:

It’s an excellent question. My version of vacation is being able to get outdoors and do the things I love, whether skiing, biking, hiking, or fishing. You’re right—I find it easier to say yes to those things because I don’t tend to talk myself out of them like, “Oh, you shouldn’t” or “It’s too expensive.” Life is short.

Those kinds of things are things that I need to experience, things that I need to do. This sharpened sense of mortality goes beyond just thinking about time away or vacations. It just factors into my overall decision-making. Are we going to build that addition on the house? My car was eight years old. Am I thinking maybe it’s time to get a new car? And it’d be easy to say I might not need that new car. Does that make sense? But if I decide that I don’t need that new car, I’ll not be getting busy living.

Bashe:

That line you shared about the Shawshank Redemption is true – “Start living.” You can think about the clock stopping, running out of line, the click, click, click. The clock is still working, and I don’t want to break down on the side of the highway. Why not enjoy the new car now?

Heathman:

Exactly. Why not do it now? Because you may not have forever. And to your point, Gil, we all imagine ourselves immortal until we have a significant health crisis. It’s too terrifying to think of the alternative, and most of us don’t until we have to. But in no way has it consumed me. I’m not going to say I never think about it. I think about it. I’ve even explored some things that are specific to that. But it isn’t as though I’m consumed by it. I don’t live my life like that.

Bashe:

“I’m here, and I need just to enjoy the fact that I know I could be elsewhere, so to speak, but I have a certain sense of strength and understanding that lean into the here and now.”

Heathman:

Some days are hard. There are things about being in treatment that are hard, and sometimes challenging things happen that are work-related or what have you. Then, I’ll join a support group, and I’ll be able to talk about what is happening. Someone will have had a similar experience, and someone else will have a funny thing to say about it.

Before long, I found that I was happy I was here and that they were here. There have been times when someone was not there. In particular, one woman is no longer a part of our support group because her cancer came back, and it came back with a fury, and she died. I still miss her. She was such an incredibly kind, caring, altruistic person. In support groups, you meet people who may show you something you didn’t see, something that feels like someone making your day better.

Bashe:

Well, they say you’re exceptional, and those that do are beyond spot on. The reality is that you’re in the midst of an adventure in which the ending has not been written, and you are very present about where you are and what you’re feeling, but you’re very much in harmony with other people. The support group, I think, the Pink Lemonade Project community, has brought out something that was always within you: the understanding that we need each other.

Heathman:

Absolutely. If there is a silver lining in all of this—and some days, it’s hard to find one—I have a much different understanding of others and what others want and need. It’s changed me. There’s no getting around the fact that cancer has changed me, and I think that cancer has changed me for the good as well.

I cannot say enough about my experience. Again, it is not always pleasant, and it’s not fun, but I feel so supported. I think back to that woman that night who I met who had nothing good to say about her employer, and I think, Oh, honey, I wish you’d had a very different experience, like I’ve had, of what real support feels like because I think she was bitter.

Bashe:

You know, it’s a two-way street. You’re an incredibly inspiring, uplifting person who understands and speaks about the importance of patient support groups like the Pink Lemonade Project.

Your experience is distinctly unique. You are an incredibly inspiring person, and the fact that you welcomed this special community into your life speaks volumes about your ability to recognize this level of life challenge is difficult enough – but going it alone adds another complexity to the health struggle. I think many people need people like you, Lisa; they need to read about people like you because it gives them a sense of hope for this day and tomorrow. Thank you for this time.

We often read about people confronting cancer diagnoses and their worries about therapy and survival. We read about varied patient advocacy and support communities. Lisa Heathman and the Pink Lemonade Project offer another perspective—how friendship forged through this difficult journey leads to better medical and emotional care. A key lesson is that people with dense breast tissue should take advantage—advocate for advanced screening!

You can connect with the Pink Lemonade Project, which offers support to men and women, through its website and follow its updates on social media.

The post A Cycling Accident Saved My Life appeared first on Medika Life.

But a recent update to the guidelines has thrown a wrench into this familiar routine.

