Breast Cancer (cont.)
What is being done to better understand and prevent breast cancer?
Doctors all over the country are conducting many types of clinical trials
(research studies in which people volunteer to take part). They are studying new
ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat breast cancer. Some are also
studying therapies that may improve the quality of life for women during or
after cancer treatment.
Clinical trials are designed to answer important questions and to find out
whether new approaches are safe and effective. Research already has led to
advances and researchers continue to search for more effective methods for
dealing with cancer.
Women who join clinical trials may be among the first to benefit if a new
approach is effective. And even if people in a trial do not benefit directly,
they still make an important contribution by helping doctors learn more about
breast cancer and how to control it. Although clinical trials may pose some
risks, researchers do all they can to protect their patients.
If you are interested in being part of a clinical trial, talk with your
doctor. Trials are available for all stages of breast cancer.
Research on prevention
Scientists are looking for drugs that may prevent breast cancer. For example,
they are testing several different drugs that lower hormone levels or prevent a
hormone's effect on breast cells.
In one large study, the drug tamoxifen reduced the number of new cases of
breast cancer among women who were at an increased risk of the disease. Doctors
are studying whether the drug raloxifene is as effective as tamoxifen. This
study is called STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene).
Research on detection, diagnosis, and staging
At this time, mammograms are the most effective tool we have to detect
changes in the breast that may be cancer. In women at high risk of breast
cancer, researchers are studying the combination of mammograms and ultrasound.
Researchers are also exploring positron emission tomography (PET) and other ways
to make detailed pictures of breast tissue.
In addition, researchers are studying tumor markers. Tumor markers may be
found in blood, in urine, or in fluid from the breast (nipple aspirate). High
amounts of these substances may be a sign of cancer. Some markers may be used to
check breast cancer patients for signs of disease after treatment. At this time,
however, no tumor marker test is reliable enough to be used routinely to detect
breast cancer.
Ductal lavage also is under study. This technique collects cells from breast
ducts. A liquid flows through a catheter (very thin, flexible tube) into the
opening of a milk duct on the nipple. The liquid and breast cells are withdrawn
through the tube. A pathologist checks the cells for cancer or changes that may
suggest an increased risk of cancer.
Research on treatment
Researchers are studying many types of treatment and their combinations:
- Surgery: Different types of surgery are being combined with other
treatments.
- Radiation therapy: Doctors are studying whether radiation therapy
can be used instead of surgery to treat cancer in lymph nodes. They are looking
at the effectiveness of radiation therapy to a larger area around the breast. In
women with early breast cancer, doctors are studying whether radiation therapy
to a smaller part of the breast may be helpful.
- Chemotherapy: Researchers are
testing new anticancer drugs and doses. They are working with drugs and
combinations of drugs. They are looking at new drug combinations before surgery.
They are also looking at new ways of combining chemotherapy with hormone therapy
or radiation therapy.
- Hormone therapy: Researchers are testing several types
of hormone therapy, including aromatase inhibitors.
- Biological therapy: New
biological treatments also are under study. For example, researchers are
studying cancer vaccines that help the immune system kill cancer cells.
In addition, researchers are looking at ways to lessen the side effects from treatment, such as lymphedema from surgery. They are looking at ways to reduce pain and improve quality of life. One method under study is sentinel lymph node biopsy. Today, surgeons have to remove many lymph nodes under the arm and check each of them for cancer. Researchers are studying whether checking only the node to which cancer is most likely to spread (sentinel lymph node) will allow them to predict whether cancer has spread to other nodes. If this new procedure works as well as standard treatment, surgeons may be able to remove fewer lymph nodes. This could reduce lymphedema for many patients.
Next: What resources are available for people with breast cancer? »
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