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Chemotherapy and endocrine therapy have different long-term effects on physical health decline for breast cancer survivors

A new study led by ACS investigators shows breast cancer survivors in the United States receiving chemotherapy or endocrine therapy (without chemotherapy) had different long-lasting physical health decline compared to women who were cancer-free. Physical health is the body’s ability to function normally and includes factors like being able to carry out activities, daily living, fatigue, or pain. The findings are published Feb. 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

“Patients with breast cancer suffer from an abundance of long-term and late health effects and are at risk of earlier onset disease and higher incidence of chronic health conditions,” said Dr. Clara Bodelon, senior principal scientist, survivorship research at ACS and lead author of the report. “These findings are important because understanding factors related to their physical health decline could lead to interventions to improve their health outcomes.”

“This is encouraging news for breast cancer survivors. If they do not receive chemotherapy, it is unlikely that they will have long-lasting physical health decline,” Bodelon added. “However, further studies are needed to confirm these results and to better understand the health consequences of these treatments.”

Dr. Lauren Teras is the senior author of the study. Other ACS researchers who contributed to the report include Matthew Masters, Den E Bloodworth, Peter Briggs, Dr. Erika Rees-Punia, Dr. Lauren McCullough, and Dr. Alpa Patel.

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  • Early palliative care remains underused among patients with advanced cancer

    ​Despite a decade of growth, only 10% of Medicare beneficiaries with distant-stage cancer received early palliative care in 2019, according to new research led by ACS investigators. The study also finds differences between individual doctors and hospitals accounted for 30% - 50% of the variation in early palliative care billing, suggesting where patients receive care plays a major role in whether they get guideline-recommended palliative care. The study was published March 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). 

    “These findings are disappointing as strong evidence and clinical guidelines support the benefits of early palliative care for these patients,” said Dr. Xuesong Han, scientific director, health services research at ACS and senior author of the study. “Palliative care improves quality of life, reduces suffering, and can even extend survival, yet most patients who would benefit are not receiving it.”

    “One of the most striking findings from our study is who treats you and where you receive care may influence access to early palliative care more than a patient’s clinical condition,” added Dr. Xin Hu, a visiting scientist at ACS and lead author of the study. “This underscores the need to minimize systemic and structural barriers, so access to this important treatment is not limited. Fighting cancer should also mean fighting unnecessary suffering.”

    Other ACS researchers contributing to this study include Kewei Sylvia Shi, Dr. Zhiyuan Zheng, Dr. Jingxuan Zhao, and Dr. Robin Yabroff.

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  • New ACS-led study finds wildfires pose challenges to cancer care

    ​Due to the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic consequences of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, people with cancer are especially vulnerable during extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires, which are becoming more common and damaging with climate change. A new national study led by ACS and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers finds patients whose facility was impacted by a wildfire disaster during recovery from lung cancer surgery had longer length of stay (LOS) than similar patients treated at the same facility, but at times when no disaster occurred. The findings were published March 11 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).

    “These data are critical as there are currently no guidelines for protecting the health and safety of patients recovering from lung cancer surgery during wildfires in the United States,” said Dr. Leticia Nogueira, scientific director, health services research, and lead author of the study. “In the absence of guidelines, clinicians might resort to improvisational strategies, such as extending post-operative length of stay to support surgical recovery and better protect the health and safety of patients during wildfires.”

    “Future studies should evaluate whether extended hospital stay improves surgical care outcomes during disasters,” Nogueira added. “Also, these findings should be considered for disaster preparedness guidelines tailored to vulnerable patient populations and contextual adjustments to quality care metrics.”

    ACS researcher Dr. Robin Yabroff also contributed to the study.

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  • Short-term limited duration insurance plans associated with advanced cancer diagnoses

    Short-term limited duration (STLD) insurance plans do not provide comprehensive coverage and can leave patients who are diagnosed with a serious disease like cancer with catastrophic costs. In a new,​ large national study published March 18 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, ACS researchers found the 2018 federal policy loosening restrictions on STLD insurance plans was associated with an increase in late-stage cancer diagnoses in states without or with inadequate additional STLD plan regulatory protections. 

    “This research underscores the importance of state and federal policies banning or significantly restricting short-term limited duration insurance plans,” said Nova Yang, MSPH, associate scientist, health services research, and lead author of the study. “Most of these STLD plans do not cover essential health services, such as cancer screenings, which may delay cancer diagnoses, resulting in later stage disease, where treatment is more intensive, and the prognosis is worse.”  

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Dr. Jingxuan Zhao, Dr. Robin Yabroff, and senior author Dr. Xuesong Han.

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  • Nearly four million pre-mature lung cancer deaths in US averted and 76 million years of lives gained due to tobacco control

    New research led by ACS estimates more than 3.8 million lung cancer deaths were averted and a little over 76 million years of life gained in the United States during 1970-2022 due to substantial reductions in smoking prevalence driven by tobacco control. The study is published March 25 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

    ​“The substantial estimated numbers of averted lung cancer deaths and person-years of life gained highlight the remarkable effect of progress against smoking on reducing premature mortality from lung cancer,” said Dr. Farhad Islami, senior scientific director, cancer disparity research, and lead author of the study. “However, despite these findings, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and smoking-attributable morbidity and mortality from other cancers or diseases remain high.”

