breast cancer

The American Cancer Society has pushed back the age at which most women should begin having mammograms to 45.

Health & Safety

Cancer Group Now Says Most Mammograms Can Wait Till 45

5:29pm October 20, 2015

by Rob Stein

The American Cancer Society says new research supports changing the age at which most women should start getting yearly mammograms. But the group's latest advice still conflicts with other guidance.

Now? Later? It's definitely not a one-size-fits-all thing.

OK, When Am I Supposed To Get A Mammogram?

3:55pm October 20, 2015

by Lynne Shallcross

The four major advice-givers can't agree on when to start or how long to continue. That leaves women understandably confused. And that doesn't make it easy to decide.

Although false alarms are not at all unusual when it comes to mammograms, they can cause women much anxiety. Doctors are thinking about ways to ease those fears.

Called Back After A Mammogram? Doctors Are Trying To Make It Less Scary

7:03pm October 15, 2015

by Katherine Hobson

Mammograms often find spots that turn out to be nothing serious. But cancer worries can start with the phone call about a follow-up test. Letting women know how common callbacks are could help.

Ductal carcinoma in situ sometimes can turn into invasive breast cancer, but there's currently no test that can tell when it's dangerous and when it's not.

Treatment Changes For DCIS Haven't Affected Breast Cancer Deaths

2:37pm October 14, 2015

by Nancy Shute

Ductal carcinoma in situ often doesn't turn into breast cancer, but most women have surgery for it. The trend is for less invasive surgery, which hasn't affected survival rates.

For patients who fell into Oncotype DX's low-risk category, 99 percent didn't develop metastatic breast cancer five years after surgery, even if they didn't have chemotherapy.

Breast Cancer Gene Test Helps Predict Who Can Skip Chemo

4:35pm September 28, 2015

by Michaeleen Doucleff

A large study confirms that a test doctors have been using for a decade works well for low-risk patients. More work is needed to draw conclusions about chemotherapy for women with riskier tumors.

Surgeon Seeks To Help Women Navigate Breast Cancer Treatment

3:51pm September 22, 2015

Thirty years ago no one uttered the words "breast cancer" in public. Now there's no shortage of information, but the glut can make it hard for women to make choices about care.

Queue Listen Now

Almost 18 percent of Americans are Hispanic, and their experiences with cancer vary greatly.

Hispanic Cancer Rates Show How It Matters Where You Come From

4:14pm September 17, 2015

by Meredith Rizzo

Hispanics are less likely to get cancer than non-Hispanic whites, but they're more susceptible to gallbladder, liver and stomach cancer. And country of origin affects cancer risk, too.

The group of women in a new study with the lowest rate of breast cancer consumed about four tablespoons of olive oil each day.

Health & Safety

Mediterranean Diet With Extra Olive Oil May Lower Breast Cancer Risk

2:04pm September 14, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

A study finds that women who ate a Mediterranean diet plus four tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil per day had a significantly lower risk of breast cancer compared with women on a low-fat diet.

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Health & Safety

Poll Finds Most Women Believe Mammograms Should Be Done Annually

8:26am August 31, 2015

by Scott Hensley

While the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says most women should get screening mammograms every two years, an NPR-Truven Health Analytics poll finds women think they should go every year.

More Mammograms May Not Always Mean Fewer Cancer Deaths

10:57am July 08, 2015

by Nancy Shute

A comparison of women in 547 U.S. counties found that getting more women in for screening mammograms didn't lower death rates from breast cancer. More small cancers were found.