Its National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and what better timing than to discover a gene test can detect which early stage breast cancer patients can avoid having to undergo chemotherapy.
The initial results of an international breast cancer clinical trial has been able to provide evidence that a genetic test is able to reliably identify that a subgroup of women with early stage, hormone receptor positive breast cancer can safely avoid having to undergo chemo.
What is typically found to be the procedure for early stage breast cancer involves surgery, followed by years of a hormone-blocking drug. But many women are also urged to receive chemotherapy to help kill any stray cancerous cells that may have spread beyond the treated area and become dangerous later down the line.
Until the findings from this study, doctors in the past haven’t been able to safely determine if a patient may be able to skip chemotherapy in their treatment regimen without potentially detrimental outcomes later on. As a result, doctors typically urge patients in early stage breast cancer to undergo chemotherapy.
These findings will hopefully develop into certainties in the near future, and the horrible effects of chemotherapy may be able to be avoided by many early stage breast cancer patients. Chemotherapy has side effects that are not limited to nausea, hair loss and extreme fatigue.
The study was conducted in Australia and New Zealand by the Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials group (ANZBCTG). For more information about clinical trial and ongoing research click here.
According to Professor Bruce Mann, ANZBCTG Board Member, the findings have been found reliable for a low-range recurrence score, however the study is on going and will evaluate whether those with a mid-range recurrence score can safely avoid chemotherapy.
This month is filled with reason to spread the word, educate and celebrate women coming together to fight the battle of breast cancer as one.
For more information on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month click here