Some experts hail the change, suggesting it reduces unnecessary testing and anxiety.

Others worry it might leave some women vulnerable. So, what’s a woman to do?

Goals

I recently saw Betsy, a 42-year-old woman with locally advanced breast cancer.

After over three decades of practice, it still breaks my heart each time I meet someone with breast cancer, especially when it is not early.

In this essay, I’ll unpack the latest recommendations and explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of the new screening guidelines.

Whether you’re approaching your first mammogram or a seasoned veteran of these screenings, this article equips you with the information you need to navigate this evolving landscape and make informed decisions about your breast health.

I’m about to untangle the mammogram maze.

New Guidelines

For many women, mammograms are a familiar part of healthcare.

Traditionally, doctors recommend women with an average risk of breast cancer get a mammogram every two years between the ages of 50 and 74.

Recent change

Here’s the recent change: In April 2024, a key healthcare group in the US, the US Preventive Services Task Force, updated their guidelines.

Now, the group recommends these screening maneuvers:

All women between 40 and 74 who were assigned female at birth get a mammogram screening every other year.

Additional imaging tests

The USPSTF is unsure whether additional tests such as breast ultrasound or MRI benefit women with dense breasts after a regular mammogram.

The group needs more research to see if these extra tests find more cancer or lead to unnecessary procedures.

Breast Cancer Screening For Those 75 and Older

The USPSTF isn’t sure yet about the best approach for mammograms in women 75 and older.

We need more research to weigh the potential benefits (like catching cancer early) against any possible downsides (like unnecessary tests or biopsies).

Other Expert Recommendations

The new recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF) suggest mammograms every other year for women between 40 and 74.

However, other healthcare groups have slightly different suggestions.

The American College of Radiology recommends starting annual mammograms at age 40.

The American Cancer Society Agrees

On the other hand, the American Cancer Society (ACS) previously advised yearly mammograms for women between 45 and 54, then switching to every other year after 55.

Here’s the key update: The American Cancer Society recently announced their support for the new USPTF guidelines.

This support means the ACS, a major voice in cancer awareness, now agrees that mammograms every other year might be a good option for many women in this age range.

Why Are The New Guidelines Important?

Why should you listen to them?

The USPTF is a trusted source because it’s a government panel with top medical experts. They base their recommendations on solid scientific evidence.

Here’s why these new guidelines might be important:

• Earlier Detection: Research shows breast cancer rates are rising in women under 50. I’ll talk more about this in the next section. Early detection is crucial, and mammograms are currently the best tool we have to catch cancer early for those at average risk.

Other Reasons for Early Screening

Here are some other reasons why earlier breast cancer screening might provide value:

• Aggressive Cancers: Research shows that younger women may have a higher risk of aggressive breast cancers, which grow quickly, have a higher grade, and are hormone receptor-negative.

• Closing the Gap: Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer, in part because it’s diagnosed later. Starting mammograms earlier could help identify cancer sooner and improve outcomes for this group. Black women still have a four percent lower incidence rate of breast cancer than white women but a 40 percent higher breast cancer death rate.

Remember: These are general guidelines for those with an average risk of getting breast cancer.

It’s always best to talk to your healthcare provider about your risk factors and determine the best screening schedule.

Breast Cancer Rates: A Slow Climb

Breast cancer rates have been creeping up slightly over the past decade or so. The increase is small, around 0.6 percent each year since the mid-2000s. Experts believe a few things might be contributing to this trend:

• Weight: Carrying excess weight can slightly increase post-menopausal breast cancer risk.
• Childbirth: Having children earlier in life and having more children are thought to lower breast cancer risk. So, with women waiting longer to have kids and having fewer children overall, it could be a contributing factor.

It’s important to note that this rise is small and may seem relatively insignificant.

However, it’s also concerning, especially because the increase seems to be a bit steeper in younger women (under 50) compared to older women.

My Take

The takeaway?

While there are different perspectives on mammogram frequency, there seems to be a shift towards recommending screenings every other year for women with an average risk of breast cancer.

