Clues for Personalizing Breast Cancer Treatment

• Researchers from USCF have found three "biomarkers" that can tell the percentage one has of developing invasive breast cancer within 8 years of when the cancer is discovered.
• Invasive cancer is when the cancer has left the milk gland or duct.
• They gathered data on 1162 women with breast cancer and discovered that three markers can accurately predict the chance of developing invasive breast cancer without treatment.
• Since they can now find the individual risk of a patient they can decide what treatment to use and personalize it.
• The discovery is not "practice-changing", but it is an "exciting clue!

Reflection:

This relates to something we covered in class about over treatment and under treatment. Now we have clues to help personalize treatment, and it won't be as painful for the woman or man receiving it. It could mean eliminating a harmful treatment like chemotherapy or surgery. I hope that they can develop a treatment based on their findings, and that it won't be blocked from the general public because of monetary reasons. Treatments now are very expensive, and sometimes can't be afforded. I wonder how these markers work, and if it has to do with metastasis? Most likely it does, as that is when cancer spreads and causes damage, becoming "invasive."

Link:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/clues-for-personalizing-breast-cancer-treatment/?scp=1&sq=new%20cancer%20treatment&st=cse

Citation:

Parker-pope, Tara. "Clues for Personalizing Breast Cancer Treatment - Well Blog - NYTimes.com."Health and Wellness - Well Blog - NYTimes.com. Web. 16 May 2010. .