EurekAlert! In the Spotlight

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

This month, we're turning our attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness, supporting early detection, and highlighting the ongoing research shaping the future of breast cancer treatment and prevention.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Oct-2025 20:11 ET (28-Oct-2025 00:11 GMT/UTC)

7-May-2025

Paper: AI-human task-sharing could cut mammography screening costs by up to 30%

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The most effective way to harness the power of artificial intelligence when screening for breast cancer may be through collaboration with human radiologists — not by wholesale replacing them, says new research co-written by Mehmet Eren Ahsen, a professor of business administration at Illinois.

Journal: Nature Communications

7-May-2025

One-week breast cancer radiotherapy proven as safe and effective as standard three-week treatment in 4,000-patient study over 10 years

European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Presented at ESTRO 2025, which gathered a record attendance of 7,908 participants this week in Vienna, Austria, a 10-year study, involving over 4,000 UK patients, confirms that a one-week course of post-surgery radiotherapy is just as safe and effective as the traditional three-week regimen for early-stage breast cancer patients. These long-term results from the FAST-Forward trial, could further reduce the burden on breast cancer patients worldwide, and expand access to life-saving radiotherapy.

Journal: Radiotherapy and Oncology
Meeting: ESTRO 2025

7-May-2025

ESMO Breast Cancer 2025: Event Announcement

European Society for Medical Oncology
Meeting Announcement

ESMO Breast Cancer 2025 will take place between 14-17 May in Munich, Germany.

7-May-2025

Formaldehyde releasers found in common personal care products

Silent Spring Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Growing concerns about exposure to formaldehyde in personal care products have focused on hair relaxers with recent studies showing a link between use of hair relaxers and increased risk of uterine and breast cancer among Black women. The new study is among the first to demonstrate that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are present in a wide range of personal care products, including shampoo, lotions, body soap, and even eyelash glue.

Journal: Environmental Science & Technology Letters
Funder: California Breast Cancer Research Program

7-May-2025

New algorithms can help GPs predict which of their patients have undiagnosed cancer

Queen Mary University of London
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Two new advanced predictive algorithms use information about a person’s health conditions and simple blood tests to accurately predict a patient’s chances of having a currently undiagnosed cancer, including hard to diagnose liver and oral cancers. The new models could revolutionise how cancer is detected in primary care, and make it easier for patients to get treatment at much earlier stages.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: John Fell Fund, Cancer Research UK

6-May-2025

A healthy diet in childhood is linked to starting menstrual periods later, regardless of BMI or height

European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Eating a healthy diet as a child is linked to girls having their first menstrual period at an older age than those who consumed a less healthy diet, according to a new study published in Human Reproduction. The findings remained unaltered by the girls’ body mass index or height, both of which have been associated with the earlier onset of periods. The study has implications for health in later life as it is well known that women who started their periods at an early age may be at higher risk for diabetes, obesity, breast cancer and diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Journal: Human Reproduction
Funder: Breast Cancer Research Foundation, National Institutes of Health

6-May-2025

Personalized breast cancer prevention now available for women 30+ in the UK

Estonian Research Council
Reports and Proceedings

A new telemedicine service for personalised breast cancer prevention has launched at preventcancer.co.uk. It allows women aged 30 to 75 across the UK to understand their risk of developing breast cancer and take early action years before NHS screening begins.