Making strides in treating breast cancer

St. Joseph’s/Candler Medical Oncologist Dr. Ajaz Bulbul explains two advancements in treating this commonly diagnosed disease

As we continue to study annual screening methods for breast cancer, some of the past studies in treating breast cancer are now the current advancements in treatment.

Antibody-drug conjugates

One such treatment is a combination of chemotherapy and targeted therapy with the use of antibody-drug conjugates. These are new drugs medical oncologists can prescribe for women with breast cancer that is wide-spread, metastatic stage 4, explains Dr. Ajaz Bulbul, medical oncologist with St. Joseph’s/Candler Infusion Center in Hinesville, a partnership with the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion and Liberty Regional Medical Center. Currently, there are clinical trials underway for the use of these drugs in earlier stage breast cancer.

The way traditional chemotherapy drugs work is they target and kill most rapidly dividing cells in the body. While that is most commonly cancer cells since they are the fastest growing cells in the body, chemotherapy could also attack normal cells, Dr. Bulbul says.

“That’s the reason chemotherapy patients typically lose their hair because your hair rapidly regenerates hair follicles,” he adds.

With antibody-drug conjugates, the drug binds to the tumor cells, dispersing the cell while avoiding damage to healthy cells. Antibody-drug conjugates are given via IV. The length of treatment varies by patient.

Immunotherapy

Another treatment option for breast cancer patients that may be more commonly known is immunotherapy.

As cancer cells grow and spread, they sometimes can hide themselves from the body’s immune surveillance system, meaning your body doesn’t realize that’s not a healthy cell, Dr. Bulbul explains. Immunotherapy drugs open up the tumor cells for surveillance so your own immune system then can kill the tumor cells.

Related Article: What is immunotherapy 

“Both these treatment options have improved outcomes significantly,” Dr. Bulbul says. “We are seeing better responses to treatment, more cure rates and longer life-expectancy.”

But it all starts with screening – as well as knowing your risk factors. Finding breast cancer early makes it more treatable and improves outcomes and survival rates. So when it’s time, be sure to schedule your annual screening mammogram.

St. Joseph’s/Candler also offers 3D mammography for screening and diagnostic, as well as breast ultrasound, breast MRI and breast biopsies. We have five regional locations for screening mammography. You can call 912-819-PINK to request your next screening.