Women who participate in the popular weekend pastime of binge drinking are increasing their risk of developing cancer according to a new study. The results of the study showed that women consumed around two bottles of wine at the weekend more than doubled their risk of developing breast cancer. The study was conducted by doctors in Denmark. The results of their research have recently been published in the European Journal of Public Health. During the study the drinking habits of 17,647 nurses were observed. What was discovered is that women who drank something like 22 to 27 alcoholic beverages a week more than doubled their risks of getting for breast cancer than women who only drank 1 to 3 drinks each week. The threat for cancer reached its highest point when alcoholic drinks were consumed over a short time period. Dr. Lina Morch, from the Denmark's Centre for Alcohol, headed up the study. Those who participated in the study were observed during an eight-year period that ended in 2001. All of the women who took part in the research were at least aged 45. When the study began each of the women was asked to fill out a questionnaire about their alcohol use and behaviors. When the study ended it was found that out of those who participated 457 developed breast cancer. The cancer diagnoses were compared with the questionnaires provided by the women in order to discover the relationship alcohol consumption and cancer. The consumption and behaviour information showed that 10 percent of the participating women could be classed as weekly binge drinkers. This means that these women drank on average four drinks each day. The figure for weekend binger drinkers, those who consumed a minimum of 10 drinks over the weekend, was 13 percent of the women. One drink is considered to be a glass or wine or spirits or one bottle of beer.
One of the biggest and most exciting advances in recent history in the fight against breast cancer is a drug called Herceptin. (Trastuzumab) The drug has shown to be very successful against certain types of advanced breast cancers. Some more recent clinical trials have shown that herceptin may also be successful against certain types of earlier stage breast cancers. Herceptin has been approved for use in 1998 by the FDA.
By certain types of cancers we are referring to those that over-express a protein that is called HER2. HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. HER2 can be found on the surface of cells and it is what is responsible for keeping the growth of the cell in check. When HER2 malfunctions and begins to produce too much of itself due to a mutation it can cause the cells to produce too much of themselves too quickly. This in turn can make cancers behave in a much more aggressive manner. The HER2 over-expression is a factor in 20% to 30% of breast cancer occurrences.
The official scientific big word description of Herceptin is that it is a monoclonal antibody, engineered via biotechnology. The way it works is by attaching itself to any cells that are overproducing the HER2 protein. It attacks the protein receptors which then slows the growth of the cells down. It targets the HER2 protein as opposed to traditional types of treatment which tend to destroy all fast growing cells in their path, healthy or cancerous. This is a big improvement over certain types of chemotherapy. The development of targeted treatments like Herceptin is the wave of the future.
So how does a breast cancer patient receive herceptin? Their cancer must show that it over-expresses the HER2 protein. This is determined by having a pathologist test the cancerous cells that were removed from the breast during surgery. He or she will stain the tissue with a solution that will highlight any instance of overproduction of HER2. If a patient has the HER2 over-expression present, they are considered to be HER2 positive and therefore it could be possible to treat their cancer with herceptin if needed.
Herceptin is not for everyone. It is approved for treatment of women with advanced cancer in combination with the chemotherapy drug, paclitaxel. There are side effects associated with the drug and one of those includes cardiotoxicity which can cause serious heart problems in patients. Therefore heart monitoring before, during and after treatment is crucial. Less serious side effects include fever, chills, increased cough, diarrhea and weakness. If herceptin is given with chemotherapy, nausea is possible. Other moderately severe side effects include loss of white blood cells and anemia.
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be a frightening thing, especially if you are in the percentage of patients that have the more aggressive HER2 cancer. Knowing that there is another treatment that has been proven to be effective against those types of cancers brings increased hope of survival to these women and men.
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