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A clinical trial is now available for those whose cancer has spread to the skin and hasn’t responded to other treatments.

T

he Centers for Disease Control and prevention names breast cancer the most common non-skin cancer among US women, and it is estimated that each year more than 230,000 women are newly diagnosed with the disease. Even though breast cancer usually occurs in women, men can get it too, and though it is very rare, about 1% of all breast cancers happen in males.

Though death rates from breast cancer have declined for the past decade, it remains the second leading cause of cancer death among all women and the number one cause of cancer death for Hispanic women.

Breast cancer is a cancer subtype that occurs when otherwise healthy cells begin to behave in uncontrolled and unpredictable ways, creating new masses (also known as tumors) on or near the breast tissue. Breast cancer can spread outside the mammary tissues and travel to other places of the body through blood and lymph vessels; when that occurs it is called metastatic or stage IV cancer.

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What Causes Breast Cancer?

Cancer is a complicated disease, and many times it is hard to pinpoint the exact reason why it happened. While doctors are still unclear on what causes breast cancer, research has allowed them to get a better idea of the major risk factors that contribute to the development of the disease.

Having one or several risk factors doesn’t necessarily mean that you will develop breast cancer; in fact, some women who are considered high-risk never develop the disease. However, these are some of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that have been observed in breast cancer cases.

A Family History of Breast Cancer

Doctor estimate that about ten percent of all breast cancer patients inherited a mutation from a family member (mother, sister, grandmother) who also had breast cancer. The most well-known and studied genes that seem to contribute to breast cancer are the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes.

Age

Breast cancer has been observed to happen mainly in women over the age of 60, but can occur at any age.

Beginning Menstruation Early

Women who got their period before the age of 12 have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Being Obese or Overweight

Being obese may increase your risk of developing cancer.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Though the connection between HRT and breast cancer has been observed in observational research studies and clinical trials, there is still a lot of controversy regarding the use of hormones and cancer.

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Interested in Participating?

A clinical trial is now available for those whose cancer has spread to the skin and hasn’t responded to other treatments.

How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

There are different tests and screenings that help doctors diagnose breast cancer. The most common screening method is the mammogram, which is an X-ray that looks for any masses or tumors in or around the breasts. Though doctors used to recommend all women to get an annual mammogram beginning at the age of 40, new guidelines advised women to wait until the age of 50 unless they have a high risk of developing breast cancer.

In addition to mammograms, doctors recommend women of all ages to self-examine their breasts and surrounding areas to feel for any lumps or abnormalities. If an abnormality is noted the doctor may decide to perform more in-depth tests such as an ultrasound, MRI, or a biopsy.

How is Breast Cancer Treated?

How breast cancer is treated usually depends on the type of cancer, the clinical history of the patient, and how far (if any) the cancer has spread. However, most of the time breast cancer patients will undergo more than one treatment either at the same time or at different points in time. Some common treatments include:

Surgery

If the cancer is limited to one location, doctors may opt to remove the tumor. In some cases, doctors choose to remove the entire breast tissue of one or both breasts – this is called a mastectomy – and surrounding lymph nodes to prevent the cancer from coming back.

Chemotherapy

This treatment uses special medications to attack cancerous cells and shrink tumors. Chemotherapy is usually done after surgery once the bulk of the cancer has been removed in order to kill any remaining cells.

Radiation Therapy

May be used together with chemotherapy or surgery, radiation uses specialized light beams to penetrate the skin and target cancer cells.

Hormonal Therapy

Uses hormones to block hormonal receptors in cancer cells, keeping them from growing any further.

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Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

Death rates from breast cancer have reduced greatly in the last couple of decades, and that has been made possible in part thanks to the medical advances that resulted from clinical trials and research studies.

Clinical trials are conducted in universities, hospitals, and research centers all across the country and many of them are always actively recruiting new volunteers. If you are interested in participating or finding more about a breast cancer clinical trial in your area talk to your doctor or contact your local hospital/university.

