Initial results of a large study show that the osteoporosis drug
raloxifene may be as effective at preventing breast cancer as the standard drug, tamoxifen but with fewer side effects. In the STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene) study, both drugs reduced the risk of breast cancer by about 50% in post menopausal women who had a high risk of developing the disease. However, after an average of four years, women who took raloxifene had developed about 36% fewer uterine cancers and 29% fewer blood clots than the women who took tamoxifen.

Over 25,000 women have now enrolled to participate in the Sister Study, according to the study's website. The Sister Study, sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, is the first study of its kind to investigate how the environment and genes affect a woman's chances of developing breast cancer. Researchers hope to enroll a total of 50,000 sisters of women who have been diagnosed with breast
cancer.

Breast pain is the most common breast related complaint among women; nearly 70% of women experience breast pain at some point in their lives. Breast pain may occur in one or both breasts or in the underarm region of the body. The severity of breast pain varies from woman to woman; approximately 15% of women require treatment. This article provides information on the causes of breast pain and how it is evaluated and treated.

A breast biopsy involves removing a sample of breast tissue to determine whether it is cancerous or benign. While physical breast exam, mammography, ultrasound, and other breast imaging methods can help detect a breast abnormality, biopsy followed by pathological analysis is the only definitive way to determine if cancer is present. This article explains the different types of breast biopsy available, and includes
the advantages and disadvantages of each method.