The new guidelines aim to get more women screened earlier, which could lead to earlier detection and better health outcomes.

Earlier detection is especially important for some groups of women, like Black women, who face higher risks of breast cancer-related death.

Individualizing Breast Cancer Screening

However, it is always a good idea to discuss your situation and risk factors with your doctor to determine the best screening schedule.

If you have a higher-than-average breast cancer risk, the screening recommendations can be quite different.

Finally, would annual screening save more lives? And at what cost?

Lowering Your Breast Cancer Risk

I will end with some strategies that might keep you out of my oncology office.

While some risk factors like age and family history are out of your control, the good news is there are steps you can take to empower your health and potentially lower your risk of breast cancer:

• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight can increase breast cancer risk. Aim for a healthy weight through a balanced diet and exercise.
• Get Moving: Regular physical activity is a win-win. It helps you maintain a healthy weight and potentially lowers breast cancer risk.
• Limit Alcohol: Studies suggest excessive alcohol consumption can increase breast cancer risk. Moderation is key.

• Talk to Your Doctor About Hormones: If you’re considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or birth control pills, discuss the potential risks and benefits with your doctor to see if they’re right for you.
• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding, if possible, may offer some protection against breast cancer.
• Family History Matters: If you have a family history of breast cancer or genetic mutations (for example, in BRCA1 or BRCA2), talk to your doctor about additional risk-reduction strategies.

Final Thoughts

Remember, a healthy lifestyle has many benefits.

By taking care of yourself, you’re not only lowering your risk of breast cancer but also promoting overall well-being and potentially improving your chances of overcoming any health challenges that might arise.

And don’t forget to get appropriate breast cancer screening.

I’m rooting for you.

The post Mammogram Myth Busters: Too Many or Too Few? New Guidelines Explained appeared first on Medika Life.

In general, breast cancer in young women has a less favorable prognosis compared with older women.

Researchers recently evaluated breast cancer incidence among women ages 20 to 49 in the United States. They examined 20 years of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program.

We’ll look at the findings in more detail, but here is the bottom line:

There were increases in breast cancer incidence rates among young U.S. women.

Background

I have the privilege of being involved in the medical care of hundreds of patients with breast cancer each year.

In the United States, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women aged 20 to 49.

That’s according to the American Cancer Society.

Young

Young women tend to develop more breast cancers that are biologically aggressive compared to older women.

What do I mean by “aggressive?” Young folks’ tumors tend to be larger and more advanced in stage.

Moreover, the cancers are less likely to have positive hormone receptor status (estrogen and progesterone receptors) and more likely to have overexpression of HER2, a growth factor receptor.

All of these factors can contribute to a poorer prognosis in young women with breast cancer.

Oh, there is also this: Breast cancer screening programs are not available for women under 40 who are not at very high risk.

Study

While we know that breast cancer has been rising among young women, there is not a lot of data about trend patterns based on cancer stage, race, and cancer biology.

Researchers analyzed data from the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries. SEER is a public database from the National Cancer Institute with coverage of 27% of the U.S. population

They included women ages 20 to 49 who had been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The final analytic set included 217,815 women.

The investigators formatted age as five-year age groups (20–24, 25–29, 20–34, 35–39, 40–44, and 45–49 years).

Trends

What are the long-term trends in breast cancer incidence among women aged 20 to 49 years?

The graph comes from this paper, “Breast Cancer Incidence Among U.S. Women Aged 20 to 49 Years by Race, Stage, and Hormone Receptor Status,” appearing in JAMA Network Open.

Look at the recent upward trend line (in blue). Disturbing, to say the least.

Why?

Let’s try to tease out this uptrend in young breast cancer diagnoses.

Period effects

Could it be that breast cancer rates are rising among all age groups, with the younger population riding the incidence wave?

Cohort effects

Or is there something different about the younger population? Could it be environmental exposures or changes in other breast cancer risk factors?

It turns out it is both. The rising incidence of breast cancer among young cancer is due to two effects:

• a general increase in incidence over time
• the special risk of being born in the late 1970s to early 1980s.

