Breast Cancer: An Increasingly Personalized Approach to the Most Common Cancer
Breast cancer, is the world’s most diagnosed neoplasm, occurring when breast cells multiply abnormally to become tumors. The disease accounts for one in every eight cancer diagnoses. In 2022, this meant that nearly 2.3 million people around the world were diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time, according to the World Health Organization.
In recent decades, patients have experienced improved outcomes: living longer and better during cancer care due to more effective medications. These trends are expected to continue. A recent surge in cancer research advancements—due to factors such as targeted therapies and artificial intelligence analysis—have brought an increasingly personalized approach to breast cancer care, and with them, more hope.
Risk Factors
• Gender: An overwhelming majority of breast cancer cases occur in women. However, men can get it, too: Men account for about 0.5-1% of diagnoses.
• Age: Rates of breast cancer are highest in women over 70. However, more women under 50 are getting diagnosed with it. This trend began about twenty years ago but has increased in recent years, especially in Black women between 20 and 39 years old. If younger women have high risk factors, they should talk with their doctor about early detection measures.
• Heredity: Gene mutations that are inherited—such as BRCA1 and BRCA2—can increase the risk for breast cancer. About 5-10% of cases have a genetic factor.
• History: If someone has already had breast cancer, they’re more likely to get it another time, which is called a recurrence. The recurrence can occur months or years after the first instance, and it may happen in the same place as the original case or in another area of the body.
Breast Cancer Treatment
Treatments for breast cancer are highly tailored for each patient, as different forms can be more effective for different types and stages of the disease. Sometimes, a patient may receive a single treatment, while other times, treatments may include a combination of several therapies.
• Medications: Medical treatments for breast cancer include chemotherapy, hormonal therapies, and targeted biological therapies. Sometimes, these treatments are given before a surgery (“neoadjuvant”), and sometimes, they’re given after the surgery (“adjuvant”).
• Radiation: Radiation therapy can be used at almost every stage of the disease, killing cancer cells through high-energy x-rays or particles.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery will remove only the cancerous tissue, which is called a lumpectomy. In other cases, the surgery may remove the whole breast, which is called a mastectomy. If the cancer has spread, the surgery may also remove the lymph nodes.
Breast Cancer Treatments Become More Personalized
As research advances, scientists are applying increasingly personalized approaches to improve outcomes for patients. For screenings, age recommendations and screening types depend upon a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Some recent and ongoing advancements in care include:
Improved Screenings: Unlike many other forms of cancer, breast cancer has effective screening tests available. Increasingly sensitive types of screening—including MRI and ultrasound—are available for people who have a higher risk for the disease. Researchers are finding ways to create more personalized screenings for women, according to their level of risk.
Matching the Treatment to the Tumor: Breast cancer treatments are becoming increasingly personalized as researchers and oncologists learn more about tumor subtypes. They divide tumors into groups based upon their features—for example, whether they have high levels of the HER2 protein or if they express estrogen or progesterone receptors. The more that an oncologist knows about the type of tumor, the better they can match a patient to a treatment that will be most effective for them.
Artificial Intelligence Advances Cancer Care: With more information on types of tumors and insights about new medications, artificial intelligence can mine data to identify patterns and predict outcomes. These new insights may help predict disease progression and improve oncologists’ ability to personalize treatments.
Hope for the Future
The fight against breast cancer has come a long way thanks to remarkable advancements in treatment and early detection. With innovations such as personalized medicine and targeted therapies, the outlook for patients continues to improve. These developments offer hope for better survival rates, fewer side effects, and enhanced quality of life. While challenges remain, the ongoing research and dedication to finding more effective treatments are paving the way for a future where breast cancer is no longer a life-altering diagnosis.
