Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women around the world.
Here is a timeline of the development of treatment for Breast Cancer, and how our perception of the disease has changed.
BCE-Renaissance
Breast cancer has been known since ancient times. For example, Hippocrates described breast cancer stages in the early 400s B.C.E. In the first century, surgical experiments were conducted to remove tumors, with a belief that breast cancer was linked to the end of menstruation, associating it with older age.
During the Middle Ages, medical progress was influenced by religious philosophies; Christians favored faith healing over surgery, while Islamic doctors studied Greek texts to understand breast cancer. The Renaissance marked a surgical revival, with John Hunter identifying lymph as a factor in breast cancer, highlighting the connection between the disease and the fluid-carrying white blood cells in the body.
Milestones
1882: William Halsted performed the first radical mastectomy. This surgery will remain the standard operation to treat breast cancer until the 20th century.
1932: A new approach to mastectomy is developed. The surgical procedure is not as disfiguring, and becomes the new standard.
1937: Radiation therapy is used in addition to surgery to spare the breast. After removing the tumor, needles with radium are placed in the breast and near lymph nodes.
1978: Tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in breast cancer treatment. This antiestrogen drug is the first in a new class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).
1986: Scientists figure out how to clone the HER2 gene.
1995: Scientists can clone the tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. Inherited mutations in these genes can predict an increased risk of breast cancer.
1996: FDA approves anastrozole (Arimidex) as a treatment for breast cancer. This drug blocks the production of estrogen.
1998: Trastuzumab (Herceptin), a drug targeting cancer cells that are over-producing HER2, is also approved by the FDA.
2011: A large meta-analysis finds that radiation therapy significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality.
2013: The four major subtypes of breast cancer are defined as HR+/HER2 (“luminal A”), HR-/HER2 (“triple negative”), HR+/HER2+ (“luminal B”), and HR-/HER2+ (“HER2-enriched”)
2019: Enhertu is approved by the FDA, and this drug proves to be very effective in treating HER2-positive breast cancer that’s metastasized or can’t be removed with surgery.
It’s important to note that this timeline is a simplified overview, and many developments occurred concurrently in different branches of breast cancer research and treatment. Additionally, ongoing research and clinical trials continue to shape the landscape of breast cancer treatment. Whenever making a treatment decision, make sure to consult your doctor and medical team so they can help you make an informed decision.