Home > What we do > Research > Our research projects > Understanding treatments and their side effects

Understanding treatments and their side effects

Ultimately, we want to be able to treat breast cancer by milder and more specific means.

The scientists are working towards this goal by developing new treatments for the disease. In addition, improvements in methods of detecting the disease and better ways to predict how the disease is likely to develop help to determine the most appropriate treatment for a patient with breast cancer.

A GP will often refer a patient with a suspected breast cancer to a specialist for diagnosis. From this, the specialist will try to determine how aggressive the disease is (the prognosis) and will discuss treatment strategies.

Breakthrough is dedicated to improving current treatments for breast cancer, as well as developing new treatments for the

disease.

Breakthrough is dedicated to improving current treatments for breast cancer, as well as developing new treatments for the disease. It is important to detect breast cancer at its earliest possible stage for maximum treatment success and this is why Breakthrough is developing new detection methods. Furthermore, the diagnosis of a particular type of breast cancer is critical in determining how that cancer should be treated and by improving methods of predicting the course of the disease, doctors will be better able to advise patients as to their treatment needs.

The complexity of breast cancer also requires the development of treatments that are personalised to the patient and their particular type of breast cancer. So, not only are we excited about the launch of our clinical trials, we are also really proud to be making progress in developing personalised treatments for hereditary breast cancer.

Breakthrough and others have recognised that many women use complementary therapies in their breast cancer management, in some cases to help alleviate the side effects of conventional treatment. However, there is a lack of strong scientific information to support the benefits or otherwise of these therapies. So we are very pleased to be developing a programme of research in this area.

To find out about our extensive research and our exciting breakthroughs in treatment strategies, follow the links below:

Also within "Research"

Understanding treatments and their side effects

see also