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Breast Cancer: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Advancements

An overview of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and the latest advancements in personalized medicine.

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Spain

HealthGender IssuesCancerTreatmentGeneticsDiagnosisBreast Cancer

Sociedad Española De Oncología Médica (Seom)Hospital Universitario De SalamancaComisión EuropeaSistema Nacional De Salud

César A. Rodríguez

What are the major challenges and goals in breast cancer treatment?: Improving breast cancer outcomes involves multidisciplinary treatment teams and comprehensive care for long-term survivors, addressing physical and emotional effects. The goal is to improve survival rates while minimizing treatment side effects and ensuring a high quality of life.
What are the different types of breast cancer and how are they classified?: Breast cancer is classified into luminal, HER2-positive, and triple-negative subtypes based on molecular characteristics, influencing treatment decisions. Luminal tumors depend on hormones, HER2-positive tumors have high HER2 protein levels, and triple-negative tumors lack both hormone and HER2 receptors.
What advanced diagnostic techniques are used to personalize breast cancer treatment?: Advanced diagnostic techniques like liquid biopsy and massive sequencing enable personalized treatment. Liquid biopsy analyzes circulating tumor DNA to identify genomic changes for tailored treatment; massive sequencing analyzes numerous mutations for optimal therapy.
When should a woman get a mammogram, and what is the role of self-breast examination?: Mammography is recommended for women aged 45-74, every two years, to detect breast cancer early. While self-examination can't replace mammography, it helps identify alarming signs like lumps, redness, or nipple discharge, prompting medical consultation.
What is the significance of family history in breast cancer, and how does genetic testing work?: A family history of breast cancer, especially BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, increases the risk, particularly in younger women. Genetic testing is not universal; genetic counseling assesses risk and determines the need for blood testing to identify these mutations.

Jan 23, 04:13

Child Mental Health Admissions to Acute Wards in England Surge by 65%

A study shows a 65% rise in English children's mental health admissions to general acute wards from 2012-2022, reaching 39,925 in 2022; this increase, particularly among girls aged 11-15 (112.8%), strains hospital resources and staff, highlighting underlying societal issues beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jan 18, 04:06

Insufficient Osteoporosis Care in Wales Leads to Repeat Fractures

A 50-year-old Welsh woman, Sam Mitchell, fractured her pelvis in a minor fall, highlighting the under-diagnosis and inadequate preventative care for osteoporosis in Wales, where fragility fractures are rising by 10% annually, costing the NHS millions and leaving thousands of individuals living with fractures or osteoporosis diagnoses.

Jan 18, 04:06

Australian Survey Exposes Gender Bias in Access to Permanent Contraception

An Australian survey found widespread gender bias in healthcare, with women facing significant barriers to accessing permanent contraception, including dismissal of their requests and unreasonable requirements for consent, highlighting systemic inequality in reproductive healthcare.

Jan 17, 19:10

Cancer Rates Soar Among Young Women: A Growing Gender Disparity

British women under 50 are 70% more likely to develop cancer than men of the same age, a disparity exacerbated by rising rates of breast and thyroid cancers in women and falling rates of certain cancers in men; lifestyle factors like increased alcohol consumption and obesity also play a role.