Breast Cancer: Exciting New Treatments Available in Chattanooga

A diagnosis of breast cancer is usually followed by a storm of emotions and some difficult decisions.

But increasingly it's not the end.

With treatment more and more women survive the battle with breast cancer.

And there are exciting new options, many of which are available right here in the Chattanooga area.

Liz Cooper, Cancer Survivor, "Strange I never felt a thing but with just one word I began to cry."

That one word, cancer ...stage two breast cancer.

Poetry helped Liz Cooper to cope with the diagnosis.

Cooper, "What happens next I wondered as a million thought race through my mind."

What happened next was a year of treatment... chemotherapy every two to three weeks and daily radiation for two and a half months... along with surgery to remove the breast and lymph nodes.

Dr. Tom Gilmore, "When we can find abnormalities early when they're contained to the breast or the lymph nodes that drain the breast surgery is a very important part of the treatment of breast cancer."

Surgery options range from simply cutting out the lump to removing both breasts.

Dr. Gilmore, "A patient's feelings as to whether they would or wouldn't be willing to pursue radiation therapy does sometimes affect the extent or the size of the operation that's recommended."

Medication provides another treatment option.

These pills offer new hope for breast cancer patients.

They're called parp inhibitors.

Dr. Brooke Daniel says the breakthrough trial drug will be coming to Chattanooga.

Dr. Brooke Daniel, Oncologist, "These drugs may work very well for women with BRCA1 or 2 with metastatic breast cancer it may be a new way that we can fight those cancers that we didn't have before."

Women with the BRCA 1 or 2 gene have a much higher likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Dr. Daniel is involved with a dozen local trials looking at better options for patients.

Dr. Daniel, "It used to be that to do things a little bit more aggressively or to be exposed to novel agents you had to go to an academic center now it's become a lot more convenient where you can actually stay in Chattanooga and get the same treatment you would at an academic center." Liz Cooper, "I've been blessed."

Ten years later, Liz Cooper continues to win the cancer battle.

Cooper, "Survive I have as I stand proud divinely favored and cancer free."

Your lifestyle may play a role in preventing breast cancer.

We'll take a closer look at some of the latest recommendations Thursday.