Dr. Toomey Discusses Findings of TAILORx Trial

Kathleen Toomey, MD, who specializes in hematology and medical oncology and practices at the Steeplechase Cancer Center, discusses the results of the TAILORx trial, which reported that some patients with early-stage breast cancer can avoid chemotherapy.

The latest presentation on the results of TAILORx revealed that every patient does not necessarily benefit from chemotherapy. The results of these finding will allow oncologists to give the right therapy to the right patient at the right time. What was surprising to Toomey was that the younger population of patients, those under the age of 50, still may not be able to avoid chemotherapy even with a relatively low oncotype recurrence score.

Helping a higher percentage of patients with chemotherapy and not giving chemotherapy to patients who can safely avoid it is a wonderful thing, says Toomey.