New studies show positive outcomes for breast cancer patients

Three new studies on Sunday showed how posttreatment lifestyle choices shape longterm outcomes after diagnosis of breast cancerThe studies led by DanaFarber Cancer Institute researchers in the US have encouraging implications for patients with breast cancerTwo studies focused on breastfeeding after breast cancer diagnosis and treatmentThese found it was safe and feasible for young patients carrying specific genetic variations to breastfeed without raising their risk of a cancer recurrence or a cancer in the other breast and that it was safe and feasible to breastfeed for patients with hormone receptorpositive HR breast cancer who conceived after a temporary interruption of endocrine therapyThe third study showed that a telephonebased coaching programme can significantly increase physical activity in overweight patients potentially improving their outcomesThe studies were presented at the lsquoEuropean Society of Medical Oncology ESMO Congress 2024rsquo in Barcelona SpainThe first study was a collaboration among investigators at 78 hospitals and cancer treatment centres worldwide It involved 474 patients with inherited mutations in the cancersusceptibility genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 who became pregnant after being diagnosed with stage IIII invasive breast cancer at age 40 or youngerThe second study provides breastfeeding outcomes from the POSITIVE trial which demonstrated early safety of the temporary interruption of endocrine therapy to attempt pregnancy A key secondary endpoint was breastfeeding outcomesThe study involved 518 patients at age 42 or younger with HR stage IIII breast cancerOf these patients 317 went on to have a live birth and 196 chose to breastfeed Breast conserving surgery was a key factor favoring breastfeedingThese studies provide the first evidence on the safety of breastfeeding after breast cancer in both young patients carrying BRCA variations that predispose to breast cancer as well as patients who conceived after pausing endocrine therapy said Ann Partridge the founder and director of the Programme for Young Adults with Breast Cancer at DanaFarberThe findings emphasise the possibility of supporting maternal and infant needs without compromising maternal safetyThe third study drew on data from the Breast Cancer Weight Loss BWEL trial which is exploring whether participating in a weight loss programme after a breast cancer diagnosis can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in women with a body mass index BMI in the overweight or obese rangeOur results show that a telephonebased weightloss intervention can motivate this group of patients to be more physically active said the studys first author Jennifer LigibelAlso Read Hina Khan suffering from mucositis Know all about this side effect of cancer treatmentThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever