Highlights of This Issue

Abstract

It is increasingly recognized that black women and young women both experience higher frequency of aggressive breast tumors, but few studies have been adequately powered to evaluate risk factor associations in this group of women. In this consortium analysis of breast cancer among premenopausal African American women, distinct risk factor associations were observed for young women, with increased risk associated with higher abdominal adiposity, family history, oral contraceptive use, and lower breastfeeding. This study by Chollet-Hinton and colleagues reveals age-related differences in breast cancer biology and etiology among African American women and identifies potentially modifiable targets to reduce the burden of young-onset breast cancer.Mobile screening units have been used for the early detection of cancer for more than 60 years, yet no review has summarized the international evidence regarding their performance. Greewald and colleagues conducted a systematic review to describe mobile screening unit interventions, uncovering 78 studies located in 20 countries, offering mostly breast and cervical cancer screening. Mobile screening units represent an innovative method for offering screening services in low-infrastructure regions, including lower income countries, and may prove to be an important tool for reducing inequalities in access to early detection and treatment.Cancer survivors are living longer today and need to be aware of long-term disease risks that can result from a combination of their cancer treatment and lifestyle factors. Blackburn and colleagues conducted a cohort study of 3,700 thyroid cancer patients and 15,600 individuals from the general population. They observed that thyroid cancer patients diagnosed at young ages (< 40 years old) were at increased risk of various aging-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. More research that focuses on cancer survivors' long-term experiences and how we can personalize their preventive care is needed.It is not clear to what extent alcohol, smoking, and physical activity are associated with the various subtypes of breast cancer. Ellingjord-Dale and colleagues conducted a case–control study nested within a large cohort from the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program during 2006 to 2014. Alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of luminal A–like breast cancer, while physical activity was associated with a decreased risk. Smoking was positively associated with both luminal A–like and luminal B–like HER2 negative breast cancer. In this large study, alcohol, smoking, and physical activity were predominantly associated with the most common types of breast cancer.