Breast cancer treatment breakthrough ‘will save lives’
International tests carried out on 1,500 women found that 75% of them treated with a new three-drug chemotherapy combination remained disease free after four-and-a-half years. This compares to 68% of women on the traditional treatment.
All of the women had early stage breast cancer. The study found a significant lower rate of relapse in women using the drug combination containing taxotere, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (TAC).
Similar studies are being carried out on 370 Irish women, the results of which will be published in 2005-’06.
Dr Brian Moulton, chief executive of Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group, who will make the findings public today, said the new treatment will save lives.
There are more than 1,600 new cases of breast cancer in Ireland ever year. More than 600 women die annually from the disease.
“The treatment is a three-drug regimen, it’s three chemotherapeutic drugs combined. It will keep a significant number of Irish women disease free. This is giving real benefits to Irish women.
“It’s great news because we have so many people on that regimen. It will save lives,” Dr Moulton said.
The role of the ICORG, which is principally funded by the Irish Cancer Society, is to give Irish patients access to the latest treatments.
Irish Cancer Society chief executive John McCormack said women will benefit from the new treatment immediately.
“Five or six years ago a specialist would say to a patient: ‘In America they’re experimenting with a drug that will be available here in five years’ time.’
“But Irish patients don’t want to wait for five years, they want access to the very best possible treatments now and ICORG makes that available.”
Mr McCormack said the 7% drop in the relapse rate was a significant breakthrough.
For further information, contact the Action Breast Cancer helpline at 1800 30 90 40.
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