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Breast cancer information network
November 27, 2002Mammary carcinoma is a direct and brutal affront to the feminine identity - especially when the diagnosis is made in the later stages of development, which can require a mastectomy. "We estimate that one in ten women in Germany will be confronted with this disease," says Dr. Dieter Alt, who directs a nationwide education campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer. "This is a disturbing trend. With approximately 20,000 cases each year, breast cancer is the most prevalent cause of death in women over forty." The campaign, supported financially by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, also stresses the critical importance of screening and early diagnosis. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the higher the chances of recovery.
Several physicians and clinics are often involved in the follow-up treatment. Shared access to electronic records documenting the patient's medical history and treatment plan would optimize the therapy. The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT has developed a means to accomplish this. There are plans to implement the system, known as "Patient Accompanying Documentation" or PaDok®, by the end of this year as part of the mammary carcinoma project initiated by the North Rhine-Westphalian branch of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (NASHIP). Patient data will not be transferred over the public Internet. Instead, a secure private intranet will be set up with controlled access available only to the attending physicians. PaDok will run as a communications interface in the background, allowing physicians to continue to use their normal practice software. "A gynecologist in City A can send the relevant breast cancer patient data to a surgeon in City B in seconds," explains Dr. Volker Paul, project manager at the IBMT Health Telematics Group. Stringent data protection requirements are met by using multiple encryption during transmission. Furthermore, as Dr. Paul emphasizes: "The master key is held by the patient herself, giving her final decision on who is allowed to read the data." This upholds the patient's legal right to select the physician of her choice.
Use of the PaDok system will not be restricted to breast cancer treatment or one region only. "NASHIP is advocating nationwide deployment of systems such as PaDok," says NASHIP's telematics representative, Reinhold Mainz. The PaDok system and project was presented at the MEDICA trade show in Düsseldorf, November 20-23.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Breast Cancer Current Events and Breast Cancer News RSSNursing study concludes few Ontario women with invasive ovarian cancer referred for genetic testing of breast cancer genes
An Ontario study of 491 women with invasive ovarian cancer found only a small proportion, 19%, were referred for genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2, the breast cancer genes, which means family members are not informed of their cancer risk.
Angled gantry technique reduced breast radiation exposure by 50 percent
A novel angled gantry approach to coronary CT angiography reduced radiation exposure to the breast by more than 50%, according to Thomas Jefferson University researchers.
HER2 levels may aid in treatment selection for metastatic breast cancer
Findings published in the December 1, 2008, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, show lapatinib benefits women with HER2-positive breast cancer, while women with HER2-negative breast cancer or those who express EGRF alone derive no incremental benefit.
Drop in cancer deaths tied primarily to gains in behavior and screening
Improvements in behavior and screening have contributed greatly to the 13 percent decline in cancer mortality since 1990, with better cancer treatments playing a supporting role, according to new research from David Cutler of Harvard University.
New breast imaging technology targets hard-to-detect cancers
Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) is effective in the detection of cancers not found on mammograms or by clinical exam, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Delays in Radiation Therapy Lead to Increased Breast Cancer Recurrence
A new analysis of the National Cancer Institute's cancer registry has found that as many as one in five older women experience delayed or incomplete radiation treatment following breast-conserving surgery, and that this suboptimal care can lead to worse outcomes.
New mammography technology effective in detecting breast cancer
A study has found that positron emission mammography (PEM), a new technique for imaging the breast, is not affected by either breast density or a woman's hormonal status, two factors that limit the effectiveness of standard mammography and MRI at detecting cancer.
New statistical model could help reduce breast-lesion biopsies
A new method of characterizing breast lesions found during an MRI exam could result in fewer biopsies of benign tumors with the benefits of reduced pain and expense for patients and providers, according to a paper that will be presented today (Sunday, Nov. 30) at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Breast cancer treatment offers better outcome to women with implants
Women with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone breast augmentation may be treated successfully with a partial-breast radiation treatment called brachytherapy, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Study identifies double-balloon enteroscopy as cost-effective approach for obscure GI bleeding
A cost-effectiveness analysis conducted by researchers at Stanford University Hospital in Calif., shows that an initial double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a cost-effective approach for patients with obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
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