Women learn about ‘Life After Early Breast Cancer’

According to a recent nationwide survey, many women said they want information about their risk of breast cancer recurrence, yet some of these women also say they haven’t discussed their longterm risk of recurrence with their oncologists. Nearly half of the 300 women surveyed remain unaware of the statistics surrounding ongoing breast cancer risk.

To bridge this communication gap, the Society for Women’s Health Research, with support from Novartis Oncology, launched an educational campaign called “Life After Early Breast Cancer: Improving Your Chance of Staying Cancer Free (Life ABC).” Life ABC is designed to raise awareness of the risk of recurrence for women with early breast cancer and encourage an ongoing discussion about this risk between women and their health care professionals.

About one-third of women with estrogen receptor-positive early breast cancer experience a recurrence and more than half of those recurrences occur more than five years after surgery. Many factors play a role in breast cancer recurrence; therefore, the ongoing risk is different for every woman.

“Communication about the ongoing risk of recurrence needs to happen early and often,” said Phyllis Greenberger, president and chief executive officer of the Society for Women’s Health Research.

“Each woman’s cancer and risk of recurrence is different, making it very important for women to maintain an ongoing discussion with their oncologist about their personal risk for recurrence beginning at diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. Women should also discuss with their health care professionals treatment options and lifestyle modifications to help improve their chance of staying cancer free.”

Life ABC focuses on ongoing communication between patients and health care professionals about such issues as risk of recurrence, as well as the importance of proper diet, exercise, and regular followup examinations in helping to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. A summary of the Life ABC Impact Report, which includes the survey results and the latest breast cancer recurrence research, as well as a checklist to help patients navigate a conversation about their risk of recurrence with health care professionals, are available on the Life ABC website, www.lifeabc.org.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.