SAN ANTONIO -- Tamoxifen has a "true preventive effect" on breast cancer in women with a strong family history of the disease -- but it may take several years before the benefit is seen.

SAN ANTONIO -- Tamoxifen has a "true preventive effect" on breast cancer in women with a strong family history of the disease -- but it may take several years before the benefit is seen.

SAN ANTONIO -- Breast cancer clinicians seem to be on the right track with their use of radiotherapy, chemotherapy regimens, and tamoxifen, showing a major mortality decline, according to a meta-analysis of clinical trial evidence.

SAN ANTONIO -- Breast cancer clinicians seem to be on the right track with their use of radiotherapy, chemotherapy regimens, and tamoxifen, showing a major mortality decline, according to a meta-analysis of clinical trial evidence.

SEATTLE -- Black cohosh alone or with other botanical therapies was no better than placebo at relieving hot flashes or other vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, found the Herbal Alternatives for Menopause (HALT) trial.

TORONTO -- A drink or two may protect against death from a hard blow to the head, researchers here reported.

TORONTO -- A drink or two may protect against death from a hard blow to the head, researchers here reported.

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Rapidly growing primary cutaneous melanomas have characteristic features that signal the need for immediate and aggressive medical intervention, said researchers here.

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Rapidly growing primary cutaneous melanomas have characteristic features that signal the need for immediate and aggressive medical intervention, said researchers here.

SAN ANTONIO -- If a big study of the post-tamoxifen use of Aromasin (exemestane) for early breast caner had gone to its conclusion, the aromatase inhibitor would have fared as well as Femara (letrozole), a competitor, an investigator reported here.

SAN ANTONIO -- If a big study of the post-tamoxifen use of Aromasin (exemestane) for early breast caner had gone to its conclusion, the aromatase inhibitor would have fared as well as Femara (letrozole), a competitor, an investigator reported here.

SAN ANTONIO -- The combination of investigational Tykerb (lapatinib) and Taxol (paclitaxel) as neoadjuant chemotherapy appears effective against inflammatory breast cancer, according to a small study.

SAN ANTONIO -- The combination of investigational Tykerb (lapatinib) and Taxol (paclitaxel) as neoadjuant chemotherapy appears effective against inflammatory breast cancer, according to a small study.

SAN ANTONIO -- Attacking two separate breast cancer pathways with adjuvant therapy can double the disease-free period after surgery for women whose metastatic tumors are estrogen receptor-positive and HER2-positive, researchers reported here.

SAN ANTONIO -- Attacking two separate breast cancer pathways with adjuvant therapy can double the disease-free period after surgery for women whose metastatic tumors are estrogen receptor-positive and HER2-positive, researchers reported here.

SAN ANTONIO -- Some women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) can safely skip radiation therapy and be treated with lumpectomy alone, a researcher said here.

SAN ANTONIO -- Some women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) can safely skip radiation therapy and be treated with lumpectomy alone, a researcher said here.

SAN ANTONIO -- The annual incidence of breast cancer has fallen dramatically, coinciding with the end of the era of hormone replacement therapy, revealed National Cancer Institute SEER data.

SAN ANTONIO -- The annual incidence of breast cancer has fallen dramatically, coinciding with the end of the era of hormone replacement therapy, revealed National Cancer Institute SEER data.

SAN ANTONIO -- The annual incidence of breast cancer has fallen drastically, coinciding with the end of the hormone replacement therapy era, according to SEER data from the National Cancer Institute. After a steady rise during the past 20 years, the incidence dropped 7% from 2002 to 2003, reported investigators at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The absolute reduction could be as many as 14,000 breast cancer cases per year.