There are a lot of movies that are based on the real life experiences of people. Since this is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I have decided to look at one such movie and what it can teach us about the treatments that are now available for breast cancer- particularly what it teaches us about the development of a ground-breaking drug and how it has completely transformed the treatment of breast cancer.
The Long Fight Against Breast Cancer
The fight against breast cancer has been a really long one and dates back to Ancient Egypt where the first ever case of breast cancer was recorded around 1600BCE as documented in the Edwin Smith Papyrus.
There has been breakthroughs and one of them is the development of the drug called Herceptin(trastuzumab). No movie portrays the struggles that accompanied the drug's development like "Living Proof" starring Harry Connick Jr. as Dr. Dennis Slamon. It tells the story of how the drug was developed and how it has significantly transformed the treatment of a specific kind of cancer called HER2-positive breast cancer.
It has ben 16yrs since the movie release, but the drug it portrays is still saving lives today. What makes it special and how does it work? No better way to explain this than to take a journey through the movie- Living Proof.
Not all breast cancers are the same.
The movie helps us understand that there are various kinds of breast cancer. Dr Slamon explains to his team that some breast cancers are more aggressive than others because they produce too much of the protein called HER2.
This protein is normally found on breast cells and helps to control the growth of the cells. But when HER2 positive breast cancer develops, there is too much of the protein and this serves as fuel for cancer cells to grow much faster than they would usually do.
Before this discovery, and the subsequent discovery of Herceptin, these kind of cancers were enigmatic as they spelt an almost certain death for those who encountered it.
In the movie, the character Ellie, portrayed by Amanda Bynes is a young woman who was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer. She is devastated as she believes she is counting down to her death. Having nothing else to loose, she decides to participate in Dr. Slamon's clinical trial for Herceptin.
Dr Slamon and his team decided that they would do everything it took to ensure that they got the results they knew they would have. They had to overcome the challenges of sourcing for funding for the trials, the regulation from research and medical bodies as well as the general skepticism towards novel approaches.
After a while, Ellie and others on Herceptin began to respond well to the new drug, the drug shrinks their tumors providing them with something that they had lost for a very long time- hope.
A Life Changing Discovery
One really emotionally charged moment in the movie was the time the first clinical trial results were announced. The patients had been waiting for a while to know if they should abandon hope. The joy that ensued after the results were announced was enormous. Patients who had both Herceptin and chemotherapy saw their cancer shrink dramatically and some actually went into remission.
How does it work?
Imagine Herceptin as a key that would only fit into one lock, a specific lock. Let's call this lock the HER2 receptor that is seen normally on breast cells.
HER2(Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2) positive cancer cells receive signals that tell them to continue growing and multiplying uncontrollably. Herceptin attaches to the HER2 receptors and block the signals so that the cells can stop multiplying.
In addition to that, it sends a signal to the immune system, it puts a tag on the cancer cell telling the immune system to destroy the cell as it is no longer a normal cell.
In combination with chemotherapy, Dr Slamon showed that Herceptin can lead to even better results. Herceptin makes chemotherapy more effective. This was clearly demonstrated with the case of Barbara Bradfield, who had already been through several other treatments before entering the trial of Dr Slamon.
After several treatments, Dr Slamon calls her and tell her the incredible news that her tumor has shrunk significantly. The relief and renewed sense of hope that Barbara showed after receiving the news could be palpated from the screen.
Herceptin Today.
In today's society, Herceptin is still a foundation for treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer. The drug was approved by the FDA in 1998 and since then, it has transformed the survival rates for women with this aggressive form of cancer.
The most terrifying news any breast cancer survivor can hear is "your cancer is back". HER2-positive breast cancer is notorious for it's recurrence rates. Herceptin has made it a lot more difficult for it to recur. This gives women peace of mind so that they are not worried about recurrence all the time.
Lessons From The Movie
Perseverance is a key lesson we learn from Dr Slamon, who refuses to give up in the face of numerous setbacks. Medical breakthroughs are not accidental happenings( although there are a couple ones that fit this description), they are the product of years of hard work, trial and errors as well has keeping hope alive.
When Dr Slamon gives his final speech towards the end of the movie reflecting on the hard times and the journey so far, he shows immense gratitude to those who fought with him, the patients who made the trials possible, their families, as well as other doctors. He shows clearly that breakthroughs in medicine are the result of collaborative effort.
Conclusion.
Herceptin has become a lifeline for many women with breast cancer around the world. The movie 'living proof' beautifully illustrates the development of the drug as a huge step in the right direction for breast cancer treatment.
Today, the drug still offers hope to women with HER2 positive breast cancer. Although there is still a long way to go in the fight against breast cancer, we are not where we once were and Herceptin is one milestone that has brought us a step closer to more efficient forms of treatment for breast cancer.
Thank you for reading.
I am Covenant, a Medical Doctor with a passion for holistic medicine-( fancy word for treating a patient as an individual and not just addressing their symptoms). My focus lies in the deep connection between mental health and overall wellbeing, and I create content across various medical topics with an emphasis on mental health. Follow me for insights into holistic medicine and approaches to health and wellness.
Take a look at some of my work
The Dawn of the Age of Drugs Without Side-effects
It is a Lie: Life does not begin at 40
Holistic Health: Simplifying Medicine, One Post at a Time
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Time travel: A Medical "Doctor Who" Perspective
Breast Cancer and Depression: A historical and Modern Perspective.
The Witchcraft of Medicine: How Advances in Mental Health Compare to Historical Therapies