The majority of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have already reached menopause, but for young women, those who are diagnosed tend to have more aggressive forms of the disease. Now researchers are beginning to understand why breast cancer may differ in young women. According to new research, hundreds of sets of genes are more active in young women with breast cancer compared to older women. The research could have implications for how young women are treated for breast cancer.

The drug Zometa is used to treat bone loss in cancer patients, but a new study finds that it may also help prevent the recurrence of breast cancer. In a study released at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers announced that early-stage breast cancer patients who received Zometa, along with hormone therapy, reduced their risk of a breast cancer recurrence by 35% compared to women who were treated with hormone therapy and not Zometa. The researchers caution that further study is needed to confirm the findings and determine which patients are most likely to benefit from Zometa.

Recent advances in reconstructive techniques have given patients more choices when it comes to breast reconstruction, including the option to have breast reconstruction during the same operation in which the breast is removed. While a breast cancer diagnosis requires timely treatment decisions, most women have a sufficient amount of time to research treatment and reconstructive options before breast cancer surgery. This article describes the options available to women considering breast reconstructive surgery.

It is estimated that one in three women over age 50 have osteoporosis, a bone-weakening disease. Knowing the risk factors and symptoms of osteoporosis can help women take measures to increase bone density before the effects become devastating. The risk factors for osteoporosis are divided into two categories: those that cannot be changed such as gender, race, and family history and those that can be changed such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and calcium intake. This article provides detailed information about the risk factors for osteoporosis.