Ongoing Research
Worldwide research projects and clinical trials are underway as part of the global effort to understand more about the earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Studies are attempting to identify possible environmental causes of breast cancer as well as to understand the physical, social and emotional issues confronting breast cancer survivors. New drugs used alone or in combination with other agents are being tested for their effects on preventing or treating breast cancer. Laser techniques that do not leave noticeable scarring are being tested as an alternative to conventional surgery.
Mammography research is focused on both trying to lower radiation dosages as well as using new digital technology to improve tumor resolution. Alternate imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and breast specific positron emission tomography (PET) continue to attempt to enhance the detection of smaller and smaller tumor masses. A possible vaccine is being tested and many biotech companies are intensely involved in trying to identify specific proteins which are uniquely released into a woman's blood stream, urine or nipple fluid by cancer cells as they grow. It is hoped that the ability to detect these protein markers with increasingly better sensitivity would allow physicians to find alternate techniques to diagnose breast cancer other than via imaging modalities used today.
Finally, recent attempts to push the process of earlier detection of breast cancer even further have now focused on developing a biological blood test to assess a woman's risk for breast cancer. Such a biological test has never before been available and would herald a remarkable new approach to breast cancer. Ultimately, such a test should provide the opportunity to significantly improve the survival rate for breast cancer patients by greatly facilitating the early awareness of women at risk for breast cancer.
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Related informational links:
American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society Clinical Trials Matching Service
National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer
CancerNet - A service of the National Cancer Institute
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Net
New York Times - Breast Cancer News
CancerTrack - Tracking cancer online
Mamm Magazine online
Health Central
Breast Cancer Society of Canada