Drugs Give Hope to Breast, Skin Cancer Treatment
Monday, June 06, 2011
Doctors are praising two drugs that have been proven in recent studies to help in the fight against breast and skin cancer.
The pill, RG 7204, targets a genetic mutation seen in about half of all melanoma patients. Doctors say the new drug is so effective that some patients are being taken off chemotherapy.
Many patients have seen better treatment results and far fewer side affects than with chemotherapy.
"We have tears of joy in clinic when we have a patient who's really sick from melanoma. We've enrolled them on these clinical trials and in 72 hours they're better. This is unbelievable," cancer researcher Dr. Lynn Schuchter explained.
Researchers have also proven the drug Aromasin cuts the risk of developing breast cancer by more than half.
The study, published in the latest New England Journal of Medicine, revealed Aromasin produces less threatening side effects than traditional treatment.
The drug is already used to assist in treating breast cancer among women who are post-menopausal. The latest findings give hope that women with a higher risk of breast cancer may have another choice for preventative treatment.
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