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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/29/groundbreaking-genomic-test-spare-breast-cancer-patients-chemotherapy-hormone-therapy>
"Millions of women with breast cancer could be spared chemotherapy with a
groundbreaking genomic test, according to the results of a trial that could
transform healthcare guidelines worldwide.
Treatment for breast cancer, the world’s most prevalent form of the disease,
involves surgery to remove tumours. Chemotherapy is then usually recommended
when doctors believe there is a risk the disease will return.
But chemotherapy’s toxic side-effects, which can include hair loss, rashes,
nausea, insomnia and fatigue, are physically and emotionally gruelling for
patients. Some women may face life-changing consequences such as infertility,
cognitive impairment or early menopause.
For decades, there has been little choice for patients. Now scientists have
developed a genomic test that can spot who needs chemotherapy and who doesn’t.
The breakthrough enables doctors to determine which patients can safely skip
it, paving the way for a new era of personalised medicine.
Results from an international trial of the test suggest millions of women could
safely avoid chemotherapy, sparing them side-effects without increasing the
risk of their cancer returning. The findings will be presented at the world’s
largest cancer conference, the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual
meeting, in Chicago on Saturday.
The Optima trial, led by University College London, followed more than 4,000
patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer in the UK, Norway, Sweden,
Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. It found that those with a low score on
the genomic test could be treated safely with hormone therapy alone.
One woman who took part in the trial told the
Guardian that being able to
skip chemotherapy felt “like Christmas”. Nine years after being diagnosed,
taking the test and skipping chemotherapy, she is healthy and enjoying a full
and active life."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
