Think Pinker

Whether you’ve had breast cancer, or never had breast cancer, almost everyone has had a relative, friend, or someone they know with breast cancer. That’s one reason why the latest news is so exciting. It seems that a breast cancer vaccine could be on the horizon.

In little Rock Arkansas, you’ll find the University of Arkansas and their Medical Sciences division has been very busy. So busy, they are hoping to begin their clinical trials this spring for the highly anticipated breast cancer vaccine.

It’s important to understand that this is not a replacement for radiation or chemotherapy treatment. Rather it will be another option available to oncologists treating breast cancer. It was partly a result of a grant by the US Dept of Defence that this research was able to take place.

The key to this vaccine was a breakthrough understanding on how different molecules are able to work together in harmony to combat breast cancer. Without getting too technical, the scientists have learned how to use put peptides normally found in the body into a vaccine that then is used to trick the body into the product of antibodies that will attack the peptides in the vaccine.

They have not revealed how many patients will be participating in the study. That’s likely to be released at a later date. If you want more information, don’t be afraid to ask your oncologist or family doctor. He or she should be able to provide you with more on the vaccine itself and the upcoming study.

Every year far too many women die from breast cancer. So for every new treatment that comes about that’s more lives that can be saved. And that’s exciting!