October 18, 2002 has been designated National Mammography Day in the United States. On the third Friday this October, many mammography facilities will be offering free or reduced-cost screening mammograms as part of breast cancer awareness month. To help detect breast cancer early when the chances for a complete cure are the greatest, all women should receive mammograms every one to two years beginning at age 40 and every year beginning at age 50.

Despite promising studies on emerging drugs, tamoxifen (brand name, Nolvadex) is still the best option for preventing a recurrence of breast cancer after surgery outside of a clinical trial setting, according to a panel of experts assembled by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The panel’s decision is based on an analysis of a recently released study called ATAC (Arimidex and Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination), which suggests that the drug Arimidex (generic name, anastrozole) may be more effective than tamoxifen. Though the panel acknowledges the potential of Arimidex and other similar drugs, they say there is not enough long-term evidence to prove that tamoxifen is inferior. The panel cited a similar concern with the drug raloxifene (brand name, Evista), which has shown promise in clinical trials for preventing breast cancer in high risk women.

A small study sheds new light on the outcome of women who experience recurrences of breast cancer after their initial diagnoses. Three factors, the woman’s age at diagnosis, the grade of her original cancer, and length of time before the recurrence, were found to be significant in assessing the risk of death from a breast cancer recurrence. Interestingly, the study also revealed that the type of surgery an early-stage breast cancer patient receives does not impact her chances of surviving a recurrence of the disease.

Two studies discussed at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) may help improve the use of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. The first study finds that the drug Taxotere (generic name, docetaxel) significantly reduces the chances that early-stage breast cancer will return after treatment. Meanwhile, the second study finds that chemotherapy administered before the drug tamoxifen (brand name, Nolvadex) can benefit breast cancer patients more than if the treatments are given at the same time after breast cancer surgery. An ASCO spokesperson said the two studies will influence the treatment of thousands of breast cancer patients.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee heard testimony from two manufacturers of saline breast implants which highlighted the high rate of complications with implant surgery. According to federal officials, up to 25% of women who obtain saline breast implants for cosmetic reasons must undergo additional surgery within five years, and both implant manufacturers said that 43% of breast cancer patients who have reconstructive surgery with implants have a second operation within a few years. The testimony is required by the FDA’s 2000 decision to allow the continued manufacturing of saline breast implants.