Breast cancer research: Today’s ceiling is tomorrow’s floor

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer, and chances are you know someone who has been impacted by it. We sat down with Dr. Douglas Yee, a leading breast cancer doctor and researcher at the Masonic Cancer Center and the University of Minnesota, to reflect on how far breast cancer treatment has come over the years as medical research continues to make great strides in treating this disease.

The power of research volunteers

One thing is clear: none of this would be possible without those who have volunteered as participants in research studies.

“Virtually every drug I prescribe in my clinic today didn’t exist when I started, and that’s largely because women were willing to participate, be a research partner, and enroll in clinical trials,” he said. These participants have paved the way for new therapies and more treatment options than ever before.

Looking ahead

According to Dr. Yee, the work isn’t done yet. He describes how research studies continue to raise the bar and help us better understand how to treat breast cancer. Dr. Yee is excited about the future and explains that “today’s ceiling is tomorrow’s floor.” Thanks to those who volunteer and to new studies, progress continues to be made to speed up the development of personalized treatments for breast cancer.

Spotlight on the I-SPY Trial

Dr. Yee shared an inspiring example of research that is driving progress: the I-SPY trial, which introduces a novel approach to figuring out which new drugs are most effective against different types of breast cancer. This important study is accelerating the discovery of new treatments and providing options tailored to each individual patient. I-SPY is currently open and enrolling at the University of Minnesota. To learn more about the I-SPY trial and other studies at the University of Minnesota, check out StudyFinder.