FORCE's eXamining the Relevance of Articles for You (XRAY) program looks behind the headlines of cancer news to help you understand what the research means for you.
XRAY is a reliable source of hereditary cancer research-related news and information.
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Categories Prevention, Screening
Relevance: High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Study : Disparities in research impact breast screening guidelines
Relevance: High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Most relevant for: Women at average risk for breast cancer
For women at average risk of breast cancer, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) currently recommends beginning annual breast cancer screening at age 50. However, because these guidelines are largely based on data from white women, they may not be sensitive to racial differences. A new study assesses the age distribution of breast cancer cases across race/ethnicity in the U.S. (6/21/18)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/JAMA ethniciity gap article AdobeStock_116681894 050718.jpeg)
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium-High
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Research Timeline: Human Research
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Study : Mutations in Lynch syndrome genes MSH6 and PMS2 may be associated with breast cancer
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium-High
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Research Timeline: Human Research
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Most relevant for: Women with an MSH6 or PMS2 mutation
Some women with mutations in MSH6 and PMS2, two Lynch syndrome genes, may have a modest (2 to 3-fold) increased risk for breast cancer. (6/14/18 updated 09/25/19)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/lynch.jpeg)
Article : The right not to know when not knowing is dangerous
Most relevant for: People with Icelandic heritage
Healthcare providers are bound by the guiding principle of doing no harm. But how does this concept apply to their patients who have not consented to genetic testing or who do not want to know their results? In that case, is providing test results more harmful or not? Anna Clausen explores these issues in the context of breast cancer gene testing in her Global Health Now article “The Right Not to Know: When Ignorance is Bliss but Deadly.” (4/20/18)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/iceland - right to know.jpeg)
Study : FDA updates report on risk of lymphoma from breast implants
Most relevant for: Women who currently have textured implants or expanders or who have had them in the past
Note: On 07/25/19, the FDA announced a recall of Allergan BIOCELL textured implants and expanders, due to their association with BIA-ALCL. On October 27, 2021 the FDA announced stronger guidance on breast implant safety.
In March 2017, the Food and Drug Administration reported that patients with breast implants may be at increased risk for a rare type of lymphoma. This was covered in a previous XRAYS review. The FDA has continued to collect data since the first reported association in 2011. Recently, the agency released an update on the number of reported cases of breast implant-associated lymphoma and lifetime risk estimates for women with textured breast implants. (04/02/18)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/breast-implant.jpg)
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium
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Study : Take your time, follow your heart: strategies for communication about family planning
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium
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Most relevant for: Young high risk women
When a woman is newly diagnosed with a BRCA mutation, she faces many risk management decisions. Although many of these decisions impact family planning, little guidance is available on how to communicate this information. This study examines female previvors’ advice on effective strategies for discussing family planning decisions. (03/28/18)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/AdobeStock_104468191.jpeg)
Relevance: High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Study : Should biannual MRIs replace annual mammograms in high-risk women?
Relevance: High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Most relevant for: Women at increased risk for breast cancer due to an inherited mutation
The risk of breast cancer is exceptionally high in women who have a personal or family history of breast cancer or who carry a mutation in BRCA or certain other genes. More frequent screening is one strategy for early detection of breast cancer for these women. Study results presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium suggest that MRI screening every 6 months may be more effective than the currently recommended annual breast MRI and annual mammogram in detecting early stage breast cancers-which are more treatable-in high-risk women. (2/1/18)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/bi-annual MRI screening013118.jpeg)
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium-High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Study : What is the risk of breast cancer recurrence after nipple-sparing mastectomy?
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium-High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Most relevant for: Breast cancer patients who are considering or have had a nipple sparing mastectomy
Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) offers better cosmetic results for women who have immediate breast reconstruction (at the same time as their mastectomy). Over the past decade, NSM has gained popularity among surgeons and patients. Studies show that women who keep their own nipples have higher rates of satisfaction and psychological well-being after mastectomy and reconstruction compared to women who lose their nipples. However, little data exists on the long-term risk of recurrence following NSM. New research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that risk of recurrence is low after NSM in carefully selected patients with breast cancer. (1/25/18)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/nipple-sparing.jpg)
Relevance: Medium-High
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Quality of Writing: High
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Article : Dense breasts and mammograms: Jill Goodacre’s story
Relevance: Medium-High
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Quality of Writing: High
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Most relevant for: Women with dense breast tissue on mammograms
Korin Miller’s piece for SELF magazine focuses on why women with dense breasts may need more than a screening mammogram. Miller highlights the recent story in People magazine of Jill Goodacre, a former Victoria’s Secret model and the wife of recording artist and talk show host Harry Connick Jr. Goodacre told of her breast cancer diagnosis 5 years ago after having additional screening of her dense breast tissue following a normal mammogram. (12/8/17)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/Ultrasound-image-dense-breast.jpg)
Study : Alcohol and breast cancer risk in African American women
Most relevant for: African American women who would like to lower their breast cancer risk
The link between alcohol intake and breast cancer is well known, but most studies have involved only White women. Recently, a large study of more than 22,000 African American (AA) women found that similar to White women, increased alcohol consumption is associated with a greater risk of breast cancer. (10/27/17)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/Alcohol-and-breast-cancer-risk-in-African-American-women.jpg)
Article : Can lifestyle changes impact breast cancer risk?
Most relevant for: Any woman concerned about her risk for breast cancer
A recent New York Times article shared how “adopting protective living habits” could help keep breast cancer “at bay”. While many of these lifestyle changes and strategies like not smoking, avoiding weight gain, reducing alcohol consumption, eating a heart-healthy diet, and increasing physical activity have been shown to reduce breast cancer risk, there are other risk factors that one cannot control such as having a BRCA or other mutation that significantly increases breast cancer risk. Importantly, no one strategy has been proven to totally eliminate breast cancer risk. However many of these approaches have overall health benefits. (9/21/2017)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/lifestyle-and-risk.jpg)