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Studies Hope To Improve Breast Cancer Treatment

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Sep 4, 2008 4:48 pm US/Eastern

Studies Hope To Improve Breast Cancer Treatment

Reporting
Dr. Maria Simbra
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― A lot of advancement in breast cancer treatment has come from clinical trials. Four relatively young local women are all taking part in various studies, hoping to improve breast cancer treatment for all women. 

Stephanie Miller, 30, of Shaler is in the standard therapy arm of a study that looks at new drug combinations. "It was a very personal decision to be part of a trial," she describes,"I went over it with my husband, and decided that it was something that I wanted to try and be part of something more, to help other people."

Tracy Christner, 42, of Belle Vernon is in the same trial, but was assigned to a combination group, and has responded well. "We don't know if it was the standard protocol or the added drug," she says.

With some early cancers, it's hard to tell if chemotherapy will be useful, so 38-year-old Amy Leisering of Monroeville entered a study that looks at the DNA in the tumor to help make that decision. She ended up getting chemo. For her, the study wasn't very demanding. "Every time I'd go for chemo, they'd check my blood, and that's basically it," she explains.

Another clinical trial is looking at whether osteoporosis drugs can prevent the cancer from spreading to bone. In the mind of 41-year-old Andrea Babich of the South Hills, this is a good thing. "It's a win-win situation. You increase your bone density and you lessen the chance of recurrence."

Breast cancer specialist Dr. Shannon Puhalla tries to enroll all of her patients in a study.

"As a physician, you really have a moral obligation to your patients to talk about clinical trials," she says, "Until we can say every woman with breast cancer can be cured, we need to continue research, we need to continue clinical trials."

"If you can say anything about cancer being wonderful, at least you have professionals that are not only knowledgable, but they really care about you as a mom, as a person, and your family life, not just getting rid of the tumor," adds Andrea Babich.

"I'm very grateful that everyone who has come before me, has been in a trial decided to do it and help me," says Stephanie Miller, "and it was a really great feeling to submit my biopsy samples to know they would be studied, and something good could come out of what's happening to me for someone else."

Whether you have early stage disease or advanced disease, there is a clinical trial for you. Ask your doctor about your options and the pros and cons of taking part. With cancer trials, you'll benefit by at least getting standard care, and you may even help someone with cancer in the future.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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