New Yorkers who are at risk for breast cancer might be interested in learning about some breakthroughs in cancer research that could potentially have major impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. While there still is no cure for cancer, these advances could bring the world closer to discovering one.
New Yorkers who are at risk for breast cancer might be interested in learning about some breakthroughs in cancer research that could potentially have major impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. While there still is no cure for cancer, these advances could bring the world closer to discovering one.
In one study that was conducted in the UK, 257 women who had virulent strains of breast cancer were given a combination of drugs made by GlaxoSmithKline and Roche Holdings. These are targeted drugs that hone in on cancer cells to destroy them. Among the participants, 11 percent were completely cancer-free after just 11 days of the targeted combination treatment.
The second study also occurred in the UK at Cambridge. There, researchers were able to identify 93 different genes that cause breast cancer. This could potentially lead to a better way to identify women who develop the condition. In addition, researchers from France and Australia discovered that isotopic changes in the proportions of nitrogen-15 and carbon-13 can point to the presence of cancer. This is exciting because it could lead to the development of a simple blood test to identify cancer that is present at much earlier stages. It could replace annual mammograms, which are reportedly wrong 16 percent of the time.
New developments in the identification and treatment of breast cancer are welcome news. When women rely on annual mammograms, they also rely on their doctors’ ability to accurately read the tests. Misread test results can lead to many complications. If a doctor diagnoses cancer when it is not present, the patient may be harmed by the harsh treatments and permanently disfigured by unneeded surgeries. Such victims may want to contact a medical malpractice attorney.
