Three studies led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers have encouraging implications for patients with breast cancer. Two studies focus on breastfeeding after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The studies found it was safe and feasible for young patients carrying specific genetic variations to breastfeed without raising their risk of a cancer recurrence or a cancer in the other breast, and that it was safe and feasible to breastfeed for patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer who conceived after a temporary interruption of endocrine therapy.
The third study shows that a telephone-based coaching program can significantly increase physical activity in overweight patients, potentially improving their outcomes. The studies were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Breastfeeding after breast cancer safe and feasible in survivors of breast cancer Two studies presented at ESMO show it's not only feasible for many patients to breastfeed after a breast cancer diagnosis, but it's also safe.
Dana-Farber researchers and patients contributed to both studies. The first study was a collaboration among investigators at 78 hospitals and cancer treatment centers worldwide. It involved 474 patients with inherited mutations in the cancer-susceptibility genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 who became pregnant after being diagnosed with stage I-III invasive breast cancer at age 40 or younger.
Researchers divided the patient.