News

Killing breast cancer cells in a way that trains the immune system to recognise and destroy residual cancer cells could offer longer lasting protection to people with the disease, according to new research funded by Breast Cancer Now.* The early-stage discovery published today in the journal Immunity, shows that by causing cancer cells to undergo a process called immunogenic cell death, the immune system is switched on and becomes alert to the disease in the body.

Study results showed the adjusted odds of screening were 39% lower for BC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.45-0.81) and 24% lower for CVC (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.600.96) among those who reported never/rarely vs. always having social support. The adjusted odds of BC (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.22-1.70) and female CRC (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.20-1.68; OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.35-1.90) screening were higher for those living with a spouse/partner only compared to those living with neither spouse/ partner nor children. Several unique patterns were observed among females 21-34 years of age, for whom less residential stability and living with children were associated with increased CVC screening. In this group, upward social mobility and access to prenatal care likely enhance screening utilization.

Breastfeeding has been linked to a lower risk of developing breast cancer, with previous data analysis showing the risk of developing the disease decreases by 4.3 per cent for every 12 months a woman breastfeeds*. However, it is not exactly clear why breastfeeding lowers breast cancer risk.