VANCOUVER -- Breakthroughs don't come in isolation, that's why twenty breast cancer experts from across Canada and the UK were in Vancouver to brainstorm on how to save more lives.
Dr. Sam Aparicio, Head of Breast Cancer Research Program at the BC Cancer Agency, says, "there are at least five to six different types of breast cancer. It really matters which one a woman has, this is what guides the therapy. We have to get better at doing it."
The scientific workshop will look at look at new targets for drug treatment as well as early detection and prevention. In Ontario, one scientist has found a link between the density of breast tissue and a woman's risk of breast cancer.
Dr. Tak Mak, Director of the Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Hospital, says, "what he discovered is women with high density mammograms are more prone to develop breast cancer. So, we're trying to find to what gives them high density mammograms is it diet, genetics or both."
The research session is funded by money raised by walkers in the annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer event. Proceeds from that event have also helped establish a team of dedicated breast cancer researchers here in BC.
Anita Cochrane, Breast Cancer Patient, says, "we've been able to recruit Dr. Sam Aparicio and build and recruit the team for this lab and find treatments similar to herceptin, so we are really seeing the progress of new therapies which will help save a lot of other women as well."
Wednesday June 7, 2006
