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ABC News
5 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
ACT, NT, Queensland and Tasmania yet to include breast density reports as part of routine mammograms
Canberra woman Jenny Edwards feels very lucky. This year her routine mammogram showed a few small white spots, prompting a call for her to come back for a better look. A 3D scan and ultrasound found a small tumour, and also revealed Ms Edwards had high breast density. "I had no idea I had dense breasts, [or that they] were hiding various lumps," she said. "As well as a tumour in my left breast I had two fibroadenomas — which are other sorts of benign lumps — and in my right breast I had a cyst. Ms Edwards is now undergoing radiation treatment, and said she was lucky those few white spots were caught at all, particularly given her dense breasts and the fact she had no known family history of breast cancer. Breast density refers to the amount of glandular and connective tissue in the breast, compared to fatty tissue, as seen on a mammogram. High breast density not only makes breast cancer harder to detect through routine 2D mammography, but is also an independent risk factor for developing breast cancer. BreastScreen Australia is the national screening program, jointly funded by the federal, state and territory governments, to provide free mammograms through state-run services. There have long been calls for BreastScreen Australia to change its national policy not to record participants' breast density, nor report it to them. Last week, BreastScreen Australia updated its policy to recommend that everyone screened be informed in writing of their breast density, and encouraged to have further discussions with their GP about additional screening options. But currently only New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia measure and report breast density. Breast Cancer Network Australia's Vicki Durston said a person's access to potentially lifesaving information about their breast density and cancer risk shouldn't be dependent on where they lived. "We need every state and territory to act now to provide this information, along with clear pathways for supporting women at higher risk. "The progress being made elsewhere shows timely implementation is both achievable and beneficial for women." In a statement, the ACT government said it was "working on plans to introduce recording and reporting of breast density following mammograms", but it did not have a timeline for implementation. On their websites, BreastScreen Queensland says it's "actively working towards statewide implementation of breast density recording and reporting", while BreastScreen NT says breast density will be included in results by 2026. Kym Berchtenbreiter, who has lived experience with breast cancer, said if she had known she had dense breasts when she received a negative mammogram result her outcome may not have been as severe. "If I'd known that I had extremely dense breasts … I could have looked into the possibility of having supplemental screening, and perhaps my outcome might not have been as severe as it was," Ms Berchtenbreiter said. "[Instead] within 12 months of that negative result I was subsequently diagnosed with early breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and years of hormone blocking treatment. "But I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm still here to tell this story. "There are others who are not that fortunate because interval cancers got missed in a screening." Ms Berchtenbreiter said it was important to inform people of their breast density because looking for a tumour in very dense breast tissue was "a bit like looking for a polar bear in a snowstorm". "It's vital that women are informed about their breast density, so they can make informed decisions about supplemental screening options," she said. "We are so fortunate to have a breast screening program in Australia but let's make it even better, and save more lives, by having a national commitment to reporting breast density." Statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) show last year 58 people were diagnosed with breast cancer every day in Australia, most of them women. The AIHW estimated 3,272 women and 36 men — or one in nine Australians — died from breast cancer in 2024. National Breast Cancer Foundation CEO Cleola Anderiesz said nobody could tell their own breast density. "The size of your breast, or how firm or not firm your breast feels, doesn't give you any indication of your breast density. It has to be detected through a mammogram," Ms Anderiesz said. "What it measures is the relative amount of dense breast tissue — so glandular and connective tissue, which actually appears white on the mammogram — compared to non-dense — or fatty — tissue, which appears dark." She said early detection was critical to improving outcomes from a breast cancer diagnosis. "For example if your breast cancer is diagnosed at what we call stage one, where it's still confined to your breast, your five-year survival outcomes are actually 100 per cent. "So it's a really important thing for women to be informed about because they can then have a shared conversation with their GP or their breast specialist about their level of risk of developing breast cancer — and ultimately that knowledge is power." Ms Edwards said her message to others who didn't know if they had dense breasts was to "go get screened". "I've got an adult daughter who now, because of her family history, I suspect also has dense breasts. "It would be good to know that so she can monitor things earlier than the free mammograms, which kick in at 40."
