Following Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s revelation last week that she’d undergone a double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer, it has emerged that a 53-year-old man had his prostate removed after…
The harms from over-diagnosis and over-treatment mean that not everyone benefits from breast cancer screening.
Ian Hunter
A recent article in The Conversation’s Health Rationing series endorsed the government’s decision to extend the BreastScreen program to women aged 70 to 74 (from 50 to 69), based on the results of a 2009…
Angelina Jolie should be seen as a model for seeking information about her options and making a decision that best suited her.
EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA
By Clara Gaff, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Clare Scott, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
Angelina Jolie’s recent announcement about her double mastectomy likely caused many women to think about their own chance of developing breast cancer. But before you rush off to have a bunch of possibly…
Women whose partners accepted their bodily changes after cancer are more likely to feel positive and sexy.
Christophe Karaba/EPA
Angelina Jolie has attracted much attention for revealing her recent experience of a double mastectomy. But her personal attractiveness draws attention to a neglected aspect of cancer treatment and survival…
American actress Angelina Jolie has had a double mastectomy because she carries the faulty gene BRCA1.
EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA
Actress Angelina Jolie has today written an op-ed in the New York Times explaining that she has opted to have a double mastectomy because she carries the hereditary BRCA1 gene, which she says increases…
The vast majority of us will never be exposed to aluminium in high enough concentrations to do damage.
ezioman/Flickr
Silvery, ductile, malleable and so very, very useful, aluminium is the most common metal in the Earth’s crust. But despite its importance (or perhaps because of it), there are fears that this metal causes…
The BRCA1 gene is thought to account for 45% of hereditary breast cancer, and at least 80% of hereditary cancer involving both breast and ovarian cancers.
Tips Times
“The issue that arises in this case is of considerable importance. It relates to the patentability of genes, or gene sequences, and the practice of gene patenting”. So began the reasons for judgement of…
Based on the evidence, it’s safe to dismiss this one as a myth.
Flickr/lism
The concern that using deodorants and antiperspirants might increase the risk of breast cancer has been around for around for at least 15 years, probably longer.
The theory suggests that either parabens…
Even without routine mammographs, women with a family history of the disease should be screened.
Zanthia
Public discussion about the risks of over-diagnosis of breast cancer have left some women wondering whether they should take part in the government’s breast screening program.
Let’s take a look at what…
Breast cancer pink has become the signifier of a new feminism more concerned with awareness than protest.
GaiaRae Veliz/Flickr
Pinktober, when hundreds of products turn pink for breast cancer, is a curious month – more carnival than commemoration; more rose-coloured glasses than true blue conscious raising.
Concerns have been…
Women need to be made aware of over-diagnosis and given enough information to make up their own minds about screening.
Johan/Flickr
OVER-DIAGNOSIS EPIDEMIC – Today Robin Bell and Robert Burton examine breast cancer to evaluate the role of population-wide screening in over-diagnosis.
Since the national screening mammography program…
Basic statistical literacy is important for communicating and understanding medical risks.
Janet Ramsden
An article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) today says a US charity “overstates the benefit of mammography and ignores harms altogether.” The charity’s questionable claim is that early detection…
There’s no evidence that wearing a bra – even to bed – increases your risk of breast cancer.
Women’s breasts are seen in society as symbols of femininity, fertility and sexuality – so are the many different styles of bras worn to support, enhance and protect the mammary glands.
Many women wear…
Consumer groups says women want reliable and up-to-date information about recurrence risk.
Calvin Fleming
Over 13,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia each year. After completing initial treatment, the immediate question for many, if not most, is – what are the chances my cancer will return…
Smoking is an independent risk factor for breast cancer.
Tonino Donato/flickr
The number of people within our community who have survived cancer is increasing. But a recent Victorian study has shown that not all survivors are embracing good health.
In the last 20 years, the incidence…
You’d need to consume around 100 cans of soup a day to reach dangerous BPA exposure levels.
Neil Conway
Bisphenol A (BPA) – a chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and some epoxy resins – has been in the news quite a bit lately.
Headline-grabbing news items have been breathlessly reporting…
Researchers have found that rare mutations in XRCC2 increase the risk of breast cancer.
Robert S Donovan
You’ve probably heard of BRCA1 and BRCA2 – the genes that, when mutated, markedly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. We’ve also known for a while that a handful of other genes also increase…
Nanas may contribute more than just hugs and kisses.
John McNab
A recent study shows that mutations in the “breast cancer genes” BRCA1 and BRCA2 – which increase the risks of breast and ovarian cancers among others – also increase fertility.
This is an extraordinary…
The Catholic church should freely distribute the contraceptive pill to its almost 95,000 nuns in order to reduce their “greatly increased risk” of developing female-specific cancers, a paper published…
Early detection means a better chance of successful treatment but are some women being treated unnecessarily?
AAP
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in Australian women. But experts disagree on the benefits of breast cancer screening programs, with some arguing that it’s unclear whether…
A test case is slated to challenge Myriad’s claim for breast cancer genetic mutations next February.
TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³/Flickr
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has found Myriad Genetics is entitled to patents on two sets human genetic mutations used to predict if women have an increased risk of breast and ovarian…
A US court has recognised Myriad Genetics' patent for an isolated gene, which plays a role in breast cancer.
Mel Rowling
The recent US Federal Court of Appeals decision relates to the patent law status of inventions based on the discovery that particular mutations in BRCA genes predispose women to breast and ovarian cancer…
