A new cervical cancer treatment using cheap, existing drugs has been hailed as the biggest breakthrough in two decades.

Cancer Research UK funded a study involving 500 cervical cancer patients and reported “remarkable” results. It found that for women who had been given an intensive, six-week course of chemotherapy drugs before the usual chemo radiation treatment, the risk of death or of their cancer returning was reduced by 35 percent. 

Study authors hope the use of existing drugs – carboplatin and paclitaxel – means the treatment can be rolled out relatively quickly.

“This is the biggest improvement in outcome in this disease in over 20 years,” said lead investigator Dr. Mary McCormack, from University College London Cancer Institute. “I’m incredibly proud of all the patients who participated in the trial.”

Source: Positive News