Chemo 'undermines itself' through rogue response

alkieanon's picture
Submitted by alkieanon on Mon, 08/06/2012 - 21:40

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Chemo 'undermines itself' through rogue response: Chemotherapy can undermine itself by causing a rogue response in healthy cells, which could explain why people become resistant, a study suggests. The treatment loses effectiveness for a significant number of patients with secondary cancers. Writing in Nature Medicine, US experts said chemo causes wound-healing cells around tumours to make a protein that helps the cancer resist treatment. A UK expert said the next step would be to find a way to block this effect. Around 90% of patients with solid cancers, such as breast, prostate, lung and colon, that spread - metastatic disease - develop resistance to chemotherapy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19111700

Clara's picture

Clara

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 06:04

Well, yes, that is why people often are "cured" but then the cancer comes "back." I remember how elated I was when my aunt's cancer was "in remission." I was thrilled too when Christine's cancer was "in remission." I know people that believe that chemo doesn't cure cancer at all. The key is to just not get it in the first place because once you have it, it never "goes away." Others believe we all have cancer cells in our bodies but a set of circumstances set it off. I am not sure if I got a diagnosis if I wouldn't just book a vacation verses an appointment with an oncologist.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.