Breakthrough Breast Cancer Therapy Reduces Mastectomies, Saves Breast

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119103735.htm

• A new treatment developed and tested by University of Oklahoma researchers not only killed large cancer tumors, but reduced the need for mastectomies by almost 90 percent.
• "This therapy is a major advancement for women with later stage breast cancer. Right now, most patients with large tumors lose their breast. With this treatment along with chemotherapy, we were able to kill the cancer and save the breast tissue," said William Dooley, M.D., a researcher at the OU Cancer Institute and the director of surgical oncology at OU Medicine.
• In the most recent study, researchers tested the Focused Microwave Thermotherapy on tumors that were an inch to an inch and a half in size. These large tumors usually require mastectomies. When researchers used the heating therapy within two hours of patients receiving chemotherapy, the tumor was more susceptible to the chemotherapy and shrunk rapidly.

Reflection

When I read this article, I was relieved to hear that there is an advancement in curing breast cancer. It is good to know that woman in the later stages of breast cancer still can survive without removing any one of their breasts. Researchers use a new type of therapy called Focused Mircowave Thermotherapy to reduce large tumors if done within two hours of when the patients received chemotherapy. It is good to know that woman with breast cancer can still live normal lives.

University of Oklahoma. "Breakthrough Breast Cancer Therapy Reduces Mastectomies, Saves Breast." ScienceDailyhttp://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/01/100119103735.htm>.