Women's Cancer Prevention and Screening

Important advances have been in the treatment of women's cancers. At the same time, there are opportunities to improve our ability to prevent and detect these cancers in their earliest and most treatable stages. Scientific advances related to tumor biology, genetic factors and environmental risks in breast cancer are making it possible to identify women at increased risk and evaluate the impact of risk-reduction strategies.

Research into the prevention and early detection of breast cancer, for example, has the potential to have a major impact on women's health, as breast cancer is the most common nonskin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths among women.

Additionally, a compelling need exists for research focused on quality-of-life concerns among cancer survivors. Women who've had cancer are living longer due to effective therapies, but are often affected by serious side effects of cancer treatment.

Areas of focus

In the Women's Health Research Center, areas of focus related to women's cancers include:

• Breast and ovarian cancer risk stratification and risk reduction
• Novel breast and ovarian cancer screening techniques
• Survivorship concerns

Faculty involved

Center faculty members and collaborators involved in women's cancer research include:

• Lynn C. Hartmann, M.D.
• Aminah Jatoi, M.D.
• Charles L. Loprinzi, M.D.
• Michael K. O'Connor, Ph.D.
• Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
• Deborah J. Rhodes, M.D.
• Celine M. Vachon, Ph.D.

Collaborative efforts also exist with other investigators in the Women's Cancer Program, part of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.