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Thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year could avoid unnecessary chemotherapy with new gene test By Ethan Ennals Published: 01:22, 26 May 2024 | Updated: 01:22, 26 May 2024 e-mail View comments Thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year could soon avoid unnecessary chemotherapy thanks to a newly approved gene test. Currently patients with breast cancer which may have spread elsewhere will undergo surgery to remove tumours and then be given chemotherapy in order to reduce the chances of them returning. However, the risk of this happening for most is low, meaning many women receive needless chemotherapy – which often comes with gruelling side effects such as fatigue and nausea.

The new test – known as Oncotype DX – can analyse the tumour tissue and, by looking for genes which are associated with aggressive cancer, can conclude how likely it is to return. Many women receive needless chemotherapy – which often comes with gruelling side effects such as fatigue and nausea (stock image) Around four in five patients will undergo surgery to either remove the cancer or the whole breast itself (stock image) The test could benefit patients with breast cancer which has spread to the lymph nodes, the majority of whom are offered chemotherapy over fears it has spread into other organs. Studies show that the device, which costs about £2,000 per test, can identify the 85 per cent of this patient group whose cancer is unlikely to return – saving them .



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