Robbin Ray
It's a scary thought for any woman. By the time your doctor finds a breast tumor, it could be too late. In fact, experts say by the time breast cancer is spotted in a mammogram, it's been growing for at least 7 years. But tonight, a new test could change all that. Here's health reporter Janet Wu.
Janet Wu
I'm here at the museum of fine arts where it's clear the woman's body is truly a work of art. But the ravages of disease, like breast cancer, on this beauty can be devastating.
This year alone, over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. That's why when we heard about an extraordinary new procedure that can spot cancer years in advance, we at 7News knew we had to travel to London to bring you the story. It's an amazing 'breakthrough breast test' that's already saving lives.
Mammograms, MRI's, biopsies: they are the best ways to detect breast cancer. But 7News traveled to London, where doctors at Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital are trying something astonishing.
They're using this tiny scope to look inside the breast.
Dr. Nicolas Beechey-Newman, Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospital
"I think it's exciting because it's getting to the root of the problem, which is looking at the lining of the milk duct and this is where breast cancer starts."
The experimental procedure is called breast microendoscopy. A fiber-optic probe, no thicker than a few strands of hair, is passed through an opening in the nipple. The probe is so powerful it can read words off a page. Inside the milk duct, it allows doctors to look for abnormalities.
A healthy duct looks like this: white, smooth, and shiny. A pre-cancerous duct can be rough, ragged, even blocked with abnormal tissue.
The most exciting feature: the probe can spot cancer up to ten years before it turns into an actual tumor.
Dr. Nicolas Beechey-Newman
"We've, to a certain extent always been missing the boat before we've been trying to detect lumps which is when someone's already got evasive breast cancer."Linda Luxford, Breast cancer patient
"I knew that something was wrong."
In 1999, Linda Luxford had her left breast removed because of cancer. A few years later, she had a nagging feeling the cancer was back. But her mammograms showed nothing.
Linda Luxford
"I was quite anxious at that time because I really did feel like there was something wrong and the doctor even gave me a copy of the mammogram and said take it home to frame it."
To be safe, Linda made the difficult decision to have the second breast removed. Along with surgery, doctors performed a breast microendoscopy. The results: Linda was right.
Linda Luxford
"Had I not had the camera used on me, it would have still been missed,
Though he said that it was caught early which was good, after he went I just cried."
A cancer diagnosis can be devastating. But here in the U.S., doctors think the scope offers new hope. Right now, they're trying to reduce the number of mastectomies, using the scope to save as much healthy tissue as possible. In the future, they're optimistic cancer drugs like Tamoxifen will play an important role.
Dr. William Dooley, Oklahoma University Medical Center
"It is being used to try to develop techniques that allow us to detect both breast cancer but also pre-cancerous conditions that may be reversed with drugs and prevent the cancer from ever forming in the first place."
And that's not all. Dr. Dooley believes some day, the scope will go beyond detecting breast cancer.
Dr. William Dooley
"Maybe we can treat these little things in the lining of the duct if we develop laser or other tools that could be used in these sub-millimeter endoscopes and treat it from ever becoming something."
In Linda's case, the cancer was found so early, she didn't need any chemotherapy or radiation. Which helped this mother of three get on with more important things.
Linda Luxford
"I do have a different outlook on life now, and really enjoy it."
Doctors do stress, however, breast microendoscopy is not designed to replace mammograms. Experts are hopeful in the next year or two, the procedure will be in Boston to help women at high risk for breast cancer, like Linda.
To help keep you healthy, 7News has teamed up with the American Cancer Society to offer a free 'breast health kit'.
The packet includes important information about breast self-exams and mammograms.
Free 7 News / ACS Breast Health Kit
Contains:
1-800 ACS-2345
For more information about the Breast Microendoscopy
Acueity, Inc.
415-464-9950
http://www.acueity.com
