Two sets of guidelines for treating patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer have been released by the [b]American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)[/b], reports [s]Health24[/s]. According to ASCO, about 15% to 20% of breast cancers are known as ‘HER2-positive’, meaning that they carry high levels of the HER2 protein, which causes tumour cells to grow and divide faster than happens with most other breast cancers. This means that HER2-positive cases are especially aggressive and tough to treat. However, doctors now ‘have several treatments for advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, all of which are associated with improved survival,’ Dr Eric Winer, co-chair of the expert panel that developed the guidelines, said.
[link url=http://www.health24.com/Medical/Breast/News/Guidelines-to-treat-aggressive-breast-cancer-20140506]Full Health24 report[/link]
[link url=http://www.asco.org/quality-guidelines/systemic-therapy-patients-advanced-human-epidermal-growth-factor-receptor-2]ASCO guidelines[/link]