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Article: Combination Treatment May Cut Cervical Cancer Mortality by Half; Studies Show Benefit of Chemotherapy and Radiation
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- February 23, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The National Cancer Institute took the unusual step yesterday of
releasing unpublished results from several ongoing studies that
together reveal a new way to add years of life to many women with
cancer of the cervix.
In a rare "clinical announcement" mailed to thousands of doctors
yesterday, the NCI publicized new data showing that the risk of death
in the first few years after a diagnosis of cervical cancer can be
reduced 30 percent to 50 percent by treating women with a combination
of radiation and chemotherapy.
Standard treatment today involves surgery and in some cases
radiation, but not chemotherapy.
"This is not a small difference," NCI Director Richard D. Klausner
said. "A 30 to 50 ...