Latest news with #DCIS
Edinburgh Live
4 days ago
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian mum given devastating diagnosis at routine scan despite no symptoms
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian mum was diagnosed with breast cancer out of the blue without suffering any symptoms. Angela Mairs was given the devastating diagnosis following a routine mammogram in March last year. After the scan she received a letter saying it had been inconclusive as she was asked to attend a follow up. According to Angela, she didn't even take her husband to the appointment as she had no reason to be concerned. Sadly, further tests showed Angela had Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS), an early stage form of breast cancer. Speaking to the West Lothian Courier, Angela is now urging people to take the opportunity of screening and is set to take on a marathon-length moonlit challenge in Edinburgh. The 58-year-old, from Uphall Station, will take part in this year's MoonWalk Scotland, where women and men wear brightly decorated bras and walk 26.2 miles through the streets of Edinburgh. (Image: MoonWalk Scotland) "I was diagnosed with breast cancer out of the blue," said Angela. "It was the third mammogram I'd had since turning 50. "I'd had absolutely no symptoms beforehand - no lumps, rash or puckering of the skin, classic symptoms of possible breast cancer. Then I received a letter saying the scan had been 'inconclusive' and asking me to attend for a follow up. "I am a bit busty and thought there was simply some sort of technical issue with getting the right type of images. I didn't take my husband along to that second appointment, I wasn't concerned at all. "Everything snowballed from there. There was an area in my left breast which needed to be investigated further. I had an ultrasound scan and two biopsies and returned to see the consultant a couple of weeks later for my results. He told me I had Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS), an early-stage form of breast cancer, which was a huge shock. (Image: MoonWalk Scotland) "Some cells in the lining of the ducts of the breast tissue had started to turn into cancer cells, but hadn't yet spread elsewhere. "If they hadn't been discovered when they were - by the mammogram - this would have been a real possibility. "DCIS cells look like grains of rice on scans - they're quite small, which is why I wasn't able to feel anything untoward myself." Angela had surgery to remove the cancer in June last year. Although it went well, a wound became infected. She has also had five radiotherapy sessions. Prior to Angela's surgery she received hormone therapy to slow the growth of cells, but an unfortunate side-effect is symptoms of the menopause. She has also thanked those around her for their support, including her husband Derek, 22-year-old son Jake and his partner Neve. "My friends and family have been absolutely amazing," she said. "My husband is self-employed and my friends were incredibly supportive while I was recovering from surgery, so that he could keep on working. "I felt like I had my own private 'meals on wheels' service and they gave me with lifts everywhere too. After having been off work for a large part of last year, I now feel as though I'm back to business as usual and enjoying my normal life. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "I do need to build up my stamina. Taking part in The MoonWalk Scotland in September and all the training I'll need to do beforehand will give me a fantastic focus, as I try to regain my fitness." This won't be the first time Angela has taken part in the Full Moon event, she completed it back in 2019. "I really enjoyed the night and loved the wonderful atmosphere - there were people out on the route supporting us at 2 o'clock in the morning," she recalled. Walk the Walk has already contributed millions of pounds in grants to the Breast Unit at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Angela added: "I've well and truly used all the services at the Western General which Walk the Walk has helped to fund - the mammography unit, operating theatre and breast cancer ward. "I'm also incredibly thankful for the mammogram which discovered my cancer when it did. This wasn't detectable without a mammogram, there were no symptoms. If breast cancer is caught early enough, a lot can be done to prevent the disease spreading. "I'd urge everyone who is invited to take up the offer of getting a mammogram. It could save your life". The event has been going for the last 19 years and the date for this year's is Saturday, September 6. To sign up for The MoonWalk Scotland 2025, visit:
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Routine scan led to early breast cancer diagnosis for West Lothian woman who's going out walking after midnight
Angela Mairs is taking on the marathon-distance charity challenge to give something back A West Lothian woman who received a breast cancer diagnosis out of the blue is taking on a marathon-length moonlit challenge. Angela Mairs was hit with the shocking news following a routine mammogram in March last year and is now urging people to take the opportunity of screening. The 58-year-old mum from Uphall Staion, Livingston, will take part in this year's The MoonWalk Scotland, when women and men wearing brightly decorated bras walk 26.2 miles through the streets of Edinburgh. Organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, this year's event will be the last to take place in the capital for the time being as it goes on tour to a new city. 'I was diagnosed with breast cancer out of the blue,' said Angela. 'It was the third mammogram I'd had since turning 50. 'I'd had absolutely no symptoms beforehand – no lumps, rash or puckering of the skin, classic symptoms of possible breast cancer. 