Cure breast cancer without chemotherapy

Studies of more than 10,000 patients in the United States have shown that chemotherapy is sometimes unnecessary and expensive, causing severe side effects.

Many breast cancer patients are advised after surgery, but not necessarily needed, TIME reported. Recently, American scientists found that women with breast cancer who do not need chemotherapy can still win the disease.

The group of researchers led by Dr. Joseph Sparano from the Montefiore New York Medical Center selected 10,273 breast cancer patients who had not spread to lymph nodes, ER positive (cancer of estrogen growth or progesterone) and no respond to the drug Herceptin. All volunteers had surgery and hormone treatment.

Patients with chemotherapy breast cancer at a facility in Nice (France).(Photo: Reuters).

Through genetic testing, the research team found that 67% of women are at risk of relapse. This number continues to be divided into two groups: one chemotherapy group and one chemotherapy group. Over 9 years, 94% of volunteers in both groups survived and about 84% had no trace of cancer. This proves that chemotherapy or not does not make a difference.

From the results, Dr. Richard Schilsky, medical director of the American Cancer Society believes that breast cancer patients should test the gene to determine the appropriate course of treatment, reducing unnecessary costs. In the US, the $ 4,000 Oncotype DX test is covered by insurance. Patients can also choose other common tests such as MammaPrint.

However, Dr. Jenniger Litton of the Anderson Houston Cancer Center doubts the ability to convince patients. " There are people who don't care, don't get chemotherapy or genetic testing. In contrast, some people insist on chemotherapy , " Dr. Jenniger Litton said.

In fact, instead of chemotherapy with severe side effects, world medicine is gradually turning to gene therapy, hormone suppression and immunotherapy . In cases where chemotherapy is needed, the duration and dose are reduced. A study of each conclusion for lung cancer patients, Keytruda immunotherapy is much more effective than chemotherapy but has fewer side effects.