THE GOLDEN AGE OF CANCER RESEARCH
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a great time to recognize and applaud all the research projects which are ongoing around the world. Breast cancer research receives the highest dollar amount of any cancer, approximately 11.2% of total cancer research dollars. The results show. The estimated survival rate of breast cancer has improved from 74% in the 70's to around 89% by 2010.
There is so much going on in all types of cancer research right now! I have picked 5 amazing studies that cancer research donated dollars are currently or have very recently supported.
1) MANUKA HONEY The Manuka bush is native to New Zealand and southern Australia. The honey is liquid gold for medical purposes. Researchers have found when this honey is given orally to mice with ER+ breast cancer, 84% of the cancer cells are destroyed. When applied to human ER+ breast cells this results in cell destruction as well. The honey also appears effective in destroying cancer cells in a type of lung cancer and a type of pancreatic cancer.
2) PERSONALIZED VACCINES FOR CANCER PATIENTS Researchers are designing vaccines to specifically help individual survivor's immune system after traditional treatments have been completed. These vaccines seek, recognize, and destroy any remaining cancer cells. This type of therapy has received a boost from mRNA technology used in the COVID vaccines.
3) ANASTROZOLE AS A PREVENTATIVE DRUG Anastrozole is an aromatase inhibitor drug used to treat ER+ breast cancer. Scientists are testing this drug as a preventative drug for women at high risk to develop breast cancer.
4) HOPE FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED FORMS OF NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER This form of lung cancer is the most common form of the disease. In advanced stages of this type of lung cancer the survival rate drops significantly. When comparing a treatment combining amivantamob and lazertinib to the current treatment of osimertinib, the survival rate for advanced stage patients increased from 16.6 months to 23.7 months, an increase of about 70%! The FDA approved this drug combination in August 2024.
5) ONE TEST TO IDENTIFY MULTIPLE TYPES OF CANCER Researches are developing a test that analyzes blood proteins. Early results show this test can provide early detection for 18 types of cancer. Cost effective. Highly accurate. Stay tuned for results from additional studies. This is one we hope is available in the very near future.
TOO GOOD NOT TO MENTION These are just a few of over 8,000 cancer research projects currently in the mix. Research is focusing on understanding individual characteristics of the tumor cells, individualizing each patients cancer treatments, using AI to project outcomes, and looking for treatments with fewer side effects which provide more effective survival outcomes!
CANCER RESEARCH DOLLARS ARE FUELING SO MUCH GREAT INFORMATION AND HOPE! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!