The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Breast Cancer Foundation promotes breast cancer tumor genetic testing to help patients determine whether they are suitable for chemotherapy

2022-08-19T00:11:36.104Z


Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Hong Kong, with new cases rising year-on-year, with more than 4,700 cases in 2019. Many patients are worried that chemotherapy will bring various discomforts and side effects.


Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Hong Kong, with new cases rising year-on-year, with more than 4,700 cases in 2019.

Many patients are worried that chemotherapy will bring various discomforts and side effects. Currently, the "Breast Cancer Tumor Gene Expression Test" allows doctors to decide whether to use chemotherapy to treat breast cancer.

The Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation is promoting the "Breast Cancer Tumor Gene Expression Testing Subsidy Scheme" to provide testing subsidy to eligible patients.


Dr. Xiong Weijia, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Breast Health Center of the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, pointed out that breast cancer tumors are divided into three types, including hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor type 2 positive (HER2+) and triple negative (TN).

In recent years, studies have shown that most hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients cannot obtain additional benefits from chemotherapy. On average, less than 2 out of 10 patients can improve their condition after chemotherapy.

The breast cancer tumor gene expression test provides patients with three important information, including the risk of recurrence, the risk factors of recurrence, and the rate of benefit from chemotherapy, to help formulate treatment plans.

One of the beneficiaries, Ms Chan (centre), has been informed by the gene expression test of breast cancer that the most suitable treatment for her is not chemotherapy.

(Photo by Deng Yushi)

Cheng Qian, a member of the Advisory Council of the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, said that the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation launched the "Breast Cancer Tumor Gene Expression Testing Subsidy Scheme" to provide financial assistance to Hong Kong residents who have recently undergone mastectomy in public hospitals so that patients can be tested. Assess for benefit from chemotherapy.

She pointed out that the applicant must meet the following clinical conditions, including breast cancer tumor is hormone receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-), in addition, lymph node negative or lymph node positive (no more than 3 lymph nodes).

In terms of financial conditions, individuals with an average monthly income of less than $18,400 in the past 12 months, or who are receiving CSSA, will be fully subsidized.

More than 10 patients have applied temporarily, and it is expected that the number of beneficiaries will increase in the future. In order to allow patients to start appropriate treatment as soon as possible, the approval time is about one month.

The fifth wave of the epidemic affects breast cancer services; breast cancer foundation screening services drop by nearly 70% on Mother’s Day Immunotherapy only accounts for 3% of breast cancer survivors from Hong Kong who have received a gold medal at the Geneva Invention Exhibition.

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-08-19

You may like

Life/Entertain 2024-02-05T12:21:58.525Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.