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New study says women with early stage breast cancer can avoid chemotherapy

A recent study revealed that chemotherapy isn't the only option to fight breast cancer.

You'd think if a patient diagnosed with breast cancer had the option of undergoing chemotherapy or safely going without it, the answer would be obvious.

Thousands of women now have that option thanks to a recent study revealing chemo isn’t the only way to go.

This is the largest study ever done on breast cancer treatment. Up to 70,000 patients a year could escape the devastating effects of chemotherapy and expense of drugs.

“We're not cookie cutter people. We all don't need cookie cutter medicine for things,” said 20-year breast cancer survivor Alesa Garner.

The study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, proves science is evolving.

“Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer of women in Arkansas, one in eight. That's a lot,” Garner added. She’s dedicated her life to helping women just like her.

“The new results show that most women over 50, and who score within a given range, will not get any benefit from chemotherapy over and above hormonal therapy,” Dr. Dana Abraham said, with Abraham Breast Clinic in Little Rock.

Thousands of women have been tested over the years using Oncotype DX to help determine the true effectiveness of chemo.

“You're thrown into a world where you're lost, new words and new terms, “ said Garner.

“We've had the results for the Oncotype for a number of years. But the results came out either low risk, high risk or intermediate risk,” Abraham added.

The test randomized women with intermediate risk, about 67 percent.

Seventeen percent of women with high risk scores were advised to have chemo and 16 percent with low risk now know they can skip the treatment.

“In your head when you're diagnosed you think you'll have surgery, chemo and radiation. To have your health professional tell you don't need chemo, there's one side glad you don't have to have it and the other wondering are we really taking care of my breast cancer,” said Garner. She thanks a routine mammogram to saving her life and, thankfully, didn’t have to undergo chemo as her cancer was caught early.

It's been nine years and nearly all women tested in both groups are still alive.

However, certain women 50 or younger will still benefit from having chemotherapy.

"I'd make sure women are educated about the new results especially when they talk to their Oncologist about what additional treatment beyond surgery is needed” said Abraham.

Oncotype DX is becoming more standard.

It costs $4,000. Medicare and many insurers cover it. Similar tests including one called MammaPrint may also be used.

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