ER-Negative Breast Cancer Linked To Greater Recurrence Risk
Posted Oct 25 2010 7:23am
Estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer is characterized by a lack of estrogen receptors in the breast cancer cells. Like triple negative breast cancer , ER- breast cancer does not respond to anti-estrogen treatments like tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors and is generally considered to be more aggressive. It has been reported that an initial ER- breast cancer increases the risk for a second, contralateral ER- negative breast cancer, though the level of risk and the impact of family history on this risk is uncertain.
Breast cancer researchers collaborated to investigate the impact of family history of breast cancer on the risk of a second ER- breast cancer . For this breast cancer research study, breast cancer information from over 4,100 breast cancer patients was analyzed. The study investigators compared the incidence of a second breast cancer in these patients based on the estrogen receptor status of the breast cancer tumor. The results of this study showed that
Breast cancer patients with ER+ breast cancer had a 33% reduced risk of developing a second breast cancer compared to the standard incidence risk in the general population.
Breast cancer patients with an initial ER- breast cancer had a 98% increased risk of developing a second breast cancer, which was strongly linked to a dramatic, 8-fold increased risk of the second breast cancer being ER-.
Breast cancer patients with a family history of breast cancer had a nearly 10-fold increased risk for a ER- second breast cancer tumor regardless of the hormone receptor status of the initial breast cancer.
If the breast cancer patients' first breast cancer was ER- and they had a family history of breast cancer, their risk for a second ER- breast cancer was increased by nearly 50 times.
Anti-estrogen treatment was linked to a reduced risk of second ER+ breast cancer, but the risk of a second ER- breast cancer was not reduced.
The results of this large study clearly indicate that the development an initial breast cancer diagnosed as ER- substantially increases the risk of a developing a second breast cancer. This risk is primarily associated with a greater risk of a second ER- breast cancer. Furthermore, this risk is dramatically increased if the breast cancer patient has a family history of breast cancer. This is important information for breast cancer patients diagnosed with ER- breast cancer, and quite probably for breast cancer patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. It is evident that these breast cancer patients are at greater risk for breast cancer recurrence compared to women with ER+ breast cancer. This information increases our breast cancer awareness and helps health care providers develop better follow up care and surveillance for this population of high-risk breast cancer patients.
To learn about other diet and lifestyle choices to reduce your breast cancer risk, read my FREE book FIGHT NOW: EAT & LIVE PROACTIVELY AGAINST BREAST CANCER . Please recommend to anyone interested in breast cancer, breast cancer treatment, and breast cancer symptoms.
Breast cancer researchers collaborated to investigate the impact of family history of breast cancer on the risk of a second ER- breast cancer . For this breast cancer research study, breast cancer information from over 4,100 breast cancer patients was analyzed. The study investigators compared the incidence of a second breast cancer in these patients based on the estrogen receptor status of the breast cancer tumor. The results of this study showed that
- Breast cancer patients with ER+ breast cancer had a 33% reduced risk of developing a second breast cancer compared to the standard incidence risk in the general population.
- Breast cancer patients with an initial ER- breast cancer had a 98% increased risk of developing a second breast cancer, which was strongly linked to a dramatic, 8-fold increased risk of the second breast cancer being ER-.
- Breast cancer patients with a family history of breast cancer had a nearly 10-fold increased risk for a ER- second breast cancer tumor regardless of the hormone receptor status of the initial breast cancer.
- If the breast cancer patients' first breast cancer was ER- and they had a family history of breast cancer, their risk for a second ER- breast cancer was increased by nearly 50 times.
- Anti-estrogen treatment was linked to a reduced risk of second ER+ breast cancer, but the risk of a second ER- breast cancer was not reduced.
The results of this large study clearly indicate that the development an initial breast cancer diagnosed as ER- substantially increases the risk of a developing a second breast cancer. This risk is primarily associated with a greater risk of a second ER- breast cancer. Furthermore, this risk is dramatically increased if the breast cancer patient has a family history of breast cancer. This is important information for breast cancer patients diagnosed with ER- breast cancer, and quite probably for breast cancer patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. It is evident that these breast cancer patients are at greater risk for breast cancer recurrence compared to women with ER+ breast cancer. This information increases our breast cancer awareness and helps health care providers develop better follow up care and surveillance for this population of high-risk breast cancer patients.To learn about other diet and lifestyle choices to reduce your breast cancer risk, read my FREE book FIGHT NOW: EAT & LIVE PROACTIVELY AGAINST BREAST CANCER . Please recommend to anyone interested in breast cancer, breast cancer treatment, and breast cancer symptoms.