In early stage breast cancer this new treatment option increases the chance for cure and will renew hope for thousands of Canadian women. There is no doubt that AC followed by Taxol is an option that should be offered to Canadian women fighting early breast cancer. It is critical that women with breast cancer are diagnosed and treated early to increase their chances of living disease free. This is a major advance similar to that which was seen nearly 30 years ago when it was discovered that combination chemotherapy after surgery improved breast cancer survival compared to surgery alone.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada after lung cancer.
Of the more than 18,700 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year, approximately 40 per cent are candidates for adjuvant therapy. Research shows that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Forty years ago, the risk was one in 14. The AC followed by Taxol adjuvant chemotherapy regimen is considered to be a major advance in reducing woman's risk of developing recurrent breast cancer. In treating early stage breast cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy is used soon after surgery to help cure the patient.