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2023 MAY 20 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators publish new report on cancer. According to news originating from Rome, [...]

When I went from an A cup to a near-DD the summer before tenth grade, my whole world instantly changed. Once the flat-chested girl who begged her mom for a [...]

UGH, MY BOOBS ARE KILLING ME. You've heard of growing pains, right? Well, quite simply, that's probably why your chest aches: You're at the age when there are a lot [...]

BOOBS ARE MYSTERIOUS. LIKE MAGIC, THEY CAN GROW (OR SHRINK?!) SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT. AND SUDDENLY, YOU'RE SORTING OUT CUP SIZES AND STARING AT STRETCH MARKS. HERE YOUR MOST (CHEST) PRESSING QUESTIONS [...]

Breast density, as assessed by mammography, reflects breast tissue composition. Breast epithelium and stroma attenuate x-rays more than fat and thus appear light on mammograms while fat appears dark. In this review, we provide an overview of selected areas of current knowledge about the relationship between breast density and susceptibility to breast cancer. We review the evidence that breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer, the histological and other risk factors that are associated with variations in breast density, and the biological plausibility of the associations with risk of breast cancer. We also discuss the potential for improved risk prediction that might be achieved by using alternative breast imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance or ultrasound. After adjustment for other risk factors, breast density is consistently associated with breast cancer risk, more strongly than most other risk factors for this disease, and extensive breast density may account for a substantial fraction of breast cancer. Breast density is associated with risk of all of the proliferative lesions that are thought to be precursors of breast cancer. Studies of twins have shown that breast density is a highly heritable quantitative trait. Associations between breast density and variations in breast histology, risk of proliferative breast lesions, and risk of breast cancer may be the result of exposures of breast tissue to both mitogens and mutagens. Characterization of breast density by mammography has several limitations, and the uses of breast density in risk prediction and breast cancer prevention may be improved by other methods of imaging, such as magnetic resonance or ultrasound tomography. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djq239

Abstract Background: Elevated waist circumference and body mass index (BMI), both traditional measures of obesity, are accepted risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Girls who are obese experience earlier [...]

Different forms of estrogen and drugs that block estrogen have different effects on blood flow in the breast, according to a study in sheep. Estradiol-17beta, conjugated equine estrogen, and tibolone increased blood flow in the breast, whereas tamoxifen and raloxifene did not. Breast cancer is characterized by increased blood flow in the breast.

The breast undergoes changes as women age and whether or not they have children. The importance of breast self-examination, how to determine the correct bra size, physiological differences that are not cause for alarm and breast augmentation surgery are described.

Answers are presented to questions on keeping breasts firm, controlling urine leakage, facial hair, treating dandruff and other embarrassing health problems.

Ask Dr. Ashton Q I'm 20. Is it possible my boobs are still growing? A_ Definitely. Breasts can get larger until your mid-20s. In fact, they can change shape and [...]

They're not just a source of lurid fascination or life-threatening disease. We explore the complex, consuming, sexy, sore and profoundly personal relationship women have with their breasts THANKS FOR THE [...]

In recognition of national Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cosmo consulted a platoon of experts to get you the latest news on how to have a healthy chest. * Worried because […]

It appears many women experience premenstrual breast pain, often painful enough to seek medical attention. Questionnaires regarding premenstrual breast pain were completed by 1,171 women seen at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Overall, 69% of these women had experienced monthly premenstrual breast pain. Mammograms had been performed 4.7 times more frequently in young women with regular monthly breast pain compared to young women with no breast pain. Many women reported that their monthly breast pain significantly limited their everyday activities.

Background: The appearance of breast tissue on mammography varies according to its composition. Fat is radiolucent and appears dark on mammography, while stromal and epithelial tissue has greater optical density and appears light. Extensive areas of radiologically dense breast tissue seen on mammography are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the adoption of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet for 2 years would reduce breast density. Methods: Women with radiologic densities in more than 50% of the breast area on mammography were recruited and randomly allocated to an intervention group taught to reduce intake of dietary fat (mean, 21% of calories) and increase complex carbohydrate (mean, 61% of calories) or to a control group (mean, 32% of calories from fat and 50% of calories from carbohydrates). Mammographic images from 817 subjects were taken at baseline and compared with those taken 2 years after random allocation by use of a quantitative image analysis system, without knowledge of the dietary group of the subjects or of the sequence in which pairs of images had been taken. The effects of the intervention on the mammographic features of breast area, area of dense tissues in the breast, and the percent of the breast occupied by dense tissue were examined using t tests. Multiple regression was used to examine these effects while accounting for age at trial entry, weight change, and menopausal status. Results: After 2 years, the total area of the breast was reduced by an average of 233.7 [mm.sup.2] (2.4%) (95% confidence interval [CI] = 106.9-360.6) in the intervention group compared with an average increase of 26.3 [mm.sup.2] (03%) (95% CI = -108.0160.5) in the control group (P = .01). The area of density was reduced by 374.4 [mm.sup.2] (6.1%) (95% CI = 235.1-513.8) in the intervention group compared with an average of 127.7 [mm.sup.2] (2.1%) (95% CI = 8.6-246.7) in the control group (P = .01). Weight loss was associated with a reduction in breast area. The effect of the intervention on breast area was only marginally statistically significant after weight change, menopausal status, and age at trial entry were taken into account (P = .06). Greater weight loss and becoming postmenopausal were associated with statistically significant reductions in the area of density on the mammographic image at 2 years (P = .04 and P [is less than] .001, respectively). Age at entry into the trial was marginally significant in the same direction (P = .06). The effect of the intervention on area of density remained statistically significant after controlling for weight loss, age at entry, and menopausal status (P = .03). The change in the percentage of dense tissue in the mammographic image was not significantly different between the two groups (P = .71). Conclusions and Implications: These results show that after 2 years, a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet reduced the area of mammographic density, a radiographic feature of the breast that is a risk factor for breast cancer. Longer observation of a larger number of subjects will be required to determine whether these effects are associated with changes in risk of breast cancer. [J Natl Cancer Inst 1997;89:488-96]

The proliferation of breast cells may vary according to the stage of the menstrual cycle. Researchers performed fine needle aspiration biopsy to obtain breast epithelial cells from 47 healthy, menstruating women without breast disease. More breast cells were found during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle than during the follicular phase. Higher levels of progesterone were associated with greater proliferation of breast cells, indicating a stimulating effect of progesterone. Such findings may improve understanding of cancer risk and hormone treatment.