'Then I received a letter saying the scan had been 'inconclusive' and asking me to attend for a follow up. 'I am a bit busty and thought there was simply some sort of technical issue with getting the right type of images. I didn't take my husband along to that second appointment, I wasn't concerned at all. 'Everything snowballed from there. There was an area in my left breast which needed to be investigated further. I had an ultrasound scan and two biopsies and returned to see the consultant a couple of weeks later for my results. He told me I had Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS), an early-stage form of breast cancer, which was a huge shock. 'Some cells in the lining of the ducts of the breast tissue had started to turn into cancer cells, but hadn't yet spread elsewhere. 'If they hadn't been discovered when they were – by the mammogram – this would have been a real possibility. 'DCIS cells look like grains of rice on scans – they're quite small, which is why I wasn't able to feel anything untoward myself.' The Business Support admin worker had surgery to remove the cancer in June last year. The procedure is known as a bilateral mammoplasty. Affected tissue was removed from her left breast with her right breast then adjusted to the same size. Although surgery went well, a wound became infected. Angela also had five sessions of radiotherapy. Prior to surgery she received hormone therapy, Letrozole, to slow the growth of the cells, which she continues to take, although an unfortunate side-effect is symptoms of menopause. Angela is grateful for the support of those around her, in particular her husband Derek, 22-year-old son Derek, and his partner Neve. 'My friends and family have been absolutely amazing,' she said. 'My husband is self-employed and my friends were incredibly supportive while I was recovering from surgery, so that he could keep on working. 'I felt like I had my own private 'meals on wheels' service and they gave me with lifts everywhere too. 'After having been off work for a large part of last year, I now feel as though I'm back to business as usual and enjoying my normal life. 'I do need to build up my stamina. Taking part in The MoonWalk Scotland in September and all the training I'll need to do beforehand will give me a fantastic focus, as I try to regain my fitness.' This won't be the first time Angela has taken part in the Full Moon event, she completed it back in 2019. 'I really enjoyed the night and loved the wonderful atmosphere – there were people out on the route supporting us at 2 o'clock in the morning,' she recalled. Walk the Walk has already contributed millions of pounds in grants to the Breast Unit at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Angela added: 'I've well and truly used all the services at the Western General which Walk the Walk has helped to fund – the mammography unit, operating theatre and breast cancer ward. 'I'm also incredibly thankful for the mammogram which discovered my cancer when it did. This wasn't detectable without a mammogram, there were no symptoms. If breast cancer is caught early enough, a lot can be done to prevent the disease spreading. "I'd urge everyone who is invited to take up the offer of getting a mammogram. It could save your life'. The event has been going for the last 19 years and the date for this year's is Saturday, September 6. To sign up for The MoonWalk Scotland 2025, visit:
New York Post
07-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Menopause drug might prevent breast cancer and treat hot flashes, research finds
A drug intended to treat menopause symptoms could double as breast cancer prevention. New research from Northwestern University in Illinois found that Duavee, a Pfizer-made drug, 'significantly reduced' breast tissue cell growth, which is a major indicator of cancer progression. Advertisement A phase 2 clinical trial included 141 post-menopausal women who had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as stage 0 breast cancer, according to a press release from Northwestern. This non-invasive breast cancer affects more than 60,000 American women each year, often leading to an outcome of invasive breast cancer. The women were separated into two groups — one received Duavee and the other took a placebo for a month before undergoing breast surgery. Duavee is a conjugated estrogen/bazedoxifene (CE/BZA) drug, which combines estrogen with another medication that minimizes the potential harmful side effects of the hormone. Advertisement 'The key takeaway from the study is that CE/BZA slows the growth (proliferation) of cells in milk ducts of DCIS that expressed the estrogen receptor significantly more than placebo,' Dr. Swati Kulkarni, lead investigator and professor of breast surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital. 5 New research from Northwestern University found that the drug Duavee 'significantly reduced' breast tissue cell growth, a major indicator of cancer progression. Marko Geber – Another major finding is that the quality of life did not differ significantly between the two groups, but patients who took the CE/BZA reported fewer hot flashes during the study, she noted. 'This would be expected, as the drug is FDA-approved to treat hot flashes.' Advertisement Kulkarni presented the study last week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. 