RxPG News : Women's Health

Blood Cholesterol levels predict risk of heart disease in post menopausal women

Sat, 24 May 2008 11:14:50 PST

A new analysis of a subgroup of participants in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) hormone therapy clinical trials suggests that healthy, postmenopausal women whose blood cholesterol levels are normal or lower are not at increased, short-term risk for heart attack when taking hormone therapy.

Breast cancer diagnosis comes late for women in gentrifying neighborhoods

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:30:00 PST

Women who live in Chicago's gentrifying neighborhoods are more apt to receive a late diagnosis of breast cancer than women who live in poverty-stricken neighborhoods, University of Illinois at Chicago researchers have found.

Women less likely to have their cholesterol controlled than men

Tue, 15 May 2007 18:53:57 PST

Women are significantly less likely than men to have their LDL cholesterol controlled to recommended levels, according to a new study by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The study, to be published in the May/June edition of Womenâs Health Issues, investigated gender differences in cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment and risk factors based on national health care quality data from commercial and Medicare managed care plans. Elevated LDL cholesterol is an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading single cause of death for both women and men.

Women with heart disease and diabetes less likely to receive proper care than men

Mon, 14 May 2007 19:54:06 PST

Women with heart disease and diabetes are less likely to receive several types of routine outpatient medical care than men who have similar health problems, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

Should all women in 40s be routinely screened for breast cancer?

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:51:50 PST

Should all women in their 40s be routinely screened for breast cancer? Not necessarily, according to the American College of Physicians. In a new set of guidelines for clinicians of 40-something patients, the group recommends that mammography screening decisions be made on a case-by-case basis. It advises clinicians to discuss the benefits and harms of screening with the patient, as well as each woman's individual cancer risk and preference about screening.

Computerized reminders boost mammography screening rates

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:46:38 PST

Findings of a new Mayo Clinic study published this week in Archives of Internal Medicine show that a computerized mail and phone reminder program can significantly increase the percentage of patients receiving preventive health services and improve the value of health care.

Recent declines in breast cancer mortality most significant in women under 70

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:03:56 PST

A new study shows that recent declines in breast cancer mortality rates have been most significant among women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors and women younger than 70. The results of the study are being published online April 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).

Study shows higher mortality rates in African and African American women with breast cancer

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:49:30 PST

African and African American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than their white counterparts because they tend to get the disease before the menopause, suggests new research from the University of East Anglia and the Childrenï¿½s Hospital Boston in collaboration with researchers in the US and Italy.

New approaches in breast cancer management may lead to exciting new nonsurgical tools

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:21:52 PST

Aggressive research currently underway brings hope of dramatic advances in breast cancer management, according to a new review. Published in the March 15, 2007 issue of CANCER a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the review reveals that new approaches in breast cancer imaging, investigations into the timing of chemotherapy, and research on breast cancer vaccines may lead to exciting new nonsurgical tools for the physician treating breast cancer patients. These new tools may significantly alter current screening and treatment paradigms used by surgical oncologists, as well improving the care of patients.

Technology can't replace doctors' judgment in reading mammograms

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 15:05:28 PST

Radiologists should not become too dependent on the use of computer-assisted detection (CAD) technology when reading screening mammograms because the doctors can see lesions that CAD sometimes misses. This is according to a study conducted at Group Health Cooperative, a Seattle based health care system. The research appears in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.