Old Ideas Spur New Approaches in Cancer Fight

[Rich66]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/29/he...ewanted=1&_r=1

...some researchers are taking a fresh look at ideas that were dismissed as folklore — a blow to the breast might spur cancer, an infection might fuel cancer cells, a weak immune system might let cancer spread. They also say the new approach may help explain mysteries, like why the breast cancer rate plummeted when women stopped taking menopausal hormones.

[bejuce]

Excellent article with lots of interesting insights. The idea that surrounding tissue and cellular environment has an effect makes total sense to me. I for one believe that my cancer may have developed as a result of something happening in my milk ducts during the extensive breastfeeding period I had - the DCIS cells jumping out of the milk ducts that the article talked about. Or as a result of the 10+ years of birth control pills that could have altered my breast tissue and made it even denser.

Who knows.... The cause is not that crucial for me at this point. I hope that this research will fuel the development of new targeted therapies that stop the cells from escaping/growing elsewhere.

One observation - the article talks about some cancers that seem to become more out of control after surgery. Makes sense to do neo-adjuvant chemo before surgery to kill the cancer cells before attacking the tissue with the surgery.

[Rich66]

Interesting insight, Bejuce.
Hadn't thought of neoadjuvant tx as a method to reduce overall trauma from surgery. For what it's worth, I spoke at length with a woman with a large breast tumor who claims to have skipped surgery and pursued IPT because it was considered aggressive, essentially hopeless tumor. Initial thought was surgery wouldn't help so try to keep it under control while maintaining quality of life. She says it has grown and shrunk over a good number of years ( I think 5+) but hasn't spread. Completely anecdotal, but pretty provocative.
However...
Considering known release of growth factors from surgery trauma and contributing issues with the typically general opiate anesthesia (and post surgery opiates), makes me wonder.