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 45, reveals breast cancer diagnosis
's Monyetta Shaw-Carter revealed she is battling breast cancer. The reality TV star, 45, opened up about being diagnosed with with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma in November 2024. 'I had a biopsy about 10 years ago and it came back benign,' she told People. 'Then last year in September I was doing a self-check because I felt this random sensation that I can't really describe in my left boob. 'It was like nothing I've ever felt before. It was literally like my body was alerting me that something was wrong.' She found the lump in her breast just one month after her annual mammogram. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Monyetta was diagnosed with stage 1 cancer in November 2024 After a lumpectomy in January and 16 rounds of radiation, she rang the bell on May 2 to mark the end of her treatment. 'Because I caught the cancer early, I will be here for my kids,' she said. 'There's nothing more important than getting checked often and early to protect your future. 'Our health is irreplaceable. I can't thank my exceptional doctors and nurses enough. They are our heroes!' Monyetta completed her treatment last month and is thrilled that part of her life is over. 'It was obviously one of the hardest and scariest moments of my life,' she said about the moment she got the call from her doctors saying she had cancer. 'Everything around me stopped. My heart dropped. I was afraid. I was angry. I was just numb,' she added. At first, Monyetta considered having a double mastectomy but since her results didn't mandate that she only had a lumpectomy. 'It's so important for me to share this story because I hope to inspire others not to dismiss their gut feeling,' Shaw-Carter told the outlet. 'Our body speaks to us and when it does we have to listen. It can be a matter of life or death.' Moynetta gained strength from her husband Heath Carter but she also needed to tell her her ex-fiancé, singer Ne-Yo, whom she shares daughter Madilyn 'Maddie,' 14, and son, Mason, 13. 'We actually told him when we were all there, my husband, and Ne-Yo, Maddie and Mason, and some of Maddie's friends, were at a bowling alley, celebrating Maddie's birthday,' she said. 'The kids were talking and playing and bowling. And we took him to the side and told Ne-Yo the news, and the shock that was on his face said it all,' she said. 'He was just super supportive. 'Ne-Yo was just showing up for me in a major way and just always asking and making sure everything was okay. He was like, "Oh, you're gonna beat this."' She also got a lot of support from her Real Housewives of Atlanta castmates – especially Kandi Burruss. 'When I told Kandi she immediately was like, "Oh, my gosh, what can I do?" She's been so super supportive. 'She came by, sent, like, the biggest stuff, like her, and my other friends are in competition with who can send me the biggest flower arrangements.' Sheree Whitfield has also been a lot of support for Moynetta during her illness. 'And she just gave me all kinds of like, "Oh, my gosh, girl, like, how? I couldn't imagine! Okay, let me go and make sure I check mine." 'I've just received huge support from the girls,' she said. 'I don't think any of the other girls know, so they will be finding out and I know I will be getting phone calls very soon to that effect.'
Medscape
3 days ago
- General
- Medscape
Can Shorter RT Offer Long-Term Benefits in Prostate Cancer?
At a median follow-up of 13.2 years, dose-escalated hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy led to fewer treatment failures in men with localized, intermediate-risk prostate cancer than conventional radiation therapy, although the difference was not statistically significant. However, among patients who did not receive androgen-deprivation therapy, hypofractionated radiotherapy halved the risk for treatment failure. METHODOLOGY: The initial findings from the phase III randomized trial demonstrated superior cancer control with dose-escalated hypofractionated than with conventional intensity-modulated radiation therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer, at a median follow-up of 8.5 years. In the latest analysis, the researchers assessed patient outcomes at a median follow-up of 13.2 years to determine whether the benefit offered by hypofractionation was maintained. In the study, 206 patients with localized prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive either hypofractionated (72 Gy in 2.4-Gy fractions over 6 weeks; n = 104) or conventional intensity-modulated radiation therapy (75.6 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions over 8.4 weeks; n = 102). Overall, 71% of patients had intermediate-risk prostate cancer, 48% had Gleason grade group 2 prostate cancer, 90% had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of ≤ 10 ng/mL, and 24% received androgen-deprivation therapy. The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as PSA failure or the initiation of salvage therapy. TAKEAWAY: Fewer patients experienced treatment failure with hypofractionated radiotherapy (n = 13) than with conventional radiotherapy (n = 22), although the difference was no longer statistically significant ( P = .08). All patients in the hypofractionated group had PSA failure, whereas in the conventional group, 