Breast cancer vaccine: How close are we?

Why experts are hopeful.

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IN a nutshell Hi, everyone, and welcome back to the hump day edition of Wellness Wire. Today, I'm challenging myself to greet you all without a reference to the weather, which it appears I've already failed at. So let's just get on with it. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As the most diagnosed cancer in the United States (and the world), breast cancer has probably touched your life in some way. Today, we're spotlighting an area of research giving many experts hope: the development of a vaccine against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the deadliest strains of the disease. Here are some other stories we're covering today: • The Home Edit co-founder Clea Shearer's raw, uplifting journey through chemo • your chance to tell us how breast cancer has affected your life • other health stories you need Stay sharp, Ginger Wojcik Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Ginger Wojcik October 12, 2022 • 6 min read

what's got us buzzing A vaccine for triple-negative breast cancer is in human trials In the race to develop a cancer vaccine, researchers have their sights set on a deadly strain of breast cancer. A vaccine for TNBC is in the early stages of human trials, and experts are hopeful about the potential impact it could have. "Vaccine-based therapies stand to revolutionize the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer," said Teresa Hagan Thomas, PhD, RN. "Vaccines use different mechanisms than current therapies, many of which TNBC is resistant to because they [target] hormones and HER2 proteins which TNBCs do not express." The goal of the vaccine is to train a person's immune system to recognize a milk protein called alpha-lactalbumin that's present in most cases of TNBC. The idea is that a person's immune system would then destroy these cells before they're able to grow into cancer. The successful development of this vaccine could benefit Black and Hispanic women in particular, as they are more likely to develop TNBC and more likely to die from breast cancer in general. Many of the researchers running these trials are specifically recruiting Black and Hispanic people with TNBC, in an effort to get a wide representation of results, added Thomas. In addition to the development of this vaccine, there has been some good news on the breast cancer front in recent years: The overall death rate declined by 42% between 1989 (when it peaked) and 2019, which the American Cancer Society credits to better screening and earlier detection, increased breast cancer awareness, and improved treatments. Breast cancer is treatable, especially if it's caught in the early stages. Since you're less likely to have noticeable symptoms early on, it's important to go in for recommended screenings. The current guidelines say that people with an average risk (here's what it means to be "high risk") should start getting annual screenings at age 45 and then every other year starting at age 55. Get more details on screening guidelines here. tl;dr: A vaccine for triple-negative breast cancer, which is more deadly than other strains of cancer, is in human trials. The successful development of this vaccine could especially benefit Black and Hispanic women, who develop triple negative breast cancer at higher rates. You can help prevent later stage breast cancer by following the current screening guidelines.

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say what   Look who's talking "I have to admit, for the first few days I endured the "why me" feelings. But quickly, I started to think, "Honestly, why NOT me?!" I have all the support, resources, and a platform to help other people through this. So if anyone has to have breast cancer, I'll gladly let it be me." – ''The Home Edit'' co-founder Clea Shearer, after being diagnosed with breast cancer     In April, Shearer posted to "The Home Edit's" 6.5 million Instagram followers that she had been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. In the post, Shearer explains how after finding a lump in her breast, she had to advocate for herself to be taken seriously by her healthcare team. Since then, Shearer has kept fans updated on her treatment journey by posting regularly to her Instagram. As of Sept. 8, she was finished with chemo and preparing to start radiation and hormone therapy.

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Wednesday Kick Start Confused by the guidance on breast self-exams? Same! A breast self-exam is what it sounds like: You use your hands to check your breasts for lumps and abnormalities. It may seem intuitive to regularly check your tatas at home, and new research suggests self-exams can be effective at finding cancer. In a 2022 study, 25 out of the 26 breast cancers identified were first detected by self-exams. However, the official guidance from the American Cancer Society (ACS) remains that breast self-exams are optional for people with an average risk of breast cancer, as larger research doesn't show that there's a benefit. According to the ACS website, "Women should be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and should report any changes to a health care provider right away." We know it's confusing: to squeeze or not to squeeze? Ultimately, there's no medical risk in giving yourself a self-breast exam. If anything, familiarizing yourself with your T's may help you feel more empowered about your health. But — stick with us — self-exams shouldn't take the place of recommended screenings. A mammogram, which looks at breast tissue with an X-ray, is the gold standard for breast cancer screening. One study found that regular mammograms result in about a 20% reduction in breast cancer deaths. Want to learn more about how to give yourself a breast exam? Check out this article.

health stories you need What we're reading next We're one step closer to a marijuana breathalyzer. Researchers at UCLA have figured out a way to measure airborne THC, an advancement they hope will make roadways safer. Can a dog know you're stressed before you do? A new study shows that dogs can smell stress. Could this finding be used to help people manage anxiety? A link between long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome is becoming clearer. Many viruses are known to cause chronic fatigue syndrome, and long COVID may be one of them.

you're up Stories of celebrities with breast cancer often make the news. It was just last week that retired WNBA star Tiffany Jackson died from breast cancer at the age of 37. And the week prior, Katie Couric went public with her story of how a routine screening caught her breast cancer at an early, treatable stage. These stories can be tremendously helpful for bringing awareness to the issue and for motivating people to get regular screenings. But the celebrity experience of breast cancer is often much different from what everyday folks go through. So today we want to open the floor to anyone out there who has a breast cancer story they want to tell. We want to know: Do you have a story about breast cancer you want to share? Email us at wellnesswire@healthline.com.

Thanks for reading. Breast cancer can be a tough subject. If today's newsletter brought up difficult feelings, consider reaching out to a friend for support. You can also take a look at this list of mental health resources for people with breast cancer. We'll be back on Friday.

Until next time, Take care of yourself, and we'll see you again soon!     This edition was powered by a pan of lemon bars.   View in browser Did a friend send you this email? Subscribe here. To see all newsletters, click here. Privacy    |    Unsubscribe © 2022 Healthline Media 1423 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707