    “Reducing smoking through tobacco control has saved millions of lives and can save millions more in the future,” Dr. Islami added. “But we need a stronger commitment at the local, state, and federal levels to help further reduce smoking and substantially augment the progress against smoking-related mortality. It’s also important that these tobacco control programs be designed to reach groups at a higher risk of smoking, such as people of lower socioeconomic status, to help save even more lives. For example, smoking prevalence and lung cancer mortality rates in individuals with a high school diploma or lower education levels are 5 times higher compared with individuals with a college degree.”

    “Increased and sustained funding for evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs is needed now more than ever as part of a comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco use and, ultimately, the cancer burden for everyone in the US,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president ACS CAN, “The study’s findings show the impact of past tobacco control measures but also underscore the preventable deaths that continue to persist. Access to barrier-free, culturally competent cessation services, substantially increasing tobacco taxes, and implementing comprehensive smoke-free policies are proven policies to help people quit and prevent people, especially youth, from ever starting.”

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Dr. Nigar Nargis, Dr. Qinran Liu, Dr. Priti Bandi, Rebecca L. Siegel, Dr. Parichoy Pal Choudhury, and senior author Dr. Ahmedin Jemal.

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  • Podcast highlights VOICES study

    ​CancerSpeak: A podcast from "Cancer," an interdisciplinary international journal of the American Cancer Society, posted an episode about the VOICES of Black Women study on March 25. In the episode, Cancer Disparities Research Section Editor Dr. Camille Ragin interviews Dr. Lauren McCullough, one of the study’s principal investigators. Dr. McCullough was also the lead author of a newly published editorial in "Cancer" that explores the rationale behind the VOICES study and its potential to drive meaningful change in cancer prevention and care. ​

    The podcast can be listened to here or on other podcasting platforms (Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, etc.). ​

    To learn more: ​

    • Listen to the podcast.
    • ​Read Dr. McCullough’s editorial in "Cancer."
    • Learn more about the VOICES of Black Women study.
    • Explore the American Cancer Society report “Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People, 2025” referenced in this episode.
    • Amplify on social media. ​​

  • ACS releases infographic in multiple languages

    ​In May 2024, ACS launched the inaugural Cancer Facts & Figures for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander People, 2024-2026. The report shows cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States nationally but ranks first in Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese individuals, with lung cancer the leading cause of death in men of every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander (AANHPI) ethnic group. 

    For women, the report also shows lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women who are Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Native Hawaiian. In Guamanian, Samoan, Filipino, and Asian Indian women, breast cancer ranks first. 

    At the time of the report, an infographic highlighting key cancer statistics for disaggregated Asian American and Pacific Islander ethnic groups in the United States was released in English. ACS recently released the infographic in Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Hawaiian, and Hindi. By providing this infographic in multiple languages, ACS aims to ensure that culturally and linguistically diverse AANHPI communities have access to vital cancer information. Increasing awareness and understanding can help promote early detection, encourage preventive care, and reduce health disparities impacting these communities. 

    The infographics can be accessed on cancer.org​. (Please utilize the drop-down menu to select the language you desire.) ​

  • Dinner honors 2025 Medal of Honor winner

    ​On March 8, top scientists from across the country, influential leaders in the cancer fight, and ACS executive and volunteer leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., to honor W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, MMHC, who received the 2025 American Cancer Society Medal of Honor. Dr. Rathmell is a renowned kidney cancer expert who most recently served as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

    Dr. Rathmell spoke to attendees about the tremendous advances in cancer treatment and patient care she has witnessed throughout her career. She also emphasized the need to continue this progress through robust support for cancer research and clinical trials. 

    Several post-baccalaureate fellows supported by the ACS Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR) program were also recognized, including Kayla Rodriguez, who spoke about her ongoing research at Virginia Commonwealth University. 

    Attendees at the Medal of Honor dinner also heard from Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim CEO; Dr. Bill Dahut, chief science officer (both pictured in the  lead image). Brian A. Marlow, chair of the ACS Board of Directors also spoke. Several team members from the Discovery Pillar (pictured below) and ACS CAN were also in attendance.

  • Cervical cancer screening remains below pre-pandemic levels

    ​​New ACS research announced March 5 shows both breast and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rebounded from declines during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and surpassed screening estimates prior to the pandemic. However, nearly three years after COVID-19, cervical cancer screening rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, and improvements in breast and CRC screening rates were mostly restricted to individuals with higher socioeconomic status (higher education, privately insured, or Medicare insured). The study is out in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). 

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    “These findings are mostly encouraging as the pandemic resulted in widespread disruptions in cancer screening in the US,” said Jessica Star, associate scientist, cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research and lead author of the study. “However, the continued decline in cervical cancer screening is troubling as diagnoses of cervical cancers at an early stage, when they are more treatable, also decreased during the pandemic. Without returns to cervical cancer screening, prevention and early-stage diagnoses may continue to drop and put more lives at risk.” 

    “The persistent decline in cervical cancer screening may in part reflect longer-term declines in patient knowledge and clinicians recommending the test,” added Star. “It’s imperative that we continue to advocate for returns to cervical cancer screening and efforts must also address the widening disparities in all cancer screenings by socioeconomic status.” 

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Dr. Xuesong Han, Dr. Robert Smith, Elizabeth Schafer, Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, and senior author Dr. Priti Bandi. 
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