Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Breast cancer survivors get a leg up with new drugs
By: Carrie Alexander
With new advancements in breast cancer technology such as digital mammograms and MRI images, it's no surprise that breast cancer death rates are down. But pharmaceutical drugs are making advancements in the field of breast cancer as well.
Dr. Jamie Rigden specializes in oncology in the Kansas City area and is one of many doctors who took part in a clinical trial for the drug Tykerb. Tykerb, approved last March by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment in those with metastatic disease, is now being studied in women who have had breast cancer to reduce the chance of relapse.
“Tykerb is a monoclonal antibody that hones in on cells with the gene Her-2,” Rigden said. “Basically it's a magic bullet that crosses the blood-brain barrier.”
Before Tykerb, there were few options of drugs, and patients came in to the doctor's office for IV treatments using the drug Herceptin. Now, with the addition of Tykerb, an oral medication, patients are able to make visit the doctor less frequently.
“It's more convenient and has fewer side effects,” Rigden said. “The only downside is that it's a prescription, so for those without insurance, it's expensive. But the upside is that for those involved in the trial, they get it for free.”
Another upside to Tykerb is that it has shown impressive results in trials of those with phase 2 inflammatory breast cancers. Inflammatory breast cancer can be extremely hard to diagnose, especially in breastfeeding mothers because it mimics the symptoms of mastitis.
And for those without breast cancer but a strong family history, there is another drug that is showing promising results: raloxifene.
Raloxifene is now used to help prevent osteoporosis but has now been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 50 percent.
“Before the only option was tamoxifen,” Rigden said. “Raloxifene has less side effects than tamoxifen but equally decreases the risk for breast cancer.”
Rigden said that it was important to note that not everyone is a candidate for raloxifene. Those with no family history, no signs of breast cancer and who are not postmenopausal should not take the drug.
“There are side effects with any drug,” Rigden said. “We look at the side effects and decide if it's worth the risk.
Over and over health care professionals repeated the same message: Regardless of the new technology, self-awareness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle play the most important part in preventing cancer.
“Maintain a normal body weight, exercise and avoid excessive alcohol,” Rigden said. “Get a baseline mammogram at age 35 and regular screenings at 40 and perform monthly self exams.”
Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.
printable version
e-mail this story
Dr. Jamie Rigden specializes in oncology in the Kansas City area and is one of many doctors who took part in a clinical trial for the drug Tykerb. Tykerb, approved last March by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment in those with metastatic disease, is now being studied in women who have had breast cancer to reduce the chance of relapse.
“Tykerb is a monoclonal antibody that hones in on cells with the gene Her-2,” Rigden said. “Basically it's a magic bullet that crosses the blood-brain barrier.”
Before Tykerb, there were few options of drugs, and patients came in to the doctor's office for IV treatments using the drug Herceptin. Now, with the addition of Tykerb, an oral medication, patients are able to make visit the doctor less frequently.
“It's more convenient and has fewer side effects,” Rigden said. “The only downside is that it's a prescription, so for those without insurance, it's expensive. But the upside is that for those involved in the trial, they get it for free.”
Another upside to Tykerb is that it has shown impressive results in trials of those with phase 2 inflammatory breast cancers. Inflammatory breast cancer can be extremely hard to diagnose, especially in breastfeeding mothers because it mimics the symptoms of mastitis.
And for those without breast cancer but a strong family history, there is another drug that is showing promising results: raloxifene.
Raloxifene is now used to help prevent osteoporosis but has now been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 50 percent.
“Before the only option was tamoxifen,” Rigden said. “Raloxifene has less side effects than tamoxifen but equally decreases the risk for breast cancer.”
Rigden said that it was important to note that not everyone is a candidate for raloxifene. Those with no family history, no signs of breast cancer and who are not postmenopausal should not take the drug.
“There are side effects with any drug,” Rigden said. “We look at the side effects and decide if it's worth the risk.
Over and over health care professionals repeated the same message: Regardless of the new technology, self-awareness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle play the most important part in preventing cancer.
“Maintain a normal body weight, exercise and avoid excessive alcohol,” Rigden said. “Get a baseline mammogram at age 35 and regular screenings at 40 and perform monthly self exams.”
Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.
Comments on "Breast cancer survivors get a leg up with new drugs"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.Christine B. wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:06 AM:
" I think you got your wording a little mixed. "IN phase 2 trials of those with inflammatory breast cancer". For those of us with IBC, having another weapon to fight against this horrible disease is a great boon. Also, for more information about IBC, go to the web site www.ibcresearch.com. Thank you. "
JBBaumann wrote on Oct 19, 2007 8:37 AM:
" The problem with the miracle drug is you need a miracle to pay the $2900 a month to receive it. It does no good if the general population can't afford to buy it. "