Thought provoking. Chemo for all in the face of a 15% impact is an issue that has long puzzelled me.
It also leads onto questions as to chemo v ablation for young fertile sufferers.
Ablation is reported as being as effective as chemo, which raises they question as to why do chemo if ablation is necessary afterwards where fertility continues after chemo.
A huge emotive complex and immensly important issue for hose struggling to balance the options and outcomes.
As usual dependent on exact treatment etc.
RB
http://www.mydna.com/health/breast_c...st_cancer.html
Abstract
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of 19 cancer centers across the country, recently revised guidelines for breast cancer treatment.
Now, the guidelines recommend that oncologists should first determine if a breast cancer patient has any of several conditions that mean his or her cancer is affected by high levels of estrogen, rather than the traditional assessment of lymph node involvement and tumor size.
If the cancer cells are sensitive to estrogen or progesterone, then drugs that block estrogen may be effective in slowing the cancer.
Chemotherapy kills all rapidly dividing cells, whether they are cancerous or not, causing hair loss, nausea and mouth sores. This treatment only helps about 15 percent of the people who receive it after the surgery to remove their tumors.
Doctors are quick to point out that although the new guidelines, which were also recently adopted in Europe, somewhat reduce the need for chemotherapy, it does not mean patients won't ever need that form of treatment.
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