Steph N
08-19-2004, 08:34 AM
Hi gang -
This test actually is able to "count" cancer cells in the blood stream, so seems to be something only for mets or node postive patients. Maybe this will be a precurser for a test that is more accurate than the marker tests we have now - here is a bit from the article:
"It makes a huge difference in case you have to decide how aggressive you want to be with a woman with breast cancer," Cristofanilli, of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, told Reuters.
However, he noted that the system was only tested on breast cancer that had spread. Further research will be needed to see if the technique helps against less aggressive breast cancer or other types of tumors where cancer cells are less likely to be shed into the blood."
This test actually is able to "count" cancer cells in the blood stream, so seems to be something only for mets or node postive patients. Maybe this will be a precurser for a test that is more accurate than the marker tests we have now - here is a bit from the article:
"It makes a huge difference in case you have to decide how aggressive you want to be with a woman with breast cancer," Cristofanilli, of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, told Reuters.
However, he noted that the system was only tested on breast cancer that had spread. Further research will be needed to see if the technique helps against less aggressive breast cancer or other types of tumors where cancer cells are less likely to be shed into the blood."