came across this article reading up on KYLIE (no surprise), though she's mentioned, the article is for all women & men. and i thought should be read as it affects all of us in some way or another.

moderators please keep this in GD forum. thanks.



Major Advances in Breast Cancer Research
Outlook Optimistic for Women, Including Singer Kylie Minogue


By Kevin McGowan and Paul Sisco
The Epoch Times
Jul 14, 2005

HIGH SPIRITS: Following successful surgery to remove cancerous lump, singer Kylie Minogue’s prospects of recovery look good according to doctor. (MJ Kim/Getty Images)


World famous singer with 37 hit singles in the U.K, 36-year-old Kylie Minogue, was diagnosed with breast cancer on Tuesday, and had a successful operation on Friday to remove a cancerous lump. “I feel confident that we caught the cancer in time and that she is now on the road to complete recovery,'' Dr. Jenny Senior said at a briefing at Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne where the operation was performed. The singer's ”spirits are high.''

Breast cancer has become the most common in the U.K, with an average of 41,000 cases diagnosed every year. These statistics average that one in every nine women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. Early diagnosis of the disease and improved treatments in recent years have improved the mortality rate. Despite this, the United Kingdom still has one of the highest mortality rates worldwide. A spokesperson for N.H.S Greater Glasgow said, “Breast cancer is the most common form of female cancer, accounting for nearly 30% of all cases of cancer in women.”

The precise reason why women develop breast cancer is still unknown to present medical science, although some likely causes have been identified as genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Scientists involved with these studies have identified two genes which are more likely to be defective in women with breast cancer. These genes have also been blamed for other forms of cancer. Despite this, these genes only account for 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases. Other factors identified are levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen, which research has shown may be linked to increased risks of developing breast cancer. Similarly, women who regularly take certain types of hormone replacement therapy are also considered at a higher risk. Interestingly, women who have their first child later in life also appear to be at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Scientists still however remain unable to detect the root cause of the disease.

Most women who develop breast cancer do not need to have a breast removed. In most cases, if the tumor is small enough in relation to the breast, a procedure called "lumpectomy" is carried out. This procedure removes only the cancerous lump and not the breast itself. This operation is sometimes followed with radiotherapy to prevent the re-occurrence of the cancer. In addition, it is common for surgeons to remove lymph nodes from under the arms of the patient to determine if the cancer cells have spread to the lymphatic system. This lymphatic system is a network of vessels which link different parts of the body.

For women with breast cancer who undergo "mastectomy" (the removal of a breast), surgeons are now able to reconstruct a breast using implants, fat from other parts of the body such as the tummy, and even a back muscle can be bent round to form a new breast. These procedures allow surgeons to closely mimic the shape and size of the other breast. In a lot of these cases, many surgeons perform the "mastectomy” and re-construction together. It is important to remember though that most patients do not undergo this type of surgery.

In recent years the level of research and support for those suffering from breast cancer has increased. The disease can also be found in the men, though it is less common. The most effective way to tackle breast cancer is knowledge and early treatment. There are simple checks which women and men should carry out regularly:

* A change in shape, size or outline of the breast
* Any lump or thickening in the breast or armpit
* Puckering or dimpling of the skin
* Unusual pain or discomfort
* Flaking skin or discharge from the nipple

Statistics have shown that 75 % of breast cancer cases are discovered through self examination. In addition, regularly performing these checks will allow you to recognize what ‘normal’ is, so any later problems can later be detected. Along with this the N.H.S provides mammograms- x-rays of the breasts yearly as part of the N.H.S national screening program. Eight out of ten lumps turn out not to be cancerous, although any physical changes in the breasts should still be reported to the doctor for re-assurance.

Some doctors who treat cancer are saying we've entered a new golden era of cancer research. They're upbeat about current research and new treatment options that are saving lives.

Dr. Karen Antman, who directs cancer research at the National Institute of Health outside Washington DC, is one of those who are optimistic. She points to three major advances: drug development, vaccine research, and vast improvements in imaging and body scanning technologies.

Better screening means earlier diagnosis; means more treatment options. Vaccines are becoming more effective against certain cancers, there is a rapid development of better drugs with fewer side affects, and there is a new diagnostic tool called gene chip technology.

"There are now chips where you can put down a few thousand genes in a tiny little area on a slide, and then you can drop a biological fluid, or piece of tumor onto that slide, and some of the genes will be increased in activity, and some of the genes will be decreased in activity if you compare cancer and normal adjacent tissue, and it's emerging that certain diseases such as breast cancer that are treated with hormones or lymphomas, you can predict better on the basis of which genes are activated or repressed than you can on the basis of the kinds of medical things that we knew in the past, so gene chip technology is allowing us to tell a patient 'you're at high risk and therefore we're going to treat you more aggressively, or, you're at low risk and therefore you don't need the side effects of being treated aggressively," says Dr. Antman.

If you would like to receive screening or would like to learn more about breast cancer you should contact your G.P. Information can also be found at www.nationalbreastcancer.org and www.breastcancer.org

Great news!!!

Reality check: the media is usually very optimistic about the advances. Although the research advances pretty quick, this does not mean that patients will benefit equally fast, i'm sorry to say.

About the vaccines becoming more effective: this has not yet been shown in humans only in mouse/rat studies (as far as I have kept up with current publications)

Drug development indeed looks promising. The imaging techniques produce pretty pictures, but ususally only after a patient has already been diagnosed. No way near a simple scanning device to MAKE a diagnosis.

About the chip technology: that's my working area. Our lab recently published a big breast cancer study on this. It indeed looks very promising as a diagnostic tool. We need to confirm our findings with a even bigger follow-up study to really be sure of its potential though.

Thanx for posting Chico!

AlfofMelmak said:

Thank Alf.
Co-sign on the thanking Chico.

Coming from a family riddled with people suffering from cancer I can say I have seen my share of experimental treatments...

Often new medicin is hailed as saviour, until they find out about the long-term effects are more damaging than initially anticipated.

AlfofMelmak said:

Keep up the good work, Alfo

The "promising" vaccines will never be anything more than adjuvent therapy unfortunatley. The vaccines we are trying to develop only seem to halt disease and minimise spread. Any great "cure" is always going to be through a combination of treatments.