Radiation Treatments for Breast Cancer Increases Risk of Heart Disease: A new study found that women who have received radiation treatment for breast cancer has a modest, but significant risk of heart disease in the future. However, it is outweighed by the benefit of the treatment, “which can halve the recurrence rate and lower the death rate from breast cancer by about one-sixth.” Cancer oncologists worry that these finding will compel women to avoid radiation therapy and get double mastectomies instead. “There is a wave toward mastectomy in this country,” says Dr. Silvia Formenti, chairwoman of radiation oncology at New York University. 

Depression Affects About 1 in 7 New Mothers: In one of the largest studies of it’s kind, researchers assessed depression in new mothers and found that 1 in 7 women have experienced depression either before, during or after pregnancy. They screened 10,000 new mothers in the Pittsburgh regional area over four years. Of the women who developed depression, 40% had postpartum depression.