SATURDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Women who receive an MRI after a new diagnosis of breast cancer not only delay the start of treatment, but they are also more likely to have a mastectomy, as opposed to breast-conserving surgery.

And despite clear evidence of a benefit, MRI use is on the rise, said the authors of a study expected to be Saturday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington, D.C.

FRIDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- The drug sorafenib may help "re-sensitize" certain breast cancer tumors to anti-hormonal drugs, Georgetown University Medical Center researchers say.

Women with estrogen-receptor or progesterone-receptor positive (ER or PR positive) metastatic breast cancers often take anti-hormonal medicines, such as aromatase inhibitors, to keep the cancer under control. Aromatase inhibitors lower the amount of estrogen in the body.

However, the tumor eventually becomes resistant to anti-hormonal drugs, and the cancer begins to grow.

The N.Y. Times recently reported on a new blood test for Ovarian Cancer, OvaSure. What at first seemed promising, may not be, after all, because the testing was done on women who already have Ovarian Cancer, not on women who are being screened for the early signs.

CA – 125

By:Sandy Powers/DivineCaroline

In 2005, I had my yearly wellness check-up with my gynecologist.

“Breast exam fine,” he said. “If your Pap test is normal, I’ll send a card. Otherwise, I’ll call. And here’s your order for a mammogram.”

A scene repeated throughout the years but this time it was going to be different.

My Pap test came back negative. One down and one to go, I thought as I made my mammogram appointment. A few days after my mammogram, the radiologist called.

THURSDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Lung and bronchial cancers accounted for almost half of the approximately 2.4 million tobacco-related cancers diagnosed in the United States between 1999 and 2004, says a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Thursday.

The study, which marks the first time the CDC has reported on all tobacco-related cancers for more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, was based on an analysis of data from the CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and Results Program.

I just had my first mammogram using digital technology! What an incredible breakthrough. No more films to carry, no more little bandaid like stickies to mark areas of concern. And, there was a nifty top panel that didn't make me feel as if I was an orange being put through the squeezer. Ouch, they tell you to hold your breath, but the pain can be so intense that you can't help but gasp.

Article provided by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

Ovarian cancer is a growth of malignant cells that begins in a woman’s ovaries. There is no early detection test or a cure, which makes ovarian cancer the deadliest disease of the female reproductive system. When detected and treated early, the five year survival rate is greater than 90%. However, fewer than 20% of women are diagnosed in the early stages because the symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Until there is a detection test, awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms is a woman’s best defense.

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 3 (HealthDay News) -- While tremendous progress in screening and treatment for breast cancer has been made in recent years, some 184,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008, and about 41,000 women will die of the disease.

Researchers are now focusing their efforts on reducing these numbers even further.

Four studies being presented this week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington, D.C., highlight both areas of progress and areas that need extra emphasis.

I am a Survivor.

It is time to stand up, that’s right, STAND UP 2 CANCER. On Friday September 5th ABC, NBC, and CBS will be airing a huge, celebrity packed, event to raise money for research for cancer. It is on at 8 pm ET/PT and 7 pm CT. Every year since 2003 our government has decreased the amount of dollars that are available for researchers. Look out though, because people are ready to take a stand.