Groundbreaking experimental vaccines have the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and contribute to America’s triumph in the war against cancer. Breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the US, affects over 264,000 women each year, resulting in approximately 43,000 deaths annually. However, advancements in public health awareness campaigns, improved screening methods, and new medications have contributed to a significant decrease of 43 percent in breast cancer death rates between 1989 and 2020. While death rates have been declining, the rate of new breast cancer cases continues to rise.
From 1992 to 2020, the number of new cases has remained relatively stable, with approximately 130 cases per 100,000 women. However, there has been an annual increase of around two percent in new breast cancer cases, as noted by John Wong, an internist and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Mammography, a screening method introduced in the late 1960s and officially recommended by the American Cancer Society in 1976, remains the most trusted way to detect breast cancer. The standard treatment for breast cancer, known as mastectomy, was first performed in 1882 by American surgeon William Halstead, who advocated for the complete removal of the affected breast through surgical means. Researchers have also discovered that a double mastectomy can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by at least 90 percent for women with a strong family history.
Over the years, various treatment options have emerged, including radiation therapy, which was introduced in 1937 and involves the use of radiation to target cancerous tissue. Additionally, the FDA approved Tamoxifen in 1978, marking the first drug in a new category called SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) for breast cancer treatment. Anastrozole (Arimidex) was later approved in 1996, blocking estrogen production to combat breast cancer. More recently, Trodelvy, approved in 2020, offers a treatment option for triple-negative breast cancer that has not responded to previous treatments.
In response to rising breast cancer rates among middle-aged women, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recommended lowering the age for regular breast cancer screening from 50 to 40. The USPSTF estimates that an additional 20 million women in their forties would benefit from mammograms every two years, potentially saving 20 percent more lives. Currently, all women aged 50 to 74 are advised to undergo mammograms every two years.
Chemotherapy, introduced in the 1970s and made more accessible with the availability of generic versions in the 1980s, has significantly improved survival rates. Treatment options for breast cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone treatment, and often involve a combination of these approaches. Additionally, women at high risk of developing breast cancer due to genetic mutations may opt for prophylactic mastectomy, as exemplified by Angelina Jolie’s choice in 2013, which led to a notable increase in genetic tests for breast cancer.
New advancements in cancer treatment include the development of cancer vaccines. One vaccine, created by Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan, New York, has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials by effectively shrinking primary tumors and stimulating the body’s immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells that have spread. Another vaccine developed by Anixa Biosciences and Cleveland Clinic offers hope for preventing relapse in triple-negative breast cancer survivors. These vaccines are currently undergoing further trials and require FDA approval, but they hold the potential to eradicate breast cancer as a disease.
President Joe Biden has launched a campaign to combat cancer in the US, with the goal of reducing cancer-related deaths by 50 percent within 25 years. While experts acknowledge the significant progress made in reducing death rates, concerns remain about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare services and the potential setbacks experienced during the initial stages of the crisis.
In conclusion, significant strides have been made in breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Ongoing research and advancements, such as cancer vaccines, offer hope for a future without breast cancer.
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