Review of 2012 Research

  Think of this as a companion piece to yesterday's entry about the basic biology of breast cancer. This is an interview with Dr Eric Winer and Dr Shom Goal about recent research and directions as we move further into 2013. Frankly, nothing in this piece is brand new information, but it is a very nice summary and captures the many areas of interest. Read more... Comments (0)

Breast Cancer Primer

  This interview with Larry Norton, MD of Memorial Sloan Kettering, published in MedScape, is an excellent overview of breast cancer. If you have ever wondered about the basics of breast cancer biology and treatment, spending a few minutes with Dr Norton will be time well spent. Read more... Comments (0)

AIs and Hair Loss

  Is it better to worse to read confirmation of some (bad) thing we have known about but not had proven? As any woman who has taken one of the AIs for any period of time knows, there is associated hair loss. It is surely not like the hair loss from chemotherapy, but there is thinning and textural change and a general diminishment of one's previous "crowning glory". Read more... Comments (0)

Side Effects and AIs

  Rarely do I receive an email from one of my doctor colleagues with the suggestion that I share a particular study with you. This, however, is one of those rare moments. The study, from JCO, suggests that women who experience side effects (vaginal dryness, stiffness, etc) may have a lower recurrence rate than those who do not. The very big caveat is that this is a single study, and, especially if you are one of the rather rare women who does not have any side effects, do not be concerned. Read more... Comments (0)

Non-compliance with Tamoxifen and Recurrence Rate

  This is quite a serious and important study. The rate of non-compliance among women who are taking Tamoxifen or any of the AIs is quite high. There are many suggested reasons for this problem: side effects or perceived side effects, cost of the drugs, denial or a sense that the medication may not be needed. Whatever the cause, we know that women who stop taking these medications sooner than five years have a higher recurrence rate than those who finish the course. Read more... Comments (0)