
Whenever there is a new study that makes even a small breakthrough in finding cure for cancer is a good day. The latest news are coming from Amsterdam were apparently scientists have destroyed breast cancer tumor in 11 days without the need for chemotherapy. Breast cancer is the most common cancer attacking 1 of 8 women during their lifetime.
Breast Cancer Breakthrough
At the European Breast Cancer Conference in Amsterdam, Professor Nigel Bundred, from the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust revealed that they have successfully tested a pair of drugs known as Lapatinib and Herceptin (a.k.a trastuzumab).
These two drugs are already used in breast cancer treatment, but this is the first time they have been combined and used before chemotherapy or surgery. The drugs combat HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) a protein that affects the division and growth of cancer cells. The results were astonishing with evidences of breast cancer tumor completely destroyed in less than two weeks.
What`s also interesting is the fact that these drugs also prevented the usual side effects like hair loss, vomiting and fatigue. Chemotherapy is not always the right choice for a lot of cancer patients.
Study Results
For study purposes 257 women with HER2 positive breast cancer were selected from which one half was put on the drug combo therapy and the other half were the control group. In less than two weeks, 11% from the first group were free of cancer cells and another 17% had dramatically shrunken tumors.
Currently Herceptin can be used only alongside chemotherapy, which is a big problem and hopefully the results from this problem can change that.
There is no denying that a lot of work has to be done, but still this is a major breakthrough in the fight against one of the diseases. With medical advancements and breakthroughs happening every day we hope cancer will be cured very soon!
Source:
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160310125513.htm