Breast Cancer Overview | breastcancerpodcast.com

History, Types, Symptoms & More

Brief History Of Breast Cancer

1600 BC

The first historical record of breast cancer comes from ancient Egypt, around 1600 BC,. There were 8 cases of tumors and ulcers described in some detail.

548 AD

In Byzantine Greece, the court physician Aethios of Amida proposed and performed the first mastectomy on Theodora.

1700

The first surgeon to perform breast tissue, lymph nodes and underlying chest muscle was French Surgeon Jean Louis Petit.

1882

In 1882, William Stewart set what became a long time standard for radical mastectomy. His technique remained the standard operation to treat breast cancer until the 1970’s

1895

The birth of mammograms. in 1895 the first X-ray was taken. Eventually, low-dose X-rays called mammograms will be used to detect breast cancer.

1926

The first breast cancer clinical study conducted by Janet Lane – Claypon

1930-1932

Druing the 1930’s staging systems are developed. In 1932, a new approach to the mastectomy is developed, which was less disfiguring and become the new standard.

1937

Radiation therapy is introduced in breast cancer therapy. It’s used in addition to surgery to spare the breast. After removing the tumor, needles with radium are placed in the breast and near lymph nodes.

1945

After the second World War, chemotherapy is developed and became integral part of breast cancer treatments to this day.

1950

The very first peer to peer support group called “Reach and Recovery” started to provide post-mastectomy visits to in-hospital patient survivors.

1971

“Our Bodies, Ourselves,” long been regarded as the Women’s Health Bible was published. It had a major impact on how breast cancer was perceived and provided invaluable information to women about health and sexuality.

1974

Betty Ford, First Lady, set a new milestone on awareness. She decided to openly talk about her disease, bringing inspiration and hope to many other survivors. Since them, other survivors have shared their journey.

1976

In 1976, Fisher published results using simpler breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation or chemotherapy. He noted that these were just as effective as radical mastectomy.

1978

The drug tamoxifen is approved by FDA for use in breast cancer treatment. Tamoxifen is an antiestrogen drug originally developed for birth control. It was the first in a new class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) used against cancer.

1984

Researchers discovered a new gene in rats. The human version, called HER2, was found to be linked with more aggressive breast cancer when overexpressed. The HER2-positive breast cancer is not as responsive to treatments.

1985

Researchers discovered that women with early-stage breast cancer who were treated with a lumpectomy and radiation have similar survival rates to women treated with only a mastectomy.

1990

The Breast Book was published by Susan Love. It became the go to source for women facing breast cancer to this day.

1991

The Pink Ribbon appears for the first time in connection with breast cancer. In 1992 it was adopted as the official Breast Cancer Symbol by the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

1993

Fashion Model Matuschka brought awareness to a new level when she posed on the cover of the New York Times Magazine exposing her mastectomy scar.

1995

Scientists discovered how to clone the tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. Inherited mutations in these genes can predict an increased risk of breast cancer.

1998

Tamoxifen is found to decrease the risk of developing breast cancer in at-risk women by 50 percent. It’s now approved by the FDA for use as a preventive therapy. Trastuzumab, a drug used to target cancer cells over-producing HER2, is also approved by the FDA.

2002

The Women Health Initiative trail proved the efficacy of Hormone Replacement therapy in increasing breast cancer incidence.

2006

The drug raloxifene is found to reduce breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women who have higher risk. The drug has a lower chance of serious side effects when compared with tamoxifen.