Background: Several estrogen receptor (ER) variant messenger RNAs (mRNAs) have been identified previously in human breast cancer biopsy samples and cell lines. The relative levels of certain ER variant mRNAs have been observed to increase with breast tumor progression. In vitro assays of the function of polypeptides encoded by some of these variant mRNAs have led to speculation that ER variants may be involved in the progression from hormone dependence to independence in breast cancer. Purpose: We set out to establish if ER variant mRNAs are present in normal human breast tissues and, if so, to compare levels of these variants between normal and neoplastic human breast tissues. Methods: Four human breast tissue samples from reduction mammoplasties and five samples from tissue adjacent to breast tumors were analyzed. The tissue samples were confirmed to be normal (i.e., not malignant) by histopathologic analysis. RNA was extracted immediately from adjacent frozen sections. Human breast tumor specimens originally resected from 19 patients were acquired from a tumor bank and processed in the same way as the normal tissue samples. The RNAs were then reverse transcribed and subsequently amplified with the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR primer sets were designed to detect several different exon-deleted ER variants and a truncated ER variant (i.e., clone 4). A semiquantitative PCR-based method was used to determine the relative expression of exon 5- and exon 7-deleted variants to wild-type ER mRNAs in the nine normal breast tissues and in 19 ER-positive breast tumor tissues. The Mann-Whitney rank sum test (two-sided) was used to determine P values. Results: ER variant mRNAs corresponding to the clone 4 ER truncated variant and to variants deleted in either exon 2, exon 3, exons 2-3, exon 5, or exon 7 were detected in all normal samples. The results were confirmed by restriction enzyme analyses and sequencing of the PCR products. The expression of exon 5-deleted ER variant relative to the wild-type ER mRNA was significantly lower (P

Background: The radiographic appearance of the female breast varies from woman to woman depending on the relative amounts of fat and connective and epithelial tissues present. Variations in the mammographic density of breast tissue are referred to as the parenchymal pattern of the breast. Fat is radiologically translucent or clear (darker appearance), and both connective and epithelial tissues are radiologically dense (lighter appearance). Previous studies have generally supported an association between parenchymal patterns and breast cancer risk (greater risk with increasing densities), but there has been considerable heterogeneity in risk estimates reported. Purpose: Our objective was to determine the level of breast cancer risk associated with varying mammographic densities by quantitatively classifying breast density with conventional radiological methods and novel computer-assisted methods. Methods: From the medical records of a cohort of 45 000 women assigned to mammography in the Canadian National Breast Cancer Screening Study (NBSS), a multicenter, randomized trial, mammograms from 354 case subjects and 354 control subjects were identified. Case subjects were selected from those women in whom histologically verified invasive breast cancer had developed 12 months or more after entering the trial. Control subjects were selected from those of similar age who, after a similar period of observation, had not developed breast cancer. The mammogram taken at the beginning of the NBSS was the image used for measurements. Mammograms were classified into six categories of density, either by radiologists or by computer-assisted measurements. All radiological classification and computer-assisted measurements were made using one craniocaudal view from the breast contralateral to the cancer site in case subjects and the corresponding breast of control subjects. All P values represent two-sided tests of statistical significance. Results: For all subjects, there was a 43% increase in the relative risk (RR) between the lower and the next higher category of density, as determined by radiologists, and there was a 32% increase as determined by the computer-assisted method. For all subjects, the RR in the most extensive category relative to the least was 6.05 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.82-12.97) for radiologists and 4.04 95% CI = 2.12-7.69) for computer-assisted methods. Statistically significant increases in breast cancer risk associated with increasing mammographic density were found by both radiologists and computer-assisted methods for women in the age category 40-49 years (P = .005 for radiologists and P = .003 for computer-assisted measurements) and the age category 50-59 years (P = .002 for radiologists and P =. 001 for computer-assisted measurements). Conclusion: These results show that increases in the level of breast tissue density as assessed by mammography are associated with increases in risk for breast cancer. [J Natl Cancer Inst 87:670-675, 1995]

The breast is one of the most important parts of a female's body. Breasts become bigger during pregnancy and sag during menopause. Breast cancer research, however, needs to be given more attention and provided additional funding.

THE HOT ISSUE HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR BRA Bras have to be restrictive in order to offer support, but there are ways to harness your girls without locking them down. [...]

The benefits of breast-feeding have been well documented in the literature: it reduces morbidity from many illnesses and is considered the ideal nutrition for the newborn infant. This paper reviews [...]

Estrogen receptors in breast cells appear to decline during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle while the level of progesterone receptors appears to be the same during the follicular and luteal phases. Previous studies on cells from the endometrial lining of the uterus found that both estrogen and progesterone receptors decline in the luteal phase. Levels of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cells were measured in 42 healthy women using fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Estrogen receptor was detected in 68% of samples drawn during the follicular phase and in 32% of samples drawn during the luteal phase. However, progesterone receptor was detected in about 80% of the samples drawn during both phases.