QIMR researchers, as part of an international collaboration, have found that a gene that is most commonly associated with skin pigmentation, hair and eye colour may influence a patient's chances of surviving cancer.
Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered that breast stem cells are exquisitely sensitive to the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone....
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The four most common forms of screening tests used to detect breast cancer are mammography, clinical breast exam, ultrasounds and personal checks. Below is a brief description of each as well as recommended guidelines of when and how often these tests should be performed.
Ultrasound
Breast ultrasound uses the same high frequency sound technology used to visualise the foetus in a pregnant woman, but is applied to the breast tissue using equipment specific to the breast (high frequency ultrasound probes).
The ultrasound examination does not use x-rays to produce the images.
The ultrasound technique obtains images that are complementary to the mammogram.
Patients frequently have both a mammogram and a breast ultrasound.
Clinical Breast Exam
Clinical breast exams are physical examinations done by physicians, nurse practitioners and other trained medical staff. The exams involve checking the look and feel of the breasts and underarm for any changes. The breasts are checked while a woman is sitting up and lying down.
Individual Check
Please refer to our "Cheeky Check Up" section by clicking on the image above.
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a test that uses magnetic fields to create an image of the breast that can be meticulously examined for abnormalities. Thus, the test is considered to be more invasive. MRI is a promising tool because it can find tumors even in very dense breasts, and can find very small tumors. Although typically used to determine the progression of cancer, the test is beneficial to particular groups of women who are at high risk. A mammography and MRI combination has been shown to increase the detection rate of breast cancer in women who are at high risk due to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation or a family history of breast cancer. While mammograms are thought to be less effective in younger women because their breast tissue is denser and makes the images harder to read, there is no conclusive data to suggest that young women should get MRI's in place of mammograms, but rather, in addition to them.
Medicare now offers rebates on MRI's for High Risk Women as of February 2009.
Mammography
Mammography is a technique that uses X-rays to provide an image of the breast. These images, called mammograms, are used to find potential signs of breast cancer including tumors, small clusters of calcium (microcalcifications) and abnormal changes in the skin. Overall, mammography is the best screening tool available today for breast cancer. It can find cancers at an early stage, when they are small and most responsive to treatment. However, young women have denser breasts and it is sometimes more difficult to find breast tissue abnormalities.
Ovarian Cancer surveilience options should be discussed with your health care professionals as there is no Early Detection Program for Ovarian Cancer.