Stage

The stage is the extent of breast cancer at presentation. The study offers a fascinating finding:

The rising cancer rates among young women are mostly due to more stage I and IV (metastatic, with spread to distant sites) disease. The increases are not because of stages II or III breast cancer.

The higher cancer rates are due primarily to stage I and stage IV cancers, not stage II and stage III cancers.

The higher rates of stage I are perplexing to me. I don’t think it is because of early detection; women with normal risk levels would not be candidates for screening studies (such as mammograms).

Maybe I am wrong, and women are more aware of being at high risk. More genetic testing might lead them to get early screening.

Estrogen receptor-positive

Much of the reported breast cancer increase among young women is a type known as estrogen receptor-positive (ER +).

The cells of this breast cancer type have receptors that allow them to use the hormone estrogen to grow.

Treatment with “anti-estrogen” (endocrine) therapy can block the growth of such cancer cells.

Why might we see a rise in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer among young women?

This rise in incidence may reflect women tending to have fewer children and children later in life.

Stage IV (advanced)

The report also showed a rise in young women presenting with later-stage breast cancer.

Why?

This finding does not surprise me.

If breast cancer is rising in all age groups, including among young women, we will see greater numbers of women with advanced breast cancer.

Younger women generally should not have screening mammograms. If a woman presents with a palpable lump in her breast, she is more likely to have an advanced stage.

But why the recent change? The study authors suggest that an increase in overweight and obese women in the U.S. might play a role.

Historical studies associated higher body mass index (BMI) with higher breast cancer stage at presentation.

My take

I don’t know why breast cancer is rising among young women.

But, I am disturbed.

We may need to adjust our screening approaches as the contours of breast cancer epidemiology evolve.

We may need to address weight and other lifestyle factors, environmental toxins, and other potential risk factors.

The post Startling Statistic: Growing Trend of Breast Cancer in Younger Females appeared first on Medika Life.

I remember the movie’s theme song, written and performed by Isaac Hayes. The song won the 1972 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Roundtree recently died from pancreatic cancer. While he had many leading roles, I am most impressed with his role in shining a spotlight on male breast cancer.

The actor received a breast cancer diagnosis in 1993. Before we talk about that, let’s step back in time to visit his film career.

Action Hero Roundtree

Roundtree is considered by many to be the first Black American action hero.

With his role as the street-smart John Shaft character in the Gordon Parks-directed film in 1971, Roundtree became a leading actor in the blaxploitation genre.

Remarkably, the role was his first feature film appearance after beginning his career as a model.

If you want a modern take on Shaft, I recommend Roundtree’s reprisal of the role in the 2000 Shaft film. Samuel L. Jackson takes the lead role, and Roundtree appears as his uncle.

One more thing: Both appeared again in the same roles in the 2019 film starring Jessie T. Usher.

Blaxploitation Films

Roundtree’s “Shaft” changed how those in Hollywood thought about Black movies.

The film industry had historically failed to consider Black actors — especially for leading roles — in projects at the time. The industry aimed the blaxploitation films primarily at African-American audiences.

Blaxploitation – An American Film Movement Explained

Blaxploitation was an independent film movement in the ’70s of exploitation films primarily made by black filmmakers.

www.studiobinder.com

Predominantly black producers created the films on typically extremely small budgets.

I grew up watching such movies. If you are interested, here are 10 of the best films in the blaxploitation genre:

The Top Ten Blaxploitation Movies Ever Made

Blaxploitation movies may have had their Golden Age in the ’70s, but their influence persists.

www.studiobinder.com

Roundtree On His Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Speaking with People Magazine, Roundtree admitted that he had some hypochondriac tendencies.

In 1993, after palpating a breast lump, he immediately saw his doctor. Here is Richard’s initial reaction:

“When the doctor said breast cancer, I thought he was questioning my manhood.”

Roundtree had a modified radical mastectomy. Surgeons removed his breast and underarm (axillary) lymph nodes. He then had six months of challenging chemotherapy.

He Initially Hid His Diagnosis

For years, Roundtree hid his breast cancer diagnosis. He feared disclosure would end his acting career.

