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Circulating Tumor Cells May Predict Recurrence Risk

By Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Suppose your doctor could tell whether your Stage I breast cancer was likely to metastasize?  What if your oncologist could monitor the response of your cancer to chemotherapy?   A new study about circulating tumor cells is bringing that day closer.  Doctors have known for decades th...
PJ Hamel, Health Guide
6/13/12 11:01am

Thanks for this exciting update, Phyllis. One of the scariest parts of cancer is realizing that there's really no good way to tell what your eventual outcome will be. Despite all the research and data, treatment decisions are still just guesses; very well informed guesses, but guesses nonetheless. However, each time another piece of research is added, like this one, doctors have a better chance of "guessing" right. Hopefully eventually this test will be used to spare women going through chemo, when it turns out they didn't need it; and to make sure those who do need aggressive treatment - no matter how inoucuous and small their cancer seems - get it. Thanks for this post - PJH

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By Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide— Last Modified: 06/13/12, First Published: 06/13/12