20 patients had PSA failure, and salvage therapy was initiated for two patients. = .08). All patients in the hypofractionated group had PSA failure, whereas in the conventional group, 20 patients had PSA failure, and salvage therapy was initiated for two patients. Among patients who did not receive androgen-deprivation therapy, the 10-year failure rate was significantly lower with hypofractionated radiotherapy than with conventional radiotherapy (13% vs 26%; P = .04); this difference was not observed among those who received androgen-deprivation therapy. = .04); this difference was not observed among those who received androgen-deprivation therapy. The 15-year overall survival favored hypofractionated radiotherapy (87% vs 75%) but did not reach statistical significance ( P = .08). The rate of distant metastases was not statistically different between the hypofractionated radiotherapy and conventional groups ( P = .2), and most events occurred beyond 9 years after starting radiotherapy. = .08). The rate of distant metastases was not statistically different between the hypofractionated radiotherapy and conventional groups ( = .2), and most events occurred beyond 9 years after starting radiotherapy. Late grade ≥ 2 genitourinary toxicity at 10 years was not significantly different for the hypofractionated and conventional groups (26% vs 23%; P = .5), as was gastrointestinal toxicity (10% vs 4%; P = .09). IN PRACTICE: 'Long-term outcomes show a reduction in treatment failure associated with dose-escalated, hypofractionated [radiotherapy] in patients with low-risk and intermediate risk prostate cancer not receiving [androgen-deprivation therapy ], with similar late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities,' the authors wrote. 'In the years since initial publication, hypofractionated [intensity–modulated radiation therapy] has been adopted as the standard of care due to multiple randomized controlled trials and these long-term results supporting that [hypofractionated intensity–modulated radiation therapy] provides comparable outcomes to [conventionally fractionated intensity–modulated radiation therapy], with the added benefit of convenient treatment time for patients,' they concluded. SOURCE: This study, led by Comron Hassanzadeh, MD, MPH, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, was published online in Journal of Clinical Oncology . LIMITATIONS: This study predominantly included patients with low-risk and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, and only some patients received androgen-deprivation therapy, and hence, the findings may not be generalizable to patients with high-risk disease. Additionally, toxicity results were applicable for patients receiving intensity–modulated radiation therapy with daily image guidance, although newer techniques could have further improved tolerability. DISCLOSURES: This study received support in part through a Cancer Center Support grant. Three authors reported being employees of the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Some authors declared receiving research funding or honoraria and having other ties with various sources.
Medscape
22-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
RT Delays Contralateral Breast Cancer in BRCA Carriers
Prophylactic radiation therapy to the contralateral breast significantly delayed the onset of contralateral breast cancer in carriers of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants with early breast cancer. The 10-year contralateral breast cancer rates were lower among those who received radiotherapy than among those who did not. METHODOLOGY: Women with germline pathogenic variants in the BRCA1/2 genes have a high risk for contralateral breast cancer. genes have a high risk for contralateral breast cancer. This study reported the long-term results of a phase 2 trial that enrolled 162 BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers (mean age, 49.7 years) with unilateral early breast cancer between. pathogenic variant carriers (mean age, 49.7 years) with unilateral early breast cancer between. Participants either received prophylactic radiotherapy to the contralateral breast (intervention group; n = 80) or underwent surveillance (control group; n = 82), with all participants concurrently receiving radiation therapy to the ipsilateral breast. The primary endpoint was contralateral breast cancer at 10 years, and secondary endpoints included ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, other cancers, metastatic breast cancer, and death. The median follow-up duration was 10.4 years. TAKEAWAY: At 10.4 years, 13.8% of patients in the intervention group vs 18.3% in the control group developed contralateral breast cancer ( P = .24). = .24). The median time to contralateral breast cancer was significantly longer in the intervention group than in the control group (90 months vs 40 months; P < .001). < .001). Ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence was observed in 7.4% of patients (n = 12), with occurrences evenly distributed between both treatment groups (six in each group) at a median of 81 months. No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding the development of other cancers or metastatic breast cancer as well as mortality. IN PRACTICE: 'This novel approach, albeit controversial, is supported by the findings that highlight the need for a larger international trial,' the authors concluded. SOURCE: The study, led by Ella Evron, MD, Oncology, Kaplan Medical Institute, Rehovot, Israel, was published online in JAMA Oncology . LIMITATIONS: Higher rates of estrogen receptor positivity and endocrine treatment for the index breast cancer, as well as elective risk-reducing mastectomy, in the control group could have contributed to the lower-than-expected rate of contralateral breast cancer. The incidence of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence was also lower than expected, which could have affected the findings. DISCLOSURES: This trial was funded by the Israel Cancer Association. The authors reported having no relevant conflicts of interest.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Neutron Therapeutics and Helsinki University Hospital Treat First Head and Neck Cancer Patients Using Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy
First clinical application of accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy outside of Asia Ongoing clinical trial is enrolling patients with inoperable, locally recurrent head and neck cancer HELSINKI and BOSTON, May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Neutron Therapeutics LLC and the Helsinki University Hospital announce that they have treated the first cancer patients in a European hospital with accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). This milestone marks the culmination of a multi-year collaborative effort and represents the first clinical application of accelerator-based BNCT in the west. Approved in Japan but not currently available to patients outside of Asia, BNCT is a tumor-targeted radiation therapy in which epithermal neutrons activate a boron-bearing compound that is selectively taken up by tumors. The boron-neutron reaction generates high-energy alpha particles within tumor cells, destroying them while sparing healthy tissues. In contrast to treatments like traditional radiation or chemotherapy, BNCT is administered in just one or two sessions and has the potential to deliver highly effective radiation therapy at the cellular level while causing minimal disruption to patient quality of life. The patients treated are the first in a ten-patient study aimed at demonstrating the safety of BNCT for locally recurrent head and neck cancer using Neutron Therapeutics' nuBeam® device, a compact accelerator-based, high-throughput neutron source used in combination with a locally compounded boron-carrying drug. The Comprehensive Cancer Center at Helsinki University Hospital has served as a hub for BNCT research and clinical trials since 1992 and is the first European facility to house a nuBeam® Suite. Neutron Therapeutics' nuBeam® Suite includes the complete array of tools required to administer BNCT: a neutron source, patient positioning & imaging capabilities, treatment control software, and treatment planning software. Clinical validation of the nuBeam® Suite is ongoing and the company intends to submit for a CE mark when complete. Neutron Therapeutics is also in discussions with academic medical centers in the United States to bring this innovative cancer therapy to American patients. "Neutron Therapeutics is proud to help bring BNCT to the western world, where no one has received this promising treatment for many years due to the decommissioning of reactor-based BNCT facilities," said Bill Buckley, co-founder of Neutron Therapeutics. "We look to a future where BNCT may be an alternative for patients whose disease does not respond to conventional forms of treatment. We are grateful to partner with the clinical team at Helsinki University Hospital, who bring decades of clinical experience to this endeavor." "We are excited to take this first clinical step towards making BNCT available to the people of Finland and ultimately Europe and beyond," said Johanna Mattson, Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Helsinki University Hospital. "This clinical trial addresses an area of significant unmet need. Our hospital's experience with BNCT makes us well positioned to carry out this study and the subsequent trials that we hope will bring this therapy to many more patients with different types of solid tumors." About Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki University Hospital is a pioneer in the clinical use of BNCT. Using a research nuclear reactor as the neutron source, the hospital has applied BNCT to over 200 cancer patients. With Neutron Therapeutics nuBeam® Suite, Helsinki University Hospital will continue its leadership in developing clinical applications for many cancer indications and become Europe's first accelerator-based BNCT practitioner. About Neutron Therapeutics Neutron Therapeutics is a leading provider of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) systems for use in the radiation treatment of cancer patients. Neutron Therapeutics' flagship product, the nuBeam® therapy platform, is an accelerator-based, in-hospital neutron source to replace the previously required nuclear reactor. nuBeam® has the highest flux of all BNCT systems and provides superior beam quality according to guidelines established by the IAEA for the clinical use of neutrons. Contact: inquiries@ View original content: SOURCE Neutron Therapeutics Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