Before a production hires an actor for a film, the individual must pass a physical exam so the producing studio can get insurance to ensure the studio will complete the film on time.

To continue working, Roundtree had to sometimes lie about his health.

Listen to him speaking about the topic after he took a tole as a bare-knuckle fighter on TV’s Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman — a part calling him to go shirtless.

“I thought, How am I going to get around this? He quickly devised a way to conceal the large scar across his chest. “Since we were shooting early in the morning and it was cold at that time of year, I convinced them to let me wear an undershirt for warmth.”

But Roundtree Later Became More Open

For a long while, he kept his breast cancer diagnosis secret. But later, he told everyone about it.

I tell everyone now. I feel that it’s very important that people who are recognizable in the universe, at whatever level, say that they’ve gone through this, and it’s okay.”

Men Get Breast Cancer, Too

Men have breast tissue, just like women. The difference is in the volume of tissue they have.

While breast cancer is relatively rare in men, it is important to know if you have a higher risk.

Awareness is especially important, given that men do not get regular breast cancer screening (such as mammograms).

Male Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Male breast cancer risk factors include the following:

Age. Whether you’re a man or a woman, breast cancer risk rises with age. The average age for a man to get diagnosed is 68. However, breast cancer can occur at any age.

Genes. If your father, brother, or other close relatives had breast cancer, you may also be at risk. Certain genes increase your likelihood of getting this cancer — including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

These genes code for proteins that prevent breast cells from growing out of control. Both men and women who inherit the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations are at increased risk for breast cancer.

For males, the lifetime breast cancer risk is about one percent if you have the BRCA1 gene and six percent if you have the BRCA2 gene.

Weight gain: Fat tissue releases the hormone estrogen. Estrogen stimulates breast cancer growth. The more overweight you are, the more estrogen you produce.

Hormone exposure: You’re at higher risk for breast cancer if you take hormone-based drugs (for instance, for prostate cancer treatment) or if you had exposure to estrogen through pesticides or other products.

Klinefelter syndrome: This condition causes men to be born with an extra copy of the X chromosome. Normally, men have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). In Klinefelter syndrome, they have two copies of the X chromosome in addition to the Y chromosome (XXY).

Men with Klinefelter syndrome have smaller than normal testicles. They create less testosterone and more estrogen than usual. Men with Klinefelter syndrome are at higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Heavy alcohol use: Drinking a lot of alcohol can cause your blood estrogen levels to rise.

Liver disease: Cirrhosis and other liver diseases can lower the amount of male hormones and increase estrogen in your body.

Surgery to your testicles: Testicle damage can increase breast cancer risk.

Radiation exposure: Radiation (for example, to the chest as a part of treatment for childhood cancer) increases breast cancer risk.

Roundtree Dies of Pancreas Cancer

But Roundtree’s story has another important cancer chapter.

He recently died at 81.

Roundtree’s longtime manager, Patrick McMinn, explains that the actor had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died at his home in Los Angeles (USA) on October 24, 2023.

I suspect Mr. Roundtree had a BRCA mutation. Those with these genetic changes have an increased risk of several cancers, including breast and pancreas.

Columbia University (USA) researchers at The Pancreas Center reported this in 2014:

Ten percent of pancreatic cancers in our center are related to BRCA 1 and 2 mutations. Other researchers have found the link between pancreatic cancer and BRCA2 mutations to be as high as 19 percent.

About one in 400 individuals in the general population may test positive for a BRCA1 or 2 gene mutation.

Such genetic changes are associated with five to 10 percent of all breast cancers. BRCA mutations are linked to half of all hereditary breast cancers.

Some Takeaway Messages

The Executive Director of the Pancreas Center at Columbia University, Dr. John Chabot, has this to say:

“We recommend that patients who have pancreatic cancer and are identified as BRCA-positive should also be screened for ovarian and breast cancer and vice versa.”

There are some ways to reduce your chances of getting breast cancer.

