Family Decides Breast Cancer Treatment for Many Older Latinas

Latina breast cancer patients are seven times more likely to entrust treatment decisions to their family than are African-Americans or whites. So says a cross-sectional study of racial/ethnic disparities of older Latina, African-American and white breast cancer patients living in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 8, 2006 -- Latina breast cancer patients are seven times more likely to entrust treatment decisions to their family than are African-Americans or whites. So says a cross-sectional study of racial/ethnic disparities of older Latina, African-American and white breast cancer patients living in Los Angeles County.

The study, led by Rose C. Maly, MD, of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, surveyed 257 breast cancer patients 55 years of age or older. “There isn’t just one way that people make decisions. When physicians are communicating treatment options, they’re not just educating the patient; they’re also educating family members,” says Vanessa B. Sheppard, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncology at Georgetown University, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Sheppard provides the expert commentary about this study.

The June 2006 issue of www.Breastlink.org also features the following articles:

Women with Early Breast Cancer at Greater Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer

A study of more than 37,000 patients with in situ breast cancer finds risk of subsequent invasive cancer greatest among young women with DCIS, women of all ages with LCIS, and blacks and Hispanic whites.

Denise Johnson, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine, provides the expert commentary.

Every-3-Week Treatment Safe and Effective for Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia

A multicenter phase III trial from Europe shows cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia can be as safely and effectively treated every three weeks as with weekly regimen of darbepoetin. David F. Cella, PhD, Director, Center for Outcomes, Research, and Education at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, provides the expert commentary.

Effect of Common Prognostic Factors Time-Limited

French researchers report that conventional prognostic factors may explain a significant portion of breast cancer deaths that occur in the first five years but lose their effect after ten years. Pamela Munster, MD, Director of Breast Research at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, provides the expert commentary.

John Link, MD, founder of The Breast Cancer Care & Research Fund, says: “Never has there been a more exciting or hopeful time for breast cancer research and treatment. We are beginning to understand this disease at the molecular and genetic levels. More treatment options are available. Women need to become informed so they can advocate for themselves and actively participate in obtaining optimal treatment for their particular breast cancer.”

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