Bone Health in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Bone health among breast cancer survivors continues to be a heavily debated subject in medical oncology with many developments occurring during the past decade. Skeletal complications in breast cancer patient can be caused chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure, use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, surgical oophorectomy, and use of AI’s all of the above can cause bone loss and increased risk for fractures, however in this blog post, I will focus my discussion on bone toxicity caused by aromatase inhibitors (AI) such as anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane. With the increasing use of AI’s in postmenopausal women, as well as, the use of AI’s in combination with GnRH agonist agents in premenopausal women, oncologists are now more than ever required to have a deep understanding of bone loss associated with AI’s (AIBL) and taking measures to help prevent such complication. For a patient-oriented discussion of bone health please click here.

Women receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy are at increased risk for fractures.

 

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Management of Breast Cancer in the Elderly

Elderly breast cancer is rising. Increasing age is considered a risk factor for developing breast cancer. With older age generally defined as age ≥65, it estimated that nearly half of all new breast cancer diagnosis occurring in such age group.

Multiple studies documented that elderly breast cancer patients are treated differently.

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Breast Cancer Neoadjuvant Therapy Part 2/3

Neoadjuvant therapy was discussed in a prior post, in this post I will discuss the following items

  • Patient evaluation throughout neoadjuvant therapy.
  • Treatment modalities in neoadjuvant therapy.
  • Special patient subgroups.
  • Management of the axilla.

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Advances in the treatment of advanced estrogen receptor positive breast cancer

Luminal estrogen receptor positive HER-2 negative breast cancer is the common type of breast cancer, accounting for 70%  of all breast cancer. Endocrine therapy of estrogen receptor positive HER2 negative advanced breast cancer is very effective, however, many patients will have disease recurrence as a result of endocrine therapy emerging resistance. In this post, I will review our recent understanding of resistance mechanisms how this understanding translating into new therapies.

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