Some risks for male breast cancer — like family history and age — are out of your control. But there are some risk factors you can control. Healthline has these suggestions:

• Keep your weight within a healthy range. Obesity can shift the hormone balance in your body, making you more likely to get breast cancer. If you’re overweight, talk to your doctor and a dietitian about changing your eating and exercise plans.
• Exercise on most days of the week. A lack of physical activity can alter your hormone levels, making you more susceptible to cancer.
• Avoid or limit alcohol. Having excessive alcohol is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in women. Even though the link isn’t as clear in men, it’s still worth cutting back.

If male breast cancer runs in your family, you may not be able to prevent it. However, you can catch it early by knowing your risk. Consider talking to a genetic counselor about getting tested for BRCA1, BRCA2, and other genes.

Roundtree’s death from pancreatic cancer is a reminder that cancer is a complex disease that can affect anyone. It is important to get regular checkups and screenings and to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer.

Rest in peace, Richard Roundtree.

The post Richard Roundtree, Star of “Shaft,” Is Dead at 81. What You Should Know About His Cancer. appeared first on Medika Life.

I am a breast cancer survivor, a medical professional, and a fierce advocate for ongoing post-treatment diagnostics for the prevention and timely detection of recurrence.

During the active phases of my treatment for breast cancer (ILC right) and DCIS left) and now in my recovery, my nursing experience led me to compare and contrast, through research, the contradicting information given by my medical providers regarding my diagnosis and treatment options, clinically proven alternatives, and managing my health to subsequently prevent recurrence.

Unfortunately, my oncology team provided no information on the latter subject and very little else otherwise that would lead me to restoring my energy, health, cognitive function and more.

My goal forward is to make exceptionally educated, not fear-based, decisions and choices for my life and health. I want to live to at least 100 years old and do so with strength, style, grace and confidence.

And cancer-free.

Understanding The True Risk Of Recurrence

A breast cancer survivor needs adequate, regimented post-treatment diagnostics throughout their life to monitor for recurrence.

This does save lives, and otherwise, substantial length of days.

In my research, I discovered a very intriguing and concerning characteristic of cancer cells observed both during and after chemotherapy and radiation which is not routinely discussed with breast cancer patients: that is that fragmented lingering DNA particles from (treated) and dying cancer cells move into the bloodstream and lymphatic system and lie dormant in the body, with great potential to become activated anytime later from diverse sources of persistent and excess inflammation such as stress, dehydration, cell starvation (not enough nutrients), lack of oxygen to organs and organ systems, and other internal states that hinder or halt the body in regenerating and restoring itself. I do not address external factors in this article.

This information alone begs the need for drastic changes in the current standard of care for recurrence prevention for breast cancer survivors.

The Main Deterrence To Cancer-Free Recovery

The National Cancer Care Network, (NCCN) which steers current oncology guidelines, recommends against routine and continuous monitoring for breast cancer recurrence. Under the influence of this entity’s stance on women’s health, many lives globally have been and continue to be lost.

This is a major failure of the oncological community treating breast cancer.

Conversely, NCCN propagates the idea that “the stress of undergoing ‘unnecessary scans’ and (other diagnostics)” for post-treatment breast cancer patients outweighs the benefit of recurrence-detection focused testing and promotes the idea that “surveillance does not increase survival time.” I disagree. Read here.

If this were actually the case, why are we inundated with the idea that a recurrence is inevitable and expected, but not then followed up on to judiciously detect? (this mindset guides the primary diagnosis and our care plans). Again, if so, why are we led to believe that such aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and aromatase inhibitors are actually as widely clinically successful as touted, if we are left with possible residual disease that will not be monitored until it has progressed significantly, despite treatments?

2023 NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer (pg. 23)
On screening for metastases:
“In the absence of clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of recurrent disease, there is no indication for laboratory or imaging studies for metastases screening.”

See this podcast giving NCCN guideline recommendation reasoning for not monitoring most survivors for recurrence. Please note that the statement “there is no clinical evidence for” means that little to no purposeful actions have been taken by NCCN, ASCO or other major oncological entities to aggressively pilot widespread clinical trials in which large, diverse groups of survivors are monitored for recurrence through systematic, long-term monitoring using diagnostic imaging and labs.

