Chapter 21

Medical Highlight: Breast Cancer: Beating the Odds

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. women (other than skin cancer) striking more than 200,000 each year and killing more than 40,000, (American Cancer Society report). There has been a 2.3% decline in the death rate since 1990, which is not huge, but it is steady. Early detection, better treatment, and lifestyle changes are helping drive down the rate.

With recent biological advances especially in genetics scientists know that the term breast cancer is somewhat antiquated. A more accurate description would be cancers that happen to be in the breast. Some of these cancers are more aggressive than others.

At a recent annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, George Sledge, Chair of the Education Committee, stated that doctors treating breast cancers now use the “divide and conquer” approach. Doctors classify breast cancers into specific categories and treat them accordingly. A major challenge is pinpointing women with a particular type of the disease and giving them the appropriate treatment.

Studies are showing new uses for existing drugs in treating breast cancer.

Name of Drug / Targets This Type of Tumor / Newly Demonstrated Benefit
Avastin: Cuts off the tumors blood supply. / Metastatic (Malignant tumors that spread to other parts of the body.) / Combines with chemotherapy extended cancer-free survival from 6-11 months
Herceptin: Targets the tumors that produce HER2 / HER2 (Tumors that make too much of the protein called HER2.) / Cuts risk of cancer’s return by 52% when combined with chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone
Femara: Aromatase inhibitor that changes the action of estrogen and progesterone / Hormone sensitive (Tumors that are influenced by the hormones estrogen and progesterone.) / Reduced the risk of recurrence by 19% versus tamoxifen (usual drug for this type of cancer) when given after surgery

The science of classifying tumors is still in the beginning stages. Some women’s tumors do not fall into any specific category and other drugs such as Iressa and Tarceva are being used with this group. Women must also remember these drugs have many side effects.

Life style changes. Other studies suggest for the first time that for some women a low-fat diet might reduce the odds that cancer will return. Another study suggested that a little exercise could also extend the survival rate. Early detection and good care is crucial to the survival rate of women affected by cancer of the breast. As of yet, doctors cannot predict a patient’s survival expectation.

References

American Cancer Society. (2005). Breast Cancer Death Rates Dropping. Retrieved

on February 27, 2006 from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Breast_Cancer_Death_Rates_Dropping.asp.

Hudson, Katherine. (2005, June 13). Beating the odds. U.S. News and World Report.