Breast Cancer Updates 2023: Over diagnosis, Statistics, Treatments, and Awareness

 

·         A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that many older women are over diagnosed with breast cancer and may receive unnecessary treatment. The study estimated that 31% of women ages 70 to 74, 47% of women ages 75 to 84, and 54% of women ages 85 and older were potentially over diagnosed with breast cancer after screening mammograms. The authors suggested that screening decisions for older women should be individualized based on their life expectancy and preferences.

·         The American Cancer Society released its latest breast cancer statistics for 2022. According to the report, about 13% of U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime, and breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. The report also highlighted the decreasing incidence rates of breast cancer since 2000, which may be partly due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after a large study linked HRT to increased breast cancer risk.

·         The European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) is scheduled to take place on May 2-4, 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The conference is one of the largest events dedicated to breast cancer research and clinical practice. The conference will feature keynote speakers, symposia, workshops, poster sessions, and networking opportunities for participants from various disciplines and backgrounds. The conference aims to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of breast cancer

A new drug called trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) has shown promising results in treating advanced breast cancer that is HER2-positive. HER2-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that has high levels of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which makes the cancer cells grow faster. T-DXd is a type of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that delivers a powerful chemotherapy agent directly to the cancer cells, while sparing the normal cells. In a phase 3 trial, T-DXd improved the overall survival and progression-free survival of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who had previously received two or more anti-HER2 therapies .
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that breast density is not a reliable predictor of breast cancer risk in women over 50. Breast density refers to how much fibrous and glandular tissue is in the breast, compared to fatty tissue. Women with dense breasts have more fibrous and glandular tissue, which can make it harder to detect breast cancer on mammograms. Previous studies have suggested that breast density is associated with increased breast cancer risk, but the new study found that this association was not consistent across different age groups and ethnicities. The study concluded that breast density should not be used as a sole criterion for deciding whether to undergo additional screening or preventive measures .

A new initiative called Breast Cancer Now was launched in 2023 to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and support. Breast Cancer Now is a collaboration between four leading breast cancer charities in the UK: Breast Cancer Care, Breast Cancer Research, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and The Breast Cancer Campaign. The initiative aims to unite the efforts and resources of these charities to achieve a common goal: to stop breast cancer from taking lives by 2050. Breast Cancer Now will organize various events and campaigns throughout the year, such as the Pink Ribbon Walk, the Wear It Pink Day, and the Big Pink Quiz .