This is the problem. The medical community focuses primarily on using clinical data to create treatment plans, but if there is not enough stable and trustworthy clinical data (obtained through extensive research/trials and unbiased, non profit-minded clinicians who are not associated with Big Pharma), then a solid “recommendation” to not routinely follow clinically after treatment periods cannot be made.

This action was first necessary beginning in the early 1970’s (investigate further to see the 1950’s time period where cases began to markedly increase) when breast cancer cases began to substantially rise, according to researched data. Large scale global trials must be commissioned today, to make real strides in saving women’s lives.

The result would unequivocally catapult change, but inevitably also come with the pervasive argument of cost and loss of revenue from halting and preventing the mass cases of metastases we are seeing in most of the world. More on the issue of cost here.

Here are two statements (my third article on recurrence prevention will relay more) from a 2015 PubMed article addressing the concerns for the need for post-treatment diagnostics to catch early metastasis: (the first paragraph states the current standard).

“Current post-treatment surveillance guidelines for patients with treated breast cancer do not recommend intensive surveillance, such as routine chest radiography, bone scans, or laboratory tests, to evaluate distant recurrence or metastatic diseases.”

“Because isolated recurrences are associated with distant metastasis and/or poor outcome, early detection and targeted treatment for recurrences are critical to improve patient outcome.”

This article written in 2004 published in The Journal Of the National Cancer Institute, (focusing for that piece on mammograms) notes even then that the “absence of screening was associated with a markedly increased risk of late-stage disease among women with invasive breast cancer” and that “problems in detection account for 40% of the late-stage cases.”

This information sounds very scary and elicits a feeling of powerlessness in our ability to take control of our health and the quality and length of our lives, however, we can take charge of our lives and health through consciously employing even just a few tools available to us.

Effective, Natural Ways To Prevent Recurrence

Breast cancer post-treatment plans and teaching are almost non-existent. Survivors are left to investigate the realities of and alternatives for their diagnoses independent of clinical guidance. We need concrete information that will help us advocate for ourselves and know our options in preventing recurrence.

Powerful supplements are available, healing mindsets (new conscious way of living and thinking which actually produce hormone functions and neurotransmitter synapses that heal disease states in the body), and many other potent, successful ways of living and being that achieve renewed health and wellness. More importantly, that work to prevent (breast) cancer recurrence.

A first priority, and the most profound route to wellness and healing (which also create an marked absence of disease) is obtaining adequate sleep and rest. Read my associated article here on this topic.

Below is an easy to read list of simple tools to employ highlighting most of the options available in post-treatment scans and labs to ensure the following:

• a) that the treatment(s) you endured show drastic reduction or eradication of disease.
• b) you are educated on your alternatives to prevention and prevention of recurrence.
• c) that your providers continue to order everything available and appropriate for you (3D mammogram, MRI, PET should be a yearly standard) in your years of recovery to monitor your progressive healing and early detection of any regrowth.

Arm Yourself Against Breast Cancer Recurrence

1. Vital diagnostics available

• Thorough hands on exam (clinical breast exam). Every follow up visit. Educate yourself on the expected thorough details of this exam.
• 3D Mammogram (if you did not receive a bilateral mastectomy) every 6 months first year after treatment ends, at least yearly, thereafter. Read here on the newest 3D/4D mammograms.
• Metabolic PET/CT-fdg (yearly) (see here) or
• MRI with contrast (detects cancerous tissue vs. normal tissue, but overall results, in most cases, inferior to PET) or
• CT with contrast (particularly highlights bone structure/changes and some soft tissue but, overall results, in most cases, inferior to PET, alone. MPET/CT is most-efficient.)
• liquid biopsies (ct-dna) yearly or upon the presence of new symptoms. (Because this is just emerging as a (soundly proven) diagnostic tool, few clinical studies recommending timeline protocols (how often to test) are available, but given the nature of discreet cancer cells, it is prudent to request yearly. See here to learn how to pay out of pocket for this test. This company is now contracted with MD Anderson for clinical trials for this powerful diagnostic tool.
• tumor markers and hormone levels (estradiol, FSH/LH etc.) best is every 3–4 months after treatment ends (and in some cases, some labs will be required during chemotherapy). These likely will migrate to every 6 months in the second to third year after treatment ends.
• Bone density (every 2 years)
• Bone scan with contrast (yearly is best preventative, but this is not standard, nor encouraged at all, without symptoms that confirm metastasis, even prior to scan.)

