Cancer - Breast
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women. It is also the primary cause of female cancer deaths, with one in 11 Australian women developing breast cancer before the age of 75 years.
Although the incidence of breast cancer is still on the rise, more Australian women are surviving breast cancer than ever before; 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer can expect to still be alive five years after diagnosis. Significant advances in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer mean that more women are surviving the disease than ever before.
Nine out of ten women who develop breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
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Cancers are clumps of cells that have been damaged in some way so
that their growth control mechanisms no longer work properly. In breast
cancer, cells in a certain part of the breast (typically in the lining
of the milk ducts) multiply uncontrollably and form a cancerous tumour.
If undetected, these rogue cells may also spread to other parts of the
breast, the lymph nodes under the arm, and to other parts of the body.
It is important to realise that breast cancer isn’t just one simple
disease. It takes many different forms and is characterised by
differences in disease aggression and response.
Most breast lumps are not cancers; however, any new lump that does
not go away after 3-4 weeks should be examined by a GP. Depending on
the circumstances, a follow-up referral to a breast surgeon or a breast
clinic for further tests may be appropriate. An ultrasound of the
breast is simple and painless. Mammograms are breast X-rays and involve
the breast being squashed between two plates so that the radiographer
can clearly see the tissue in question. A biopsy, if needed, is done
under a local anesthetic with a small needle similar to the type used
in blood tests. If you are over 50, or have a family history of breast
cancer, it is recommended that you have a mammogram every two years.
These are provided as a free health service. If you are under 50 it is
still important to conduct an examination of your own breasts every
month, ideally just after a period. If you notice anything unusual,
consult your GP.
While known risk factors may account for some breast cancers, more
than 50% of breast cancer cases currently have no apparent explanation.
The known risk factors include:
- Sex - Being female is the biggest risk factor for getting breast
cancer, although it does affect a small percentage of men (about 1% of
new cases are in males)
- Age - More than 70% of all breast cancer occurs in women aged 50
and over. The average age of diagnosis is 68 years, with less than 10%
of all cases occurring in women under 40
- Family history - inherited cancers account for less than 10% of all
breast cancer cases, however, they are often more aggressive and will
occur at a much younger age. Two genes in particular have been
implicated in familial breast cancer. Tests for these genes are
available through a genetic counselling service
- Previous history of hormone-based breast disease; for example,
benign cysts or fibroadenomas. This tends to only be a higher risk when
aged over 50
- Early commencement of menstruation or late menopause
- Having a first child after the age of 30
The four main treatments for breast cancer are radiotherapy, hormone
therapy, chemotherapy and surgery (removal of the lump, removal of the
breast, or removal of the breast plus surrounding lymph node tissue).
These treatments can be used separately or in combination depending on
patient preference, the size of the lump, the size of the breast and
the type of cancer.
We researching the factors involved in the development, growth and
progression of breast cancer. Specifically, Garvan aims to investigate
the genetic and environmental causes of breast cancer; to develop
genetic markers for early disease detection, disease progression and
response to treatment; and to study the genetics and biochemistry of
tumour growth.
One of the breast cancer research groups has helped developed a
large tissue bank and patient databases that can be used by scientists
worldwide. This material is being used to identify new molecules that
are markers of breast cancer subtype, disease progression and response
to particular therapies. A major project, being conducted in
collaboration with other research groups, aims to identify molecular
markers of tamoxifen resistance, since loss of response to tamoxifen is
a major reason for treatment failure.
There are further collaborative studies with other institutions to
assess the role of new genes in breast cancer. One recent finding
revealed that a protein called LMO4 can cause cancer in mice, promotes
cancer cell invasion and predicts poor patient outcome.
News
Silencing a deadly conversation in breast cancer
MEDIA RELEASE:
02 Jun 2011
Garvan researchers have shown that a molecule known as ‘hedgehog’ sits at the centre of a cellular 'switchboard' in breast cancer, transmitting biochemical signals between the cancer cells and the healthy cells nearby. They have identified a new way of turning off this cellular cross talk - which would otherwise allow the cancer to thrive. This off switch offers a potential therapeutic, especially for women with cancers that do not respond to current treatments.
$3.7 million to push cancer discoveries down the ‘pipeline’
14 Oct 2010
The Cancer Institute NSW has awarded the Garvan Institute’s Cancer Research Program $3.7 million, research funding that should lead to improved clinical decision-making for breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer within the next 5 years.
Taking the fingerprint of basal breast cancer
MEDIA RELEASE:
29 Sep 2010
Australian researchers have used sophisticated new protein screening technology to profile basal breast cancer, a particularly aggressive sub-type of breast cancer, identifying specific targets for future treatments.
