Genetic Test May Help Identify Breast Cancer Patients Who Can Avoid Chemo, Study Suggests.

reports a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine helps determine when it is “safe for a woman with breast cancer to skip chemotherapy.” Using the MammaPrint test, researchers found that “nearly half of women with early-stage breast cancer who would traditionally receive chemo can avoid it, with little risk of the cancer coming back or spreading in the next five years.” An accompanying editorial, however, “said the study was not the final word, and additional research now underway would provide more clarity.” http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/25/science/gene-tests-identify-breast-cancer-patients-who-can-skip-chemotherapy-study-says.html