Possible Breakthrough In Growth And Spread Of Breast Tumors

More than 192,000 cases of breast cancer expected in women this year according to The American Cancer Society. British scientists believe they've made a breakthrough in halting the growth and spread of tumors.

By: Tina Tyus-Shaw | WSAV-TV
Published: September 03, 2009

The biggest risk facing cancer patients is that the disease will spread to other parts of the body. In breast cancer, the activity of a molecule called Micro RNA is shut down, allowing the tumor to grow. but scientists say they've worked out why the molecule switches off and now they're working toward a treatment to stop that from happening. Professor Trevor Powels runs an oncology clinic in Wimbledon treating hundreds of women with breast cancer. He's been watching the development of Micro RNA closely but cautions treatment could be some time off. "If we want to look if we can get treatments out of this then we need to be able to block the activity of these molecules and see effects first of all in a laboratory and then in clinical trials and that process takes many years," says Powels. For sufferers like Mary Morrissey, whose breast cancer has been in remission since 2002, it's all encouraging progress. "I live everyday with the fear of a recurrence of the breast cancer and it appears this new development could mean they could reduce or even eliminate that risk entirely, which is absolutely fantastic," says Mary. If they can translate laboratory findings into treatment, it will grant millions of women invaluable extra years.