Breast cancer research and treatment
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Oct 2006
ReviewPre-menopausal breast cancer and aromatase inhibitors: Treating a new generation of women.
Aromatase inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of post-menopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer. However, approximately 22% of all cases of breast cancer in North America are diagnosed in women below the age of 50 and a substantial proportion of these women are pre-menopausal. ⋯ In this review, the mechanism of action of aromatase inhibitors and the history of endocrine treatment for pre-menopausal breast cancer is briefly presented. Available research to date regarding efficacy and toxicity of aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of pre-menopausal breast cancer and future research directions are also discussed.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Oct 2006
Review Case ReportsAcute bilateral pulmonary emboli occurring while on adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy with anastrozole: Case report and review of the literature.
Hormonal therapy is the mainstay of adjuvant treatment for women with early-stage estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Recently, the aromatase inhibitors have moved to the forefront of adjuvant hormonal therapy, however, the adverse effects of these agents are not yet fully understood. ⋯ Studies comparing aromatase inhibitors to tamoxifen in the adjuvant setting have reported a lower rate of venous thromboembolism with the aromatase inhibitors, yet the incidence of venous thromboembolism with these new agents is higher than that expected in the general population. Here we report a case of acute bilateral pulmonary emboli occurring while on adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy with anastrozole, and review the literature on the incidence of venous thromboembolism during the use of aromatase inhibitors in the adjuvant setting.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Oct 2006
Health-related quality of life in breast cancer: A cross-cultural survey of German, Japanese, and South Korean patients.
The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in breast cancer patients across countries, and to cross-culturally examine the impact of psychosocial factors on HRQOL. ⋯ Results from this study suggest that strategies which target an improvement of HRQOL in cancer patients should also consider the patients' cultural and healthcare system contexts. Interventions are needed to improve detrimental psychosocial factors.