One of the leading breast cancer research foundations is donating a good sum of money for the research against breast cancer metastasis.
Susan G. Komen Foundation has been reported to contribute $50,000 to a medical faculty that is part of the University of Puerto Rico. The team is currently working on a medication that may help arrest the growth of breast cancer.
In the press release, the study will be led by Dr. Suranganie Dharmawardhane.
Metastasis refers to the spread of breast cancer cells to other parts of the body, especially to the lungs, bone, liver, and the brain. At this point, the disease is already considered more invasive and advanced that treatment can already be difficult. In certain situations, it becomes terminal that patients are given only a few weeks or months to live.
According to the data from Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, at least 6% of the newly diagnosed breast cancer cases can already be described as stage IV and thus metastatic. Further, it is believed that approximately 150,000 people in the United States already have metastatic breast cancer.
Meanwhile, American Cancer Society cites that at least 231,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and around 40,000 of them will die each year. The disease is currently the second leading cause of cancer death among women. The first place is occupied by lung cancer.
Despite the high number, the rate of mortality has actually been declining over the years, even falling up 7% between 2002 and 2003. This might be attributed to better screening tests and early detection campaigns.
In terms of 5-year survival, those who have been diagnosed in stage I have 100% chance of surviving, but it drastically drops to 72% when it's already in stage III. Survival rate is at 22% when in stage IV.
The foundation, meanwhile, has been active in supporting breast cancer researches. Recently, however, it's cut off from House funding after it figured itself in the Planned Parenthood controversy.
