Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer in women. Worldwide, breast cancer accounts for 23% of all cancers in women. According to the latest WHO data published in April 2011, breast cancer deaths in Bangladesh reached 8,396 or 0.88% of total deaths. In 2010, researchers at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute found that a single vaccination could prevent breast tumors from occurring in mice genetically bred to develop breast cancer, while also inhibiting the growth of already existing breast tumours.
Doctors at the Cleveland clinic say the next step is to get permission from the FDA to test the vaccine on women that could take at least two years. Patients are not being enrolled yet, and the trials won’t begin until 2015. Once it is approved for clinical trials, the drug will be about 10 years away from the market place.
Breast cancer is more common in elderly women. While genetic disposition can be an obvious warning sign, it is still recommended that every woman, whether or not breast cancer is known to run in her family, has regular check-ups and makes self-examination a routine activity.
Around 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. That’s one person every 10 minutes. The different lifestyles and eating habits of females in rich and poor countries are also contributory factors, experts believe.
