Most women with smaller breast cancer tumors can avoid chemotherapy safely, according to a study



[ad_1]

Dr. Larry Norton:

Yes.

Well, we are doing this test of 21 genes. This is what is called the Oncotype DX test. And he tells us a scale from zero to 100 that concerns the risk of spreading cancer to another part of the body. Very low scores, up to 10, it's a very low chance that these patients get hormone therapy, and chemotherapy does not help them. We have known for a long time

. Very high scores are at increased risk of cancer spread, and these patients have benefited a lot from chemotherapy. And we know it too. But intermediate patients with scores of 11 to 25, we do not know what is best for them. Should we give them chemotherapy? Should not we give them chemotherapy? What is the best option for these people? We did not have any orientation.

Now we do it. This very large, very important study tells us that people with these intermediate scores have a very good prognosis and that the prognosis is not improved by chemotherapy. So, they do not need chemotherapy.

And it's just a wonderful thing, to look someone in the eye and say, you have a good prognosis. Your chances of being cured are excellent, and you do not need chemotherapy because you do not need it. You have a good prognosis and chemotherapy will not help.

It's wonderful to be able to look into someone's eyes and give them that information.

[ad_2]
Source link