A newly published study shows that the drug Femara (generic name, letrozole) may be more effective at treating women with advanced breast cancer than the current standard, tamoxifen. In early 2001, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug Femara as an initial treatment option ("first-line therapy") for women with advanced breast cancer. The current study found that Femara slowed the progression of breast cancer and offered early, improved chances of survival. This provides further hope that Femara may be a viable option for women with advanced breast cancer.

According to a study of identical twin pairs, the age a woman begins menstruating may influence her risk of developing breast cancer, if her disease is caused by genes. However, researchers know that not all breast cancer cases are caused exclusively by genes; some may be caused by other factors too, such as hormones, diet, etc. In the study, the age that a woman began menstruating was significant, if her cancer was hereditary. On the other hand, the age of first menstruation was not important in women with non-hereditary breast cancer (i.e., breast cancer thought not to be caused by genes). Instead, in these cases, other factors, such as the number of children the women had, or the age at which they reached menopause, were more important in determining their risk of breast cancer. According to researchers, this study helps show that different types of breast cancer may be influenced by different risk factors.

A new study continues the debate on whether exposure to chemicals in the environment increases the risk of breast cancer. To date, evidence has been inconclusive, with some studies showing a link between chemicals and breast cancer and others showing no association. This latest study, based on the analysis of blood samples from cancer patients and healthy women, shows that women with breast cancer were more likely to have residue from the banned pesticides DDT and HCB in their blood. While the study does not prove that the chemicals caused breast cancer, it does raise questions about environmental risk factors for breast cancer.

In a similar trend to the one seen in the United States, the number of breast cancer cases in the United Kingdom is on the rise, according to the British charity, Cancer Research UK. An all-time high of 40,000 women are now diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the United Kingdom. However, survival rates continue to improve, with three out of four UK breast cancer patients living five years or longer after their diagnosis. Experts attribute the improved survival to better treatments and screening methods.

The results of a new study find that a laboratory-altered form of vitamin D, combined with radiation therapy, may help in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. In the preliminary study conducted on mice, those who received the vitamin D in addition to radiation had 50% smaller breast cancer tumors after treatment, compared to the mice who did not receive the vitamin D. While the results of the study are promising, the researchers warn that the vitamin D derivative used in the study is not equivalent to over-the-counter vitamin D supplements and that taking large amounts of those vitamins may be harmful.

PINK RIBBON COLLECTIONT is a division of the Clothes for a Cause CorporationR, a branding company that supports nonprofit initiatives by selling specially-designed fashion collections. The PINK RIBBON COLLECTIONT clothing includes essential, ready-to-wear items, including hooded jackets and tunics, walking suits and yoga wear, signature tees and polo shirts. The Collection is available at fine department stores across the U.S., including Marshall Fields Direct Catalog, MarshallFieldsDirect.com and Target.com. A percentage of all sales is donated to research, education, and mammograms for women in economic need.