ClinicalTrials.gov: Recruiting Studies | Breast Cancer | Last update posted in the last 300 days Studies found on ClinicalTrials.gov by a search of: Recruiting Studies | Breast Cancer | Last update posted in the last 300 days

  • Treatment Decision Making in African American Women Diagnosed With Triple Negative Breast Cancer
    on October 8, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Conditions:   Anatomic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage IA Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage IB Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage IIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage IIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage IIIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Anatomic Stage IIIC Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Invasive Breast Carcinoma;   Prognostic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage IA Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage IB Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage IIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage IIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage IIIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Prognostic Stage IIIC Breast Cancer AJCC v8;   Triple-Negative Breast CarcinomaInterventions:   Procedure: Discussion;   Other: Interview;   Other: Survey AdministrationSponsors:   M.D. Anderson Cancer Center;   National Cancer Institute (NCI)Recruiting

  • Targeted Axillary Dissection After Neo-adjuvant Chemotherapy
    on October 8, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Breast CancerIntervention:   Procedure: TAD (Targeted Axillary Dissection)Sponsor:   Universitair Ziekenhuis BrusselRecruiting

  • Physical Exercise for Breast Cancer Survivors: Face-to-face Versus Home-based
    on October 8, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Breast CancerIntervention:   Other: Combined exercise trainingSponsors:   Associacao de Investigacao de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia;   Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho;   Universidad Europea de Madrid;   University Institute of MaiaRecruiting

  • SBRT in Early Breast Cancer in Elderly Women
    on October 7, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Breast Neoplasm FemaleIntervention:   Radiation: Stereotactic Body Radiation TherapySponsor:   University of Rome Tor VergataRecruiting

  • Capecitabine In Combination With Cemiplimab In Patient With Metastatic Breast Cancer
    on October 1, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Hormone Receptor-positive Breast CancerInterventions:   Drug: Cemiplimab;   Drug: CapecitabineSponsors:   H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute;   Regeneron PharmaceuticalsRecruiting

  • Antidepressant Efficacy of Psychotherapy and Citalopram in Patients With Breast Cancer and Major Depression
    on October 1, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Conditions:   Breast Cancer;   Major Depressive EpisodeInterventions:   Drug: Citalopram;   Behavioral: PsychotherapySponsors:   Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge;   Catalan Institute of OncologyRecruiting

  • Medial vs. Entire Supraclavicular Lymph Node Radiation Therapy for Patients With Invasive Breast Cancer
    on September 28, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Conditions:   Breast Cancer;   Radiotherapy; Complications;   Effect of Radiation TherapyInterventions:   Radiation: Entire supraclavicular lymph node radiotherapy;   Radiation: Medial supraclavicular lymph node radiotherapySponsors:   Fudan University;   The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China;   Quanzhou First Hospital;   Jiangyin People's Hospital;   Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan UniversityRecruiting

  • DianaWeb: Before and After Study Online Based Participatory Research on Breast Cancer Women
    on September 27, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Breast CancerIntervention:   Other: Community-based participatory research on diet and lifestyleSponsors:   Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano;   University Of Perugia;   Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone Palermo;   Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale di Mantova;   Presidio Ospedaliero Unico "Santa Maria della Misericordia", Urbino;   Ospedale Città di Castello- Perugia;   University of Urbino "Carlo Bo";   Fondazione Vita e SaluteRecruiting

  • Comparison of Synthetic Mammography Versus Full-Field Digital Mammography in Image Interpretation and Performance Metrics
    on September 27, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Breast CarcinomaIntervention:   Other: Electronic Health Record ReviewSponsor:   M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterRecruiting

  • The Effect of Mobile Lymphedema Self-Care Support Program on Self-Care in Women With Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema
    on September 27, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Breast Cancer Related LymphedemaInterventions:   Other: Mobile Lymphedema Self-Care Support Program;   Other: standart lymphedema educationSponsor:   Dokuz Eylul UniversityRecruiting

  • Patient's Choice in the Reduction of Their Treatment in Women Over 70 Year With Breast Cancer
    on September 27, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Breast CancerInterventions:   Radiation: Whole breast radiotherapy;   Radiation: Intra Operative RadiotherapySponsor:   UNICANCERRecruiting

  • PK and Drug Interaction Study of Utidelone Plus Capecitabine in Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer
    on September 22, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Condition:   Advanced and Metastatic Breast CancerInterventions:   Drug: Utidelone Injection; capecitabine;   Drug: UtideloneSponsors:   Beijing Biostar Technologies, Ltd;   Chengdu Biostar Pharmaceuticals, LtdRecruiting