5 The women in the study were separated into two groups — one received Duavee and the other took a placebo for a month before undergoing breast surgery. Gorodenkoff – 5 Those who took the drug reported fewer hot flashes during the study. fizkes – The findings are preliminary and have not yet been published in a medical journal. Advertisement 'What excites me most is that a medication designed to help women feel better during menopause may also reduce their risk of invasive breast cancer,' said the doctor, who is also a Northwestern Medicine breast surgeon. Women who face a higher risk of breast cancer — including those who have experienced 'high-risk lesions' — and who also have menopausal symptoms are most likely to benefit from the drug, according to Kulkarni. 'These women are typically advised against standard hormone therapies, leaving them with few menopausal treatment options,' the release stated. Study limitations The researchers said they are 'encouraged' by these early results, but more research is required before the medication can be considered for approval as a breast cancer prevention mechanism. 'Our findings suggest that CE/BZA may prevent breast cancer, but larger studies with several years of follow-up are needed before we would know this for sure,' Kulkarni told Fox News Digital. Dr. Sheheryar Kabraji, chief of breast medicine at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings. 5 'What excites me most is that a medication designed to help women feel better during menopause may also reduce their risk of invasive breast cancer,' Dr. Swati Kulkarni said. sarayutsridee – Advertisement 'While intriguing, this study is highly preliminary, and more research will be needed before we can conclude that conjugated estrogen/bazedoxifene (CD/BZA), a form of the hormone estrogen commonly prescribed to address symptoms of menopause, prevents invasive breast cancer or is effective at reducing cancer risk,' he told Fox News Digital. Kabraji also noted that the study focused on reducing levels of one specific protein, 'which does not always predict reduced recurrence of breast cancer.' 'This study did not directly show that CE/BZA treatment reduces the risk of DCIS recurrence or development of invasive cancer,' he noted. 5 According to Kulkarni,'larger studies with several years of follow-up are needed' to confirm that the drug prevents breast cancer. Science RF – Advertisement 'Importantly, however, patients who received this therapy experienced no worsening of quality of life, and saw improvement in vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes. If found to be effective in preventing breast cancer, CE/BZA is likely to have fewer side effects than current medications used for breast cancer prevention.' Lead researcher Kulkarni emphasized that this medication is not for the treatment of invasive breast cancer or DCIS. 'Right now, we can say that women who are concerned about their risk of developing breast cancer can consider this medication to treat their menopausal symptoms,' she added.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Common menopause medication might prevent breast cancer while treating hot flashes
A drug intended to treat menopause symptoms could double as breast cancer prevention. New research from Northwestern University in Illinois found that Duavee, a Pfizer-made drug, "significantly reduced" breast tissue cell growth, which is a major indicator of cancer progression. A phase 2 clinical trial included 141 post-menopausal women who had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as stage 0 breast cancer, according to a press release from Northwestern. Prostate Cancer Drug Now Available To More Patients With Aggressive Form Of Disease This non-invasive breast cancer affects more than 60,000 American women each year, often leading to an outcome of invasive breast cancer. The women were separated into two groups — one received Duavee and the other took a placebo for a month before undergoing breast surgery. Read On The Fox News App Duavee is a conjugated estrogen/bazedoxifene (CE/BZA) drug, which combines estrogen with another medication that minimizes the potential harmful side effects of the hormone. "The key takeaway from the study is that CE/BZA slows the growth (proliferation) of cells in milk ducts of DCIS that expressed the estrogen receptor significantly more than placebo," Dr. Swati Kulkarni, lead investigator and professor of breast surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital. Experimental Women's Cancer Drug Boosts Survival Rates In Notable Study Another major finding is that the quality of life did not differ significantly between the two groups, but patients who took the CE/BZA reported fewer hot flashes during the study, she noted. "This would be expected, as the drug is FDA-approved to treat hot flashes." Kulkarni presented the study last week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The findings are preliminary and have not yet been published in a medical journal. "What excites me most is that a medication designed to help women feel better during menopause may also reduce their risk of invasive breast cancer," said the doctor, who is also a Northwestern Medicine breast surgeon. Women who face a higher risk of breast cancer — including those who have experienced "high-risk lesions" — and who also have menopausal symptoms are most likely to benefit from the drug, according to Kulkarni. "These women are typically advised against standard hormone therapies, leaving them with few menopausal treatment options," the release stated. The researchers said they are "encouraged" by these early results, but more research is required before the medication can be considered for approval as a breast cancer prevention mechanism. "Our findings suggest that CE/BZA may prevent breast cancer, but larger studies with several years of follow-up are needed before we would know this for sure," Kulkarni told Fox News Digital. Dr. Sheheryar Kabraji, chief of breast medicine at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings. "While intriguing, this study is highly preliminary, and more research will be needed before we can conclude that conjugated estrogen/bazedoxifene (CD/BZA), a form of the hormone estrogen commonly prescribed to address symptoms of menopause, prevents invasive breast cancer or is effective at reducing cancer risk," she told Fox News Digital. