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ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- More than 211,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Many of them have advanced disease that spreads quickly. Grueling chemotherapy drips used to be the only option for these patients. But now a new drug combo may be just as effective -- without the side effects.
Most women with advanced breast cancer have to endure the harsh effects of chemotherapy. But Audrey Dickinson's treatment hasn't disrupted her game at all. "People can't believe it," she says. "They come by to see me, and they expect that I'm going to be just feeling miserable, and life has just been going on as usual."
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Dickinson took part in a clinical trial to test a new therapy for breast cancer. Instead of chemo, doctors gave her a combination of two drugs -- Herceptin (trastuzumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab).
"Our hope is that by using very effective, very logical combinations of treatment that do not have the side effects of chemotherapy, that a patient will live and do well and have a better quality of life," Rebecca Moroose, M.D., an oncologist at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute in Orlando, tells Ivanhoe.
The drugs work together to target the different proteins that cause tumors to spread. Dr. Moroose says, "We're looking at the molecular signature, at the biological profile, of each individual's cancer cell."
In a small study, five out of nine patients responded to the drugs, and one patient had a complete response -- leading researchers to believe the combo may be as effective as chemo. The biggest benefit? Patients do not experience serious side effects like hair loss, nausea and fatigue.
"A patient who doesn't have to deal with the toxicity cannot only have effective treatment but also live a much richer life," Dr. Moroose says.
Dickinson knows that firsthand. She says, "I've had the chance to live my life as usual and to fight cancer rather than letting the cancer become my life." And with a support system like this, she has a lot to live for.
Dr. Moroose says this new drug combo needs to be tested in larger studies to determine if it is, in fact, as effective as chemo. If it is, she says it may replace chemotherapy for certain patients. About 20 percent to 30 percent of breast cancer patients are candidates for the drugs.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Jeni Hatter
Florida Hospital
2520 North Orange Ave.
Suite 200
Orlando, FL 32804
(407) 303-8213
jeniffer.hatter@flhosp.org
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