A “wait and see” attitude is fatal to many women. Allowing late symptoms to occur before scheduling diagnostics to confirm extensive or uncontrollable regrowth is never prudent or conducive to preservation of life. In reality, not judiciously monitoring the body and care with scans and labs in the recovery years can inevitably result in any regrowth of cancer taking control.

Breast cancer survivors must stay vehemently pro-active in reporting every new symptom or pain that cannot be explained by short term illness (viruses, colds, the flu etc.) or injury. Even in the presence of these incidents, any persistent pain or symptom needs to be addressed and investigated with thorough and effective diagnostics.

Be tenacious about your survival.

Supplements (in high levels) that act as aromatase inhibitors or have potent anti-cancer properties

2. Each of the following supplements has extensive research supporting their individual powerful anti-tumor functions.

• Melatonin; and read here.
• CoQ10; and read here and here
• Tumeric and read here
• Ashwaganda and read here
• DIM and read here and here
• Vitamin C and here
• Vitamin D and here
• Vitamin E and here
• Whole plant CBD: media has taken over in avidly suppressing the truth of the miraculous effects of taking CBD, and especially with CBG, and using RSO (contains THC). Researching this phenomenal plant is well worth your time. See Charlotte’s Web.
• European mistletoe and here; this article shows how to obtain it in supplements.

3. Mindsets (redirected thought patterns) that establish healing

You are created to live a long, healthy, life.

• No weapon formed against you will prosper. You have armour at your disposal.
• Your body is capable of healing itself and can be spoken to do so, each organ and organ system
• You can think yourself well, whole and fulfilled. Life begins and ends with the mind.
• Expect healing, because it is yours to begin with. We must take this action of expectation with utmost seriousness and implement ferociously.
• Keep a vibrant, open mind. This is the beginning step to changing your cells and disease processes in the body. See podcasts such as this one to acclimate to a new way of thinking about living to old age, despite your diagnosis.
• Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.

4. Deep breathing exercises: adequate oxygen causes cancer cell death. This topic needs more research on the writer’s part and in clinical studies, but it’s also common sense to note that increased regular oxygenation in the body increases health and healing.

5. Fasting either weekly or just from dinner to breakfast shows a significant improvement in insulin levels, which increases the body’s resistance to disease. It is linked strongly to preventing cancer, both primary and secondary (recurrence).

Grounding: This is a simple, profound way of promoting healing and preventing (breast) cancer recurrence. Note, that to receive best advantage of this technique, 30–60 minutes daily is recommended. It is also a wonderful way to renew peace to the mind and the body.

To summarize, the majority of breast cancer survivors are not adequately educated by their oncology team of the real risks for recurrence and are not informed of what tests can and should be ordered routinely to monitor for recurrence, which ultimately would save many lives. The oncology field’s gross neglect and resistance toward monitoring breast cancer recurrence has been and continues to be fundamental in creating an environment of that recurrence through neglecting to prioritize our lives with necessary preventative diagnostics.

In closing, I suggest that breast cancer patients be prepared to face strong resistance from their oncology team in introducing any demand for post-treatment diagnostics and especially alternative (non-Western medicine) treatment choices. The cancer care system is not set up to efficiently observe, monitor and track disease recurrence. We must be be our own advocates in obtaining and implementing safer, Big Pharma-free alternatives to our health and especially in standing firm in our right to have thorough, routine scans and labs that will preserve our health and lives.

We need more answers and follow through if we are to effectively fight against recurrence-related deaths.

If this information is helpful to you, please see my first article on preventing breast cancer recurrence.

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