Study: 'Smart bomb' drug attacks breast cancer

[Irishonly]

CHICAGO — Doctors have successfully dropped the first "smart bomb" on breast cancer, using a drug to deliver a toxic payload to tumor cells while leaving healthy ones alone.

In a key test involving nearly 1,000 women with very advanced disease, the experimental treatment extended by several months the time women lived without their cancer getting worse, doctors planned to report Sunday at a cancer conference in Chicago.

More importantly, the treatment seems likely to improve survival; it will take more time to know for sure. After two years, 65 percent of women who received it were still alive versus 47 percent of those in a comparison group given two standard cancer drugs.

That margin fell just short of the very strict criteria researchers set for stopping the study and declaring the new treatment a winner, and they hope the benefit becomes more clear with time. In fact, so many women on the new treatment are still alive that researchers cannot yet determine average survival for the group.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47663271/ns/health/

Now let's hope the medical researchers can come up with a smart bomb for all cancers.

[jumptheshadow]

1. This is a thrilling development...

...for many dear people. I hope with all my heart that the researchers run with it and find the elusive key that will eradicate these diseases forever. It must be wonderful for the sun to start peeking through when so much of the picture has been so bleak.

If any of you are part of this study, or are waiting for this drug, then I am in your corner, cheering you on.

My baby, however, is HER negative, and is part of the 80 percent who will not be helped by this breakthrough. She is fighting with everything she's got. I want so badly for her to stay with me and our family. I am hoping for a miracle.

[Irishonly]

2. We are hoping for a miracle with you

Both of you have been on my mind altely. Everyone here always is here but I have been worried about both of you. How is she doing?

[jumptheshadow]

3. We got good news today

The breast surgeon says her tumor is shrinking. Now if the oncologist will only agree...

She started the first of four rounds of chemo in April. Her third round comes this week. There were eight awful days in the last cycle where she was extremely weak and sick and almost incapable of eating anything. Gradually, however, we are learning what she can tolerate: beef, watermelon, peanut butter, carrot and celery sticks, potatoes, turkey. She can also drink (but dislikes the taste of) Ensure Plus. She definitely feels better the day after she eats protein, and in the last week, I've seen flashes of her old self for the first time since last year.

She started showing signs of chemo brain this weekend. It's very strange to see this woman who has such a sharp engineering mind disoriented by simple household situations. Yet she retains her trademark sense of humor.

We are getting so much support from family, friends and work. She has set up a workstation for me on a recliner when I need to work from home to help nurse her. I need it because I am busy at work as well and get so tired! My sister is coming for a week next month to give me relief from the mountain of chores and errands.

We are preparing for her upcoming chemo by resting her and slowly building up her protein intake.

What a rollercoaster ride this is, but she is a trooper!

Thank you for your thoughts and good wishes.

[dmr]

4. I'm going to ask my oncologist about this when I see her.

I'm Stage IV, & it's metastasized to both lungs, bones, and, well, just about everywhere but my liver.

The cancer med my doc has prescribed seems to be doing a good job. So far, so good. <finger's crossed>