Segment 09: Early Research: Changing the Natural History of Breast Cancer

Abstract

In this chapter, Dr. Buzdar talks about his first studies of combination chemotherapy that he conducted with Dr. Gabriel Hortobagyi and that successfully “changed the natural history of breast cancer.” He discusses a first study of patients with recurring breast cancer in one or two places, noting that 25%-30% of the patients treated in the seventies are still alive today. He explains that the success of the treatment meant that the research team never conducted a randomized trial.

He discusses the next study of combination chemotherapy given to patients with inflammatory carcinoma of the breast. He explains how skeptical individuals were of the success of the trail, both within and outside the institution. He talks about the controversy surrounding aggressive chemotherapeutic treatments.