Everyone with a Breast Cancer History Should Get Testing If you have a personal history of breast cancer, you might want to consider getting tested for BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 (and other hereditary cancer mutations), regardless of your family ... [Read More]
Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)
Whenever possible, I offer my patients with early stage breast cancer a very short, 5-day radiation technique, at Northwest Cancer Clinic, called “accelerated partial breast irradiation” (APBI). If eligibility criteria are met, APBI is a great ... [Read More]
Proton Beam Therapy in Cancer Treatment
The number of proton beam therapy (PBT) centers continues to grow despite their high construction and operational costs, as well as the insurance barriers for patients to access this treatment. If cost was not a factor, most oncologists, ... [Read More]
Breast Cancer Radiation Treatment: “DIBH” Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold
If you need radiation for breast cancer ask your radiation oncologist, if they can treat you with a technique that may be able to significantly lower the amount of radiation dose to your lung and/or heart. This technique is called "DIBH" or "deep ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses a 5-Day Breast Radiation Technique
The majority of patients with early stage breast cancers choose breast conserving treatments for their breast cancer. This involves removing the tumor through a procedure called a "lumpectomy." In order to reduce the risk of recurrence within the ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Importance Of Second Opinions In Breast Cancer Care
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Importance Of Second Opinions In Breast Cancer Care (July 15, ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Cancer Screening Controversies
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Why Is Cancer Screening Controversial? (April 22, 2017) https://vimeo.com/214695302 ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Multi-Disciplinary Treatment of Breast Cancer
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Multi-Disciplinary Treatment of Breast Cancer (January 7, 2017) https://vimeo.com/198713495 ... [Read More]
Safer Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer: Deep Inspiration Breath Hold Technique
If you need radiation for breast cancer ask your radiation oncologist, before starting treatment, if they can treat you with a technique that may be able to significantly lower the amount of radiation dose to your lung and/or heart. This technique is ... [Read More]
Toxic Produce, Light Therapy, Ketogenic Diet And More
The 2016 "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean Fifteen" Lists Are Out EWG's "Dirty Dozen" for the first time rates strawberries as the #1 most toxic produce item. They are contaminated by pesticides linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, ... [Read More]
Breast Cancer Risk, Curcumin, Vitamin D, Genetics And More
Breast Cancer Risk Can Be Determined From A Biopsy A landmark Harvard study found that the risk of breast cancer can be predicted by looking at the percentage of dividing cells from a routine breast biopsy. If this tissue analysis (called ... [Read More]
Fasting To Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence
An important study was just published in JAMA Oncology that applies to breast cancer (and likely other cancer types) survivors. University of California, San Diego investigators found that breast cancer survivors, who reported consistently ... [Read More]
Stress Management Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence and Death
I have previously posted on the anticancer effects or stress reduction. We now have a new landmark study that further adds support to the importance of helping our patients cope with stress. In this study, the researchers randomized 240 breast ... [Read More]
Angelina Jolie Pitt Effect Highlights BRCA Mutation Testing and Preventative Surgery Options
Angelina Jolie came out publicly, in a 2013 New York Times Op-Ed article, explaining that she chose to undergo preventative bilateral mastectomies to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer after finding out she carried a BRCA gene mutation. ... [Read More]
Light exposure at night increases breast cancer growth and inhibits Tamoxifen
Light exposure at night suppresses the brain's release of melatonin, a potent natural antioxidant and anticancer hormone. Previous studies have shown that even dim light exposure suppresses the release of melatonin. (Read my article on light exposure ... [Read More]
Might Bioidentical Hormones Be Protective Against Breast Cancer Growth?
A new study was published today that helps to shed light on the association between sex hormone imbalance and breast cancer and how the use of balanced, low levels of bioidentical sex hormones may be protective against breast cancer ... [Read More]
Dr Brian Lawenda’s Breast Cancer Talk (Video)
Watch Dr. Brian Lawenda’s talk on a breast cancer. He discusses a variety of related topics, such as: Reducing your risk of developing breast cancer Introduction to the role of integrative oncology in breast cancer care Breast cancer ... [Read More]
Dr Lawenda Discusses Cancer Screening and Risks (Listen)
Learn about some of the most common cancer screening recommendations and cancer risk factors in Dr. Brian Lawenda's, June 2014, 17-minute, interview on the Alan Stock Show (KDWN, AM 720). As always you'll also hear his plug on the importance of ... [Read More]
Common Antidepressant Drug May Promote Breast Cancer
A new study from the City of Hope has found that the commonly prescribed antidepressant drug PAXIL (paroxitene) may promote breast cancer growth. This finding is concerning since about 25% of U.S. women in the 40's and 50's are prescribed ... [Read More]
What Is IP6 (Inositol Hexaphosphate)?
Inositol hexaphosphate ("IP6", "myo-inositol hexaphosphate" or "phytic acid") is a natural carbohydrate molecule present in most plant and animal cells. You get this stuff in your diet mainly from eating cereals, grains, legumes and meat. Your body ... [Read More]
Lowering Cholesterol May Reduce Breast Cancer Growth
Breast cancer is sneaky. A new study discovers a trick that breast cancers use to get around some of our best drugs. If you know about this trick you'll be able to take action to put a stop to it. The Background: Two-thirds of all breast cancers ... [Read More]
Cocktail Of 6 Plant Extracts Kills Cancer Cells
A recent study reports on some exciting information about using a combination of 6 anticancer plant compounds to kill breast cancer cells. Before I discuss this study you need to understand a little background... Why I Believe Attacking Cancer On ... [Read More]
A Simple Way To Potentially Reduce Cancer Recurrence: Use A Local Anesthetic
In a new study, the authors found that the addition of a local anesthetic to general anesthesia during breast cancer surgery reduced breast cancer recurrences and death by greater than 60%!! Not surprisingly, this also reduced postoperative pain. ... [Read More]
Who should consider genetic testing (BRCA1/2) for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers?
The vast majority of cancers occur by chance, but a small percentage are related to inherited genetic abnormalities or mutations. In cases of hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers, most occur as a result of mutations in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 ... [Read More]
The Rising Tide of the Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: Know the Facts
The last decade has seen a steady rise (300% increase) in the number of individuals who are opting to undergo a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) as a means of reducing their risk of developing a new breast cancer in their opposite ... [Read More]
Air Pollution Increases Your Risk of Dying From Breast Cancer
It's hardly a surprise that air pollution has been shown to increase one's risk of developing lung cancer. However, it now appears that living in cities with more polluted air also correlates with a greater risk of dying from breast ... [Read More]
Sleep Your Way To Less Cancer
Not getting adequate sleep (particularly, at night) is now recognized as a risk factor for cancer. It seems that the preponderance of studies suggest that getting at least 6-7 hours of night time sleep is protective against cancer (as well as ... [Read More]
Time To Take Milk Off The Menu?
Attention milk-lovers: If you have had breast cancer, you may be better off steering clear of dairy fat. A new study conducted by scientists at Kaiser Permanente, the large U.S. health insurer, and published in the Journal of the National Cancer ... [Read More]
One Baby Aspirin Per Day Cuts Cancer Development, Metastases and Death!
Do you take an aspirin a day for aches and pains or other health reasons? It seems that many people do, and they might be inadvertently protecting themselves from cancer. A Willow Tree Gave Us Aspirin: The ancient Egyptians used the bark of the ... [Read More]
Watercress and Red Cabbage Salad
Today’s recipe is from Elyn Jacobs, who has not only overcome breast cancer, but was inspired by her own healing journey to help others in theirs. Following her treatment, she gave up her high-flying Wall Street job and became a cancer coach and ... [Read More]