Omission of breast surgery in selected breast cancer patients with excellent response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

Modern neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) can result in high pathologic complete response rates (pCR) in triple negative (TN) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer. The role of surgery is, therefore, being reconsidered in this rapidly evolving field. This report presents oncological outcomes of seven patients with TN or HER2+ breast cancer, with exceptional response to NST, and a post-NST image-guided vacuum assisted biopsy showing no residual disease (ypT0), who opted not to have breast surgery.

The potential role of three-dimensional surface imaging as a tool to evaluate aesthetic outcome after Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT).

Purpose: To establish whether objective measurements of symmetry of volume and shape using three-dimensional surface imaging (3D-SI) can be used as surrogate markers of aesthetic outcome in patients who have undergone breast conserving therapy (BCT).

Methods: Women who had undergone unilateral BCT in the preceding 1-6 years were invited to participate. Participants completed a satisfaction questionnaire (BREAST-Q) and underwent 3D-SI.

Initial experience of the BREAST-Q breast-conserving therapy module.

Purpose: The most recently developed module of the BREAST-Q, a validated patient outcome measure, is for patients who have undergone breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for cancer. This aim of this study was to assess patient satisfaction and quality of life after BCT using BREAST-Q, investigate clinical risk factors for lower satisfaction and explore the relationship between patient satisfaction with the appearance of their breasts and the other domains of the BREAST-Q.

Methods: Women who had undergone unilateral BCT in the preceding 1-6 years were invited to participate at the time of their annual surveillance mammogram.

Anastrozole for prevention of breast cancer in high-risk postmenopausal women (IBIS-II): an international, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Aromatase inhibitors effectively prevent breast cancer recurrence and development of new contralateral tumours in postmenopausal women. We assessed the efficacy and safety of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole for prevention of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are at high risk of the disease.

Methods: Between Feb 2, 2003, and Jan 31, 2012, we recruited postmenopausal women aged 40-70 years from 18 countries into an international, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Correlation of age and HRT use with breast density as assessed by Quantra™.

Breast density is a significant predictor in the risk of developing breast cancer. Several methods are available for assessing breast density, but most are subject to intra-observer variability and are unable to assess the breast as a three-dimensional structure. Using Quantra(™) to quantify breast density, we have correlated this with risk factors to determine what impact these variables have on breast density.

Fertility preservation in women undergoing treatment for breast cancer in the UK: a questionnaire study.

Objective: Fertility preservation is an important survivorship issue for women treated for breast cancer. The aim of this work was to examine the referral practices of health care professionals who treat women with breast cancer in the United Kingdom, and to investigate their understanding and knowledge of the fertility preservation options available.

Method: An invitation to participate in a confidential, online questionnaire was e-mailed to surgeons, oncologists, and clinical nurse specialists who manage patients with breast cancer in the United Kingdom.

A thermodynamic approach for assessing the environmental exposure of chemicals absorbed to microplastic.

The environmental distribution and fate of microplastic in the marine environment represents a potential cause of concern. One aspect is the influence that microplastic may have on enhancing the transport and bioavailability of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances (PBT). In this study we assess these potential risks using a thermodynamic approach, aiming to prioritize the physicochemical properties of chemicals that are most likely absorbed by microplastic and therefore ingested by biota.

Improving emissions estimates of home and personal care products ingredients for use in EU risk assessments.

REACh introduces environmental release categories (ERCs) used to describe chemical emissions to the environment. These ERCs contain a number of default values that are combined with product usage data to estimate environmental exposure concentrations for use in risk assessment. The methodology presented in the present work constitutes a novel approach that allows for the coupling of population density and country-specific usage statistics for a range of home and personal care products.

Follow-up after treatment for breast cancer in young women.

The majority (80%) of breast cancers are diagnosed in women over the age of 50; only 5% will be in their 20s and 30s. These women have specific needs that include genetic counselling, psychological support, advice with regard to fertility and pregnancy issues and information on coping with treatment-related morbidity. The primary purpose of follow-up is often regarded as the early detection of recurrence as well as the detection of second primary tumours.