May

20

Breast Cancer- Medical Updates

Posted by maureen

May 20, 2007 |

I am really encouraged by the increasing number of possible breakthrough treatments and drugs concerning breast cancer. Today the number of women with breast cancer surviving more than five years after diagnosis is 89% (in America) However, it is still the most common cancer among women, except for nonmelanoma skin cancers. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman’s life is about 1 in 8 (13% of women). It is estimated that in 2007 about 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States. Here’s some new research :

The Enzyme PTPIB

PTPIB is an enzyme that appears to “remove the brakes “on cell division, and fuel tumor growth. About 40 % of human breast cancers have excessively high levels of this enzyme Recently researchers have been able to block the action of the enzyme and found that deleting PTPIB in mice led to a significant delay in the onset of breast tumors and prevented the secondary development of tumors in the lungs.

Drug Replaces Breast Chemotherapy

Researchers are suggesting that some women with breast cancer may be able to avoid chemotherapy by taking an extra drug, Many types of breast cancer are sensitive to hormones produced naturally by a woman, including the sex hormone estrogen, and can grow faster if a woman is producing them. The treatment works by preventing another hormone, luteinising hormone, from doing its job - stimulating the release of more estrogen. The drug switches off the ovary and stops the production of a female hormone which can encourage some tumors to grow. This might be a better treatment choice and particularly useful to younger patients who face losing their fertility with conventional chemotherapy.

Here are some sites that give information, medical updates and support:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded on a promise between two sisters.A comprehensive site that offers information and tools for patients and survivors.

Breastcancer.org is a site dedicated to providing medical information about breast cancer from how to lower your risk to types of treatments.

Getbcfacts. This site differs from the others by offering a tutorial that you can personalize, if you wish, to your experience. It provides information depending on the answers you give.

Pick- Finders.com bring together six sites offering various types of information and help.


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