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Kabraji also noted that the study focused on reducing levels of one specific protein, "which does not always predict reduced recurrence of breast cancer." "This study did not directly show that CE/BZA treatment reduces the risk of DCIS recurrence or development of invasive cancer," she noted. "Importantly, however, patients who received this therapy experienced no worsening of quality of life, and saw improvement in vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes. If found to be effective in preventing breast cancer, CE/BZA is likely to have fewer side effects than current medications used for breast cancer prevention." For more Health articles, visit Lead researcher Kulkarni emphasized that this medication is not for the treatment of invasive breast cancer or DCIS. "Right now, we can say that women who are concerned about their risk of developing breast cancer can consider this medication to treat their menopausal symptoms," she article source: Common menopause medication might prevent breast cancer while treating hot flashes
Fox News
06-06-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Common menopause medication might prevent breast cancer while treating hot flashes
A drug intended to treat menopause symptoms could double as breast cancer prevention. New research from Northwestern University in Illinois found that Duavee, a Pfizer-made drug, "significantly reduced" breast tissue cell growth, which is a major indicator of cancer progression. A phase 2 clinical trial included 141 post-menopausal women who had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as stage 0 breast cancer, according to a press release from Northwestern. This non-invasive breast cancer affects more than 60,000 American women each year, often leading to an outcome of invasive breast cancer. The women were separated into two groups — one received Duavee and the other took a placebo for a month before undergoing breast surgery. Duavee is a conjugated estrogen/bazedoxifene (CE/BZA) drug, which combines estrogen with another medication that minimizes the potential harmful side effects of the hormone. "The key takeaway from the study is that CE/BZA slows the growth (proliferation) of cells in milk ducts of DCIS that expressed the estrogen receptor significantly more than placebo," Dr. Swati Kulkarni, lead investigator and professor of breast surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital. Another major finding is that the quality of life did not differ significantly between the two groups, but patients who took the CE/BZA reported fewer hot flashes during the study, she noted. "This would be expected, as the drug is FDA-approved to treat hot flashes." "What excites me most is that a medication designed to help women feel better during menopause may also reduce their risk of invasive breast cancer." Kulkarni presented the study last week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The findings are preliminary and have not yet been published in a medical journal. "What excites me most is that a medication designed to help women feel better during menopause may also reduce their risk of invasive breast cancer," said the doctor, who is also a Northwestern Medicine breast surgeon. Women who face a higher risk of breast cancer — including those who have experienced "high-risk lesions" — and who also have menopausal symptoms are most likely to benefit from the drug, according to Kulkarni. "These women are typically advised against standard hormone therapies, leaving them with few menopausal treatment options," the release stated. The researchers said they are "encouraged" by these early results, but more research is required before the medication can be considered for approval as a breast cancer prevention mechanism. "Our findings suggest that CE/BZA may prevent breast cancer, but larger studies with several years of follow-up are needed before we would know this for sure," Kulkarni told Fox News Digital. Dr. Sheheryar Kabraji, chief of breast medicine at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings. "While intriguing, this study is highly preliminary, and more research will be needed before we can conclude that conjugated estrogen/bazedoxifene (CD/BZA), a form of the hormone estrogen commonly prescribed to address symptoms of menopause, prevents invasive breast cancer or is effective at reducing cancer risk," she told Fox News Digital. Kabraji also noted that the study focused on reducing levels of one specific protein, "which does not always predict reduced recurrence of breast cancer." "This study did not directly show that CE/BZA treatment reduces the risk of DCIS recurrence or development of invasive cancer," she noted. "While intriguing, this study is highly preliminary." "Importantly, however, patients who received this therapy experienced no worsening of quality of life, and saw improvement in vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes. If found to be effective in preventing breast cancer, CE/BZA is likely to have fewer side effects than current medications used for breast cancer prevention." For more Health articles, visit Lead researcher Kulkarni emphasized that this medication is not for the treatment of invasive breast cancer or DCIS. "Right now, we can say that women who are concerned about their risk of developing breast cancer can consider this medication to treat their menopausal symptoms," she added.
