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Have you recently been diagnosed with breast cancer?

Now Enrolling:
Find out if you are eligible for a clinical trial.

The facts about breast cancer

Question:

Only women can get Breast Cancer, right?

Answer:

No. Breast cancer also affects men, although it is much less common. Globally, less than 1% of all breast cancers are diagnosed in men.(3)

Clinical Trial FAQs

Question:

How are people from different races and ethnicities impacted by Breast Cancer?

Answer:

Breast cancer may affect you differently depending on race or ethnicity. For example: Non-Hispanic white patients have the highest number of breast cancer cases of all groups. Non-Hispanic black patients have the second-highest number of breast cancer cases of all races, the highest breast cancer death rate(4), a higher likelihood of breast cancer in women under age 40 vs non-Hispanic white women(4), and Black and Hispanic patients have a higher proportion of advanced breast cancer.

Clinical Trial FAQs





Know your breast cancer subtype

Be sure to ask your doctor questions about your diagnosis and the type of breast cancer you have. Below are some breast cancer subtypes that may help you understand your subtype of cancer.

Knowing which type of breast cancer you have helps doctors decide how to treat it. Different breast cancer subtypes are treated in different ways.

Your participation in clinical trials that focus on tumors with these characteristics may help pave the way to develop more potential treatments for future patients with the same tumors.



ER+/HER2- BREAST CANCER (estrogen receptor positive - sometimes referred to as HR+ or Hormone Receptor positive / human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive)

This is a subtype of breast cancer that cancer cells test positive for a receptor proteins that bind to estrogen (ER) and test negative for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This subtype of breast cancer is sensitive to treatment with anti-estrogen hormone (endocrine) therapies.
 

HER2+ BREAST CANCER (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive)

This is a subtype of breast cancer that cancer cells test positive for HER2. This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells.  HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be aggressive and are sensitive to HER2-directed therapies.
 

TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER (ER-, PR-, HER2-)

This is a subtype of breast cancer that cancer cells test negative for ER, a receptor protein that binds to progesterone (PR) and HER2.  This subtype of breast cancer tends to grow and spread faster than other types of breast cancers and are not sensitive to endocrine therapies and HER2-directed therapies.



Clinical trial participation: getting started

If you decide you are ready to be a part of a clinical trial, but are unsure where to start, completing the pre-screener questionnaire is the first step. This questionnaire will include questions about your diagnosis that will help find clinical trials that you may match to.

You may be nervous at first, but taking action by completing this questionnaire is the first step in potentially helping others by contributing to breast cancer research. If you do decide to enter a clinical trial, you are free to change your mind about participating at any point during the trial.



Available Clinical Trials

Below you will find a list of clinical trials that are sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). Click the “View Trial Details” links below to get more information about each trial. From the top of any trial page, click the purple “Pre-Screen Now” button to answer a few questions and find out if you match to a clinical trial. If you are not a match for a trial sponsored by BMS and you are a match for a trial sponsored by another company, you will be shown those trials to consider.

Breast cancer: myths vs facts

While a lot of information exists about breast cancer, some of what you have heard may not be accurate. Below is a list of some common myths and facts about breast cancer.

Myth:

If you maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat healthy, and limit alcohol, you don’t have to worry about breast cancer.

Fact:

Although these behaviors can help lower breast cancer risk, they can't eliminate it. It is important to manage the risk factors that can be controlled, including diet and physical activity, however, it’s also important to get regular screenings, perform breast self-exams, and be alert to any unusual changes in your breasts.

Clinical Trial FAQs

Myth:

Using underarm antiperspirant can cause breast cancer.

Fact:

There is no evidence of a connection between underarm antiperspirant and breast cancer, but the safety of antiperspirants is still being studied. A common belief is that underarm antiperspirants containing aluminum or other chemicals increase cancer risk by being absorbed into lymph nodes, and then working their way into breast cells. While some studies have found that women who use aluminum products under their arms, are more likely to have higher concentrations of aluminum in breast tissue, there is no proven link between antiperspirant use and breast cancer.

Clinical Trial FAQs

Myth:

Annual mammograms guarantee that breast cancer will be found early.

Fact:

Although mammography is the best early-detection tool we have, it doesn't always find breast cancer at an early stage and can return a false-negative result. This means the images look normal even though cancer exists. Mammography does catch most breast cancers, though. This is why regular screenings are so important. It's also important to pay attention to any changes in your breasts, perform monthly breast self-exams and have a physical breast exam by a health professional every year.

Clinical Trial FAQs

Myth:

Breast cancer always causes a lump you can feel.

Fact:

Breast cancer might not cause a lump you can feel, especially when it first develops. By the time you can feel a lump, the cancer might have already moved beyond the breast into the lymph nodes. Although performing breast self-exams is important and should be done, it isn’t a substitute for regular screening with mammography. 

Clinical Trial FAQs



The importance of caregivers

If you are helping your family member or friend through cancer treatment, you are a caregiver. This may mean helping with daily activities such as going to the doctor or making meals. It could also mean coordinating services and care. Or it may be giving emotional and spiritual support.

If you are caring for someone in a clinical trial, there are many things you can do to support them as they participate in the study, such as:.

  • Helping schedule and keeping track of study visits
  • Giving rides to study visits for treatment
  • Ensuring study medication is taken according to directions from the clinical trial study team
  • Taking notes during study visits
  • Being sure follow-up visits are scheduled and kept
  • Planning in advance what activities your loved one may want to do while receiving infusions, if applicable, and bringing any items needed for those activities to treatment visits

References:

  1. American Cancer Society. Global Cancer Facts & Figures 4th Edition. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/global-cancer-facts-and-figures/global-cancer-facts-and-figures-4th-edition.pdf   Accessed February 24, 2020.
  2. AACR Publications/Cancer Research/Abstract 4191: The Worldwide female breast cancer incidence and survival, 2018; Zoubida Zaidi and Hussain Adlane Dib; DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445. AM2019-4191. Published July 2019.
  3. ABC Global Alliance. Breast cancer worldwide. Available at: https://www.abcglobalalliance.org/articles/breast-cancer-worldwide   Accessed February 24, 2020.
  4. American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2019-2020.  Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures-2019-2020.pdf   Accessed February 28, 2020.
  5. Stapleton SM, Oseni TO, Bababekov YJ, et al. JAMA Surg. 2018;153:594-595. 



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Have questions? Live support is available 24/7 - Call 855-907-3286 or email clinical.trials@bms.com

Have questions? Live support is available 24/7 -
Call 855-907-3286 or email clinical.trials@bms.com