Long Beach : 40 Breast Cancer Patients Sought for Tests of RU-486
The country’s first test of the so-called French abortion pill to treat cancer will be carried out at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where doctors are looking for 40 women with advanced breast cancer to volunteer for a study.
Doctors at the Long Beach Memorial Cancer Institute and the Memorial Breast Center plan to study the drug RU-486. Although the drug has gained attention for inducing abortions, its original intent was to fight cancer, hospital spokesman Ron Yukelson said.
More women will die of breast cancer this year than any other form of the disease except lung cancer, Yukelson said.
RU-486 provides an alternative to traditional chemotherapy, which has strong side effects. Women who have metastatic breast cancer and are not pregnant may volunteer for the study by calling (310) 424-0880.
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